Mercury as an indicator of modern ore-forming gas—hydrothermal systems,Kamchatka

New data are discussed on the distribution of mercury in the host volcanosedimentary and igneous rocks, hydrothermal—metasomatic rocks, and all types of modern newly formed materials (hydrothermal clays, argillized soil—pyroclastic beds, siliceous and limonite—hematite covers, bottom sediments, salt ‘sweat-outs’ of various compositions, etc.) typical of the supergene zone of geothermal deposits. By the example of the Nizhne-Koshelevskii (vapor-dominated) and Pauzhetka (water-type) geothermal deposits and thermal fields of the Koshelevskii volcanic massif and Kambal’nyi volcanic range (southern Kamchatka), the role of mercury was illustrated as an indicator element of the temperature, phase state, and dynamics of hydrothermal systems; intensity of rock argillization; and relative age (maturity) of geothermal deposits and thermal anomalies.     

Geochemical indicators of a high-temperature geothermal system

The intensity and distribution of hydrothermal alteration are frequently used during the exploration and assessment of a geothermal prospect to estimate the size, shape and temperature of a thermal system. Geochemical and petrographic observations used to characterize the hydrothermal alteration include the mapping of both trace- and major-element dispersion patterns and the distribution of secondary mineral assemblages.This paper describes the trace-element and mineralogical distributions common to many of the high-temperature systems (> 150°C) that we have studied. However, examples of important geochemical relationships are primarily drawn from our detailed investigations of the Roosevelt Hot Springs thermal system in southern Utah. The hydrothermal fluids at Roosevelt Hot Springs are enriched in sodium chloride and contain approximately 9000 ppm total dissolved solids. The reservoir, with a base temperature near 270°C, is located in fractured gneisses and granites.At Roosevelt Hot Springs, the surface discharges consist of opaline and chalcedonic sinter, and alluvium cemented by silica, calcite, Mn oxide and Fe oxide. The geochemistry of these surface deposits is extremely variable, but locally they contain up to 5.5 ppm Hg, 858 ppm As, 18.8% Mn, 230 ppm Cu, 290 ppm Sb, 294 ppm W, 17 ppm Li, 68 ppm Pb, 26 ppm Zn, 4.9% Ba and 100 ppm Be. High concentrations of Au and Ag, although not present in the sinters at Roosevelt Hot Springs, occur in hot spring deposits from other chemically similar systems such as Steamboat Springs, Nevada.Mercury and As are the most widely distributed trace elements in the surface samples. Their distribution in soils overlying the thermal system expands the area of interest and helps define the high-temperature portion of the system. The highest concentrations of Hg and As, of up to 5.5 and 26 ppm, respectively, occur in soils within 300 m of the thermal discharges. A broader area extending up to 1000 m from the surficial thermal activity also contains ppb. Mercury anomalies tend to mark the location of faults within the uppermost portions of the reservoir and areas where the thermal fluids move laterally away from the thermal system toward the adjacent valley.Depletions of Mn, Cu and Zn are found in the acid-altered soils and in alluvium associated with the hot spring deposits and fumaroles. The acid alteration occurs locally in areas of surficial thermal activity and persists to depths of less than 60 m. Alteration minerals within these zones include alunite, jarosite, native sulphur, opal, chalcedony, kaolinite, sericite, montmorillonite, and mixed-layer clays. The formation of acid waters occurs near the surface and results from the oxidation of H₂S contained within gases evolving from the fumaroles or within waters discharged by the hot springs. The locally intense acid-sulphate alteration and scavenging of metals within the soils occurs as the fluids percolate downward.Alteration mineralogy at depth is determined through examination of down-hole samples which penetrate the geothermal system to depths in excess of 2 km. Reservoir rocks of temperatures below about 210°C contain an alteration assemblage with mixed-layer clays, montmorillonite, sericite, pyrite, hematite, magnetite, calcite, chlorite, quartz, and potassium feldspar. At higher temperatures, mixed-layer clays and montmorillonite disappear and anhydrite appears locally.Altered rocks within the high temperature portions of the thermal field are characterized by anomalous concentrations of As and Li. Selective chemical leaching of the altered rocks and electron microprobe analyses indicate that As is contained primarily in pyrite or iron oxides after pyrite whereas Li occurs in clays and micas.Mercury exhibits an inverse relationship with temperature and is concentrated in the cooler portions of the thermal system to depths marked approximately by the 200°C isotherm. This distribution is similar to the distribution of clay minerals in the reservoir rock. Heating experiments indicate that Hg occurs primarily as Hg° and that it is readily mobilized by the thermal system at temperatures in excess of 200–250°C.     

Hydrothermal Fossilization of Microorganisms at the Earth's Surface in Iceland

The fossilization of biota and formation of low- and high-temperature hydrothermally altered rocks were studied in solfataric fields, artificial hot lakes, at natural hot springs, and on heated beach within the present-day rift zone at the Reykjanes, Nesjavellir, Geysir, Landmannalaugar, Namafjall, and Oxarfjodur geothermal areas. The hydrothermally altered rocks can be divided into the following mineral types: (1) smectite assemblage with iron oxides and hydroxides; (2) smectite assemblage with sulfides (pyrite); (3) kaolinite-metahalloysite assemblage with sulfates, anatase, and boehmite; and (4) siliceous assemblage. The detailed study of the hydrothermally altered rocks allowed us to elucidate some environmental features of modern fossilization and replacement of organic matter with clay minerals, iron oxyhydroxides, and silica. The fossilized microstructures have been described in rocks of the smectite and siliceous assemblages. It has been shown that the pseudobiomorphic (actually, abiogenic) micro- and nannostructures are formed in the moving water of silica deposition zone.     

Hydrothermal clays of the geothermal fields of South Kamchatka: A new approach and study results

Using the Pauzhetka and Nizhnee Koshelevskoe geothermal deposits (South Kamchatka), we studied physical-chemical characteristics of hydrothermal clays that form thick (on average, 1.5–1.8 m) and spacious (up to few km² in area) subsurface horizon with peculiar petrophysical and mineralogical-geochemical properties. It was established that the properties of hydrothermal clays are determined by their micro- and nanostructure, which is made up of nanoparticles of aluminosilicates, sulfates, accessory and ore minerals (primarily, sulfides and iron oxides), and amorphous phases. The subsurface horizon of hydrothermal clays represents a long-lived (up to 10 ka and more) highly dynamic colloidal-dispersed mineralogical-geochemical system, which reflects the interaction of deep-seated metalliferous fluids with geological medium in the supergene zone of geothermal deposits.     

辽东青城子地区喷流_沉积成矿作用与金银多金属矿化的关系

喷流-热水沉积硅质岩对于矿床研究具有重要意义。通过对青城子地区硅质岩系统的地质学、岩石学、矿物学的研究及对常量元素、微量元素及稀土元素等地球化学数据的分析,认为该地区硅质岩并不是来自陆源碎屑物质,也不是岩浆期后热液蚀变的产物,可能为来自海底喷流-沉积作用所形成的硅质与金、银、铅、锌硫化物一起聚集而成的一种产物,形成于浅海环境。结合区域地质构造演化特征,认为矿床早期存在热水喷流-沉积成岩成矿作用,在矿源岩阶段形成了金、银等金属元素的初步富集。硅质岩的时空分布规律为青城子地区进一步找矿工作开辟了新的思路。     

陆相硅质岩成因类型及构造—气候指示意义

硅质岩形成于特定的地球化学条件,具有重要的构造—气候—成岩指示意义.我国硅质岩的研究主要集中于海相地层,陆相硅质岩虽分布广泛但研究却很薄弱,成因解释由于借鉴海相燧石经验,以地球化学分析为首要手段,结论存在片面性和单一性,可能会引起古老大陆重要气候—构造—环境信息的遗漏缺失.国内外陆相硅质岩全面调研表明,陆相燧石主要存在...     

Hydrothermal alteration and the formation of aluminous haloes around sulfide deposits

The sulfide deposits of Chizeuil (Saone et Loire) occur in a Late Devonian volcano-sedimentary sequence within an acid volcanic unit and close to a Carboniferous granite batholith. Sulfide bodies, mainly pyrite, are enclosed in andalusite-bearing siliceous rocks lacking primary textures and recrystallized by the granitic thermal metamorphism.Several genetic interpretations were proposed for these siliceous rocks and the associated mineralization, i.e., as either being related to the granite intrusion or of volcanogenic derivation. Detailed studies led to their identification as hydrothermal alterites.A petrographic study of these siliceous alterites reveals that the main mineral phases are only constituted of silica and alumina: quartz, andalusite, kaolinite and minor contents of muscovite, diaspore and corundum. Neither K-feldspar or biotite are present with andalusite. This implies that thermal metamorphism occurred on an already alkali-, calcium- and magnesium-depleted rock.These siliceous alterites show less mobile-element (Al, Ti, V, Zr, Nb) concentration ranges similar to those of acid volcanic host rocks. A metasomatic model is computed from chemical data on surrounding soda dacites, assuming that acid hydrolysis was the only phenomenon involved, and that Al was stable in this process.Although altered rock types grading to soda dacites do not crop out, their existence may be deduced from surficial bedrock multielement geochemical data. The zoned distribution of elements agrees with that deduced from reactions and experimental phase diagrams.The pyrite bodies are surrounded by two distinct concentric alteration zones; the inner one is advanced argillic and the outer one is sericitic. Such a pattern is unusual for volcanogenic sulfide deposits but commonly associated with porphyry deposits. It may be related to the strong acidity (pH3) of hydrothermal solutions.These siliceous rocks were produced by an in-situ alteration of brecciated dacitic lavas, inside which a stockwork-type pyritic mineralization was deposited.     

Environmental mercury and arsenic sources in fossil hydrothermal systems, Northland, New Zealand

 Northland, New Zealand has been affected by natural hot water spring systems depositing elevated concentrations of mercury and arsenic over the past 5 million years. Due to the different erosion levels of these hot water systems, four principal types of mercury and arsenic occurrences are found: active hot springs; layered surface deposits (sinters) deposited by hot springs; highly fractured rock zones formed immediately beneath hot springs; and chemically altered and mineralized rock from the deeper roots of hot spring systems. Mercury occurs principally as cinnabar and as a minor impurity (<1 wt%) in phosphate minerals and iron sulfides, particularly marcasite. Mercury is irregularly distributed through limonitic cements formed during oxidation. Arsenic occurs as a minor impurity (<1 wt%) in phosphate minerals and iron sulfides, particularly marcasite. Arsenic is also variably dispersed through limonite, but not necessarily with mercury. Decomposition of marcasite constitutes the most significant source of mercury and arsenic pollution from the studied sites. Release of mercury and arsenic into the environment from marcasite, phosphates and limonite is enhanced by acidification of the sites (down to pH of 2), caused by oxidation of iron sulfides. Mercury and arsenic concentrations of up to 100 parts per billion should be expected in waters near the deposits; these concentrations are in excess of recommended drinking water levels. Received: 9 April 1999 · Accepted: 2 August 1999     

Evidence for a magmatic origin for Carlin-type gold deposits: isotopic composition of sulfur in the Betze-Post-Screamer Deposit, Nevada, USA

We report here new sulfur isotope analyses from the Betze-Post-Screamer deposit, the largest Carlin-type gold deposit in the world. Carlin-type deposits contain high concentrations of arsenic, antimony, mercury, tellurium and other elements of environmental interest, and are surrounded by large volumes of crust in which these elements are also enriched. Uncertainty about the source of sulfur and metals in and around Carlin-type deposits has hampered formulation of models for their origin, which are needed for improved mineral exploration and environmental assessment. Previous studies have concluded that most Carlin-type deposits formed from sulfide sulfur that is largely of sedimentary origin. Most of these studies are based on analyses of mineral separates consisting of pre-ore diagenetic pyrite with thin overgrowths of ore-related arsenian pyrite rather than pure, ore-related pyrite. Our SIMS spot analyses of ore-related pyrite overgrowths in the Screamer zone of the Betze-Post-Screamer deposit yield δ³⁴S values of about −1 to 4‰ with one value of about 7‰. Conventional analyses of realgar and orpiment separates from throughout the deposit yield δ³⁴S values of about 5–7‰ with one value of 10‰ in the Screamer zone. These results, along with results from an earlier SIMS study in the Post zone of the deposit and phase equilibrium constraints, indicate that early arsenian pyrite were formed from fluids of magmatic origin with variable contamination from sulfur in Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. Later arsenic sulfides were formed from solutions to which sulfur of sedimentary origin had been added. The presence of Paleozoic sedimentary sulfur in Carlin-type deposits does not require direct involvement of hydrothermal solutions of sedimentary origin. Instead, it could have been added by magmatic assimilation of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks or by hydrothermal leaching of sulfur from wall rocks to the deposit. Thus, the dominant process delivering sulfur, arsenic, gold and mineralizing fluids to Carlin-type systems and their surrounding country rocks was probably separation of fluids from a magmatic source. Editorial handling: G. Beaudoin     

Gold Content in Siliceous Deposits Formed from Acidic and Iron-rich Geothermal Waters at Hatchobaru, Central Kyushu, Japan

Abstract: The gold content in siliceous deposits formed from geothermal waters at the Hatchobaru geothermal power station in central Kyushu, Japan, was determined by inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). It ranges from 1.3 to 4.6 mg/kg. The highest gold content was obtained from the siliceous deposit formed from acidic waters. In this siliceous deposit, hydrous iron(III) oxide of amorphous state is a major constituent, suggesting that hydrous iron(III) oxide might play an important role when gold is concentrated into siliceous deposits formed from acidic and iron-rich geothermal waters.     

Mercury as a useful pathfinder for the Chinkuashih enargite-gold deposits,Taiwan

The Chinkuashih is a group of dacite-related hydrothermal enargite-gold deposits of the Quaternary age, which produced 94 tons of gold and 119,101 tons of copper from 1895 to 1987. It has remaining reserves of 656 tons of gold with an average grade range of 1.5–3.5 g/ton of Au for all orebodies discovered.Mercury content in different media such as stream sediments, heavy minerals in stream sediments, soils, rocks/ores, and pyrite samples was analyzed by a gold–film mercury detector to evaluate whether mercury is a good pathfinder for these types of deposits at Chinkuashih. The gold film technique is more rapid and cheaper than the traditional fire assay or fire assay/ICP-MS gold and trace element analyses.Mercury in stream sediments and soils indicated the border zone of gold mineralization 12 km away from the center of mineralization at Chinkuashih. Mercury in heavy minerals of the stream sediments distinguished the intermediate zone with gold veins and gold/gold–copper breccia pipes from the core or inner zone with the gold–copper zone. It has been found that contours of 1000 or 500 ppb Hg of soil samples can delineate the outcropping gold orebodies. The gold ores generally contain 1000 ppb or more Hg.     

秦岭凤太矿田层控铅锌(铜)矿床的氧化硅产出特征及其硅质来源

秦岭凤太矿田的所有铅锌(铜)矿床中都含有大量的氧化硅，前人资料中往往以沉积或蚀变单一形成方式论其成因，非此即彼。本文提出氧化硅有三种产出类型，以同生沉积型为主，其次为成岩后生阶段交代灰岩者，第三类为造山期形成的脉体。三类氧化硅的产出特征有许多不同，但硅质来源一致，即均来自深部地层和岩石中循环的含矿热液。对矿床中氧化硅的研究不仅有助于深入探讨矿床的成因，而且对于该类矿床的勘查有较重要的意义。     

陕西省矿床成矿系列的初步划分

通过系统总结，首次将陕西省主要矿床初步划分为4个矿床成矿系列组合，22个成矿系列类型，42个成矿系列和若干亚系列。其中省内金矿床的主要成矿系列为燕山期与变质一岩浆热液有关的金多金属矿床成矿系列、略勉板内结合带与岩浆热液有关的金矿成矿系列、商丹板块对接带与变质热液有关的金矿床成矿系列、现代河流中的冲一洪积砂金矿床成矿系列、与热水渗滤作用有关的金矿床成矿系列及活动区造山带与碱性碳酸盐类有关的金矿床成矿系列类型，银矿床的主要成矿系列为复理式建造中的菱铁矿银多金属矿床成矿系列，铜矿床的主要成矿系列为与元古代中-酸性岩有关的铁铜矿床成矿系列、加里东-印支期与中性-酸性花岗岩类有关的铁铜金钨萤石矿床成矿系列、与海相中基性火山岩有关的铜锌矿床成矿系列、前寒武系变质火山岩中的铜锌黄铁矿床成矿系列，钼矿床的主要成矿系列为与中酸性浅成-超浅成小岩体(斑岩)有关的钼铁铜矿床成矿系列，铅锌矿床的主要成矿系列为海底热液喷流-沉积铅锌矿床成矿系列、与热水渗滤作用有关的铅锌矿床成矿系列、海底喷流沉积-热液改造铅锌铜矿床成矿系列，汞锑矿床的主要成矿系列为与热水渗滤作用有关的汞锑矿床成矿系列，重晶石矿床的主要成矿系列为寒武系-奥陶系中的钒钼重晶石磷块岩黄铁矿石煤矿床成矿系列、下志留统中的重晶石铀石煤矿床成矿系列，煤矿床的主要成矿系列为大型内陆盆地中的煤油页岩成矿系列及与海陆交互相沉积岩有关的煤铝黄铁矿粘土高岭土矿床成矿系列类型，岩盐矿床的主要成矿系列为产于奥陶系中的岩盐(钠盐)矿床成矿系列。     

冀东-辽西地区喜峰口-叨尔登金成矿带的成矿机理

喜峰口-叨尔登金成矿带上的金矿床产出空间各不相同,矿床的围岩有花岗岩、变质岩及沉积岩.矿体的分布均受控于断层破碎带,矿床成因与热液有关.通过对铅、硫以及包裹体水同位素的研究,确定了金矿在成矿时间上与燕山期花岗岩一致,成矿热液中的水主要来源于花岗岩,成矿物质黄铁矿中的硫来源于花岗岩.因此说明研究区的金矿为燕山期花岗岩期后热液成因.产于地壳深部的富含成矿物质的花岗岩浆在上侵过程中同化了部分太古宙变质岩并从中汲取了成矿物质,将其带到地壳浅部,最后沿构造裂隙充填成矿.     

A tale of elemental accumulation and recycling in the metamorphosed Keketale VMS-type Pb-Zn deposit,Altai Mountains

The elemental accumulation and recycling in the metamorphosed Keketale VMS-type Pb-Zn deposit of the Altai Mountains are presented in this study. Based on detailed fieldwork and microscopic observation, the formation of the deposit involved syngenetic massive sulfide mineralization and epigenetic superimposed mineralization. Different generations of iron sulfides (i.e., pyrite and pyrrhotite) with contrasting textural, elemental, and sulfur isotopic features were generated in primary mineralization (including hydrothermal iron sulfides, colloform pyrite) and secondary modification (including annealed iron sulfides, oriented iron sulfides, and vein-pyrite). It is revealed that the spatial variation in textures and elements of hydrothermal iron sulfides depends on the inhomogeneous fluid compositions and varied environment in VMS hydrothermal system. Both leached sulfur from the footwall volcanic rocks and reduced sulfur by the TSR process are regarded as important sulfur sources. Furthermore, large sulfur isotopic fractionation and negative δ³⁴S values were mainly caused by varied oxygen fugacity, and to a lesser extent, temperature fluctuation. The epigenetic polymetallic veins that contain sulfides and sulfosalts (e.g., jordanite-geocronite, bournonite-seligmannite, boulangerite) were considered as the products of metamorphic fluid scavenged the metal-rich strata. All things considered, it is indicated that two episodes of fluid with distinct origins were essential for the formation of the deposit. The predominant evolved seawater along with subordinate magmatic fluid mobilized metals from volcanic rocks and precipitated massive sulfides near the seafloor are vital for primary mineralization. The metamorphic fluid remobilized metals (i.e., FMEs: fluid mobile elements, e.g., Pb, As, Sb) from neighboring volcanic and pyroclastic rocks and destabilized them within the fractured zone are responsible for secondary mineralization, which enhances the economic value of the deposit. Accordingly, metal-rich Devonian strata had been successively swept by different origins of fluid, leading to progressively elemental enrichment and the formation of a large deposit. Furthermore, the current study enlightens that FME-bearing veins with economic benefits can be discovered near the metamorphosed VMS deposits.     

准噶尔盆地西北缘二叠系风城组硅质岩地球化学特征及成因

准噶尔盆地西北缘二叠系风城组内的云质岩、硅质岩是致密油藏重要的储集岩,目前对云质岩和与之伴生的硅质岩成因存在较大争议。通过岩心观察和对硅质岩的主量、微量、稀土及硅同位素的综合研究,以期揭示硅质岩的成因。研究表明,风城组中的硅质岩SiO2含量变化范围为55.15%~85.61%,为不纯的云质硅质岩,其内含有较多热水沉积矿物和碱湖沉积成因的盐类矿物。云质硅质岩主要围绕热液喷口分布,它们常与白云岩呈纹层状、条带状互层。云质硅质岩中硼异常富集,硼含量介于90×10^-6~10000×10^-6之间,平均680×10^-6,与盐类矿物硅硼钠石有关,反映了碱湖沉积成因;Sr/Ba值均大于1,Th/U值多在0.62~2.06之间,Sm/Nd值多在0.20~0.24之间。云质硅质岩的稀土配分显示出Eu负异常、Ce负异常或弱正异常及轻稀土相对重稀土富集的特征。δ^30Si值介于0.39‰~1.88‰之间,其δ^30Si和微量元素特征不反映典型热水成因。云质硅质岩的地质产状和地球化学特征共同表明,风二段和风三段云质硅质岩主要为热水和碱湖的混合沉积成因。硅质岩形成受喷口的位置、热水喷流期和各喷口喷流热水的温度等多方面因素的控制,硅质岩形成时存在多个喷口,在相对封闭的高盐度—碱性还原环境下的热水喷流期,热水与碱湖湖水混合,混合水沉积形成硅质、盐类矿物及白云石,最终形成含盐的云质硅质岩;热水喷流间歇期形成碱湖成因的含盐云质岩。     

论安徽庐枞盆地大鲍庄式喷气沉积-叠加改造型硫铁矿床

庐枞盆地中发育一些大中型硫铁矿床,曾长期被认为是与次火山岩有关的中低温热液成因。本文从矿床层控特点、矿体形态产状、矿石沉积组构、矿物组合及其生成顺序、矿化分带、包裹体及同位素地球化学等诸方面,证明它们具显著的火山喷气沉积成因特征,并受到后期热液叠加改造。提出了大鲍庄式陆相火山喷气沉积-热液叠加改造型硫铁矿的成矿模式。     

块状硫化物矿床的地球化学找矿标志

近年来国外发现了许多大型块状硫化物矿床，而我国进展还不大。原因之一是我们对这类矿床的地质特征，成矿条件尤其是找矿标志研究还不够。这是一类成矿物质通过热液作用在海底沉积而成的特殊矿床，故在找矿勘探讨既要研究沉积矿时形成的原生晕，又要研究热液经过围岩时蚀变而产生的次生晕?Ｍｎ晕，Ｔｌ，Ｈｇ，Ｂａ，Ａｓ和Ｚｎ等元素的异常，络合剂元素的富集，微量元素的分布，铅同位素，岩石化学异指数尤其是块状硫化物Ｃｕ矿中     

The sulfur isotopic composition of sulfides from ores and host rocks of the Upper Kolyma region,Magadan Oblast

More than 200 analyses of the sulfur isotopic composition of sulfides from various terrigenous and intrusive host rocks, metasomatically altered wall rocks, and gold lodes of the Upper Kolyma region are presented. In accessory pyrite of the metaterrigenous rocks, δ³⁴S varies from ?23.1 to +5.7‰ δ³⁴S of pyrite and arsenopyrite from gold-quartz mineralization is within the range ?10.6 to ?0.4‰ and is close to the average δ³⁴S of pyrite from the metaterrigenous rocks (?4.4‰). In the intrusive rocks, δ³⁴S of pyrite varies from ?3.8 to +2.6‰ (+0.7‰, on average) and drastically differs from δ³⁴S of arsenopyrite from postmagmatic gold-rare-metal mineralization (?7.9 to ?2.7‰; ?5.2‰, on average). The comparison of the δ³⁴S of accessory sulfides from the host rocks with δ³⁴S of sulfides from the gold deposits suggests that sulfur mobilized from the terrigenous sequences participated in the hydrothermal process. The results obtained are consistent with the metamorphic model of the formation of gold-quartz deposits in the Upper Kolyma region.     

Remote sensing for mineral exploration

Remote sensing is the science of acquiring, processing, and interpreting images and related data, acquired from aircraft and satellites, that record the interaction between matter and electromagnetic energy. Remote sensing images are used for mineral exploration in two applications: (1) map geology and the faults and fractures that localize ore deposits; (2) recognize hydrothermally altered rocks by their spectral signatures. Landsat thematic mapper (TM) satellite images are widely used to interpret both structure and hydrothermal alteration. Digitally processed TM ratio images can identify two assemblages of hydrothermal alteration minerals; iron minerals, and clays plus alunite. In northern Chile, TM ratio images defined the prospects that are now major copper deposits at Collahuasi and Ujina. Hyperspectral imaging systems can identify individual species of iron and clay minerals, which can provide details of hydrothermal zoning. Silicification, which is an important indicator of hydrothermal alteration, is not recognizable on TM and hyperspectral images. Quartz has no diagnostic spectral features in the visible and reflected IR wavelengths recorded by these systems. Variations in silica content are recognizable in multispectral thermal IR images, which is a promising topic for research.