Hydrothermal Systems
Module 3
Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems Contents i
Contents
2. Sources of Permeability 2
2.1 Primary Permeability 2
2.2 Secondary Permeability 2
2.3 Relative Importance of Primary and Secondary Permeability to Fluid Flow
and Mineralisation 6
2.4 Locations and Orientation of Secondary Permeable Zones 7
2.5 Variations in Permeability with Depth 10
2.6 Applications of These Principles in Exploration 14
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 1
Lithological contacts:
either sub-horizontal or at low to moderate
angles of dip in draped pyroclastics
AI37/14.1M
Figure 1:
Primary permeability in volcanic rocks
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 2
2. Sources of Permeability
Massive volcanic rocks are the most common host rocks for epithermal and porphyry
deposits. The sources of primary permeability in these rocks are (Figure 1):
Primary pores: These have very little effect on the permeability of the rock as a
whole unless they are well connected. In most rocks they add little to the
permeability. We must distinguish between porosity and permeability. Porosity is
important for fluid storage, but unless it is connected it does not contribute to bulk
permeability. There are exceptional rocks where it does matter, e.g. pumice.
Cooling joints: In lava flows these will form zones of permeability, e.g. Breccias at
the top and bottom of lava flows. These zones of permeability will originally be
sub-horizontal. In plutonic or hypabyssal rocks, they will form zones of
permeability, e.g. around the margins. They are just as likely to be vertical as
horizontal (or anything in between).
Volcanic vent structures: These are a special case of autobrecciation. They are
generally sub-vertical.
In volcaniclastics and sediments, the degree of permeability will depend on the grain size
and packing. Tuffs, for example, may be quite permeable or quite impermeable. Such
rocks may also have a large surface area per volume, and hence be prone to alteration.
Large vertical eruptive vents (e.g. diatremes), are a special case of highly permeable
primary channels in volcanic terrains. A good example of where this has permitted
selective mineralisation is the Montana Tunnels deposit in the USA (Sillitoe et al. 1985).
In the typical island arc setting, the main sources of secondary permeability are (Figure 2):
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 3
Hydrothermal brecciation:
more likely to be sub-vertical
AI36/14.2M
Figure 2:
Secondary permeability in volcanic rocks
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 4
Tectonism: Faulting and related fracturing. Both normal and reverse faults can
produce large fracture zones, since lateral stresses are often high. In plate-margin
settings, repeated movement on faults is the norm. Once a fault is created, it is
easier for it to move again that for a new fracture to form in response to
accumulating stress. Slightly misdirected stress will therefore enhance permeability
as open space is created in order to accommodate this. Rejuvenated structures may
therefore be particularly permeable. Conversely permeability can be lowered in
some situations and consistently high permeability cannot be assumed to exist all
along a fault.
The formation of such a fracture allows fluid to flow much faster than before, since
it short-circuits the hydrological gradient of the fluid. It may reach the point where
clasts are transported along the fracture, producing rounding and the formation of
rock flour. If the pressure difference between the source and the sink becomes great
enough, the fluid may locally change phase, i.e. "boil", "effervesce" or "flash". This
process involves a volume change, and thus very vigorous and rapid fluid
movement. It may therefore cause considerable breakdown of the clasts within a
fracture, creating a large permeable conduit (Figure 3). Flow will continue until the
fracture becomes blocked, or the fluid source is exhausted.
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 5
Tectonism and hydrothermal brecciation go hand in glove: one may initiate the other;
the same zones tend to remain as foci for repeated episodes of brecciation of both
types. It is often not clear whether any particular event is strictly tectonic or strictly
hydrothermal. To some extent the distinction is artificial. Tectonic forces create a
state of stress, within which fracturing may be induced as increasing fluid pressures
reduce the effective confining stress, and so movement results.
Stockwork
ate
r
ow
d fl
flui
ng
Polymict breccia
as i
cr e
Rounded clasts,
uid
nsp
Root zone
K:geo\lec\min\99min\mod15\fig2.ppt
Figure 3:
Idealised development of hydrothermal vein and breccias
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 6
2.3 Relative Importance of Primary and Secondary Permeability to Fluid Flow and
Mineralisation
0m andesite flows
hydrothermal porous acid leached zone
explosion pyroclastic
breccia rocks
100
silicified milled breccia
400 K:geo\lec\min\99min\mod15\fig1
Figure 4:
Schematic model, Nansatsu type hot-spring gold deposit
(after Bonham 1989)
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 7
The processes of secondary brecciation take place abruptly. They therefore can
introduce rapid changes to the fluid pressures, and this is the best means of inducing
gold deposition, as we have discussed.
Primary zones of permeability, as mentioned, can have any orientation, but are often near-
horizontal. Secondary permeability channels tend to be more nearly vertical. This is
because of the relative stresses in a typical volcanic belt.
In the back-arc situation, stresses will be extensional, and simple gravity faults at angles in
the range 60-75° dip will result, depending on the rock properties. More often in plate-
margin volcanic belts, forces will have a strong lateral component, and are often
compressional. This means that both the least and greatest principal stresses will be
horizontal. Thus hydrofracturing will result in near-vertical normal fractures. The
fractures created become the pathways for the hydrothermal fluids, thus forming the
typical near-vertical hydrothermal vein deposits (Figure 5b and c).
The situation with both horizontal stresses exceeding vertical (Figure 5a), which is
common at depth in metamorphic zones, is not common at comparatively shallow levels at
tectonic plate boundaries, which is where epithermal and porphyry deposits occur. Thus
low-angle fractures are not so common in this setting, except perhaps in response to
removal of lithostatic load during the erosional unroofing of plutons.
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 8
extension of the veins cannot be located (Figure 7). It is important to distinguish syn-
mineralisation faulting from post-mineralisation faulting.
At a deeper level, the intrusion of magma to form porphyry deposits may be localised
within "pull-apart" structures.
Reverse faulting
Normal faulting
k:geo\lec\min\98min\mod14\fig5.ppt
Figure 5:
Initial stress distribution causing faulting: 1 = maximum, 2 =
mean, 1 = minimum (compressive) stress (after Hills 1964)
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 9
Arrest
Perturbation
k:geo\lec\min\99min\mod15\fig6.ppt
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 10
N 80°
EAST
FAULT
70°
80° 70° ?
70°
?
WEST
FAULT Mine Plan, #9 Level, 178m below sea level
0 300
k:geo\lec\min\99min\mod15\fig7
Figure 7:
Interpretation of the Martha Mine, Waihi, as a strike-slip
dilational fault jog (after Wellman 1954, Sibson 1987)
The vertical zone at which economic epithermal mineralisation may occur is controlled to a
large extent by the chemistry of the fluids, and the nature of the boiling-point for depth
curve for water, while porphyry deposits are localised near to their intrusive parent by
temperature constraints. But there are some general mechanical considerations that also
play a role, and mean that some levels in a hydrothermal system are more likely to have
extensive permeable zones than others. Let us look at the mechanics of a typical
hydrothermal system from the bottom up (Figure 8).
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 11
330°C
Convective / conductive transition zone:
Note: permeability reduced by lack of fracturing
vertical scale variable, above brittle/ ductile transition, near-critical
highly dependent on mineral deposition
geological setting
Figure 8:
Vertical permeability distribution in hydrothermal systems
Much of the information on permeability comes from drilling for geothermal energy in
active hydrothermal systems. As the technology improved, geothermal wells were drilled
deeper and deeper, into hotter and hotter conditions. Thus the energy output of the wells
became greater. But this process led to diminishing returns. Below a depth of about 2500
m in typical active hydrothermal systems in andesitic terrain, experience in geothermal
drilling has shown that permeabilities are usually not consistently as high as at shallower
levels. This was disappointing to those interested in energy extraction.
Experience has shown that the best wells for energy extraction often penetrate zones in the
temperature range 260 - 300°C, rather than higher temperatures. The answer to this
puzzle is to be found in the nature of rock deformation at these temperatures. Above about
320°C, typical host rocks will deform sufficiently rapidly that fractures either do not occur,
or become healed within a short time in comparison to the rate of stress accumulation due
to tectonic plate movement. Thus major permeability is short-lived.
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 12
kilometres, where pressures are also much greater. In hydrothermal systems the transition
zone is much closer to the surface. This is also reflected in the depth limit of small
earthquakes: it is well known that the number of micro-earthquakes drops off below the
transition zone (10-15 km in continental crust). Active hydrothermal systems are often
quite aseismic compared to the surrounding areas.
5000
ars
0b
900
100
4000
700 800
Si02 (mg / kg)
3000
0
60
2000
0
50
0
40
1000 0
30
0
20
0
100 300 500 700 900
K:geo\lecture\min\99mins\mod15\fig3.ppt
Temperature (°C)
Figure 9:
Calculated solubilities of quartz in water up to 900°C at the
indicated pressures (after Fournier 1985)
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 13
Permeability within the porphyry environment and the deeper part of the epithermal
environment is therefore short-lived. Permeability can be created by faulting, by
intrusions, by hydrofracturing, or thermal cracking, but it does not remain open
indefinitely.
These effects are accentuated by the properties of water at high temperatures. At high
temperatures water has very low viscosity. In that respect it more resembles a gas than the
fluid we are familiar with, and so can penetrate even tiny fractures readily. But it also has
very low density, so a large volume of fluid moving through the rock is in effect providing
a relatively small mass for chemical reaction and mineralisation. This is not true for the
hyper-saline brines formed in the near-intrusive environment by phase separation on
depressurisation. They are very dense and may in fact be too dense to convect, thus
concentrating porphyry mineralisation near to the intrusive.
Moving up the hydrothermal system, the zone from 300 to 240°C, corresponding to
perhaps 1 to 3 kilometres depth, is often found to be very permeable. The rocks are strong
enough that fractures can be formed, cool enough that they do not rapidly heal, and covers
an interval over which there is not a drastic drop in solubility for most volumetrically
significant common hydrothermal minerals. However, because of the fluid properties, this
is below the level at which most epithermal mineralisation occurs. Although
hydrofracturing is common, the fluid is under too great a pressure for major flashing into
fractures to be common. There are however some notable exceptions to this, in special
cases where some local peculiarity has permitted flashing to extend to a greater depth.
The zone above 1000 m depth, that is to say from a level of 240-260°C up to ambient
conditions at the surface, is where vigorous hydrothermal brecciation, in some cases
leading to surficial hydrothermal eruptions, is most probable. It is thus the main zone of
high-grade epithermal deposition. The reason for this is easily seen from the boiling-point
for depth curve: the relative pressure gradient is much greater near to the surface (Figure
10). It is also within this zone that gas can separate from the typical hydrothermal fluid
and accumulate to set up the conditions for triggering hydrothermal eruptions.
This is also the level at which a hydrothermal system in high elevation terrain may become
stratified, with layers of different chemistry developing. In turn this can lead to
permeability reductions due to secondary mineral deposition. So the overall effect is
probably to focus the most important fluid flow in relatively few channels, which once
again is favourable for the localisation of economic mineralisation.
Fluid mixing can be an important additional mineralising process at this level also.
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 14
Temperature (°C)
100 150 200 250 300 350
0
200
400
Depth (m)
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600 BPD.xls
k:geo\lec\min\98min\mod1\figbpd2.ppt
Figure 10:
Boiling point for depth curve
We now have a picture of what the target zones for epithermal mineralisation might look
like: at depth they will be steeply-dipping structures, with economic mineralisation
concentrated on a few major channels. At shallower levels they may flare into stockworks,
within which, while individual veins will still be predominantly vertical, the zone as a
whole might be more laterally extensive. But the need for permeability to be constantly
rejuvenated means that the economic zones will be concentrated on major structural
channels. This will especially apply to any lateral outflow zones, simply because the
available fluid is potentially spread over a much wider (radial) area.
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 15
Thus structural studies should be an important part of the exploration programme. These
should include detailed fracture and vein mapping in the field, in the course of detailed
prospecting, trenching and so on. But it is also important to consider structures on the
larger scale. This may be best done using aerial photography or satellite imagery,
especially in steep or jungle-covered terrain. Side-scanning radar imagery can also be very
useful, especially in areas without good topographic maps. It is better than aerial
photography for revealing the fine detail of topography in heavily vegetated areas. It is
best to use the different types of image in combination.
Using these techniques it may be possible to identify target structural zones which can then
be investigated in detail. It is important to appreciate the scale of such structures.
Experience in active systems shows that major faults can often be traced over 1 to 5 km,
and sometimes three times as far. Stratigraphic mapping should not be neglected, as
significant stratigraphic dislocation may imply the presence of a major fault. But in
volcanic areas, erection of a sufficiently detailed and meaningful stratigraphy may be
impossible. Fluid inclusion and alteration studies can reveal faulting on a smaller scale.
It is equally important to avoid mapping spurious "faults". Particularly where there is little
exposure and the geologist finds it difficult to explain the observed distribution of
mineralisation, there can be a tendency to assign all observable surface lineations to faults.
Without direct evidence such as sheared or slickensided outcrops, inconsistent
juxtaposition of lithologies, or strong lineation of fossil thermal activity and/or alteration, a
fault should only be inferred if other explanations can be discounted. Lineations that can
be mistaken for faults include:
Similar comments apply to the interpretation of ring-faults and calderas. Such structures
do occur in volcanic areas and in some case can constitute significant permeable targets for
exploration. But not all sub-circular structures are of this origin. Other explanations
include slump amphitheatres, lithological contacts at the margins of a volcanic ring-plain
(Figure 13), eroded structural domes and large-scale karst features.
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 16
Lithostratigraphic
contact
Op
po
se
d
strAdjacent streams
e
am
s
Lavas
and
lahars
Figure 11:
Development of lineations during geomorphic development
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 17
k:geo\lec\min\99min\mod15\fig10.ppt
Figure 12:
Stream piracy producing non-structural lineation
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Permeability Controls in Hydrothermal Systems 18
Drainage diverted
Figure 13:
Development of non-structural arcuate drainage
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