The author has identified the following significant results. Discrete areas of finely-fractured and brecciated sandstone float are present along the crest of Bald Mountain and are commonly sites of sulfide mineralization, as evidenced by the presence of barite and limonite gossans. The frequency distributions of the brecciated float as the negative binomial distribution supports the interpretation of a separate population of intensely fractured material. Such zones of concentrated breccia float have an average width of one kilometer with a range from 0.4 to 1.6 kilometers and were observed in a quarry face to have subvertical dips. Direct spatial correlation of the Landsat-derived lineaments to the fractured areas on the ridge is low; however, the mineralized and fracture zones are commonly assymetrical to the lineament positions. Such a systematic dislocation might result from an inherent bias in the float population or could be the product of the relative erosional resistance of the silicified material in the mineralized areas in relation to the erosionally weak material at the stream gaps

Gold, D. P.

Krohn, M. D.

Mcmurtry, G. J.

Petersen, G. W.

English

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eInterim Report
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CQ-/ y1Q 99
ORSER--SSEL Technical Report 9-75
RELATION OF LINE:AME1JTS TO SULFIDE DEPOSITS: BALD EAGLE MOUNTAIN,
CENTRE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA*
Pi. D. Krohn and D. P. Cold
"Made available under NASA sponsmw
in the interest of early and wide dis-
samination of [0h Resources Survey
Program intormatiun and without Catiility
for any use mode thr.rrot."
ERTS Investigation 082
Contract Number NAS 5-23133
INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATION AND INTERPRETATION OF ERTS DATA
WITHIN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN
Resource Inventory, Land Use, and Pollution
(E'75-10393) RELP_TICN OF LINEAMENTS TC
SULFIDE DEPOSITS: EAIC EAGLE MOUNTAIN,
CENTRE COUNTY, PENNSYIVANIA Interim Report
(Pennsylvania State Univ.) 9 p HC $3.25
CsCL 08G G3/43
N75-30626
Unclas
00393
Office for Remote Sensing of Earth Resources (ORSER)
Space Science and Engineering Laboratory (SSEL)
Room 219 Electrical Engineering West
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania 	 16802
ONSW photoophy
 may be posed mortr,
EROS Oaft Center
10th and DODO Avenue
Sioux falls, SD 51198
Principal Investigators:
Dr. George J. PtcMurtry
Dr. Gary W. Petersen
/oBaA
Date: July 1975
*Author-identified significant results.
RECE I VED
AUG 1 1i I 5
S!S J 902.6
Float is defined as a general term for those rock fragments in the
superficial cover material (soil) that are essentially in situ with respect
to their original bedrock position (modified after Gray, et al., 1972,
p. 266.).
RELATION OF LINEAMENTS TO SULFIDE DEPOSITS:
BALD EAGLE MOUNTAIN, CENTRE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
M. Dennis Krohn and D. P. Gold
Office for Remote Sensing of Earth Resources, The
Pennsylvania State University. Support for the
work reported here was provided by NASA Contract
NAS 5-23133 as part of the ERTS-1 Program.
The results of recent mineral exploration in central Pennsylvania
suggest that the megascopic fracture pattern of the Appalachian Mountain
system may have a controlling influence on the location of metallic sulfide
occurrences. The Tyrone -- Mount Union lineament (Gold, et al., 1973), a
marked topographic linear feature over 160 kilometers Long, is the locus of
seven lead-zinc occurrences within three separate host lithologies, plus one
copper occurrence and at Least 3 known fault zones (Smith, at al., 1971;
Rose, 1970). With the release of Landsat-1 (formerly ERTS--1) imagery for
Pennsylvania in the autumn of 1972, many previously unknown lineaments were
detected and. offered potential new sites to search for lead--zinc mineral-
ization. The objectives of this Landsat experiment was to attempt a ground
verification for the newly--detected Landsat lineaments and to determine
whether mineralized sites are significantly more numerous'in the vicinity
of lineaments than in areas characterized by the absence of lineaments.
Procedures
The test area encompasses a 60 kilometer section of Bald Eagle
Mountain extending from two kilometers southwest of Tyrone, Pennsylvania
(N40o39'/W78o15') to Lamb's Gap near Mount Eagle, Pennsylvania (N40058'/
W77042'). The area includes one well-documented lead-zinc locality (Butts,
1939), plus four barite localities and several localities with anomalous
heavy'-&etal content , 'which`were discovered in an extensive geochemical
survey of the 'stream network draining Bald Eagle Mountain (Hsu, 1973).
Other advantages of the test site were that it was easily discernible on
Landsat imagery and that it was one of the areas designated by ORSER for
repetative-underflight coverage by C130, U2, and RB57 aircraft.
A sampling and mapping traverse was made of the entire 60 kilometer
length of the test area along the geologic contact of the Tuscarora
Formation (an erosionally resistant white quartzose sandstone that is the
principle ridge-forming lithology) and the Juniata formation (a less
erosionally resistant sequence of red siltstones and sandstones). In order
to numerically estimate the mineralized population, integer counts of the
sandstone float s were made at each sample locality along four cross-traverses,
i!
k
it
ABSTRACT
ORSLR-SSBL Technical Report 9-75
RELATION OF LINEAMENTS TO SULFIDE DEPOSITS: BALD EAGLE MOUNTAIN, CENTRE
COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
M. D. Krohn and D. P. Gold
The results of recent mineral exploration in central Pennsylvania
suggest that the megascopic fracture pattern of the Appalachian Mountain system
may have a controlling influence on the location of metallic sulfide occurrences.
The Tyrone - Mount Union lineament, a marked topographic feature over 160 kilo-
meters long, is the locus of seven lead--zinc occurrences within three separate
host lithologies, plus one copper occurrence and at least three known fault
zones.
The sixteen lineaments .found to traverse a 60 kilometer length of Bald
Eagle Mountain were plotted on a 25 x 30 centimeter enlargement of a Landsat-1
r	 infrared image at a scale of 1:280,000. All lineament positions were verified
on U2 and RB57 (aircraft) color infrared transparencies at a scale of 1:130,000
and 1:61,500, respectively. A 60 kilometer length of Bald Eagle Mountain was
then traversed along the contact of the Tuscarora Formation (an erosionally
resistant white sandstone) and the Juniata Formation (a less resistant sequence
of siltstones and sandstones).
Discrete areas of finely-fractured and brecciated sandstone float along
the crest of the mountain were found to be potential sites of sulfide mineral-
ization, as evidenced by the presence of barite and limonite gossans. The
negative binomial frequency distribution of the brecciated float supports the
interpretation of a separate population of intensely fractured material. Such
zones of concentrated brecciated float have an average width of one kilometer
with a range from 0.4 to 1.6 kilometers and, where observed in outcrop, have
subveztical dips. Direct spatial correlation of the Landsat-derived lineaments
to the fractured areas on the ridge is low; however, the mineralized and
fractured zones are commonly parallel to, but offset from, the lineament
positions. This systematic dislocation might be a result of an inherent bias
in the float population or might be the product of the relative erosional
resistance of the silicified material in the mineralized areas.
260 meters long and 18 meters apart, perpendicular to the ridge axis.	 i
The presence and abundance of the following eight features that might
indicate fracturing or mineralization were noted: sulfides (sphalerite,
galena, and pyrite), barite, limonite gossans, druzy rocks, breccia,
slickenslides, quartz-veins, and iron--staining. Sample localities were
spaced at 0.4 kilometer intervals and ultimately came to a total of 148
for the entire test area.
Prior to the field work, lineaments were plotted on a 25 x 30
centimeter enlargment of the Landsat infrared (0.8-1.1 microns) image,
10+5--15243-7 of 23 March 1973, at a scale of 1:280,000. Sixteen
lineaments were found to pass through the test area (Figure 1) and all
lineament positions were verified on U2 and RB57 color infrared'
transparencies at a scale of 1:130,000 and 1:61,500, respectively.
Results
Seventeen mineralized localities are found in this section of Bald
Eagle Mountain; three localities have sphalerite and/or galena, seven
localities have barite,and 12 localities have limonite gossans. tfost of
the barite is found near stream gaps on slickenslided fracture surfaces
or as fracture fillings; whereas, the limonite gossans are usually found
in a brecciated quartzite matrix near the crest of the ridge. Crushed
rock geochemical analyses of the limonite gossans show that all but one of
the gossans contain anomalous concentrations of trace elements, notably
lead, zinc, and arsenic; one gossan sample contained 0.62% lead. The
limonite gossan fragments frequently are found surrounded by a zone of
brecciate'd or fractured float: Other such zones of brecciation are
apparent alov.g the ridge and have an average width of 1 kilometer with
a range from 0.4 to 1.6 kilometers.
Continuous exposures in a 1.6 kilometer long silica brick quarry
near Port Matilda, Pennsylvania, offer an opportunity to observe the
subsurface nature of the zones of brecciated float. Five fracture zones --
thin ribbon--like structures of iron-stained, finely-fractured material,
0.15 to 1.0 meters in width ---- are observed to vertically transgress bedding
throu6hout the entire 20 meter quarry face. These five fracture zones in
outcrop could all be linked to areas of brecciated float at the lip of the
quarry face supporting the concept that the areas of brecciated float
represent fracture-zones with subvertical dips.	 r
The breccia data from the length of the test area were compiled
into a frequency histogram to further test whether discrete populations of
fracturing do exist on a scale comparable to the Landsat imagery (Figure 2),
The observed discrete distribution was compared to three calculated
distributions, the positive binomial, the Poisson, and the negative binomial
distribution, using a chi--square goodness-of-fit test (Griffiths, 1967).
Only the negative binomial distribution (Figure 3) was not significantly
different from the observed frequency distribution, yielding a chic-square
value of 18.755 with 18 degrees of freedom. A negative binomial result is
44
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rigure 1: EnlarAcment of Lnndsat-1 image 1243-15253 of 23 March 1973 showing 16 lineaments
fouud within the test area of Bald Eagle ?fountain. Lineament B is the Tyrone-
?fount Union Lincament; the silica brick quarry at Port Matilda lies between
linct-m nts H and I.
W
W
Pm -
LU
Line am an ts
30
^5 K m
40
U
Figure 2: Histogram showing spatial relations of breccia and gossan float to the position of
lineaments defined from Landsat imagery. Each bar represents the sum of two sample
localities and is equivalent to 0.8 km along the - ridge crest. Lineament C-D -represents
the intersection of two lineaments at the ridge crest.
mill
©MIAL
0 
observed
calculated
!—square: X8,8
1 8
20	 24	 2 ©	 - 32
d distribution of integer sample counts for
ution of the negative binomial. Note the
= degrees of freedom.).
	
Ln
6interpreted to signify that the trials are not independent, so that
the presence of one event increases the chances that another event will
occur, or that the probability does not remain constant from trial to
trial (Griffiths, 1967). Hence the negative binomial supports the concept
of discrete zones of intensified fracturing which are a separate
population from the minor amounts of fracturing associated with the bulk
of the ridge.
Lineament Correlations
Only four of the 17 fractured and mineralized float zones were
symmetrically aligned with the lineament positions derived from the Landsat
imagery. Inspection of Figure 2 indicates that many lineaments are marginal
to the mineralized localities. To test whether the lineaments of Bald Eagle
Mountain might be systematically offset from the mineralized zones, a 2 x 2
contigency table was constructed for three different lineament configurations
(Siegal, 1956). The correlation index improved if lineaments were defined
assymetrically to one side of their original Landsat--defined location.
Sampling bias is a possible explanation for this apparent systematic
offset of the mineralized zones of the lineaments. Taking samples of float
places an inherent bias on the data from the stream gaps because mass
wasting has altered the float population in comparison to the other portions
of the ridge. The common alignment of lineaments with stream gaps would
lead to correlation with float minima, resulting in a net lower correlation. 	 -
Relative erosional resistance of the mineralized areas is a second
possibility for the offset. The silicified material in a mineralized area
would tend to remain topographically higher than the nonminerialized rocks,
especially in fractured areas. This process should result in a resistant
mineralized zone symmetrically bounded by a pair of lineaments. Lineaments
A & B, J & K, and M & N, might be lineament pairs exemplifying such a
process.
Conclusions
Discrete areas of finely-fractured and brecciated sandstone float are
present along the crest of Bald Eagle Mountain and are commonly sites of
sulfide mineralization, as evidenced by the presence of barite and limon5ite
gossans. The frequency distributions of the brecciated float as the
negative binomial distribution supports the interpretation of a separate
population of intensely fractured material. Such zones of concentrated
breccia float have an average width of one kilometer with a range from
0.4 to 1.6 kilometers and were observed in a quarry face to have subvert:ical
dips. Direct spatial correlation of the Landsat-derived lineaments to the
fractured areas on the ridge is low; however, the mineralized and fracture
zones are commonly assymmetrical to the lineament positions. Such a
Sys- ematic dj-q3.ocation might result-from an inherent bias in the float
population or could be the product of the relative erosional resistance of
the silicified material in the mineralized areas in relation to the
erosionally weak material itt the stream gaps. Hence lineaments, like other
r	 physical phenomena associated with basem.?nt rocks (e.g., magnetic intensity),
need not always have a preAse spatial correlative at the earth surface.
Because of the subsequent erosional history, it might be necessary to
interpret lineaments as uroad, ill--defined features.
.'s
i7
Bibliograph,­
Butts, Charles, et al. (1939) Tyrone quadrange. Atlas 96. Pa. Topo. &
Geol. Survey, 4th series.
Gold, D. P., R. R. Parizek, and S. S. Alexander (1973) Analysis and
applications of ERTS-1 data for regional geologic mapping.
Interdisciplinary Applications and Interpretations of the
Susquehanna. River Basin: NASA Type II Annual Report -- June 1,
1972 - May 30, 1973. ORSER-SSEL Technical Report 9-73.
pp. 120-134.
Griffiths, J. C. (1967) Scientific Method in the AnalXsis of Sediments.
McGraw--Hill, New York.
Hsu, F. T. (1973) Geochemical exploration in the Nittany Malley area,
Centre Co., Pa. Unpublished M.S. thesis. Department of Geosciences,
The Pennsylvania State University.
Rose, Arthur W. (1970) Metal mines and occurrences in Pennsylvania.
Bulletin M-50, Part 3. Pa. Geological Survey.
Siegal, S. (1956) Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences.
McGraw-Hill, New York.
Smith, R. C. II, D. C. Herrick, A. W. Rose, and J. M. McNeal (1971)
Zinc-lead occurrences near Mapleton, Huntingdon Co., Pa.
Circular #83. Earth & Mineral Sciences Experiment Station.
The Pennsylvania State University.
Gray, C., et al. (1960) Geologic Map of Pennsylvania. Pa. Geological
Survey, 4th Series.
f^^tiv
Ilu
ORSER-SSEL Technical Report 9-75
The Pennsylvania State University
July 1975


Relation of lineaments to sulfide deposits: Bald Eagle Mountain, Centre County, Pennsylvania

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