Abstract
The Goldstrike district in southwest Utah is similar to Carlin-type gold deposits in Nevada that are characterized by sediment-hosted disseminated gold. Suitable structural and stratigraphic conditions facilitated precipitation of gold in arsenian pyrite grains from ascending gold-bearing fluids. This study used ground-based hyperspectral imaging to study a core drilled in the Goldstrike district covering the basal Claron Formation and Callville Limestone. Spectral modeling of absorptions at 2340, 2200, and 500 nm allowed the extraction of calcite, clay minerals, and ferric iron abundances and identification of lithology. This study integrated remote sensing and geochemistry data and identified an optimum stratigraphic combination of limestone above and siliciclastic rocks below in the basal Claron Formation, as well as decarbonatization, argillization, and pyrite oxidation in the Callville Limestone, that are related with gold mineralization. This study shows an example of utilizing ground-based hyperspectral imaging in geological characterization, which can be broadly applied in the determination of mining interests and classification of ore grades. The utilization of this new terrestrial remote sensing technique has great potentials in resource exploration and exploitation.
Highlights
The Great Basin of western North America has produced a significant amount of gold, making the United States one of the largest gold producers in the world [1]
The most famous ones are of the Carlin-type, carbonate rock-hosted disseminated gold deposits that formed in the Eocene Epoch [1,2]
Materials and Methods This study focused on a core drilled by Pilot Goldstrike Inc. at easting 244,910.51 m, northing
Summary
The Great Basin of western North America has produced a significant amount of gold, making the United States one of the largest gold producers in the world [1]. The most famous ones are of the Carlin-type, carbonate rock-hosted disseminated gold deposits that formed in the Eocene Epoch [1,2]. Since the discoveries of Nevada Carlin-type gold deposits, similar sediment-hosted gold has been searched for around the world [3,4,5,6] and in nearby states [7,8,9]. The Goldstrike district is a gold deposit in southwest Utah similar to Carlin-type deposits [10,11]. The remaining gold is currently being explored by Pilot Goldstrike Inc., Elko, USA [11]
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