HEAVY INDICATOR MINERALS COLLECTED FROM ANTHILLS IN THE LEUCITE HILLS, WYOMING FROM ZIRKEL MESA, BLACK ROCK, NORTH TABLE MOUNTAIN, SOUTH TABLETOP MOUNTAIN, STEAMBOAT MOUNTAIN, AND SPRING BUTTE

The heavy minerals pyrope, pyrope-almandine, chrome diopside, chrome spinel, chrome enstatite, picroilmenite, and chromite are useful diamond indicator minerals for lamproites and kimberlites. Lamproite bodies that were erupted during the late-Pliocene – mid-Pleistocene and located in Leucite Hills, Wyoming contain these heavy indicator minerals which suggested the possibility of diamond presence; however, nearby areas of study in the Green River Basin, Wyoming yield geochemistry not suitable for the presence of diamonds.

 In June 2015 students from the University of West Georgia on an experiential learning fieldtrip to Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado visited the Leucite Hills. Rock samples were collected and heavy indicator minerals were collected from anthills around the bases of multiple lamproite bodies: Zirkel Mesa, Black Rock, South Tabletop Mountain, Steamboat Mountain, and Spring Butte. These lamproite bodies may be categorized into the two main types of lamproites: madupitic lamproites and phlogopite lamproites; one of which may be more geochemically favorable for diamonds.

The sample gravel collected from the anthills underwent heavy mineral separation via the use of lithium metatungstate. Once the desired heavy minerals were separated they were analyzed physically and geochemically for comparison with data collected from locations of proven diamond existence. The heavy minerals from the different lamproites were also