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At least 1,729 records · Page 96Linked to original sources
USGS1975

Analysis for tellurium in rocks to 5 parts per billion

In the proposed method, a 12.5-g sample is digested with nitric acid and evaporated to dryness; the excess nitric acid is removed by reaction with formic acid. Tellurium is extracted from the dried residue into hydrobromic acid and is then coprecipitated with arsenic, using hypophosphorous acid as the reducing agent. The precipitate is dissolved in a solution of hydrobromic acid and bromine, from which the tellurium is extracted into 0.6 ml of methyl isobutyl ketone. Tellurium content is estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Recovery of tellurium from nitric acid solutions carried through the procedure approached 100 percent through the analytical range 5-200 ppb. The relative standard deviation of five consecutive analyses of USGS standard rock GSP-1 was 5.26 percent at a mean concentration of 20.8 ppb. Under optimum conditions an average of 20 samples may be analyzed per man-day.

Colorado↗
USGS1975

Fertility of eggs produced on territories of vasectomized red-winged blackbirds

Six male Red-winged Blackbirds scattered throughout 2 marshes were vasectomized in 1971, and their females began laying infertile clutches in 5 days. However, of 39 clutches on their territories, 27 (69%) were fertile. In 1972, 30, 50, and 100% of the males in 3 small isolated marshes were vasectomized, and 44, 33, and 12% of the clutches on their territories were fertile, respectively. All clutches were fertile in a fourth marsh where /// all males were sham-operated. All clutches checked were fertile on territories of fertile males adjacent to sterilized males. During the 2 years there were only 4 partially fertile clutches, 2 each on vasectomized and fertile males' territories. Examination of reproductive tracts of female Red-wings from other marshes showed that sperm retained from copulation were abundant during nest-building or egg-laying but had dropped to a few by hatching. In vasectomy studies, vasectomized males whose territories were the farthest from fertile males had the lowest percentage of fertile clutches. This and other evidence indicated that fertile clutches on territories of vasectomized males may have been due to females being promiscuous with fertile males. The occurrence of fertile clutches on territories of vasectomized males indicates that sterilizing some of the males in a population (as in a chemosterilant program) would not result in a proportional decrease in fertile clutches. However, the decreases achieved (up to 88%), and the probability of better results in an actual program, indicate that male chemosterilization would be a feasible means of reducing Red-wing populations.

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USGS1975

Relations between thermal, photographic, and topographic linears and mapped and measured structures in a Precambrian terrane in Colorado

Comparison of orientation of faults, foliations, and joints, observed during geologic mapping in Colorado, with thermal, photographic, and topographic linears shows that topographic linears are statistically useful indicators of mappable faults and fractures, photographic linears are less useful, and thermal linears, believed to represent zones of moisture concentration, are parallel to faults, foliations, and, a statistically minor, but more open joint set.

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USGS1975

An occurrence of disseminated uraninite in Wheeler Basin, Grand County, Colorado

Disseminated uraninite occurs in Wheeler Basin, Grand County, Colo., about 5 mi (8 km) southeast of Monarch Lake, in Precambrian metamorphic rocks consisting of migmatized gneiss and mixed gneiss and pegmatite. An intrusion of Precambrian Y Silver Plume Granite lies within 400 ft (122 m) of the occurrence. The disseminated uraninite is confined to parts of the host rock that are rich in biotite; highest grade found was 0.73 percent uranium. The disseminated uraninite occurs as cubes and grains, generally from 0.1 to 0.3 mm across. Unit cell edge of the uraninite, ≈ 5.48 A, suggests its pegmatitic origin. The origin of the uraninite disseminations is attributed by us to remobilization and concentration of elements during metamorphism caused by the intrusion of Silver Plume Granite. Uranium and lead isotopic analyses by K. R. Ludwig of uraninite and monazite from biotite concentrations confirm an apparent age of 1,450±20 m.y. for these minerals. This age is equivalent to that reported for the Silver Plume Granite. Although the Wheeler Basin occurrence is small in size, it has many similarities to the Rossing uranium deposit in South-West Africa.

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USGS1975

Absolute age of disseminated uraninite in Wheeler Basin, Grand County, Colorado

Uranium and lead isotopic analyses of monazlte and uraninite from the disseminated uraninite occurrence at Wheeler Basin, Grand County, Colo., indicate that these minerals formed 1,446±20 m.y. ago. This time correlates well with intrusion of the Silver Plume Granite. The uraninite and monazite were also affected by a later disturbance at 880±130 m.y., but show essentially no effects of subsequent events. This secondary disturbance may have been due to intrusion of dikes related to the Pikes Peak batholith, dated at 1,041±13 m.y. ago.

Colorado↗
USGS1974

Fluid inclusion and light stable isotope study of the climax molybdenum deposits, Colorado

The Climax mine contains three molybdenite ore bodies and widespread late quartz-pyrite-sericite barren mineralization, each related to separate intrusive phases of the Climax stock. Alteration zones spatially related to each molybdenite ore body include a silica zone below, a potassium-silicate zone that approximately coincides with ore, and overlying quartz-sericite-pyrite-topaz, argillic, and propylite zones . Delta 18 O values of quartz range from +8.4 to 10.9 per mil; delta 18 O values of muscovite and sericite range from --0.8 to +7.5 per mil. Eight of ten sericite values are between +5.8 and +7.5. All of the quartz and most of the sericite is in isotopic equilibrium with a calculated water at 350 degrees C with delta 18 O values of +3.0 to 5.5 per mil. Delta 18 O values of K-feldspars range from --4.5 to +7.5 per mil. This wide range indicates partial reequilibration of the feldspar with later, isotopically light, waters. Two muscovites have delta D values of --146 and --91 per mil; sericite ranges from --168 to --116 per mil. The calculated delta D values of water at 275 degrees C in equilibrium with sericite are --144 to --92. This range is the same as that of fluid inclusions in ore samples.Kaolinite in the argillic zone has delta 18 O values of --0.9 to --2.2 and delta D values of --162 per mil. Calculated water at 250 degrees C in equilibrium with kaolinite delta 18 O values of --4.7 to -6 and delta D of about -130 per mil. The isotopic and fluid inclusion data best fit a model whereby the Climax ore bodies were formed from a hydrothermal fluid that originated by mixing light and heavy waters. The light water is isotopically similar to present-day meteoric water; the heavy water has the isotopic composition postulated for magmatic water, although it could be meteoric water that was heavier than present-day meteoric water.

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USGS1974

The scavenging of silver by manganese and iron oxides in stream sediments collected from two drainage areas of Colorado

Stream sediments of two well-weathered and aerated drainage areas of Colorado containing anomalous amounts of silver were allowed to react by shaking with nitric acid of different concentrations (1–10M). Silver, manganese, and iron simultaneously dissolved were determined by atomic absorption. The relationship between silver dissolution and the dissolution of manganese and/or iron was evaluated by linear and multiple regression analyses. The highly significant correlation coefficient ( r = 0.913) between silver and manganese dissolution suggests that manganese oxides are the major control on the scavenging of silver in these stream sediments, whereas iron oxides only play a secondary role in this regard.

Colorado↗
USGS1974

Palaeomagnetism and magnetic–polarity zonation in some Oligocene volcanic rocks of the San Juan Mountains, south–western Colorado

Palaeomagnetic results have been obtained from thirty sites in intrusive and extrusive rocks of Oligocene age from the San Juan Mountains, south-western Colorado. All specimens from each site were subjected to af demagnetization, and the reliability of each site determined. Twenty-three sites gave reliable results. Because five sites from the thick intracaldera part of the La Jara Canyon Member of the Treasure Mountain Tuff appear to have become magnetized during the same small interval of geological time, their results were combined and their mean pole and direction used in the final calculations. The eighteen remaining reliable sites yielded an average Oligocene palaeomagnetic pole at 85·6° N and 298·0° E (δ p = 8°, δ m = 11°, k = 24·1). A stratigraphic sequence is given for the major San Juan ash-flow sheets and selected additional units with their corresponding magnetic polarities and mean K-Ar ages.

Colorado↗
USGS1974

Geologic map and sections of the Holy Cross quadrangle, Eagle, Lake, Pitkin, and Summit Counties, Colorado

This map was first published as a printed edition in 1974. The geologic data have now been captured digitally and are presented here along with images of the printed map sheets. The map encompasses the area of four 7.5-minute quadrangles between 39º15' and 39º 30'N and 106º15' and 106º30'W in the Sawatch and Gore mountain ranges, and upper part of the Arkansas River drainage in central Colorado. The Holy Cross geologic map depicts in detail the complex geology at the north end of the Sawatch Range on the west at its junction with south end of the Gore Range on the east. The ranges are separated in the southern part of the map area by the upper reaches of the Arkansas River, and in the northeast part by the narrow valley of the upper Eagle River. Sixty map units and numerous individual beds and thin units within the principal map units are shown. Paleoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic metamorphic rocks are the principal rocks of the Sawatch Range. In the Gore Range, lower and upper Paleozoic sedimentary rocks rest unconformably on the Precambrian metamorphic rocks. Paleozoic rocks that range in age from Upper Cambrian though Middle Pennsylvanian support the Gore Range along the eastern quarter of the map. The sequence includes a basal quartzite overlain by interbedded, shale, dolomite, quartzite, and sandstone. The Leadville Dolomite, below the dark shale, is the host rock for the ore deposits at Leadville and the neighboring lead-zinc-silver districts. A wide range of Miocene to Cretaceous intrusive rocks dip east off the Sawatch Range. The Dry Union Formation of Pliocene and Miocene age fills the valley of the Arkansas River and is covered by Quaternary alluvium and glacial sediment. Glacial deposits of Bull Lake, Pinedale, and neoglacial age are present in many of the mountain valleys. The geologic structure of the quadrangle is complex in geometry and time with a distinct structural and geographic break along the west front of the Gore Range in the eastern quarter of the quadrangle. In general, Paleozoic strata intruded by Tertiary and Cretaceous irregular linear plutons and sills of the Gore Range are tilted east from the Sawatch Range. These rocks are broken by major normal faults in a complex pattern commonly associated with Paleocene? and Cretaceous intrusive porphyries. In the Sawatch Range, two large Precambrian igneous complexes are separated by a broad shear zone of Precambrian age that extends northwest across the quadrangle and beneath Paleozoic rocks of the Gore Range. Down-to-valley normal faults define the margins of the Arkansas and upper Eagle River valleys. The Leadville, Sugarloaf, and St. Kevin districts have produced significant amounts of silver. The Homestake mine at the head of West Tennessee Creek produced silver and lead from veins bearing siderite and barite. Scattered veins in shear zones along Homestake Creek are mainly argentiferous galena veins; some are quartz and copper. Veins at Holy Cross City produced gold. Other veins in the area have produced gold, silver, and minor amounts of copper.

Colorado↗
USGS1974

Map showing potential sources of gravel and crushed-rock aggregate in the greater Denver area, Front Range Urban Corridor, Colorado

Gravel and (or) crushed-rock aggregates are essential commodities for urban development, but supplies in many places are exhausted or otherwise eliminated by urban growth. Gravel resources may be exhausted by exploitation, covered by urban spread, or eliminated from production by zoning. this conflict between a growing need and a progressively reduced supply can be forestalled by informed land-use planning. Fundamental to intelligent decisions on land use is knowledge of the physical character, distribution, and quantity of the gravel resources of an area, and of the alternative resource of rock suitable for crushing. This map has been prepared to supply data basic to land-use planning in the Front Range Urban Corridor.

Colorado↗
USGS1974

Geologic map and engineering data for the Highlands Ranch Quadrangle, Arapahoe and Douglas counties, Colorado

The map and accompanying tables are designed to be of use to scientists and nonscientists alike. Physical characteristics of the bedrock units and surficial units are described in table 1 (sheet 2) and table 2 (sheet 3), respectively. Those deposits that are known to be less than 5 feet (<2 m) thick are not mapped or described. Residuum and weathered and unweathered bedrock are not differentiated on the map.

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