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Ore Deposits

Weathering-related deposits

All minerals are soluble; rate of


solubility controls formation of
resistates

Relative mobilities

Formation of laterites

Pisolitic duricrust

Saprolite
Placers & laterites 1
Ore Deposits

Soil zone

Duricrust

Saprolite

Laterite profile

Placers & laterites 2


Ore Deposits

Solubility of gibbsite & bauxite


formation

Formation of Ni laterites

Placers & laterites 3


Ore Deposits

Formation of placer deposits


What are placers?

How do they accumulate?

Primary vein gold

Minimal transport

Significant transport

Very mature, amalgamated

Placers & laterites 4


Ore Deposits

Classification of placers
Eluvial
Alluvial
Fluvial
Lacustrine, Glacial, Marine

Paleoplacers: the Witwatersrand


controversy

Placers & laterites 5


Ore Deposits

2 cm

Os isotope data:

Placers & laterites 6

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