Chemical Analyses of Soils and Rocks From Two 

High Elevation Study Areas in Colorado 

By William R. Miller, Richard F. Sanzolone, and Paul J. Lamothe 

This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with the U.S. Geological Survey 

editorial standards or with the North American Stratigraphic Code. 

Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement 

by the U.S. Government. 

Open-File Report 2003-03-106 

Denver, Colorado 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

U.S. Geological Survey 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Introduction..................................................................................................3. 

Hayden Pass Area.................................................................................3 

Pikes Peak Area...................................................................................3 

Climate.............................................................................................7 

Methods......................................................................................................7 

Sample Collection.................................................................................7 

Sample Preparation................................................................................8 

Analytical Methodology.........................................................................8 

Total Elemental Composition.........................................................8 

MgCl2 Extraction........................................................................8 

Data...........................................................................................................8 

Hayden Pass Study Area.........................................................................8 

Pikes Peak Study Area..........................................................................13 

References..................................................................................................18

Tables 

Table 1 Selected elements of soils from the Hayden Pass Area and Pikes Peak area...........10 

Table 2 Selected elements of a MgCl2 extraction of soils from the Hayden Pass and 

Pikes Peak study areas........................................................................15 

Figures 

Figure 1. Map showing locations of the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas............... .4 

Figure 2. Map showing locations of soil and rock samples in the Hayden Pass area.............5 

Figure 3. Map showing locations of soil and rock samples from Pikes Peak study area.........6 

Figure 4. Cartoon showing location of soils samples from the Hayden Pass study area.........9 

Figure 5. Cartoon showing location of soils samples from the Pikes Peak study area...........14 

Appendix 

Appendix 1. Chemical analysis of rocks from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study area.....19 

Appendix 2. Chemical analysis of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas....26 

Appendix 3. Chemical analysis of the MgCl2 extracts of soils from Hayden Pass and 

Pikes Peak study areas....................................................................34 
Introduction 

The winds aloft carry dust and aerosols across continents and oceans. If pollution 

is heavily concentrated in an area, downwind areas will be affected by the pollution. 

Examples of point sources of pollution with associated downwind contamination plumes 

are smelters and coal-burning power plants. Non-point sources such as industrial 

pollution in the Midwestern U.S. can lead to acid rain in downwind areas. 

A preliminary investigation was carried out in Colorado to test if elements were 

being deposited at high elevations in two areas of Colorado, which form natural barriers 

to the winds. This investigation was designed to detect differences of element contents of 

soils collected on each side of a mountain ridge or peak. The assumption is that dust and 

aerosol-bearing winds buffet the high ridges and peaks of mountain ranges and some of 

the dust and aerosols will be deposited mostly on the windward side of the range. Soils 

formed in place on similar rock types would be elevated in some elements present in the 

dust and aerosols on the windward side of the ridge or peak relative to the leeward side. 

Two study areas were selected based on being located at high elevation and having 

similar geology on both sides of the ridge or peak. If rock composition is the same 

throughout the study area, soils, which are derived from the rocks and not transported, 

should have the same chemical composition on both sides of the ridge or peak without 

the added input from the winds aloft. The two areas selected are: 1) Hayden Pass, Sange 

de Cristo Range; and 2) Pikes Peak, Front Range (fig. 1). Both mountain ranges are 

oriented north south and form barriers to the winds aloft. 

Hayden Pass Study Area 

The Hayden Pass area (fig. 2) is located in the northern Sangre de Cristo Range in 

Colorado. The range is about 200 miles long and forms a north south barrier. The San 

Luis Valley borders the range to the west. Elevations of the study area range from 10,380 

to 10,750 feet. Dominant vegetation is pine - Douglas fir forest. Annual precipitation 

ranges from 25 to 30 inches per year (Colorado Climate Center, 1984). The study area is 

underlain by Pennsylvanian Minturn Formation which consists of fan-delta deposits 

formed by alluvial fans which inter-finger with marine strata along the western edge of 

the central Colorado trough (Lindsey and others, 1985). Within the study area, the rocks 

consist of buff to reddish colored medium to coarse-grained sandstones formed from 

coalescing alluvial fans. The soils are developed in place and are not transported. They 

are derived from weathering of the underlying rock and are buff to reddish in color. The 

soils are thin, usually less than a couple of inches in depth and are lithosols. Organic 

matter is generally absent. 

Pikes Peak Study Area 

The Pikes Peak study area (fig. 3) is located in the Rampart Range, west of 

Colorado Springs. The Rampart Range is part of the Colorado Front Range. The peak 

forms a barrier to winds from all directions. Elevations in the study area range from 

12,440 to 14,070 feet. The study area is located mostly in the alpine zone above 

timberline. Annual precipitation ranges from 25 to 30 inches per year (Colorado Climate 

Center, 1984). The study area is underlain by the Pikes Peak batholith. The 1.1 Ga age 

(Marshall and DePaolo, 1982) composite batholith (Wobus and others, 1976) is an A-
Colorado 

Front

Range

Sangre de C risto Range

0 30 Miles 

Hayden Pass 

Study Area 

Pikes Peak 

Study Area 

Denver 

Colorado Springs 

Pueblo 

Figure 1. Map showing locations of the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak 

Study Areas, Colorado 
10200 

10400 

10600 

9800 

10000 

10800 

1 0800 

10400 

10200 

10000 

SC5 

R2 SC4 

SC1 

SC2 

SC3 

R1 

Hayden Pass 

N 

11000 

10600 

10400 

1 0200 

10000 

9800 

0.25 Miles Sample Site 

Contour elevation in feet Drainage Divide 

Figure 2. Map showing locations of soil and rock samples in the Hayden Pass study area. 

0 
PP6 

PP1 

PP5 

PP4 

PR1 

PP3 

PP2 

PP7 PP10 

PP9 

PR2 

PP8 

Pikes Peak 

N 

12000 

12500 

13000 

13500 

12000 

12500 

0.5 Miles 

Contour elevation in feet 

Sample Site 

Drainage Divide 

Figure 3. Map showing locations of soil and rock samples from Pikes Peak study area 

0 
type granite consisting of a potassic and a sodic series members. Within the study area 

the rocks consist of the potassic series Pikes Peak granite, which is a coarse-grained 

biotite +- hornblende, syenogranite and a potassic series Windy Peak granite, a finegrained to medium grained biotite granite, which is late-stage intrusion into the main 

Pikes Peak granite (Smith and others, 1999). For purposes of this study, the chemical 

composition of both rock types is nearly identical (see appendix 1). The soils are 

developed in place and not transported. They are derived from weathering of the 

underlying rock and are dark brown to brown in color. Some samples contain organic 

material (see comments in appendix 2). Soils are thin lithosols only present in some 

place, usually where the slope becomes less steep. Thickness ranges from 0 to around 6 

inches. Where soils are absent, rock glaciers are usually present. 

Climate 

The study areas are located in the middle latitudes where the winds aloft are 

dominated by westerly airflow called the prevailing westerlies, but local surface winds 

can be highly variable. The study areas are dominated by highland continental climate. 

Daily weather depends on the temperature and moisture content of the air masses that 

pass overhead. Air masses are classified according to their origin and moisture content. 

Three maritime source areas and two continental source areas influence the climate of the 

two study areas and the Southern Rocky Mountains in general (Benedict, 1991). The 

maritime air masses develop over an ocean and are characterized by high water vapor 

content. Source areas for the study areas are: 1) maritime polar which consists of cool 

Pacific air from the northwest; 2) maritime tropical which consists of air from the Baja 

area of southern California; and 3) maritime tropical which consists of airflow from the 

Gulf of Mexico. The continental air masses develop over dry interior of a continent and 

are characterized by low water vapor content. Source areas are: 1) continental tropical 

from Mexico; and polar continental which consists of airflow from south-central Canada 

(Benedict, 1991). Therefore storms and wind can track from multiple directions over the 

study areas. 

Methods 

Sample Collection 

Samples in the Hayden Pass study area were collected 8/5/02 and consist of three 

soils and two rocks on the west side of the range and two soils from the east side of the 

Sangre de Cristo Range (fig. 2). Samples in the Pikes Peak study area consist of five 

soils and one rock from both the west and east sides of Pikes Peak (fig. 3). Sites for soil 

samples were selected near the top of the ridge or peak on each side and then at lower 

elevations on each site. All the soil samples were developed in place on similar rocks. 

Soils were collected from beneath the surface to about four inches in depth. The soils are 

all poorly developed lithosols and range in depth from 0 to around 4 inches, although 

some pockets with transported soils are greater in depth. In the Hayden Pass area, the 

soils were sivied through a < 2 mm stainless steel mesh before collection. In the Pikes 

Peak area, higher moisture content precluded sieving and the soils were collected in bulk. 

All soil samples were composited from 4-6 sites. Rock samples were collected by 

compositing 4-6 rock chips from surface outcrops. 
Sample Preparation 

In the laboratory soil samples were dried in a convection oven at ambient 

temperature and split using a Jones splitter. A split was then sieved using a 63 micron 

stainless steel sieve and the material passing through the sieve was used for all chemical 

analysis. This <63 micron fraction makes up the majority of the soil sample material. 

Rock samples were put through a jaw crusher and then ground to less than 100 mesh (150 

micron) using a ceramic plate grinder. 

Analytical Methodology 

Total Elemental Composition: the total element composition for rock and soil samples 

was determined for 56 elements by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICPMS) after a multi-acid (hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, nitric, and perchloric) decomposition 

(Briggs and Meier, 1999). The elements determined, lower limits of determination, 

analytical results for rock and soil samples and duplicate samples are shown in appendix 

1 and 2. Sample duplicates indicate good precision for the analysis. 

MgCl2 extraction: a 0.50g soil sample was mixed with 10 ml of 1M MgCl2 (adjusted to 

pH 7 with NaOH) in a 20 ml polypropylene centrifuge tube and placed on a reciprocating 

shaker set at 130 strokes per minute. After shaking for 30 minutes at room temperature 

the solid and solution were separated by centrifuging at 15,000 rpm for 10 minutes in a 

refrigerated centrifuge set at 22 degrees C. One drop of concentrated nitric acid was then 

added to the solution for preservation purposes. The solution was then diluted 1:10 with 

1% v/v nitric acid prior to determination of 30 selected elements by ICP-MS using matrix 

matching (modification of Briggs and Meier, 1999). The expected phase dissolution for 

this extraction is the water soluble, sorbed, and exchangeable fraction which contains the 

more mobile elements. Tessier and others (1979) discuss the use of magnesium chloride 

as an extracting reagent. The elements determined, lower limits of determination, and 

analytical results for the soil sample extracts are in appendix 3. Duplicate analysis of two 

soil samples indicates good precision for the analysis (appendix 3). 

Data 

Hayden Pass Study Area 

Soil samples were collected along a traverse that crossed Hayden Pass in the 

Sangre de Cristo Range (fig. 2). Two soil samples from the east side and three soil 

samples from the west side were collected between elevations 10,380 to 10,750 feet (fig. 

2). A cartoon of elevation change along the traverse is shown on fig. 4. The results of 

the total elemental composition of the < 63 micron fraction of the soils are shown in 

appendix 2. Selected elements, means on each side of the pass and percent difference of 

means of the two sides are shown in table 1. For both study areas the percent difference 

was calculated by: 

Percent Difference = ((highest mean-other mean)/highest mean) x 100. 

We considered significant differences to exist between the elemental means of the east 

and west sides of the two study areas if the difference in means of the two sides was 

greater than 20 %. Because the precision of analysis is less certain the closer to the 

detection limit of the analytical technique, the percent difference of elements whose 
SC5 

SC4 

SC3 SC2 

SC1 

Soil Sample Site 

West East 

Hayden Pass 

Figure 4. Cartoon showing location of soil samples from the Hayden Pass study area. 

Vertical height is exaggerated. 
Table 1. Selected elements of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas. A 

negative sign was added to the difference if the mean element content is higher on the west 

side relative to the east side and a positve value the opposite. 

Site Ca Mg Na K Al Fe P Ti % Mn Ag 

% % % % % % % % ppm ppm 

10 x Limits1 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 3 0.2 

Hayden Pass 

West Side 

SSC3 0.50 0.40 0.89 2.2 7.1 2.6 0.03 0.4 460 0.09 

SSC4 0.61 0.46 1.0 1.8 6.5 2.2 0.04 0.4 630 0.07 

SSC5 0.78 0.56 0.95 2.1 7.5 2.8 0.08 0.4 1500 0.08 

Mean 0.62 0.47 0.95 2.0 7.0 2.5 0.05 0.4 758 0.08 

East Side 

SSC2 0.50 0.45 1.0 1.9 7.2 2.4 0.05 0.5 610 0.11 

SSC1 0.40 0.26 0.70 1.4 4.8 1.5 0.02 0.4 160 0.12 

Mean 0.45 0.34 0.8 1.6 5.9 1.9 0.03 0.4 312 0.11 

Difference2 27.8 27.0 11.5 19.5 16.3 24.7 n.d.3 0.0 58.8 n.d. 

Pikes Peak 

West Side 

PPS3 0.52 0.61 1.6 2.9 7.9 3.5 0.18 0.4 1400 0.18 

PPS2 0.84 0.32 2.6 3.9 8.5 3.8 0.11 0.5 950 0.49 

PPS4 0.60 0.54 2.0 3.5 8.6 3.4 0.14 0.4 730 0.32 

PPS5 0.50 0.43 2.0 3.4 8.3 3.9 0.12 0.4 740 0.47 

PPS1 0.51 0.38 2.0 2.9 7.2 2.8 0.10 0.3 520 0.46 

Mean 0.58 0.44 2.0 3.3 8.1 3.5 0.13 0.4 821 0.36 

East Side 

PPS7 0.58 0.52 1.8 3.0 7.9 3.5 0.12 0.4 720 0.46 

PPS8 0.66 0.65 1.3 2.5 8.1 3.8 0.20 0.3 690 1.00 

PPS9 0.50 0.74 1.2 2.6 8.6 4.1 0.19 0.3 1100 0.56 

PPS10 0.5 0.53 1.1 2.2 6.8 2.9 0.17 0.3 420 0.26 

PPS6 0.57 0.37 2.3 3.0 8.4 3.7 0.07 0.3 570 1.40 

Mean 0.56 0.55 1.5 2.6 7.9 3.6 0.14 0.3 666 0.62 

Difference 4.0 -18.9 26.6 19.9 1.9 -3.3 -9.3 19.5 18.9 -42.1

1

10 x detection limit; 2difference in percent = ((highest mean-other mean)/highest)x100; 3 not determined because means 

were less than 10 x the dection limit 
Table 1. Selected elements of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas. A 

negative sign was added to the difference if the mean element content is higher on the west 

side relative to the east side and a positve value the opposite. 

Site As Ba Be Bi Cd Ce Co Cr Cs Cu La Li 

ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm 

10 x Limits1 5 20 1 0.7 1 1 1 10 1 30 1 5 

Hayden Pass 

SSC3 

SSC4 

SSC5 

Mean 

SSC2 

SSC1 

Mean 

Difference2 

West Side 

4.0 630 1.7 0.27 0.2 74 8.4 49 3.6 20 36 30 

5.4 700 1.4 0.32 0.3 58 9.6 45 4.0 20 32 33 

6.9 700 2.1 0.41 1.0 82 14 51 4.7 30 40 42 

5.3 676 1.7 0.33 0.4 71 10.4 48 4.1 23 36 35 

East Side 

4.0 690 1.2 0.35 0.2 73 7.2 52 4.1 20 36 32 

3.0 480 1.0 0.40 < 0.1 37 3.3 46 2.6 9 21 17 

3.5 575 1.1 0.37 0.2 52 4.9 49 3.3 13 27 23 

n.d. 14.8 35.9 n.d. n.d. 26.4 53.2 -1.3 19.9 n.d. -11.6 -21.2

Pikes Peak 

PPS3 

PPS2 

PPS4 

PPS5 

PPS1 

Mean 

PPS7 

PPS8 

PPS9 

PPS10 

PPS6 

Mean 

Difference 

West Side 

4.0 610 6.8 0.87 0.2 340 8.3 32 5.5 30 180 42 

<0.5 670 7.8 0.10 0.2 600 3.9 10 3.5 8 310 42 

4.0 600 6.9 0.40 0.4 430 5.7 26 6.1 20 220 53 

2.0 540 8.3 0.32 0.4 550 4.2 23 5.4 10 280 55 

5.0 490 5.8 0.38 0.6 300 3.8 25 5.1 10 160 52 

2.2 579 7.1 0.34 0.3 429 4.9 22 5.0 14 223 48 

East Side 

6.7 630 8.2 0.77 0.9 570 6.4 31 5.1 20 300 64 

11.0 560 6.0 0.68 0.8 380 7.0 38 7.0 30 210 65 

7.9 540 6.2 0.72 0.6 280 7.8 36 8.0 20 160 66 

5.9 480 4.9 0.44 0.7 260 4.9 31 5.5 20 140 47 

4.0 330 9.2 0.27 0.6 840 3.3 19 4.6 10 400 89 

6.7 497 6.7 0.54 0.7 421 5.6 30 5.9 19 224 65 

-67.7 16.5 4.8 n.d. n.d. 1.8 -12.2 -28.1 -14.9 n.d. -0.5 -25.3

1

10 x detection limit; 2difference in percent = ((highest mean-other mean)/highest)x100; 3 not determined because means 

were less than 10 x the dection limit 
Table 1. Selected elements of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas. A 

negative sign was added to the difference if the mean element content is higher on the west 

side relative to the east side and a positve value the opposite. 

Site Mo Ni Pb Rb Sb Sn Sr Th U V W Y Zn 

ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm 

10 x Limits1 1 1 1 1 1 10 3 0.5 0.5 10 1 1 30 

Hayden Pass 

SSC3 

SSC4 

SSC5 

Mean 

SSC2 

SSC1 

Mean 

Difference2 

West Side 

1.1 16.0 26 90 0.4 2 120 11 3.9 67 1.4 17 48 

1.2 14.0 37 84 0.5 2 150 9 2.9 61 1.1 16 69 

1.4 21.0 50 91 0.6 2 150 11 3.7 70 1.8 24 120 

1.2 16.8 36 88 0.5 2 139 10 3.5 66 1.4 19 74 

East Side 

1.4 14.0 23 94 0.6 2 140 11 3.6 72 2.1 16 69 

1.3 8.7 15 66 0.4 2 93 7 2.4 60 1.5 11 20 

1.3 11.0 19 79 0.5 2 114 9 2.9 66 1.8 13 37 

-9.0 -25.3 -37.5 -3.1 n.d. n.d. -7.7 -7.7 15.3 0 -26.3 29.0 49.5

Pikes Peak 

PPS3 

PPS2 

PPS4 

PPS5 

PPS1 

Mean 

PPS7 

PPS8 

PPS9 

PPS10 

PPS6 

Mean 

Difference 

West Side 

3.4 11.0 56 170 0.6 17 120 51 14 60 3.5 110 160 

2.7 4.7 50 210 0.2 12 110 65 12 27 5.1 220 140 

2.9 8.9 66 210 0.5 12 110 59 12 44 5.2 140 140 

4.5 7.5 57 220 0.5 10 92 62 9.8 38 4.9 150 160 

2.7 7.6 59 220 0.6 11 100 46 10 38 4.2 120 130 

3.2 7.7 57 205 0.4 12 106 56 11 40 4.5 144 146 

East Side 

3.5 10 150 190 1.0 16 120 94 18 50 4.8 220 200 

4.6 13 110 170 1.5 16 120 61 16 54 4.4 250 200 

5.6 13 68 180 1.0 12 99 44 16 60 4.6 160 210 

3.6 11 50 140 1.0 6.8 98 45 9.7 49 2.8 81 130 

4.1 6.6 84 240 0.5 22 75 140 29 28 8.2 420 150 

4.2 10.4 86 181 0.9 14 101 69 17 47 4.7 197 175 

-24.6 -26.6 -33.3 11.6 n.d. -10.1 4.7 -18.9 -31.4 -14.3 -3.1 -27.3 -16.8 

1

10 x detection limit; 2difference in percent = ((highest mean-other mean)/highest)x100; 3 not determined because means 

were less than 10 x the dection limit 
values were less than 10 times the detection limit were not calculated. Significant 

differences in elemental means of the east and west side of Hayden Pass are shown in 

bold on table 1. Negative sign for percent difference was added to indicates that the 

mean element content is higher on the west side relative to the east side and a positive 

sign the opposite. The ranking of significant differences in elemental means on the west 

side that are elevated relative to the east side is Mn > Co > Zn > Be > Y > Ca > Mg > 

Ce > Fe. This means that these elements are concentrated on the west side relative to the 

east side. The ranking of significant differences in elemental means that are elevated on 

the east side relative to the west side is Pb > W > Ni > Li. The Minturn Formation 

consisting of medium to coarse sandstone underlies the study area (Taylor and others, 

1975). Two rock samples were collected to look at local variation in the rock chemistry 

(appendix 1). Some of the elements vary within the study area but not enough samples 

were collected to see systematic local variation. Some elements such as P, As, and Cd 

show little or no local variation and others such as Ni and Li have considerable variation. 

For the purposes of this preliminary investigation, the assumption is made that mean 

elemental differences between the east and west side for most elements probably reflect 

the input of elements in aerosols and dust contained in the winds aloft. 

In order to investigate the more mobile elements present in the soils of the study 

area, extractions of soils were carried out using MgCl2. The MgCl2 extraction technique 

targets the water soluble, sorbed, and exchangeable fraction of the soils (Tessier, 1979). 

In addition, the extractions of the mobile elements should reduce the effect of the local 

variation in rock geochemistry. The chemical analyses of the extracts are shown in 

appendix 3. Selected elements, means of the east and west sides of the study area, and 

significant mean differences between the east and west sides are shown in table 2. Ca is 

the only element that is elevated on the west side relative to the east side. 

The rankings of significant differences of elevated elements on the east side 

relative to the west side is Al > Pb >Sr > Rb > Mn > Co. 

Pikes Peak Study Area 

Soil samples were collected on the east and west sides of Pikes Peak in the Front 

Range (fig. 3). The study area lies approximately 12 miles west of Colorado Springs. 

Five soil samples were collected from both the west and east side of Pikes Peak between 

elevations 12,440 to 14,070 feet on 9/17 to 9/18/02. A cartoon of elevation change along 

the traverse is shown on fig. 5. The results of the chemical analyses of the < 63 micron 

fraction of the soils are shown in appendix 2. Selected elements, elemental means on 

each side of the pass and differences in elemental means of the two sides are shown in 

table 1. Significant difference was calculated similarly to soils from the Hayden Pass 

study area. Significant differences in elemental means of the east and west side of Pikes 

Peak is shown in bold on table 1. Negative value for percent difference indicates that the 

mean element content is higher on the west side relative to the east side and a positive 

sign the opposite. The Pikes Peak and Windy Peak Granites underlies the study area 

(Wobus and others, 1976). Two rock samples were collected to look at local variation in 

the rock chemistry (appendix 1). The local variations of the rocks in the Pikes Peak study 

area are less than in the Hayden Pass study area. For the purposes of this preliminary 

investigation, the assumption is made that mean elemental differences in the east and 
PP1 

PP5 

PP4 

PP2 

PP3 

Pikes Peak 

PP7 

PP8 

PP9 

PP10 

Soil Sample Site PP6

West East 

Figure 5. Cartoon showing location of soil samples for Pikes Peak study area. 

Vertical height is exaggerated. 
Table 2. Selected elements of a MgCl2 extract os of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak 

study area. A negative sign was added to the difference if the mean element content is higher on

the west side relative to the east side and a positive value the opposite.

Site Ca Na K Al Fe Mn As Ba Be Cd Co

10 x Limit1 400 200 60 4 100 0.4 2 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4

Hayden Pass

West Side

SSC3 840 < 20 80.9 18.9 < 10 26.6 < 0.2 27.5 0.01 0.11 0.74

SSC4 620 < 20 60.3 61.8 < 10 28.4 < 0.2 33.8 < 0.01 0.11 0.62

SSC5 2320 < 20 255 15.1 < 10 22.4 < 0.2 44.4 < 0.01 0.44 0.48

Mean 1065 < 20 108 26.0 < 10 25.7 < 0.2 34.6 < 0.01 0.17 0.60

East Side

SSC2 483 < 20 62.7 234 12 68.7 < 0.2 39.3 0.03 0.10 0.92

SSC1 987 < 20 37.1 201 22 21.4 0.4 36.2 0.02 0.05 0.74

Mean 690 < 20 48.2 217 16 38.3 0.2 37.7 0.02 0.07 0.83

Difference2 35.2 n.d.3 n.d. -88.0 n.d. -33.0 nd -8.4 nd n.d. -26.8

Pikes Peak

West Side

PPS3 535 < 20 52.9 302 < 10 7.3 0.7 11.8 0.05 0.06 0.70

PPS2 1230 < 20 52.8 2.30 < 10 4.3 < 0.2 33.0 < 0.01 0.07 1.15

PPS4 728 < 20 34.0 32.1 < 10 1.3 < 0.2 9.06 0.02 0.10 0.75

PPS5 828 < 20 58.9 116 < 10 4.1 < 0.2 16.3 0.04 0.20 0.60

PPS1 673 < 20 61.8 102 < 10 6.2 < 0.2 18.0 0.02 0.22 0.47

Mean 768 < 20 51.0 48 < 10 4.0 < 0.2 16.0 0.02 0.11 0.70

East Side

PPS7 963 95.2 53.1 71.1 < 10 17.4 < 0.2 36.0 0.01 0.45 0.80

PPS8 2790 35.0 63.6 134 < 10 9.5 < 0.2 53.2 0.04 0.48 0.90

PPS9 1780 15 271 333 < 10 37.7 < 0.2 40.3 0.1 0.39 0.96

PPS10 1610 37.9 326 194 < 10 24.8 < 0.2 31.6 0.05 0.52 1.32

PPS6 2430 15 111 43.5 < 10 8.0 < 0.2 21.5 0.02 0.40 0.93

Mean 1796 31 127 122 < 10 16.5 < 0.2 35.0 0.03 0.45 0.97

Difference -57.3 n.d. n.d. -60.3 nd -75.7 nd -54.4 n.d. n.d. -27.5

1

 10 x detection limit; 2 difference in percent = ((highest mean-other mean)/highest mean) x 100; 3 not determined 

because means were less than 10 x deterction limit.
Table 2. Selected elements of a MgCl2 extract os of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak 

study area. A negative sign was added to the difference if the mean element content is higher on

the west side relative to the east side and a positive value the opposite.

Cr Cu Ni Pb Rb Sb Sr Zn

2 1 0.8 0.1 0.02 0.6 1.0 1

Hayden Pass

< 0.2 < 0.1 0.8 1.4 0.15 0.27 5.7 0.3

< 0.2 < 0.1 0.6 2.0 0.18 0.22 3.9 0.3

< 0.2 < 0.1 0.8 < 0.01 0.19 0.20 14.5 2.9

< 0.2 < 0.1 0.7 0.3 0.17 0.23 6.9 0.6

East Side

0.15 < 0.1 0.8 1.6 0.12 0.35 3.4 2.4

0.2 0.4 0.8 2.3 0.10 0.51 5.1 1.0

< 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.9 0.11 0.42 4.2 1.5

n.d. n.d. n.d. -85.9 36.5 n.d. 39.3 n.d.

Pikes Peak

West Side

0.2 < 0.1 0.6 2.3 0.26 0.1 2.5 1

0.3 < 0.1 1.2 < 0.01 0.11 0.1 6.7 1

0.2 < 0.1 0.7 2.2 0.23 0.09 3.1 <0.1

0.2 < 0.1 0.6 3.1 0.39 0.07 4.1 0.5

< 0.2 < 0.1 0.5 4.4 0.39 0.2 3.7 2

0.20 < 0.1 0.7 0.9 0.25 0.1 3.8 0.6

East Side

0.3 < 0.1 0.8 28.2 0.38 0.09 7.4 6.2

0.3 < 0.1 1.1 17.0 0.68 0.09 29.2 4.5

0.3 < 0.1 1.2 7.1 0.54 0.07 11.8 4.6

0.5 < 0.1 1.4 6.2 0.30 <0.06 9.9 4.8

0.2 < 0.1 1.0 3.6 0.69 0.07 11.5 2.4

0.3 < 0.1 1.1 9.5 0.49 0.07 12.4 4.3

n.d. n.d. n.d. -90.9 -49.0 nd -69.1 n.d.

1

 10 x detection limit; 2 difference in percent = ((highest mean-other mean)/highest mean) x 100; 3 not determined 

because means were less than 10 x deterction limit.
west side probably reflects the input of elements in aerosols and dust contained in the 

winds aloft. 

Only Na is elevated on the west side relative to the east side (table 1). A large 

number of elements are concentrated on the east side relative to the west side. The 

ranking of significant differences in elemental means that are elevated on the east side 

relative to the west side is Ag > Pb > U > Cr > Y > Ni > Li > Mo. 

In order to investigate the more mobile elements present in the soils of the study 

area, extractions of soils was carried out using MgCl2 similar to that carried out on the 

soils from Hayden Pass. The chemical analyses of the extracts are shown in appendix 3. 

Selected elements, elemental means of the east and west sides of the study area, and 

significant mean differences between the east and west sides are shown in table 2. No 

elements are elevated on the west side relative to the east side. The rankings of 

significant differences of elevated elements on the east side relative to the west side is Pb 

> Mn > Sr > Al > Ca > Rb. 
References 

Benedict, A.D., 1991, The southern Rockies: San Francisco, Sierra Club Books, 578 p. 

Briggs, P.H. and Meier, A.L., 1999, The determination of forty two elements in 

Geological materials by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-166, 15 p. 

Colorado Climate Center, 1984, Colorado average annual precipitation 1951-1980: 

Compiled by Climate Center, Department Atmospheric Science, Colorado State 

University, Fort Collins, scale1:500,000. 

Lindsey, D.A., Clark, R.F., and Soulliere, S.J., 1985, Reference section for the Minturn 

Formation (Middle Pennsylvanian) Northern Sangre de Cristo Range, Custer 

County, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map, MF 

1622-C. 

Marshall, B.D. and DePaolo, D.J., 1982, Precise age determinations and petrogenetic 

studies using the K-Ca method: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 46, p. 

2537-2545. 

Smith, D.R., Noblett, J., Wobus, R., Unruh, D., and Chamberlain, K.R., 1999, A review 

of the Pikes Peak batholith, Front Range, central Colorado: a “type example” of 

A-type granitic magmatism: Rocky Mountain Geology, v. 34, n. 2, p. 289-312. 

Tayor, R., Scott, G.R., and Wobus, R.A., 1975, Reconnaissance geologic map of the 

Howard Quadrangle, central Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous 

Investigations, I-892, scale 1:62,500. 

Tessier, A., Campbell, P.G.C., and Bisson, M., 1979, Sequential extraction procedure for 

the speciation of particulate trace metals: Analytical Chemistry, v. 51, no. 7, p. 

844-851. 

Wobus, R.A., Epis, R.C., and Scott, G.R., 1976, Reconnaissance geologic map of the 

Cripple Creek-Pikes Peak area, Teller, Fremont, and El Paso Counties, Colorado: 

Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map, MF-805, 

scale 1:48,000. 
Appendix 1. Chemical analysis of rocks from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas.

Site Comment Latitute Longitute Elevation Ag Al As

Degree Degree ppm % ppm

Detection Limit < 0.02 < 0.01 < 0.5

Hayden Pass Area

RSC01 Minturn Formation 38.2922 105.8494 10720 0.06 4.1 2

RSC02 Minturn Formation 38.2931 105.8547 10380 0.04 2.6 2

Pikes Peak Area

PPR01 Windy Peak Granite 38.8385 105.0488 13680 0.12 7.8 < 0.5

PPR02 Pikes Peak Granite 38.8395 105.0397 13530 0.15 8.1 < 0.5

Duplicate

RSC01R Duplicate 0.02 4.3 1
Appendix 1. Chemical analysis of rocks from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas. 

Site Au Ba Be Bi Ca Cd Ce Co Cr Cs 

ppm ppm ppm ppm % ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm 

Detection Limit < 0.05 < 2 < 0.1 < 0.07 < 0.05 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 1 < 0.1 

Hayden Pass Area 

RSC01 < 0.05 200 0.6 < 0.07 0.07 < 0.1 75 10 13 0.7 

RSC02 < 0.05 110 0.5 < 0.07 0.07 < 0.1 12 6.0 6 0.5 

Pikes Peak Area 

PPR01 < 0.05 440 6.6 < 0.07 0.4 < 0.1 290 0.7 < 1 2.5

PPR02 < 0.05 870 8.0 < 0.07 0.74 < 0.1 260 1.4 < 1 3.5

Duplicate 

RSC01R < 0.05 200 0.9 < 0.07 0.07 < 0.1 50 11 14 0.7
Appendix 1. Chemical analysis of rocks from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas. 

Site Cu Dy Er Eu Fe Ga Gd Ge Ho 

ppm ppm ppm ppm % ppm ppm ppm ppm 

Detection Limit < 3 < 0.005 < 0.005 < 0.005 < 0.01 < 0.1 < 0.005 < 0.1 < 0.005 

Hayden Pass Area 

RSC01 3 1.3 0.86 0.57 3.2 7.5 2.2 1.3 0.27 

RSC02 4 0.37 0.24 0.17 0.82 4.4 0.59 1.1 0.080 

Pikes Peak Area 

PPR01 < 3 11 8.1 1.4 1.4 21 12 1.5 2.5

PPR02 < 3 11 6.9 1.8 1.8 22 12 1.7 2.3

Duplicate 

RSC01R < 3 0.97 0.54 0.47 3.3 7.6 1.6 1.3 0.22
Appendix 1. Chemical analysis of rocks from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas. 

Site In K La Li Mg Mn Mo Na Nb Nd 

ppm % ppm ppm % ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm 

Detection Limit < 0.1 < 0.01 < 0.1 < 0.5 < 0.01 < 0.3 < 0.1 < 0.01 < 0.1 < 0.05 

Hayden Pass Area 

RSC01 < 0.1 0.96 40 17 0.34 95 0.2 0.08 5.7 31 

RSC02 < 0.1 0.65 5.6 5.1 0.09 68 0.2 0.11 4.1 5.3 

Pikes Peak Area 

PPR01 < 0.1 5.4 160 26 0.04 160 1.9 2.5 55 110

PPR02 < 0.1 5.0 140 62 0.15 420 2.2 2.8 63 88

Duplicate 

RSC01R < 0.1 1.0 24 17 0.35 100 0.2 0.07 6.7 25
Appendix 1. Chemical analysis of rocks from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas. 

Site Ni P Pb Pr Rb Re Sb Sc Se Sm 

ppm % ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm 

Detection Limit < 0.1 < 0.01 < 0.1 < 0.05 < 0.1 < 0.05 < 0.1 < 0.5 < 1 < 0.05 

Hayden Pass Area 

RSC01 30 0.02 10 8.7 34 < 0.05 < 0.1 2 < 1 4.0 

RSC02 5.4 0.02 5.2 1.3 18 < 0.05 0.2 1 < 1 0.91 

Pikes Peak Area 

PPR01 0.4 0.03 36 30 290 < 0.05 < 0.1 2 < 1 16

PPR02 0.5 0.05 33 25 290 < 0.05 < 0.1 5.0 < 1 15

Duplicate 

RSC01R 31 0.02 7.2 7.2 34 < 0.05 < 0.1 2 < 1 3.1
Appendix 1. Chemical analysis of rocks from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas. 

Site Sn Sr Tb Te Th Ti Tl Tm U V 

ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm % ppm ppm ppm ppm 

Detection Limit < 1 < 0.3 < 0.005 < 0.2 < 0.05 < 0.01 < 0.1 < 0.005 < 0.05 < 1 

Hayden Pass Area 

RSC01 < 1 18 0.23 < 0.2 5.6 0.09 0.2 0.14 1.5 19 

RSC02 < 1 10 0.077 < 0.2 2.0 0.05 0.1 0.05 0.66 12 

Pikes Peak Area 

PPR01 7.3 50 1.7 < 0.2 66 0.1 1.6 1.5 7.1 < 1

PPR02 12 110 1.8 < 0.2 46 0.2 1.7 1.3 10 6

Duplicate 

RSC01R < 1 15 0.15 < 0.2 5.3 0.08 0.2 0.098 1.4 20
Appendix 1. Chemical analysis of rocks from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas. 

Site W Y Yb Zn 

ppm ppm ppm ppm 

Detection Limit < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.05 < 3 

Hayden Pass Area 

RSC01 0.2 7.6 0.68 48 

RSC02 0.2 1.9 0.3 10 

Pikes Peak Area 

PPR01 2.0 81 8.6 49 

PPR02 2.8 73 7.1 65 

Duplicate 

RSC01R 0.4 5.4 0.61 50 
Appendix 2. Chemical analysis of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas, 

Colorado 

Site Latitute Longitute Elevation Comments Ag Al 

Degree Degree Feet ppm % 

Detection Limit < 0.02 < 0.01 

Hayden Pass 

West Side 

SSC3 38.2922 105.8494 10720 brown, mostly silt and clay 0.09 7.1 

SSC4 38.2928 105.8522 10480 similar with sl. organics 0.07 6.5 

SSC5 38.2931 105.8547 10380 similar, mod. organics 0.08 7.5 

East Side 

SSC2 38.2925 105.8478 10750 brown, mostly silt and clay 0.11 7.2 

SSC1 38.2953 105.8483 10520 brown, mostly silt and clay 0.12 4.8 

Pikes Peak 

PPS3 38.8385 

PPS2 38.839 

PPS4 38.8385 

PPS5 38.8482 

PPS1 38.8587 

West Side 

105.0462 14070 

105.046 13970 

105.0488 13680 

105.0609 13130 

105.0669 13020 

East Side 

brown, mostly clay 0.18 7.9 

brown, mostly clay 0.49 8.5 

brown, mostly clay 0.32 8.6 

brown, some organic 0.47 8.3 

brown, some organic 0.46 7.2 

PPS7 38.8409 105.0416 13920 brown, some organic 0.46 7.9 

PPS8 38.8403 105.0413 13600 brown, some organic 1.0 8.1 

PPS9 38.8395 105.0397 13530 brown, some organic 0.56 8.6 

PPS10 38.8401 105.037 13200 brown, some organic 0.26 6.8 

PPS6 38.8667 105.0631 12440 brown, some organic 1.4 8.4 

Duplicate 

SSC1R 0.12 5.2 
Appendix 2. Chemical analysis of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas, 

Colorado 

Site As Au Ba Be Bi Ca Cd Ce Co 

ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm % ppm ppm ppm 

Detection < 0.5 < 0.05 < 2 < 0.1 < 0.07 < 0.05 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.1 

Hayden Pass 

SSC3

SSC4

SSC5

West Side 

4 < 0.05 630 1.7 0.27 0.5 0.2 74 8.4 

5.4 < 0.05 700 1.4 0.32 0.61 0.3 58 9.6 

6.9 < 0.05 700 2.1 0.41 0.78 1.0 82 14 

East Side 

SSC2 4 < 0.05 690 1.2 0.35 0.5 0.2 73 7.2 

SSC1 3 < 0.05 480 1.0 0.40 0.4 < 0.1 37 3.3 

Pikes Peak 

PPS3 

PPS2 

PPS4 

PPS5 

PPS1 

West Side 

4 < 0.05 610 6.8 0.87 0.52 0.2 340 8.3 

< 0.5 0.05 670 7.8 0.1 0.84 0.2 600 3.9 

4 < 0.05 600 6.9 0.40 0.60 0.4 430 5.7 

2 < 0.05 540 8.3 0.32 0.50 0.4 550 4.2 

5.0 0.06 490 5.8 0.38 0.51 0.6 300 3.8 

East Side 

PPS7 6.7 < 0.05 630 8.2 0.77 0.58 0.9 570 6.4 

PPS8 11 < 0.05 560 6.0 0.68 0.66 0.8 380 7.0 

PPS9 7.9 < 0.05 540 6.2 0.72 0.50 0.6 280 7.8 

PPS10 5.9 < 0.05 480 4.9 0.44 0.5 0.7 260 4.9 

PPS6 4 0.1 330 9.2 0.27 0.57 0.6 840 3.3 

Duplicate 

SSC1R 3 < 0.05 520 0.9 0.1 0.4 < 0.1 50 3.4
Appendix 2. Chemical analysis of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas, 

Colorado 

Site Cr Cs Cu Dy Er Eu Fe Ga 

ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm % ppm 

Detection < 1 < 0.1 < 3 < 0.005 < 0.005 < 0.005 < 0.01 < 0.1 

Hayden Pass 

SSC3

SSC4

SSC5

West Side 

49 3.6 20 3.0 1.8 1.1 2.6 16 

45 4.0 20 2.9 1.6 0.98 2.2 14 

51 4.7 30 3.4 2.1 1.3 2.8 16 

East Side 

SSC2 52 4.1 20 3.1 1.7 1.1 2.4 17 

SSC1 46 2.6 9 1.9 1.3 0.62 1.5 11 

Pikes Peak 

PPS3 

PPS2 

PPS4 

PPS5 

PPS1 

West Side 

32 5.5 30 18 11 2.2 3.5 20 

10 3.5 8 32 22 2.6 3.8 25 

26 6.1 20 24 16 1.9 3.4 23 

23 5.4 10 27 17 1.6 3.9 24 

25 5.1 10 18 14 1.2 2.8 22 

East Side 

PPS7 31 5.1 20 31 22 2.1 3.5 20 

PPS8 38 7.0 30 28 21 1.9 3.8 22 

PPS9 36 8.0 20 21 15 2.0 4.1 23 

PPS10 31 5.5 20 13 8.3 1.2 2.9 17 

PPS6 19 4.6 10 46 38 1.3 3.7 29 

Duplicate 

SSC1R 45 2.6 9 1.9 1.2 0.63 1.4 11
Appendix 2. Chemical analysis of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas, 

Colorado 

Site Gd Ge Ho In K La Li Mg 

ppm ppm ppm ppm % ppm ppm % 

Detection < 0.005 < 0.1 < 0.005 < 0.1 < 0.01 < 0.1 < 0.5 < 0.01 

Hayden Pass 

SSC3

SSC4

SSC5

West Side 

4.1 1.0 0.61 < 0.1 2.2 36 30 0.40 

3.5 0.9 0.56 0.1 1.8 32 33 0.46 

4.8 1.0 0.73 0.1 2.1 40 42 0.56 

East Side 

SSC2 3.9 0.8 0.57 < 0.1 1.9 36 32 0.45 

SSC1 2.5 1.3 0.42 < 0.1 1.4 21 17 0.26 

Pikes Peak 

PPS3 

PPS2 

PPS4 

PPS5 

PPS1 

West Side 

20 1.3 3.7 0.3 2.9 180 42 0.61 

36 1.1 7.0 0.3 3.9 310 42 0.32 

25 1.2 5.1 0.3 3.5 220 53 0.54 

30 1.3 5.6 0.3 3.4 280 55 0.43 

18 1.4 4.2 0.2 2.9 160 52 0.38 

East Side 

PPS7 31 1.0 7.0 0.4 3.0 300 64 0.52 

PPS8 26 1.3 6.3 0.3 2.5 210 65 0.65 

PPS9 20 1.3 4.6 0.5 2.6 160 66 0.74 

PPS10 13 1.2 2.7 0.2 2.2 140 47 0.53 

PPS6 39 1.2 11 0.3 3.0 400 89 0.37 

Duplicate 

SSC1R 2.5 1.4 0.42 < 0.1 1.5 24 18 0.27
Appendix 2. Chemical analysis of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas, 

Colorado 

Site Mn Mo Na Nb Nd Ni P Pb 

ppm ppm % ppm ppm ppm % ppm 

Detection < 0.3 < 0.1 < 0.01 < 0.1 < 0.05 < 0.1 < 0.01 < 0.1 

Hayden Pass 

SSC3

SSC4

SSC5

West Side 

460 1.1 0.89 18 29 16 0.03 26 

630 1.2 1.0 12 26 14 0.04 37 

1500 1.4 0.95 17 34 21 0.08 50 

East Side 

SSC2 610 1.4 1.0 20 30 14 0.05 23 

SSC1 160 1.3 0.70 13 17 8.7 0.02 15 

Pikes Peak 

PPS3 

PPS2 

PPS4 

PPS5 

PPS1 

West Side 

1400 3.4 1.6 60 130 11 0.18 56 

950 2.7 2.6 160 240 4.7 0.11 50 

730 2.9 2.0 110 170 8.9 0.14 66 

740 4.5 2.0 150 220 7.5 0.12 57 

520 2.7 2.0 150 120 7.6 0.10 59 

East Side 

PPS7 720 3.5 1.8 140 210 10 0.12 150 

PPS8 690 4.6 1.3 84 150 13 0.20 110 

PPS9 1100 5.6 1.2 70 110 13 0.19 68 

PPS10 420 3.6 1.1 38 89 11 0.17 50 

PPS6 570 4.1 2.3 520 240 6.6 0.07 84 

Duplicate 

SSC1R 160 0.9 0.76 11 20 9.0 0.02 16
Appendix 2. Chemical analysis of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas, 

Colorado 

Site Pr Rb Re Sb Sc Se Sm Sn 

ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm 

Detection < 0.05 < 0.1 < 0.05 < 0.1 < 0.5 < 1 < 0.05 < 1 

Hayden Pass 

SSC3

SSC4

SSC5

West Side 

7.6 90 < 0.05 0.4 8.2 < 1 5.4 2 

6.8 84 < 0.05 0.5 7.1 < 1 4.7 2 

8.5 91 < 0.05 0.6 9.7 < 1 6.4 2 

East Side 

SSC2 8.0 94 < 0.05 0.6 8.2 < 1 5.4 2 

SSC1 4.7 66 < 0.05 0.4 5.2 < 1 3.5 2 

Pikes Peak 

PPS3 

PPS2 

PPS4 

PPS5 

PPS1 

West Side 

36 170 < 0.05 0.6 10 < 1 24 17 

65 210 < 0.05 0.2 12 < 1 45 12 

46 210 < 0.05 0.5 10 < 1 32 12 

58 220 < 0.05 0.5 12 < 1 39 10 

32 220 < 0.05 0.6 9.2 < 1 22 11 

East Side 

PPS7 58 190 < 0.05 1.0 9.8 < 1 38 16 

PPS8 40 170 < 0.05 1.5 10 < 1 28 16 

PPS9 30 180 < 0.05 1.0 11 < 1 21 12 

PPS10 26 140 < 0.05 1.0 7.5 < 1 16 6.8 

PPS6 69 240 < 0.05 0.5 12 < 1 42 22 

Duplicate 

SSC1R 5.3 66 < 0.05 0.3 5.0 < 1 3.5 2
Appendix 2. Chemical analysis of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas, 

Colorado 

Site Sr Tb Te Th Ti Tl Tm U 

ppm ppm ppm ppm % ppm ppm ppm 

Detection < 0.3 < 0.005 < 0.2 < 0.05 < 0.01 < 0.1 < 0.005 < 0.05 

Hayden Pass 

SSC3

SSC4

SSC5

West Side 

120 0.56 < 0.2 11 0.4 0.6 0.32 3.9 

150 0.47 < 0.2 8.8 0.4 0.6 0.28 2.9 

150 0.61 < 0.2 11 0.4 0.7 0.36 3.7 

East Side 

SSC2 140 0.48 < 0.2 11 0.5 0.7 0.34 3.6 

SSC1 93 0.34 < 0.2 7.1 0.4 0.6 0.25 2.4 

Pikes Peak 

PPS3 

PPS2 

PPS4 

PPS5 

PPS1 

West Side 

120 3.0 < 0.2 51 0.4 1.1 1.9 14 

110 5.4 < 0.2 65 0.5 1.2 3.7 12 

110 3.9 < 0.2 59 0.4 1.3 2.8 12 

92 4.4 < 0.2 62 0.4 1.4 2.9 9.8 

100 2.9 < 0.2 46 0.3 1.2 2.6 10 

East Side 

PPS7 120 5.1 < 0.2 94 0.4 1.2 3.9 18 

PPS8 120 4.2 < 0.2 61 0.3 1.2 3.7 16 

PPS9 99 3.2 < 0.2 44 0.3 1.1 2.6 16 

PPS10 98 2.1 < 0.2 45 0.3 0.9 1.5 9.7 

PPS6 75 6.7 < 0.2 140 0.3 1.4 7.2 29 

Duplicate 

SSC1R 94 0.32 < 0.2 8.1 0.4 0.6 0.22 2.5
Appendix 2. Chemical analysis of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes Peak study areas, 

Colorado 

Site V W Y Yb Zn 

ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm 

Detection < 1 < 0.1 < 0.1 < 0.05 < 3 

Hayden Pass 

SSC3

SSC4

SSC5

West Side 

67 1.4 17 2.1 48 

61 1.1 16 1.6 69 

70 1.8 24 2.3 120 

East Side 

SSC2 72 2.1 16 1.7 69 

SSC1 60 1.5 11 1.2 20 

Pikes Peak 

PPS3 

PPS2 

PPS4 

PPS5 

PPS1 

West Side 

60 3.5 110 11 160 

27 5.1 220 22 140 

44 5.2 140 16 140 

38 4.9 150 16 160 

38 4.2 120 15 130 

East Side 

PPS7 50 4.8 220 24 200 

PPS8 54 4.4 250 21 200 

PPS9 60 4.6 160 15 210 

PPS10 49 2.8 81 8.0 130 

PPS6 28 8.2 420 42 150 

Duplicate 

SSC1R 59 0.8 11 1.2 30
Appendix 3. Chemical analysis of the MgCl2 extracts of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes 

Peak study areas. All values in ppm. 

Site Latitude Longitude Comments Ag Al As 

Degree Degree 

Detection Limit < 0.6 < 0.4 < 0.2 

Hayden Pass 

West Side 

SSC3 38.2922 105.8494 brown, mostly silt and clay < 0.6 18.9 < 0.2 

SSC4 38.2928 105.8522 similar with sl. organics < 0.6 61.8 < 0.2 

SSC5 38.2931 105.8547 similar, mod. organics < 0.6 15.1 < 0.2 

East Side 

SSC2 38.2925 105.8478 brown, mostly silt and clay < 0.6 234 < 0.2 

SSC1 38.2953 105.8483 brown, mostly silt and clay < 0.6 201 0.4 

Pikes Peak 

PPS3 38.8385 105.0462 

PPS2 38.839 105.046 

PPS4 38.8385 105.0488 

PPS5 38.8482 105.0609 

PPS1 38.8587 105.0669 

West Side 

brown, mostly clay 

brown, mostly clay 

brown, mostly clay 

brown, some organic 

brown, some organic 

East Side 

< 0.6 302 0.7 

< 0.6 2.30 < 0.2 

< 0.6 32.1 < 0.2 

< 0.6 116 < 0.2 

< 0.6 102 < 0.2 

PPS7 38.8409 105.0416 brown, some organic < 0.6 71.1 < 0.2 

PPS8 38.8403 105.0413 brown, some organic < 0.6 134 < 0.2 

PPS9 38.8395 105.0397 brown, some organic < 0.6 333 < 0.2 

PPS10 38.8401 105.037 brown, some organic < 0.6 194 < 0.2 

PPS6 38.8667 105.0631 brown, some organic < 0.6 43.5 < 0.2 

Duplicate 

SSC1R < 0.6 169 < 0.2 

PPS1R < 0.6 72.2 < 0.2 
Appendix 3. Chemical analysis of the MgCl2 extracts of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes 

Peak study areas. All values in ppm. 

Site Ba Be Bi Ca Cd Co Cr Cs Cu 

Detection Limit < 0.04 < 0.01 < 0.04 < 40 < 0.004 < 0.004 < 0.2 < 0.004 < 0.1 

Hayden Pass 

West Side 

SSC3

SSC4

SSC5

27.5 0.01 < 0.04 840 0.11 0.74 < 0.2 < 0.004 < 0.1 

33.8 < 0.01 < 0.04 620 0.11 0.62 < 0.2 < 0.004 < 0.1 

44.4 < 0.01 < 0.04 2320 0.44 0.48 < 0.2 < 0.004 < 0.1 

East Side 

SSC2 39.3 0.03 < 0.04 483 0.10 0.92 < 0.2 < 0.004 < 0.1 

SSC1 36.2 0.02 < 0.04 987 0.05 0.74 0.2 < 0.004 0.4 

Pikes Peak 

PPS3 

PPS2 

PPS4 

PPS5 

PPS1 

West Side 

11.8 0.05 < 0.04 535 0.06 0.70 0.2 < 0.004 < 0.1 

33.0 < 0.01 < 0.04 1230 0.07 1.15 0.3 < 0.004 < 0.1 

9.06 0.02 < 0.04 728 0.10 0.75 0.2 < 0.004 < 0.1 

16.3 0.04 < 0.04 828 0.20 0.60 0.2 < 0.004 < 0.1 

18.0 0.02 < 0.04 673 0.22 0.47 < 0.2 < 0.004 < 0.1 

East Side 

PPS7 36.0 0.01 < 0.04 963 0.45 0.80 0.3 < 0.004 < 0.1 

PPS8 53.2 0.04 < 0.04 2790 0.48 0.90 0.3 < 0.004 < 0.1 

PPS9 40.3 0.1 < 0.04 1780 0.39 0.96 0.3 < 0.004 < 0.1 

PPS10 31.6 0.05 < 0.04 1610 0.52 1.32 0.5 < 0.004 < 0.1 

PPS6 21.5 0.02 < 0.04 2430 0.40 0.93 0.2 < 0.004 < 0.1 

Duplicate 

SSC1R 35.3 0.02 < 0.04 836 0.04 0.88 0.3 < 0.004 < 0.1 

PPS1R 19.0 0.02 < 0.04 716 0.25 0.48 < 0.2 < 0.004 < 0.1 
Appendix 3. Chemical analysis of the MgCl2 extracts of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes 

Peak study areas. All values in ppm. 

Site Fe Ga Ge K Li Mn Mo Na Ni 

Detection Limit < 10 < 0.01 < 0.01 < 6 < 0.2 < 0.04 < 0.4 < 20 < 0.08 

Hayden Pass 

West Side 

SSC3

SSC4

SSC5

< 10 < 0.01 < 0.01 80.9 < 0.2 26.6 < 0.4 < 20 0.8 

< 10 < 0.01 < 0.01 60.3 < 0.2 28.4 < 0.4 < 20 0.6 

< 10 < 0.01 < 0.01 255 < 0.2 22.4 < 0.4 < 20 0.8 

East Side 

SSC2 12 < 0.01 < 0.01 62.7 < 0.2 68.7 < 0.4 < 20 0.8 

SSC1 22 0.01 < 0.01 37.1 < 0.2 21.4 < 0.4 < 20 0.8 

Pikes Peak 

PPS3 

PPS2 

PPS4 

PPS5 

PPS1 

West Side 

< 10 0.09 < 0.01 52.9 < 0.2 7.3 < 0.4 < 20 0.6 

< 10 0.04 < 0.01 52.8 < 0.2 4.3 < 0.4 < 20 1.2 

< 10 0.04 < 0.01 34.0 < 0.2 1.3 < 0.4 < 20 0.7 

< 10 0.1 < 0.01 58.9 < 0.2 4.1 < 0.4 < 20 0.6 

< 10 0.02 < 0.01 61.8 < 0.2 6.2 < 0.4 < 20 0.5 

East Side 

PPS7 < 10 0.05 < 0.01 53.1 < 0.2 17.4 < 0.4 95.2 0.8 

PPS8 < 10 0.04 < 0.01 63.6 < 0.2 9.5 < 0.4 35.0 1.1 

PPS9 < 10 0.08 < 0.01 271 < 0.2 37.7 < 0.4 < 20 1.2 

PPS10 < 10 0.03 < 0.01 326 < 0.2 24.8 < 0.4 37.9 1.4 

PPS6 < 10 0.04 < 0.01 111 < 0.2 8.0 < 0.4 < 20 1.0 

Duplicate 

SSC1R 20 < 0.01 < 0.01 38.1 < 0.2 14.5 < 0.4 < 20 1.0 

PPS1R < 10 0.02 < 0.01 60.9 < 0.2 6.1 < 0.4 < 20 0.4 
Appendix 3. Chemical analysis of the MgCl2 extracts of soils from the Hayden Pass and Pikes 

Peak study areas. All values in ppm. 

Site Pb Rb Sb Se Sr Tl U V Zn 

Detection Limit < 0.01 < 0.002 < 0.06 < 0.2 < 0.1 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.1 < 0.1 

Hayden Pass 

West Side 

SSC3

SSC4

SSC5

1.4 0.15 0.27 < 0.2 5.71 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.1 0.3 

2.0 0.18 0.22 < 0.2 3.90 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.1 0.3 

< 0.01 0.19 0.2 < 0.2 14.5 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.1 2.9 

East Side 

SSC2 1.6 0.12 0.35 < 0.2 3.41 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.1 2.4 

SSC1 2.3 0.10 0.51 < 0.2 5.09 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.1 1 

Pikes Peak 

PPS3 

PPS2 

PPS4 

PPS5 

PPS1 

West Side 

2.3 0.26 0.1 0.2 2.52 < 0.02 0.04 0.2 1 

< 0.01 0.11 0.1 < 0.2 6.67 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.1 1 

2.2 0.23 0.09 < 0.2 3.14 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.1 < 0.1 

3.1 0.39 0.07 0.2 4.13 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.1 0.5 

4.4 0.39 0.2 < 0.2 3.74 < 0.02 < 0.02 0.1 2 

East Side 

PPS7 28.2 0.38 0.09 < 0.2 7.35 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.1 6.2 

PPS8 17.0 0.68 0.09 0.2 29.2 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.1 4.5 

PPS9 7.1 0.54 0.07 < 0.2 11.8 < 0.02 0.03 0.2 4.6 

PPS10 6.2 0.30 < 0.06 < 0.2 9.92 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.1 4.8 

PPS6 3.6 0.69 0.07 < 0.2 11.5 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.1 2.4 

Duplicate 

SSC1R 1.9 0.10 < 0.06 0.2 4.38 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.1 0.8 

PPS1R 3.6 0.29 < 0.06 0.2 4.27 < 0.02 < 0.02 < 0.1 2