Geoscience BC Releases Report That Finds Tree Sap Could Help Uncover Buried Mineralization
February 16, 2015 - Geoscience BC is pleased to announce the release of Report 2015-02, "Investigation of Tree Sap as a Sample Medium for Regional Geochemical Exploration in Glacial Sediment Covered Terrains: A Case History from the Endako area, North-Central BC."
This report is now available for download at www.geosciencebc.com/s/DataReleases.asp.
Geoscience BC Report 2015-02: Investigation of Tree Sap as a Sample Medium for Regional Geochemical Exploration in Glacial Sediment Covered Terrains: A Case History from the Endako area, North-Central BC (NTS map sheets 093F/14 & /15 and 093K/02 & /03)
by D.R. Heberlein, C.E. Dunn and E. Hoffman
This new study finds that spruce sap is an effective sample medium for regional scale exploration for porphyry molybdenum mineralization when following appropriate sampling protocols. The work is also considered not exclusive to this style of mineralization. Spruce sap is easy to collect and can be submitted to a lab for analysis without further preparation. Additionally, sap derives its chemical signature from deep in the ground, and congealed sap samples contain the geochemical signature of major and pathfinder elements that are surplus to the trees' metabolic function.
During two sampling campaigns, one in September 2013 and the other in May 2014, sap samples were collected from more than 100 white spruce trees surrounding the Endako molybdenum mine. Soil pH measurements and soil samples were collected at the same location for comparison. Lodgepole pine sap was also obtained from a few sites to compare the spruce sap chemistry with that of the pine sap. An additional database of element concentrations in pine bark samples collected in the 1990s from the same general area was also available for comparison. This work was done as part of the TREK project. TREK, short for Targeting Resources through Exploration and Knowledge, is focused on generating information to help uncover the Interior Plateau Region, an area that is considered underexplored, due in part to extensive overburden.
For more information on the TREK Project, go to https://www.geosciencebc.com/major-projects/trek/.
Geoscience BC
Geoscience BC is an independent, non-profit organization that works to build the British Columbia economy through generating, interpreting and publicly distributing earth science for everyone.
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This report is now available for download at www.geosciencebc.com/s/DataReleases.asp.
Geoscience BC Report 2015-02: Investigation of Tree Sap as a Sample Medium for Regional Geochemical Exploration in Glacial Sediment Covered Terrains: A Case History from the Endako area, North-Central BC (NTS map sheets 093F/14 & /15 and 093K/02 & /03)
by D.R. Heberlein, C.E. Dunn and E. Hoffman
This new study finds that spruce sap is an effective sample medium for regional scale exploration for porphyry molybdenum mineralization when following appropriate sampling protocols. The work is also considered not exclusive to this style of mineralization. Spruce sap is easy to collect and can be submitted to a lab for analysis without further preparation. Additionally, sap derives its chemical signature from deep in the ground, and congealed sap samples contain the geochemical signature of major and pathfinder elements that are surplus to the trees' metabolic function.
During two sampling campaigns, one in September 2013 and the other in May 2014, sap samples were collected from more than 100 white spruce trees surrounding the Endako molybdenum mine. Soil pH measurements and soil samples were collected at the same location for comparison. Lodgepole pine sap was also obtained from a few sites to compare the spruce sap chemistry with that of the pine sap. An additional database of element concentrations in pine bark samples collected in the 1990s from the same general area was also available for comparison. This work was done as part of the TREK project. TREK, short for Targeting Resources through Exploration and Knowledge, is focused on generating information to help uncover the Interior Plateau Region, an area that is considered underexplored, due in part to extensive overburden.
For more information on the TREK Project, go to https://www.geosciencebc.com/major-projects/trek/.
Geoscience BC
Geoscience BC is an independent, non-profit organization that works to build the British Columbia economy through generating, interpreting and publicly distributing earth science for everyone.
www.geosciencebc.com
Like us on Facebook!
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