Aspen Bibliography

Utilization of Mull (Forest Humus Layer) in Geochemical Exploration in the Empire District, Clear Creek County, Colorado

Document Type

Report

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Geological Survey Bulletin 1278-B

First Page

1

Last Page

48

Publication Date

1971

Abstract

Results of geochemical studies in the Empire district, Clear Creek County, Colo., show that the distribution of anomalously high amounts of gold, copper, and bismuth in mull reflects the known distribution of these metals in bedrock beneath an extensive cover of colluvium and glacial drift; but their distribution in the transported soil that underlies the mull poorly delineates the distribution of the known metal deposits.

High anomalies of silver, lead, zinc, and molybdenum in the mull encircle the principal anomalies of gold, copper, and bismuth and may reflect enrichment of silver, lead, zinc, and molybdenum in the bedrock beneath the colluvial and morainal cover.

The high anomalous concentrations of gold, copper, bismuth, silver, lead, zinc, molybdenum, tin, and tungsten detected in the mull ash and the detection of these metals (except tungsten) in the ash of pine and aspen trees may reflect a geochemical cycle in which these metals are leached from the bedrock, are absorbed by the trees, and then in part deposited in the leaves and needles; they are finally concentrated in the mull as the leaves and needles decay.

Some areas anomalously high in certain metals in mull are not related to known mineralization and merit further investigation.

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