http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111000387 |
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Authors: | Guoxiang Chi Chunji Xue |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Geology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2 Canada 2. State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China |
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Abstract: | Fluid flowis an integral part of hydrothermal mineralization, and its analysis and characterization
constitute an important part of a mineralization model. The hydrodynamic study of mineralization deals with
analyzing the driving forces, fluid pressure regimes, fluid flow rate and direction, and their relationships with
localization of mineralization. This paper reviews the principles and methods of hydrodynamic studies of
mineralization, and discusses their significance and limitations for ore deposit studies andmineral exploration.
The driving forces of fluid flowmay be related to fluid overpressure, topographic relief, tectonic deformation,
and fluid density change due to heating or salinity variation, depending on specific geologic environments and
mineralization processes. The study methods may be classified into three types, megascopic (field) observations,
microscopic analyses, and numerical modeling. Megascopic features indicative of significantly overpressured
(especially lithostatic or supralithostatic) fluid systems include horizontal veins, sand injection
dikes, and hydraulic breccias. Microscopic studies, especially microthermometry of fluid inclusions and
combined stress analysis and microthermometry of fluid inclusion planes (FIPs) can provide important information
about fluid temperature, pressure, and fluid-structural relationships, thus constraining fluid flow
models. Numerical modeling can be carried out to solve partial differential equations governing fluid flow,
heat transfer, rock deformation and chemical reactions, in order to simulate the distribution of fluid pressure,
temperature, fluid flow rate and direction, and mineral precipitation or dissolution in 2D or 3D space and
through time. The results of hydrodynamic studies of mineralization can enhance our understanding of the
formation processes of hydrothermal deposits, and can be used directly or indirectly in mineral exploration. |
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Keywords: | Fluid flow Hydrodynamics Mineralization Hydraulic fracturing Numerical modeling Exploration |
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