Geochemical Atlas of the San Jose and Golfito quadrangles, Costa Rica. Atlas Geoquimico de los cuadrangulos de San Jose y Golfito, Costa Rica (in English and Spanish)
The Geochemical Atlas of the San Jose and Golfito 1:200,000-scale quadrangles, Costa Rica, was produced to help stimulate the growth of the Costa Rican mining industry and, thus, to benefit the economy of the country. As a result of the geochemical data presented in the Atlas, future exploration for metallic minerals in Costa Rica can be focused on specific areas that have the highest potential for mineralization. Stream-sediment samples were collected from drainage basins within the two quadrangles. These samples were analyzed for 50 elements and the results were displayed as computer-generated color maps. Each map shows the variation in abundance of a single element within the quadrangle. Basic statistics, geological and cultural data are included as insets in each map to assist in interpretation. In the Golfito quadrangle, the geochemical data do not clearly indicate undiscovered gold mineralization. The areas known to contain placer (alluvial) gold are heavily affected by mining activity. Statistical treatment of the geochemical data is necessary before it will be possible to determine the gold potential of this quadrangle. In San Jose quadrangle, gold and the pathfinder elements, arsenic and antimony, are indicators of the gold mineralization characteristic of the Costa Rican gold district located in the Tilaran-Montes del Aguacate Range. This work shows that high concentrations of these elements occur in samples collected downstream from active gold mines. More importantly, the high concentrations of gold, arsenic, and antimony in sediment samples from an area southeast of the known gold district suggest a previously unknown extension of the district. This postulated extension underlain by Tertiary volcanic rocks which host the gold deposits within the gold district. The geochemical data, displayed herein, also indicate that drainage basins north of Ciudad Quesada on the flanks of Volcan Platanar have high gold potential.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA); Ministerio de Industria, Energia y Minas, San Jose (Costa Rica); Escuela Centroamericana de Geologia, San Jose (Costa Rica)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5717522
- Report Number(s):
- LA-10965-MS; ON: DE88005127
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Paper copy only, copy does not permit microfiche production
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English and Spanish
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The geochemical atlas of the San Jose and Golfito quadrangles, Costa Rica: Appendix C, Data for the Quepos 1:200,000 scale quadrangle. El atlas geoquimico de los cuadrangulos de San Jose y Golfito, Costa Rica: Anexo C, Datos para el cuadrangulo de Quepos a escala de 1:200. 000
A mineral reconnaissance sampling manual for Costa Rica: Central American energy and resoure project. Manual para muestreo en el reconocimiento mineral de Costa Rica: Proyecto Centroamericano de energia y recursos naturales