ECONOMIC GEOLOGY- Metamorphic Geochemistry

Economic geology is the study of fuels, metals, and other materials from the earth that are of
interest to industry or the economy in general. It is concerned with the distribution of
resources, the costs and benefits of their recovery, and the value and availability of existing
materials.

A mineral deposit that is sufficiently rich to be worked at a profit is called an ore deposit, and
in an ore deposit the assemblage of ore minerals plus gangue is called the ore
 Economically Important Metal Concentrations in Earth’s Crust

Concentration
Metal (% by weight)
Aluminum 8.0
Iron 5.8
Copper 0.0058
Nickel 0.0072
Zinc 0.0082
Uranium 0.00016
Lead 0.001
Silver 0.000008
Gold 0.0000002
 Ores………..
An occurrence of minerals or metals in sufficiently high concentration
to be profitable to mine and process using current technology and
under current economic conditions.
Ore grade is the concentration of economic mineral or metal in an
ore deposit.
Typical Grade
Weight percentage (base metals) Metal (% by weight)
Grams/tonne or oz/ton (precious metals) Aluminum 30
Iron 53
Copper 0.5-4
Nickel 1
Zinc 4
Uranium 0.3
Lead 5
Silver 0.01
Gold 0.0001-0.001
 ORE DEPOSITS
HYDROTHERMAL ORE DEPOSITS
As magma cools, more abundant metals (silicon,
aluminum) deposit first Solidification of magma
releases water - a hydrothermal solution Minerals
precipitate from hydrothermal solution and deposit
in cracks or veins in rock.
METAMORPHIC ORE DEPOSITS
Concentration of minerals caused by high temperatures
and pressures near intrusions
Examples:
Lead-zinc deposits in southeast B.C.
Diamonds
Garnets
 Sedimentary Ore Deposits
Deposition of dense, resistant minerals in streams, lakes etc (Alluvial
Deposits), e.g. Placer gold
Precipitation of minerals from ancient oceans (Evaporite Deposits),
e.g. Potash and salt deposits
Accumulation, burial and petrification of vegetation, e.g. Coal
Deposits.
Ore Deposits Environment
Hydrothermal Deposits
 THE GEOCHEMICAL VARIABILITY OF MAGMAS
• Apart from these major elements, all magmas have varying proportions of
elements such as hydrogen, carbon, and sulphur, which are converted into
gases like water vapour, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulphide as the
magma cools. alkaline elements.