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    Henok Sime Individual Assignmet Economic Geology - Copy

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    Henok Sime Individual Assignmet Economic Geology - Copy

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    Henok Sime Individual Assignmet Economic Geology - Copy

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    abush162223

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    of 7

    SAMARA UNIVERSITY

    COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE

    DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCE

    INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT OF ECONOMIC GELOnhjnmmmmhnhb

    COURSE TITLE : ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

    COURSE CODE: Geol 4121

    COURSE CATEGORY:MAJOR COURSE

    TARGET GROU P ; FOR 4TH YEAR GEOLOGY STUDENTS

    INSTRUCTOR NAME ; JEMAL A.

    SEMISTER; 1st SEMISTER

    YEAR; 2013EC

    NAME; HENOK SIME ID.NO 1001955

    SAMARA, AFAR, ETHIOPIA


    Q13 Compare and contrast epithermal and Mesothermla gold (Au) Deposit

    Epithermal and Mesothermal Gold Deposit Both are types of hydrothermal deposits, Both are formed by the
    ore-bearing hydrothermal solutions. Hydrothermal solutions can be considered as hot waters (i.e. aqueous fluids)
    that are heated in earth’s crust and they have temperature between 700-500°c. And may occur down to approx.
    10km depth.

     The formation of a hydrothermal deposit requires a favorable combination of source(s) of water, source(s)
    of ore constituents, dissolution of ore constituents in sufficient concentrations in the fluids to render them
    potentially ore-forming, migration of the enriched fluids to sites of deposition and focused discharge of a
    large volume of fluids into an appropriate environment, leading to precipitation of ore constituents in
    large quantities in a relatively limited volume of rock .
     Types of hydrothermal deposits
     A/. Orogenic/Mesothermal (Mesozonal) Gold Deposits
     Definition: Epigenetic, structurally hosted lode gold deposits in metamorphic rocks that formed
    predominantly at depths between 5 and 12 km’s, and temperatures of 300 to 425°C (called mesozonal).
    However, there are some orogenic lode gold deposits that formed at higher temperatures (>425 0C) and
    depths more than 12 kms; these deposits are refered to as hypozonal. The majority of mesozonal lode
    gold deposits are Archean in age and hosted in greenstone belts by metamorphosed and deformed rock
    sequences.
     Gold Mineralization's can occur in a variety of deposit types and geotectonic settings.
    As placers in conglomerates, As exhalative strata bound deposits associated with VMS,As BIF,As
    Epithermal veins associated with high level stocks or volcanoes, As vein related to shear zones in
    metamorphic terrains (is restricted to greenstone belts) i.e precambrian crustal terrains of mainly
    oceanic origin (island arcs and back-arc basin assemblages),and Typically metamorphosed in the
    greenschist to amphibolites facies. The Au-quartz veins are very often associated with large scale shear
    zones.
     Formation
    • Formation during compressional or transpressive episodes; derivation from low-salinity (H2O-CO2)
    hydrothermal fluids of deep crustal origin,Formation over a very wide depth (pressure-temperature) and
    metamorphic grade (sub-greenschist to upper amphibolite facies)and formation temperature around 300-
    400oc
     Structures
     Strong structural control, commonly found in second-or-third order structures
    located near regional scale (trans-crustal) deformation zones,Great diversity of
    hosting structures, with brittle to ductile kinematics, and normal or reverse faults to
    strike-slip shear zones geometries
     Mineralogy
     Gangue mineralogy is dominated by quartz with 5-15%, carbonate and 3-5% sulphide (Fe),±
    albite, muscovite, chlorite, scheelite, tourmaline (greenschist facies),± amphibole, diopside,
    biotite/phlogopite, garnet (amphibolite facies)andOre minerals native Au, also auriferous
    sulphides (pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite)
     Geochemistry
     Mineralized veins variably enriched in As, B, Bi, Hg, Sb, Te, Se and W (potential pathfinder
    elements), High Au:Ag ratios (from 10 to 1) and usually no Cu, Pb or Zn.
     Alteration
     In general alteration is characterized by Potassic alteration (formation of sericite, biotite
    or K-feldspar),Carbonation (formation of carbonates: calcite, dolomite, ankerite)
    andSulphidation (formation of sulphides).Affects a diversity of host rocks, i.e strongly
    variable bulk-rock composition affecting the alteration assemblage, dolomite-sericite,
    Mainly CO2, H2O, SiO2, S, K and others are added to the alteration zones,Mainly laterial
    alteration, strongest perpendicular to strike of vein, up to hundreds of meters.Zoning of
    alteration envelop.The general alteration zone sequence in most greenschist facies host
    rock is from distal to proximal chlorite-calcite, calcite-dolomite
    o General characteristics of orogenic gold deposit

    B/Epithermal Au deposits
    • The term epithermal was used by Lindgren in 1913 to refer to those hydrothermal ore deposits forms at
    about 50 to 1,500 meters below the surface with temperatures between 100 and 400°C and low
    pressures.
    • Form in areas of active volcanism where there is high heat flow, tectonic activity, and active geothermal
    systems.
     Age and Distribution
    o Most known epithermal deposits are Tertiary in age. which goes along with their near
    surface level of formation and thus low level of preservation.
     Types of Epithermal ore deposits
     Based on the nature of the ore forming fluids, the type of volcanic host rocks,
    alteration assemblages, and ore minerals, divided as Low sulfidation deposits,
    also called the adularia-sericite classand High sulfidation deposits, these are
    also called the acid sulfate or alunite-kaolinite pyrophyllite calss.

    Main characteristics of epithermal gold deposits

    Low sulfidation deposits High sulfidation deposits

     Mineralization and Alteration


    Ore minerals are native gold and silver, argentite, Ag bearing Ag-Sb sulfosalts, Au-bearing Pyrites,Minor
    elements are tellurium, copper, zinc, lead, and bismuth represented by chalcopyrite, covellite, sphalerite,
    galena, and bismuthinite, Low Sulfidation type :- At and below the water table the rocks tend to be
    silicified (silicification) and Sericitied (sericitization) and produced by neutral-pH fluids. the most
    important features here are their typically open-space vein-fill character.The most types of alteration
    here are silicification and kaolinization and results from very acid fluids.

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