Morphology of Ore Bodies

Definitions:

 Syngenetic deposit

 Epigenetic deposit

 Strike (Fig. 1)

 Dip (Fig. 1)

 Plunge (Fig. 1)

 Pitch (Fig. 1)

Types of Ore bodies according to Morphology

I- Discordant
(1) Regular
(i) Tabular
(ii) Tubular

I - T a b u la r O r e b o d ie s

V e in s

O pen S pace* C r a c k - S e a l* Lodes* P in c h & S w e ll S h e e t e d v e in s

( r e p la c e m e n t) ( > 3 0 v e in s / m )

I I - T u b u la r B o d ie s

P ip e s o r C h im n e y s M a n to s Pods
( r e p la c e m e n t )
 (2) Irregular bodies
(i) Disseminated
(a) in rocks
(b) stockworks
(ii) Replacement
(a) Skarns
(b) Flats

II- Concordant bodies:

(1) Sedimentary
(i) Replacement (epigenetic)
(ii) Chemical
(iii) Detrital (e.g. Witwatersand Au)
(2) Volcanic
(i) Vesicle filling
(ii) Volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits (VMS; in rhyolites &
basalts).
(3) Plutonic: examples include chromite; magnetite
& ilmenite in anorthosites; Cu-Fe-Ni sulfides
(4) Residual: examples include bauxites, laterites,
and nickeliferous deposites.
(5) Supergene enrichment