1

Movement of Ore-Bearing
Fluids
Main reference: Guilbert and
Parks, Chap 3
Aqueous Fluids move as (of):
Net permeability which is a function of:
Viscosity
Density
Abundance of interconnected pores, fractures,
faults
Pressure gradients
Time
Magmatic fluids - melts - follow the rules of
Igneous Petrology
2
Natural Permeabilities
3
Replacement in Galena
4
Fe, S Diffusion around Veins
Cpy Exsolution from Sphalerite
5
Ground Preparation
Primary Permeability
Clastic or autobrecciated carbonates
Reef structures
Missouri MVT ores
Well-sorted conglomerates
Broken or scoriaceous lava flow tops
Keweenaw native Cu deposits
Permeable sandstones
Roll front Uranium ores
6
Secondary Permeability
Folds and Faults producing planar breaks
that can be filled with Veins
Simple, Complex, Anastomosing, Conjugate
Faults: hanging-wall and footwall
Ore shoots
Pipes and Chimneys
Breccia pipes
Mantos
7
Fault Irregularities
8
Breccia Pipes
Solution/collapse are
the major open-space
causing processes
Voids filled by high-
grade ore and gangue
minerals
They grow/develop from
the bottom upwards
This example from a
Cu-porphyry deposits in
Chile
9
Permeability Enhancement
10
Plunge, Pitch, Rake, Strike,
Dip
11
Ex: SW Wisconsin Pb-Zn
Hydrothermal Sources?
Sedimentary rocks
Metamorphic degassing
Igneous crystallization
Meteoric (rain) water
Formation water
Sea water