Geochemical analyses of rock, stream-sediment, and nonmagnetic heavy-mineral concentrate samples, Laurel-McGee and Wheeler Ridge Roadless Areas, Inyo and Mono counties, California

Abstract

Sample collection and preparation 1 Rock samples 2 Stream-sediment samples 2 Nonmagnetic heavy-mineral concentrate samples 2 Analytical procedure 3 Emission spectrography 3 Atomic absorption and fluorometric analysis 3 Results of analyses A Statistical summaries 4 References cited 5 STUDIES RELATED TO WILDERNESS The Wilderness Act (Public Law 88-577, September 3, 1964) and related acts require the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines., to survey certain areas on Federal lands to determine their mineral resource potential. Results must be made available to the public and be submitted to the President and the Congress. This report presents the results of a geochemical survey of the Laurel-McGee and Wheeler Ridge Roadless Areas in the Inyo National Forest, Inyo and Mono Counties, California. Laurel-McGee (5045) and Wheeler Ridge (5040) Roadless Areas were classified as further planning areas during the Second Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE II) by the U.S. Forest Service, January 1979. Element Range of percent RSD Reference Au 0.0-22.8 Meier (1980) Q 5.0-20.0 R. M. O'Leary and A. L. Meier, (written cotnraun., 1982) Zn 3.4-30.2 Ward and others (1969, p. 21) The analytical results for the atomic-absorption and fluorometric analyses are presented as discrete values in tables 4 through 6. In tables 10 through 12, however, the data are given in terms of six-step intervals (table 2) to provide statistical treatment consistent with that given for the semiquantitative analyses. RESULTS OF ANALYSES Tables 4 through 6 list the chemical analyses for rock, minus 60-mesh stream-sediment, and nonmagnetic heavy-mineral concentrate samples, respectively. In each table sample numbers are listed in column 1, columns 2 and 3 are north latitudes and west longitudes in degrees, minutes and seconds; and columns 4 and 5 are the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates for easting and northing. Data for each element are headed by the element symbol, reporting unit, and type of analysis. Tables 4 through 6 were produced using the program PUBLST written by J. B. Fyfe (written commun., 1980) of the U.S. Geological Survey. When an element was not detected by any type of analysis, it was left off the table. In table 4 through 12, the analytical data for calcium, iron, magnesium, and titanium are reported in percent (pet.); values for all other elements are given in parts per million (ppm). Atomic-absorption analysis is denoted by aa, and fluorometry by INST. Data for tables 4 through 12 were entered into the U.S. Geological Survey RASS-STATPAC system described by Van Trump and Miesch (1976). STATISTICAL SUMMARIES The data for each sample type were combined to produce a statistical summary presented in tables 7 through 9. Values for the statistical summaries were obtained from tables 10 through 12 which are frequency tables and histograms for each analysis. Tables 10 through 12 were generated using the statistical program TOTS, written by R. D. Koch (written commun., 1981). The values corresponding with N, L, or G...

Mineral summaries: U.S. Bureau of Land Management Wilderness Study Areas in California outside the California Desert

“…Cosca, M.A., Chaffee, M.A., Diggles, M.F., Fey, D.L., Hill, R.H., and Sutley, S.J., 1983 The only known mineral resources in the Lava study area are volcanic cinders. Five cinder cones are situated within the wilderness study area and several are present nearby.…”

Mineral resource potential map of the Wheeler Ridge Roadless Area, Inyo and Mono counties, California

“…Stream-sediment samples were analyzed for uranium, using a modification of the fluorometric method of Centanni and others (1956). The geochemical data are given in Cosca and Chaffee (1983).…”