Isotopic tracers of gold deposition in paleozoic limestones, southern Nevada

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:60760

Peterman, Z E; Widmann, B L; Marshall, B D; Aleinikoff, J N; Futa, K; Mahan, S A ^[1]

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1. Geological Survey, Denver, CO (United States)

Strontium isotopic analyses of barren and mineralized Paleozoic carbonate rocks show that hydrothermal fluids added radiogenic strontium ({sup 87}Sr) to the mineralized zones. At Bare Mountain, samples collected from mineralized areas have {delta}{sup 87}Sr{sub t} values (per mil deviation from primary marine values) ranging from +3.0 to +23.0 (mean of this log-normal distribution is +7.0), whereas unmineralized carbonate rocks have {delta}{sup 87}Sr{sub t} values of -0.6 to +2.9 (mean of +1.07{+-}1.03). In other ranges (Striped Hills, Spring Mountains, and ranges in the vicinity of Indian Springs Valley), {delta}{sup 87}Sr{sub t} values of the unmineralized carbonate rocks are even lower and virtually indistinguishable from primary marine values. This correlation of elevated {delta}{sup 87}Sr{sub t} values with mineralized zones provides a useful technique for assessing the mineral potential of the Paleozoic basement beneath Yucca Mountain, and may find broader use in mineral exploration in the Basin and Range province as a whole.

• Research Organization: American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY (United States); American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park, IL (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AI08-92NV10874
• OSTI ID: 60760
• Report Number(s): CONF-940553--Vol.3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
CARBONATE ROCKS
ISOTOPE RATIO
MINERAL RESOURCES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
STRONTIUM
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Yucca Mountain Project