A geochemical study of oil in metalliferous veins, Idarado Mine, San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Gerrild, Peter M.

Abstract:

A tarry, benzene-soluble material is present in metal-rich veins in the Idarado mine, Ouray County, Colo., in an area not known to have petroleum resources. The material was compared chemically, spectometrically, and chromatographically with oils from four fields in the nearby Paradox basin. Each of these oil fields contains reservoir rocks equivalent to rock units known to extend beneath volcanic rocks near the mine. Carbon and sulfur isotope data and gas chromatographic data indicate a similarity between the oil from the nearby Sierra field and the oil from the mine. Thus, it seems both geologically and chemically possible that oil in the mine originated in Cretaceous sediments. Variations in the composition of oil from the mine and differences between the mine oil and Sierra oil, notably in the distributions of hydrocarbons, are attributed to bacterial degradation.

Genre:

Article

ProdID:

70042949

Citation Author:

Gerrild, Peter M.

Citation Contributing Office:

Energy Resources Program

Citation Datum:

Citation Day:

Citation Edition:

Citation Editor:

Citation End Page:

599

Citation Issue:

Citation Keywords:

Citation Language:

English

Citation Larger Work Title:

Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey

Citation LatN:

41.0

Citation LatS:

37.0

Citation LonE:

-102.0

Citation LonW:

-109.0

Citation Month:

Citation No Pagination:

Citation Number Of Pages:

Citation Online Only Flag:

Citation Phsyical Description:

7 p.

Citation Projection:

Citation Public Comments:

Citation Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey

Citation Series:

Citation Series Code:

Citation Series Number:

Citation Search Results Text:

A geochemical study of oil in metalliferous veins, Idarado Mine, San Juan Mountains, Colorado; 1976; Article; Journal; Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey; Gerrild, Peter M.

Citation Start Page:

593

Citation Volume:

Citation Year:

1976

Type:

citation/reference

Text:

A geochemical study of oil in metalliferous veins, Idarado Mine, San Juan Mountains, Colorado; 1976; Article; Journal; Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey; Gerrild, Peter M.