Abstract

The Silurian Salina Group is an extensive evaporite series consisting of interbedded halite, anhydrite, dolomites, and shale that extends from Michigan into Ohio and through New York. Current interests in evaporitic bodies have shifted towards the search for Rare Earth Elements (REEs). These minerals are imperative for the development of batteries, generators, solar panels, and more. Even at low concentrations, these elements could have commercial value.

REEs may help constrain timing across the basin and amongst subbasins, creating “correlation” lines of deposition. Little data has been published on the concentrations and mechanisms of REEs concentrations in evaporitic bodies. This study proposes to use a combination of core analysis, x–ray fluorescence (XRF), x–ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on rock core consisting of the Silurian Salina Group to produce data sets. These datasets are extensive, typically consisting of 40+ elemental compositions for hundreds of data points, resulting in 8,000+ data points.

This project will provide data for “proof of concept” by showcasing the usefulness and applicability of principal component analysis (PCA), a statistical technique, for analyzing elemental composition datasets. PCA can decouple complex geochemical datasets enabling further research that REEs are abundant in salt bodies and that shales coupled with salt bodies can provide detailed depositional and diagenetic histories.