Science Foundation AZ

Research

Projects

• Mineral Processing
• Solar Energy
• Mine Health & Safety
• Community & Environmental Health
• Ground Water
• Economic Geology
• RRUFF
• Mining Technology
• Mineral Policy & Economics
• San Xavier Mining Laboratory

Laboratories
Publication List

Research Projects

Fundamental Geosciences: Projects at District to Regional Scales

Mark Barton and Eric Seedorff, Principal Investigators

Two projects are proposed at the district to regional scales, both in the Basin and Range project and with overlapping but distinct sets of goals. They address several over-arching challenges: (1) developing insights into how to more effectively explore at depth and under post-mineral cover. The latter lands comprises >2/3 of the surface area in these highly mineralized regions. (2) Improving our ability to assess the potential for and general distribution of mineralized systems, and the distribution of other anomalous materials in a rapidly urbanizing region, application to exploration, base-line studies, and land-use and public policy considerations.

Both projects revolve around 4-D (3 spatial + time) characterization of mineralized terrains –including developing a new paradigm for continental extension with a focus on the Basin and Range Province and a synthesis that compares key parts of the Basin and Range Province with other areas. These two projects continue and extend long-standing research efforts that have had and continue to have major support from both industry (Phelps Dodge/FMI, Asarco, Quadra, Homestake/Barrick, Anglo American) and the Federal government (mainly NSF, USGS).

Project group 2A

4-D characterization of Cu-mineralized terrains in Arizona (and comparison with other areas in the western Andes).

The two topics to be developed under this SFAz initiative, in the context of these issues are: (1) a regional-scale test of our developing, novel ("multiple half-graben") model for crustal extension with implications for the distribution of mineralized materials, and (2) a systematic analysis of the variability in the mineral ("metallogenic") potential of rocks of different ages in this region and its implications for undiscovered deposits. Both themes are routinely considered, and often used, in mineral exploration in this region and world-wide. In this case SFAz funding will leverage the existing partial support and allow expansion and more timely completion of these projects. This project will also provide an improved framework for several of the deposit-to-district scale projects outlined above.

The extension (structural geology) project will expand work done by our group in the Ray-Superior-Globe area and in the Santa Catalina-Rincon Mountains through tying these two terrains together via a synthesis of the intervening geology. The approach will be to compile, reinterpret, and selectively re-map areas between the Santa Catalina Mtns and the Tortilla Mtns (near Ray). This work will enable new structural reconstructions, a test of alternative structural models for continental extension, a broader interpretation of the distribution of the major mineralized centers at San Manuel-Kalamazoo and Copper Creek, and a deeper understanding of the geologic and geochemical framework for the environmentally and hydrologically important riparian areas of the San Pedro and Gila River drainages. We anticipate interesting novel results that may show the relative importance of natural processes on the mass balance of sulfur, metals, and other materials in Tertiary and Quaternary sedimentary rocks. Finally, we will continue close cooperation with USGS, industry, and other professionals working in this area.

Project group 2B

4-D reconstruction of Tertiary extension and hydrothermal systems in northeastern Nevada.

These projects stem from long-standing questions about the Tertiary structural and metallogenic evolution of the northern Great Basin, which hosts the Nevada gold province and the world-class, but enigmatic "Carlin-type" gold deposits. Porphyry Cu(-Mo-Au) and related deposits are also widespread in the region and of considerable economic importance. This theme is of direct interest to several sponsors including Newmont, Quadra, and BCE and should entice involvement from other companies. The topic also links directly with district-focused projects including work in the Battle Mountain, Robinson, and Eureka districts.

The northern Basin and Range province poses similar structural puzzles to the southern Basin and Range (e.g., Arizona), but has distinct differences in mineralization and rock types. Seedorff and Barton have been involved in Great Basin geology for many years and are proponents of alternative geologic models for Carlin-type deposits as well as different structural interpretations (e.g., see Cline et al., 2005, review of Carlin-type mineralization, 100th Ann. Vol. of Economic Geology). We will build on a project begun by Dr. Seedorff focused on the timing, reconstruction, and relationship to mineral deposits in the greater Ruby Mountain area of NE Nevada.

Back