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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

I

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