Prediction of rock alteration patterns: A potential tool in mineral exploration

Hydrothermal alteration of a quartz‐K‐feldspar rock is simulated numerically by coupling fluid flow and chemical reactions. Introduction of CO₂ gas generates an acidic fluid and produces secondary quartz, muscovite and/or pyrophyllite at constant temperature and pressure of 300°C and 200 MPa. The precipitation and/or dissolution of the secondary minerals is controlled by either mass‐action relations or rate laws. In our simulations the mass of the primary elements are conserved and the mass‐balance equations are solved sequentially using an implicit scheme in a finite‐element code. The pore‐fluid velocity is assumed to be constant. The change of rock volume due to the dissolution or precipitation of the minerals, which is directly related to their molar volume, is taken into account. Feedback into the rock porosity and the reaction rates is included in the model. The model produces zones of pyrophyllite quartz and muscovite due to the dissolution of K‐feldspar. Our model simulates, in a simplified way, the acid‐induced alteration assemblages observed in various guises in many significant mineral deposits. The particular aluminosilicate minerals produced in these experiments are associated with the gold deposits of the Witwatersrand Basin.     

Fractionation of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of gypsum hydration water and assessment of its geochemical indications

Fundamental knowledge of the isotopic fractionation between the hydration water and the mother solution and whether the primary information recorded in hydration water can be preserved or not in deposits or mines have long been unclear. In order to calculate the accurate hydrogen and oxygen isotopic fractionation factors between gypsum hydration water and its mother solution with new methods, to understand the mechanism of fractionation and synthetically assess the record-keeping abilities of the isotopic composition of hydration water during the process of diagenesis after deposition, experiments on the hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions of gypsum hydration water and its mother solution at different isothermal temperatures from 5 to 50°C were systematically conducted. In addition, samples from two typical gypsum deposits formed in different environmental conditions were also determined. Results show that during gypsum crystallisation, both hydrogen and oxygen isotopes show significant fractionation between the hydration water and the mother solution. The calculated hydrogen isotopic fractionation factors are <1, while the oxygen isotopic fractionation factors are >1 at temperatures from 5 to 50°C. The fractionation factors show no functional relationships with temperature. Isotopic compositions of gypsum hydration water in arid lake sediments can be used to trace the source of water and primary deposit environmental information. However, the isotopic composition of the gypsum hydration water can easily be altered by dissolution and secondary precipitation of gypsum during later diagenesis, particularly in areas with humid climate and abundant groundwater. A very careful assessment on record-keeping abilities of the primary isotopic composition of hydration water in gypsum during later diagenesis must be considered before application.     

Shear Band Formation in Numerical Simulations Applying a Continuum Damage Rheology Model

In seismically active regions, faults nucleate, propagate, and form networks that evolve over time. To simulate crustal faulting processes, including the evolution of fault-zone properties, a rheological model must incorporate concepts such as damage rheology that describe the various stages of the seismic cycle (strain localization, subcritical crack growth and macroscopic failure) while accounting for material degradation and healing and off-fault deformation. Here we study the fundamental patterns of strain-localisation within the framework of a continuum damage rheology by performing a shear band analysis (linear instability analysis) and comparing predictions of shear band orientations with numerical results of the nonlinear problem. We find (analytically and numerically) that the angle between the shear band and the less compressive (transverse) direction is between 47° in compression tests with a strain ratio of 0.25 (highly confined compression test), and 60° for a strain ratio higher than 1.4 (axial compression and transverse extension). In addition we find that shear bands exhibit local dilation (I ₁ > 0) in a wide range of strain ratios excluding only simulations with highly confined compression (which yield compacting shear bands or non-localized deformation). Finally, we discuss the applicability of the damage model for simulating deformation in the seismogenic, brittle crust.     

Evolution of localized folding for a thin elastic layer in a softening visco-elastic medium

Long compressed elastic struts on softening elastic foundations have a tendency to buckle locally. The same tendency is demonstrated here for the instantaneous response of elastic struts supported by visco-elastic media. A governing nonlinear partial differential equation is derived to describe the evolution of the localized form in time. Under the assumed constant end-shortening this is found to be approximated by a coupled set of seven ordinary differential (diffusion) equations. As the load drops to zero, the localized buckle pattern evolves towards the form of the single long wave, but remains aperiodic for all time. Three-dimensional plots show how this localized pattern changes over time.     

Strain-dependent Fluid Flow Defined Through Rock Mass Classification Schemes

Summary ?Strain-dependent hydraulic conductivities are uniquely defined by an environmental factor, representing applied normal and shear strains, combined with intrinsic material parameters representing mass and component deformation moduli, initial conductivities, and mass structure. The components representing mass moduli and structure are defined in terms of RQD (rock quality designation) and RMR (rock mass rating) to represent the response of a whole spectrum of rock masses, varying from highly fractured (crushed) rock to intact rock. These two empirical parameters determine the hydraulic response of a fractured medium to the induced-deformations. The constitutive relations are verified against available published data and applied to study one-dimensional, strain-dependent fluid flow. Analytical results indicate that both normal and shear strains exert a significant influence on the processes of fluid flow and that the magnitude of this influence is regulated by the values of RQD and RMR.     

PRACTICAL AND PREDICTIVE MODELLING OF ORE DEPOSITS IN HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS

Over the past five years,we have been making efforts to develop a practical and predictive tool to explore for giant ore deposits in hydrothermal systems.Towards this goal,a significant progress has been made towards a better understanding of the basic physical and chemical processes behind ore body formation and mineralization in hydrothermal systems.