Trace elements in soils around the Hemerdon tungsten deposit, Devon; implications for exploration

Surface and B-horizon soil samples collected from four traverses over the Hemerdon tungsten deposit have been analysed for W, Sn, Pb, Zn, Cu, As, Sb, Bi, Se, Te, Fe, Y, La, Ce, Ti, Zr, Nb, Mn, Ni, Rb, Ca, Sr, Ba, Br, U, Mo and Th by XRF, and F, Cl and I by automated colorimetric methods. This survey has been undertaken to establish concentration levels and evaluate potential pathfinder elements for this type of mineralisation. All samples analysed contained anomalous concentrations of W, Sn, As, Sb, Bi and F, therefore these elements have potential for delineating mineralised areas on a regional scale. A number of the elements investigated also displayed localised enrichments, possibly related to underlying geology and mineralisation, and identification of coinciding anomalies for various elements could aid detailed exploration.