Granitoid related Sn-W mineralisation with special reference to southern Africa, the Variscan Belt in Europe, and the Malay Peninsula
- Authors: Bentley, Philip Nelson
- Date: 1985
- Subjects: Geotectonic settings , Granitoids , Granites , Tin-tungsten , Mineralisation , Greisen environment , Minerals , Exploration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4908 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001568
- Description: A review of the geotectonic settings of granitoids and various tin-tungsten provinces in Europe, Malaysia and southern Africa shows a close spatial and temporal association of mineralisation to S-type ilmenite series granitoids. Granitoids with these affinities are derived from crustal anatexis and are most commonly found in continental collision and different ensialic, intraplate orogenic settings, (e.g. SW England, Malaysia, Namibia) as well as in association with anorogenic magmatism (Nigeria, Brazil, South Africa). Tin-tungsten mineralisation is related to late- to post-tectonic granites, emplaced into areas of substantial tectonic thickening. Crustal anatexis leads to an observable calcalkaline chemical trend, with a source of gabbroic or amphibolite composition through anatexis to; mafic-intermediate enclaves, para-autochthonous anatectic granitoids (tonalite, granodiorite), to intermediate level quartz monzonite, granodiorite, biotite-granite, to late-tectonic highly fractionated muscovite-bearing granites, and high level porphyry intrusions. Mineralisation is spatially related to apical protrusions of the youngest most differentiated granite. Various mineralised environments are recognised, including endogranitic veins, primary disseminations, pegmatites and pipes, and exogranitic stockwork and fissure veins, and replacement bodies. A common factor to all these deposits is the inherent greisen environment, characterised by postmagmatic metasomatic alteration and mineral deposition. Common alteration mineral assemblages include albite, quartz, muscovite, tourmaline, and fluorite ∓ topaz. Ore mineral assemblages commonly display a paragenetic sequence of oxides (cassiterite, wolframite, scheelite), followed by sulphides (molybdenite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite sphalerite, arsenopyrite/loëllingite, Pb-Bi(Ag) sulphosalts) and then lower temperature carbonates (calcite, siderite, ankerite). Analysis of Pan African orogenic provinces in southern Africa (Damara and Saldanian Provinces) shows there is good potential for applying integrated exploration techniques in search of endo-exogreisen Sn-W systems. Careful analysis and interpretation of granitoid geochemistry (K₂0, Na₂0, FeO/Fe₂0₃, F, B, Sn, W, Mo, Cu, Rb, Sr, Ti, Zr) should aid delineation of Sn-W and Mo-Cu metallogenic provinces in these regions. Magnetic susceptibility determinations should also aid distinction of S-type ilmenite series (less than 1 x lO⁻⁴emu/g ) from I-type magnetite series (more than 1 x lO⁻⁴emu/g ) granitoids
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1985
- Authors: Bentley, Philip Nelson
- Date: 1985
- Subjects: Geotectonic settings , Granitoids , Granites , Tin-tungsten , Mineralisation , Greisen environment , Minerals , Exploration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4908 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001568
- Description: A review of the geotectonic settings of granitoids and various tin-tungsten provinces in Europe, Malaysia and southern Africa shows a close spatial and temporal association of mineralisation to S-type ilmenite series granitoids. Granitoids with these affinities are derived from crustal anatexis and are most commonly found in continental collision and different ensialic, intraplate orogenic settings, (e.g. SW England, Malaysia, Namibia) as well as in association with anorogenic magmatism (Nigeria, Brazil, South Africa). Tin-tungsten mineralisation is related to late- to post-tectonic granites, emplaced into areas of substantial tectonic thickening. Crustal anatexis leads to an observable calcalkaline chemical trend, with a source of gabbroic or amphibolite composition through anatexis to; mafic-intermediate enclaves, para-autochthonous anatectic granitoids (tonalite, granodiorite), to intermediate level quartz monzonite, granodiorite, biotite-granite, to late-tectonic highly fractionated muscovite-bearing granites, and high level porphyry intrusions. Mineralisation is spatially related to apical protrusions of the youngest most differentiated granite. Various mineralised environments are recognised, including endogranitic veins, primary disseminations, pegmatites and pipes, and exogranitic stockwork and fissure veins, and replacement bodies. A common factor to all these deposits is the inherent greisen environment, characterised by postmagmatic metasomatic alteration and mineral deposition. Common alteration mineral assemblages include albite, quartz, muscovite, tourmaline, and fluorite ∓ topaz. Ore mineral assemblages commonly display a paragenetic sequence of oxides (cassiterite, wolframite, scheelite), followed by sulphides (molybdenite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite sphalerite, arsenopyrite/loëllingite, Pb-Bi(Ag) sulphosalts) and then lower temperature carbonates (calcite, siderite, ankerite). Analysis of Pan African orogenic provinces in southern Africa (Damara and Saldanian Provinces) shows there is good potential for applying integrated exploration techniques in search of endo-exogreisen Sn-W systems. Careful analysis and interpretation of granitoid geochemistry (K₂0, Na₂0, FeO/Fe₂0₃, F, B, Sn, W, Mo, Cu, Rb, Sr, Ti, Zr) should aid delineation of Sn-W and Mo-Cu metallogenic provinces in these regions. Magnetic susceptibility determinations should also aid distinction of S-type ilmenite series (less than 1 x lO⁻⁴emu/g ) from I-type magnetite series (more than 1 x lO⁻⁴emu/g ) granitoids
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1985
The factors affecting the interpretation of geochemical surveys in mineral exploration
- Authors: Fletcher, B A
- Date: 1982
- Subjects: Geochemistry , Geochemistry -- Environmental aspects , Mining geology , Minerals , Ore deposits , Geochemical prospecting
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5014 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006142
- Description: [From introduction] Exploration geochemistry is an indirect method of detecting mineral deposits by measuring the abundance and distribution of ore elements and elements closely associated with ore in natural materials at or near the earth's surface. The method relies on the assumption that a mineral deposit is reflected by unusual element abundances or distribution patterns (geochemical halos), and that these indications of mineralization can be detected by geochemical surveys involving the collection and analysis of natural materials. The interpretation of geochemical surveys in mineral exploration involves: 1) The use of geological and statistical inference, based on a knowledge of the normal behaviour and distribution of indicator elements in the exploration area, to recognize apparent geochemical anomalies in field and analytical data and to predict the type of geochemical halo reflected by the anomalies. 11) The use of geological inference, based on a knowledge of the characteristics of geochemical halos and their relationship to mineral deposits, to predict the presence and probable location of an ore body. The interpretation process is, however, complicated by the absence of a simple universal formula that relates the abundance and distribution of elements in natural materials to the presence or absence of a mineral deposit. The interpretation of a geochemical survey must, thus, be based on an empirical approach which avaluates each survey as an individual problem. The objective of this dissertation is to illustrate the factors affecting the "nuts and bolts" approach to the interpretation of geochemical surveys in mineral exploration. The discussion is aimed at providing field geologists responsible -for the planning and execution of geochemical surveys with some basic guidelines for interpreting the surveys. I hope that the contents of this dissertation will help field geologists to "look in the last place first".
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1982
- Authors: Fletcher, B A
- Date: 1982
- Subjects: Geochemistry , Geochemistry -- Environmental aspects , Mining geology , Minerals , Ore deposits , Geochemical prospecting
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5014 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006142
- Description: [From introduction] Exploration geochemistry is an indirect method of detecting mineral deposits by measuring the abundance and distribution of ore elements and elements closely associated with ore in natural materials at or near the earth's surface. The method relies on the assumption that a mineral deposit is reflected by unusual element abundances or distribution patterns (geochemical halos), and that these indications of mineralization can be detected by geochemical surveys involving the collection and analysis of natural materials. The interpretation of geochemical surveys in mineral exploration involves: 1) The use of geological and statistical inference, based on a knowledge of the normal behaviour and distribution of indicator elements in the exploration area, to recognize apparent geochemical anomalies in field and analytical data and to predict the type of geochemical halo reflected by the anomalies. 11) The use of geological inference, based on a knowledge of the characteristics of geochemical halos and their relationship to mineral deposits, to predict the presence and probable location of an ore body. The interpretation process is, however, complicated by the absence of a simple universal formula that relates the abundance and distribution of elements in natural materials to the presence or absence of a mineral deposit. The interpretation of a geochemical survey must, thus, be based on an empirical approach which avaluates each survey as an individual problem. The objective of this dissertation is to illustrate the factors affecting the "nuts and bolts" approach to the interpretation of geochemical surveys in mineral exploration. The discussion is aimed at providing field geologists responsible -for the planning and execution of geochemical surveys with some basic guidelines for interpreting the surveys. I hope that the contents of this dissertation will help field geologists to "look in the last place first".
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1982
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