New Insights on Upper Mississippi Valley Mineralization Based on Solution Cavities in the Ordovician Galena Group at the Conco Mine, North Aurora, Illinois, USA.
New Insights on Upper Mississippi Valley Mineralization Based on Solution Cavities in the Ordovician Galena Group at the Conco Mine, North Aurora, Illinois, USA.
Cover of the new publication, Circular 581
The Illinois State Geological Survey announces the release of Circular 581, New Insights on Upper Mississippi Valley Mineralization Based on Solution Cavities in the Ordovician Galena Group at the Conco Mine, North Aurora, Illinois, USA. Authors of the 46-page circular are Jared T. Freiburg, Bruce W. Fouke, and Zakaria Lasemi. This study examines the associations and origins of the spectacular mineralization recently found in large solution cavities within the Ordovician Galena Group rocks in northeastern Illinois. Because these Mississippi Valley-type minerals are economically important, geologists have long been interested in understanding how these minerals were produced and how to better predict their occurrence. This study used field observations and high-resolution petrographic and geochemical analyses to reconstruct the timing, composition, and source of the diagenetic fluids that precipitated the minerals.
The study results have important implications with respect to the diagenesis (the chemical, physical, and biologic changes after deposition) of sedimentary rocks in midcontinent North America, including the Mississippi Valley-type mineral deposits. The study data help tie the diagenetic features in the Galena Group carbonates to potential diagenetic processes. This information should help researchers as they develop predictive models of regional paleofluid flow and more accurate models for mineral and hydrocarbon exploration.
The publication is available free for download from the ISGS Web site (http://www.isgs.illinois.edu). You may also order a paper version of this publication online from our secure shop site at https://shop.inrs.illinois.edu/shop-isgs.html or by calling our information office: 1-217-244-2414; 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central time, weekdays.
Updated 07/02/2012 SLD