This project supports geological field research in Pakistan by the P.I. Dr. John W. Shervais and his Pakistani doctoral student, M. Tahir Shah; and laboratory research by Mr. Shah in the laboratory of Dr. M. Ikramuddin at Eastern Washington University. The research objectives include: 1) assessment of the distribution of gold and silver within and adjacent to the base metal lead-zinc ore bodies and the correlation between precious metal concentrations and base metal ore grades; 2) assessment of the usefullness of pathfinder elements in locating volcanogenic ore deposits in high grade metamorphic terrains, and 3) evaluation of the origin of the lead-zinc deposits in the Besham area of Pakistan in light of the new geochemical data. Mr. Shah will collect samples in Pakistan in two areas that represent a single primary ore body that has been offset structurally, the Lahore and the Pazang lead-zinc sulfide deposits. He will conduct geochemical analysis of these samples at Eastern Washington University under supervision of Dr. Ikramuddin. Scope: The research will bring together, in addition to the Pakistan graduate student, scientists from the University of South Carolina, and Eastern Washington University, and geologists from the University of Peshwar in Pakistan who have extensive experience in the geology of Pakistan. The work is likely to lead to improvement in the understanding of the geochemistry of minerals of economic value, and to enhance the scientific capabilities of the Pakistani graduate student and his potential to contribute to the technical and economic development of his country.
