Three-dimensional electrical resistivity characterization of Mountain Pass, California and surrounding region

Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
By: , and 

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Abstract

The Sulphide Queen carbonatite deposit at Mountain Pass in southeast California is a world class rare earth element (REE) resource. This study images electrical resistivity structure of the REE deposit and surrounding area to characterize resources under cover. An east-west elongated grid (35 × 15 km) of 65 wideband magnetotelluric stations spanning from eastern Shadow Valley to eastern Ivanpah Valley were collected and modeled in three-dimensions (3-D). Gravity, aeromagnetic, and geologic data are used to inform interpretation of structures in the resistivity model, including the following observations. Shadow Valley is filled with conductive sediment that locally dips southward to a depth of 1 km. The Kingston Range-Halloran Hills detachment fault dips westward at ∼15 degrees. The REE deposit is a moderate low resistivity zone dipping southwest to a possible depth of ∼1 km, and is bounded by the North and South faults and bisected by the Middle fault. Ivanpah Dry Lake is underlain by a north striking southward dipping sedimentary basin. Two possible zones of mineralization are observed in Ivanpah Valley, one along the western edge of Ivanpah Dry Lake and one on the western edge of valley along a new inferred fault. The brittle-ductile transition is imaged at ∼10 km below mean sea level. No deep electrically conductive structures are imaged to be related to the REE deposit likely due to the complex geologic history of the Mojave terrane. Future studies should regional target Proterozoic rocks and search within for geophysical signatures similar to Mountain Pass.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Three-dimensional electrical resistivity characterization of Mountain Pass, California and surrounding region
Series title Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
DOI 10.1029/2021GC010029
Volume 22
Issue 11
Year Published 2021
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Contributing office(s) Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
Description e2021GC010029, 16 p.
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial Mountain Pass
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