U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 858-C Preliminary Metallogenic Map of North America: A Listing of Deposits by Commodity Preliminary Metallogenic Map of North America: A Listing of Deposits by Commodity By Michael P. Lee, Philip W. Guild, and Paul G. Schruben U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 858-C 1987 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DONALD PAUL HODEL, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Dallas L. Peck, Director Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lee, Michael P. Preliminary metallogenic map of North America. (U.S. Geological Survey circular ; 858-C) Bibliography: p. 1. Ore-deposits-North America. I. Guild, Philip W. II. Schruben, Paul G. III. Title. IV. Series. TN22.L44 1987 553'.097 86-600196 Free on application to the Books and Open-File Reports Section, U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Center, Box 25425, Denver, CO 80225 CONTENTS Page Page 1\bstract ------------------------------------------- 1 Commodity directories-Continued Introduction --------------------------------------- 1 ~etals-Continued 1\cknowledgments ---------------------------------­ 2 Other metals-Continued Classification of deposits by mineral commodity and Beryllium ----------------------------- 93 commodity groups -----------------------------­ 2 Lithium ------------------------------- 94 Explanation of headings for deposit listings ---------­ 5 ~ercury ------------------------------- 95 Limitations to the use of the data base --------------­ 7 Niobium ------------------------------- 98 Selected summary information on mineral deposits Rare-earth elements -------------------- 99 andoccurrences -------------------------------­ 8 Strontium ----------------------------- 100 Commodity directories ---------- ----------- --------- 14 Tungsten ------------------------------ 101 ~etals ----------------------------------------- 16 Zirconium ----------------------------- 104 Ferrous (iron and alloying) metals ----------- 16 Nonmetallic minerals --------------------------- 105 Iron ----------------------------------- 16 1\sbestos -------------------------------- -- - 105 Iron sulfide ---------------------------- 24 Barite ------------------------------------- 106 Chromium ----------------------------­ 26 Boron ------------------------------------- 108 Cobalt --------------------------------- 28 Cryolite ----------------------------------- · 109 ~anganese ---------------------------- 29 Diamond ---------------------------------- 110 ~olybdenum ------------------- -------- 33 Fluorite ----------------------------------- 111 Nickel --------------------------------- 35 Graphite ----------------------------------- 113 V anadi urn ----------------------------- 37 Gypsum ----------------------------------- 114 Base metals -------------------------------- 38 Kyanite group ----------------------------- 116 Copper -------------------------------- 38 Phosphorus -------------------------------- 117 Lead ---------------------------------­ 49 Potassium --------------------------------- 119 Tin------------------------------------ 54 Pyrophyllite ------------------------------- 120 Zinc ----------------------------------- 56 Sodium salts ------------------------------- 121 Light metals ------------------------------- 61 Sulfur ------------------------------------- 124 1\luminum ----------------------------­ 61 Talc --------------------------------------- 126 ~agnesi urn ---------------------------- 62 ~ajor commodities not reported as the principal Titanium ------------------------------ 63 mineral commodity ------------------------- 127 Precious metals ---------------------------- 65 Cadmium -------------------------------------- 127 Gold ----------------------------------- 65 Tantalum -------------------------------------- 127 Platinum-group elements --------------- 79 Bismuth --------------------------------------- 127 Silver --------------------------------- 80 1\rsenic ---------------------------------------- 127 Nuclear-fuel metals ------------------------ 86 Selenium -------------------------------------- 127 Thori urn ------------------------------- 86 Cesium ---------------------------------------- 127 Uranium -----------------------------­ 87 Tellurium ------------------------------------- 127 Other metals ------------------------------- 91 References cited ------------------------------------ 127 1\ntimony -------------- ---------------- 91 1\ppendix 1\: Explanation of deposit code ------------- 130 ILLUSTRATIONS Page FIGURE 1. Sample deposit record from listing in this circular ---------------------------------- • • • • • • • • ·--·-• • ·--• • 2 2. ~atrix showing commodity associations ·------· ·--• • • ·--·----• • ·-• • • • ·----·--· • ·----• • ·-· · • ·-·-----• • • • 4 3. Example of an alphanumeric code used to describe geologic characteristics • • • • • • ·-·--• • • • • • • ·-·----• • ·-• • 6 4. Major geologic provinces and the distribution of mineral deposits. in North America by country and political subdivision --·--· ·--·--• ·-· ·----·--· · • • ·-----· • • ·---• ·--• • • ·-·--• ·---· ·--- 7 III TABLES Page TABLE 1. Classification of mineral deposits by principal commodity---------------------------------------------- 3 2, 3. Number of mineral deposits and occurrences· in the Metallogenic Map file for each: 2. Commodity group ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 3. Commodity ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 4. Number of mineral deposits in the Metallogenic Map file per unit area --------------------------------- 11 5. Geographic distribution of mineral deposits in the Metallogenic Map file by commodity group ------------ 12 6. Distribution of mineral deposits in the Metallogenic Map file by size category --------------------------- 13 7. Distribution ofmineral deposits in the Metallogenic Map file by commodity group and geologicclass ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 IV PRELIMINARY METALLOGENIC MAP OF NORTH AMERICA A Listing of Deposits by Commodity By Michael P. Lee, Philip W. Guild, and Paul G. Schruben ABSTRACT Preliminary Metallogenic Map of North America1 The 4,215 ore deposits shown on the Preliminary Metallo­ (North American Metallogenic Map Committee, genic Map of North America and contained in the Metallo­ 1981). The 4,215 deposits shown on the Metallo­ genic Map file have been sorted by their principal (first-listed) genic Map are identified by name, metal and (or) commodities and grouped into metallic and nonmetallic cate­ mineral content, location, and certain other char­ gories. Deposit listings for 56 individual metals and minerals have been assembled using the data base and are arranged acteristics. In USGS Circular 858-A (Guild, alphabetically by country, political subdivision (for the larger 1981a), the deposits are arranged alphabetically countries), and deposit name. Map numbers, major and minor by country and, for the larger countries (Canada, constituents, geographic coordinates, and a geologic code are Mexico, and the United States), by political subdi­ given for each deposit; additionally, the relative size and de­ vision. Within each country (or political subdivi­ posit class have been derived from the code and are listed separately. sion), the deposits are further sorted sequentially The frequencies of individual commodities and commodity by map number as it appears on the Metallogenic groups by type, geographic distribution, and geologic occur­ Map. In Circular 858-B (Guild, 1981b), the lists of rence are summarized in tables, and the relationships of asso­ deposits are again sorted alphabetically by coun­ ciated commodities to principal commodities in the data base try and political subdivision, but then alphabeti­ are emphasized in both tables and brief texts. In all, 49 metals and minerals are listed as principal (first or cally by deposit name instead of map number as in 2 only) commodities and 7 more are shown as "major" but not the first circular. To make the Metallogenic Map principal commodities. (Commodities listed as "minor" in the file data base more readily available and useful to data base were not sorted or tabulated separately.) Metals, those with interests in specific mineral commodi­ divided into six subgroups, predominate over nonmetallic min­ ties, the deposits are grouped here according to erals by a ratio of about 7 to 1, although in terms of quantities and value the disparity is not so great. Within the metals their principal mineral commodity and are ar­ group, the ranking according to frequency is as follows: base, ranged alphabetically by country, political subdi­ precious, iron and alloying, other (antimony, beryllium, and vision, and deposit name. others), nuclear-fuel, and light metals. The Metallogenic Map file is a computerized The most frequently occurring commodity in the Metallo­ mineral-resource data file consisting of records genic Map file is gold. Copper is ranked second, both in num­ ber of occurrences and as the principal commodity in deposits. that represent the 4,215 mineral deposits appear­ Silver is ranked third in frequency of occurrence; lead and zinc ing on the North American Metallogenic Map. are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. Iron, ranked sixth in The file was originally designed as an editing de­ frequency of occurrence as a major commodity, is the third vice to aid in compilation of the map. More re- most reported principal commodity in the data base, ahead of silver (ranked fourth), lead (ranked fifth), and zinc (ranked sixth).