The Origin of Rocks and Mineral Deposits – Using Current Physical Chemistry of Small Particle Systems”1 Is Not a Boastful Or Exaggerated Claim
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Firenze University Press www.fupress.com/substantia Research Article Summary of the Nature and Contents of “The Origin of Rocks and Mineral Deposits – Using Citation: J. Elliston (2017) Summary of the Nature and Contents of “The Origin Current Physical Chemistry of Small Particle of Rocks and Mineral Deposits – Using Current Physical Chemistry of Small Systems” Particle Systems”. Substantia 1(2): 19-62. doi: 10.13128/substantia-26 Copyright: © 2017 J. Elliston. This is John Elliston an open access, peer-reviewed article published by Firenze University Press Elliston Research Associates Pty Ltd, 10B The Bulwark, CASTLECRAG 2068, New South (http://www.fupress.com/substantia) Wales, Australia and distribuited under the terms of the E-mail: [email protected] Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distri- bution, and reproduction in any medi- Abstract. The book referred to in this title is a comprehensive interdisciplinary scien- um, provided the original author and tific treatise that introduces revolutionary new knowledge achieved by competent use source are credited. of the scientific method. The research on which it is based has been more thoroughly and critically reviewed than is usual for scientific works and the international edition Data Availability Statement: All rel- evant data are within the paper and its has recently been published. Supporting Information files. However, correct statements and advertising of the publisher and booksellers are disbelieved because many scientists assume the author is claiming to have discovered Competing Interests: The author the origin of rocks and mineral deposits. Millions of dollars are spent each year on declared that no competing interests research endeavouring to understand the formation of ore deposits. It is a preposterous exist. misconception that any one scientist could discover the origin of rocks and mineral deposits. The book definitely does not introduce a new geological theory or revise an existing one. Using the basic scientific method of logical conclusions from direct observation it reinterprets geological phenomena and processes using currently established physi- cal chemistry of small particle systems. The title of this book “The Origin of Rocks and Mineral Deposits – using current physical chemistry of small particle systems”1 is not a boastful or exaggerated claim. It summarises the results of over 50 years of systemat- ic industrial research that actually achieved an understanding of how modern surface chemistry now explains the otherwise puzzling features and textures we see preserved in the rocks and the release of ore minerals in various geological environments. It is the culmination of the work of many outstanding scientists guiding and mentoring a highly competent and successful mineral exploration team. THE OUTSTANDING SCIENTISTS Professor A. E. Alexander Professor of Physical Chemistry, University of Sydney, 1957 to 1970, Co-author, Alexander and Johnson, “Colloid Science”, 1950, Oxford Uni- versity Press. He identified mysterious large banded chert nodules in specimens of por- phyroid from the Black Angel prospect in Tennant Creek as colloidal accre- Substantia. An International Journal of the History of Chemistry 1(2): 19-62, 2017 ISSN 2532-3997 (online) | DOI: 10.13128/substantia-26 20 John Elliston tions in 1959. This initiated the many years of research my of Science in 1965. He is the author of several books into the origin of mineral deposits based on the properties including “Theoretical Petrology”, John Wiley & Sons, and behaviour of colloidal particles in natural sediments. New York, 1962, and “Feldspars”, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1969. With some difficulty, Professor Carey prevailed on Professor P. G. H. Boswell Professor J. C. Jaeger, member of the Australian Academy of Science at that time to alter Professor Barth’s schedule No picture is available of Professor P. G. H. Boswell, of visits to Australian universities so the he could accept OBE, Geology Department, Liverpool University, UK. Sir John Proud’s invitation to visit Tennant Creek. Pro- He is the author of “Muddy Sediments”, Heffer, Cam- fessor Barth accepted and arrived in Tennant Creek on bridge, 1961. Professor David Williams from Impe- the afternoon plane of Monday 8th November 1965. rial College in London presented this book to Geopeko Professor Carey had arrived two days earlier to after his visit to Tennant Creek in 1962. It was our first assist in hosting the visit of this world authority on feld- authoritative introduction to the rheological and surface spars. It was a busy but very successful visit. Professor properties of natural sediments. Barth was at first rather reserved about the way our new approach using principles of current colloid and surface Dr Ralph K. Iler chemistry seemed to explain so much. However, after a week inspecting mines, drill cores, outcrops, and in- We have no picture of Dr Ralph K. Iler, of DuPont depth discussions and technical presentations each even- de Nemours & Co, Wilmington, Delaware, USA. After ing, he became keenly interested and enthusiastic. On several brief consultations during his visit to Australia the evening prior to his departure from Tennant Creek, in 1984, his comprehensive treatise “The Chemistry of Professor Barth’s remark became a legend in company Silica”, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1979, provided history and a turning point for Geopeko exploration and the essential information on the solubility, polymerisa- research. In his best Norwegian accent he said: tion, and surface properties of silica particles in natural sediments. They told me in Canberra I was coming on a wild goose chase, but now I know where the gooses are! The late Professor S. W. Carey Professor T. F. W. Barth was on the organising committee of the International Geological Congress The late Professor S. W. Carey, AO, DSc, (1911-2002) and recognising the importance of Geopeko research was certainly the most highly qualified Earth scientist in he invited papers to be presented at the 23rd Interna- Australia in recent times. His qualifications include two tional Geological Congress in Prague in August 1968. Honorary Doctorates, Fellow of Australian Academy of By 1968, the application of advanced geophysics and Science, Honorary Life Fellow of seven learned societies, understanding the origin of the mineral deposits had five medallists and numerous Chairmanships and Presi- found and brought into production four new mines at dencies. After his first visit to Tennant Creek in 1962 Tennant Creek and Geopeko drilling had located high- he recognised the significance of Geopeko exploration grade mineralisation at the Explorer 1 prospect that was company research and immediately convened an inter- to become the Gecko Mine. These successes justified national symposium at the University of Tasmania with a three-month trip to Europe for John Elliston and his field visits to Tennant Creek entitled “Syntaphral Tecton- wife to present the invited papers prepared for the 23rd ics and Diagenesis”2. This was to create wider interest in IGC and to visit mines prospects and outcrops on the understanding how the physical chemistry of small par- pre and post Congress excursions. ticle systems now explains so many otherwise puzzling geological phenomena. Professor Carey became guide and mentor to this series of ongoing research projects Professor Zdenék Pouba until he died in 2002. Professor Zdenék Pouba from Charles University in Prague led the pre-Congress excursion to the Silesian The late Professor T. F. W. Barth mines in Poland. The Congress opened in grand style with some 5,000 delegates on Monday 19th August 1968 Professor T. F. W. Barth from Oslo University in and the first paper entitled “Retextured Sediments”3 was Norway was a visiting Fellow to the Australian Acade- successfully presented. The more important paper “The Summary of the Nature and Contents of "The Origin of Rocks and Mineral Deposits” 21 Professor A. E. Alexander The late Professor S. W. Carey The late Professor Professor Zdenék Pouba T. F. W. Barth Professor Richard L. Stanton Distinguished Emeritus Professor Sir John Proud Professor Ross Large Thomas W. Healy genesis of some epigenetic type ore deposits” was sched- completely independent of the industrial research pro- uled for presentation later in the congress. However, jects that have established the origin of rocks and min- the Russians invaded Czechoslovakia and their tanks eral deposits. He corresponded for some years point- arrived in Prague in the early hours of Wednesday 21st ing out its complimentary nature and confirmation of August. Congress was disrupted and abandoned. Pro- the origin rocks and mineral deposit using the physical fessor Pouba arranged the evacuation from Prague and chemistry of small particle systems. recognising the significance of the new research in “The In 1989, Professor Stanton concluded that a wide genesis of some epigenetic type ore deposits”, he had this range of metamorphic, gneissic and porphyry-like rocks paper published by the Czech Geological Society (Organ. had developed their texture by crystallisation of ordered Czech. Soc. of Min. and Geol., 14(2): 129-139.). He found sedimentary diagenetic gels [Stanton, R. L., “The precur- that the Russian authorities would not permit return of sor principle”, 1989, Phil. Trans. Royal Society of Lon- Congress manuscripts that had not been presented for don, A 328: 529-646 (p. 638)]. His conclusions are based them