Model 25i

DESCRIPTIVE MODEL OF VOLCANIC-HOSTED MAGNETITE

By Dennis P. Cox
APPROXIMATE SYNONYM Porphyrite iron, Kiruna iron.
DESCRIPTION Massive concordant and discordant magnetite ore bodies in intermediate to alkalic volcanic
rocks with actinolite or diopside alteration.

GEOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT
Rock Types Andesitic to trachytic flows and subvolcanic intrusions, also at Kiruna, quartz porphyry,
syenite porphyry, monzonite, and diorite.

Textures Porphyroaphanitic to fine- to medium-grained equigranular. Flows may be amygdaloidal.

Age Range Mesozoic to Holocene in circum-Pacific area. In Sweden and Missouri, 1,300-1,500 m.y.
Depositional Environment Continental volcanic rocks and clastic sediments intruded by subvolcanic
intermediate plutons.

Tectonic Setting(s) Continental margin, subduction-related volcanic terrane. Especially with high-K
volcanic rocks, possibly related to waning stages of volcanism.

Associated Deposit Types Sedimentary Fe in associated clastic rocks, apatite-magnetite deposits,

hematite in quartz-sericite alteration, possible disseminated Au.

DEPOSIT DESCRIPTION
Mineralogy Magnetite + apatite. Rarely pyrite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite, and covellite. Ti is in
sphene.

Texture/Structure Fine, granoblastic, skarn type textures.

Alteration Actinolite or diopside, andradite, biotite, quartz, albite, andesine, K-feldspar, sodic
scapolite, epidote; carbonates, and locally, tourmaline, sphene, chlorite, barite, fluorite, kaolin, or
sericite.

Ore Controls Magnetite in massive replacement, breccia filling and stockwork veins. Orebodies may be
stratabound, concordant to intrusive contacts or in cross-cutting veins. Possibly related to cupolas of
deeper plutons.

Geochemical and Geophysical Signature Fe, P, V, and minor Ba, F, Bi, Cu, Co; strong magnetic anomalies.

EXAMPLES
Kirunavaara, Sweden El (Frietsch 1982, 1978)
Romeral, Chile Middle-Lower (Bookstrom, 1977)
Yangtze Valley, CINA (Research Group of
Porphyrite Iron Ore, 1977)
GRADE AND TONNAGE MODEL OF VOLCANIC-HOSTED MAGNETITE
By Dan L. Mosier

COMMENTS Only deposits with abundant apatite are included. See figs. 131-133.
DEPOSITS

Name Country Name Country

Arnold Hill USNY Cerro de Mercado MXCO

Benson USNY Chador-Malu IRAN
 Model 25i—Con

Chahehgaz IRAN Los Vasitos MXCO

Choghart IRAN Luossauaara SWDN
Ekstromberg SWDN Malmberget SWDN
El Algarrobo CILE Minarets USCA
El Dorado CILE Mineville-Port Henry USNY
El Encino MXCO Modarelli USNV
EL Romeral CILE Nakerivaara SWDN
Grangesberg SWDN Northern Anomaly IRAN
Gruvberget SWDN Painirova SWDN
Guadalupe & Solis MXCO Pea Ridge USMO
Hercules MXCO Ringwood USNJ
Idkerberget SWDN Saghand IRAN
Infiernillo CILE Savage River AUTS
Joinville BRZL Se Chakhum IRAN
Kiirunavaara SWDN Sterling Lake USNY
La Grulla MXCO Tjarrojakka SWDN
La Perla-La Negra MXCO Unnamed MXCO
Leveaniemi SWDN
VOLCANIC-HOSTED MAGNETITE

Figure 131. Tonnages of volcanic-hosted magnetite deposits.

173
Model 25i—Con

VOLCANIC-HOSTED MAGNETITE

IRON GRADE IN PERCENT

Figure 132. Iron grades of volcanic-hosted

magnetite deposits.
Figure 133• Phosphorus grades of volcanic- PHOSPHORUS GRADE IN PERCENT
VOLCANIC-HOSTED MAGNETITE

hosted magnetite deposits.

174
 Model 26a

DESCRIPTIVE MODEL OF CARBONATE-HOSTED Au-Ag

>
By Byron R. Berger
APPROXIMATE SYNONYM Carlin-type or invisible gold.
DESCRIPTION Very fine grained gold and sulfides disseminated in carbonaceous calcareous rocks and
associated jasperoids.

GENERAL REFERENCE Tooker (1985).

GEOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT
Rock Types Host rocks: thin-bedded silty or argillaceous carbonaceous limestone or dolomite,
commonly with carbonaceous shale. Intrusive rocks: felsic dikes.

Textures Dikes are generally porphyritic.

Age Range Mainly Tertiary, but can be any age.
Depositional Environment Best host rocks formed as carbonate turbidites in somewhat anoxic
environments. Deposits formed where these are intruded by igneous rocks under nonmarine conditions.

Tectonic Setting(s) High-angle normal fault zones related to continental margin rifting. Associated

Deposit Types W-Mo skarn, porphyry Mo, placer Au, stibnite-barite veins.
DEPOSIT DESCRIPTION
Mineralogy Native gold (very fine grained) + pyrite + realgar + orpiment ± arsenopyrite ± cinnabar ±
fluorite ± barite ± stibnite. Quartz, calcite, carbonaceous matter.

Texture/Structure Silica replacement of carbonate. Generally less than 1 percent fine-grained

sulfides.

Alteration Unoxidized ore: jasperoid + quartz + illite + kaolinite + calcite. Abundant amorphous
carbon locally appears to be introduced. Hypogene oxidized ore: kaolinite + montmorillonite +
illite + jarosite + alunite. Ammonium clays may be present.

Ore Controls Selective replacement of carbonaceous carbonate rocks adjacent to and along high- angle
faults, or regional thrust faults or bedding.

Weathering Light-red, gray, and (or) tan oxides, light-brown to reddish-brown iron-oxide-stained
jasperoid.

Geochemical Signature: Au + As + Hg + W ± Mo; As + Hg + Sb + T1 ± F (this stage superimposed on

preceding); NH^ important in some deposits.

EXAMPLES
Carlin, USNV (Radtke and others, 1980)
Getchell, USNV (Joralemon, 1951)

Mercur, USUT (Gilluly, 1932)

GRADE AND TONNAGE MODEL OF CARBONATE-HOSTED Au-Ag

By William C. Bagby, W. David Menzie, Dan L. Mosier, and Donald A. Singer

COMMENTS See figs. 134-135

175
 Model 26a—Con

DEPOSITS

Name Country Name Country

Alligator Ridge USNV Jerritt Canyon USNV

Atlanta USNV Maggie Creek USNV
Blue Star USNV Mercur USUT
Carlin USNV Northumberland USNV
Cortez USNV Pinson USNV
Dee USNV Preble USNV
Emigrant Springs #1 USNV Rain USNV
Emigrant Springs #2 USNV Relief Canyon USNV
Florida Canyon USNV Roberts Mtns. Dist. USNV
Getchell USNV Santa Fe USNV
Giltedge USMT Standard USNV
Gold Bar USNV Toiyabe USNV
Gold Acres USNV Tolman USID
Gold Quarry USNV Tonkin Springs USNV
Horse Canyon USNV Windfall USNV

S'

176
PROPORTION OF DEPOSITS CARBONATE-HOSTED GOLD-SILVER Model 26a—Con

Figure 131*- Tonnages of carbonate-hosted Au-

Ag deposits.

MILLION TONNES

CARBONATE-HOSTED GOLD-SILVER
PROPORTION OF DEPOSITS

0.025 0.063 0.16 0.4 1.0 2.5 6.3

GOLD GRADE IN GRAMS PER TONNE

SILVER GRADE IN GRAMS PER TONNE 177

 Figure 135. Precious-metal grades of
carbonate-hosted Au-Ag deposits. _A,
Gold. IS, Silver.
4000

178
Model 27a Model 27a—Con

DESCRIPTIVE MODEL OF HOT-SPRING Hg

By James J. Rytuba
APPROXIMATE SYNONYM Sulphur Bank type of White (1981) or sulfurous type of Bailey and Phoenix
(1944).

DESCRIPTION Cinnabar and pyrite disseminated in siliceous sinter superjacent to graywacke, shale, andesite, and
basalt flows and diabase dikes.

GEOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT
Rock Types Siliceous sinter, andesite-basalt flows, diabase dikes, andesitic tuffs, and tuff breccia.

Age Range Tertiary.

Depositional Environment Near paleo ground-water table in areas of fossil hot-spring system.

Tectonic Setting(s) Continental margin rifting associated with small volume mafic to intermediate volcanism.

Associated Deposit Types Hot-spring Au.

DEPOSIT DESCRIPTION
Mineralogy Cinnabar + native Hg + minor marcasite.
Texture/Structure Disseminated and coatings on fractures in hot-spring sinter.
Alteration Above paleo ground-water table, kaolinite-alunite-Fe oxides, native sulfur; below paleo ground-water
table, pyrite, zeolites, potassium feldspar, chlorite, and quartz. Opal deposited at S'
the paleo water table.

Ore Controls Paleo ground-water table within hot-spring systems developed along high-angle faults. Geochemical

Signature Hg + As + Sb +_ Au.

EXAMPLES
Sulfur bank, USCA (White and Roberson, 1962)
GRADE AND TONNAGE MODEL OF HOT-SPRING Hg
By James J. Rytuba
COMMENTS See figs. 136, 137.

DEPOSITS

Name Country Name Country

B and B USNV Idaho Almaden USID

Baldwin USNV Mahattan USCA
Bretz USOR McDermitt USNV
Butte USNV Nevada Sulphur co. USNV
Coleman USNV Opalite USOR
Cordero USNV Rim Rock and Homestake USNV
F and L Mine USNV Silver Cloud USNV
Glass Butte USOR Steamboat Springs USNV
Goldbanks USNV Sulphur Bank USCA
Governor USNV Walibu USCA

MERCURY GRADE IN PERCENT

179
 HOT-SPRING MERCURY
PROPORTION OF DEPOSITS

o.o ----------- 1——— - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - 1 - - ' - — i - - - - - - - - - > -

0.000025 0.0001 0.0004 0.0016 0.0063 0.025 0.1 0.4 1.6

MILLION TONNES Figure 136. Tonnages of hot-spring Hg

deposits.

HOT-SPRING MERCURY
PROPORTION OF DEPOSITS

0.032 0.056 0.1 0.18 0.32

180
 Model 27a—Con

MERCURY GRADE IN PERCENT

181
 Figure 137. Mercury grades of hot-spring Hg
deposits.

182
Model 27b

DESCRIPTIVE MODEL OF ALMADEN Hg

By James J. Rytuba
APPROXIMATE SYNONYM Almaden type.
DESCRIPTION Stratabound disseminated cinnabar and native mercury in volcaniclastic sedimentary
rocks.

GENERAL REFERENCE Saupe (1973).

GEOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT
Rock Types Unmetamorphosed shale, graywacke, calcareous graywacke, andesitic lava and tuff,
andesite dikes. Volcanic vent breccia.

Age Range Almaden is Silurian, but deposits may be any age.

Depositional Environment Permeable sedimentary rocks, andesite dikes possibly near volcanic center.

Tectonic Setting(s) Volcanic centers along major deep-seated fault zone. Absence of regional
metamorphism or plutonism following mineralization.

Associated Deposit Types Stibnite veins.

DEPOSIT DESCRIPTION

Mineralogy Cinnabar ± native mercury + pyrite + calcite + quartz.

Texture/Structure Disseminated.

Ore Controls Mineralized zone follows major fault, highest grade ore in calcareous graywacke.

EXAMPLES
Almaden, SPAN Santa (Saupe, 1973)
Barbara, PERU Nueva (Berry and Singewald, 1922)
Esperanza, CLBA (Lozano and others, 1977)

Geochemical Signature Hg, As, Sb.

 Model 27c

DESCRIPTIVE MODEL OF SILICA-CARBONATE Hg

By James J. Rytuba

APPROXIMATE SYNONYM New Almaden type.

DESCRIPTION Cinnabar at contact of serpentine and siltstone-graywacke above subduction-related thrust.

GENERAL REFERENCE Bailey (1964).

GEOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT

Rock Types Serpentine, siltstone-graywacke.

Age Range Tertiary.

Depositional Environment Serpentinized intrusive rocks (sills and dikes) into siltstone, and graywacke
and siltstone, fractures in altered serpentine.

Tectonic Setting(s) Deposits occur in accreted terrane above subduction-related thrust fault.

Associated Deposit Types Stibnite veins.

DEPOSIT DESCRIPTION
Mineralogy Cinnabar, native Hg, other minor sulfides: pyrite, stibnite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite,
galena, and bornite.

Texture/Structure Replacement and minor veins.

Alteration Replacement of serpentine by quartz and dolomite and minor hydrocarbons to form "silica-
carbonate’' rock.

Ore Controls Contact of serpentine with siltstone especially where contact forms antiform. Ore
primarily in silica-carbonate rock.

Geochemical Signature Unknown, probably Hg + Sb + Cu + Zn.

EXAMPLES

New Almaden, USCA (Bailey, 1964)

GRADE AND TONNAGE MODEL OF SILICA-CARBONATE Hg

By James J. Rytuba and Simon M. Cargill

COMMENTS (See figs. 138, 139)

DEPOSITS
Name Country Name Count

Abbott USCA Helen USCA

Aetna USCA Keystone USCA
Bella Oak USCA Knoxville USCA
Chicago USCA La Joya USCA
Contact USCA La Libertad USCA
Corona USCA Lion Den USCA
Culver Bear USCA Mirabel USCA
Dewey's USCA Mt. Diablo USCA
Esperanza USCA New Almaden USCA
Great Eastern-Mt. Jackson USCA Patriquin USCA
Harrison USCA Polar Star USCA

181
Model 27c—Con.
Red Elephant USCA Socrates USCA
Red Rick USCA Twin Peaks USCA
Reed USCA Wall Street USCA
SILICA-CARBONATE MERCURY

Figure 138. Tonnages of silica-carbonate 0.0004 0.0016 0.0063 0.025 100 400
Hg deposits
MILLION TONNES

SILICA-CARBONATE MERCURY

oo i ______ I ______,L__ IMS ____ i ______ | ______|______ | ______

' 0.032 0.056 0.1 0.18 0.32 0.56 1.0 1.8 3.2 5.6 10.0

Figure 139. Mercury grades of silica-

carbonate Hg deposits.
MERCURY GRADE IN PERCENT
182