Masters Theses
Abstract
"The Escalante Silver District, Iron County, Utah, occupies a group of low hills extending to the Escalante Desert from the Black Hills to the south. Tertiary volcanics serve as host rocks for silver bearing quartz veins. Five map units, with a total of 12 members are recognized. X-ray fluorescence and field mapping enabled differentiation of the units, while thin section analysis enabled characterization of the members. The map units formed in three episodes. The oldest is extrusive doming of distinctive older lava and breccia flows. The middle group is made up of tectontic breccias, sillar-like lava flows, and volcaniclastic sediments that fill a preexisting moat. The youngest group consists of lava and breccia flows along with hot spring deposits related to regional eruptions and local hydrothermal activity. Four sets of linear features cut the area: east-west trending, northeast-trending, northwest-trending, and arcuate shaped. Most are relatable to normal faults associated to Basin and Range faulting. Arcuate fractures probably are related to tensional stress brought on by caldera activity.
Silicic, or jasperoid type alteration and pervasive weak clay alteration occur throughout the district. Alteration effects are coincident with the vein distribution.
The wall rock near the veins is characterized by silicification and intense replacement by calcite.
A feasible checklist for exploration of vein mineralization in volcanic environments includes the following: 1) permeable volcanics or volcaniclastic sediments, 2) fracturing framework conducive to ore deposition, and 3) hydrothermal circulation set in motion by nearby intrusions or rhyolitic domes"--Abstract, pages ii-iii.
Advisor(s)
Grant, S. Kerry
Committee Member(s)
Laudon, Robert C.
Elifrits, C. Dale
Department(s)
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Degree Name
M.S. in Geology and Geophysics
Publisher
University of Missouri--Rolla
Publication Date
Fall 1986
Pagination
xv, 158 pages
Note about bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 153-156).
Geographic Coverage
Iron County, Utah
Rights
© 1986 James William Biehl, All rights reserved.
Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
File Type
text
Language
English
Thesis Number
T 5404
Print OCLC #
15507926
Electronic OCLC #
1029610418
Link to Catalog Record
Recommended Citation
Biehl, James William, "Geology of the Escalante District, Iron County, Utah" (1986). Masters Theses. 427.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/427
Geology of the Escalante District, Iron Co., Utah
Biehl_James_1986_Plate_2.tif (68192 kB)
Cross Section of the Escalante District, Utah
Comments
Folded map in pocket. Two plates are included in the pdf and as supplementary material.