Biogeochemical Dispersion Patterns Associated with Porphyry-Style Mineralization in the Coed y Brenin Forest, North Wales

An investigation has been conducted on the concentration of base metals and selected trace elements in twigs representing first and second year growth from Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis, Carriere), Norwegian spruce (Picea abies, Karsten) and the Hybrid larch (Larix eurolepis, Henry) in the vicinity of disseminated copper mineralization associated with intermediate intrusions. Anomalous concentrations of copper, molybdenum and rubidium occur in spruce trees growing directly over mineralized zones even where buried by deep overburden. Associated copper and molybdenum soil anomalies are displaced to the west of the mineralization. Biogeochemical anomalies have been detected in spruce twigs over porphyry-style mineralization buried beneath thick glacial drift.