Chlorine and iodine, potential pathfinder elements in exploration geochemistry

Consideration of the geochemistry of Cl and I suggests that both elements would be useful pathfinders for hydrothermal mineralization. The results of published case studies indicate that these halogens form broad dispersion patterns in rocks and soils around many types of such mineral deposits. Simple and reliable automated photometric methods for the determination of these elements have been developed and sample preparation techniques are easily adapted to the rapid throughput of the large numbers of samples required for geochemical prospecting. Cold water extractable Cl and I in soils show strong correlation with total Cl and I concentrations and provide a rapid mthod for the detection of anomalies associated with mineralization.