DOCSLIB.ORG

Sulphate Minerals of the Comstock Lode, Nevada

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Sulphate Minerals of the Comstock Lode, Nevada SULPHATE MINERALS OF THE COMSTOCK LODE, NEVADA. • CHARLES MILTON AND W. D. JOHNSTON, JR. ABSTRACT. Seventeenrepresentative samples of supergenesulphates from old workings on the ComstockLode are described. They range from simple minerals such as gypsum and epsomiteto complex aggregates of four or more distinct species. All are well known speciesexcept a mineral of the copper (chalcanthite) or mag- nesium sulphate pentahydrategroup, with about half the mag- nesium replaced by copper, zinc, ferrous iron, and manganese. Four new analysesof ComstockLode mine waters are given. CONTENTS. Introduction .................................................. 749 Sulphate minerals ............................................ 75: •I. One-mineral samples ..................................... 753 Gypsum .............................................. 753 Epsomite ............................................. 753 Melanterite ........................................... 756 Goslarite ............................................. 756 B. Two-mineral samples ..................................... 759 Pickeringite and epsomite .............................. 759 Pickeringite and RO pentahydrate ..................... 762 C. Complexsamples with ferric sulphates...................... 764 Pickeringite,copiapite, and epsomite.................... 764 Pickeringite,copiapite, alunogen, and coquimbite.......... 764 Pickeringite,epsomite, copiapite, and voltaite ............. 766 Alunogen,epsomite, gypsum, copiapite, and rhomboclase... 767 Compositionof the samples.................................. 769 Mine waters .................................................. 769 :NTRODUCT:ON. IN Tr:•. courseof a recent investigationof the accessiblemine workingsof the ComstockLode, all of the membersof the party were impressedby the varietyof form and colorof the supergene : Publishedby permissionof the Director, U.S. GeologicalSurvey. 749 750 CHARLES MILTON AND W. D. JOHNSTON, JR. sulphatesthat formed stalactites,crusts, and efflorescenceson the walls and timbers of the old workings. To determinethe com- positionof thesedeposits, Dr. V. P. Gianella,of the Nevada State Bureau of Mines, and Mr. Johnston collectedseventeen representativesamples of the sulphates,sealed them underground in tin cansby meansof friction tape and shippedthem for ex- aminationto the ChemicalLaboratory of the GeologicalSurvey. At the sametime four half-gallon samplesof mine waters were collectedand sent to the laboratory. The waters were analyzed very soonafter opening. The sulphateswere exposedto the air of the laboratory for variable periods of one to eight months; there appeared,however, to be only minor changesin composition, if any, resultingfrom the exposure. The sampleswere obtainedin the following workings: •. The Central Tunnel and connectedshallow workings in Con- solidatedVirginia, California, and Ophir ground. 2. The tunnel of the Arizona Comstock and connected shallow workings in Hale and Norcross ground. 3- The Silver Hill mine, shallowworkings. 4- The Sutro Tunnel and its north and south laterals. 5. The Alta shaft; old workingsapproximately 50 ft. abovethe •,•oo or Sutro Tunnel level. Fig. • is a sectionthrough the Sutro Tunnel showingthe ap- proximateposition of someoœ the samples. •. M•if;ude •o,ooo' •,ooo' •P,c • ANDE$ITE$ Epsom•te a$oo' aooo Section thru :the Sutro Tunnel FIG. I. A sectionthrough the Sutro Tunnel showingthe approximate positionof someof the samplesdescribed. SULPHATE MINERALS OF COMSTOCK LODE; NEVADA. 751 Thanks are due to Dr. Gianella who aided in collectingthe specimens;to Miss Margaret Foster, of the Water Resources laboratory of the Survey, for assistancein the determinationof fluorinein the waters; to Miss J. J. Glass for preciserefractive index determinations;and to Dr. W. T. Schaller, of the Chemical Laboratory of the Survey, for unfailing advice whenevermin- eral0gicaldifficulties appeared. SULPHATE MINERALS. The seventeenrepresentative samples of the incrustations, stalactitic formations, and similar depositsin the mine are all sulphates,varying from simple minerals, such as gypsum, to complexmixtures of four or more distinct species. The indi- vidual crystalsare, for the mostpart, of microscopicsize and the specimensare not suitablefor any precisegoniometrical deter- minations. With one exception,all of the samplesconsist of well-knownmineral species, the exceptionbeing a mineralof the copper or magnesiumsulphate pentahydrate group, with about half the magnesiumreplaced by copper,zinc, ferrous iron, and manganese,in the order named. The identificationof the different mineral specieswas basedon the usualpetrographic and analyticalprocedures, supplemented by microchemicaltests where indicated. The object of the investi- gation being the identificationof the mineralspresent, exact and refined analytical methods were not called for. The hetero- geneousand varying nature of the material availablefor analysis would have made preciseanalyses of no greater value than less exact, though sufficientlyaccurate, procedures. For most of the samples,therefore, .the different metallic oxides and the acid (sulphuricin eachcase) were determinedby the usualmethods, and, after determination of the insoluble fraction, water was reckonedby difference. A fair degreeof correspondencewas obtainedbetween the compositionof the sample,as computed from the analysis,and the observedminerals, shown by the microscope. 752 CHARLES MILTON AND W. D. JOHNSTON, JR. A test for silver was made on a compositesample of the seven- teen sulphatespecimens with negativeresults. The following specieswere identified: Gypsum CaO'SO3' 2H20; EpsomiteMgO' SO•' 7H20; MelanteriteFeO' SO3'7H20; Goslarite ZnO'SO•'7H20 including magnesian and cuprian varieties; Magnesium-copper-zincsulphate pentahydrate; Picker- ingite MgO'Al.•'4SO•'22H. includingzinc, iron, and man- ganese varieties; Alunogen AI.•'3SO•'•6H•O; Copiapite 2Fe.Oa'5SO•'•9H20 (?); Coquimbite Fe.•'3SO•'9H20; Voltaite 3(K.e)O'2(A1, Fe)20•-6SO•'9H. (?). Of uncer- tain determinationwere: RhomboclaseFe.•'4SO•'9H.; and somepoorly crystallizedbasic sulphates. The seventeensamples may be groupedinto three divisionsas follows: A. Simple one-mineraldeposits. There are eight of these. Gypsum (S.S. 6200) and (36J45) Epsomite (36JI7), (36J2x) and (36J36) Melanterite (36J9x) Magnesiangoslarite (36.•x6) Magnesian cuprian ferroan goslarite (36.•I5) B. Two-mineral deposits. There are five of these. Pickeringite-epsomite(36JxI), (36JI8), (36J3I), and (ST. 2260) Pickeringite--RO pentahydrate (36Jx2) C. Complexdeposits with ferric sulphates. Four of these. Copiapite-pickeringite with a little epsomite and basic ferric sulphate (36JI9) Copiapite-pickeringite-epsomite-voltaite(36J2o) Copiapite-pickeringite-alunogen-coquimbite(SN. x9oo) Copiapite-alunogen-epsomite-rhomboclase(36Jio) The first group includesfairly water-solublesulphates which, except possiblymelanterite, neither hydrolyze to basic salts nor oxidizeto insolublecompounds. They are.thus easilycarried in solutionand effectivelyremoved from the place of their origin and associationof contemporaneously-formedminerals. The secondgroup is a mixture of pickeringirewith the hepta- or penta-hydrateof magnesiumsulphate; these are also quite sol- uble, and their solutionshould be fairly stableunder a variety of SULPHATE MINERALS OF COMSTOCK LODE; NEVADA. 753 conditions. In general, conditions favoring precipitation of pickeringiteshould favor precipitationof the accompanying minerals. The third group is more complex, some of the constituent minerals being of low solubility. It is characterizedby the presenceof the ferric sulphateminerals. It is unlikelythat these have traveledfar from their pointsof origin; they indicatecom- plex equilibria betweenoxidizing acid solutionsand solid rock, whichsupplied the aluminum,potassium, magnesium, etc., present in theseminerals. The oxidationof pyrite would furnish the acidferric-iron sulphates characteristic of thisgroup. ,4. One-mineralSamples. Gypsum.--Specimenno. S.S. 62oo, from the southlateral of the Sutro Tunnel, 6,200 feet from its junction with the main tunneland specimenno. 36J45 from a stopeabove the I,Ioo-foot level of the Alta shaft. Radiating blades,several millimeters long, and in more finely crystallizedaggregates. Epsomite.--Specimenno. 36J36, from the Arizona-Comstock 365 foot level. Abundantbeard-like masses pendant from the roof of the drift. In placeslarge masseshave fallen from their supportand collectedon the floor or on old timbers(Figs. 2 and 3). White and finely fibrous almost like asbestos,with a little water-insolublebrownish clay. Fairly puremagnesium sulphate, with a little zincand manganese,probably less than oneper cent. Under the microscopethe fibersare seento be not homogeneous; undercrossed nicols they are seento be madeup of a fine-grained mosaicof variouslyoriented particles. This indicatespartial dehydrationof the originalheptahydrate to a lowerhydrate. Specimensnos. 36JI 7 and 36J2I from the 23I foot levelof the CaliforniaMine, accessiblein I936 throughthe CentralTunnel. Beardlikemasses pendant from the roof of the drift, and com- posedof a felt of delicatewhite fibers with the propertiesof ep- somite. Sampleno. 36J2I containedabout I2 per centof water insolubleearthy material and analysis of the watersoluble portion gave F•G. 2. "Feathers" of epsomite on quartz vein. Arizona Comstock 365 level. F•o. 3- Epsomire growing behind and falling on lagging. Arizona Comstock365 level. F•G. 4- Calcite deposited on lagging and coating a barrel.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Download PDF About Minerals Sorted by Mineral Name
    MINERALS SORTED BY NAME Here is an alphabetical list of minerals discussed on this site. More information on and photographs of these minerals in Kentucky is available in the book “Rocks and Minerals of Kentucky” (Anderson, 1994). APATITE Crystal system: hexagonal. Fracture: conchoidal. Color: red, brown, white. Hardness: 5.0. Luster: opaque or semitransparent. Specific gravity: 3.1. Apatite, also called cellophane, occurs in peridotites in eastern and western Kentucky. A microcrystalline variety of collophane found in northern Woodford County is dark reddish brown, porous, and occurs in phosphatic beds, lenses, and nodules in the Tanglewood Member of the Lexington Limestone. Some fossils in the Tanglewood Member are coated with phosphate. Beds are generally very thin, but occasionally several feet thick. The Woodford County phosphate beds were mined during the early 1900s near Wallace, Ky. BARITE Crystal system: orthorhombic. Cleavage: often in groups of platy or tabular crystals. Color: usually white, but may be light shades of blue, brown, yellow, or red. Hardness: 3.0 to 3.5. Streak: white. Luster: vitreous to pearly. Specific gravity: 4.5. Tenacity: brittle. Uses: in heavy muds in oil-well drilling, to increase brilliance in the glass-making industry, as filler for paper, cosmetics, textiles, linoleum, rubber goods, paints. Barite generally occurs in a white massive variety (often appearing earthy when weathered), although some clear to bluish, bladed barite crystals have been observed in several vein deposits in central Kentucky, and commonly occurs as a solid solution series with celestite where barium and strontium can substitute for each other. Various nodular zones have been observed in Silurian–Devonian rocks in east-central Kentucky.
    [Show full text]
  • Alunogen Al2(SO4)3 • 17H2O C 2001-2005 Mineral Data Publishing, Version 1
    Alunogen Al2(SO4)3 • 17H2O c 2001-2005 Mineral Data Publishing, version 1 Crystal Data: Triclinic. Point Group: 1. Crystals rare, as thin plates or prismatic [001] or {010} with a six-sided outline about [010], very complex, with about 60 forms noted. Commonly fibrous, to 5 mm, forming delicate masses, crusts, and efflorescences. Twinning: On {010}. Physical Properties: Cleavage: {010}, perfect; probable on {100} and {313}. Hardness = 1.5–2 D(meas.) = 1.72–1.77 D(calc.) = 1.79 Soluble in H2O; taste alumlike, acid and sharp. Optical Properties: Transparent. Color: Colorless in crystals, aggregates white, or pale yellow or red from impurities; colorless in transmitted light. Luster: Vitreous to silky. Optical Class: Biaxial (+). Orientation: X ' b; Z ∧ c =42◦. α = 1.459–1.475 β = 1.461–1.478 γ = 1.470–1.485 2V(meas.) = 31◦ Cell Data: Space Group: P 1. a = 7.420(6) b = 26.97(2) c = 6.062(5) α =89◦57(5)0 β =97◦34(5)0 γ =91◦53(5)0 Z=2 X-ray Powder Pattern: Nov´aBaˇna, Slovakia. 4.489 (100), 4.390 (81), 3.969 (81), 4.329 (76), 13.46 (54), 3.897 (52), 3.675 (45) Chemistry: (1) (2) SO3 37.74 37.04 Al2O3 16.59 15.73 H2O 44.64 47.23 insol. 0.94 Total 99.91 100.00 • (1) Pintado Canyon, Guadalupe Co., New Mexico, USA. (2) Al2(SO4)3 17H2O. Occurrence: Forms by reaction of sulfates from decomposing sulfides with aluminous minerals in shales and slates; in gossan or altered wall rock of pyritic deposits in arid regions; in coal seams; in relatively low-temperature fumaroles.
    [Show full text]
  • Epsomite Mgso4 • 7H2O C 2001-2005 Mineral Data Publishing, Version 1
    Epsomite MgSO4 • 7H2O c 2001-2005 Mineral Data Publishing, version 1 Crystal Data: Orthorhombic. Point Group: 222. Rare as crystals, prismatic along {110},to 8 cm; typically as fibrous crusts, woolly efflorescences, botryoidal to reniform masses, stalactitic. Twinning: Rare on {110}. Physical Properties: Cleavage: {010}, perfect; {101}, distinct. Fracture: Conchoidal. Hardness = 2–2.5 D(meas.) = 1.677(2) (synthetic). D(calc.) = 1.677 Dehydrates readily in dry air; soluble in H2O, with a bitter taste. Optical Properties: Transparent to translucent. Color: Colorless to white, pale pink, pale green; colorless in transmitted light. Luster: Vitreous, silky in fibrous aggregates. Optical Class: Biaxial (–). Orientation: X = a; Y = c; Z = b. Dispersion: r< v; weak. α = 1.432 β = 1.455 γ = 1.461 2V(meas.) = 52◦ Cell Data: Space Group: P 212121. a = 11.876(2) b = 12.002(2) c = 6.859(1) Z = 4 X-ray Powder Pattern: Synthetic. (ICDD 36-419). 4.216 (100), 4.200 (75), 5.98 (30), 5.34 (30), 2.658 (25), 5.31 (20), 2.880 (20) Chemistry: (1) (2) SO3 32.41 32.48 MgO 16.26 16.36 H2O 51.32 51.16 rem. 0.11 Total 100.10 100.00 • (1) Ashcroft, Canada. (2) MgSO4 7H2O. Polymorphism & Series: Forms two series, with goslarite and with morenosite. Occurrence: As efflorescences on the walls of mines, caves, and outcrops of sulfide-bearing magnesian rocks; a product of evaporation at mineral springs and saline lakes; a hydration product of kieserite and langbeinite; rarely a fumarolic sublimate. Association: Melanterite, gypsum, halotrichite, pickeringite, alunogen, rozenite (efflorescences); mirabilite (lacustrine evaporites).
    [Show full text]
  • Minerals Found in Michigan Listed by County
    Michigan Minerals Listed by Mineral Name Based on MI DEQ GSD Bulletin 6 “Mineralogy of Michigan” Actinolite, Dickinson, Gogebic, Gratiot, and Anthonyite, Houghton County Marquette counties Anthophyllite, Dickinson, and Marquette counties Aegirinaugite, Marquette County Antigorite, Dickinson, and Marquette counties Aegirine, Marquette County Apatite, Baraga, Dickinson, Houghton, Iron, Albite, Dickinson, Gratiot, Houghton, Keweenaw, Kalkaska, Keweenaw, Marquette, and Monroe and Marquette counties counties Algodonite, Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Aphrosiderite, Gogebic, Iron, and Marquette Ontonagon counties counties Allanite, Gogebic, Iron, and Marquette counties Apophyllite, Houghton, and Keweenaw counties Almandite, Dickinson, Keweenaw, and Marquette Aragonite, Gogebic, Iron, Jackson, Marquette, and counties Monroe counties Alunite, Iron County Arsenopyrite, Marquette, and Menominee counties Analcite, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties Atacamite, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties Anatase, Gratiot, Houghton, Keweenaw, Marquette, and Ontonagon counties Augite, Dickinson, Genesee, Gratiot, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, and Ontonagon counties Andalusite, Iron, and Marquette counties Awarurite, Marquette County Andesine, Keweenaw County Axinite, Gogebic, and Marquette counties Andradite, Dickinson County Azurite, Dickinson, Keweenaw, Marquette, and Anglesite, Marquette County Ontonagon counties Anhydrite, Bay, Berrien, Gratiot, Houghton, Babingtonite, Keweenaw County Isabella, Kalamazoo, Kent, Keweenaw, Macomb, Manistee,
    [Show full text]
  • Geology of the Tenth Potash Ore Zone, Permian Salado Formation
    ' OPEN FILE FEZOF2 146 GEOLOGY OF THE TENTH POTASH OREZONE: PERMIAN SALAD0 FORMATION, CARLSBAD DISTRICT, NEW MEXICO ROBERT C.M. GUNN AND JOHN M. HILLS I wish to thank the personnel of Noranda Mines Limited who allowed Gunn-to study and work on their potash exploration program, especially 0. Mr. Hinds, J. ,. Dr. J. J. M. Miller, Mr. J. Condon Mr.and J. F. Brewer., Information for this report could not have been obtained without their help and the friendly relation- ships with the following potash companies and individuals: Duval Corporation Mr. W. Blake Mr. M. P. Scroggin International Minerals and Chemical Corporation Mr. R. Koenig Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation Mr. R. Lane National Potash Company Mr. P. Brewer United States Geological Survey Mr. C. L. Jones Independent Chemist who assayed Noranda potash core in Carlsbad Mr. T. J. Futch Independent Potash Consultant in Carlsbad Mr. E. H. Miller Dr. W. N. McAnulty, Dr. W. R. Roser and co-author Hills supervised Gun& original Masters thesis at Universityof Texas at El Paso upon which this paper is based. Dr. W. M. Schwerdtner of the University of Toronto has read the manuscript critically. Noranda Exploration Company has kindly permitted the publicationof insor- mation gathered from their properties. ABSTRACT The Tenth potash ore zone is a bedded evaporite deposit in the Permian (Ochoan) SaladoFormation in the Carlsbad district, Eddy and Lex counties, New Mexico.The rocksof the Tenth ore zone were precipitated in the super- saline part of the Permian basin and range from 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 2.1 meters) .
    [Show full text]
  • The Stability of Sulfate and Hydrated Sulfate Minerals Near Ambient Conditions and Their Significance in Environmental and Plane
    Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 62 (2013) 734–758 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Journal of Asian Earth Sciences journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jseaes Review The stability of sulfate and hydrated sulfate minerals near ambient conditions and their significance in environmental and planetary sciences ⇑ I-Ming Chou a, , Robert R. Seal II a, Alian Wang b a U.S. Geological Survey, 954 National Center, Reston, VA 20192, USA b Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and McDonnell Center for Space Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA article info abstract Article history: Sulfate and hydrated sulfate minerals are abundant and ubiquitous on the surface of the Earth and also on Received 7 February 2012 other planets and their satellites. The humidity-buffer technique has been applied to study the stability of Received in revised form 5 November 2012 some of these minerals at 0.1 MPa in terms of temperature-relative humidity space on the basis of hydra- Accepted 12 November 2012 tion–dehydration reversal experiments. Updated phase relations in the binary system MgSO –H O are Available online 28 November 2012 4 2 presented, as an example, to show how reliable thermodynamic data for these minerals could be obtained based on these experimental results and thermodynamic principles. This approach has been Keywords: applied to sulfate and hydrated sulfate minerals of other metals, including Fe (both ferrous and ferric), Metal sulfate Zn, Ni, Co, Cd, and Cu. Hydrated sulfate minerals Humidity and temperature Metal–sulfate salts play important roles in the cycling of metals and sulfate in terrestrial systems, and Thermodynamics and kinetics the number of phases extends well beyond the simple sulfate salts that have thus far been investigated Terrestrial occurrence experimentally.
    [Show full text]
  • Alpersite (Mg,Cu)So4â•¢7H2O, a New Mineral of the Melanterite
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln USGS Staff -- Published Research US Geological Survey 2006 Alpersite (Mg,Cu)SO4•7H2O, A New Mineral of the Melanterite Group, and Cuprian Pentahydrite: Their Occurrence Within Mine Waste Ronald C. Peterson Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada, [email protected] Jane M. Hammarstrom United States Geological Survey, 954 National Center, Reston, Virginia 20192, U.S.A. Robert R. Seal II United States Geological Survey, 954 National Center, Reston, Virginia 20192, U.S.A. Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsstaffpub Part of the Earth Sciences Commons Peterson, Ronald C.; Hammarstrom, Jane M.; and Seal II, Robert R., "Alpersite (Mg,Cu)SO4•7H2O, A New Mineral of the Melanterite Group, and Cuprian Pentahydrite: Their Occurrence Within Mine Waste" (2006). USGS Staff -- Published Research. 334. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsstaffpub/334 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the US Geological Survey at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in USGS Staff -- Published Research by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. American Mineralogist, Volume 91, pages 261–269, 2006 Alpersite (Mg,Cu)SO4·7H2O, a new mineral of the melanterite group, and cuprian pentahydrite: Their occurrence within mine waste RONALD C. PETERSON,1,* JANE M. HAMMARSTROM,2 AND ROBERT R. SEAL II2 1Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada 2United States Geological Survey, 954 National Center, Reston, Virginia 20192, U.S.A.
    [Show full text]
  • And Ca-Sulfates Under Mars Relevant Conditions ⇑ Alian Wang , Yuhang Zhou
    Icarus 234 (2014) 162–173 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Icarus journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/icarus Experimental comparison of the pathways and rates of the dehydration of Al-, Fe-, Mg- and Ca-sulfates under Mars relevant conditions ⇑ Alian Wang , Yuhang Zhou Dept of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA article info abstract Article history: This study reports two sets of dehydration experiments conducted on crystalline alunogen Al2(SO4)3Á Received 26 September 2013 17H2O and melanterite FeSO4Á7H2O under Mars relevant pressure (P) and partial H2O pressure (PH2O) Revised 3 February 2014 at three temperatures (T). These experimental data are compared with those obtained from a similar Accepted 4 February 2014 set of experiments on crystalline epsomite MgSO Á7H O, and revealed the differences in the phase tran- Available online 20 February 2014 4 2 sition pathways of the dehydrations of these hydrous sulfates, with different cations and the highest hydration degrees, under Mars relevant conditions. Specifically, the differences in the dehydration rates Keywords: were discussed, and further compared with the dehydration processes of Ca-sulfate and Fe3+-sulfate of Mars the highest hydration degrees. We found that the dehydrations of Mg-sulfate and Fe2+-sulfate would pro- Mineralogy Spectroscopy gress the fastest on Mars. Ó 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction tenberg et al., 2010) and alunite (Swayze et al., 2008) were also identified. Hydrous sulfates are one of the two major types of secondary Among the landed missions, the Spirit and Opportunity rovers minerals (the other type is phyllosilicates) that have been found have found Mg-, Ca-, Fe3+-sulfates within the outcrops and regolith on the surface of Mars, in large quantities and with wide spreading.
    [Show full text]
  • The Present Day Genesis and Evolution of Cave Minerals Inside
    International Journal of Speleology 40 (2) 125-131 Tampa, FL (USA) July 2011 Available online at www.ijs.speleo.it & scholarcommons.usf.edu/ijs/ International Journal of Speleology Official Journal of Union Internationale de Spéléologie The present day genesis and evolution of cave minerals inside the Ojo de la Reina Cave (Naica Mine, Mexico) Giovanni Badino1, José Maria Calaforra2, Paolo Forti3, Paolo Garofalo4 and Laura Sanna2 Abstract: Badino G., Calaforra J., Forti P., Garofalo P. and Sanna L. 2011. Minerogenesis in Ojo de la Reina Cave, Mexico. International Journal of Speleology, 40 (2), 125-131 Tampa, FL (USA). ISSN 0392-6672. DOI 10.5038/1827-806X.40.2.5 Ojo de la Reina is the first and the smallest cave intersected at the -290 level in the Naica Mine (Mexico), therefore it was the first cavity in which the lowering of temperature induced by mine ventilation caused condensation over crystals’ surface since 2005. The consequent dissolution of the gypsum crystals and subsequent condensed water evaporation lead to the deposition of several new minerals, among which some highly soluble Mg/Na compounds (bloedite, epsomite, halite, hexahydrite, kieserite, starkeyite). The single available source of Mg and Na ions in this minerogenetic environment is represented by the huge fluid inclusions widespread within the crystals. The condensation occurs mainly along the widened principal exfoliation (010) planes, and allows to an easy and fast opening of the fluid inclusions that consequently drip Mg-rich fluids stored inside them. Finally the evaporation of the relatively small volumes of involved water allows to the development of the high soluble Mg and Na compounds.
    [Show full text]
  • Secondary Sulfate Minerals Associated with Acid Drainage in the Eastern US: Recycling of Metals and Acidity in Surficial Environments
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Geochemistry of Sulfate Minerals: A Tribute to Robert O. Rye US Geological Survey 2005 Secondary sulfate minerals associated with acid drainage in the eastern US: recycling of metals and acidity in surficial environments J.M. Hammarstrom U.S. Geological Survey R.R. Seal II U.S. Geological Survey A.L. Meier U.S. Geological Survey J.M. Kornfeld Dartmouth College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsrye Part of the Geochemistry Commons Hammarstrom, J.M.; Seal, R.R. II; Meier, A.L.; and Kornfeld, J.M., "Secondary sulfate minerals associated with acid drainage in the eastern US: recycling of metals and acidity in surficial environments" (2005). Geochemistry of Sulfate Minerals: A Tribute to Robert O. Rye. 2. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsrye/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the US Geological Survey at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Geochemistry of Sulfate Minerals: A Tribute to Robert O. Rye by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Chemical Geology 215 (2005) 407–431 www.elsevier.com/locate/chemgeo Secondary sulfate minerals associated with acid drainage in the eastern US: recycling of metals and acidity in surficial environments J.M. Hammarstroma,*, R.R. Seal IIa, A.L. Meierb, J.M. Kornfeldc aU.S. Geological Survey, 954 National Center, Reston, Virginia 20192, USA bU.S. Geological Survey, 973 Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225, USA cDartmouth College, Dartmouth, New Hampshire, USA Accepted 1 June 2004 Abstract Weathering of metal-sulfide minerals produces suites of variably soluble efflorescent sulfate salts at a number of localities in the eastern United States.
    [Show full text]
  • Data of Geochemistry
    Data of Geochemistry * Chapter Y. Marine Evaporites GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 440-Y Data of Geochemistry ' MICHAEL FLEISCHER, Technical Editor Chapter Y. Marine Evaporites By FREDERICK H. STEWART GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 440-Y UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1963 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas B. Nolan, Director REPRINTED 1964 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C., 20402 - Price 60 cents (paper cover) DATA OF GEOCHEMISTRY, SIXTH EDITION Michael Fleischer, Technical Editor The first edition of the Data of Geochemistry, by F. W. Clarke, was published in 1908 as U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 330. Later editions, also by Clarke, were published in 1911, 1916, 1920, and 1924 as Bulletins 491, 616, 695, and 770. This, the sixth edition, has been written by several scientists in the Geological Survey and in other institutions in the United States and abroad, each preparing a chapter on his special field. The current edition is being published in individual chapters, titles of which are listed below. Chapters already published are indicated by boldface. CHAPTER A. The chemical elements B. Cosmochemistry C. Internal structure and composition of the Earth D. Composition of the earth's crust E. Chemistry of the atmosphere F. Chemical composition of subsurface waters, by Donald E. White, John D. Hem, and G. A. Waring G. Chemical composition of rivers and lakes, by Daniel A. Livingstone H. Chemistry of the oceans I. Geochemistry of the biosphere J. Chemistry of rock-forming minerals K. Volcanic emanations, by Donald E.
    [Show full text]
  • Can Drying and Re-Wetting of Magnesium Sulfate Salts Lead to Damage of Stone?
    Environ Earth Sci DOI 10.1007/s12665-010-0774-1 SPECIAL ISSUE Can drying and re-wetting of magnesium sulfate salts lead to damage of stone? Enrica Balboni • Rosa M. Espinosa-Marzal • Eric Doehne • George W. Scherer Received: 19 May 2010 / Accepted: 27 September 2010 Ó Springer-Verlag 2010 Abstract Magnesium sulfate salts have been linked to the deliquescence. This demonstrates that crystallization pres- decay of stone in the field and in laboratory experiments, sure is the main cause of the stress induced by salt but the mechanism of damage is still poorly understood. hydration. In addition, we found that drying-induced Thermomechanical analysis shows that expansion of stone crystallization is kinetically hindered at high concentration, contaminated with magnesium sulfate salts occurs during which we attribute to the low nucleation rate in a highly drying, followed by relaxation of the stress during dehy- viscous magnesium sulfate solution. dration of the precipitated salts. We applied thermogravi- metric analysis and X-ray diffractometry to identify the salt Keywords Salt damage Salt crystallization Á Á phases that precipitate during drying of bulk solutions. The Magnesium sulfate results show the formation of 11 different crystal phases. A novel experiment in which a plate of salt-laden stone is bonded to a glass plate is used to demonstrate the existence Introduction of crystallization pressure: warping of the composite reveals significant deformation of the stone during re- Salt crystallization is responsible for severe damage of wetting of lower hydrates of magnesium sulfate. Environ- stone and masonry in historic structures (Goudie and Viles mental scanning electronic microscope (ESEM)/STEM 1997).
    [Show full text]