Economic Geology

Though the interests and needs of my students seem to constantly lead me down different paths, I work slowly but consistently on unraveling interesting problems of the Appalachian Mineral Province, particularly those dealing with the genesis and isotope geochemistry of Mississippi Valley-type zinc lead ores and ore hosts.  An outgrowth of my dissertation work in Newfoundland, I am steadily collecting SIRA on pseudobreccias associated with these deposits, which has led me to consider problems associated with occult evaporites.  This circuitously led to investigations of bedded barite deposits in Tennessee, North Carolina, the Texas Hill Country and, now, expansion into much younger vein and breccia-fill barite deposits here in Connecticut (one can’t ignore what’s in the backyard!). 

Anhydrite deposits, Nova Scotia

References

Coron, C.R. and R.D. Sams (1999) Isotope geochemistry of Proterozoic-hosted small barite deposits, eastern Tennessee-western North Carolina. Geological Society of America 31(7).

Coron, C.R. (1992) Geology of the Chandler Barite Mine, East Tennessee.  Amer. Institute of Professional Geologists 29(3): 8‑10.

Coron, C.R., P. Johnson and L. Sinemus (1992) The Geologic setting of the Chandler Barite Mine, Flag Pond, Tennessee. Tennessee Academy of Science 67:13‑14.

Coron, C.R. (1988) Ore controls at the Newfoundland Zinc Mines Deposit, Daniel's Harbour, western Nfld. Geological Association of Canada 23: 141.

Coron, C.R. (1982) Geology and future development of Samaan Field, Trinidad. In TrinidadDevelopment Study, Amoco International Oil Company, 28­50 and map portfolio.

Coron, C.R. (1979) Lead‑zinc in carbonates: ore constraints at Newfoundland Zinc Mines. In OreDeposits Workshop, University of Toronto Press, Toronto:1(3):10‑62.

Coron, C.R. (1978) Stable isotope geochemistry of the Newfoundland Zinc Mines Deposit. In OreDeposits Workshop, University of Toronto Press, Toronto:1(2):29‑56.

Coron, C.R. (1977) Mississippi Valley‑type mineralization at the Newfoundland Zinc Mines deposit. In Ore Deposits Workshop, University of Toronto Press, Toronto:1(3): 49‑55.

Coron, C.R. (1976) Sulfide mineralization on the Niagara Escarpment. In Ore Deposits Workshop, University of Toronto Press, Toronto: 1, (2) 70-90.

Coron, C.R., F.W. Beales, J.L. Hardy and F.T. Manns (1977) White sparry dolomite as an indicator of former sustained porosity systems in limestones. Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geologists:95‑106.

Coron, C.R. (1975) Mississippi Valley type ores. In Ore Deposits Workshop, University of Toronto Press, Toronto:1(2): 20‑57.

Investigating tectonic breccias on the Gaspe Peninsula

Environmental Earth Science

The value of the coastal wetlands of Connecticut has only recently been recognized.  In the past, tidal marshes were commonly viewed as unusable land, of little economic value to the community, and as such were commonly utilized as dumping grounds for household and industrial waste.  Only in the last decade has the public become aware of the value of these marshes as wildlife habitat and as recreational space.  Attempts are underway in numerous locations to restore circulation to degraded tidal marshes and to rehabilitate inland landfill sites.  Unfortunately, years of abuse have resulted in contamination of marsh sediments and tidal courses with a variety of heavy metals and volatile organic compounds, a number of which, in high concentration, pose a serious health threat to residents of the surrounding communities. A number of these former landfill sites  (Sybil Creek, Branford; Silver Sands State Park, Milford; Hamden town landfill) have been the focus of my recent research efforts involving SCSU students  (Coron et al., 2000, 2001a, 2001b; Walzak and Coron, 2000; Slason and Coron, 2001a, 2001b).  Reconnaissance studies of water samples from these localities have been performed for a number of heavy metals (including Zn, As, Cd, Mn, Cr, Fe, Cu, Ni).  The results show heavy metal contamination of surface waters, which are elevated well above pre-industrialized background levels.  Water quality reconnaissance studies of the Silver Sands State Park Fletcher’s Creek tidal system will this year be supplemented by XRF analyses of sediment samples.  I’ve tried to apply techniques commonly used in exploration to a variety of environmental problems, primarily in response to the desires of the students and to the needs of the community. Consequently I’ve monitored water quality and geophysically surveyed a variety of abandoned hazardous waste sites throughout the southern Appalachians for the past ten years, sponsored

by various  institutional grants,  NSF and  the EPA.  Published results include numerous papers on buried drum sites and contaminant surge at Bumpass Cove, TN (for example, Coron, 1991; Coron and Sams, 1993, 1998).

Continued concern over environmental quality issues in south central Connecticut are highlighted by the recent identification of heavy metal (primarily Pb and Hg) contamination associated with a former industrial dumping site at the location that now houses the town of Hamden’s Middle School (less than 5miles from campus).   I continue to have students interested in pursuing investigations of these and other such similar problems.

References

Coron, C.R. (1993) Sinkhole hazards in urban areas: Johnson City, TN: American Institute of Professional Geologists, Special Report, 30(1):         

            8-13.

Coron, C. R. (1991) Environmental impact of hazardous waste in east Tennessee karst: American Institute of Professional Geologists, 28(12): 12-14.

Coron, C., K. Becker, J. Cooper, D. Lamoureux, J. Priest, R. Rushworth, and G. Setkoski (2001a) Site assessment of debris field, Silver Sands State Park, Milford, CT: Northeastern Section Geological Society of America Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, 32(7):

Coron, C., K. Becker, J. Cooper, D. Lamoureux, J. Priest, R. Rushworth, and G. Setkoski (2001b) Site assessment of debris field, Silver Sands State Park, Milford, CT: Long Island Sound Research Conference, Proceedings of the Fifth Biennial, 10pp (in press).

Coron, C.R. and R. D. Sams (1993) Heavy metal contamination of surface and groundwaters in east Tennessee karst:  Hazardous Materials Control Research Institute, ABAG HAZMACON Proceedings  93: 641-651.

Coron, C.R., R. D. Sams, K. Burdick, T. Moneir, and M. P. Marchioni (1993) Heavy metal contamination of surface and groundwater in East          Tennessee karst: A case for environmental planning: American Institute of Professional Geologists, Proceedinqs Volume, 14 p.

Coron, C. R. and R. D. Sams  (1998) Peak-precipitation related contaminant surge from buried waste drums, Bumpass Cove, TN: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs: 31(7).

Slason, E., and C. R. Coron (2001a) Heavy metal contamination of a restricted tidal marsh of the Sybil Creek Watershed, Branford, CT. Northeastern Section, Geological Society of America Meeting, Abstracts with Programs:34(7).

Slason, E., and C. R. Coron (2001b) Impact of landfill leachate on a restricted tidal marsh of the Sybil Creel watershed, Branford, CT: Long Island Sound Research Conference, Proceedings of the Fifth Biennial, 8pp (in press).

Walzak, R. H., and C. R. Coron (2000) Hydrologic impact of landfill leachate on streams and wetlands, Hamden, CT.: Northeastern Section, Geological Society of America Meeting, Abstracts with Programs:33(7).

Hartford Basin SynRift Basalts and Peperites

      The Mesozoic rift basins of the Mid Atlantic Basalt Province have been a focus for study since the late 1800s.  Many geologic features, which appear on John Rodger’s Geology of Connecticut map, had their inception during the days of William Morris Davis’ field mapping in the 1880s.  In developing appropriate field locales for mapping projects in ESC 330 Field Geology, I’ve been able to visit some of his classic sites and investigate others which have since been exposed through urban development.  Of particular interest to me are the arkosic fanglomerates proximal to the half-graben’s eastern border fault (a carryover from my work for Amoco on Sea of Japan subsea fans) and the basalt and peperite breccias of the Talcott Formation (an interest maintained through years of working on volcanics for the Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources and mapping in New Mexico and Missouri with field camp students).  Recent collaboration with Tom Fleming and one of my former field geology students, Jess Priest, resulted in the first-time identification of peperites within the Connecticut Valley rift-fill basalts.  This should keep us busy for a long time to come.

Talcott Fm. basalt breccia, Durham CT

Reference

Priest, J., C. R. Coron, and T. H. Fleming (2001) Origin of basalt breccias in the Fairhaven dike system, Wallingford, CT.  Northeastern Section, Geological Society of America Meeting, Abstracts with Programs: 34(7): .

Fiammae in welded volcanic breccias along the Black River in Missouri

Hartford Basin Border Fault Kinematics

In order to further characterize and determine the nature of the Hartford Basin’s eastern border fault, a collaborative effort between my students, my husband (also a geologist) and myself was begun with basic field reconnaissance at two key points along the fault trace in Connecticut (Durham CT and East Haven CT).  Follow-up cesium magnetometer surveys across the apparent geomorphic expression of the fault were initiated in the hopes of being able to differentiate main and splinter faults, brecciated and mineralized zones on the basis of the magnetic signature contrasts across the fault.  This has met with some success, but needs a great deal of work to sort through the intricacies of the zone. 

          Cesium Magnetometer Survey, Durham CT

    Silicified zone along fault

       Volcanic breccia along fault

Route 77 fault cut (Digman, 1950)        

    Digman/Rte 77 fault cut today

Reference

Coron, C.R., R. Rushworth and R.D. Sams (2001) Characterization of the Eastern Border Fault in the Durham, CT, vicinity: Northeastern  .

      Section, Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs: 34(7):

Wrench Fault Tectonics

Reference

Coron, C.R. (1985) Geology of East Java and of the East Java Sea: Special Report: Amoco Production Company, 71 p. and map portfolio.

Coron, C.R. (1990) Wrench fault control of lithofacies distribution in the East Java Sea: Geological Society of America: 22(7): A38­-44.