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Geologic Map of the Maysville Quadrangle, Chaffee County, Colorado

Geologic Map of the Maysville Quadrangle, Chaffee County, Colorado

Geologic Map of the Maysville Quadrangle, Chaffee County, Colorado

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clear (possibly for alkali feldspar). Kou<strong>the</strong>r (1969) mentioned <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> beryl and<br />

trace scheelite in pegmatites in Proterozoic rocks south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Maysville</strong> quadrangle.<br />

Smaller pegmatites are abundant throughout <strong>the</strong> Proterozoic terrane and over large areas<br />

it makes up <strong>the</strong> predominant rock float. Many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se pegmatites have been prospected<br />

and pegmatite material is ubiquitous on most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> waste dumps <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> significant mines<br />

in <strong>the</strong> quadrangle.<br />

A nor<strong>the</strong>ast-trending pegmatite with small prospect pits, about 4,000 ft southwest<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>Maysville</strong>, contains minor epidote group minerals including both zoisite and thulite<br />

(mangenian zoisite) and possibly rhodochrosite (MnCO 3 ). Some pegmatite material on<br />

mine and prospect dumps contains disseminated chalcopyrite and secondary copper<br />

oxides and carbonates.<br />

ROUTT PLUTONIC SUITE- MISCELLANEOUS INTRUSIONS (Early to Middle<br />

Proterozoic) – This group <strong>of</strong> miscellaneous early Proterozoic intrusions includes diorite<br />

(Xd), gneissic granite and pegmatite (Xgp), and augite microdiorite (Xmd) with uncertain<br />

age relations to Denny Creek equivalent intrusions and/or to Berthoud-type intrusions.<br />

Xd Diorite (Early Proterozoic) – One roughly 750-ft diameter intrusion <strong>of</strong> diorite<br />

is present cutting Early Proterozoic gneiss about 9,000 feet southwest <strong>of</strong> <strong>Maysville</strong>. The<br />

diorite is dark gray, medium-grained (0.5 to 2.0 mm), equigranular and composed <strong>of</strong><br />

black hornblende (about 55 percent) and white plagioclase (about 45 percent). At most, 1<br />

to 2 percent <strong>of</strong> very fine-grained interstitial quartz is present and <strong>the</strong> rock lacks alkali<br />

feldspar, biotite, and magnetite. Thus, <strong>the</strong> rock is classified as a diorite on <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong><br />

estimated modes (IUGS classification). The rock has a diffuse texture lacking wellformed<br />

plagioclase and hornblende crystals, possibly due to a weak metamorphic<br />

recrystallization.<br />

The diorite intrusion occurs in amphibolite gneiss (Xag) and calc-silicate gneiss<br />

(Xcs) but no contacts are exposed. Minor concentrated pegmatite (YXp) float suggests<br />

that <strong>the</strong> diorite is cut by Early to Middle Proterozoic Berthoud-type pegmatite dikes<br />

(YXp). A concentrated float zone <strong>of</strong> Tertiary () andesite dike (Ta) is present along <strong>the</strong><br />

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