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Controls on Ore Deposition

!  Chemical

!  Lithologic

!  Stratigraphic

!  Structural
Controls on Ore Deposition

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Chemical Chemical

!  Crystallization– result from cooling of magma & !  Solubility

– T & P drop will result in precipitation
exceeding of saturation point from aqueous solutions

!  Temperature and Pressure – dictate the specific – more soluble salts will tend to stay in
mineral that will form (stability) solution longer and be precipitated later than the less
soluble materials

!  Exsolution – separation of one mineral from another

in a natural solution (unmixing)

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Chemical Chemical

!  Colloidaldeposition – Colloids are precipitated !  Bacterialprecipitation – certain microbes are

from natural solutions as flocculent or gelatinous agents of mineral precipitation
masses
!  Replacement – simultaneous capillary solution and
!  Metamorphism – pressure, heat and water act upon deposition by which new minerals are substituted for
rocks and minerals, causing recombination and earlier minerals or rocks
recrystallization of the ingredients into new minerals

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Chemical
!  Replacement
relative solubility of solid and solute (copper sulfate
dissolves sphalerite to form copper sulfide)
oxidation & reduction - loss and gain of electrons to
specific ions
- determined by the environment,
especially pH and Eh (pyrite forms in reducing
environment regardless of pH, hematite in oxidizing
environment in low pH).
Chemical
!  Replacement
catalytic action – certain substances cause
precipitation from solution without themselves
entering into solution
adsorption – taking up of one substance at the
surface of another (kaolin absorbing copper to form
chrysocolla)
base exchange – occurs between solids and
liquids whereby cations are exchanged, producing
changed characteristics of both

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Lithologic
- Physical and chemical properties of host rocks
- Exact properties are seldom evident
- Operate along with structural features
e.g. Fracture acts as channelways for solutions, but a
congenial host rock is necessary for deposition
e.g. Formation of ore deposits in limestone wall rock
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Lithologic
!  Elastic Properties (Brittleness/Ductility)
!  Brittle rocks crackle readily: high permeability
e.g. rhyolite, quartzite, limestone, silicified rocks
-  Ductile rocks do not crackle: less permeable
e.g. shale, schist, basaltic rocks, chloritized rocks
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Lithologic
!  Permeability – necessary for passage of solutions
through host rock to depositional sites
-  Main factor of localization in absence of fractures
e.g. largest gold mine in the world hosted in quartz
pebble conglomerate
Lithologic
!  Composition – some constituents in rock are more
reactive
e.g. sedimentary rocks contain organic material that
reduces oxidation state – result in deposition
e.g. Paracale: gold quartz veins barren in
serpentinite, mineralized in granodiorite
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Stratigraphic Stratigraphic

!  Igneous Intrusions – Regional loci of ore deposition

!  Geosynclines –
thick -  Deposits cluster within or about stocks or batholiths
accumulation of
sediments in
!  Unconformities
orogenic
environments -  Weathered zones beneath unconformities are more
porous
- Related to uplift,
folding, faulting -  Control location of syngenetic sedimentary deposits
and intrusions
(e.g. residual Fe and Mn; buried placer deposits; bauxite
in S. Europe
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Stratigraphic Stratigraphic

!  Bedding !  Impervious layers (covers and bases)

-  Bedding planes are permeable pathways -  Serve as barriers for mineralizing solutions; Concentrate
mineral deposition in strata below or above
-  Replacement or metasomatic deposits extend or
deposit along bedding e.g. Supergene sulfides deposit above impervious strata

*Cross-bedded strata are more favorable e.g. BIF deposits – shales control layers of iron deposition

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Structural Structural

!  Most important loci of ore

!  Structural highs – cupolas (cut of a stock dome)
!  Provide zones of porosity and permeability
- deposits can be located if fluid is
!  Provide channelways for hydrothermal fluid to lighter than magma
pass
!  Structural lows – lopoliths (lenticular intrusions)
!  Classification:
- sulfide melt is heavier than silicate
Regional – broader localization of ore belts/mineral
melt so located at bottom of intrusives
districts (e.g. major faults)
!  Folds – fold axes with increased fracturing provide
Detailed – immediate localization of ore
channelways for pre-ore deposition

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Structural Structural

!  Fractures/Lineaments !  Faults

-  Control deposition of ore deposits -  Syngenetic – controlling structure

-  Can result from regional stresses -  Epigenetic (Post-ore) – cut and displace ore bodies

!  Structural intersections – favorable for deposition - Change attitude, width and grade of ores

- Increased permeability (large surface for

brecciation)
- Loci for interaction of different fluids

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