RESEARCH GROUP Mineral Resources and Geofluids

Ore Deposits Introductory Course Prof. Lluís Fontboté and collaborators

Ore deposits introductory course

Table of contents (v. Aug 2013)

* Chapters marked with an asterisk are generally treated in the Master Courses on Ore Deposits, but Bachelor students can download them from
"chamilo"

Introduction and general topics

A Economic Aspects
Slides complementing the course

B1 Ore Deposits - General overview of genetic processes and ore forming fluids

B2 Magmatic crstallisation and ore forming fluids

B3 Hydrothermal fluids: types, composition, transport, and precipitation

B4 Hydrothermal alteration
Slides complementing the course

*C1 Ore deposit classifications

*C2 Geometrical terms and other nomenclature aspects

Ore deposits according their geological context

*D Ore deposits in mafic and ultramafic intrusive rocks, without alkaline rocks
Examples: Chromite deposit, Ni-PGE in layered mafic intrusions
Slides complementing the course

*E Ore deposits in alkaline intrusions in stable areas
Examples: P, Cu, (PGE) in carbonatites, diamonds deposits

*F Felsic intrusions. Part I: phanerocrystalline textures. Pegmatites, greisen et skarn. Part I: phaneritic textures
Slides complementing the course

G Felsic intrusions Part II: porphyrocrystalline textures. The Porphyry System
Examples: Porphyry copper deposit
Slides complementing the course

H Extrusive rocks I: Submarine environment
Example: volcanic-hosted massive sulfide deposits (VHMS)
Slides complementing the course

I Extrusive rocks II: Continental and subaereal environment
Examples: Epithermal Au and Ag deposits
Slides complementing the course

J Sediment-hosted ore deposits. Part I: Fe and Mn deposits
Example: Banded Iron Formation (BIF)
Slides complementing the course

K Sediment-hosted ore deposits. Part II: Au-U and Cu-U ore deposit in clastic rocks
Examples: Kupferschiefer deposits; Sediment-hosted massive sulfide deposits

L Sediment-hosted ore deposits. Part III: Ore deposits formed by basinal brines in clastic and carbonate rocks
Exemple: Mississippi Valley Type deposits (MVT)
Slides complementing the course

*M Ore deposits in sedimentary rocks. Part IV: Chemical sediments (without Fe and Mn)
Slides complementing the course

*N Ore deposits in metamorphic rocks and orogenic gold deposits
Slides complementing the course

Surface processes

O Residual ore deposits
Examples: Bauxites, laterites

P Placers
Slides complementing the course

Q Supergene alteration and enrichment processes
Slides complementing the course

*T Acid mining drainage and other environmental problems related to mining

U Industrial minerals

Z References

 

Slides to Chapter B4

Hydrothermal Alteration

Examples of high sulfidation zonation

Typical zonation formed by very acid high sulfidation fluids.
From center to flanks: Residual silica (dark brown), kaolinite-alunite (white), kaolinite-sericite light brown.
Refugio Mine, Maricunga Belt, northern Chile.
Photo Lluís Fontboté, 1994.10-4/06 Copyright © 1999 - Lluís Fontboté - All Rights Reserved.

 

Examples of residual silica/vuggy silica

Typical vuggy (or residual) silica in the central part of the Marcapunta Au-Ag prospect,
Colquijirca District, Central Peru
Photo Lluís Fontboté, 1998.3/11 Copyright © 1999 - Lluís Fontboté - All Rights Reserved.

 

Alunite-filled former K-Fd phenocryst in vuggy silica, Marcapunta Au-Ag prospect,
Colquijirca District, Central Peru.
(Photo Lluís Fontboté, 11998.3/06) Copyright © 1999 - Lluís Fontboté - All Rights Reserved.

See also other examples of high sulfidation systems

 

[Mineral Resources and Geofluids]