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Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses
4-8-1974
A Mineralogical and Geochemical Study of the FerruginousBauxite Deposits in Columbia County, Oregon, and WahkiakumCounty, WashingtonRonald Laverne JacksonPortland State University
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Recommended CitationJackson, Ronald Laverne, "A Mineralogical and Geochemical Study of the Ferruginous Bauxite Deposits in Columbia County, Oregon,and Wahkiakum County, Washington" (1974). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 2133.
10.15760/etd.2132
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I
AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Ronald LaVerne Jackson for the
Master of Science in the Depa~tment of Earth Sciences presented ~ April 8, 1974.
Title: A Mineralogical and Geo~heII'.ical Study of the Ferruginous
Bauxite Deposits in Columbia County, Oregon and llflahkiakum
County, Washington.
APPROVED BY MEMI3ERS OF THE THESIS COMf.1ITTEE:
H. Beeson, Chairman
Robert o. Van Atta
David Roe
Wet chemical analysis and instrJment~ neutron activation analysis
(INAA) were performed on a suite of samples from three residual ferru
ginous ba~d te profiles in -the study area for ab1Uldances of Al 0 ,2 3
i Si02, Fe 03, Ti02 , Na, Sc, Hf, Cr, Co, La, Sm, Yb, Lu; and Th. In addition a mineralogical study accompanied this research, using petro-I
2
graphic, differential thermal, and x-ray diffraction techniques. InI
'each profile, the relative mobility of these elements were calculated
I by empirical methods for comparison with the parent rock and mineral
I properties in the saprolite. This study indicates that the first original constituent of the
I
basalt to decompose under the influence of weathering is interstitial
glass. The second phase results in the decomposition of plagioclase
and pyroxene. Plagioclase alters mainly to kaolinite and metahalloy-'
site. Pyroxene and basaltic glass alters mainly to nontronite, hematite,
limonite, and amorphous clay. Opaques remain nearly unaltered. The
low grade ferruginous bauxite ore is not derived solely from basalt,
but also forms by weathering of younger sedimentary strata that overlie
the basalt flows of the Columbia River Group. .In general, components
that are progressively depleted under the influence of weathering are
Si02, Na, La, Sm, and Lu; these losses result in greater concentration
of Al 03
, Fe 03
, Ti02 , Sc, Cr, Th, and Hf. Cobalt behaves erratically.2 2
There seems to be no predictable relationship between the ratios of
rare earth elements in ferruginous bauxite and the parent rock. In
the most weathered zone, Fe 0 , Ti02
, Al 0 , Sc, Hi, Cr, and Th are2 3 2 3
enriched. Na, Si02 , Sm, and Lu are depleted relative to the parent
rock. Trace elements associated with iron-rich pisolites are Lu, Yb,
Th, and Co. Only Th is associated with gibbsite.
A MINERALOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL STUDY OF TEE FERRUGINOUS
BAUXITE DEPOSITS IN COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON AND
WAHKIAKUM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
by
RONALD LAVERNE JACKSON
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE
in
GEOLOGY
Portland State University 1974
I
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I
I
I
I
TO THE OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH:
The members of the Committee appro~e the thesis of
Ronald LaVerne Jackson presented April 8, 1974.
H. Beeson, Chairman
obert O. Van Atta
David Roe
APPROVED:
s
Davd T. Clark, Dean of Graduate Studies
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was made possible by financial support from Reynolds
Metals Company ~d who also kindly provided wet chemical analysis on
numerous samples. Gratef~ acknowledgement is made to Marvin H. Beeson
who guided this research tijroughout its duration. Thanks are due to
Robert o. Van Atta, J~hn E. Allen, and Reuben C. Newcomb for reviewing
the manusc:t"ipt and making l1-elpful suggestions for i ts improvement. The
illustrations are by Grego~y T. Both; his help is greatly appreciated ..
Special thanks are given tq my devoted and understanding wife, Ldnda Jean,
who prepared samples for a.4alysis and typed the manuscript.
Several disdussions ~ith John W. Hook, Reynolds Metals Company,
on the ferrug~nous bauxite~ in the study area were beneficial. Richard
w. White, U. S. Geological Survey, provide4 pertinent references on the weathering of 1;>asaltic rocks.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii
LIST OF TABLES vii
LIST OF FIGURES viii
I. INTRODUCTION. 1
Purpose and distribution. 1
Location of the study area. 1
Nature of present work.~ 3
Location of ferxuginous bauxite profiles. 4
Field collection4 4
Definitions 5
II. GEOORAPHY ?
Geography and vegetation of southwestern Washington and northwestern Oregon ?
Topography_ .. 8
III. GEOLOOY OF THE FERRUGINOUS BAUXITE DEPOSITS 9
Field relations and nature of the ferruginous
bauxite in northwestern Oregon a~d southwestern
Previous geo1ogic investigations. 9
Geologic Setting. 9
Washington. .. 11
IV. METHODS OF INVESTIGATION. 14
v
PAGE
Mineralogical methods 14
Petrographic analysis
Differen.tial thermal analysis
X~~aY'diffraction analysis
Geochemical methods 15
Instrumental neutron activiation analysis (INAA) Wet chemical analysis
V. GENERAL DESCRIPrION ..
Basaltic corestone profile.
Wahkiakum County profile A.
Wahkiakum County profile B.
VI. MINERALOGY OF THREE SELECTED FERRUGINOUS PROFILES.
Introduction.
Basaltic oorestone profile.
Presentation of analysis Weathered zones
Wahkiakum County profile A.
Presentation of analysis Weathered zones
Wahkiakum County profile B.
Presentation of analysis Weathered zones
20
20
20
20
BAUXITE 26
26
. . . . 26
55
VII. GEOCHEMISTRY OF THREE FERRUGINOUS BAUXITE PROFILES. 60
Presentation of analysis. 60
Methods o.f interpreting data. 60
vi
PAGE
Relative mobility of individual elements in the
three profiles,. 66
The relative mobility of elements in the most
Basaltic corestone profile. 66
Wahkiakum County profile A. 74
Wahkiakum COUL~ty profile B. 76
Trace elements in gibbsite and limonite 77
weathered zones from each profile 78
Rare earth ratios 78
VIII. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 82
REFERENCES CITED. 85
I TABLE
I I
I
I II
III
I
IV
V-a
V-b
V-c
V-d
VI-a
VI-b
VI-c
lIII
VIII
LIST OF TABLES
PAGE
Elemental Abundance of Standard Rocks (in ppm, unless
specified) used for INAA Computer Data 16
Time Schedule for Counting Samples 18
Computer Program Data. 19
Identification of Minerals from Mineralogical Tests. 33
Oxides and Elemental Abundances of a Suite ot S"amples
from Basaltic Corestone Profile. 60
Oxides and Elemental Abundances of a Suite of Samples
from Wahkiakum County Prof~le A. ." 61
Oxides and Elemental Abundances of a Suite of Samples
from Wahkiakum County Profile B. '. 62
Elemental Abundances of Columbia River Basalt
Collected in Wahkiakum County, Washington. 63
Rare Earth Ratios. 80 "
Elements Enriched or Depleted in the most Weathered
Basaltic Corestone Profile--Concentration"Ratios 67
Wahkiakum County Profile A--Concentration Ratios 68
Wahkiakum County Profile B--Concentration Ratios 69
Zone from each Profile "81
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE PAGE
1 General location of ferruginous bauxite deposits in
west