Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 3396-Article Text-6439-2-10-20070525

    Uploaded by

    Angel Cubas Rivera
    15 views8 pages
    articulo

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    articulo

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    15 views8 pages

    3396-Article Text-6439-2-10-20070525

    Uploaded by

    Angel Cubas Rivera
    articulo

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 8
    Geoscience Canada Volume 11, Number 4 Ore Deposit Models — 8. Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide Deposits Part I: A Descriptive Model John W, Lydon Geological Survey of Canada {801 Booth Street Ottawa, Ontario KTA EB Introduction Viewed from both the economic and scion: lfc perspectives, volcanogenic massive sulphide deposis occupy a unique position ‘of importance among mineral deposi types. Economicaly. deposits of ths type are a major source of Copper, zinc, lead, silver ‘and gold, and a range of by-products incuding tin, cadmium. antimony and bis: ruth. For example, of the total production from Canadian mines during the period 1977.78, about 30% of the Cu, 63% of the Zn, 27% of the Pb, 58% of the Ag and {8% of the Au was oblained from volcano- ‘genic massive sulphide deposits. From the scientiic point of view, problems related to the characterization ard genesis of these deposits have attracted the attention ‘of geosciantists more than those of any ‘ther deposit type. with the result that in the last twenty-tve years more than five thousand articles directly related to volcan ‘genic massive sulphide deposits have ‘been published. Over the last few years, the llamas of scientific, and to some extent ‘economic and poltical, interest nave beer {urther fanned by the discovery of high temperature {350°C} hydrothermal vents on spreading ridges of the easier Pactic ‘Ocean that are actively preciptating metal sulphides with many similarities to volcano: ‘genic massive sulphice deposits, With such a history of scientific intorest {in the subject. even this relatively brie! ‘and generalized account of voleanogenic ‘massive sulphide deposits must to some ‘extent consiiule a review of the Iterature, but at the same time, because of ts beev- ity, nus! be highly selective in its content 'An ore deposit model can be considered to consist of two components. One of {hese is a descriptive mode! which embod ins those features of tho geological sot. tings, morphology, chemisty, mineralogy, Zoning, etc. judged to be characteristic. ‘ofthe deposit type. The descriptive model therefore can be considered to be an idealized example of the deposit type scaled down in dogree of detail and com: plexity trom the actual examples on which it i based. The other is a gonetic model, which attompts to give a rational and con- sistent expianaton of the characterstics ofthe depos type in terms of known or postulated geological processes, The prasant aricle deals only with a deseritve model for volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits tothcoming anicle ‘Peart I) will ciscuss aspects of gonetic ‘models for this 0°@ deposit type. in both articles, emphasis is on goneralzation and the use of Canadian examples. For more elaiied and extensive reviews of the descriptive and gonetic models the reader 1s refered to Franklin et at, (1981); Onmoto ‘and Skinner (1983): Kiau and Largo (1980): Finlow-Bates (1980); Sangster and Scott, (1976); Solomon (1376); Gilmour (1976); Lambert and Salo (1974); Hutchinson (1973), and Sangster (1972). Terminology \Volcanageric massive suiphige deposits ‘belong to tho larger class of concordant ‘massive sulphide deposits that includes ‘massive or semi-massive sulphide deposits formed by the discharge of hydrothermal ‘solutions onto tne seattoor. Although a ‘complete spectrum of types is represented (Girmour, 1976), the great majority of ind vidual concordant massive sulphise depos- its are readily classified ito one of two ‘major groups defined by the chemical, mi ‘eralogical. morphotogical textural. grade ‘and tonnage characteristics o the deposit itselt However, in naming these major ‘grcups, emphasis has been placed on the ‘ost cornmon lithologies of the host rocks ‘Over one part of the spectrum are the ‘sedimentary exhalatve. sodiment hosted, ‘oF shale nosted stratform massive sut ides, which include such famous depos: its as Sullvan, Broken Mil, Mt. Isa and Rammelsberg. Over the other part of he spectrum are the voleanogenic, volcanic ‘associated, volcanic hosted, oF volcano- pple massive suiphides. which are the subject ofthis article, Many authors cot: rectly object t0 the term volcanogenic ‘massive sulphides because it implies that the caposits themselves are an integral att of the volcanic process. which does rot appear to be the case. Rather, thoy seem to be the product of a specialized 'ype of nyarothermal systom that is only ‘cecastonaly developed in a submarine vol ‘canic environment. However, the torm volesnogenic massive sulphide has such 195 wide usago, itis debatable whether it should be dropped. For convenience. the acronym VMS willbe used here. Geological Setting and Distribution YM deposits typicaly, it not exciusively, ‘occur within geological domains which can be defined by the presence of submarine volcanic rocks. Although the immediate host rocks to the deposits are most com: monly of direct volcanic origi, such as lavas or pyrociastcs, or of indirect volcanic origin, such as volcaniclasics, other sedl- ‘mentary marine ithologies with no voleanie affiation, such as shalos or greywackes, are by no means rare. ‘There does nat appear to be any pre- forred geotectonic environment for VMS ‘deposits except that, lke the submarine voleanic rocks themselves, they are moro ‘commonly formed near plate margins (Sir toe, 1973; Sawkins, 1976). Thus VMS doposis are found at divergent plate mar- ‘gins (ophiolte-associated deposits) which may reflect mid-ooaan ridges or spreading backare basins (0.9. doposits of Cyprus ‘and Baie Verte area, Newloundiand); at ‘convergent plate margins in island arcs o° continental margins (@.g., Kuroko deposits ‘of Japan and Sparish-Portugese Pyrite Bolt): associated with intraplate oceanic {slands (Aggarwal and Nesbit, 1984); and ‘of course in more enigmatic plate lectonic ‘environments such as those represented by Archean greenstone belts. 1 also evident from the above that, ‘since plate tectonic envitonments are most ‘commonly diagnosed by the petrochemistry ‘of the associaled igneous rocks. VMS. deposits are not confined to any panicular poirocherical type of volcanic rock (Kau and Large, 1960), It has been suggested thal there is a preferential association ‘of VMS deposits with the most citferen tiated phases of @ calc-akaline magma (0.9. Sangster and Scot, 1976; Solomon, 1976), In some cases the importance of cale-alkaline host rocks may have been ex: ‘aggerated due to contusion ovor the dis: tinction between real calc-akaline trends ‘and “pseudo-cale-alkaline” trends superim- posed on tholetic rocks by the laterally extensive hydrothermal alteration com- ‘monly associated with areas of VMS do- posits (MacGeehan and MacLean, 1980). In Corder to scienticaly test whether of not MS deposits are pceterontaly related to @ speotic petrochemical type, thelr spatial distribution should be normalized to number of occurrences per unit area of outcrop of each petrochemical type of volcanic rock To the author's knowiedge. this has never been done. ‘There also does not appear to be ary prelerred time cistrbution for VMS depos- its, which range in age trom about 3.5 Ga in the Pilbara Block of Australia to tho ‘modern sulphide deposits of the East Pacific Rise. Hutchinson (1973) pointed out thal there are definte age span groupings {or VMS deposits which, as Sangster (19802) observed for Precambrian deposits ‘of North America, comespond to periods (of deposition of thick, supracrustal accu: ‘ulations, and should not be consiered as marking unique retalogenic phenomena. “Therefore, again, it is more than ikely thal these age-frequency peaks would cis: ‘appear ifthe number of deposits were rormalizad to area of voleantc outcrop of ‘given age ranges. However, there is no doubt that within submarine volcanic domains of the same ‘age and petrochemical type there is a strongly preferrea spatial astnbuton of VMS deposits, For exemple, 83 economic VMS deposits are known in 2.65-2.73 Ga volcanic bats of the Canadian Shiels, ‘but only two are known in compositionally ‘similar voleanic belts of the same age in Agstraia (Franklin at al, 1981). Similarly. fon a smaller scale wittin a single volcanic belt or domain, VMS deposits are not ‘evenly dietibuted. For example, out of the ‘ne essentially similar volcanic complexes ‘entited by Goodwin and Ridler (1970) fn the Abitibi Bet, only four contain signi ‘cant VMS ceposits. Charactersicaly. within most volcanic domains VMS deposts tend to occur in spatial groups or clusters, ‘separated from one another by lthotogicaly similar rocks that may contain only a fem, isolated, small VMS deposits. Sangster (19800) calculated that the average area ‘occupied by a typical cluster was about 850 square kilometres. equivalent to a ci ‘eit area of about 32 km in diameter, fang thal i contained an average ol 12 c0- posits and 94 milion tonnes of ore ‘Within each cluster most of the deposits tend to occur within a single stratigraphic interval, which occupies only a traction (ofthe foal stratigraptve interval occupies by the host volcanic edifice as a whole ‘This most productive statigraphic interval is often referred to as the favourable hon: zon, and itis pariculary evident wn the ‘Noranga (Spence and de Fosen-Spence, 1975}, Matagami (Roberts and Reardon, 1975; MacGeehan, 1978) and Bathurst (Davies, 1980) areas of Canada and the Green Tu Belt of Japan (Lambert and ‘Sato, 1976), Figure 1 ilustrates the case In the Notanda area, where itcan be seen that a large propotion ofthe deposits occur close to a single stratigraphic horizon, This concenttaion of VMS deposits in such ‘a small stratigraphic interval is even more remarkable if one takes into account that ‘below the stratigraphic interval ilusirated in ‘both felsic and matic volcanic rocks that Contain no evidence of VMS deposts (Franklin of af, 1981) Within the stratigraphic contines of the {favourable horizon and the lateral confines ‘of a cluster, the localization of individval MS lenses seems to be strongly related to structural controls in the substrate and positive or negative topographical features, of the ocean Hoo: (gee below). Sangster (1972) and Scott (1978) noted that the tistrbution of deposits inthe Noranda and Hokuroku mining camps, respectively. 3 peared to be controlled by sets of linear fractures. Solomen (1976) deduced that $0 ‘er cent of VMS deposits are spatially associated with felsic voleanic rocks, and ‘even in areas of dominantly mafic volcanic rocks, the VMS deposits themselves show @ propensity of associaton wit rhyolite domes (oF feisc fragmental rocks. Knuckey (1975) suggested that many of the individual ‘or@ lenses of the Milenbach mine. Noranca, as well as the ryoite domes land their feeder dykes, with which some but not all or lenses are spatially related are associated with synvolearie faults with vertical displacements. In a more gen eral perspective, Hodgson and Lydon (1977) proposed that many VMS deposis are ‘associated with the fracture systems oro ‘uced by resurgent calderas or subvotcaric intrusions ‘Cumulatwely the evidence cited above oes not suggest a simple relatonshin ‘between VMS deposits and submarine vol canism per se. I VMS deposits were imply a ditect and integral product of ‘submarine volcanism, then possibly & more for less uniform siratigraphic disibution ore tonnage 1.0 10.0 100.0 ff the deposits, combined with a preferred ‘spatial association with volcanic vents, ‘could be expected for every submarine vol- ccanic edifice of a spect petrocemical type. instead, thore is obvously a very se- lective distibution of VMS deposits which, regardless af the petrochemical magma type, occur only in a minority of submarine voleanic edtices. Furthermore, within nese mineralized eitices VMS deposi tend to be relatively common. In contrast to the lack of distinet contol by petrochemical type of volcanism, the spatial relationship of the deposits to synvoleanc taut, ‘hyolte domes o° topographic depressions, caldera rims or subyoleanc intrusions, Suggests that the deposits are closely re lated to particular hydrologic, topographic {and geothermal features ofthe ocean tloor ‘hat only infrequently combine to gwve the ‘spect configuration thal ts necessary {0 form VMS deposts, Architecture of VMS Deposits ‘The idealized architecture of a VMS deposit 's depicted in Figure 2. The typical deposit consists of a concordant lens of massive ‘sulphide, composed of 60 por cont or more sulphide minerais (Sangster and Scot. 1976), that is stratigraphicaly underlain by ‘a discordant stockwork or siringer zone ‘of veintype sulphide mneralization con: tained in @ pipe of hydrothermally altered rock. The upper contact of tre massive sulphide lens with hanging wall rocks is Usually extremely sharp, Dut the lower cntact i usvally gradational into the Key [a Figure 1 A schemate composi sacton of he ora massive supe dstct showng srangraphe reatonshps n tne upper part of tne Blake Aver Group andthe statgrapine [postions of mar VMS deposi /ARer Spence fad 60 Rosen Spence, 1974 Nruchey tal 1982; Krckey ang Watuns, 1982). Cyciesrter to tn andoste ycite volcan oyces ct ‘Spence and de Rosen Spence. 1876 ‘Rey to oposite 1 Corbet 2 Vauze.3~ ‘Norooc, 4= E Waite, 5~ 0. Waite, 6~ Amulet C ‘and F7 = Araiot Upper and Lower A 8— EDutaut Not 9 = Mitenbach, 10 Quemont 11 = Home: #2 Detondge: 19 - W. MacDonalt {Mine Gatien, 14 ~ Moore ‘Geoscience Canada Volume 11, Number 4 ‘stringer zone. A single depositor mine may consist of several indvidual massive sulphide lenses and their undetying stock- ‘work zones. The conventional interpreta: tion is thatthe stockwork zone represents the near-surface channelways ofa subma- rine hydrothermal system and the massive ‘sulphide lens represents the accumulation (of sulphides precipitated rom the hycro- thermal solutions on the see floor above ‘end around the discharge vent. The char- ‘ctorisics that are ilusrated in Fig 2 represent the simpiest configuration, in ‘whieh no complications, such as syndepo- sitonal slumping of the massive ore away from its stockwork zone, are taken into ‘consideration ‘The morphology of a single massive lens ranges from that ofa steop-sided cone to that of a tabular sheet. The majociy of ‘cone-shaped deposits appear io have ac- ‘cumulated on the top or flanks of a positive topographic feature, such as a chyolile ‘dome in the case of the Milenbach deposit “whereas the majority of sheet-ike deposits, cexnalite” or “Tuffite” horizon Si0,* Pyt Hem Hydrothermal 5 alteration pipe ‘such as the Brunswick No. 12 deposit, ‘appear to have accumulated in topographic depressions. Most Canadian deposits have ‘undergone penetrative deformation, so that in extromo cases a deposit may have ‘been siretcned into @ penci-shaped body. With the stockwork zone transposed to 42 postion of apparent lateral conformity with the massive sulphide tens, By far the most common sulphide min- eral in the massive sulphide lens is pyrite Pyrthotite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galona ‘and, more rarely, sulphosalts and borite comprise the subordinate sulphide species. ‘The most common non-sulphide metalic ‘minerais inclide magnetite, hematite anc ‘cassterite. Of the gangue or associated ‘minerais that may occur as co-preciptates with the sulphides are quartz, chon, boarite, gypsum and carbonates Textures and structures of the ores are very variable. inthe least metamorphosed ‘deposits the massive ore is usualy a tine {grained mesaic of sulphide grains which ‘crease in coarseness with increasing meta- MASSIVE SULPHIDE LENS oe Magsive, rubbly or brecciated structure (strong chemical zonation pattern) Gradational tootwall contact 197 morphic grade. In the cone-shaped deposits, massive, rudbiy or reccialed textures tend to predominate in tho central part of the lens, whereas sit- 10 boulder-sized sulphide fragmenis form an apron of clastic sulphide rock that often exhibis spectacular sed- rmantary structures around the periphery of the lens, Regularly layered or laminated sulphides are more typcal of the sheeted eposte. Textures and structures of th ‘most metamorphosed and deformed m sive sulphige lenses are more aptly de- scribed as gneissose, Perhaps the most dagnastic leatures of VMS deposits ara the pronounced zona- tions of chemistry, mineralogy and textures ofthe ores and the metasornatic changes 10 the host rock within the nydrothermal alter ation pipe. The most abvious and consist- tent of those zonation pattems is the systematic decrease in chalcopyrite(sohal ‘rte = galena) ratios, or more simply fang conveniently, the Cu’Zn ratio, upwards ‘and outwards from the core ofthe altera- tion pipe and the base of the massive —— Lo Bedded or layered structure (chemically heterogenous) STOCKWORK ZONE py + Py Po sulphide mineralization chloritic hydrothermal alteration Py + Sp + Gn sulphide mineratization sericitic-chloritic hydrothermal alteration Figure 2 Essenta!charactonsics ofan ceazed veteanogeni massive sulside deposit sulphide fans (Fig. 2), Of the other metalic minerals, pychotite, magnetite and borite (it present) tend to be concentrated in the core ofthe stockwork zone and central basal pan of the massive sulphide lens, corresponding to the zone of highest Cu'Zn ratios. Bante, when present, generally occurs with the greatest ephalerite and gal tena concentrations in the outermost zone of the massive suphde lens. Pyrite, though {generally ubsauitous throughout the sul hice zonation pattern, tends to achieve iis ‘maximum modal relative proportion where sphalerte becomes predominant over chal- copyrt. in mary cases a thin, bedded, pyrite oF hematie, sibcecus exhalto or tu fite nonzon forms a veneer over the top of the sulphide mound and extends as a stratigraphic marker laterally away trom the deposit, This sedimentary horizon is thought ta largely represent chemicat precipitation from the waning stages of hycrothermal ‘activity during voleanic quescence. In ‘some deposits thoro is a spatial association of magneiite-hematie on formavon (e.g Bathurst. New Brunswick area) or man- ganese oxige formation (e.g. beran pyrite Delt), with custers of VMS deposi. These widespread metal onide seciments usually ‘occur somewhat stratgraphicaly highor than the favourabie horzon, but the exact ‘gonotic relationship between the sulphide and oxide deposits is not clealy under stood Hyorothermal Alteration of Host Rocks Within and surrounding the stockwork zone there is generally a pronounced zon: ‘ation in the inlensity and type of metaso- ‘matism produced by the hydrothermal ‘ateraion of the host rocks, which fo some ‘extent corresponds to the abundance of the sulphide veining. The most detailed documentation of retasomatic affects has ‘been recorded for deposits ofthe ADIN Bolt At the Milenbach (Riverin and Hodg- ‘Son, 1980: Knuckey 0 at, 1982) and Cor- bool (Knuckey and Watkins, 1982) deposits (of the Noranda area, the ateration pipes ‘consist of innar chlaniized cores sur- rounded by sericitzed peripheries. The chlorite core § characterized by major ac ‘tions of iron and magnesium and by

    You might also like