Till geochemical and indicator mineral methods in mineral exploration

McClenaghan, M B; Thorleifson, Harvey; Dilabio, R N W

doi:10.1016/s0169-1368(99)00028-1

Cited by 61 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…ICP-MS (mass spectrometry) (total metals extraction and atomic absorption) was used to determine the elemental composition of sediments (McClenaghan et al 2000). ICP-MS gives data on abundant and trace elements within the samples, so the suite is split into two groups: high abundance metals (e.g.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interlobate ice‐sheet dynamics during the Last Glacial Maximum at Whitburn Bay, County Durham, England

Davies

Roberts

Cofaigh

et al. 2009

Boreas

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This research reconstructs ice-sheet processes operating during the Late Devensian in northeast England. The article assesses the lithostratigraphy of the Devensian glacial tills of Whitburn Bay, eastern County Durham, and presents the first detailed analysis of petrological, geochemical and biostratigraphical data to reconstruct lithostratigraphy, provenance and iceflow pathways. Two Devensian tractions tills (the Blackhall and Horden tills) are separated by a boulder pavement, pointing to a switch in ice-bed conditions and the production of a melt-out lag prior to deposition of the upper traction till, the Horden Till. The Blackhall Till contains Magnesian Limestone, Carboniferous Limestone, Whin Sill dolerite and Old Red Sandstone, suggesting a northwesterly source, probably from the Midland Valley and the Southern Uplands. The Horden Till contains erratics and heavy minerals derived from crystalline bedrock sources in the Cheviot Hills and northeast Scotland. Within the Horden Till are numerous sand, clay and gravel-filled canals incised downwards into the diamicton which are attributed to a low-energy, distributed, subglacial canal drainage system. Coupled with hydro-fractures and the boulder pavement, this suggests that a partially decoupled, fast-flowing ice stream deposited the Horden Till. The uphill, landward direction of ice movement indicates that the ice stream was confined in the North Sea Basin, possibly by the presence of Scandinavian Ice.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interlobate ice‐sheet dynamics during the Last Glacial Maximum at Whitburn Bay, County Durham, England

Davies

Roberts

Cofaigh

et al. 2009

Boreas

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“…This technique has its roots in mineral prospecting where geochemistry is used to establish the provenance and dispersal pattern of valuable mineral deposits that have underwent transport by ice during glaciation (e.g. Aario & Peuraniemi, 1992;Kauranne, 1958;Klassen, 2001;Klassen & Thompson, 1993;McClenaghan, Thorleifson, & DiLabio, 2000;Parent, Paradis, & Doiron, 1996;Peuraniemi, Aario, & Pulkkinen, 1997;Sarala, Rossi, Peuraniemi, & Ojala, 2007;Veillette, 2004). The geochemical signature of the till is inherited from the bedrock parent material which allows till provenance to be established (Boston, Evans, & Ó 'Cofaigh, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Principal component analysis of the geochemistry of soil developed on till in Northern Ireland

et al. 2013

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This paper presents results from the first regional statistical analysis of soils developed on till in Northern Ireland, using the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland's Tellus geochemical database. Till geochemistry is largely determined by its parent bedrock and soils developed on tills are known to inherit this geochemical signature. Soil geochemistry from areas of till can therefore be used to establish sediment provenance which in turn provides information on palaeo ice flow directions and ice sheet history. In this study, we use Principal Component Analysis to establish geochemical groupings that can be related back to likely bedrock parent material for the tills in the region. The maps, presented here at 1:445,000 scale, show the results of the first regional investigation of soil geochemistry of part of the northern sector of the Irish Ice Sheet. The results indicate that the upper surface of the majority of tills in the study area have a close relationship to local bedrock with rapid geochemical changes observed at lithological boundaries. This suggests that tills in this sector of the Irish Ice Sheet are primarily local in origin, indicating rapid entrainment of bedrock and low rates of evacuation of debris to the ice margin.

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“…Typically, metal concentration values are interpolated to create maps of one particular metal of interest, which are used to delineate target areas for further exploration (McClenaghan et al 1997;Adams 2006). However, the application of these interpolated contour maps to identify structural metals controlling mineralization is not a common practice.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling spatial anisotropy of gold concentration data using GIS-based interpolated maps and variogram analysis: Implications for structural control of mineralization

2011

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Linear trends of anomalously high gold values in the Florida Canyon gold deposit, Nevada have been identified using a combination of contour maps of gold (Au) concentration developed with a geographic information system (GIS) and variogram maps created using a geostatistical analysis package. These linear trends are interpreted to represent major fault zones that exerted a prinicipal control on gold mineralization and therefore imparted a spatial anisotropy to gold concentrations.Oxidation state information such as oxide, sulfide or mixed was used initially to map and contour the lower limit of the oxidation zone. Linear trends on this surface suggest the location and trend of major structural elements in the deposit that guided late oxidizing fluids. Subsequently, four contour maps of gold concentrations in oxidized rocks were produced, each map representing 500 ft vertical intervals starting at 3500 ft above mean sea level (msl). Relatively high concentrations of Au that form linear trends on these maps suggest the presence of structural features, such as shear zones that controlled mineralization. Finally, to validate the observed trends, variogram maps of gold concentrations were derived through geostatistical analysis and the major axes of anisotropy were determined for each map.The results that emerge suggest linear trends of northeast, northwest and, less prominently, northsouth orientations. The north-south and northeast trends match those of known and mapped major structures associated with the Florida Canyon deposit. However, the results imply a stronger control on mineralization by northwest-trending structures than previously recognized and the location of possible structures of all trends not previously mapped. They also serve to identify faults that controlled both early hydrothermal fluids and late oxidizing fluids since the gold distribution represents the time integrated effects of both fluid events.The linear trends derived by spatial analysis (contour maps, variogram maps) of geochemical data (i.e., gold concentration), combined with the results of the field observations prove to be advantageous in understanding the structural control of gold mineralization. Such spatial analyses of geochemical concentration data are particularly useful in the field of mineral exploration.

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Till geochemical and indicator mineral methods in mineral exploration

Cited by 61 publications

References 51 publications

Interlobate ice‐sheet dynamics during the Last Glacial Maximum at Whitburn Bay, County Durham, England

Interlobate ice‐sheet dynamics during the Last Glacial Maximum at Whitburn Bay, County Durham, England

Principal component analysis of the geochemistry of soil developed on till in Northern Ireland

Modelling spatial anisotropy of gold concentration data using GIS-based interpolated maps and variogram analysis: Implications for structural control of mineralization

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