Application of stress mapping in cross‐section to understanding ore geometry,predicting ore zones and development of drilling strategies

Stress mapping is a numerical modelling technique used to determine the distribution and relative magnitude of stress during deformation in a mineralised terrane. It is based on the general principle that fluid flow in the Earth's crust is primarily related to pressure gradients. It is best applied to epigenetic hydrothermal mineral deposits, where fluid flow and fluid flux are enhanced in dilational sections of structures and in sites of enhanced rock permeability due to high fracture density. These are defined by sites of low minimum principal stress (σ₃). Most stress mapping is carried out in two dimensions in plan view using geological maps. This is suitable for terranes with steeply dipping lithostratigraphy and structures in which the distribution of mineral deposits is largely controlled by fault structures portrayed on the maps. However, for terranes with gently dipping sequences and structures, and for situations where deposits are sited in and near the hinges of complex fold structures, stress mapping in cross‐section is preferable. The effectiveness of stress mapping is maximised if mineralisation was late in the evolutionary history of the host terrane, and hence the structural geometry of the terrane and contained deposits were essentially that expressed today. The orientation of syn‐mineralisation far‐field stresses must also be inferred. Two examples of orogenic gold deposits, which meet the above criteria, are used to illustrate the potential of stress mapping in cross‐section. Sunrise Dam, located in the Archaean Yilgarn Craton, is a lode‐gold deposit sited in a thrust‐fold belt. Stress mapping illustrates the heterogeneity of stress distribution in the complex structural geometry of the deposit, and predicts the preferential siting of ore zones around the intersections of more steeply dipping, linking thrusts and banded iron‐formation units, and below the controlling more gently dipping basal thrust, the Sunrise Shear. The Howley Anticline in the Pine Creek block hosts several Palaeoproterozoic gold deposits, sited in complex anticlinal structures in greywacke sequences. Stress mapping indicates that gold ores should develop in the hinge zones of symmetrical anticlines, in the hinge zones and more steeply dipping to overturned limbs of asymmetric anticlines, and in and around thrusts in both anticlines and parasitic synclines. The strong correlation between the predictions of the stress mapping, based on the distribution of low σ₃, and the location of gold ores emphasises the potential of stress mapping in cross‐section, not only as an exploration tool for the discovery of additional resources or deposits, but also as a test of geological models. Knowledge of the potential siting of gold ores and their probable orientations also provides a guide to drilling strategies in both mine‐ and regional‐scale exploration.     

The origin of tin deposits in the Mount Wells region,Pine Creek Geosyncline,Northern Territory

Tabular steeply dipping cassiterite‐bearing lodes in the Mount Wells region are hosted by lower greenschist fades metasediment of the Pine Creek Geosyncline within the contact aureole of late orogenic granitoids. The latter are predominantly I‐type, but S‐type phases are developed near the sediment‐granitoid contact.

Quartz, cassiterite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite are the main minerals. Two types of lodes are present: (i) Sn‐quartz lodes containing 5–10 vol% sulphide minerals; and (ii) Sn‐sulphide lodes containing ～ 70 vol% sulphide minerals. At the surface, the former appear as normal quartz veins and the latter as hematite‐quartz breccia resulting from the collapse of original sulphide‐rich lodes as a consequence of volume reduction due to oxidation and leaching.

Two stages of quartz veining are recognized in both types of lodes. Cassiterite is present in stage I while stage II is composed of barren quartz with minor pyrite. Late stage III carbonate veinlets are present in Sn‐sulphide lodes. The lode‐wallrock contact is sharp with weak alteration effects confined to the fringe of the lodes. The alteration minerals include sericite, quartz, tourmaline, chlorite, pyrite and minor K‐feldspar.

Four types of fluid inclusions are present in vein quartz and cassiterite: Type A (CO₂ ± H₂O ± CH₄); Type B (H₂O+～ 20% vapour); Type C (H₂O+ < 15% vapour) and Type D (H₂O+ < 15% vapour + NaCl). Early ‘primary’ inclusions represented by Types A and B are present in stage I only and have a well‐defined temperature mode at ～300°C and a salinity range of 1–20 wt% eq NaCl. Types C and D inclusions are ‘secondary’ in stage I and primary in stage II and have a temperature mode at 120–160°C and salinities from about 1 to more than 26 wt% eq NaCl. Variable H₂O‐CO₂ ratios of Type A inclusions and homogenization in CO₂ or H₂O phase at near identical temperature indicate entrapment at the H₂O‐CO₂ solvus and define a pressure of ～ 100 MPa. The melting sequence of frozen inclusions suggests that the ore fluids were mainly H₂O‐CO₂‐CH₄‐Na‐Ca‐Cl brines. This is also confirmed by Raman Laser Spectrometry.

Oxygen and sulphur isotope data are consistent with a magmatic origin of the ore fluids. The δD values are up to 20%0 higher than those expected for magmatic fluids and probably resulted from interaction of the latter with the carbonaceous strata. This interpretation is supported by δ¹³C data on the fluid inclusion CO₂.

Fluid inclusions, stable isotope and mineralogical data are used to approximate the physico‐chemical parameters of the ore fluids which are as follows: T 300°C, m Cl～2, fO₂ ～ 10^‐35, mSS ～ 0.01, Sn ～ 1 ppm, Cu ～ 1 ppm and pH ～ 5.5.

It is suggested that fluids of granitic parentage interacted with the enclosing sediment and picked up CO₂, CH₄ and possibly Ca. The granitic phases became reduced due to this interaction and developed S‐type characteristics. Tin was probably partitioned into the CH₄‐bearing reduced fluids. At some stage the fluid overpressure exceeded the lithostatic lode enforcing failure of the carapace and the intruded rocks by hydraulic fracturing causing CH₄ and CO₂ loss resulting in the precipitation of the ore minerals.     

赣南天门山-红桃岭钨锡矿田成岩成矿时代精细测定及其地质意义

素有“世界钨都”美誉的赣南产有密集的与花岗岩类侵入体密切相关的钨锡多金属矿床,然而,目前对钨锡成矿和花岗岩成岩年龄还缺乏很好的约束。本文以天门山-红桃岭钨锡矿田为对象,在详细的矿田地质调查和典型矿床解剖基础之上,采用高精度测年技术开展了成岩成矿年代学研究。利用锆石SHRIMPU-Pb法,分别获得天门山似斑状黑云母二长花岗岩体和红桃岭黑云母花岗岩体成岩年龄分别为151.8±2.9Ma(n=14,MSWD=1.3)和151.4±3.1Ma(n=11,MSWD=0.34);利用辉钼矿Re-Os等时线法,分别获得牛岭内带石英脉型和樟斗外带石英脉型钨矿成矿年龄分别为154.9±4.1~154.6±9.7Ma和149.1±7.1Ma(n=6,MSWD=1.3)。可见,本区钨矿床成矿和与之有密切成因关系的花岗岩成岩年龄限定在晚侏罗世,对应于区域华南中生代第二次大规模成矿作用,钨成矿与花岗岩成岩基本不存在时差。     

岩浆成矿体系的热演化和剥露史的数字模拟

通过对岩浆冷却过程的数字模拟研究,揭示出岩浆在冷却成矿过程中的温度分布和变化规律及影响因素．在此基础上,进一步应用高精度的温龄计组合来限定岩浆成矿体系的热演化和剥露历史,精确地计算出岩浆的初始侵位时间和深度、矿物结晶时间、冷却速率、冷却和暴露地表时间,以及剥露和剥蚀速率等重要参数,并将模拟结果应用于斑岩铜矿床的成矿研究中．研究表明,将精确的年龄测试手段与计算机模拟技术相结合,可为定量研究岩浆矿床的热演化和剥露史、深入了解矿床的成因机制提供一种有效方法．     

Evolution and deposits of a gravelly braid bar, Sagavanirktok River, Alaska

The evolution, migration and deposits of a gravelly braid bar in the Sagavanirktok River, northern Alaska, are described in unprecedented detail using annual aerial photographs, ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) profiles, trenches and cores. Compound braid bars in the Sagavanirktok River form by chute cut‐off of point bars and by growth of mid‐channel unit bars. Subsequent growth is primarily by accretion of unit bars onto their lateral and downstream margins. The upstream ends of braid bars may be sites of erosion or unit bar deposition. Compound braid bar deposits vary in thickness laterally and are thickest in medial sections and near cut banks. Compound bar deposits are typically composed of three to seven sets of simple large‐scale inclined strata, each simple set formed by a unit bar. The simple large‐scale strata contain medium‐scale cross‐strata (from dune migration) and planar strata (from migration of bedload sheets). The upstream and medial parts of compound braid bar deposits show very little vertical variation in grain size, but downstream and lateral margins tend to fine upwards. The deposits are mostly poorly sorted sands and gravels, although sands tend to be deposited at the top of the braid bar, and open‐framework gravels preferentially occur near the top and base of the braid bar. The patterns of braid bar growth and migration, and the nature of the deposits, described from the Sagavanirktok River are generally similar to other sandy and gravelly braided rivers, and consistent with the theoretical braid bar model of Bridge (1993).     

中国北方磷矿成矿预测

在中朝准地台、塔里木准地台边缘深断裂附近和台中隆起带以及天山-兴安、祁连-秦岭、额尔古纳几个地槽褶皱区的中间地带,不同程度地具备中国北方三种主要类型磷矿的成矿条件。研究分析认为中国北方的内生磷矿具有良好的找矿前景,绿岩带型磷矿和古元古代沉积变质磷矿显示一定的找矿潜力,沉积型磷矿一般品位低、规模小。通过归纳,在中国北方划分出磷矿的二级城矿区4个、三级成矿带15个、四级成矿亚带19个。圈定成矿预测区A级2个,B级C级各23个。确定了21处可开展进一步工作的地区。     

中国金红石矿床成矿地质条件及成矿远景

中国金红石矿床成因类型不一,控矿因素各异。通过对地层、构造(包括大地构造环境及褶皱)等控矿因素,区域变质作用、岩浆作用、热液作用、风化及沉积作用等成矿地质条件及矿床分布等规律的归纳与研究,提出了陕西石泉-镇坪、陕西丹凤-西峡、河南南召-方城、湖北枣阳-河南新县、湖北英山-潜山、江苏徐州-东海、山东栖霞-荣城、山西代县-河北涞水、四川会东9个金红石成矿远景区。并圈定出山东省荣城曲家、安徽凤阳板桥、湖北郧西土门—涧池、湖北七里坪大悟仙山、山西代县义成沟—羊廷寺、河北涞源司各庄、河北丰宁黄土梁等7个找矿靶区。     

岩浆Cu-Ni-PGE矿床研究现状及发展趋势

从全球视野分析研究了世界岩浆铜镍硫化物矿床的大地构造分布和成岩成矿类型,特别是通过上世纪末新发现的加拿大Voisey's Bay矿床与俄罗斯Noril'sk等世界级矿床特征的对比研究,突出强调了大火成岩省(LIPs)对大规模岩浆硫化物矿床形成的意义,从更加宏观的角度审视了世界级岩浆硫化物矿床形成的地质背景和岩浆作用条件,为中国金川等岩浆Cu-Ni-PGE硫化物矿床的深入研究提供了参照背景。评述分析了当代岩浆硫化物矿床成矿研究中,幔源岩浆中硫化物液相不混溶(熔离)的演化轨迹,对岩浆萃取地壳中的硫改变硫化物饱和度促成不混溶作用发生的可能性和条件进行了探讨,进一步讨论了岩浆演化过程中,亲铜元素(Ni、Cu、Co、Pt和Pd等)进入硫化物液相成为金属硫化物或先期进入先结晶的橄榄石、辉石矿物成为氧化物的物理化学行为,并通过加拿大Sudbury陨石撞击构造成因矿床复合热液对硫化物矿体形成贡献的讨论,提出了热液作用对岩浆硫化物矿床成矿的可能贡献。分析判断了中国岩浆Cu-Ni-PGE硫化物矿床的成矿特点和金川超大型岩浆Cu-Ni-PGE矿床外围的找矿潜力。     

原生金矿成矿年龄测定研究

金成矿年龄和矿源同位素组成的准确测定，对金矿地质研究和找矿具有重要意义。本文根据３年多野外和室内工作的总结，获得了多个典型矿床的年龄和同位素测定结果：华北古陆北缘北侧槽区乌花敖包金矿测定为１３０—１２０Ｍａ的晚期造山作用成矿；南侧台区赛乌素金矿为２１１±１５Ｍａ的再循环古陆改造成矿；中段台区后沟一黄土梁金矿为２４３±７Ｍａ的古陆再造成矿；胶东焦家－乳山金矿为１２２．７±３．４Ｍａ和１２８±２３Ｍａ的燕山期成矿；华夏古陆八宝山金银矿为１４０±５Ｍａ的火山热液成矿。     

西天山巨型金铜铅锌成矿带构造成矿演化和找矿方向

西天山产有Muruntau、Kumtor、Kalmakyr等巨型金矿床和Kalmakyr、Dal'neye等世界级铜矿床以及Tekeli等超大型铅锌矿床,构成世人瞩目的巨型金铜铅锌成矿带.新疆西天山金、铜、铅锌矿找矿面临重大突破,不断认识乌兹别克斯坦—吉尔吉斯斯坦—哈萨克斯坦东南部—中国新疆西部整个西天山的构造成矿过程,明确新疆西天山金、铜、铅锌矿重大找矿突破方向,预测大型矿集区十分必要.本文通过境内外野外地质矿产广泛调研和对相关文献综合研究,认为西天山造山带形成演化经历前寒武纪古陆边缘裂陷盆地、古生代洋-陆俯冲增生、晚古生代陆-陆碰撞造山、中—新生代坳陷盆地四个主要地质过程,造就出四类重要成矿系统和类型:①元古宙边缘裂陷盆地铅锌成矿系统SEDEX型;②古生代俯冲岛弧金铜铅锌成矿系统斑岩-矽卡岩-浅成低温热液型;③晚古生代碰撞造山金铅锌成矿系统造山型-MVT;④中—新生代坳陷盆地铅锌铜成矿系统砂岩型.综合对比西天山境内外成矿系统地质发育特点,预测新疆西天山那拉提-额尔宾中天山隆起带是造山型金矿找矿重大突破区,吐拉苏盆地和巴音布鲁克中天山以及那拉提山北坡有望实现斑岩型金铜找矿突破,伊犁地块南缘元古宇SEDEX型铅锌找矿值得关注,山间/山前盆地无疑是砂岩型铅锌铜找矿优先选择.