Characteristics of Mineral Deposit Occurrences Compiled by Ralph L. Erickson Open-File Report 82-795 1982 This Report Is Prelimi

Characteristics of Mineral Deposit Occurrences Compiled by Ralph L. Erickson Open-File Report 82-795 1982 This Report Is Prelimi

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Characteristics of Mineral Deposit Occurrences Compiled by Ralph L. Erickson Open-File Report 82-795 1982 This report is preliminary and has not been edited or reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards and strati graphic nomenclature. CONTENTS Page Foreward, by R. L. Erickson............................................... iii Characteristics of metallic deposits associated with ultramafic and mafic rocks, by Norman J. Page, Michael P. Foose, and Bruce R. Lipin................................... 1 Magmatic nickel sulfides, by M. P. Foose................................. 13 Stratiform chromite, by Bruce Lipin and Norman Page...................... 18 Kimberlites of Conterminous United States, by A. V. Heyl................. 21 A generalized empirical model for porphyry copper deposits, by 0. P. Cox;.......................................................... 27 with a section on Geochemical expression by M. A. Chaffee,............. 33 and a section on Geophysical expressions of porphyry copper deposits, southwest United States, by C. K. Moss..................... 35 Preliminary model outline for fluorine-deficient porphyry molybdenum deposits, by T. G. Theodore................................. 37 Granite molybdenite systems, by S. 0. Ludington.......................... 43 Characteristics of the Colorado-type (Climax-type) molybdenum deposits readily recognized at the surface, by P. K. Theobald, Jr.................................................. 47 Model for contact metasomatic tungsten/copper/gold deposits, by J. E. Elliott....................................................... 49 Tin greisen model, by B. L. Reed......................................... 55 Diagnostic features of fluoride-related beryllium deposits, by W. R. Griffitts..................................................... 62 Spor Mountain Be-F-U deposits, by D. A. Lindsey and D. R. Shawe.......... 67 Orogenic (metamorphic-hosted) gold-quartz veins, by J. K. Bohlke......... 70 Volcanic exhalative massive sulfide deposits, by B. R. Doe............... 77 Cyprus-type volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits in ophiolites, by R. A. Koski............................................. 82 Assessment of the potential for volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits in differentiated volcanic rocks--a field guide, by. R. L. Earhart....................................................... 87 Stratabound Precambrian sulfide deposits, Colorado and southern Wyoming, by D. M. Sheridan and W. H. Raynond........................... 92 Zinc-rich massive sulfide deposits, northern Cordillera: some preliminary exploration guides from the western Brooks Range, Alaska, by P. K. Theobald, Jr.......................................... 100 Belt Stratabound Cu-Ag, by J. E. Harrison................................ 102 Sullivan-type Stratabound Pb-Zn-Ag, by J. E. Harrison.................... 105 Stratabound massive sulfide--deposits in an island-arc belt of volcanic/volcaniclastic rocks, by Leslie Cox................... 107 Blue Ridge massive sulfides, by J. E. Gair............................... 112 The geological attributes of Au-Ag-base metal epithermal deposits, by B. R. Berger.............................................. 119 Silver/base metal epithermal deposits, by Paul Barton.................... 127 Hot-spring type, large tonnage, low-grade gold deposits, by M. L. Silberman..................................................... 131 Occurrence model for enargite-gold deposits, by R. P. Ashley............. 144 Model for hydrothermal alunite deposits, R. B. Hall...................... 148 A prospecting model for Stratabound lead-zinc(-barite-fluorite) deposits ("Mississippi Valley-type" deposits), by W. P. Pratt.......... 155 Page Mineral deposit occurrence model for the Viburnum Trend subregion of the Southeast Missouri base metal and barite district, by A. V. Heyl.......................................................... 158 Stratabound Zn-Pb in marbles of Grenville Complex, Balmat-Edwards, New York, by C. E. Brown............................................... 172 Model of Central Pennsylvania lead-zinc mineralization, by S. S. Howe.......................................................... 175 Summary of the general geologic characteristics of sandstone- hosted lead-zinc deposits, J. A. Briskey............................... 183 Black shales as sources of minerals and fuels, by J. S. Leventhal, J. R. Hatch, M. A. Arthur, and H. A. Tourtelot......................... 186 Metalliferous organic-rich paleozoic marine strata of the Western United States, by G. A. Desborough and F. G. Poole............. 193 Copper shales, by D. A. Lindsey.......................................... 196 Preliminary concepts of a simple existence model for large sandstone uranium deposits, by W. I. Finch............................. 200 Empirical recognition criteria for unconformity-type uranium deposits applied to some Proterozoic terranes in the United States, by J. T. Nash.,................................................ 205 Badlands-type molybdenum-uranium deposits in sandstone, by W. H. Raymond....................................................... 218 Occurrence model for sedimentary manganese deposits, by William Cannon and Eric Force....................................... 222 Laterite-type bauxite--Al-Ga, by S. H. Patterson......................... 223 Lithium-rich clays, by Sigrid Asher-Bolinder............................. 225 Bedded barite, by K. B. Ketner........................................... 230 Bedded barite, by F. G. Poole, D. R. Shawe, R. 0. Rye, and G. A. Desborough....................................................... 232 Great Basin phosphate, by K. B. Ketner................................... 235 High-grade silica deposits, by K. B. Ketner.............................. 237 New York talc, by C. E. Brown............................................ 239 Model for zeolites in saline, alkaline-lake deposits, by R. A. Sheppard...................................................... 241 Depositional model for bedded sodium carbonate deposits, by John R. Dyn i........................................................ 244 FOREWORD A primary responsibility of the Geological Survey is to assess the mineral potential of the nation, particularly of the public lands. In order to carry out this formidable task, we must improve and sharpen our resource assessment technology and methodology, particularly in our ability to 'predict the occurrence of unexposed mineral deposits. We are now performing resource appraisal studies in which we require that our scientists evaluate the possibilities for a large variety of possible types in a large variety of geologic terranes. As Paul Barton has said, "It is analogous to expecting every representative to the UN to be able to speak English, French, German, Navajo, Basque, Arabian, Chinese ..." Given these facts, it is clear that the Division must provide, as quickly as possible, the opportunity for our scientists to learn the different "languages" of different mineral deposit types. One of the ways to help us learn the "languages" is to develop mineral occurrence models that emphasize the geologic, geochemical, and geophysical environments and characteristics of different types of mineral deposits and to compile the models into an easily modified and continually expanding working guidebook for project-level geoscientists. In order to "make a beginning," open meetings with "Friends of Mineral Deposits"--Geologic Division were held at Reston, Denver, and Menlo Park in April 1981 to discuss the need and purpose of the modelling program and to solicit "models" from scientists in the Division who have expert insight and knowledge of the characteristics of specific types of ore deposits. The compendium of papers that follows is the initial response to that solicitation. Authors were asked not to be concerned about production of a scholarly treatise or literary excellence but to focus on criteria for recognition of favorable geologic terranes and "ore guides" or "clues to ore" within that terrane whether or not they can explain the geologic processes involved. I have made no attempt to recast the "models" into a standard format believing that the informality and candor of individual papers is a valuable contribution itself and should be preserved at least in this informal guidebook. A few of the papers are cast in the proto-prototype-checklist format suggested by Paul Barton. Most contributors stress that their "model" is a preliminary or experimental first draft; most anticipate modifications or changes and would welcome comment or contributions of additional or new information where possible. Many "models" are incomplete especially in the areas of geochemical and geophysical characteristics. Nevertheless, they contain a great deal of valuable and readily useable information distilled from many man-years of experience and insight. The guidebook is intended to be dynamic in the sense that we will change, add, or delete as contributions are received from other Division scientists, particularly those who have not yet fulfilled their committment to help in this effort. i i i I feel confident that all who read this group of preliminary short papers will recognize the opportunity and potential that the Geologic Division has to develop, compile, and publish a really monumental work on the characteristics of different types of mineral deposits. This compilation is but a small sample of the staggering amount

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