Till geochemistry in the ribbed moraine area of Peräpohjola, Finland

Abstract

The characteristics of ribbed moraines, with an emphasis on till geochemical prospecting, were studied in the area of Peräpohjola, southern Finnish Lapland. Percussion drilling, test pits and trenches were used for till sampling. The samples were partially extracted and then analysed using ICP-AES or GFAAS methods in the geolaboratory of the Geological Survey of Finland. The distribution of Au and Cu in fine fraction (<0.06 mm) of till in both horizontal and vertical dimensions showed that the uppermost part of the moraine ridges contained the highest metal contents. In the coarser fractions of till (0.06–0.5 and >2 mm), the anomalies were located on the distal side of the ribbed moraine ridges, down-ice from mineralized bedrock. Geochemical patterns together with fresh pyrite grains in till heavy mineral concentrates indicate a short glacial transport distance of the mineralized debris. This conclusion is also supported by the presence of a large proportion of local rock fragments and boulders in the uppermost till unit and at the surface, which is a result of glacial quarrying during the ribbed moraine formation.