Synthetic manganese dioxide as a collector for trace elements in stream water surveys

Synthetic MnO2 was immersed for one week at twelve points along a stream. The drainage basin of the stream contains a sulphide orebody surrounded by soils with anomalous Pb, Zn, Sb, As and Ag concentrations. After immersion, the MnO2 was analysed for Pb, Zn, As and Hg. Results of analysis revealed lucid anomaly patterns of Zn and As and a less distinct pattern of Pb. Hg was not detected. The anomaly patterns appear to reflect the composition of emergent groundwater more than that of adjacent soil, implying that the technique could be used in exploration for concealed orebodies. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.