Genesis of superimposed hypogene and supergene Fe orebodies in BIF at the Madoonga deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia

The Madoonga iron ore body hosted by banded iron formation (BIF) in the Weld Range greenstone belt of Western Australia is a blend of four genetically and compositionally distinct types of high-grade (>55 wt% Fe) iron ore that includes: (1) hypogene magnetite–talc veins, (2) hypogene specular hematite–quartz veins, (3) supergene goethite–hematite, and (4) supergene-modified, goethite–hematite-rich detrital ores. The spatial coincidence of these different ore types is a major factor controlling the overall size of the Madoonga ore body, but results in a compositionally heterogeneous ore deposit. Hypogene magnetite–talc veins that are up to 3 m thick and 50 m long formed within mylonite and shear zones located along the limbs of isoclinal, recumbent F₁ folds. Relative to least-altered BIF, the magnetite–talc veins are enriched in Fe₂O_3(total), P₂O₅, MgO, Sc, Ga, Al₂O₃, Cl, and Zr; and depleted in SiO₂ and MnO₂. Mafic igneous countryrocks located within 10 m of the northern contact of the mineralised BIF display the replacement of primary igneous amphibole and plagioclase, and metamorphic chlorite by hypogene ferroan chlorite, talc, and magnetite. Later-forming, hypogene specular hematite–quartz veins and their associated alteration halos partly replace magnetite–talc veins in BIF and formed during, to shortly after, the F₂-folding and tilting of the Weld Range tectono-stratigraphy. Supergene goethite–hematite ore zones that are up to 150 m wide, 400 m long, and extend to depths of 300 m replace least-altered BIF and existing hypogene alteration zones. The supergene ore zones formed as a result of the circulation of surface oxidised fluids through late NNW- to NNE-trending, subvertical brittle faults. Flat-lying, supergene goethite–hematite-altered, detrital sediments are concentrated in a paleo-topographic depression along the southern side of the main ENE-trending ridge at Madoonga. Iron ore deposits of the Weld Range greenstone belt record remarkably similar deformation histories, overprinting hypogene alteration events, and high-grade Fe ore types to other Fe ore deposits in the wider Yilgarn Craton (e.g. Koolyanobbing and Windarling deposits) despite these Fe camps being presently located more than 400 km apart and in different tectono-stratigraphic domains. Rather than the existence of a synchronous, Yilgarn-wide, Fe mineralisation event affecting BIF throughout the Yilgarn, it is more likely that these geographically isolated Fe ore districts experienced similar tectonic histories, whereby hypogene fluids were sourced from commonly available fluid reservoirs (e.g. metamorphic, magmatic, or both) and channelled along evolving structures during progressive deformation, resulting in several generations of Fe ore.     

Mineral Paragenesis and Fluid Inclusions of Some Pluton-hosted Vein-type Copper Deposits in the Coastal Cordillera, Northern Chile

Abstract. Formation conditions of some vein-type copper deposits of the Tocopilla district (Deseada, San Jose, Santa Rosa) and the Gatico district (Yohanita, Toldo-Velarde, Argentina) in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile were inferred from mineral paragenesis and fluid inclusion data, and were compared with those of neighboring stratiform copper deposits. The vein-type copper deposits are hosted in Late Jurassic dioritic to quartz-dioritic plutons intruding extensively an andesite-dominant volcanic pile of the Jurassic La Negra Formation. Primary mineralization is characterized by chalcopyrite + magnetite + pyrite + bornite, and supergene alteration of these minerals produced anilite, covellite, atacamite and chrysocolla. The hypogene mineral assemblage indicates relatively high sulfur fugacity and weakly oxidized conditions, distinct from the stratiform copper deposits formed under low sulfur fugacity and moderately oxidized conditions. Furthermore, the fluid inclusion data of the vein-type deposits indicate high temperature (401–560C) and high salinity (39–68 wt% NaCl equiv.) ranges in contrast to the stratiform deposits, suggesting that this type of deposits formed by magma-associated hypersaline ore fluids.     

福建武平悦洋银多金属矿床特征及成因探讨

武平悦洋银多金属矿床受基底与火山岩系不整合面附近发育的一组铲式断裂裂隙带控制,以独特的石英 冰长石 银(金)和绢云母 银铜蚀变矿化组合区别于紫金山矿区石英 明矾石 铜(金)组合,与紫金山地区五子骑龙铜矿床、罗卜岭斑岩型铜矿床共同构成与中酸性次火山斑岩有关的浅成低温斑岩铜金银矿成矿(亚)系列。     

Petrographic and geochemical evidence for hydrothermal evolution of the North Deposit,Mt Tom Price,Western Australia

High-grade iron mineralisation (>65%Fe) in the North Deposit occurs as an E-W trending synclinal sheet within banded iron formation (BIF) of the Early Proterozoic Dales Gorge Member and consists of martite-microplaty hematite ore. Three hypogene alteration zones between unmineralised BIF and high-grade iron ore are observed: (1) distal magnetite-siderite-iron silicate, (2) intermediate hematite-ankerite-magnetite, and (3) proximal martite-microplaty hematite-apatite alteration zones. Fluid inclusions trapped in ankerite within ankerite-hematite veins in the hematite-ankerite-magnetite alteration zone revealed mostly H₂O–CaCl₂ pseudosecondary and secondary inclusions with salinities of 23.9±1.5 (1, n=38) and 24.4±1.5 (1, n=66) eq.wt.% CaCl₂, respectively. Pseudosecondary inclusions homogenised at 253±59.9°C (1, n=34) and secondary inclusions at 117±10.0°C (1, n=66). The decrepitation of pseudosecondary inclusions above 350°C suggests that their trapping temperatures are likely to be higher (i.e. 400°C). Hypogene siderite and ankerite from magnetite-siderite-iron silicate and hematite-ankerite-magnetite alteration zones have similar oxygen isotope compositions, but increasingly enriched carbon isotopes from magnetite-siderite-iron silicate alteration (–8.8±0.7, 1, n=17) to hematite-ankerite-magnetite alteration zones (–4.9±2.2, 1, n=17) when compared to the dolomite in the Wittenoom Formation (0.9±0.7, 1, n=15) that underlies the deposit. A two-stage hydrothermal-supergene model is proposed for the formation of the North Deposit. Early 1a hypogene alteration involved the upward movement of hydrothermal, CaCl₂-rich brines (150–250°C), likely from the carbonate-rich Wittenoom Formation (¹³C signature of 0.9±0.7, 1, n=15), within large-scale folds of the Dales Gorge Member. Fluid rock reactions transformed unmineralised BIF to magnetite siderite-iron silicate BIF, with subsequent desilicification of the chert bands. Stage 1b hypogene alteration is characterised by an increase in temperature (possibly to 400°C), depleted ¹³C signature of –4.9±2.2 (1, n=17), and the formation of hematite-ankerite-magnetite alteration and finally the crystallisation of microplaty hematite. Late Stage 1c hypogene alteration involved the interaction of low temperature (~120°C) basinal brines with the hematite-ankerite-magnetite hydrothermal assemblage leaving a porous martite-microplaty hematite-apatite mineral assemblage. Stage 2 supergene enrichment in the Tertiary resulted in the removal of residual ankerite and apatite and the weathering of the shale bands to clay.Editorial handling: B. Lehmann     

BIF-hosted iron mineral system: A review

The BIF-hosted iron ore system represents the world's largest and highest grade iron ore districts and deposits. BIF, the precursor to low- and high-grade BIF hosted iron ore, consists of Archean and Paleoproterozoic Algoma-type BIF (e.g., Serra Norte iron ore district in the Carajás Mineral Province), Proterozoic Lake Superior-type BIF (e.g., deposits in the Hamersley Province and craton), and Neoproterozoic Rapitan-type BIF (e.g., the Urucum iron ore district).The BIF-hosted iron ore system is structurally controlled, mostly via km-scale normal and strike-slips fault systems, which allow large volumes of ascending and descending hydrothermal fluids to circulate during Archean or Proterozoic deformation or early extensional events. Structures are also (passively) accessed via downward flowing supergene fluids during Cenozoic times.At the depositional site the transformation of BIF to low- and high-grade iron ore is controlled by: (1) structural permeability, (2) hypogene alteration caused by ascending deep fluids (largely magmatic or basinal brines), and descending ancient meteoric water, and (3) supergene enrichment via weathering processes. Hematite- and magnetite-based iron ores include a combination of microplaty hematite–martite, microplaty hematite with little or no goethite, martite–goethite, granoblastic hematite, specular hematite and magnetite, magnetite–martite, magnetite-specular hematite and magnetite–amphibole, respectively. Goethite ores with variable amounts of hematite and magnetite are mainly encountered in the weathering zone.In most large deposits, three major hypogene and one supergene ore stages are observed: (1) silica leaching and formation of magnetite and locally carbonate, (2) oxidation of magnetite to hematite (martitisation), further dissolution of quartz and formation of carbonate, (3) further martitisation, replacement of Fe silicates by hematite, new microplaty hematite and specular hematite formation and dissolution of carbonates, and (4) replacement of magnetite and any remaining carbonate by goethite and magnetite and formation of fibrous quartz and clay minerals.Hypogene alteration of BIF and surrounding country rocks is characterised by: (1) changes in the oxide mineralogy and textures, (2) development of distinct vertical and lateral distal, intermediate and proximal alteration zones defined by distinct oxide–silicate–carbonate assemblages, and (3) mass negative reactions such as de-silicification and de-carbonatisation, which significantly increase the porosity of high-grade iron ore, or lead to volume reduction by textural collapse or layer-compaction. Supergene alteration, up to depths of 200 m, is characterised by leaching of hypogene silica and carbonates, and dissolution precipitation of the iron oxyhydroxides.Carbonates in ore stages 2 and 3 are sourced from external fluids with respect to BIF. In the case of basin-related deposits, carbon is interpreted to be derived from deposits underlying carbonate sequences, whereas in the case of greenstone belt deposits carbonate is interpreted to be of magmatic origin. There is only limited mass balance analyses conducted, but those provide evidence for variable mobilization of Fe and depletion of SiO₂. In the high-grade ore zone a volume reduction of up to 25% is observed.Mass balance calculations for proximal alteration zones in mafic wall rocks relative to least altered examples at Beebyn display enrichment in LOI, F, MgO, Ni, Fe₂O_3total, C, Zn, Cr and P₂O₅ and depletions of CaO, S, K₂O, Rb, Ba, Sr and Na₂O. The Y/Ho and Sm/Yb ratios of mineralised BIF at Windarling and Koolyanobbing reflect distinct carbonate generations derived from substantial fluid–rock reactions between hydrothermal fluids and igneous country rocks, and a chemical carbonate-inheritance preserved in supergene goethite.Hypogene and supergene fluids are paramount for the formation of high-grade BIF-hosted iron ore because of the enormous amount of: (1) warm (100–200 °C) silica-undersaturated alkaline fluids necessary to dissolve quartz in BIF, (2) oxidized fluids that cause the oxidation of magnetite to hematite, (3) weakly acid (with moderate CO₂ content) to alkaline fluids that are necessary to form widespread metasomatic carbonate, (4) carbonate-undersaturated fluids that dissolve the diagenetic and metasomatic carbonates, and (5) oxidized fluids to form hematite species in the hypogene- and supergene-enriched zone and hydroxides in the supergene zone.Four discrete end-member models for Archean and Proterozoic hypogene and supergene-only BIF hosted iron ore are proposed: (1) granite–greenstone belt hosted, strike-slip fault zone controlled Carajás-type model, sourced by early magmatic (± metamorphic) fluids and ancient “warm” meteoric water; (2) sedimentary basin, normal fault zone controlled Hamersley-type model, sourced by early basinal (± evaporitic) brines and ancient “warm” meteoric water. A variation of the latter is the metamorphosed basin model, where BIF (ore) is significantly metamorphosed and deformed during distinct orogenic events (e.g., deposits in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero and Simandou Range). It is during the orogenic event that the upgrade of BIF to medium- and high-grade hypogene iron took place; (3) sedimentary basin hosted, early graben structure controlled Urucum-type model, where glaciomarine BIF and subsequent diagenesis to very low-grade metamorphism is responsible for variable gangue leaching and hematite mineralisation. All of these hypogene iron ore models do not preclude a stage of supergene modification, including iron hydroxide mineralisation, phosphorous, and additional gangue leaching during substantial weathering in ancient or Recent times; and (4) supergene enriched BIF Capanema-type model, which comprises goethitic iron ore deposits with no evidence for deep hypogene roots. A variation of this model is ancient supergene iron ores of the Sishen-type, where blocks of BIF slumped into underlying karstic carbonate units and subsequently experienced Fe upgrade during deep lateritic weathering.     

The “Calamines” and the “Others”: The great family of supergene nonsulfide zinc ores

“Nonsulfides” is a term, which comprises a series of oxidized Zn(Pb)-ore minerals. It has also been used to define a special deposit type, mainly considered as derived from the weathering of Zn(Pb) sulfide concentrations. However, nonsulfide zinc deposits have been distinguished between supergene and hypogene, according to their mineralogy, geological characteristics and genetic setting. The supergene deposits formed by weathering and oxidation at ambient temperatures, whereas the hypogene ones are considered hydrothermal, or associated with metamorphic processes on primary sulfide ores.In this review paper, a comparison between a number of several nonsulfide deposits has been carried out: typical “Calamines”, peculiar “Calamines” and “Others”. The whole group comprises deposits of typical supergene origin, mixed supergene–hypogene mineralizations, and oxidized concentrations characterized by different metals only locally associated with zinc. The Zn–Pb nonsulfide concentrations hosted in carbonate rocks, which are mainly attributed to “wall-rock replacement” and “direct-replacement” supergene processes, are the typical “Calamines” (Liège district, Belgium; Iglesias district, Italy; Silesia–Cracow district, Poland). Peculiar “Calamine” deposits are those mineralizations that have been generally considered as supergene, but which are instead genetically related, at least partly, to hypogene processes (e.g. Angouran, Iran; Jabali, Yemen), though mineralogically and texturally similar to supergene nonsulfide deposits. The “Others” are prevailingly supergene nonsulfide zinc deposits not hosted in carbonate rocks (Skorpion, Namibia; Yanque, Peru), or characterized by other metals as main commodities, like lead (Magellan, Australia), silver (Sierra Mojada, Mexico; Wonawinta, Australia) or vanadium (Otavi Mountainland, Namibia).Minerals of current economic importance in most “Calamine” deposits are smithsonite, hydrozincite, and cerussite. This mineralogical association is generally simple but, when the “Calamines” are dolomite-hosted, one of the consequences of the “wall-rock replacement” process is the generation of a series of economically useless Zn- and Mg-bearing mixed carbonate phases. Secondary deposits hosted in silicatic (sedimentary or volcanic) rocks mainly contain hemimorphite and/or sauconite. Lead-, Ag- and V-rich nonsulfide ores are characterized by a more complex mineralogical association: mixed Pb-carbonates, Pb-sulfates, Pb-phosphates, Pb-arsenates, various Ag-sulfosalts, and Zn–Pb–Cu-vanadates.Carbon and oxygen stable isotope studies allow distinguishing between supergene and hypogene nonsulfide deposits, evaluating the effects of oxidative heating and even gaining indirect paleoclimatic information. The oxygen-isotope variation of the individual carbonate minerals within a deposit is relatively small, indicating constant formation temperatures and a single, meteoric fluid source. Carbon-isotope values are highly variable, thus suggesting several isotopically distinct carbon sources.Periods of paleoclimatic switch-overs from seasonally humid/arid to hyperarid have been considered as the most favorable conditions for the formation and preservation of supergene nonsulfide deposits. However, while several recent nonsulfide deposits throughout the world are positioned between 15° and 45° N latitude, thus pointing to a warm and humid weathering climate, others have been deposited in sub-Arctic regions.The economic value of the nonsulfide Zn(Pb–Ag–V) ores is highly variable, because more than in the case of metallic sulfide deposits, it resides not only on the geological setting, but also on their mineralogy that can directly influence processing and metallurgy.     

Banded iron formation to high-grade iron ore: a critical review of supergene enrichment models

All the major worldwide direct-shipping iron ore deposits associated with banded iron formations (BIF) are characteristically deeply weathered. They extend to considerable depths below the water table and show well-preserved primary structures and textures, but characteristically most deposits contain no evidence of chert bands being present prior to weathering. Recent studies have found evidence of hydrothermal and/ or metamorphic influences in the development of certain ore deposits and new genesis models such as the supergene-modified hypogene model have been postulated for major high-grade iron ore deposits. Nevertheless, there are many high-grade deposits that show no evidence of hypogene alteration and for which a hypogene or metamorphic genesis is unreasonable that are automatically ascribed to supergene enrichment, commonly erroneously attributed to lateritic weathering in tropical environments. Laterite (sensu lato) is a soil formation in which primary textures are destroyed and is underlain by a pallid zone showing the preservation of chert and the depletion, not enrichment, of iron oxides and thus is totally incompatible with the formation of the high-grade ore deposits. Various theories and models that purported to explain the conditions under which such a uniquely BIF-related dissolution of quartz and residual accumulation of hematite could occur by supergene processes typically conflict with current understanding of groundwater hydrology, chemistry, weathering processes and soil formation.Supergene enrichment of ore is universal in the leaching of gangue minerals such as iron silicates, carbonates and apatite and supergene enrichment of BIF to low-grade ore is common in near surface environments above the water table such as ferrugenised BIF outcrops, detrital ore deposits, and some shallow ore deposits that have been subjected to prolonged exposure to fresh meteoric water. In all cases of supergene enrichment traces of the chert bands are visible and the dissolution or replacement processes for the removal of quartz are clear, in direct contrast to the most important deep saprolite ore deposits that show no trace of chert bands.The widespread acceptance of an inappropriate and untenable supergene enrichment model inhibits search for the true origin of the ore and our ability to predict and find concealed high-grade ore deposits.     

The El Galeno and Michiquillay porphyry Cu–Au–Mo deposits: geological descriptions and comparison of Miocene porphyry systems in the Cajamarca district, northern Peru

El Galeno and Michiquillay are early to middle Miocene Cu–Au–Mo porphyry-related deposits located in the auriferous Cajamarca district of northern Peru. The El Galeno deposit (486 Mt at 0.57% Cu, 0.14 g/t Au and 150 ppm Mo) is associated with multiple dioritic intrusions hosted within Lower Cretaceous quartzites and shales. Emplacement of the porphyry stocks (17.5–16.5 Ma) in a hanging wall anticline was structurally controlled by oblique faults superimposed on early WNW-trending fold-thrust structures. Early K-feldspar–biotite–magnetite (potassic) alteration was associated with pyrite and chalcopyrite mineralisation. A quartz–magnetite assemblage that occurs at depth has completely replaced potassically altered rocks. Late- and post-mineralisation stocks are spatially and temporally related to weak quartz–muscovite (phyllic) alteration. High Au grades are associated with early intrusive phases located near the centre of the deposit. Highest Cu grades (~0.9% Cu) are mostly associated with a supergene enrichment blanket, whilst high Mo grades are restricted to contacts with the metasedimentary rocks. The Michiquillay Cu–Au–Mo deposit (631 Mt at 0.69% Cu, 0.15 g/t Au, 100–200 ppm Mo) is associated with a Miocene (20.0–19.8 Ma) dioritic complex that was emplaced within the hanging wall of a back thrust fault. The intrusive complex is hosted in quartzites and limestones. The NE-trending deposit is crosscut by NNW-trending prospect-scale faults that influenced both alteration and metal distribution. In the SW and NE of the deposit, potassic alteration zones contain moderate hypogene grades (0.14 g/t Au and 0.8% Cu) and are characterised by chalcopyrite and pyrite mineralisation. The core of the deposit is defined by a lower grade (0.08 g/t Au and 0.57% Cu) phyllic alteration that overprinted early potassic alteration. Michiquillay contains a supergene enrichment blanket of 45–80 m thickness with an average Cu grade of 1.15%, which is overlain by a deep leached cap (up to 150 m). Cu–Au–Mo (El Galeno-Michiquillay) and Au-rich (Minas Conga) deposits in the Cajamarca region are of similar age (early–middle Miocene) and intrusive rock type (dioritic) associations. Despite these geochronological and geochemical similarities, findings from this study suggest variation in metal grade between the hybrid-type and Au-rich deposits result from a combination of physio-chemical factors. These include variations in temperature and oxygen fugacity conditions during hypogene mineralisation resulting in varied sulphide assemblages, host rock type, precipitation of ubiquitous hydrothermal magnetite, and late hydrothermal fluid flow resulting in a well-developed phyllic alteration zone.     

Application of Spectral Angle Mapper Classification to Discriminate Hydrothermal Alteration in Southwest Birjand,Iran, Using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Image Processing

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) classification method for determining the optimum threshold (maximum spectral angle) to unveil the hydrothermal mineral assemblages related to mineral deposits. The study area indicates good potential for Cu-Au porphyry, epithermal gold deposits and hydrothermal alteration well developed in arid and semiarid climates, which makes this region significant for Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) image processing analysis. Given that achieving an acceptable mineral mapping requires knowing the alteration patterns, petrochemistry and petrogenesis of the igneous rocks while considering the effect of weathering, overprinting of supergene alteration, overprinting of hypogene alteration and host rock spectral mixing, SAM classification was implemented for argillic, sericitic, propylitic, alunitization, silicification and iron oxide zones of six previously known mineral deposits: Maherabad, a Cu-Au porphyry system; Sheikhabad, an upper part of Cu-Au porphyry system; Khoonik, an Intrusion related Au system; Barmazid, a low sulfidation epithermal system; Khopik, a Cu-Au porphyry system; and Hanish, an epithermal Au system. Thus, the investigation showed that although the whole alteration zones are affected by mixing, it is also possible to produce a favorable hydrothermal mineral map by such complementary data as petrology, petrochemistry and alteration patterns.     

Mineralogical and chemical variations in hypogene and supergene kaolin deposits in a mobile fold belt the Central Andes of northwestern Peru

In western Peru kaolin-alunite deposits occur in Lower Cretaceous and Tertiary clastic, volcaniclastic and volcanic, mostly rhyolitic, rocks. Alunites from␣hypogene kaolin deposits yield  K /Ar ages of 11.5 ±␣0.7␣Ma and 13.3 ± 0.4 Ma. In addition to kaolin and alunite, the following minerals are present: white mica, smectite, barite, pyrophyllite, tridymite, cristobalite, α- and β-quartz, chamosite, gibbsite, and aluminum-phosphate-sulphate minerals (APS). APS mineralizations with REE-bearing svanbergite and florencite originate from supergene alteration. Woodhouseite, goyazite, crandallite and pure svanbergite develop in hypogene and supergene kaolin deposits. The distinction between hypogene and supergene kaolinization can be made using various element ratios in kaolin (P vs. S, Zr vs. Ti, Cr + Nb vs. Ti + Fe, and Ce + Y + La vs. Ba + Sr). S,␣Ba, and Sr are considerably enriched in kaolin during hydrothermal alteration, whereas Cr, Nb, Ti and lanthanide elements are concentrated mainly during weathering. Au and Ag become enriched during hypogene kaolinization (advanced argillitization). Kaolinization is associated with the evolution of the Central Andes as follows: (1) during the Lower Cretaceous kaolinization characterizes phases of relative tectonic quiescence during mountain building and took place in a miogeosynclinal back-arc basin. The kaolin-bearing sediments were laid down in flood plain to delta plain environments; (2) in the magmatic arc/back-arc basin (eugeosyncline) kaolinization was mainly associated with uplift and peneplanation; (3) in the magmatic arc proper, late Miocene kaolinization of volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks has many features in common with the high sulphidation epithermal Au deposits. Received: 11 August 1995 / Accepted: 8 May 1996     

Delineation of mineralization zones in porphyry Cu deposits by fractal concentration–volume modeling

The purpose of this study was to identify the various mineralization zones especially supergene enrichment and hypogene in two different Iranian porphyry Cu deposits, based on subsurface data and by using the proposed concentration–volume (C–V) fractal method. The Sungun and Chah-Firuzeh porphyry Cu deposits, which are situated in NW and SE Iran, respectively, were selected for this study. Straight lines fitted through log–log plots showing C–V relations for Cu were employed to separate supergene enrichment and hypogene zones from oxidation zones and barren host rocks in the two deposits and to distinguish a skarn mineralized zone from the hypogene zone in Sungun deposit. In the proposed C–V fractal method, the identification of mineralization zones is based on power–law relationships between Cu concentrations and the volume of rocks hosting porphyry Cu mineralization. Separate subsurface data from the two deposits were analyzed by C–V fractal method and the results have been compared with geological models which included alteration and mineralogical models. The comparison shows that the interpreted zones based on the C–V fractal method are consistent with the geological models. The proposed C–V method is a new approach to defining zones in a mineral deposit and there was no commercial software available to perform the relevant calculations; therefore, a fractal concentration–volume (FCV) software was designed by the authors to achieve this goal.     

澳大利亚西部哈默斯利铁成矿省BIF富铁矿的成矿特征与控矿因素

澳大利亚西部哈默斯利铁成矿省含有世界级高品位的赤铁矿体。主要铁矿床包括芒特维尔贝克、汤姆普莱斯山、帕拉伯杜等,它们均产于元古宙早期布罗克曼BIF型含铁建造中。高品住铁矿体的空间分布明显受到元古宙区域隆起和拉张环境下形成的古老正断层系统的控制。该成矿省高品位铁矿层的形成可分为3个阶段：第1阶段为深层阶段,该阶段硅从含铁建造中淋滤出来,留下薄层状富含铁氧化物、碳酸盐岩、硅酸镁和磷灰石的残余物;第2阶段为深部大气水氧化阶段,该阶段含铁建造的磁铁矿-菱镁矿组合被氧化为赤铁矿-铁白云石,并以发育假象赤铁矿为特征;第3阶段为浅层风化作用。通过对成矿特征和成矿模式的总结,认为成矿时代、断层、褶皱等构造特征及流体和表生风化作用是富铁矿床形成的主要控矿因素。     

福建紫金山矿田西南铜钼矿段蚀变矿化特征及SWIR勘查应用研究

西南铜钼矿段位于中国著名的福建上杭县紫金山矿田内,是该矿田最新发现的另一个典型的斑岩型矿床。该矿床形成于白垩纪,矿化(浸染状和细脉浸染状)与成矿同期花岗闪长斑岩密切相关。围岩蚀变由深到浅分别为青磐岩化带、绢英岩化带、高级泥化-泥化蚀变带和氧化带。蚀变矿化期次可划分为:(早期)绢英岩化期、斑岩矿化期、浅成低温热液叠加期、成矿后期脉和表生期。其中,斑岩矿化期又可分为钾硅酸盐化阶段、青磐岩化阶段和(晚期)绢英岩化阶段;浅成低温热液叠加期主要为泥化-高级泥化蚀变。对比研究发现,西南矿段具有与典型斑岩矿床相似的矿化蚀变特征,但缺失钾化带且矿化规模小,成矿斑岩以岩枝状(非岩株状)水平侵位,产生非对称蚀变分带,据此推测西南矿段深部可能存在真正的成矿斑岩岩株和大储量及高品位的矿化中心。通过短波红外光谱(SWIR)研究发现,从矿化中心到外围,伊利石结晶度值(IC)和伊利石2200 nm吸收峰位值(Pos2200)均有明显的从高值到低值的变化趋势。此外,研究发现高IC值(2.1)和高Pos2200值(2203 nm)可作为紫金山地区勘查该类矿床的找矿标志。本研究可以为紫金山地区斑岩矿床的成矿规律认识和找矿勘查提供科学依据。     

Supergene and hypogene alteration in the dual-use kaolin-bearing coal deposit Angren, SE Uzbekistan

The Jurassic Angren coal–kaolin deposit, Uzbekistan, is one of the largest producers of coal and kaolin suitable for refractories and industrial ceramics in central Asia. The Major coal seam, attaining a thickness between 4 and 24 m, is encased by kaolin-bearing bedsets which have been derived from supergene pre- and hypogene post coal kaolinization. Joint clay-mineralogical and coal petrographic analyses formed the basis of the environment analysis of this coal–kaolin series and constrained the physico-chemical conditions existing during the Triassic through Jurassic period of time. Massive kaolin I underneath the coal seam is a typical residual kaolin or underclay with arsenic Fe-disulfides and siderite indicative of a reducing swampy depositional environment developing under moderately hot climatic conditions. Towards the top, kaolin I became reworked fluvial by processes. The Major coal seam developed in swamps interfingering with a fluvial drainage system of suspended to mixed-load deposits. The maximum temperature for the post-depositional alteration of the carbonaceous material is 70 °C. Post-coal kaolinization (kaolin II) affecting trachyandesites and trachytes is of low-temperature origin and low-sulphidation-type. The temperature of formation was well below 200 °C, deduced from the absence of dickite in the clay mineral assemblage. Basaltic dykes intersected the coal–kaolin series and account for contact metamorphic reactions in the proximal parts of the aluminum-bearing wall rocks reaching sanidinite-facies conditions with temperatures around 1000 °C.     

Leaching of silica bands and concentration of magnetite in Archean BIF by hypogene fluids: Beebyn Fe ore deposit, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia

The ~2,752-Ma Weld Range greenstone belt in the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia hosts several Fe ore deposits that provide insights into the role of early hypogene fluids in the formation of high-grade (>55 wt% Fe) magnetite-rich ore in banded iron formation (BIF). The 1.5-km-long Beebyn orebody comprises a series of steeply dipping, discontinuous, <50-m-thick lenses of magnetite–(martite)-rich ore zones in BIF that extend from surface to vertical depths of at least 250 m. The ore zones are enveloped by a 3-km-long, 150-m-wide outer halo of hypogene siderite and ferroan dolomite in BIF and mafic igneous country rocks. Ferroan chlorite characterises 20-m-wide proximal alteration zones in mafic country rocks. The magnetite-rich Beebyn orebody is primarily the product of hypogene fluids that circulated through reverse shear zones during the formation of an Archean isoclinal fold-and-thrust belt. Two discrete stages of hypogene fluid flow caused the pseudomorphic replacement of silica-rich bands in BIF by Stage 1 siderite and magnetite and later by Stage 2 ferroan dolomite. The resulting carbonate-altered BIF is markedly depleted in SiO₂ and enriched in CaO, MgO, LOI, P₂O₅ and Fe₂O_3(total) compared with the least-altered BIF. Subsequent reactivation of these shear zones and circulation of hypogene fluids resulted in the leaching of existing hypogene carbonate minerals and the concentration of residual magnetite-rich bands. These Stage 3 magnetite-rich ore zones are depleted in SiO₂ and enriched in K₂O, CaO, MgO, P₂O₅ and Fe₂O_3(total) relative to the least-altered BIF. Proximal wall rock hypogene alteration zones in mafic igneous country rocks (up to 20 m from the BIF contact) are depleted in SiO₂, CaO, Na₂O, and K₂O and are enriched in Fe₂O_3(total), MgO and P₂O₅ compared with distal zones. Recent supergene alteration affects all rocks within about 100 m below the present surface, disturbing hypogene mineral and the geochemical zonation patterns associated with magnetite-rich ore zones. The key vectors for identifying hypogene magnetite-rich Fe ore in weathered outcrop include textural changes in BIF (from thickly to thinly banded), crenulated bands and collapse breccias that indicate volume reduction. Useful indicators of hypogene ore in less weathered rocks include an outer carbonate–magnetite alteration halo in BIF and ferroan chlorite in mafic country rocks.     

Ore deposition in a proterozoic incipient rift zone environment: a tentative model for the Filipstad-Grythyttan-Hjulsjö region,Bergslagen, Sweden

The 1.9–1.8 Ga Bergslagen Supracrustal Series comprises: an Early Volcanic Stage represented by the Lower Leptite Group, an Initial Rift Stage by the Middle Leptite Group, a Rift Stage by the Upper Leptite-hälleflinta and Slate Group, metabasites and the Granite-Granophyre Suite, and a Post-rift Stage by conglomerate beds, remobilized granite-granophyres and the Hyttsjö Gabbro-Tonalite Suite. The formation and subsequent alteration of iron, manganese and sulfide skarn ores in the Supracrustal Series involve: (1) late Initial Rift Stage exhalative-sedimentary processes possibly related to ascending granitic magma, (2) early Rift Stage exhalative-sedimentary and seafloor hydrothermal processes related to basic volcanism and intrusion and subvolcanic granite intrusion, (3) late Rift Stage hydrothermal metasomatic alteration and mineralization around subvolcanic granites, (4) Post-rift Stage deformation and metamorphism, (5) Post-rift Stage post-deformation recrystallization and skarn formation related to Hyttsjö diorites, and (6) post-Supracrustal Series metamorphic modifications.     

Alteration and ore distribution in the Proterozoic Mines Series, Tenke-Fungurume Cu–Co district, Democratic Republic of Congo

Two sediment-hosted stratiform Cu–Co deposits in the Tenke-Fungurume district of the Central African Copperbelt were examined to evaluate the alteration history of the ore-hosting Mines Series and its implications for ore distribution and processing. Core logging and petrography, focused on lithology and timing relationships, outlined a complex alteration sequence whose earliest features include formation of anhydrite nodules and laths, followed by precipitation of dolomite. Later alteration episodes include at least two silica introductions, accompanied by or alternating with two dolomite introductions into the existing gangue assemblages. One introduction of Cu–Co sulfides accompanied the last episode of dolomite alteration, overprinting an earlier generation of ore whose gangue association was unidentifiable. Sulfides and some carbonates were subsequently modified by supergene oxidation, transport, and reprecipitation to 100–200?m depth. Present-day ore distribution resulted from these successive processes. Ore is concentrated in two shale-dominated units on either side of a cavernous silicified dolomite, which is interpreted as the main conduit for the mineralizing fluids. Sulfide ores precipitated at the redox or sulfidation contacts between this dolomite and the shales. Later, supergene fluids dissolved and moved some of the metals, redepositing them as oxides and carbonates. Solubility differences between Cu and Co in supergene conditions caused them to precipitate separately. Thus, modern ore distribution at Tenke-Fungurume results both from original hypogene lithology- and contact-related precipitation and from supergene oxidation, transport, and Cu–Co decoupling. The supergene fluid flow also redistributed gangue minerals such as dolomite, which has an economically important influence on the processing costs of supergene ores.     

Types of copper deposits related to volcanic environment in the Bor district,Yugoslavia

The principal copper deposits associated with Upper Creataceous — Laramian calc-alkaline volcano-plutonic complexes in the Bor district are classified as follows: Volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits are situated in andesitic volcanics, and are composed of pyrite and copper sulphides. Multistage deposition of mineral associations in this area was controlled mainly by secondary boiling of hydrothermal fluids rich in sulphur. Apart from cupriferous pyrite deposits, volcanogenic massive polymetallic deposits, containing a pyritic ZnCu+Pb association, have been found recently in hydrothermally altered dacite- and esite pyroclastics. Porphyry copper deposits are mainly situated in volcanic piles related to subvolcanic intrusions and/or hypabyssal plutons. Some porphyry copper deposits occur in the same structures with massive sulphide orebodies, lying above the porphyry copper system. Conglomerate-type ores consisting of clasts of massive sulphide in an andesitic pile have been discovered recently.     

Geochemical characteristics of the Arabshah kaolin deposit,Takab geothermal field,NW Iran

The Arabshah kaolin deposit (Takab geothermal field, NW Iran) is the product of alteration of Miocene dioritic rocks. According to mineralogical data, the rock-forming minerals in this deposit include kaolinite, quartz, muscovite-illite, pyrophyllite, accompanied by lesser amounts of rutile, chlorite, anatase, albite, gypsum, nontronite, and pyrite. Consideration of elemental ratios and geochemical indices such as TiO₂, Nb + Cr, Ti + Fe, Sr + Ba, and La + Ce + Y demonstrated that both hypogene and supergene processes played a significant role in the development of this deposit. The mass change calculations revealed that elements like Zr, Ga, Hf, REEs, and Th which are normally immobile in ordinary alteration processes had both incremental and decremental trends during the development of this deposit. The Eu and Ce anomaly values (normalized to chondrite) in kaolinized samples vary within the range of 0.65–1.13 and 0.91–1.05, respectively. It seems that the variation of negative Eu anomaly values was controlled by kaolinization of feldspars by hypogene solutions and by scavenging of this element by Fe oxides and hydroxides (formed during oxidation of hypogene pyrite by supergene solutions). Variation of Ce anomalies also unravels the effective role of reducing hypogene fluids and to some extent of supergene solutions during kaolinization. Combination of the results obtained from mineralization considerations, mass change calculations of elements, and correlation coefficients illustrate that distribution and concentration of major, minor, and rare earth elements during kaolinization at Arabshah were affected by the function of factors such as changes in physico-chemical conditions of altering solutions (e.g., Eh and pH), adsorption, accessibility to complex-forming ligands, water-rock ratios, existing in resistant (to alteration) mineral phases, and scavenging by Fe and Mn oxides.     

The origin of Ag–Au–S–Se minerals in adularia-sericite epithermal deposits: constraints from the Broken Hills deposit, Hauraki Goldfield, New Zealand

The 7.1 Ma Broken Hills adularia-sericite Au–Ag deposit is currently the only producing rhyolite-hosted epithermal deposit in the Hauraki Goldfield of New Zealand. The opaque minerals include pyrite, electrum, acanthite (Ag₂S), sphalerite, and galena, which are common in other adularia-sericite epithermal deposits in the Hauraki Goldfield and elsewhere worldwide. Broken Hills ores also contain the less common minerals aguilarite (Ag₄SeS), naumannite (Ag₂Se), petrovskaite (AuAgS), uytenbogaardtite (Ag₃AuS₂), fischesserite (Ag₃AuSe₂), an unnamed silver chloride (Ag₂Cl), and unnamed Ag?±?Au minerals. Uytenbogaardtite and petrovskaite occur with high-fineness electrum. Broken Hills is the only deposit in the Hauraki Goldfield where uytenbogaardtite and petrovskaite have been identified, and these phases appear to have formed predominantly from unmixing of a precursor high-temperature phase under hypogene conditions. Supergene minerals include covellite, chalcocite, Au-rich electrum, barite, and a variety of iron oxyhydroxide minerals. Uytenbogaardtite can form under supergene and hypogene conditions, and textural relationships between uytenbogaardtite and associated high-fineness electrum may be similar in both conditions. Distinguishing the likely environment of formation rests principally on identification of other supergene minerals and documenting their relationships with uytenbogaardtite. The presence of aguilarite, naumannite, petrovskaite, and fischesserite at Broken Hills reflects a Se-rich mineral assemblage. In the Hauraki Goldfield and the western Great Basin, USA, Se-rich minerals are more abundant in provinces that are characterized by bimodal rhyolite–andesite volcanism, but in other epithermal provinces worldwide, the controls on the occurrences of Se-bearing minerals remain poorly constrained, in spite of the unusually high grades associated with many Se-rich epithermal deposits.