By William R. Miller, Richard F. Sanzolone, and Paul J. Lamothe
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03-106 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. The two study areas are the Hayden Pass area
in the Sangre de Cristo Range and the Pikes Peak area in the
Rampart Range. Data is presented without interpretation. The
expected audience for the data will be gove