Geochemical Dispersion at the Mother Lode Mine Near Kennicott, Alaska

摘要

Analysis for elements substituting in the crystal lattice of major carbonate minerals and indium, selenium, and thallium has defined two geochemical dispersion groups away from the Mother Lode massive chalcocite ore body near Kennicott, Alaska. The first group is characterized by inverse logarithmic gradients of concentrations of some elements. These gradients decrease to background concentration values approximately 15 m from the contact of the ore with the wall rock, indicating that this zone is one of intense mass transfer associated with ore deposition. The zones are local exploration indicators of proximity to ore. The second group has halos of some elements at discrete distances much farther from the ore body. The most prominent halo occurs at 480 m and the farthest about 1 km from the ore body, providing regional exploration indicators of chalcocite veins. Comparisons of these dispersion patterns with those surrounding other ore deposits show, despite differences in systems, similarities in the distances of related mass transfer.