Basa, Adurenzo

Viernes, Jeff
Wakit, Jomarson

CHAPTER 12 • AMYGDALOIDS - a volcanic rock in which

rounded cavities formed by the expansion of
OPENINGS IN ROCKS gas/steam have later become filled with
deposits of various minerals.
• Chemical processes and alteration in general
• AMYGDULES - (filled cavities) form when the
may go on in a rock without cavities other than
gas bubbles or vesicles in volcanic lava (or other
pore space and capillary or sub-capillary
extrusive igneous rocks) are infilled with a
openings. Such processes are, however,
secondary mineral.
metamorphic rather than metasomatic; they
• VESICLES - gas bubbles in lava that has solidified
simply effect a mineralogical rearrangement
• Some sandstones and conglomerates contain
without much chemical change; the
much pore space in which solutions may
composition of the rock remains constant.
deposit ores.
• PORE/S - tiny spaces between the individual
B. BY SOLUTION
grains of rocks
• SOLUTION CAVITIES are found mainly in easily
• PORE SPACE - is formed by pores of much
soluble rocks, such as limestone, dolomite,
smaller dimensions than the 30 μm thickness of
gypsum, and salt.
the thin section
• Joints in limestone are often irregularly
enlarged by solution and when subsequently
• Great majority of mineral deposits were formed
filled with ores such cavities are known as gash
where the path of the solution was prescribed
veins or pipe veins.
by openings in the rocks other than those of
• Caves in limestone are likewise made by
ordinary pore space.
atmospheric water of the upper circulation,
containing dissolved carbon dioxide. Caves are
• After the solutions have gained access to the
generally formed above the ground-water level
rock they may enter the pores and capillary
in the zone of oxidation.
openings and effect metasomatic changes.
• The breaking in of caves near the surface
produces the “sink-holes”. Both caves and sink-
CAVITY - formed in certain rocks in which percolating
holes have a certain importance in the origin of
solutions have filled with valuable minerals.
the class of zinc-lead deposits common to many
limestone areas.
ROCK CAVITIES MAY ORIGINATE IN VARIOUS WAYS:
• Caves of dissolution in the oxidized part of ore
deposits in limestone are sometimes the
A. BY THE ORIGINAL MODE OF FORMATION OF THE
receptacles for a great variety of secondary
ROCKS
minerals.
B. BY SOLUTION
• Deposits of bat guano and nitrates are
C. BY FRACTURES OF VARIOUS MODES OF ORIGIN
sometimes found in caves.
• SMALL SOLUTION CAVITIES are often found in
A. BY THE ORIGINAL MODE OF FORMATION OF THE
more resistant rocks that have been exposed to
ROCKS
hot solutions of great solvent power.
• Many volcanic flows contain abundant gas
C. BY FRACTURES OF VARIOUS MODES OF ORIGIN
pores, or blow holes produced by the expansive
forces of gases escaping from the magma.
a. Contraction Joints Produced by Tensile Stress
• Zeolites and calcite, sometimes with native
in Igneous Rocks
copper, often accumulate in pores; and usually
termed “amygdaloids” and the filled cavities
 When magmas congeal to igneous rocks tensile
“amygdules”.
stresses which result in joints are developed.
 This is best exemplified in effusive rocks, which
often show regular columnar structure and
which are always full of irregular joints and
cracks.
 EFFUSIVE ROCKS - volcanic rocks formed by a
nonexplosive outpouring of lava in molten or
plastic form.
b. Contraction Joints by Shrinking of Limestone
When Changed to Dolomite
 Dolomite is not uncommonly formed near
certain metal deposits and it is possible that this
process when carried on by rapidly moving
solutions and in comparatively free space may
result in openings suitable as receptacles for
ore minerals.
c. Expansion Joints Produced by Increase of Rock
Volume
 Peridotite upon change to serpentine near the
surface and near fissures is believed to increase
its volume greatly and such serpentine often
breaks into smooth fragments. Extreme
irregularity is a characteristic of all expansion
joints and they are of little importance in ore
deposition.
d. Fissures Produced by Torsional Stress
 Experiment by Daubrée carried out by twisting
a thick glass plate has shown that torsional
stress may result in several systems of long and
radiating fissures.
 G.F. Becker has pointed out that such fissures
do not allow approximate planes, like fissure
veins, but are decidedly curved and warped.
 C.K. Leith and W.J. Mead have shown that the
torsion fissures do not extend through any
considerable thickness of material.
 A sandstone will accommodate itself to bending
with difficulty and will easily break at anticlines
or synclines.
f. Openings Produced by Shearing Stress under
the Influence of Gravity
 In many disturbed regions the rocks are broken
by normal faults along which the various blocks
have settled down under the influence of
gravity.
 Normal faulting is a special characteristic of
regions which do not bear evidence of strong
compressive stress.
g. Openings Produced by Compressive Stress
 The rocks which have been exposed by erosion
are usually traversed by more or less regular
joint systems, persistent over large areas.
 Closely spaced joint systems form transitions
into slaty cleavage, and recrystallization of
minerals takes place by preference along these
planes.
FORCE OF CRYSTALLIZATION
Minerals crystallizing from solutions exert a certain
pressure on the walls which confine them. Many
geologists have held that this force is sufficient to
enlarge cavities along fractures and thus make
room for mineral deposits.

e. Openings Produced by Folding of Sedimentary

 The bedding planes of sediments are primary

structures which often serve as ducts for metal-
bearing solutions.
 Softer shale will bend without breaking.
 Better passageways for such solutions are
provided when a series of sediments of unequal
resistance is folded.