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Lect 1 Ore Forming Processes
Lect 1 Ore Forming Processes
(09 credits)
Lect 1
Ore forming processes
Magmatic is when liquid magma cools and solidifies to form igneous rock, it
forms ore of metals, gems and other precious minerals.
In the mafic magma crystallization usually starts from the bottom so early
forming minerals are concentrated at the base.
Magmatic process
Fractional crystallization: separates ore and non-ore minerals
according to their crystallization temperature. These crystals
may settle onto the bottom of the intrusion, concentrating ore
minerals there. Chromite and magnetite are ore minerals that
form in this way.
Liquid immiscibility: As a magma changes, parts of it may
separate from the main body of magma. In magmas, sulfides
may separate and sink below the silicate-rich part of the
intrusion or be injected into the rock surrounding it. These
deposits are found in mafic and ultramafic rocks.
Magmatic process….
Magmatic segregation.
Magmatic segregation is a process by which one or more
minerals become locally concentrated (segregated) during the
cooling and crystallization of a magma. Rocks formed because
of magmatic segregation are called magmatic cumulates.
While a magma may start as a homogeneous liquid, magmatic
segregation during crystallization can produce an assemblage
of cumulates with widely differing compositions.
HYDROTHERMAL PROCESS
Hydrothermal process
Water is heated by the magma chamber and this water dissolves metals.
Metals are dissolved in the water and this solution seeps through cracks,
fractures and through permeable rocks until they are precipitated and form a
deposit.
The hydrothermal solution in vein deposits can also soak through the
country rock which for disseminated ore deposits. This is less
concentrated but as formed with the vein together they form economical
deposit.
Hydrothermal process
Disseminated copper deposits are associated with porphyry copper
deposits.
SEDIMENTARY PROCESS
Sedimentary process
• These deposits owe their origin to the weathering of preexisting rock,
which facilitates the segregation of the ore into an anomalously high
concentration.
• Sedimentary mineral deposits may be classified as
(1) placer deposits,
(2) residual concentrations
(3) supergene enrichments
(4) primary chemical precipitates.
Sedimentary…………
• Placer deposit
Are mineral deposits in which certain heavy minerals have been
concentrated by the selective sorting and transportation action of
currents and waves. The ore material is chemically and physically
resistant and has a higher density than associated sedimentary
materials.
• Residual placer
Are concentrations of weathering-resistant ore minerals that are due to
supergene abstraction of non-ore material.
Assignment, to be collected on next session
• Explain about supergene enrichment and primary chemical
precipitate.