The vast majority of theses in this collection are open access and freely available. There are a small number of theses that have access restricted to the WWU campus. For off-campus access to a thesis labeled "Campus Only Access," please log in here with your WWU universal ID, or talk to your librarian about requesting the restricted thesis through interlibrary loan.
Date Permissions Signed
2-20-2018
Date of Award
Summer 1985
Document Type
Masters Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Geology
First Advisor
Wodzicki, Antoni
Second Advisor
Babcock, R. Scott (Randall Scott)
Third Advisor
Christman, Robert A. (Robert Adam), 1924-
Fourth Advisor
Wilson, William, 1933-2010
Abstract
The Cedar Creek breccia pipe is located in the North Santiam Mining District, Oregon, approximately 50 km. east of Salem. It was emplaced in the Sardine Formation, a series of andesitic flows, breccias, tuffs, and small intrusives of Middle to Late Miocene age.
The breccia pipe was discovered by Amoco Minerals Co. through soil sampling, a ground magnetic survey, and drilling. It is elliptical in plan view with maximum axes of approximately 110 and 145 m. and extends vertically downward over 350 m. The contacts between the pipe and the surrounding country rock are sharp and characterized by sheeted fault zones. A quartz diorite intrusive is located directly beneath the pipe. It is porphyritic, weakly mineralized, and exhibits quartz-sericite alteration.
Two overlapping stages of hydrothermal mineralization are recognized. The first involved the alteration of breccia fragments to fine-grain quartz, sericite, chlorite, and carbonates. The second stage resulted in the deposition of quartz, sericite, chlorite, tourmaline, apatite, hematite, chalcopyrite, bornite, molybdenite, tetrahedrite, pyrite, galena, and sphalerite in open spaces. A later stage during which minor carbonate veins formed is also recognized. Siderite and koalinite were deposited during this late stage.
Four types of fluid inclusions were distinguished and subjected to microthermometric analysis. Type I inclusions consist of vapor and liquid, and homogenized to liquid at temperatures of 150° to 500° C. The salinities of type I inclusions range from 0 to 23 equiv. wt. % NaCl. Type II inclusions consist of vapor, liquid, and halite. Homogenization temperatures of type II inclusions range from 200° to greater than 625° C. 65 type II inclusions homogenized to liquid by vapor disappearance and have salinities of 31 to 39 equiv. wt. % NaCI. 3 homogenized to liquid by halite disappearance and have salinities of 58 to greater than 65 equiv. wt. % NaCl. Type III inclusions consist of vapor, liquid, halite, and sylvite. 24 of 31 type III inclusions analyzed homogenized to liquid by vapor disappearance, the remainder by halite disappearance. Homogenization temperatures of type III inclusions range from 325° to greater than 625° C and salinities from 45 to 80 equiv. wt. % NaCl + KCl. Type IV inclusions consist of vapor, liquid, halite, sylvite, and one or more other solid phases. 2 of these solid phases were tentatively identified as gypsum and anhydrite. Homogenization temperatures of type IV inclusions range from 375° to 525° C. 32 homogenized to liquid by vapor disappearance, 13 by halite disappearance.
Petrologic and fluid inclusion data indicate that 3 major hydrothermal events occurred. The first event is represented by type III and IV inclusions, the second by type II inclusions, and the last by type I inclusions.
Fluid inclusion leachates were analyzed by ion chromatograph. Na, K, Li, NH4, Cl, SO4, NO3, and Br were separated. The Na/K and Na/Li ratios determined from the leachate analyses were used to calibrate Na/K and Na/Li geothermometers.
Data from fluid inclusion and petrologic studies were combined with available thermodynamic data to create a model for ore transportation and deposition processes. Copper and iron were carried in solution as CuCl and FeCl+. Ore deposition occured at 250° to 350° C. A decrease in temperature is probably the primary cause of ore deposition, but an increase in pH and decrease in chloride concentration may also be important.
Type
Text
Keywords
Cedar Creek breccia pipe, North Santiam Mining District
DOI
https://doi.org/10.25710/00cv-8n03
Publisher
Western Washington University
OCLC Number
1041863276
Subject – LCSH
Breccia--Oregon--Cedar Creek region; Ore deposits--Oregon--Cedar Creek region; Geochemistry--Oregon--Cedar Creek region; Fluid inclusions--Oregon--Cedar Creek region.
Geographic Coverage
Oregon
Format
application/pdf
Genre/Form
masters theses
Language
English
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this thesis for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Recommended Citation
Winters, Mark B., "An Investigation of Fluid Inclusions and Geochemistry of Ore Formation in the Cedar Creek Breccia Pipe, North Santiam Mining District, Oregon" (1985). WWU Graduate School Collection. 723.
https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwuet/723
Map