Browsing by Author "Saremba, Scott P"

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    Development of a Copper-Nickel Industry in Northeastern Minnesota
    (1973-06) Saremba, Scott P
    Many factors and problems must be considered in the developing of a copper-nickel operation in the Duluth Complex of Northeastern Minnesota. Exploration studies in the Complex reveal large volumes of low-grade copper-nickel sulfides (65 billion tons) and relatively small quantities of high-grade material (in excess of one percent). The Duluth Complex has not been extensibly explored and large areas of the Complex remain to be studied for their mineral potential. The known copper-nickel deposits are in a favorable geographic location with respect to labor, transportation, electrical power, water resources, and needed ancillary operations. The known deposits are found along the base of the Duluth Gabbro, and it is believed that most of the mineralized material will be found along the base. The deposits are found on Federal, state, and private lands, and therefore, the acquisition of these lands to prospect and permit to mine is different in each case. Federal and state mineral rights are leased, but private mineral interests may be bought or sold. Mineral land environment must be considered, as exploration and mining will affect the land, water, and air in varying degrees. Exploration can be carried out with no lasting effect on the environment, but actual mining can produce lasting effects. The degree to which the environment will be affected will depend on advanced planning, statutory authority to regulate the impact of mining on the environment, mineland reclamation plans, and the extraction method used or not used. Because most of the copper-nickel deposits are within the Superior National Forest, prospecting and mining must follow the rules and regulations of the Forest Service and Department of Interior. Part of the Duluth Gabbro is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, but a court decision has terminated all attempts to explore the area and prevents future mining in the BWGA. Public opinion is against mining in the BWCA because of the effects that are feared it will have on the wilderness character. Although, geological studies could be carried out without having any detrimental effect on the area. At the present, there is an oversupply of copper and nickel on the world market, but a projected demand is expected to substantially exceed supply in the future (10-20 years). Therefore, the United States will become more and more reliant on foreign sources. The prediction clearly indicates that additional U.S. copper-nickel operations will be needed. This report indicates the probability of success of such an operation in Northeastern Minnesota.
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    Macrofabric Analysis of Glacial Till
    (1971-12) Saremba, Scott P
    Previous studies on till fabrics of glacial tills indicate that the fabric elements are oriented in preferred directions. The long axes of elongated fabric elements are statistically oriented parallel or transverse to the directions of ice flow. Published studies on the mechanisms by which stones in till become oriented reveal that there is no one set mechanism by which a fabric element obtains a preferred orientation. A study of the till fabrics of the Twig, Independence, and Alborn quadrangles of northeastern Minnesota shows that the glacial tills usually have two preferred orientations, a major and minor orientation. The directions of the two preferred orientations of the till fabric are approximately at right angles to each other. In most cases the major preferred orientation is parallel to the direction of the known ice flow, but in some till fabrics the major preferred orientation is transverse to the direction of known ice movement. The long axes of elongated stones usually plunged up-glacier in the drumlin till, but there was no consistency to the pattern of plunge in the ground moraine till. It is advisable to limit as many variables of the till fabric element such as size, shape, and axial-ratio to obtain accurate results. The positive correlation obtained between the results of the author's till fabric analysis and Wright's and Watt's (1969) interpretation of the studied area support the use of preferred orientation of till fabric as a meaningful indicator of ice movement.
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    A Testing of the Prediction of Floating or Settling of Phenocrysts in a Magma by Mathematical Models
    (1974-06) Saremba, Scott P
    Previous work on densities of liquid silicate systems suggest that it is mathematically possible to determine whether phenocrysts in a magma should settle or float based on the density difference between the magma and phenocrysts. The density of most magmatic liquids can be ca1culated from the equation: dmelt = εiXiMi/ViM1, where Xi is the mole fraction of component I, vi its partial molar volume, and Mi its gram formula weight. Mathematically derived results of density difference compare favorably with 4 out of the 5 field observations made on lavas and sills of the North Shore Volcanic Group. The good correlation between the results of the author's mathematically derived results and the field observation support the use of the mathematical model as a meaningful indicator of floating or settling of phenocrysts in a crystallizing melt. The single inconsistency (1 out of 5) suggest that factors other than density difference such as viscosity, affects density, crystal shapes, and convection in magmatic melts may have an effect on the settling or floating of phenocrysts. [See item for proper illustration of mathematical formula]