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Geology topics

A. L. Meier

Publications and source records attributed to A. L. Meier.

48 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
USGS1992

Lead isotopes in iron and manganese oxide coatings and their use as an exploration guide for concealed mineralization

Lead isotopes from Fe and Mn oxides that coat stream pebbles from around the Mount Emmons porphyry molybdenum deposit in Colorado were studied to assess the feasibility of using Pb isotopes to detect concealed mineral deposits. The Fe/Mn oxide coatings were analyzed to determine their elemental concentrations using ICP-AES. The Pb isotope compositions of solutions from a selected suite of samples were measured, using both thermal ionization and ICP mass spectrometry, to compare results determined by the two analytical methods. Heavy mineral concentrates from the same sites were also analyzed to compare the Pb isotope compositions of the Fe/Mn coatings with those found in panned concentrates. The Fe/Mn and 206 Pb/ 204 Pb ratios of the oxide coatings are related to the lithology of the host rocks; Fe/Mn oxide coatings on pebbles of black shale have higher Fe/Mn values than do the coatings on either sandstone or igneous rocks. The shale host rocks have a more radiogenic signature (e.g. higher 206 Pb/ 204 Pb) than the sandstone or igneous host rocks. The Pb isotope data from sandstone and igneous hosts can detect concealed mineralized rock on both a regional and local scale, even though there are contributions from: (1) metals from the main-stage molybdenite ore deposit; (2) metals from the phyllic alteration zone which has a more radiogenic Pb isotope signature reflecting hydrothermal leaching of Pb from the Mancos Shale; (3) Pb-rich base metal veins with a highly variable Pb isotope signature; and (4) sedimentary country rocks which have a more radiogenic Pb isotope signature. An investigation of within-stream variation shows that the Pb isotope signature of the molybdenite ore zone is retained in the Fe/Mn oxide coatings and is not camouflaged by contributions from Pb-rich base-metal veins that crop out upstream. In another traverse, the Pb isotope data from Fe/Mn oxide coatings reflect a complex mixing of Pb from the molybdenite ore zone and its hornfels margin, Pb-rich base-metal veins, and sedimentary country rocks. Stream-sediment anomalies detected using oxalic acid leaches can be evaluated using Pb isotope analysesof selected geochemical anomalies. Such an evaluation procedure, given regional target Pb isotope signatures for concealed mineralization, can greatly reduce the cost of exploration for undiscovered ore deposits concealed beneath barren overburden. Lead isotope measurements on aliquots of the same solutions showed that ICP-MS determinations are of low precision and vary non-systematically when compared with the Pb isotope values of the higher precision thermal ionization method. These variations and lower precision of the ICP-MS measurements are attributed to matrix effects.

Colorado↗
USGS1992

Placer and lode platinum-group minerals in south Kalimantan, Indonesia: Evidence for derivation from Alaskan-type ultramafic intrusions

Platinum‐group element minerals (PGM) occur in significant proportions in placer deposits in several localities in South Kalimantan. They consist of Pt‐Fe alloy that may be intergrown with or contain inclusions of Ir‐Os‐Ru alloy, laurite and chromite. Alluvial PGM found along Sungai Tambanio are in part derived from chromitite schlieren in dunitic bodies intruded into clinopyroxene cumulates that may be part of an Alaskan‐type ultramafic complex. A chromitite schlieren in serpentinite from one of these dunitic bodies is anomalous in PGE (Pt: 580 ppb; Pd: 3.4 ppb; Rh: 1 ppb; Ru: 9 ppb; Ir: 21 ppb; and Os: 3.9 ppb). The chondrite‐normalized PGE pattern for this rock, pan concentrates from this area, and PGM concentrates from diamond‐Au‐PGM placer deposits have an ‘M'‐shaped pattern enriched in Ir and Pt that is typical of PGE‐mineralization associated with Alaskan‐type ultramafic complexes.

South Kalimantan↗
USGS1990

Enzyme leaching of surficial geochemical samples for detecting hydromorphic trace-element anomalies associated with precious-metal mineralized bedrock buried beneath glacial overburden in northern Minnesota

One objective of the International Falls and Roseau, Minnesota, CUSMAP projects was to develop a means of conducting regional-scale geochemical surveys in areas where bedrock is buried beneath complex glacially derived overburden. Partial analysis of B-horizon soils offered hope for detecting subtle hydromorphic trace-element dispersion patterns. An enzyme-based partial leach selectively removes metals from oxide coatings on the surfaces of soil materials without attacking their matrix. Most trace-element concentrations in the resulting solutions are in the part-per-trillion to low part-per-billion range, necessitating determinations by inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry. The resulting data show greater contrasts for many trace elements than with other techniques tested. Spatially, many trace metal anomalies are locally discontinuous, but anomalous trends within larger areas are apparent. In many instances, the source for an anomaly seems to be either basal till or bedrock. Ground water flow is probably the most important mechanism for transporting metals toward the surface, although ionic diffusion, electrochemical gradients, and capillary action may play a role in anomaly dispersal. Sample sites near the Rainy Lake-Seine River fault zone, a regional shear zone, often have anomalous concentrations of a variety of metals, commonly including Zn and/or one or more metals which substitute for Zn in sphalerite (Cd, Ge, Ga, and Sn). Shifts in background concentrations of Bi, Sb, and As show a trend across the area indicating a possible regional zoning of lode-Au mineralization. Soil anomalies of Ag, Co, and Tl parallel basement structures, suggesting areas that may have potential for Cobalt/Thunder Baytype silver viens. An area around Baudette, Minnesota, which is underlain by quartz-chlorite-carbonate-altered shear zones, is anomalous in Ag, As, Bi, Co, Mo, Te, Tl, and W. Anomalies of Ag, As, Bi, Te, and W tend to follow the fault zones, suggesting potential for lode-Au deposits. Soil anomalies of Co, Mo, and Tl appear to follow northwest-striking structures that cross the shear zones, suggesting that Thunder Bay-type mineralization may have overprinted earlier mineralization along the shear zones.

Conference Paper↗
USGS1984

Determination of total tin in geological materials by electrothermal atomic-absorption spectrophotometry using a tungsten-impregnated graphite furnace

An electrothermal atomic-absorption spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of total tin in geological materials, with use of a tungsten-impregnated graphite furnace. The sample is decomposed by fusion with lithium metaborate and the melt is dissolved in 10% hydrochloric acid. Tin is then extracted into trioctylphosphine oxide-methyl isobutyl ketone prior to atomization. Impregnation of the furnace with a sodium tungstate solution increases the sensitivity of the determination and improves the precision of the results. The limits of determination are 0.5–20 ppm of tin in the sample. Higher tin values can be determined by dilution of the extract. Replicate analyses of eighteen geological reference samples with diverse matrices gave relative standard deviations ranging from 2.0 to 10.8% with an average of 4.6%. Average tin values for reference samples were in general agreement with, but more precise than, those reported by others. Apparent recoveries of tin added to various samples ranged from 95 to 111% with an average of 102%.

Talanta↗
USGS1984

Determination of indium in geological materials by electrothermal-atomization atomic absorption spectrometry with a tungsten-impregnated graphite furance

The sample is fused with lithium metaborate and the melt is dissolved in 15% (v/v) hydrobromic acid. Iron(III) is reduced with ascorbic acid to avoid its coextraction with indium as the bromide into methyl isobutyl ketone. Impregnation of the graphite furnace with sodium tungstate, and the presence of lithium metaborate and ascorbic acid in the reaction medium improve the sensitivity and precision. The limits of determination are 0.025–16 mg kg −1 indium in the sample. For 22 geological reference samples containing more than 0.1 mg kg −1 indium, relative standard deviations ranged from 3.0 to 8.5% (average 5.7%). Recoveries of indium added to various samples ranged from 96.7 to 105.6% (average 100.2%).

Analytica Chimica Acta↗
USGS1979

Geochemical data for Cohutta Wilderness, Georgia-Tennessee

Trace-element data obtained from stream-sediment, soil, and rock-chip samples by semiquantitative spectrographic and atomic absorption analyses. Geochemical data are grouped alphabetically by letter prefix and arranged in numerical order within the lettered groups. The listed data were obtained from samples collected in 1977 and 1978 by Jacob E. Gair and John F. Slack, assisted by Andrew Grosz, Richard Ketelle, Donald Henry, Thomas Hanley, Ann Stevens, and Gregory R. Morley. The spectrographic and atomic absorption analyses were done in laboratories of the Branch of Exploration Research, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver. The spectrographic analyses were done by David F. Siems and Elwin L. Mosier; the atomic absorption analyses, by Allen L. Meier. Data retrieval from the computerized storage file of the U.S. Geological Survey was made by Nancy A. Wright.

Georgia, Tennessee↗