Mapping Advanced Argillic Alteration at Cuprite, Nevada, Using Imaging Spectroscopy

Research Article| August 01, 2014 Mapping Advanced Argillic Alteration at Cuprite, Nevada, Using Imaging Spectroscopy Gregg A. Swayze; Gregg A. Swayze 1U.S. Geological Survey, MS 964 Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 Corresponding author: e-mail, gswayze@usgs.gov Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Roger N. Clark; Roger N. Clark 1U.S. Geological Survey, MS 964 Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alexander F.H. Goetz; Alexander F.H. Goetz 2University of Colorado, Department of Geological Sciences, Emeritas, Boulder, Colorado 80309 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar K. Eric Livo; K. Eric Livo 1U.S. Geological Survey, MS 964 Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar George N. Breit; George N. Breit 1U.S. Geological Survey, MS 964 Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Fred A. Kruse; Fred A. Kruse 3Physics Department and Remote Sensing Center, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California 93943 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephen J. Sutley; Stephen J. Sutley 1U.S. Geological Survey, MS 964 Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Lawrence W. Snee; Lawrence W. Snee 1U.S. Geological Survey, MS 964 Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Heather A. Lowers; Heather A. Lowers 1U.S. Geological Survey, MS 964 Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar James L. Post; James L. Post 4740 Zion St., Nevada City, California 95959 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Roger E. Stoffregen; Roger E. Stoffregen 5AWK Consulting Engineers, 1225 Rodi Rd., Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania 15145 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Roger P. Ashley Roger P. Ashley 6U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park, California 94025 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Gregg A. Swayze 1U.S. Geological Survey, MS 964 Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 Roger N. Clark 1U.S. Geological Survey, MS 964 Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 Alexander F.H. Goetz 2University of Colorado, Department of Geological Sciences, Emeritas, Boulder, Colorado 80309 K. Eric Livo 1U.S. Geological Survey, MS 964 Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 George N. Breit 1U.S. Geological Survey, MS 964 Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 Fred A. Kruse 3Physics Department and Remote Sensing Center, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California 93943 Stephen J. Sutley 1U.S. Geological Survey, MS 964 Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 Lawrence W. Snee 1U.S. Geological Survey, MS 964 Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 Heather A. Lowers 1U.S. Geological Survey, MS 964 Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225 James L. Post 4740 Zion St., Nevada City, California 95959 Roger E. Stoffregen 5AWK Consulting Engineers, 1225 Rodi Rd., Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania 15145 Roger P. Ashley 6U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park, California 94025 Corresponding author: e-mail, gswayze@usgs.gov Publisher: Society of Economic Geologists Received: 11 Apr 2013 Accepted: 11 Sep 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1554-0774 Print ISSN: 0361-0128 © 2014 Society of Economic Geologists. Economic Geology (2014) 109 (5): 1179–1221. https://doi.org/10.2113/econgeo.109.5.1179 Article history Received: 11 Apr 2013 Accepted: 11 Sep 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Gregg A. Swayze, Roger N. Clark, Alexander F.H. Goetz, K. Eric Livo, George N. Breit, Fred A. Kruse, Stephen J. Sutley, Lawrence W. Snee, Heather A. Lowers, James L. Post, Roger E. Stoffregen, Roger P. Ashley; Mapping Advanced Argillic Alteration at Cuprite, Nevada, Using Imaging Spectroscopy. Economic Geology 2014;; 109 (5): 1179–1221. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/econgeo.109.5.1179 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyEconomic Geology Search Advanced Search Abstract Mineral maps based on Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data were used to study late Miocene advanced argillic alteration at Cuprite, Nevada. Distributions of Fe-bearing minerals, clays, micas, sulfates, and carbonates were mapped using the Tetracorder spectral-shape matching system. The Al content of white micas increases toward altered areas and near intrusive rocks. Alunite composition varies from pure K to intimate mixtures of Na-K endmembers with subpixel occurrences of huangite, the Ca analogue of alunite. Intimately mixed Na-K alunite marks areas of relatively lower alteration temperature, whereas co-occurring Na-alunite and dickite may delineate relict hydrothermal conduits. The presence of dickite, halloysite, and well-ordered kaolinite, but absence of disordered kaolinite, is consistent with acidic conditions during hydrothermal alteration. Partial lichen cover on opal spectrally mimics chalcedony, limiting its detection to lichen-free areas. Pods of buddingtonite are remnants of initial quartz-adularia-smectite alteration. Thus, spectral maps provide a synoptic view of the surface mineralogy, and define a previously unrecognized early steam-heated hydrothermal event.Faulting and episodes of hydrothermal alteration at Cuprite were intimately linked to upper plate movements above the Silver Peak-Lone Mountain detachment and growth, collapse, and resurgence of the nearby Stonewall Mountain volcanic complex between 8 and 5 Ma. Isotopic dating indicates that hydrothermal activity started at least by 7.61 Ma and ended by about 6.2 Ma. Spectral and stable isotope data suggest that Cuprite is a late Miocene low-sulfidation adularia-sericite type hot spring deposit overprinted by late-stage, steam-heated advanced argillic alteration formed along the margin of the Stonewall Mountain caldera. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.