Prospecting for mineralization using glacially-derived sediments, Anvers Island, Antarctic Peninsula

• Main Author: Schick, Charles W.
• Other Authors: Pride, Douglas E.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: The Ohio State University 1983
• Subjects: Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Anvers; Anvers Island; Arthur Harbor; Gamage Point; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1811/75881

Two samples of fine glacially-derived sediment were taken along the ice front on Gamage Point in the Arthur Harbor area of Anvers Island, Antarctic Peninsula. The samples were sieve separated, run through heavy liquid, and examined in thin section and polished surface. The work was done to determine whether or not anomalous mineralization may exist "up glacial stream" from the sample location. Significant hydrothermal alteration is present as sericite, chlorite, and secondary epidote. Metallic minerals present in order of decreasing abundance are magnetite, pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena and possibly gold. It was not possible to determine if the mineralization present "up glacial stream" is associated with a porphyry-type mineral system, although the products found are not inconsistent with such a conclusion. Ratios of volume percents of minerals present were compared to ratios based on modal analysis of rocks from the surrounding region, but no single source rock for the sediment could be identified. This report confirms that oxide and sulfide mineralization can be seen even in the smallest size fraction of each sample, and thus glacially-derived sediments can be used to prospect for mineralization in areas of extensive ice cover. No embargo