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Petrology of Mineralized and Non-Mineralized Samples from the Railroad District within the Carlin Trend, Elko, NV

Dvorak, Katherine A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1363176129

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Science, University of Akron, Geology.
Mineralized and non-mineralized samples of Paleozoic rocks from the Railroad District were analyzed using standard petrography, Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM), and cathodoluminescence to identify the relationship between host rock and gold mineralization fluids. The Railroad District, southwest of Elko, Nevada, is part of the Carlin Trend, an area known from submicroscopic gold deposition. Samples consisted of mineralized and non-mineralized limestone (Devonian Devils Gate Formation), mudstone (Mississippian Webb Formation), sandstone (Mississippian Chainman Formation), and fault breccias. Areas of highest mineralization are the Chainman Formation and fault breccias containing high amounts of Webb Formation, where two or more mieralization idicative phases were observed. Mineralized Chainman samples have stilpnomelane, Fe-rich pyrite, barite, and andalusite porphyroblasts. Gold concentrations within mineralized samples range from 2-5 wt. % in the Chainman Formationand 2-8 wt. % in the fault breccias. An apparent bimodal distribution of Au was found which reflects the media density that contains it (Fe-rich pyrite vs. quartz). Elemental (Si, S, Te, Ca, Fe, As, Au, Ag, Ba, Al, K, Na, and Ti) data gathered was used for mean weight percents and correlation coefficients calculations for both mineralized and non-mineralized samples. Mineralized samples had high correlations between (Fe-S), (Au-Ag), and (Ti-Ba), whereas non-mineralized had low correlations. Both mineralized and non-mineralized samples had low mean arsenic. Little correlation was found between As and S in the mineralized and the non-mineralized samples. Cathodoluminescence microphotographs defined differences between mineralized and non-mineralized samples. The presence of [RGB 79 132 169] Marina -colored barite and [RGB 210 115 143] Chateau Rose-colored quartz. Mineralized samples were more vibrant than non-mineralized samples, making them easier to identify.
LaVerne Friberg, Dr. (Advisor)
John Szabo, Dr. (Committee Member)
John Senko, Dr. (Committee Member)
130 p.
Chemistry; Geological; Mineralogy; Petrology
Calrin depsoits; gold; Railroad District; mineralization; hydrothermal; fluids; Nevada

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Dvorak, K. A. (2013). Petrology of Mineralized and Non-Mineralized Samples from the Railroad District within the Carlin Trend, Elko, NV [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1363176129

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Dvorak, Katherine. Petrology of Mineralized and Non-Mineralized Samples from the Railroad District within the Carlin Trend, Elko, NV . 2013. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1363176129.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Dvorak, Katherine. "Petrology of Mineralized and Non-Mineralized Samples from the Railroad District within the Carlin Trend, Elko, NV ." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1363176129

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1363176129
280
© 2013, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Petrology of Mineralized and Non-Mineralized Samples from the Railroad District within the Carlin Trend, Elko, NV by Katherine A Dvorak is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.