Till Geochemistry of the Burin Peninsula, Newfoundland (NTS map areas 1L/13, 1L/14, 1M/2, 1M/3, 1M/4, 1M/6, 1M/7, 1M/10 and 1M/11)

M.J. Batterson and D.M. Taylor

Open File NFLD/3043

St. John’s, Newfoundland, May, 2009

Abstract

This report provides the results of till-geochemistry surveys on the Burin Peninsula completed in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Geochemical data of 53 elements from 1078 BC- or C-horizon till samples are presented and include analyses by ICP-ES for aluminum, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, calcium, cerium, chromium, cobalt, copper, dysprosium, iron, lanthanum, lead, lithium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, niobium, phosphorus, potassium, scandium, sodium, strontium, titanium, vanadium, yttrium, zinc and zirconium; by INAA for antimony, arsenic, barium, bromine, calcium, cerium, cesium, chromium, cobalt, europium, gold, iron, hafnium, iridium, lanthanum, lutetium, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, neodymium, rubidium, scandium, samarium, selenium, silver, sodium, strontium, tantalum, tin, terbium, thorium, tungsten, uranium, ytterbium, zinc and zirconium. A complete data listing, field duplicates plots, and individual element maps on a bedrock-geology base map are also provided.

The till geochemistry of samples collected over the Burin Peninsula highlights the distinct differences in bedrock geology across the area. For instance, tills overlying the riebeckite–aegerine-rich St. Lawrence granite show elevated zirconium, niobium and REEs, and tills overlying the Burin Group are relatively enriched in copper, cobalt, magnesium and nickel. In contrast, the area north of Creston North underlain by Marystown Group volcanic rocks shows anomalous cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead and nickel compared to other areas of Marystown Group bedrock. Uranium enrichment in tills overlying the volcanogenic sediments of the Grand Beach Complex is consistent with known mineralization in this area. Other areas with anomalous uranium concentrations in till occur over the Ackley Granite and St. Lawrence Granite.

The till geochemistry of collected samples indicates that regional and local ice flow had limited influence on dispersal patterns.

Complete Open File Report (15 MB)

Appendix A: Burin Peninsula – Till-Geochemistry Data (640 KB)

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