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Minerals & deposits

Find USGS publications on mineral resources and deposits. Search commodities and geographic names, then check source reports for geology and assessment methods.

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USGS1946

Geology and nickel mineralization of the Julian-Cuyamaca area, San Diego County, California

The Julian-Cuyamaca area is in the San Diego Mountains, one of the Peninsular Ranges of southern California. It lies in San Diego County, about 3 miles south of Julian, and approximately 60 miles northeast of San Diego. The area was mapped, and its nickel mineralization studied, from March to June, 1944; the work was part of the U. S. Geological Survey's program of strategic mineral investigations.

California↗
USGS1975

Age of volcanism, intrusion, and mineralization in the Thomas Range, Keg Mountain, and Desert Mountain, western Utah

Twenty-six new age determinations by the fission-track method establish a chronology for volcanism, intrusion, and mineralization in the Thomas Range, Keg Mountain, and Desert Mountain, in western Utah. The fission-track ages confirm D. R. Shawe's three-fold classification of igneous rocks. The oldest group of rocks consists of flows, agglomerates, and some ash-flow tuffs that were deposited 38-39 m.y. ago. The middle group contains widespread rhyolitic ash-flow tuffs that originated from local volcanic centers 30-32 m.y. ago. A dike emplaced along the probable ring-fracture zone of the Keg caldera about 31 m.y. ago indicates that caldera collapse occurred soon after eruption of ash-flow tuffs. Rocks believed to belong-to the middle group also were intruded by the quartz monzonite of Desert Mountain 27-30 m.y. ago. Little or no igneous activity took place within the next 20 m.y., during which time the region was strongly broken by Basin-and-Range faulting. Rhyolites of the youngest group were extruded 8-10 m.y. ago in the Keg Mountain area and 6-7 m.y. ago in the Thomas Range. The beryllium-fluorite mineralization at Spor Mountain occurred after the rhyolitic volcanism in the Thomas Range.

Utah↗
USGS2009

Composition and source of salinity of ore-bearing fluids in Cu-Au systems of the Carajás Mineral Province, Brazil

The composition and Cl/Br &ndash; NaCl ratios of highly saline aqueous inclusions from large tonnage (> 100 t) IOCG deposits (Sossego, Alvo 118, and Igarap&eacute; Bahia) and a Paleoproterozoic intrusion-related Cu-Au-(Mo-W-Bi-Sn) deposit (Breves; < 50 Mt)) in the Caraj&aacute;s Mineral Province have been analysed by LA-ICP-MS and ion chromatography. In both Cu-Au systems, brine inclusions are Ca-dominated (5 to 10 times more than in porphyry Cu-Au fluids), and contain percent level concentrations of Na and K. IOCG inclusion fluids, however, contain higher Sr, Ba, Pb, and Zn concentrations, but significantly less Bi, than the intrusion-related Breves inclusion fluids. Cu is consistently below detection limits in brine inclusions from the IOCG and intrusion-related systems and Fe was not detected in the latter. Cl/Br and Na/Cl ratios of the IOCG inclusion fluids range from entirely evaporative brines (bittern fluids; e.g. Igarap&eacute; Bahia and Alvo 118) to values that indicate mixing with magma-derived brines. Cl/Br and Na/Cl ratios of the Breves inclusion fluids strongly suggest the involvement of magmatic brines, but that possibly also incorporated bittern fluids. Collectively, these data demonstrate that residual evaporative and magmatic brines were important components of the fluid regime involved in the formation of Cu-Au systems in the Caraj&aacute;s Mineral Province.

Carajás Mineral Province↗
USGS2010

Supply of and demand for selected energy related mineral commodities

In this report, subjects discussed include components of mineral supply, production, and consumption data, and information on selected mineral commodities in which the Energy Critical Elements Study Group has an interest, and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recycling studies, with some results of these studies.

Conference Paper↗
USGS1973

Metamorphic facies indicated by vein minerals in basal beds of the Great Valley sequence, northern California

A reexamination of reported blueschist mineral localities in the basal strata of the Great Valley sequence revealed only prehnite-pumpellyite facies minerals. Franciscan graywacke thrust below the Great Valley rocks contains lawsonite-quartz blueschist assemblages. At a common pressure of about 4 kb, the Franciscan blueschists formed at lower temperatures than the overlying Great Valley prehnite-bearing rocks, lending support to tectonic models that involve rapid subduction of the Franciscan rocks.

California↗
USGS1977

Occurrence of bloedite and related minerals in marine shale of Diablo and Temblor Ranges, California

Bloedite, epsomite, and related minerals occur in small amounts throughout the arid eastern foothills of the Diablo and Temblor Ranges, as efflorescences on siliceous shale and as deposits around small springs and a brine pond. These minerals ultimately are products of weathering of underlying organic shale, and they are reminders that the chemistry of weathering of reduced organic shale is largely a reversal of the chemistry of its early diagenesis.

California↗
USGS2009

Aquatic ecosystems in Central Colorado are influenced by mineral forming processes and historical mining

Stream water and sediment toxicity to aquatic insects were quantified from central Colorado catchments to distinguish the effect of geologic processes which result in high background metals concentrations from historical mining. Our sampling design targeted small catchments underlain by rocks of a single lithology, which allowed the development of biological and geochemical baselines without the complication of multiple rock types exposed in the catchment. By accounting for geologic sources of metals to the environment, we were able to distinguish between the environmental effects caused by mining and the weathering of different mineralized areas. Elevated metal concentrations in water and sediment were not restricted to mined catchments. Impairment of aquatic communities also occurred in unmined catchments influenced by hydrothermal alteration. Hydrothermal alteration style, deposit type, and mining were important determinants of water and sediment quality and aquatic community structure. Weathering of unmined porphyry Cu-Mo occurrences resulted in water (median toxic unit (TU) = 108) and sediment quality (TU = 1.9) that exceeded concentrations thought to be safe for aquatic ecosystems (TU = 1). Metalsensitive aquatic insects were virtually absent from streams draining catchments with porphyry Cu-Mo occurrences (1.1 individuals/0.1 m2 ). However, water and sediment quality (TU = 0.1, 0.5 water and sediment, respectively) and presence of metalsensitive aquatic insects (204 individuals/0.1 m2 ) for unmined polymetallic vein occurrences were indistinguishable from that for unmined and unaltered streams (TU = 0.1, 0.5 water and sediment, respectively; 201 individuals/0.1 m2 ). In catchments with mined quartz-sericite-pyrite altered polymetallic vein deposits, water (TU = 8.4) and sediment quality (TU = 3.1) were degraded and more toxic to aquatic insects (36 individuals/0.1 m2 ) than water (TU = 0.4) and sediment quality (TU = 1.7) from mined propylitically altered polymetallic vein deposits. The sampling approach taken in this study distinguishes the effects of different mineral deposits on ecosystems and can be used to more accurately quantify the effect of mining on the environment.

Conference Paper↗
USGS2013

Mineral resource of the month: Phosphate rock

As a mineral resource, “phosphate rock” is defined as unprocessed ore and processed concentrates that contain some form of apatite, a group of calcium phosphate minerals that is the primary source for phosphorus in phosphate fertilizers, which are vital to agriculture.

Earth↗
USGS2014

Mineral resource of the month: Strontium

Strontium occurs commonly in nature, ranking as the 15th most abundant chemical element on Earth. Only two minerals contain sufficient strontium, however, to be used commercially to produce strontium compounds: Strontianite (strontium carbonate) has a higher strontium content, but celestite (strontium sulfate) is by far the most abundant strontium mineral.

Earth↗
USGS2005

Statistical guides to estimating the number of undiscovered mineral deposits: an example with porphyry copper deposits

Estimating numbers of undiscovered mineral deposits is a fundamental part of assessing mineral resources. Some statistical tools can act as guides to low variance, unbiased estimates of the number of deposits. The primary guide is that the estimates must be consistent with the grade and tonnage models. Another statistical guide is the deposit density (i.e., the number of deposits per unit area of permissive rock in well-explored control areas). Preliminary estimates and confidence limits of the number of undiscovered deposits in a tract of given area may be calculated using linear regression and refined using frequency distributions with appropriate parameters. A Poisson distribution leads to estimates having lower relative variances than the regression estimates and implies a random distribution of deposits. Coefficients of variation are used to compare uncertainties of negative binomial, Poisson, or MARK3 empirical distributions that have the same expected number of deposits as the deposit density. Statistical guides presented here allow simple yet robust estimation of the number of undiscovered deposits in permissive terranes.

Conference Paper↗
USGS2018

Mineral resource of the month: Chromium

Although chromium is a metal, it does not occur naturally in metallic form. Chromium can be found in many minerals, but the only economically significant chromium-bearing mineral is chromite. Chromite has been mined from four different deposit types: stratiform chromite, podiform chromite, placer chromite, and laterite deposits. Most of the world's resources, however, are located in stratiform chromite deposits, such as the Bushveld Complex in South Africa. The economic potential of chromite resources depends on the thickness and continuity of the deposit and on the grade of the ore. Many of the major stratiform chromite deposits also contain economic levels of platinum, paladium, rhodium, osmium, iridium, and ruthenium.

Earth Magazine↗
USGS1952

Phosphate mineralization at Bomi hill and Bambuta, Liberia, west Africa

Iron phosphate minerals which cement talus ore below cliffs formed by massive magnetite- hematite deposits at Bomi hill, Liberia, and also occur in place in fissures and caves in the ore both at Bomi hill and Bambuta, were formed by the interaction of bat dung and iron oxides. The minerals include leucophosphite (previously known only from Western Australia), phosphosiderite, and strengite. Analyses of the leucophosphite are included.

West Africa↗
USGS1976

Evaluation of LANDSAT-1 image applications to geologic mapping, structural analysis and mineral resource inventory of South America with special emphasis on the Andes Mountain region: Type III final report for period January 1973 to July 1974

The author has identified the following significant results. The discovery of copper mineralization along a lineament mapped in Area 7 (La Paz) has lent credence to the use of LANDSAT 1 data as a basic step in mineral exploration. In Area 9 (Copiapo Region), a number of lineaments were found to be associated with the largest copper deposits of the region. In Area 12 (Magallanes), the identification of what is believed to be a tertiary basin from LANDSAT 1 data has resulted in a new area for petroleum exploration. Band 7 images, as black and white transparencies, were found to be the most useful for geologic interpretation in both tropical vegetated areas and desert regions. Color composites made by the diazochrome process, chromaline process, and from color additive viewers provided additional information. Mosaics of LANDSAT 1 data covering 4 x 6 degrees of latitude and longitude compiled at the 1:1,000,000 scale were found to be an ideal size and format for most users.

Araqua, Belo Horizonte, Copiapo, La Paz, Magallane↗
USGS1977

Depositional environments as a guide to uranium mineralization in the Chinle Formation, San Rafael Swell, Utah

Uranium deposits in the San Rafael Swell are related to sedimentary depositional environments in the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation. The sedimentary textures resulting from depositional processes operating in low-energy environments appear to have influenced uranium mineralization. The Ohinle consists of three fining-upward, fluvial-lacustrine sequences. Uranium minerals are concentrated in the lower part of the lowest sequence in areas where sediments of low-energy environments are complexly interbedded with sediments of other environments. Areas favorable for uranium exploration exist in the subsurface to the north, west, and south of the Chinle outcrop in the Swell. This determination is based on the spatial distribution of depositional environments and the pattern of Chinle deposition through time.

Utah↗
USGS2007

Chemical weathering of a marine terrace chronosequence, Santa Cruz, California: Deciphering reaction rates from mineral depth profiles

A soil chronosequence developed on marine terraces along coastal California, exhibits deeper and more intensively weathered mineral profiles with increasing age (65 to 226 kyrs). Feldspar concentrations generally increase linearly with terrace depth. The slope or weathering gradient is defined by the ratio of the weathering rate and the velocity at which the profile penetrates into the regolith.A spread sheet calculator further refines profile geometries, demonstrating that the non-linear regions at low residual feldspar concentrations are dominated by exponential changes in mineral surface to volume and at high residual feldspar concentrations by the approach to thermodynamic saturation.These parameters, in addition to the kinetic rate constant, are of secondary importance to the fluid flux qh which controls the weathering velocity and solute fluxes from the profile. © 2007 Taylor & Francis Group, London.

California↗
USGS2007

Developing a new method of measuring dissolution rates of silicate minerals using changes in the isotopic ratio of a spiked solution

Weathering in the field tends to be incongruent due to the precipitation of secondary phases. However, most laboratory experiments are designed to avoid such precipitation, as it complicates the interpretation of the experimental results. Here we report on a new method that eliminates the effect of secondary phase precipitation on the determination of the dissolution rate of a primary mineral. The dissolution rate determination in the newmethod is based on measured changes in Si isotopic composition of a spiked solution.The newmethod significantly improves the accuracy in calculating near-equilibrium dissolution rates. Moreover, combining this method with measured Al concentration enables the determination of precipitation rate of secondary minerals. © 2007 Taylor & Francis Group, London.

Conference Paper↗