Spring water trace element geochemistry: A tool for resource assessment and reconnaissance mineral exploration

Caron, Marie-Eve; Grasby, Stephen E.; Ryan, M. Cathryn

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2008.07.020

Cited by 24 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 43 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Consequently, estimated circulation depths determined from aqueous geothermometers are commonly reported as minimum circulation depths, as most errors tend to lower rather than raise the estimated temperature (Fournier 1977; Grasby et al. 2000; Caron et al. 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fournier 1977), these are not readily applicable to geothermal systems where mixing occurs along a continuum. Consequently, estimated circulation depths determined from aqueous geothermometers are commonly reported as minimum circulation depths, as most errors tend to lower rather than raise the estimated temperature (Fournier 1977;Grasby et al 2000;Caron et al 2008). In other words, deep-circulation systems are probably deeper than most estimates based on aqueous geothermometers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

What do aqueous geothermometers really tell us?

Ferguson¹,

Grasby²,

Hindle³

2009

Geofluids

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The application of chemical geothermometry to shallow groundwaters or spring discharge assumes that there is minimal mixing or re-equilibration of water as it travels from depth to the surface. In this study, we examine the potential for mixing and re-equilibration by examining heat and fluid flow along crustal-scale faults in tectonic geothermal systems. Numerical modeling results indicate that maximum in situ temperatures could be underpredicted by up to 30% due to mixing of fluids that enter the fault at different depths. This, coupled with the depression of isotherms by downward groundwater flow in the hanging wall, could cause underestimates of maximum circulation depth of greater than 80% in extreme cases. Kinetics does not favor re-equilibration in the shallower portions of faults due to low temperatures and higher fluid velocities. However, in areas of deeper circulation or higher heat flow such reactions are possible.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What do aqueous geothermometers really tell us?

Ferguson¹,

Grasby²,

Hindle³

2009

Geofluids

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Elevation in the mountainous watershed ranges from about 1372 m to 2770 m above sea level. The west portion of the watershed is underlain primarily by shale and has the ragged, snow‐capped mountains of the Logan Mountains and the Ragged Ranges, whereas the east portion is underlain primarily by carbonates and incorporates the Nahanni Karst and Ram plateaus (Caron et al ). The geological formations include commercially viable deposits of W, Pb, Zn, Ag, and Au, which has resulted in mining claims throughout the watershed, including an advanced Pb, Ag, and Zn exploration mine on Prairie Creek (Canadian Zinc Corporation, Prairie Creek Mine) and a W mine adjacent to the Flat River (North American Tungsten, Cantung Mine) (Scrimgeour et al ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and application of benthic algal reference condition models to assess stream condition in the South Nahanni Watershed

Kurien¹,

Hall

Scrimgeour

2017

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Monitoring biologists continually strive to improve the effectiveness of protocols to quantify environmental and ecological effects of anthropogenic activities. We developed and applied a reference condition approach (RCA) model to assess the ability of 3 descriptors of algal community structure (algal taxonomy, diatom taxonomy, and algal pigments) to identify impairment in 2 northern rivers in the South Nahanni River Watershed, Northwest Territories, Canada. We established reference conditions by sampling 62 regional reference (i.e., minimally disturbed) sites in 2008 (n = 44) and 2009 (n = 18) and assessed the condition of 38 test sites downstream of 2 mines in 2008 (N = 20 sites) and 2009 (N = 18 sites). Patterns of impairment downstream of the 2 mines were assessed and zones of influence were identified for each algal descriptor. Results showed that the 3 RCA models using the 3 descriptors of algal community structure identified reasonably consistent assessments downstream of Prairie Creek mine with changes in algal pigments being more sensitive than the other 2 descriptors. In Flat River, however, assessment of test sites varied considerably depending on the descriptor of algal community structure. Our results suggest that benthic algal RCA models show promise as biological monitoring tools, but additional investigations are required to better understand variance in site assessments among the 3 algal community descriptors. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:728-745. © 2016 SETAC.

show abstract

“…Previous work in the southern Canadian Cordillera has Fig. 1 Simplified geological map of the Jebal-e-Barez, mineralization occurrences and spring sample location (modified from Aghanabati et al 1992;Aghanabati and Eftekhar Nezhad 1993;Babakhani and Alavai Tehrani 2002) shown that the deep circulation of meteoric water, and discharge of groundwater as discrete springs, is often controlled by geologic features similar to those that focused on movement and deposition of hydrothermal ore deposits, making it likely that modern day spring circulation systems may intersect hidden ore deposits (Caron et al 2008).This paper was undertaken to evaluate the use of hydrogeochemical exploration for Cu, Au, Mo and other mineral deposits, and the distribution of indicator elements in spring waters and geochemical characteristics of waters has been studied with discusses their geochemical relationship.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Applied hydrogeochemistry in mineral exploration peaked in the 1970s, but a new episode in hydrogeochemical mineral exploration has been opened, and investigation of robust element anomalies and dispersion patterns, at concentration levels unattainable a decade ago, can now proceed on a cost-effective basis (Taufen 1997). Previous hydrogeochemical studies of spring waters have been largely designed to predict environmental impacts of mines, rather than for exploration purposes (Caron et al 2008) while hydrogeochemical study can quickly identify mineralized zones in a large area given a limited budget and field season. Because many surfaces and near-surface mineral deposits have been discovered, the challenge for mineral exploration is to find new, more deeply buried deposits, particularly in areas where thick cover exists (Cameron et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Orientation hydrogeochemical survey in Jebal-e-Barez area, SE Iran

Pazand

Javanshir

2015

Sustain. Water Resour. Manag.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Geochemical data from 67 spring locations within the 3780 km 2 , in Jebal-e-Barez area, south eastern of Iran, were analyzed with the purpose of developing a suitable regional geochemical exploration method for CuAu ± Mo mineralization in such potential area. Statistical data analyses, graphical methods, and geochemical characteristics of waters and mineral saturation indices were used to identify mineralization potential regions. Hydrogeochemical data of samples suggested that the groundwater is mostly Ca ? Mg ? HCO 3 type (67.16 %). The sulfate-type waters are mainly clustered around the mineralization occurrences. The groundwaters have low concentrations of base metal and Cu, Au, Mo and SO 4 can be used as direct indicators of Cu mineralization in study area. Ni is an indicator of Cu mineralization and travertine springs distribution impress the hydrogeochemical evaluation. On this basis, it is concluded hydrogeochemical exploration can be used as an effective regional exploration method.

show abstract

Spring water trace element geochemistry: A tool for resource assessment and reconnaissance mineral exploration

Cited by 24 publications

References 43 publications

What do aqueous geothermometers really tell us?

What do aqueous geothermometers really tell us?

Development and application of benthic algal reference condition models to assess stream condition in the South Nahanni Watershed

Orientation hydrogeochemical survey in Jebal-e-Barez area, SE Iran

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About