Using Tellus stream sediment geochemistry to fingerprint regional geology and mineralisation systems in Southeast Ireland

Steiner, Benedikt M.

doi:10.3318/ijes.2018.36.45

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 18 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Quality control was ensured by inserting silica blanks, duplicate samples and OREAS 147 and 751-certified reference materials into the sample stream, with no accuracy issues noted outside +/− 1 standard deviation of the certified mean value. In a subsequent geochemical interpretation, following a previously published approach in the central Vosges [3] and southeast Ireland [30], the additional ICP-MS assays supported the usage of multi-element major and trace geochemistry in classifying lithological populations and petrogenetic and mineralisation processes. The classification of lithological units was achieved by delineating population clusters in bivariate geochemical plots.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…Numerical changes in these ratios during late-stage magmatic fractionation are a result of the substitution of K with Rb in micas and feldspars [44], fractionation of Nb over Ta due to secondary muscovitisation and hydrothermal sub-solidus reactions enriching Ta in F-rich residual melts [29], and increasing Kd values of Hf in zircon, which are only weakly influenced by secondary fluid-related processes [28,45,46]. Recent geochemical studies of the Leinster Granite (Ireland) and Central Vosges Mg-K granites [3,30], along with mineralogical results of this study, have shown that these petrogenetic ratios are equally applicable to determine highly fractionated lithologies using geological materials affected by secondary dispersion processes, such as stream sediments. The lack of significant weathering of K, Rb, Sn, Nb and Zr-bearing silicate mineral phases in the analysed stream sediment fraction that were collected as well as the representativity of these stream sediments in relation to mapped and sampled outcrops of the catchment area confirm that these petrogenetic ratios can be employed to fingerprint fractionation patterns in the study area.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

An Exploration Study of the Kagenfels and Natzwiller Granites, Northern Vosges Mountains, France: A Combined Approach of Stream Sediment Geochemistry and Automated Mineralogy

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Following a regional reconnaissance stream sediment survey that was carried out in the northern Vosges Mountains in 1983, a total of 20 stream sediment samples were collected with the aim of assessing the regional prospectivity for the granite-hosted base and rare metal mineralisation of the northern Vosges magmatic suite near Schirmeck. A particular focus of the investigation was the suspected presence of W, Nb and Ta geochemical occurrences in S-type (Kagenfels) and I-S-type (Natzwiller) granites outlined in public domain data. Multi-element geochemical assays revealed the presence of fault-controlled Sn, W, Nb mineralisation assemblages along the margins of the Natzwiller and Kagenfels granites. Characteristic geochemical fractionation and principal component analysis (PCA) trends along with mineralogical evidence in the form of cassiterite, wolframite, ilmenorutile and columbite phases and muscovite–chlorite–tourmaline hydrothermal alteration association assemblages in stream sediments demonstrate that, in the northern Vosges, S-type and fractionated hybrid I-S-type granites are enriched in incompatible, late-stage magmatic elements. This is attributed to magmatic fractionation and hydrothermal alteration trends and the presence of fluxing elements in late-stage granitic melts. This study shows that the fractionated granite suites in the northern Vosges Mountains contain rare metal mineralisation indicators and therefore represent possible targets for follow-up mineral exploration. The application of automated mineralogy (QEMSCAN®) in regional stream sediment sampling added significant value by linking geochemistry and mineralogy.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 72%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Exploration Study of the Kagenfels and Natzwiller Granites, Northern Vosges Mountains, France: A Combined Approach of Stream Sediment Geochemistry and Automated Mineralogy

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Digital soil mapping of lithium in Australia

Minasny

McBratney

et al. 2023

Earth Syst. Sci. Data

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. With a higher demand for lithium (Li), a better understanding of its concentration and spatial distribution is important to delineate potential anomalous areas. This study uses a digital soil mapping framework to combine data from recent geochemical surveys and environmental covariates that affect soil formation to predict and map aqua-regia-extractable Li content across the 7.6×106 km2 area of Australia. Catchment outlet sediment samples (i.e. soils formed on alluvial parent material) were collected by the National Geochemical Survey of Australia at 1315 sites, with both top (0–10 cm depth) and bottom (on average ∼60–80 cm depth) catchment outlet sediments sampled. We developed 50 bootstrap models using a cubist regression tree algorithm for each depth. The spatial prediction models were validated on an independent Northern Australia Geochemical Survey dataset, showing a good prediction with a root mean square error of 3.32 mg kg−1 (which is 44.2 % of the interquartile range) for the top depth. The model for the bottom depth has yet to be validated. The variables of importance for the models indicated that the first three Landsat 30+ Barest Earth bands (red, green, blue) and gamma radiometric dose have a strong impact on the development of regression-based Li prediction. The bootstrapped models were then used to generate digital soil Li prediction maps for both depths, which could identify and delineate areas with anomalously high Li concentrations in the regolith. The predicted maps show high Li concentration around existing mines and other potentially anomalous Li areas that have yet to be verified. The same mapping principles can potentially be applied to other elements. The Li geochemical data for calibration and validation are available from de Caritat and Cooper (2011b; https://doi.org/10.11636/Record.2011.020) and Main et al. (2019; https://doi.org/10.11636/Record.2019.002), respectively. The covariate data used for this study were sourced from the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) infrastructure, which is enabled by the Australian Government's National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS; https://esoil.io/TERNLandscapes/Public/Products/TERN/Covariates/Mosaics/90m/, last access: 6 December 2022; TERN, 2019). The final predictive map is available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7895482 (Ng et al., 2023).

show abstract

Using Tellus stream sediment geochemistry to fingerprint regional geology and mineralisation systems in Southeast Ireland

Cited by 2 publications

References 18 publications

An Exploration Study of the Kagenfels and Natzwiller Granites, Northern Vosges Mountains, France: A Combined Approach of Stream Sediment Geochemistry and Automated Mineralogy

An Exploration Study of the Kagenfels and Natzwiller Granites, Northern Vosges Mountains, France: A Combined Approach of Stream Sediment Geochemistry and Automated Mineralogy

Digital soil mapping of lithium in Australia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About