Metallogenic Provinces

Geology of Ore Deposits: An Overview

By
DR. ARIFUDIN IDRUS
Laboratory of Mineral Resources
Department of Geological Engineering
Gadjah Mada University
Jl. Grafika No. 2 Bulaksumur
Yogyakarta 55281 Indonesia
 Major tectonic plates

Lempeng Eurasia

Lempeng Amerika Utara

Lempeng Pasifik

Lempeng Afrika Lempeng Nazca

Lempeng Hindia-Australia
Lempeng
Amerika Selatan

Lempeng Antartik
Tectonic setting vs Ore deposits
Southwest Pacific Rim
Tertiary island arcs in Indonesia
Commodity-type classification of ore deposit
(Evans, 1993):
z Precious metals (logam mulia): emas (Au), perak (Ag), platina (Pt)
z Non-ferrous metals (logam non-ferrous): tembaga (Cu), timbal
(Pb/lead), seng (Zn/zinc), timah (Sn/tin), dan aluminium (Al). Empat
pertama dikenal sebagai logam dasar (base metals).
z Iron and ferroalloy metals (logam ferroalloy dan besi): besi (Fe),
Mangan (Mn), nikel (Ni), krom (Cr), molibdenum (Mo), wolfram
(W/tungsten), vanadium (V), kobal (Co).
z Minor metals and related non-metals: antimon (Sb/antimony),
arsen (As), berilium (Be/beryllium), bismut (Bi), kadmium (Cd),
magnesium (Mg), air raksa (Hg/mercury), REE, selenium (Se),
tantalium (Ta), telurium (Te), titanium (Ti), Zirkonium (Zr), dsb.

z Fissionable metals: uranium (U), torium (Th), radium (Ra).

 Genetic classification of Ore deposits
z Magmatic-hydrothermal-related deposits
z Magmatic liquid deposits: Cr, Ni, PGM
z Pegmatite (Sn, Nb/Ta, Li, Be, etc).
z Hydrothermal: Cyprus-type (VMS); skarn (W, Sn, Cu, etc), porphyry (Cu,
Mo, Sn, etc); Vein/lode (Sn, W, U); Epithermal (Au-Ag).

z Hydrothermal-diagenetic related deposits

z Kupferschiefer types (Cu, Pb, Zn) SEDEX
z Mississippi-Valley Type (MVT): Pb-Zn-Ba-F in marine carbonates

z Hydrothermal-metamorphic related deposits

z Quartz-lode gold (orogenic gold deposits)

z Chemical weathering related deposits

z Bauxite, Fe-laterite, Nickel and Au laterites

z Mechanical weathering related deposits

z Placer deposits (alluvial, marine): Au, Sn, Fe/Ti, REE)
Geology of Bushveld complex, RSA
Chromite layers of Bushveld complex
 Model of Au-Ag low sulphidation epitermal deposit

Epithermal refers to mineral deposits that form in association with hot waters.
The deposits form within 1 km of the surface and water temperatures are about
50-200 degrees C.
CLASSIC MODEL OF PORPHYRY DEPOSITS

SAN MANUEL FAULT

SAN MANUEL
KALAMAZOO SEGMENT
SEGMENT ? ?
Propylitic ?
(Chl-Ep-Carb)
Adul-Ab
PERIPHERAL
? Ccp-Gn-Sp-Au-Ag PERIPHERAL
Phyllic ? Ccp-Gn-Sp-Au-Ag
Qtz-Ser-Py

LOW PYRITE
SHELL ORE SHELL
Argillic Potassic Py ~2% Py 1%
Qtz-Kln- Qtz-Kfs-Bt- Ccp 1-3%
Chl +Ser+Anh Mo 0.03%

PYRITE LOW GRADE

S HELL CORE
Py ~10%
Ccp 0.1-3% low total
Mo rare Ccp-Py-Mo

?
Qtz-Ser- Mag>Py
Chl-Ser-
? Chl-Kfs Mag>Py & Ccp
Ep-Mag

A
Three major models:
1. Quartz-monzonite
2. Diorite
3. Breccia

Quartz-Monzonite
model
Quartz lode gold
Schematic illustrations showing the principal features of Archean erogenic gold deposits -
many of which also apply to Proterozoic and Phanerozoic examples. The main features at a
megascale are that the deposits are associated with a convergent plate margin where
metamorphism results in the production of fluids that are focused along major structural
discontinuities. At a mesoscale major shear zones within or along the margins of greenstone
belts represent district-scale hosts to mineralization that are accompanied by broad zones of
intense alteration. Individual deposits occur along second- and third-order structures. Ore
deposition is a function of fluid rock reaction and/or H2O-CO2 phase separation (after
Hagemann and Cassidy, 2000).
Quartz lode gold
Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide
 VMS deposit model (Kuroko type)

Major source of Base metals, e.g. Cu, Zn dan Pb

Diagram illustrating the setting for the formation of SEDEX-type Pb-Zn ores and a scenario
which incorporates both exhalative and replacement concepts for the formation of these
ores (after compilations by Goodfellow et al., 1993; Misra, 2000).
SEDEX (e.g. Sullivan, Canada)
 SEDEX Deposits

Sulphide mineral layers are enclosed by and parallel to the

sedimentary strata.
 Placer Deposits
z Placer deposit : formed by the mechanical concentration
of resistant minerals, which are released by weathering
from source rocks
z Main Commodities:
Tin, Gold, Platinum, Niobium, Tantalum, Titanium, Zircon,
Diamond
z Paleo-placers:
The lithified equivalents of placer deposit
z Economic deposits are limited geographical distribution
z (Archean Proterozoic)
z Uranium, Canada
z Gold & Uranium, South Africa
z Tin bearing paleo-placer: Nigeria, Brazil, Malaysia
Gold placer deposit
Nickel laterite deposit: Profile
Nickel laterite deposit: Soroako
Nickel laterite deposit: Hand Auger drilling
Nickel laterite deposit: Core logging
Nickel laterite deposit: Deposit modelling
Nickel laterite deposit: Mining/exploitation