Abstract
The association of oils and bitumen with ore deposits has been long recognized and widely recorded (e.g. Parnell, 1988). In the Coast Ranges of northern California hydrocarbons occur in late Tertiary and Quaternary gold—mercury and mercury-only deposits as well as active geothermal systems that are considered modern day analogues of the epithermal systems (Whitney, 1865; Bradley, 1916; White, 1967; Pearcy and Burruss, 1993; Peabody, 1993). The superb preservation of textures and geological relationships in the hydrothermal systems allows the role of hydrocarbon with respect to gold and mercury mineralization to be empirically assessed.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Averitt, P. (1945) Quicksilver deposits of the Knoxville District, Napa, Yollo, and Lake counties. California Div. Mines Geol. 41: 65–89.
Bailey, E.H. (1959) Froth veins, formed by immiscible hydrothermal fluids, in mercury deposits, California. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 70: 661–664.
Bailey, EH., Snavely, P.D., Jr. and White, D.E. (1961) Chemical analysis of brines and crude oil, Cymric field, Kern County California. US Geol. Surv. Prof Paper. 424-D: D306–309.
Bennett, P. and Siegel, D.I. (1987) Increased solubility of quartz in water due to complexing by organic compounds. Nature. 326: 684–686.
Bennett, P.C., Melcer, M.E., Siegel, D.I. and Hassett, J.P. (1988) The dissolution of quartz in dilute aqueous solutions of organic acids at 25°C. Geoch. Cosmoch. Acta. 52: 1521–1530.
Blake, M.C. Jr. and Jones, D.L. (1981) The Franciscan assemblage and related rocks in northern California: a reinterpretation. In: W.G. Ernst (ed.) The Geotectonic Development of California, Rubey Volume I. Prentice-Hall Inc., Engelwood Cliffs, NJ, pp. 306–328.
Bradley, W.W. (1916) The counties of Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Marin, Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yollo. California Mining Bureau Fourteenth Report of the State Mineralogist, 173–370.
Bray, C.J. and Spooner, E.T.C. (1992) Fluid inclusion volatile analysis by gas chromatography with photoionization/micro-thermal conductivity detectors: Application to magmatic MoS2 and other H2O–0O2 and H20CH4 fluids. Geochim. Cosmochimi. Acta. 56: 261–272.
Chapman, R.H., Bishop, C.C., Chase, G.W. and Gasch, J.W. (1974) Bouguer gravity map of California, Ukiah sheet. California Division of Mines and Geology.
Colombo, U.P., Sironi, G., Gasolo, G.R. and Malvano, R. (1964) Systematic neutron activation technique for the determination of trace metals in petroleum. Anal. Chem. 36: 802–807.
Davis, F.F. (1966) Economic mineral deposits in the Coast Ranges. California Div. Mines Geol. Bull. 190: 315–322.
Des Marais, D.J., Donchin, J.H., Nehring, N.L. and Truesdell, A.H. (1981) Molecular carbon isotopic evidence for the origin of geothermal hydrocarbons. Nature. 292: 826–828.
Dickinson, W.R. (1981) Plate tectonics and the continental margin of California. In W.G. Ernst (ed.) The Geotectonic Development of California, Rubey Volume I. Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ, pp. 1–29.
Disnar, J.R. and Sureau, J.F. (1990) Organic matter in ore genesis: progress and perspectives Org. Geochem. 16: 577–599.
Everhart, D.L. (1950) Skaggs Springs quicksilver mine, Sonoma County, California. California J. Mines Geol. 46: 385–394.
Frondel, C. (1938) Stability of colloidal gold under hydrothermal conditions. Econ. Geol. 33: 1–20.
Fournier, R.P. (1985) The behavior of silica in hydrothermal solutions and epithermal systems. B.R. Berger and P.M. Bethke (eds) Rev. Econ. Geol. 2: 45–62.
Galellier, J.P. and Disnar, J.R. (1990) Kinetics and mechanism of the reduction of Au(III) to Au(0) sedimentary organic. Rev. Econ. Geol. 16: 631–640.
Gijzel, P.V. (1981) Applications of geomicrophotometry of kerogen, solid hydrocarbons and crude oils to petroleum exploration. In: J. Brooks (ed.) Organic Maturation Studies and Fossil Fuel Exploration. Academic Press, London, pp. 351–377.
Gustafson, D.L. (1991) Anatomy of a discovery: the McLaughlin gold mine, Napa, Yollo, and Lake counties, California. Econ. Geol. Monogr. 8: 350–359.
Hagemann, H.W. and Hollerbach, A. (1986) The fluorescence behavior of crude oils with respect to their thermal maturation and Geochem. Rev. Econ. Geol. 10: 473–480.
Hearn, B.C. Jr., Donnelly-Nolan, J.M. and Goff, F.E. (1981) The Clear-Lake volcanics: tectonic setting and magma sources. US Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper. 1141: 25–46.
Herrington, R.J. and Wilkinson, J.J. (1993) Colloidal gold and silica in mesothermal vein systems. Geology. 21: 539–542.
Hitchon, B. and Filby, R.H. (1983) Trace Elements in Alberta Crude Oils. Open File Report. 1983–02. Alberta Research Council, Edmonton.
Hulen, J.B. and Walters, M.A. (1993) The Geysers felsite and associated geothermal systems, alteration, mineralization and hydrocarbon occurrences. Soc. Econ. Geol. Guidebook. 16: 141–152.
Jowett, E.C. (1992) Role of organics and methane in stratiform Cu-Ag deposits and evidence of quartz dissolution by organic complexes. In GAC-MAC, Joint Annual Meeting, Program with Abstracts
Lehrman, N.J. (1986) The McLaughlin Mine, Napa and Yolo counties, California. Nevada Bureau Mines Geol. Rep. 41: 85–89.
McLaughlin, R.J. (1978) Preliminary Geologic Map and Structural Sections of the Central Mayacmas Mountains and the Geysers Steam Field, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino Counties, California. Open File Report, 78–389, United Stated Geological Survey.
McLaughlin, R.J., Blake, M.C., Jr., Griscom, A., Blome, C.D. and Murchey, B. (1988) Tectonics of the formation, translation and dispersal of the Coast Range Ophiolite of California. Tectonics. 7: 1033–1056.
McLaughlin, R.J., Ohlin, H.N., Thormahlen, D.J., Jones, D.L., Miller, J.W. and Blome, C.D. (1990) Geologic Map and Structural Sections of the Little Indian Valley-Wilbur Springs Geothermal Area, Northern Coast Ranges, California. Miscellaneous Investigation, Map 1–1706, United States Geological Survey.
Nelson, G.C., Rytuba, J.J., McLaughlin, R.J. and Tosdal, R.M. (1993) Gold and mercury deposits of the Sulphur Creek District, California. Soc. Econo. Geolo. Guidebook. 16: 262–269
Parnell, J. (1988) Metal enrichments in solid bitumens: a review. Mineral. Deposita. 23: 191–199.
Peabody, C.E. (1993) The Association of Cinnabar and Bitumen in Mercury Deposits of the California Coast Rangers. In: J. Parnell, H. Kucha and P. Landais (eds) Bitumens in Ore Deposits. Springer, Berlin, pp. 178–209.
Peabody, C.E. and Einaudi, M.T. (1992) Origin of petroleum and mercury in the Culver-Baer cinnabar deposit, Mayacmas district, California. Econo. Geol. 87: 1078–1103.
Pearcy, E.C. (1989) The Geology and Evolution of the Hot-Spring Gold Deposit at Cherry Hill, California. Ph.D. thesis, Harvard University.
Pearcy, E.C. and Burruss, R.C. (1993) Hydrocarbons and gold mineralization in the hot-spring deposit at Cherry Hill, California. In: J. Parnell, H. Kucha and P. Landais (eds), Bitumens in Ore Deposits. Springer, Berlin, pp. 117–137.
Pearcy, E.C. and Peterson, U. (1990) Mineralogy, geochemistry and hydrothermal alteration of the Cherry Hill hot-spring gold deposit. Assoc. Exp. Geochem. Spe. Publ. 16b: 143–170.
Peters, E.K. (1991) Gold-bearing hot spring systems of the northern Coast Ranges, California. Econ. Geol. 86: 1519–1528.
Phipps, S.P. and Unruh, J.R. (1992) Crustal-scale wedging beneath an imbricate roof-thrust system: Geology of a transect across the western Sacramento Valley and the northern Coast Ranges, California. In: M.C. Erskine, J.R. Unruh, W.R. Lettis and J.A. Bartow (eds) Field Guide to the Tectonics of the Boundary Between the California Coast Ranges and the Great Valley of California. Pacific Section, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, pp. 117–140.
Robertson, D.E., Creculius, E.A., Fruchter, J.S. and Ludwick, J.D. (1977) Mercury emissions from geothermal power plants. Science. 196: 1094–1097.
Rytuba, J.J. (1993) Epithermal precious-metal and mercury deposits in the Sonoma and Clear Lake volcanic fields, California. Soc. Econ. Geol. Guidebook. 16: 38–51.
Seward, T.M. (1973) Thiocomplexes of gold and transport of gold in hydrothermal solutions. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 37: 379–399.
Shah, K.R., Filby, R.H. and Haller W.A. (1970) Determination of trace elements in petroleum by neutron activation analysis. J. Radioanal. Chem. 6: 413–422.
Sherlock, R.L. (1992) The empirical relationship between gold-mercury mineralization and hydrocarbons, in the northern Coast Ranges, California. CAC-MAC Joint Annual Meeting Program and Abstracts.
Sherlock, R.L. (1993) The Geology and Geochemistry of the McLaughlin Mine Sheeted Vein Complex, Northern Coast Ranges, California. Ph.D. thesis, University of Waterloo.
Sherlock, R.L. and Lehrman, N.J. (1995) Occurrences of dendritic gold at the McLaughlin Mine hot-spring gold deposit. Mineral. Deposita. 30: 323–327.
Sherlock, R.L. and Logan, M.A.V. 91995) Silica carbonate alteration of serpentinite: implications for the association of mercury and gold mineralization in northern California. Expl. Mining Geol. 4: 395–409.
Sherlock, R.L., Tosdal, R.M., Lehrman, N.J., Graney J.R. Losh, S., Jowett, E.C. and Kesler, S.E. (1995) Origin of the McLaughlin Mine sheeted vein complex: metal zoning, fluid inclusion and isotopic evidence. Econ. Geol. 90: 2156–2181.
Studemeister, P.A. (1984) Mercury deposits of western California: an overview. Mineral. Deposita. 19: 202–207.
Thordsen, J.J. (1988) Fluid Inclusion and Geochemical Study of Epithermal Gold Mineralization in the Wilbur Springs District, Colusa and Lake Counties, California. MSc Thesis, Ohio State University.
Tosdal, R.M., Enderlin, D.A., Nelson, G.C. and Lehrman, N.J. (1993) Overview of the McLaughlin precious metal deposit, Napa and Yolo counties, northern California. Soc. Econ. Geol. Guidebook. 16: 312–329.
Vredenburgh, L.M. (1981) Tertiary gold bearing mercury deposits of the Coast Ranges of California. California Geol. 35: 23–27.
Wagner, D.L. and Bortugno, E.J. (1982) Santa Rosa Quadrangle. Map No. 2A, United States Geological Survey Map Series.
White, D.E. (1967) Mercury and base-metal deposits with associated thermal and mineral waters. In: H.L. Barnes (ed.) Geochemistry of Hydrothermal Ore Deposits. Holt Rinehart and Winston, New York, pp. 575–631.
White, D.E. (1981) Active geothermal systems and hydrothermal ore deposits. In: B.J. Skinner (ed.) Economic Geology Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Volume, Economic Geology Publishing Company, pp. 392–423.
Whitney, J.D. (1865) Report on the progress and synopsis of the field work from 1860 to 1864. Geol. Surv. California, Geol. 1: 489.
Wise, S.A., Campbell, R.M., West, W.R., Lee, M.L. and Bartle, K.D. (1986) Characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon minerals curtisite, idrialite, pendletonite using high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. Chemi. Geol. 54: 339–357.
Zimmerman, B.S. (1986) The Geology and Geochemistry of the Northern Knoxville Mercury District, California. MSc thesis, Ohio State University.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Sherlock, R. (2000). The association of gold—mercury mineralization and hydrocarbons in the coast ranges of northern California. In: Glikson, M., Mastalerz, M. (eds) Organic Matter and Mineralisation: Thermal Alteration, Hydrocarbon Generation and Role in Metallogenesis. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9474-5_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9474-5_18
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4019-0
Online ISBN: 978-94-015-9474-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive