1. 1
Conditions of Mineral Deposition Related to Super-Eruptions
Abstract
In
the
world
today
we
place
a
heavy
reliance
on
technology
to
complete
tasks
that
would
otherwise
be
impossible
to
accomplish.
However,
it
is
often
forgotten
that
in
order
to
make
certain
machinery
and
devices
function,
precious
metals
such
as
gold
and
silver,
along
with
other
rare
earth
elements
(REEs)
are
needed.
Determining
the
locales
of
such
elements
is
vital
to
helping
the
United
States
stay
at
the
forefront
of
technological
advancements,
now,
as
well
as
in
the
future.
Large
silicic
magma
bodies
are
one
such
location
that
play
host
to
transporting
these
precious
metals
close
to
the
surface
via
volcanic
activity
where
they
can
be
mined.
This
depth
is
similar
to
depths
that
geothermal
systems
exist
and
are
mined
for
their
heat
resource.
Lake
City
caldera
in
Lake
City,
Colorado
is
a
perfect
place
to
observe
both
precious
metals
transported
near
the
surface
and
an
extinct
geothermal
system,
due
to
the
fact
there
is
an
exposed
hydrothermal
system
that
emerged
following
a
super-­‐eruption.
This
unique
location
allows
us
to
examine
temperatures
at
which
the
geothermal
system
existed,
and
compositions
(including
REEs
and
precious
metals)
of
fluids
in
the
quartz
veins
in
order
to
see
what
the
conditions
of
the
system
were
at
the
time
of
cooling
along
with
the
concentrations
of
precious
metals
in
the
fluid.

2. 2
Hypothesis
1:
Fossil
hydrothermal
system
formed
at
high
temperature
and
salinity
as
the
result
of
a
significant
shallow
magmatic
fluid
input.
Hypothesis
2:
Precious
metals
were
concentrated
in
the
magmatic
fluid
induced
by
caldera
collapse.
Project
Description
Lake
City
caldera,
located
in
Lake
City,
Colorado
is
the
youngest
of
15
Tertiary
calderas
located
in
the
San
Juan
Volcanic
Field
of
Southwestern
Colorado
and
formed
22.93±0.02
Ma
(Steven
&
Lipman,
1976).
The
area
is
dominated
by
severe
topographic
relief
and
post-­‐caldera
resurgence
exposed
over
2km
of
uplifted,
intracaldera
Sunshine
Peak
Tuff
along
with
several
magmatic
intrusions.
Within
Lake
City
caldera
large
pyroclastic
and
intrusive
rocks
are
quite
exposed,
providing
evidence
for
a
large,
evolving,
magmatic
system.
(Kennedy
et.
al,
2012).
Shortly
after
caldera
collapse,
a
large
hydrothermal
system
formed
and
subsequent
hydrothermal
alteration
of
some
of
the
rock
within
the
caldera
occurred
(Larson
&
Taylor,
1986).
For
this
project
I
propose
to
focus
my
study
on
quartz
veins
in
the
Lake
City
caldera
in
an
effort
to
determine
the
temperature
and
composition
of
the
magmatic
fluid
present
at
the
time
of
caldera
collapse.
It
has
already
been
observed
that
ore
deposits
are
present
in
at
least
the
Southwest
and
Northeast
portions
of
the
caldera
(Woolsey,
1907).
Meteoric
water
being
introduced
to
the
system
represents
the
only
plausible
way
to
achieve
hydrothermal
alteration
(Larson
and
Taylor,
1986),
and
is
thought
to
be
responsible
for
the
precipitation
of
rare
Earth
elements
(REEs)
from
the
magma
(Audétat
et.
al
1998),
so
I
expect
to
find
measurable
amounts
of
REEs
and
precious
metals
within
the
quartz
veins.
After
samples
have
been
collected,
I
will
bring
them
back
to
UW-­‐Oshkosh
where
I
will
sort
them
and
pick
the
best
samples
for
further
analysis.
Eight
to
ten
quartz
vein

3. 3
samples
will
be
made
into
thick
(200um)
microscope
slides,
which
is
necessary
for
using
the
fluid
inclusion
heating
and
cooling
stage
here
at
UW-­‐Oshkosh.
Once
the
temperature
and
salinity
have
been
determined
for
these
samples,
I
will
travel
to
ETH-­‐
Zurich
to
analyze
the
fluid
inclusions
for
their
REE
and
precious
metal
concentrations.
The
combination
of
temperature
and
chemical
data
from
the
fluid
inclusions
will
help
me
to
determine
the
conditions
(P-­‐T)
of
formation
and
whether
or
not
metals
were
transported
at
the
time
of
caldera
collapse
(see
hypotheses
above).
METHODOLOGY
This
project
will
involve
several
research
techniques,
including
background
research,
fieldwork,
sample
preparatory
work,
and
laboratory
work.
• Background
research
is
being
done
currently
and
will
continue
to
be
done
by
examining
papers
that
deal
with
Lake
City
caldera
in
order
to
give
myself
a
good
knowledge
of
the
area
before
data
collection
begins.
• Fieldwork
will
be
a
very
important
component
of
this
project
and
will
involve
the
collection
of
samples
from
quartz
veins
around
the
Lake
City
caldera.
Enough
samples
will
be
gathered
from
representative
areas
so
that
a
representative
data
set
can
be
achieved.
• Sample
preparatory
work
involves
sorting
through
collected
samples
upon
return
from
Colorado
to
determine
which
will
be
sent
off
to
Vancouver
GeoTech
to
be
turned
into
thick
sections.
• The
heating
and
cooling
stage
will
heat
the
crystals
up
to
the
temperature
at
which
they
formed,
where
a
temperature
reading
can
be
obtained,
along
with
the
salinity
of
the
fluid
at
the
time
of
formation.

4. 4
• LA-­‐ICP-­‐MS
will
be
used
for
trace
element
and
precious
metal
analysis.
This
method
was
chosen,
because
it
is
an
incredibly
accurate
way
of
measuring
the
trace
element
and
precious
metal
concentration
of
the
crystals.
The
LA-­‐ICP-­‐MS
can
analyze
the
crystal
in
stages
(Figure
1).
Figure
1:
A)
An
illustration
of
a
quartz
crystal
with
its
fluid
inclusions
and
how
it
can
be
divided
into
many
stages
for
LA-­‐ICP-­‐MS
in
order
to
tell
a
compositional
story
throughout
the
crystals
formation.
STUDENT
MOTIVATION
AND
BACKGROUND
Being
given
a
chance
to
work
with
a
professor
on
a
student/faculty
collaborative
research
project
helps
me
better
myself
as
a
professional
geologist
along
with
giving
me
much
needed
experience
in
preparation
for
graduate
school,
and
eventually
the
professional
community.
Not
only
is
it
good
for
me
educationally,
but
also
it
excites
me
personally
that
I’ll
be
getting
a
chance
to
apply
what
I’ve
learned
in
the
classroom
to
a
real
world
problem
that
I
find
interesting.
So
far
in
my
academic
career
I’ve
completed
Physical
Geology,
Evolution
of
the
Earth,
Mineralogy,
Oceanography,
Geomorphology,
and
Paleontology.
I’m
currently
enrolled
in
Lithology
and
Igneous
&
Metamorphic
Petrology.
I’ll
be
participating
in
my
first
geology
field
trip
to
Yellowstone
National
Park
this
spring
interim,
however,
many
of
the
geology
courses
I’ve
already
completed
and
am
enrolled
in
have
field
trips
associated
with
them.
I’ve
also
been
working
with
Dr.
Chad
Deering
for
the
past
semester
working
to
set
up
the
fluid
inclusion
heating
and
cooling
stage
The
role
of
Dr.
Deering
as
my
mentor
will
be
to
provide
assistance
and
guidance
as
I
go
throughout
this
project.
He
will
offer
a
helping
hand
as
I
develop
my
skills
as
a

5. 5
professional
geologist
and
tackle
this
project
in
a
scientific,
yet
creative
manner.
This
project
reflects
a
small
aspect
of
research
that
Dr.
Deering
is
doing,
himself,
on
Lake
City
Caldera.
Dr.
Deering
will
also
supervise
all
fieldwork,
lab
work,
and
data
analysis
that
I
accomplish.
LOCATION
AND
TIMELINE
1.
Spring,
2013:
Background
research
and
literature
review
is
underway
currently
and
will
be
completed
later
this
spring.
In
conjunction
with
my
scheduled
classes,
time
will
be
devoted
throughout
the
course
of
the
semester
to
do
this.
(40-­‐60hrs.)
2.
Summer,
2013:
Fieldwork
will
be
done
at
Lake
City
Caldera,
which
is
located
in
Lake
City,
Colorado.
In
late
August
I
will
be
traveling
to
Colorado
with
Dr.
Deering
to
do
the
fieldwork
component
of
this
experiment.
We
will
be
out
there
roughly
two
weeks
working
on
collecting
data
and
mapping
the
fossil
geothermal
system
(80-­‐120
hrs.).
3.
Fall,
2013:
Upon
returning
to
Oshkosh,
chosen
samples
will
be
sent
to
Vancouver
GeoTech
in
Vancouver,
British
Columbia
where
they
will
be
turned
into
thick
sections
(10hrs.).
Petrographic
analysis
of
fluid
inclusion
thick
sections
will
be
done
here
at
UW-­‐
Oshkosh
using
the
fluid
inclusion
heating
and
cooling
stage
(50-­‐60hrs.).
4.
Spring,
2014:
Laser
Ablation-­‐Inductively
Coupled
Plasma-­‐Mass
Spectrometry
(LA-­‐
ICP-­‐MS)
work
will
be
done
at
ETH-­‐Zurich
in
Zurich,
Switzerland.
This
will
take
place
during
the
January
winter
interim
of
2013-­‐2014
(40-­‐60hrs.).
5.
Upon
returning
to
UW-­‐Oshkosh,
remaining
Spring
semester
time
will
be
used
to
process
and
interpret
data.
All
of
my
data
and
findings
will
be
organized
and
prepared
for
presentations
at
the
Celebration
of
Scholarships
and
GSA
in
the
spring
of
2014.
OUTCOMES

6. 6
This
project,
with
its
length,
has
several
predicted
outcomes,
which
include
the
following:
• From
collecting
and
analyzing
samples
via
the
heating
and
cooling
stage,
we
will
create
a
detailed
map
of
the
fossil
geothermal
system
as
it
relates
to
temperature
and
salinity
of
the
system,
which
can
be
overlain
on
a
previous
map
of
the
hydrothermal
alteration
minerals
and
oxygen
isotopes
(Larsen
and
Taylor,
1986).
• Determine
if
high
concentrations
of
precious
metals
are
precipitated
out
of
the
magma
when
there
is
a
large,
super-­‐eruption
that
leads
to
caldera
collapse.
• Presentation
of
results
at
the
Celebration
of
Scholarships
and
GSA
in
the
spring
of
2014
• The
learning
of
two
new
techniques
to
extract
trace
element
and
precious
metal
concentrations
from
fluid
inclusions:
using
the
fluid
inclusion
heating
and
cooling
stage
and
LA-­‐ICP-­‐MS.
BUDGET
Expenses
for
this
trip
include
the
making
of
thin
sections
at
Vancouver
GeoTech,
where
the
cost
of
making
one
fluid
inclusion
thick
section
is
$52.00.
I
will
be
sending
8-­‐
10
samples
to
Vancouver
GeoTech.
Dr.
Deering
has
a
funded
NSF
grant
for
studying
the
plutonic
and
volcanic
rocks
from
Lake
City
caldera.
He
will
provide
all
other
necessary
support
for
Colorado
fieldtrip
and
travel
accommodations
to
Zurich,
and
the
analyses
at
ETH,
Zurich.

7. 7
REFERENCES
CITED
Audétat,
A.,
Günther,
D.,
Heinrich,
C.A.,
1998,
Formation
of
a
Magmatic-­‐
Hydrothermal
Ore
Deposit:
Insights
with
LA-­‐ICP-­‐MS
Analysis
of
Fluid
Inclusions:
SCIENCE,
v.
279,
p.
2091-­‐2094
Kennedy,
B.,
Wilcock,
J.,
Stix,
J.,
2012,
Caldera
resurgence
during
magma
replenishment
and
rejunenation
at
Valles
and
Lake
City
calderas:
Springer-­‐Verlag
2012.
Larson,
P.B.,
Taylor,
H.P.
Jr.,
1986,
An
Oxygen
Isotope
Study
of
Hydrothermal
Alteration
in
the
Lake
City
Caldera,
San
Juan
Mountains,
Colorado:
Journal
of
Volcanology
and
Geothermal
Research,
v.
30,
p.
47-­‐82
Steven,
T.A.,
Lipman,
P.W.,
1976,
Calderas
of
the
San
Juan
volcanic
field,
southwestern
Colorado:
USGS
Professional
Paper,
v.
958,
p.
1-­‐35.
Woolsey,
L.H.,
1907,
Lake
Fork
extension
of
the
Silverton
mining
area,
Colorado:
USGS
Bulletin,
v.
315,
p.
26-­‐30

8. 8
February 3, 2013
Student/Faculty Collaborative Research Program Review Board
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Office of Grants and Faculty Development
Dear Review Board,
It is my pleasure to support Jordan Lubbers’ proposal entitled: “Conditions of
Mineral Deposition Related to Super-Eruptions”. I am excited to have Jordan
pursue this research as it represents the examination of a new set of hypotheses that I
have developed regarding how mineral deposits form in relation to caldera collapse
associated with large super-eruptions. The results from this project will represent a
preliminary dataset that I intend to use to submit a full proposal to either the DOE or
NSF in collaboration with colleagues.
Jordan is currently in my Lithology course and he has been helping me with
various research projects through the STEP program. Jordan has been helping me set up
the fluid inclusion heating and cooling stage in our department, which is ultimately what
led him to outline and write this proposal. He will continue to gain more field experience
(Yellowstone fieldtrip in Spring interim) and learn to use the equipment over the coming
months before sample collection begins in August, 2013. Jordan’s project is well within
his intellectual capabilities and, given his excellent work ethic, I am confident that he can
complete this project.
I have mentored a number of BS, MS and PhD students over the past six years.
Here at UW-Oshkosh I have mentored five students on independent studies over the
past 1.5 years, one of which resulted in the student presenting his results at an
International meeting in San Francisco last year. That student is also currently helping to
write a manuscript to be submitted to an internationally peer-reviewed journal. I am
fully committed to helping Jordan be successful in this project.
This project will cost far more than what Jordan is asking for in this proposal;
however, I am willing to use funds from a recently awarded NSF grant to supplement the
cost of his project. This NSF funded project will be supporting several other student
projects aimed at understanding the magmatic system at Lake City caldera – not the
geothermal system. However, I selected this location for studying the magmatic system
so that I could also begin studying the fossil geothermal system there at the same time to
determine the origin of associated mineral deposits. I will support Jordan in several ways
that will ensure that he is able to complete the research project by covering the
additional costs of: 1) travel and accommodations to Colorado for fieldwork, 2) travel
and accommodations to ETH-Zurich in Switzerland, and 3) analytical costs for the Laser
Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry.
Sincerely,
Chad Deering, Assistant Professor of Geology