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    3 Related Deposit Types

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    The document discusses two types of magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits: epithermal deposits and skarn deposits. Epithermal deposits form from mixed meteoric and magmatic fluids near shallow intrusions and are known for gold and silver. Skarn deposits occur where magmatic fluids interact with limestone, forming calc-silicate minerals like garnet and pyroxene. Both deposit types are spatially associated with porphyry copper systems.

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    3 Related Deposit Types

    Uploaded by

    audah
    143 views35 pages
    The document discusses two types of magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits: epithermal deposits and skarn deposits. Epithermal deposits form from mixed meteoric and magmatic fluids near shallow intrusions and are known for gold and silver. Skarn deposits occur where magmatic fluids interact with limestone, forming calc-silicate minerals like garnet and pyroxene. Both deposit types are spatially associated with porphyry copper systems.

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    The document discusses two types of magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits: epithermal deposits and skarn deposits. Epithermal deposits form from mixed meteoric and magmatic fluids near shallow intrusions and are known for gold and silver. Skarn deposits occur where magmatic fluids interact with limestone, forming calc-silicate minerals like garnet and pyroxene. Both deposit types are spatially associated with porphyry copper systems.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    143 views35 pages

    3 Related Deposit Types

    Uploaded by

    audah
    The document discusses two types of magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits: epithermal deposits and skarn deposits. Epithermal deposits form from mixed meteoric and magmatic fluids near shallow intrusions and are known for gold and silver. Skarn deposits occur where magmatic fluids interact with limestone, forming calc-silicate minerals like garnet and pyroxene. Both deposit types are spatially associated with porphyry copper systems.

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    of 35

    Associated magma-related

    hydrothermal ore deposits:


    Skarns
    Epithermal

    Much of the epithermal material presented here was recently presented by Stuart
    Simmons at a short course at JCU, used with permission; see Simmons et al., 2005 (
    Economic Geology 100th Ann. Volume) [email protected]
    Magmatic-Hydrothermal System
    • Spatial relationship between deposits & magmas
    High sulphidation
    epithermal deposit
    Low sulphidation
    epithermal deposit

    Argillic
    alteration
    Propylitic
    alteration
    Phyllic
    alteration Propylitic
    Intrusive alteration
    Breccia
    Volcanic Breccia
    Rocks
    Porphyry Cu deposit

    Potassic
    alteration
    Metasedimentary
    Basement Limestone

    ~1 km
    Skarn & manto deposit
    Felsic intrusion
    EPITHERMAL DEPOSITS: KEY CHARACTERISTICS

    • Shallow deposits (< 1.5km)

    • Form above and around porphyry copper deposits from mixed meteoric
    and magmatic fluids

    • Also form on and below the flanks of active volcanos

    • Fluids <150 to 300°C

    • Ore precipitates from fluid cooling, boiling, and reaction with wall rock

    • Generally ores of gold and silver and sometimes lead and zinc

    • Highly acidic fluids cause argillic alteration (turns the rock to mostly clay
    minerals). Today argillic alteration occurs around fumaroles on the flanks of
    volcanos making for big landslide hazards.

    • Studied modern analogues include geothermal fields of New Zealand


    EPITHERMAL DEPOSITS: GLOBAL SETTING

    LS HS
    EPITHERMAL DEPOSITS: SIZE

    100
    Grade (g/tonne)

    10

    0.1 1 10 100 1000


    Tonnage (Mt) (from Hedenquist et al., 2000)
    Ba-Baguio, Bo-Boliden, CC-Cripple Creek, Ch-chinkuashih, Em-Emperor, Go-Goldfield, Hi-Hishikari, Ke-Kelian, La-Ladolam,
    Lh-Lahoca, Le-Lepanto, Mc-McLaughlin, Mi-Midas, Mu-Mulatos, Na-Nansatsu, Pa-Pasua, Pi-Pierina, Po-Porgera,
    PP-Paradise Peak, PV-Pueblo Viejo, Ro=-Rodalquilar, RM-Round Mountain, Sl-Sleeper, Su-Summitville, Ta-Tambo, Ve-Veladero,
    Wa-Waihi, Ya-Yanacocha
    EPITHERMAL: STYLE COMPARISON
    3 epithermal model
    Adularia: from the Martha Hill low sulfidation deposit, NZ
    Advanced Argillic
    alteration- High
    sulfidation deposits
    Vuggy silica

    Native sulfur
    (sometimes with vs)

    Vuggy
    Kaol-ser
    slica
    Kaolinite ser
    (alunite)

    Alunite replacing K-spar


    Magmatic-Hydrothermal System
    • Spatial relationship between deposits & magmas
    High sulphidation
    epithermal deposit
    Low sulphidation
    epithermal deposit

    Argillic
    alteration
    Propylitic
    alteration
    Phyllic
    alteration Propylitic
    Intrusive alteration
    Breccia
    Volcanic Breccia
    Rocks
    Porphyry Cu deposit

    Potassic
    alteration
    Metasedimentary
    Basement Limestone

    ~1 km
    Skarn & manto deposit
    Felsic intrusion
    SKARN DEPOSITS
    • Proximal to porphyry deposit hosted in limestones

    • SKARN - CALC-SILICATE minerals generally dominated


    by GARNET and PYROXENE—lots of green and red
    minerals
    • Form where acidic magmatic hydrothermal fluids are
    expelled into sedimentary rocks, especially limestone.
    • This causes limestone dissolution and neutralization of
    the ore fluid. Neutralization leads to precipitation of
    ore minerals.
    Zn Skarn
    NQld,
    Mungana
    deposit
    1cm

    (Georgees, 2007)
    Examples: Skarn • Typical of skarn deposits,
    common around porphyries

    • Common in limestone

    • High temperature (>500C)

    • Mineralogy: garnet & pyroxene


    (calcsilicate), brown-green
    colour, hard, texturally
    destructive

    • Other common alteration


    minerals

    – Carbonate, Feldspar, Chlorite,


    Amphibole, Fluorite, Sulphide
    The end

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