This SEG Foundation-sponsored student field trip visits a varied group of seven major deposits of Cu, Au, Ag and/or Mo, including porphyry, skarn, manto/replacement, epithermal vein and breccia-style deposits. Examination of open-pit exposures, drill cores, and outcrops focus on recognizing the characteristics of porphyry, skarn and epithermal mineral assemblages, including study of the distribution and zoning of ore-forming minerals, variations in alteration assemblages, multiple intrusion/mineralization events, hydrothermal processes and their geochemical signatures.

This SEG Foundation-sponsored student field trip visits a varied group of seven major deposits of Cu, Au, Ag and/or Mo, including porphyry, skarn, manto/replacement, epithermal vein and breccia-style deposits. Examination of open-pit exposures, drill cores, and outcrops focus on recognizing the characteristics of porphyry, skarn and epithermal mineral assemblages, including study of the distribution and zoning of ore-forming minerals, variations in alteration assemblages, multiple intrusion/mineralization events, hydrothermal processes and their geochemical signatures.

This SEG Foundation-sponsored student field trip visits fivemajor Cu-Mo porphyry deposits and two advanced exploration projects. A mill complex visit is also included. Examination of open pit exposures, drill cores from mines and exploration prospects, and outcrops will focus on recognizing the characteristics of porphyry and skarn mineral assemblages, including study of the distribution and zoning of ore-forming minerals, variations in alteration assemblages, multiple intrusion/mineralization events, hydrothermal processes and their geochemical signatures. Additionally, the Mission orebody and the Rosemont copper deposit are superb examples of Laramide orebodies that have been tilted and dismembered by major post-mineralization tectonic events characterized by low-angle faulting. Recognition of post-mineralization structural features is an important key in exploration for these types of deposits.

This SEG Foundation-sponsored student field trip visits fivemajor Cu-Mo porphyry deposits and two advanced exploration projects. A mill complex visit is also included. Examination of open pit exposures, drill cores from mines and exploration prospects, and outcrops will focus on recognizing the characteristics of porphyry and skarn mineral assemblages, including study of the distribution and zoning of ore-forming minerals, variations in alteration assemblages, multiple intrusion/mineralization events, hydrothermal processes and their geochemical signatures. Additionally, the Mission orebody and the Rosemont copper deposit are superb examples of Laramide orebodies that have been tilted and dismembered by major post-mineralization tectonic events characterized by low-angle faulting. Recognition of post-mineralization structural features is an important key in exploration for these types of deposits.

ABSTRACT Concretions are diagenetic products of cementation that establish significant records of groundwater flow through porous sedimentary deposits. Common spheroidal ferric oxide concretions form by diffusive coupled with advective mass transfer and share similar physical characteristics with hematite spherules from Meridiani Planum (Mars “blueberries”), investigated by the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. Terrestrial concretions from the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone are not perfect analogs to Mars, particularly in terms of their geochemistry. However, the Navajo Sandstone contains exceptional examples that represent typical concretion characteristics from the geologic record. Both ancient and modern analogs provide information about concretion forming processes and their relationship to porosity and permeability, fluid flow events, subsequent weathering, and surficial reworking. Concretions on Earth possess variable mineralogies and form in a variety of lithologies in formations of nearly all geologic ages. Despite the prevalence of concretions, many unknowns exist, including their absolute ages and their precise nucleation and growth mechanisms. Some opportunities for future concretion research lie in three approaches: (1) New analytical techniques may show geochemical gradients and important textures reflecting biotic (role of bacteria) or abiotic origins. (2) Concretion modeling can determine important formation mechanisms. Sensitivity tests and simulations for different parameters can help show the magnitude of influence for different input factors. (3) New age-dating methods that remove preservational bias and expand the supply of datable material may yield quantitative limits to the timing of diagenetic events beyond what relative cross-cutting relationships can show. The discovery of hematite spherules on Mars has driven efforts to better understand both terrestrial examples of ferric oxide concretions and the competing mechanisms that produce spheroidal geometries. The integration of geologic and planetary sciences continues to encourage new findings in the quest to understand the role of water on Mars as well as the tantalizing possibility that extraterrestrial life is associated with mineral records of watery environments.

Abstract The Barton Mines Corporation open pit mine is located at an elevation of about 2600 feet on the north side of Gore Mountain (Fig. 1). For 105 years, this was the site of the world’s oldest continuously operating garnet mine and the country’s second oldest continuous operating mine under one management. The community at the mine site is the highest self-sufficient community in New York State. It is 10 miles from North Creek and 5 miles from State Route 28 over a Company-built road that rises 300 feet per mile. This road, like others in the vicinity, is surfaced with coarse mine tailings. About eleven families can live on the property. The community has its own water, power, and frre protection systems. On the property are the original mine buildings and the Highwinds Inn, built by Mr. C.R. Barton in 1933 as a family residence. The Inn is now privately leased from the corporation and operates 10 months per year. It offers a four-bedroom lodge, a four star dining room, cross-country skiing and fantastic views of the Siamese Wilderness Area The garnet is used in coated abrasives, glass grinding, metal and glass polishing, and even to remove the red hulls from peanuts. Paint manufacturers add garnet to create non-skid surfaces and television makers use it to prepare the glass on color picture tubes. Barton sells between 10,000 and 12,000 tons of garnet abrasive annually. About 40% of the company’s shipments are to foreign countries. All current U.S. production of technical grade garnet is limited to the Barton mines from where it is shipped world wide for use in coated abrasives and powder applications (Austin, 1993a, b). Garnet has been designated as the official New York State gemstone. Barton produces no gem material but collectors are still able to fin~ gem rough. Stones cut from Gore Mountain rough material generally fall into a one to five carat range. Garnets from this locality are a dark red color. Special cutting schemes have been devised for this material. in order to allow sufficient light into the stone.

Abstract According to Stephenson (1945) the Sanford Lake magnetite-ilmenite ores were discovered in 1826 when a party, entering from Indian Pass, encountered the now mined-out "Iron Dam" of ore which extended across the Hudson River at the present site of the Tahawus Club. Mining began in the 1830’s and by the 1840’s was supplying ore for the frrst cast-steel plant in America (Adirondack Iron and Steel Company, Jersey City, N.J.). In 1851 steel from this plant was awarded a gold medal at the World’s Fair in London. Production halted in 1858; was reorganized as the Macintyre Iron Co. in 1894; and resumed production in 1906. Despite extensive planning, little ore was produced or shipped. In 1908 a French metallurgist, A. Rossi, employed by the Macintyre Iron Co., discovered the suitability of titanium as a white paint pigment. Continued transportation difficulties plagued mining operations until 1941 when N .L. Industries, Titanium Division, acquired the Sanford Hill-South Extension ore body. By 1942 ilmenite concentrates were being shipped. The mine was extensively developed during, and after, World War II where it was exploited for titanium, and a railroad was built to North Creek. Since 1980, mining activity has slowed, and at present a skeleton crew works the deposits for a variety of purposes. The Sanford Hill-South Extension pit is flooded. Thirty-three and one-half million tons of ore was shipped to the crusher between 1942 and 1968 (Gross, 1968).

Abstract Basins Inc., a subsidiary of the Georgia Marble Company, Atlanta, GA, operates a marble quarry 3 miles north of the Village of Gouverneur and a mill 2.6 miles south of the Village (Fig 1, 2). Marble products are shipped either in bags (57%) or bulk (43%). Of the bulk shipments 58 percent is shipped by truck to the Port of Ogdensburg and then by boat usually to Chicago, 24 percent by rail and 18 percent by truck. Currently all bagged products are shipped by truck, mainly to New York, New England, Northern Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. The tonnage by markets served are: lawn and garden (40%), farm (15%), exposed aggregate (10%), fine grind industrial (5%) and low value subbase and fill material (30%). Reserves are estimated at 80,000,000 tons.

Abstract Talc mining in New York state dates to about 1878 when a Colonel Palmer and associates opened the frrst commercial talc mine on the Nelson Freeman farm near Talcville (Roe and Olson, 1983; Fig 1). In 1893 this operation was sold to the International Pulp Company which changed its name to the International Talc Company in 1944. The company was acquired by R.T. Vanderbuilt Co., Inc. in 1974. A new talc operation, the Gouverneur Talc Company, owned by the R.T. Vanderbuilt Company began operations near Balmat in 1948. The initial capacity of the processing plant was 200 stpd and subsequent expansions have increased capacity to 800-1000 stpd. The Arnold pit and # 1 Mine, operated by the Gouverneur Talc Company, are the only currently operating tremolite-talc mines in the northwest Adirondacks. The Wight mine operated from the early 1900’s to 1968. The American mine operated between 1913 and 1920. The Wintergreen, Ontario, International #21/2 and Woodcock mines closed in 1919, 1952, 1952 and 1958, respectively. The deposits of the Balmat-Edwards district probably constitute the larges reserves of tremolitic-type talc in the world (Roe and Olson, 1983). Companies in New York, Montana, Texas and Vermont account for 89% of domestic production (Virta, 1992).

Abstract The Valentine mine, containing more than 3 million tons of coarse-grained wollastonite, is located 7 km southwest of Harrisville and 2 km south of Lake Bonaparte (Fig. 1). It is the largest of 17 known occurrences of wollastonite within a 10 km radius. The deposit was recognized in 1950’s and mining operations by the Gouverneur Talc Company, a subsidiary of the R.T. Vanderbuilt Company, commenced in 1977.