The mineralogy of the Golden Sunlight gold-silver telluride deposit, Whitehall, Montana, U.S.A.

Summary The Golden Sunlight gold-silver telluride deposit, hosted primarily within the Mineral Hill breccia pipe (MHBP), is spatially related to a high-level, Late Cretaceous multiple intrusive, alkaline to subalkaline porphyry system. Base metal veins and manganese (rhodochrosite) mineralization occur up to 2km from the MHBP and form part of a regional mineral zonation pattern genetically related to a low-grade porphyry molybdenum system. Proterozoic rocks of the LaHood Formation and the informally named Bull Mountain Group host the MHBP and contain stratabound sulphides/ sulphosalts (up to 50% pyrite with minor to trace amounts of chalcopyrite, tennantite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite, galena, and molybdenite). Four periods of hypogene mineralization occur in the breccia pipe. Stages I and IV constitute ,99% of the mineralization; native gold (4–11 wt.% Ag), calaverite, tetradymite, tellurobismuthite, Se-bearing Bi sulphosalts (aikinite, lindströmite, krupkaite, gladite, bismuthinite, and ?benjaminite), tennantite (Zn, Fe, Te, and Bi varieties), coloradoite, melonite, galena (up to 6.7 wt.% Bi and 6.4 wt.% Se), stannite, chalcocite, and the rare mineral buckhornite are included in stage Ib. Minor amounts of base metals are present in stage II. Gold-silver tellurides (krennerite, petzite, sylvanite, and possibly the rare x-phase) developed in stage III whereas barite, fluorite, dolomite, magnesite, trace kaolinite, and sericite formed during stage IV. Utilizing the mineral assemblages in stage Ib, calculated values of logf Te₂ and logf S₂ range from -10.5 to -9.7, and -12.6 to -5.5, respectively.Ore forming components (e.g., Au, Ag, Te, Cu, Bi, Mo, and much of the S) were likely derived from the Late Cretaceous intrusive system with possible contributions from the Proterozoic host rocks.

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Mineralogie der Golden Sunlight Gold-Silber-Tellurid-Lagerstätte, Whitehall, Montana

Zusammenfassung Die Golden Sunlight Gold-Silber-Tellurid-Lagerstätte, die hauptsächlich im Brekzienschlot von Mineral Hill (Mineral Hill breccia pipe, MHBP) eingelagert ist, steht räumlich mit einem erzreichen, multi-intrusiven, alkalischen bis sub-alkalischen Porphyritsystem aus der Oberkreide in Beziehung. Erzadern und Mn-Mineralisation (Rhodochrosit) finden sich bis zu 2 km vom MHBP entfernt und sind Bestandteil einer regionalen Vererzung die genetisch zu einem erzarmen Mo-hältigen Porphyritsystem in Beziehung steht. Proterozoische Gesteine aus der LaHood-Formation und der inoffiziell benannten Bull Mountain Group umgeben den MHBP und enthalten schichtgebundene Sulfide und Sulfosalze (bis zu 50% Pyrit mit Neben- bis Spurenmengen von Kupferkies, Tennantit, Pyrrhotin, Zinkblende, Bleiglanz und Molybdänit).[Der Brekzienschlot zeigt vier Phasen hypogener Mineralisation. Stufen I und IV enthalten 99% der Mineralisation: gediegen Gold (4–11 Gew.% Ag), Calaverit, Tetradymit, Tellurobismuthit, Se-hältige Bi-Sulfosalze (Aikinit, Lindströmit, Krupkait, Gladit, Bismuthinit und ?Benjaminit) Tennantit (Zn-, Fe-, Te- und Bi-Varietäten), Coloradoit, Melonit, Bleiglanz (mit bis zu 6.7 Gew.% Bi und 6.4 Gew.% Se), Zinnstein, Chalcocit, sowie das seltene Mineral Buckhornit treten in Stufe Ib auf. Geringere Mengen von Buntmetallen kommen in Stufe II vor. Gold-Silber-Telluride (Krennerit, Petzit, Sylvanit und möglicherweise die seltene X-Phase) sind in Stufe III ausgebildet und in Stufe IV wurden Baryt, Flusspat, Dolomit, Magnesit, Spuren von Kaolin und Serizit gebildet. Unter Verwendung der Mineralassoziationen der Stufe Ib lassen sich Werte von logf Te₂ zwischen - 10.5 und - 9.7 und von logf S₂ zwischen - 12.6 und - 5.5 errechnen.[Die erzbildenden Komponenten (z.B. Au, Ag, Te, Cu, Bi, Mo und der Grossteil von S) stammen wahrscheinlich vom Intrusivsystem aus der Oberkreide, möglicherweise mit Beiträgen der proterozoischen Umgebung.[/ p]

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With 10 Figures     

Impressions of algal mats from the Middle Proterozoic Belt Supergroup, northwestern Montana, U.S.A.

Irregular, low relief bedding-plane markings which probably represent impressions of thin, wrinkled algal mats have recently been detected in mudstones from the 1100 m.y. old Snowslip Formation, Belt Supergroup, Glacier National Park, Montana. Algal-mat impressions are rarely reported from ancient strata, yet algal mats are common in certain modern environments. Originating primarily in moist settings and in relatively quiescent shallow-water settings, such structures may be of some value in interpreting ancient depositional environments.     

Compaction of wyodak coal,powder river basin,wyoming, U.S.A.

Precise measurements of 54 deformed tree trunks within the subbituminous Wyodak coal seem in northeastern Wyoming were made at eight locations in surface mines along the outcrop north and south of Gillette. Theory of elasticity applied to the individual measurements gives ratios of peat thickness to coal thickness which range from 1.7:1 to 31:1 and average 7.1:1. This result is similar to those previously determined by other methods in other locations. Statistical analysis establishes to a high degree of confidence, however, that the ratios for each mine site vary widely and cannot be considered to be constant or to vary uniformly within the study area.     

Irrigation related arsenic contamination of a thin,alluvial aquifer,Madison River Valley,Montana, U.S.A.

The arsenic concentration in 13 water samples from wells in the thin, alluvial aquifer of the Madison River Valley, Montana, U.S.A. ranged from 26 to 150 μg/l. The Madison River, which originates in Yellowstone National Park, has a mean arsenic concentration of 51 μg/l (σ=26 μg/l), based upon very limited sampling in the study area during the main irrigation period. Groundwater arsenic concentration increases down the valley can be best correlated with the intensity of ditch irrigation in this semiarid area. No other sources of dissolved arsenic as concentrated as that of the river water have been identified. Evaporative concentration of river-derived irrigation water is believed to have been the overwhelming factor in the contamination of this shallow aquifer.     

A strontium isotopic study of formation waters from the Illinois basin, U.S.A.

The isotopic composition of Sr has been measured in 73 formation-water samples from Paleozoic strata in the Illinois basin; ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios range from 0.7079 to 0.7108. With the exception of four samples, the waters are more radiogenic than corresponding Paleozoic sea-water values. The relatively narrow range of slightly elevated ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr rations is uniformly distributed in waters throughout the stratigraphic column and in Silurian waters across the basin. Isotopic analyses of core samples from reservoir rocks show an absence of water-rock Sr isotopic equilibration. Basin lithology and analyses of detrital rock units indicate that clay minerals in shales and in quartz sandstone matrices represent the only significant source of radiogenic Sr for the waters. Silurian and Devonian water show a two-component mixing relation which suggests that they comprise a single hydrogeological system that evolved when radiogenic water from New Albany shales entered Silurian-Devonian carbonate rocks and mixed with marine interstitial water. Regional migration of the waters and associated petroleum within the Silurian-Devonian strata, proposed in other studies, is consistent with the Sr isotopic data. Under favorable circumstances subsurface waters are capable of retaining a Sr isotopic recor of their evolution.     

Geochemistry of metal-rich brines from central Mississippi Salt Dome basin, U.S.A.

Oil-field brines are the most favored ore-forming solutions for the sediment-hosted Mississippi Valley-type ore deposits. Detailed inorganic and organic chemical and isotope analyses of water and gas samples from six oil fields in central Mississippi, one of the very few areas with high metal brines, were conducted to study the inorganic and organic complexes responsible for the high concentrations of these metals. The samples were obtained from production zones consisting of sandstone and limestone that range in depth from 1900 to 4000 m (70–120°C) and in age from Late Cretaceous to Late Jurassic. Results show that the waters are dominantly bittern brines related to the Louann Salt. The brines have extremely high salinities that range from 160,000 to 320,000 mg/l total dissolved solids and are NaCaCl-type waters with very high concentrations of Ca (up to 48,000 mg/l) and other alkaline-earth metals, but with low concentrations of aliphatic acid anions. The concentrations of metals in many water samples are very high, reaching values of 70 mg/l for Pb, 245 mg/l for Zn, 465 mg/l for Fe and 210 mg/l for Mn. The samples with high metal contents have extremely low concentrations (<0.02 mg/l) of H₂S. Samples obtained from the Smackover Formation (limestone) have low metal contents that are more typical of oil-field waters, but have very high concentrations (up to 85 mg/l) of H₂S. Computations with the geochemical code SOLMINEQ.87 give the following results: (1) both Pb and Zn are present predominantly as aqueous chloride complexes (mainly as PbCl₄²⁻ and ZnCl₄²⁻, respectively); (2) the concentrations of metals complexed with short-chained aliphatic acid anions and reduced S species are minor; (3) organic acid anions are important in controlling the concentrations of metals because they affect the pH and buffer capacity of the waters at subsurface conditions; and (4) galena and sphalerite solubilities control the concentrations of Pb and Zn in these waters.     

Large-scale distribution of metal contamination in the fine-grained sediments of the Clark Fork River,Montana, U.S.A.

Historic discharges from the mining and smelting complex at the head-waters of the Clark Fork River have resulted in elevated Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations in the <60 μm fraction of both bed and flood-plain sediments of the river. Processes affecting the trends in longitudinal distributions of these metals were investigated by repeated sampling over a 380 km river reach between August 1986 and July 1989. At the most upstream site, bed-sediment metal concentrations were enriched 18–115 times above least enriched tributaries, depending on the metal. All metals decreased exponentially with distance downstream away from mining. The exponential model predicts that elevated metal concentrations should occur over 550 km downstream, in Lake Pend Oreille. Longitudinal trends, obvious on a scale of hundreds of kilometers, were obscured by small-scale spatial variability when shorter stretches of the river were considered. Longitudinal dispersion appeared to be controlled largely by physical dilution with less-contaminated sediments.Evidence suggests that erosion of contaminated flood-plains contributes to metal contamination in the bed sediments. Tributary input appeared to have little influence on the large-scale, downstream distribution of metals; however, it did contribute to local variability in bed-sediment metal concentrations. Association of metals with specific mineral grains, as well as variability in total organic C and Fe concentration, appeared also to contribute to variability.Some year-to-year variability in bed-sediment metal concentrations was observed, however, trends in longitudinal dispersion were not significantly different between at least two of the years sampled.     

Grain size partitioning of metals in contaminated,coarse-grained river floodplain sediment: Clark Fork River,Montana, U.S.A.

The traditional concept of the relationship between metal content and grain size assumes that the fine fraction carries most of the metals in natural sediments. This concept is supported in many cases by strong, significant linear relationships between total-sediment metal concentrations and percentages of various fine-size fractions. Such observations have led to development of methods to correct for the effects of grain size in order to accurately document geographical and temporal variations and identify trends in metal concentrations away from a particular source. Samples from the floodplain sediment of a large, coarse-grained river system indicates that these concepts do not hold for sediments contaminated by mining and milling wastes. In this particular system, the application of methods to correct for grain-size effects would lead to erroneous conclusions about trends of metals in the drainage. This indicates that the a priori application of grain-size correction factors limits interpretation of actual metal distributions and should not be used unless data indicate that correlations exist between metals and particular size fractions.     

Background radiation in the Albuquerque,New Mexico,U.S.A., area

Background radiation levels in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, area are elevated when compared to much of the United States. Soil K, U, and Th are somewhat elevated compared to average values in this country and generate roughly 60 mrem per year to the average resident. Cosmic ray contribution, due to the mean elevation of 5,200 ft above sea level, is 80 mrem/yr—well over the average for the United States. Thirty percent of the homes in Albuquerque contain indoor radon levels over the EPA action level of 4 pCi/ compared to 10–12 percent of homes for the entire United States. Indoor radon contributes about 100–300 mrem/yr. Food, beverages, and x-ray doses are assumed at an average-equivalent for the United States and locally yield 96 mrem/yr. Total contributions from other minor sources (color TV, coal, weapons fallout, etc.) are under 10 mrem/yr. Thus total background radiation received by Albuquerque residents is about 330–530 mrem/yr, well in excess of the rest of the United States. The spread in mrem values is due to variations in the contribution from indoor radon.Douglas G. Brookins, Professor of Geology and former Chairman of the Department, 1976–1979, passed away unexpectedly on April 30, 1991. He was a man of passion, intellect, and conviction. He left us at the peak of his productive career, but he leaves behind a legacy of exceptional accomplishments and contributions to his friends, family, students, and profession. He was a member of the Faculty Senate at the time of his death and had served two previous terms in 1984 and 1986.Doug's academic accomplishments were of world class, beginning with an AB degree, Summa Cum Laude, from U.C. Berkeley in 1958 and a PhD from MIT in 1963. He came to UNM as a full professor in 1971, having previously served at Kansas State University, and built a first class program in isotope geochemistry. He wrote five books and had a sixth in progress, edited several others, and authored or coauthored approximately 500 technical papers, book chapters, and reports.—Bruce M. Thomson and Wolfgang E. Elston, University of New Mexico.     

The Denizli graben-horst system and the eastern limit of western Anatolian continental extension: basin fill,structure, deformational mode,throw amount and episodic evolutionary history,SW Turkey

The Denizli graben-horst system (DGHS) is located at the eastern-southeastern converging tips of three well-identified major grabens, the Gediz, the Küçük Menderes and the Büyük Menderes grabens, in the west Anatolian extensional province. It forms a structural link between these grabens and the other three NE-NW-trending grabens—the Çivril, the Ac?göl and the Burdur grabens—comprising the western limb of the Isparta Angle. Therefore, the DGHS has a critical role in the evolutionary history of continental extension and its eastward continuation in southwestern Turkey, including western Anatolia, west-central Anatolia, and the Isparta Angle. The DGHS is a 7-28-km wide, 62-km long, actively growing and very young rift developed upon metamorphic rocks of both the Menderes Massif and the Lycian nappes, and their Oligocene-Lower Miocene cover sequence. It consists of one incipient major graben, one modern major graben, two sub-grabens and two intervening sub-horsts evolved on the four palaeotectonic blocks. Therefore, the DGHS displays different trends along its length, namely, NW, E-W, NE and again E-W.

The DGHS has evolved episodically rather than continuously. This is indicated by a series of evidence: (1) it contains two graben infills, the ancient graben infill and the modern graben infill, separated by an intervening angular unconformity; (2) the ancient graben infill consists of two Middle Miocene-Middle Pliocene sequences of 660 m thickness accumulated in a fluvio-lacustrine depositional setting under the control of first NNW-SSE- and later NNE-SSW-directed extension (first-stage extension), and deformed (folded and strike-slip faulted) by a NNE-SSW- to ENE-WSW-directed phase of compression in the latest Middle Pliocene, whereas the modern graben infill consists of 350-m thick, undeformed (except for local areas against the margin-bounding active faults), nearly flat-lying fanapron deposits and travertines of Plio-Quaternary age; (3) the ancient graben infill is confined not only to the interior of the graben but is also exposed well outside and farther away from the graben, whereas the modern graben infill is restricted to only the interior of the graben. These lines of evidence imply an episodic, two-stage extensional evolutionary history interrupted by an intervening compressional episode for the DGHS.

Both the southern and northern margin-bounding faults of the DGHS are oblique-slip normal faults with minor right- and/or left-lateral strike-slip components. They are mapped and classified into six categories, and named the Babada?, Honaz, A?a??da?dere, Küçükmal?da?, Pamukkale and Kaleköy fault zones, and composed of 0.5-36-km long fault segments linked by a number of relay ramps. Total throw amounts accumulated on both the northern and southern margin-bounding faults are 1,050 m and 2,080 m, respectively. In addition, the maximum width of the DGHS and the thickness of the crust beneath it are more or less same (~ 28 km). The total of these values indicate a vertical slip rate of 0.15-0.14 mm/year and averaging 7% extension for the asymmetrical DGHS.

The master faults of the Babada?, Honaz, Küçükmal?da?, Pamukkale and Kaleköy fault zones are still active and have a potential seismicity with magnitudes 6 or higher. This is indicated by both the historical (1703 and 1717 seismic events) to recent (1965, 1976, 2000 seismic events) earthquakes sourced from margin-bounding faults and some diagnostic morphotectonic features, such as deflected drainage system, degraded alluvial fans with apices adjacent to fault traces, back-tilting of fault-bounded blocks, and actively growing travertine occurrences. The kinematic analyses of main fault-slip-plane data, Upper Quaternary fissure ridges and focal-mechanism solutions of some destructive earthquakes clearly indicate that the current continental extension (second-stage extension) by normal faulting in the DGHS continues in a (mean) 026° to 034° (NNE-SSW) direction.

Detailed and recent field geological mapping, stratigraphy of the Miocene-Quaternary basins, palaeostress analysis of fault populations and main margin-bounding faults of these basins, extensional gashes to fissures, and focal-mechanism solutions of destructive earth-quakes that have occurred in last century strongly indicate that extension is not unidirectional and confined only to western Anatolia, but also continues farther east across the Isparta Angle and west-central Anatolia, up to the Salt Lake fault zone in the east and the inönü-Eski?ehir fault zone in the north-northeast. Therefore, the term “southwest Turkey extensional province” is proposed in lieu of the term “west Anatolian extensional province”.     

Evidence for episodic cementation and diagenetic recording of seismic pumping events,North Coles Levee,California, U.S.A.

Bands of calcite and dolomite cements alternating with zones of nearly carbonate-free sand occur in the Stevens sandston aat North Coles Levee, San Joaquin, Valley, California. Temperatures calculated from O isotopes suggest that the calcite cement bands were emplaced episodically as a result of repeated injections of hot water from deeper in the section. Burial analysis suggests that these cements precipitated from 7 Ma to the present over the temperature range of 45 to ∼95°C.Carbon isotope data suggest that the C in the cements is a mixture derived from two sources, detrital shell material (δ¹³C(PDB)≈) and CO₂ liberated from maturing kerogen (δ¹³C ≈ −24). Plots of δ¹³C vs time and depth of crystallization show that the cementation sequence was: (1) dolomite cements, possibly concretionary, precipitated at depths <1–2 km and at temperatures <45°C; (2) calcite cements with δ¹³C(PDB) values as low as −13, crystallized from depths between 1220 and 1820 m (4000 and 6000 ft) and at temperatures between 45 and 80°C; (3) calcite cements with δ¹³C(PDB) values approaching zero and calculated temperatures of crystallization up to the present reservoir temperature of 95±3°C.A log of δ¹³C vs calculated depth of crystallization correlates with the stratigraphic column at North Coles Levee. If the correlation is valid the light δ¹³ in each cement sample can be tied to its source. A model based on this interpretation suggests that the early, light C was derived from maturing kerogen in the Kreyenhagen Formation (Eocene) as it passed through the oil window between 4 and 5 Ma. The subsequent passage of younger sediments with less organic material produced correspondingly smaller amounts of light CO₂ which was reflected in the relatively heavier C isotopes in the later cements.It is suggested that the epidsodic injections of hot water carried dissolved gases and minerals, principally calcite, upward from rocks as deep as 2–3 km below the Stevens sandstone and reprecipitated the calcite in more permeable zones in the rock. Degassing of CO₂ from rising pore waters likely triggered the precipitation and accounts for the relatively large volumes of cement. The Sibson model for seismic pumping of pore fluids is considered a likely explanation for the observed cementation.     

A method to mitigate acid-mine drainage in the Shamokin area,Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

The three anthracite coal fields of eastern Pennsylvania occur in large synclinal basins surrounded by sandstone hogback ridges. The streams draining the coal regions are heavily contaminated by sulfuric acid due to the weathering of pyrite in the abandoned mines and culm. Dams could be built in the water gaps of the streams leaving the basins, forming huge reservoirs. For example, in the western part of the Middle Coal Field (Shamokin-Mt. Carmel area), the construction of four dams would form a reservoir that would inundate practically all the culm banks, abandoned mines, and environmentally abused lands in this coal field. The reservoir (at approximately 410 m elevation) would be approximately 140 sq km in area and could be the source of water for pumped-storage hydroelectricity generation. The water should have moderately good quality and could serve the recreational needs of a vast population of the Middle Atlantic states.     

Possible indicators of microbial mat deposits in shales and sandstones: examples from the Mid-Proterozoic Belt Supergroup, Montana, U.S.A.

It has been suspected for some time that microbial mats probably colonized sediment surfaces in many terrigenous clastic sedimentary environments during the Proterozoic. However, domination of mat morphology by depositional processes, post-depositional compaction, and poor potential for cellular preservation of mat-building organisms make their positive identification a formidable challenge. Within terrigenous clastics of the Mid-Proterozoic Belt Supergroup, a variety of sedimentary structures and textural features have been observed that can be interpreted as the result of microbial colonization of sediment surfaces. Among these are: (a) domal buildups resembling stromatolites in carbonates; (b) cohesive behaviour of laminae during soft-sediment deformation, erosion, and transport; (c) wavy–crinkly character of laminae; (d) bed surfaces with pustular–wrinkled appearance; (e) rippled patches on otherwise smooth surfaces; (f) laminae with mica enrichment and/or randomly oriented micas; (g) irregular, curved–wrinkled impressions on bedding planes; (h) uparched laminae near mud-cracks resembling growth ridges of polygonal stromatolites; and (i) lamina-specific distribution of certain early diagenetic minerals (dolomite, ferroan carbonates, pyrite). Although in none of the described examples can it irrefutably be proven that they are microbial mat deposits, the observed features are consistent with such an interpretation and should be considered indicators of possible microbial mat presence in other Proterozoic sequences.     

Geochemical signature of provenance in sand-size material in soils and stream sediments near the Tobacco Root batholith, Montana, U.S.A.

Trace-element geochemistry of sandstones are being used to determine provenance. We have conducted preliminary and limited experiments to determine to what extent daughter sands retain the geochemical signature of parent rocks. Six sets of first-order stream sediments, soils from adjacent slopes, and a variety of parent rocks were collected from southwestern Montana, U.S.A. Sampling in a low-relief area ensured that climate and residence time of soils on slopes could be eliminated as variables. Sand-size fractions of stream sediments and soils, and the corresponding parent rocks (granodiorite, quartz monzonite, granite gneiss, biotite-tonalite gneiss and amphibolite) were analyzed for most major elements and selected trace elements. Petrologic modal analysis of the parent rocks and the 0.25–0.50-mm fraction of each sand was done to monitor major mineralogic control, if any, on chemical compositions of the samples.

Our data show that the abundances of the Si and Al in sediments do not discriminate provenance. Abundances of Ca, Mg, Fe and Ti may broadly distinguish between sands derived from metamorphic and igneous source rocks, at least in the area studied. Differences in abundances of the Ba and Th, and the ratio of La/Lu between granitic, tonalitic and amphibolitic parent rocks are preserved in the daughter sediments that we studied. However, the size of the Eu anomaly in the REE patterns of different daughter sediments is not diagnostic of parent rocks. Abundances of Co and Sc distinguish between sediments derived from felsic and mafic rocks. A better provenance discrimination is obtained if the ratios La/Sc, Th/Sc, La/Co, Ba/Sc and Ba/Co are used.

Petrologic modal data show that mineral contents and chemical compositions of parent rocks are compatible with each other. The chemical composition of the sands may be roughly correlated to the petrological modal data but the abundances of some minor and trace elements of sediments cannot be inferred from modal mineralogy. This is expected because these elements may concentrate in accessory minerals and/or may weather out into aqueous or clay mineral fractions; it is also compatible with conclusions of previous studies that some of these elements do not reside in sand-size fractions of siliciclastic sediments.     

Relation between shallow sediment bitumens and deeper reservoired hydrocarbons,offshore Santa Maria basin,California, U.S.A.

Detailed molecular and isotopic analysis of near surface liquid hydrocarbon seepage is useful not only in determining the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons but also to indicate the type and quality of deeper seated hydrocarbons. Near surface sediment bitumens collected over known production in the offshore Santa Maria basin were shown to be similar to reservoired petroleum in the adjacent onshore. Triterpane, sterane and aromatized sterane compositional similarities between oils and near surface sediment bitumens suggest a common source in the Monterey Formation. An empirical model based on the relation between oil composition (pristane/phytane and bisnorhopane/hopane ratios) and API gravity was applied to the near surface bitumens and accurately predicted the API gravity of the nearest known production. The improvement and refinement of geochemical prospecting techniques has greatly enhanced their use and reliability as exploration tools.     

Petrography and petrochemistry of latest Pliocene olivine-tholeiites of Taos area,northern New Mexico,U.S.A.

In north-central New Mexico, U.S.A., enormous volumes of basaltic rocks erupted in latest Pliocene time, forming large flat plateaus along the western foot of the Rocky Mountain Range.Petrographically, and also geologically, the volcanic rocks are divided into three series. Of these, the lava flows of the middle series accounted for more than ninety-five per cent of both area and volume. The first two series are composed of olivine-tholeiite while the last one is composed of calc-alkaline andesite.Twenty volcanic rocks, five groundmass plagioclases and five groundmass clinopyroxenes have been chemically analysed.The basalts are intermediate between tholeiitic and alkaline types and are rather similar to the high-alumina basalt from Oregon and the Cascade Range. However, the crystallization trends of groundmass plagioclase and clinopyroxene closely resemble those found in Japanese and Kilauean tholeiitic series.     

Ammonium halos in lithogeochemical exploration for gold at the Horse Canyon carbonate-hosted deposit,Nevada, U.S.A.: use and limitations

Rock samples taken from the oxidized, open pit (to depths of 55 m) of the carbonate-hosted Horse Canyon gold deposit contain no NH₄⁺. Samples from the unoxidized zone at the bottom of the pit in the “protore”, however, contain as much as 1.44% NH₄⁺ (1.12% N); the presence of NH₄⁺ was confirmed by mass spectrometry. From these results it is concluded that samples from any oxidized environment (e.g. outcrops, soils) likely will have lost all, or most, of any NH₄⁺ originaly present in minerals such as buddingtonite of NH₄⁺-containing clays. This limits the use of NH₄⁺ halos in lithogeochemical exploration programs. The most reliable application of lithogeochemical studies based on NH₄⁺ halos will likely be based on samples from drill cores and other situations where the samples have always been in a reducing environment.Analysis for NH₄⁺ by IR spectroscopy, the method preferred by most previous workers, is subject to several inherent problems, the main one being the presence of the CO₃²⁻ ion whose absorbance at about 1430 cm⁻¹ coincides with that used to determine NH₄⁺. The removal of CO₃²⁻ and other phases (e.g. organic matter) which may cause analytical difficulties by chemical treatment is not recommended because it is not possible to predict the effect of such treatment on any one of several possible minerals which may contain NH₄⁺. It is suggested that the most efficient method of analysis of rock samples for NH₄⁺ (or N which can be assumed to represent NH₄⁺) will be to analyze the samples after heating to 550°C, at which temperature all organic NH₄⁺ (and N) is removed by oxidation. Any remaining NH₄⁺ (N) determined on this residue can be assumed to originate in NH₄⁺-containing mineral structures.     

Burial of reefs by shallow-water carbonates,Silurian Gower formation,Iowa, U.S.A.

The Gower Formation was deposited in two main stages. In the first, crinoid-coelenterate reef complexes, consisting of numerous closely spaced mounds, developed to maximum relief in water about 30 metres deep initially. Complexes are asymmetrical: the well defined windward Marginal Zone has pronounced local relief; the flatter, more extensive Leeward Zone fans out behind a high central area. Equivalent off-reef beds, where correlation is clear, consist of relatively fine skeletal dolomite.The second-stage deposits record a fall in sea level and the filling of first-stage topographic lows by progressively shallower-water sediments. These were mainly laminated carbonate muds and fine sands (Brady/Anamosa facies group). In the Marginal Zone these were deposited at first as steep wedge-beds on earlier mound flanks, together with a distinctive fauna and scattered stromatolites (Brady facies). Mounds expanded laterally while developing a platform on top. Poorly fossiliferous, flatter-lying beds (Laminate-Anamosa) subsequently filled remaining inter-mound hollows. Equivalent deposits in the Leeward Zone consist almost entirely of Laminate-Anamosa. Off-reef equivalents are probably generally similar.The second stage of Gower deposition ended with the accumulation across inter-complex basins of extensive uniform sheets of stromatolites and subordinate laminated muds (Crenulate-Anamosa). Near the reefs Crenulate-Anamosa overlies Laminate-Anamosa; in basin centres it lies directly on beds of the first depositional stage. The stromatolites are believed to have originated in very shallow, perhaps tideless, water with restricted circulation and high salinity.The shallow-water origin of these sediments suggests that reef tops were exposed during second-stage deposition, and consequently accumulated little or no sediment. Filled caves and a slightly earlier erosion surface tend to support this interpretation.

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Zusammenfassung Die Sedimente der silurischen Gower-Formation im Staate Iowa wurden in zwei Phasen abgelagert. Während der ersten entwickelte sich in Krinoiden-Coelenteraten Riffkomplexe aus vielen nah benachbarten Kuppen ein Relief in ursprünglich 30 m Wassertiefe. Die Riffkomplexe sind asymmetrisch: die gut definierte Randzone in Windrichtung hat ein ausgeprägtes Detailrelief; hinter einer zentralen Erhebung erstrecken sich die weniger steilen und ausgedehnteren Fächer der Lee-Zone. Soweit korrelierbar, bestehen die riffernen Sedimente aus relativ feinem skeletalem Dolomit.Die Ablagerungen der zweiten Phase repräsentieren eine Senkung des Meeresspiegels; die topographisch tieferen Teile des vorhandenen Reliefs werden mit Sedimenten aus immer geringerer Wassertiefe gefüllt, hauptsächlich mit laminierten Karbonatschlammen und Feinsanden (Brady/Anamosa-Fazies-Gruppe). In der Randzone wurden sie zunächst als steile keilförmige Schichten auf Kuppenhängen abgelagert (Brady/Fazies); diese enthalten eine charakteristische Fauna und einzelne Stromatolithe. Die Kuppen verbreiterten sich entsprechen zu Plateaus. Fossilarme, flacher liegende Schichten (laminierte Anamosa-Fazies) füllten dann die Restsenken zwischen den Kuppen. Die entsprechenden Ablagerungen der Lee-Zone gehören fast ausschließlich zur letzteren Fazies, und rifferne Sedimente sind wahrscheinlich im allgemeinen ähnlich.Am Ende der zweiten Phase der Gower-Formation wurden ausgedehnte einförmige Schichten von Stromatolithen und — untergeordnet — laminierten Schlammen (gewellte Anamosa-Fazies) in den Becken zwischen den Riffkomplexen abgelagert. In Riffnähe wird die laminierte von der gewellten Anamosa-Fazies überdeckt, im Beckenzentrum folgt die letztere direkt auf die Ablagerungen der ersten Phase. Für die Stromatolith-Bildung wird sehr flaches, vielleicht gezeiten-loses Wasser mit beschränkter Zirkulation und hoher Salinität angenommen.Bei Ablagerung dieser Sedimente im Flachwasser müssen die Riffoberflächen während der zweiten Phase trocken gelegen haben, weshalb sie mit wenig oder keinem Sediment überdeckt wurden. Hohlraumfüllungen und eine wenig ältere Erosionsfläche scheinen diese Interpretation zu unterstützen.

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Résumé Les sédiments de la formation silurienne Gower dans l'état Iowa furent déposés en deux phases. Pendant la première phase, il se forma un relief, à partier de nombreux pitons sous-marins voisins, dans les complexes de récifs de crinoïdes-coelentérés à l'intérieur d'une profondeur d'eau originelle de 30 m. Les complexes de récifs sont asymétriques. La zone de bordure, bien définie dans la direction du vent, possède un relief de détails marqué; derrière une élévation centrale s'étendent les surfaces moins escarpées et allongées de la zone »Lee«. S'il est possible de les comparer, les sédiments des récifs se composent de dolomites relativement fines.Les dépôts de la deuxième phase représentent un affaissement du niveau de la mer. Les parties topographiques profondes du relief présent seront comblées par des sédiments provenant de profondeurs d'eau toujours plus petites, principalement avec des vases de carbonates en lamelles et des sables fins (groupe de faciès »Brady/Anamosa«). Dans la zone de bordure, ces sédiments furent d'abord déposés sous forme de strates abruptes et cunéiformes sur les versants des coupoles (faciès Brady); ils contiennent une faune caractéristique et des »Stromatolites« particulières. Les coupoles s'étendirent pour se transformer en plateau. Puis, les couches plus basses, pauvres en fossiles (faciès en lamelles Anamosa), remplirent les depressions restantes entre les coupoles. Les dépôts correspondants de la zone »Lee« appartiennent, d'une manière presque exclusive, au dernier faciès et les sédiments loins des récifs sont en général, vraisemblablement, similaires.A la fin de la deuxième phase de la formation Gower, des couches de »Stromatolites« étendués et uniformes ainsi que des vases en lamelles subordonnées (faciès ondulés Anamosa) furent déposées dans les bassins entre les complexes de récifs. A proximité des récifs, le faciès en lamelles sera recouvert par le faciés ondulé Anamosa; dans le centre du bassin, le dernier faciès suit immédiatement les dépôts de la première phase. Pour la formation de »Stromatolites« on présume l'action d'eau à bas niveau, peut être sans marées, mais avec des courants limités et de la salinités élevée.Pendant la sédimentation de ces couches dans l'eau basse, les surfaces des récifs doivent avoir été à sec durant la deuxième phase. C'est pourquoi elles ne sont couvertes que de peu de sédiment ou pas du tout. Le remplisage de cavernes et une surface d'érosion un peu plus ancienne semblent supporter cette interprétation.

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Properties, origin and nomenclature of rodlets of the inertinite maceral group in coals of the central Appalachian basin, U.S.A.

Resin rodlets, sclerenchyma strands and woody splinters, which are collectively called rodlets, were studied by chemical, optical petrographic, and scanning-electron microscopic (SEM) techniques. A study was made of such rodlets from the bituminous coal beds of the central Appalachian basin (Pennsylvanian; Upper Carboniferous) of the United States. Comparisons were made with rodlets from coal beds of the Illinois basin, the Southern Anthracite Field of Pennsylvania, the St. Rose coal field of Nova Scotia, and European and other coal fields. In order to determine their physical and chemical properties, a detailed study was made of the rodlets from the Pomeroy coal bed (high volatile A bituminous coal; Monongahela Formation; Upper Pennsylvanian) of Kanawha County, West Virginia. The origin of the rodlets was determined by a comparative analysis of a medullosan (seed fern) stem from the Herrin (No. 6) coal bed (high volatile C bituminous coal; Carbondale Formation) from Washington County, Illinois. Rodlets are commonly concentrated in fusain or carbominerite layers or lenses in bituminous coal beds of the central Appalachian basin. Most of the rodlets examined in our study were probably derived from medullosan seed ferns. The three types of rodlets are distinguished on the basis of cellularity, morphology and fracture.The resin rodlets studied by us are noncellular and appear to be similar in properties and origin to those found in coal beds of the Middle and Upper Pennsylvanian of the Illinois basin. The resin rodlets extracted from the Pomeroy coal bed exhibit high relief and high reflectance when polished and viewed in reflected light; they are opaque in transmitted light. In cross section, the resin rodlets are oval to round and have diameters ranging from 60 to 450 μm. Many are solid, but some have vesicles, canals or cavities, which are commonly filled with clay, probably kaolinite. Typically, they have distinct fracture patterns (“kerfs”) in longitudinal and cross sections and many are characterized by dense (probably oxidized) rims. The orientation and amounts of void space and mineralization of resin rodlets in coal have resulted in much confusion in their recognition and classification. The resin rodlets are petrographically recognized as sclerotinites of the inertinite maceral group. We here propose that resin rodlets be assigned to the maceral variety of sclerotinites termed “resino-sclerotinite” because of their presumable resinous origin. Other investigators have confused some fusinitized resin rodlets with fungal masses, which have different morphological properties and which probably have different chemical properties. We here propose that such fungal masses be assigned to the maceral variety of sclerotinites termed “fungo-sclerotinite.”The sclerenchyma strands examined in our study are cellular, thick-walled, and crescent-shaped in cross section. They exhibit high reflectance and high relief and belong to semifusinite and fusinite of the inertinite maceral group. Sclerenchyma strands are commonly associated with resin canals in Medullosa and related seed-fern genera, which are common in coal balls of the Illinois basin. We here propose adoption of the maceral varietal terms “sclerenchymo-fusinite” and “sclerenchymo-semifusinite” for these bodies.The woody splinters in the Pomeroy coal bed are cellular and thin-walled and have scattered pits as much as a few microns in diameter. They are dark brown to black in transmitted light and commonly have a lower reflectance than the resino-sclerotinite and sclerenchymo-fusinite of the Pomeroy coal. The woody splinters belong to semifusinite and fusinite of the inertinite maceral group. The maceral varietal terms “xylemo-semifusinite” and “xylemo-fusinite” are here proposed for these bodies.Elemental chemical data for the resin rodlets of the Pomeroy coal bed of the central Appalachian basin indicate that resin rodlets have significantly lower atomic H/C and O/C ratios than do sclerenchyma strands and woody splinters. The lower atomic H/C and O/C ratios of the resin rodlets correlate with the highest reflectance. In the coal ball medullosan seed-fern stem from the Herrin (No. 6) coal bed of the Illinois basin, the reflectances of the resin rodlets, woody splinters and sclerenchyma strands are similar and comparable to those of associated vitrinite in the coal ball stem and in the attached coal. However, resin rodlets and sclerenchyma strands in the attached coal have significantly higher reflectances, similar to those of the Pomeroy coal.