Ore Morphology & Texture of Hydrothermal

Laboratory of Economic Geology
Dept of Geology – FIKTM - ITB

© Dipl. Ing. Ir. Andri S.S. Mubandi ~ 2005
THE NATURE AND MORPHOLOGY

OF THE PRINCIPAL TYPES
OF ORE DEPOSITS
DISCORDANT ORE BODIES

• Regular shaped bodies
•Tabular ore bodies (Vein system  extensive 2 dimensions)
•Tubular ore bodies (Pipe system  short 2 dimensions)
•Irregularly shaped
•Disseminated deposits
•Irregular replacement deposits
CONCORDANT ORE BODIES

• Sedimentary host rocks
•Limestone hosts
•Argillaceous hosts
•Arenaceous
•Rundaceous hosts (Alluvial gravel)
•Chemical sediments
Igneous host rocks

•Volcanic hosts
•Plutonic hosts
•Metamorphic host rocks

•Residual deposits
•Supergene enrichment
Diagram of lacolith and accompyning dikes and sills (Bateman 1951)

Diagram of a batolith with associated dikes and sills (Bateman 1951)

© Dipl. Ing. Ir. Andri S.S. Mubandi ~ 2005 Granitic intrusion on limestone
Caving by karstification followed by ore replacement
(contact metasomatic ore bodies)
followed by ore deposition
Structure development associated

with fault system filled by ore
(Bateman 1951) A, chambered vein, B. dilataion vein in schist, C.

sheeted veins, D. en echelon veins in schist, E. linked
veins
Comb Vug
(Grasberg, Timika Papua)
(Bateman 1951)
Crustiform
(Bateman 1951)
A, pinches and swells produced by movement along

irregular fissures, with walls supported at opposite bulges;
B & C, openings produced by movement along fissure that
bends in different rocks
© Dipl. Ing. Ir. Andri S.S. Mubandi ~ 2005 (Bateman 1951)
Relation of fissures to physical

features of rocks. A. strong
vein in competent rocks
breaking up into stringers and
disappearing upon entering in
competent rocks. B. Strong
fissure at Ouray deflected in
shale and disappearing in
black shale above. C. Vein at
George town, Colorado,
constricted in passage
through porphyry. D. Division
of strong vein into stringer
upon entering schist. E.
Refraction and diversion
(upper) and deflection (lower)
of vein upon encountering an
incompetent rock. F. Strong
fissure in schist diverging
upward into minor fissures in
brittle andesite, Mazzarron
Spain.
Why the mineralization

so extensive here ?
Relation of fissures to physical features of rocks. A. strong vein in
competent rocks breaking up into stringers and disappearing upon
entering in competent rocks. B. Strong fissure at Ouray deflected in shale
(Bateman 1951) and disappearing in black shale above.
© Dipl. Ing. Ir. Andri S.S. Mubandi ~ 2005 Part of 1200 level Leonard Mine,
Butte , Montana, showing
fissure system wit EW, NW, NE
veins and faults; also horsetail
structure of some EW veins.
(Bateman 1951)
(Bateman 1951)
Classes of fissure systems. A. parallel system, B. Fan shaped, C.

radial, D. intersecting cognate, E. intersecting system, F.
conjugated
Field Detail Structure of Outcrop Hand specimen
Microscopic
(Lok Ulo, Karangsambung)
(Bateman 1951)
Ore filling in tension

crack along anticline
Saddle reefs in vertical

section at Great Extended
Hustlers shaft, Bendigo,
Australia, with basic dike
along center country
Large replacement
deposit in folded
limestone of the great
Broken Hill lead-zink
(Pb-Zn ore) deposit in
Australia
(Bateman 1951)
Type of replacement: A. Bold face advance, B. Outer fringe of

disseminated replacement, C. multiple center
Left: replacement ore localized by fissure intersection; Right: Replacement

lodes developed (A) along single fissures and (B) along shear zone
Andris slab collection

Papandayan Volcanic “bomb” shows fissure vein network
enclosed by sulfur rich pyroclastic (yellow). All of the fissures
has been filled and replaced by very fine grained pyrite and
scarcely by galena (gray).
Relation of replacement
bodies to sedimentary
features (black is ore). A.
to intercalated limestone
beds, B. to bedding
planes, C. to overlying
impervious bed.
(Bateman 1951)
Features illustrating criteria of replacement. A. unsupported residuals, B.
preserved strata, C. preserved folds, D. ore abutting bedding, E. doubly
terminated crystals, F. pyrite cube truncating bedding, G. cube has grown by
pushing aside bedding, H. irregular outlines.
Forms of replacement
deposits. A. along
fissures and where
phonolite dammed
solution (Black Hill S.
Dakota), B. ore restricted
bellow shale abutting
dolomite bedding (Union
& Portland Mine S.
Dakota), D & E cross and
longitudinal sections of
Iron Hill, Leadville,
Colorado. F.
Replacement vein
(Jumbo mine Kennecot
Alaska), G. relation of
ore to fissures in
quartzite and to
overlying schist, Ferris
Haggarty mine Wyoming.
(Bateman 1951)
Massive replacement deposits

of sulfide ore in isometric
projection, Horne mine,
Noranda, Quebec. Numbers of
dike refer to mine levels
(21=2100 feet depth).
(Bateman 1951)
TEXTURES AND STRUCTURES OF ORE
AND GANGUE MINERALS
Genesis & History of Ore Bodies (e.g. Magmatic

Hydrothermal vs Metamorphic)
Open Space Filling

•Precipitation from silicate melts
•Precipitation from aqueous solutions
•Replacement
Fluid Inclusions (Formation & thermal history of ores;

Primary & Secondary in Quartz, Calcite, Topaz etc.)
Wall Rock Alteration

•Types of wall rock alteration (Advanced argillic alteration,
sericitization, intermediate argillic alteration, chloritization etc.)
Uses of Texture and Structure

Analyses of Ore
Influence of Original Rock Types
Correlation with type of mineralization
Timing of wall rock alteration
The nature of ore forming solution as deduced

from wall rock alteration
Textures
Texture is defined as the general physical appearance

or character of a rock, including geometric aspects of, and
the mutual relations among, the component particles or
crystals; e.g. size, shape, and arrangement of the
constituent elements of a sedimentary rock, or the
crystallinity, granularity and fabric of the constituent
elements of an igneous rock.
The term is applied to the smaller megascopic and

microscopic features as seen on a smooth surface of a
homogeneous rocks or mineral aggregate.
The term "structure" is generally used for the larger

features of a rock.
(Prophylitic, Potassic (Garut) & Phyllic Zone Goa – South Celebes)

(Ciarinem, Garut – West Java)

(Grasberg, Timika Papua) Fracture filling
Qz
Qz
Src Mgt
Chp
Core slab from of vein system porphyry copper deposit of Grasberg - Free
Port – Irian Jaya consisting of hair like fissure veins, crustiform quartz,
intergranular pore filling and replacement.
Ore textures are commonly discussed in terms of being

primary or secondary; or as hypogene or supergene. These terms
have a genetic connotation that is not obvious in all cases.
Primary minerals are those characteristic or existing in a rock at

the time of its formation--contrasts with secondary.
Secondary minerals are those resulting from the alteration of

primary minerals.
Hypogene minerals are those formed by precipitation from

generally ascending waters.
Supergene minerals are those formed by generally descending

waters--includes ores and minerals formed by downward
enrichment.
Mammillary texture

(Goa, South Celebes)

(Skarn DOZ Grasberg, Timika Papua)

(Quartz in Vein Prophylitic Zone, Goa – South Celebes)

(Prophylitic & Phyllic Zone Goa – South Celebes)

Alteration of Basalts
Various types of alteration were encountered in Hole 801C basement rocks drilled during Leg 185. The alteration halos adjacent to veins or exposed surfaces are
described in the following section.
Dark Gray Alteration
Pervasive but slight background alteration affects most of the basalt cores starting with the first core (i.e., Section 185-801C-13R-1, at the depth of 594.3 mbsf)
down to the bottom of the hole at 935.7 mbsf (Fig. F49). As a result of this alteration, the basalts display a dark gray color when wet that becomes a lighter gray or
brownish gray when dry. This alteration is pervasive and not specifically focused along veins or exposed surfaces. Rocks affected by this dark gray background
alteration typically contain 2%-15% secondary phases by volume.
This background alteration results from the complete replacement of rare olivine phenocrysts by smectite and, much more rarely, the partial replacement of
plagioclase and augite phenocrysts by smectite. On the other hand, plagioclase microlites and intergranular plumose or dendri tic augite are generally unaltered.
Titanomagnetite is unaltered to slightly altered to titanomaghemite, exhibiting minor shrinkage cracks. In the groundmass, the rare interstitial glass is totally
replaced by smectite. Smectite and minor calcite fill vesicles and miarolitic voids, which are generally not abundant. In thi n sections, smectite varies in color from
dark brown to pale greenish to yellowish brown, but it is typically black in hand specimen. Based on previous work at Site 801 and elsewhere, this widespread
smectite is most likely saponite (Alt et al., 1992; Alt, 1999). Recrystallized igneous sulfide globules are locally common, as are disseminated secondary pyrite and
minor marcasite.
Pale Green Alteration
Pale green color is restricted to intense pervasive alteration (up to 80% by volume) of basalts locally in Sections 185-801C-15R-1 to 16R-3 of Units 39 to 49 (i.e.,
from 613 to 626 mbsf) (Fig. F50). This type of alteration is due to the total replacement of the rare olivine phenocrysts by a tan to green smectite and intense
replacement of plagioclase phenocrysts and microlites by abundant calcite and tan smectite. Plagioclase phenocrysts are less altered than the microlites. Both
secondary minerals also fill vesicles and miarolitic voids and pervasively replace the groundmass. Preliminary XRD results indicate that the smectite is
dioctahedral, probably a montmorillonite. Apatite was also identified by XRD. Celadonite and green nontronite are occasionally observed filling voids in halos
along veins. Fine-grained pyrite is disseminated through the groundmass and particularly in bands outside alteration halos along veins. Pale green alteration
progressively grades through a gray-green alteration zone (see below) into dark gray adjacent rocks within the same core section (e.g., Section 185-801C-15R-7)
(see Fig. F50).
Gray-Green Alteration
Gray-green alteration is present in Sections 185-801C-15R-1,15R-2, and 15R-5, in which it can be the dominant alteration type (up to 95% of the section), and
also in Sections 16R-1 and 17R-2, where it is much less important (2 and 20 vol%, respectively). Gray-green altered rocks represent the intermediate alteration
type between intensely altered pale green rocks and the typical pervasive dark gray background alteration.
Calcite is the most abundant secondary phase in gray-green altered rocks. It locally replaces plagioclase and olivine phenocrysts and fills vesicles and miarolitic
voids, where it is sometimes associated with chalcedony. It is also the main vein mineral. Clinopyroxene appears to be unaltered. The groundmass is partly (20%)
replaced by calcite and smectite. Titanomagnetite is intensely altered to titanite, and abundant disseminated pyrite is present in the groundmass.
Hyaloclastite and Glass Alteration
Even though fresh basaltic glass is found nearly down to the bottom of the hole, glass from glassy pillow rims or hyaloclasti tes is generally strongly altered to
smectite. Hyaloclastite glass shards are altered to smectite, whereas the cement is commonly calcite or smectite. It is remarkable that no zeolite has been
observed in any of the hyaloclastite or glassy pillow rims of Hole 801C. Phillipsite is typically a very common result of "palagonitization" (i.e., the low-temperature
alteration of basaltic glass by seawater).
Abbildung F45. Hydrothermales

brecciation hat eine zerlegbare Zone
innerhalb einer außergewöhnlich
großen Ader im
zusammenhängenden vulkanischen
Felsen (Maßeinheit 26) erzeugt. Die
clasts werden intensiver als die
umgebenden vulkanischen
groundmass geändert, und einige
sind im Verhältnis zu einander
verschoben worden (Probe 193-
1189b-16r-1, 7-15 Zentimeter).
Table T10. Alkali budget, Hole 801C.
Volume K20 Total K

(vol%) (wt%) (%)
Rock 96.75 0.08 79.40
Alteration halos 1.70 0.24 4.19
Breccia + hyaloclastite 1.50 0.80 12.31
Celadonite veins 0.05 8.00 4.10
Total altered Leg 185 section: 0.09 100.00
Interpillow sediment: 2.30 1.50 27.04
Leg 185 altered basalt + sediment: 0.13 100.00
Notes: Calculations made using logged percentages of different components and shipboard
X-ray fluorescence analyses of fresh and altered materials. See "Alteration Geochemistry" in
"Basement Alteration" for discussion

Ore Morphology & Texture of Hydrothermal

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Laboratory of Economic Geology

Dept of Geology – FIKTM - ITB

THE NATURE AND MORPHOLOGY

DISCORDANT ORE BODIES

CONCORDANT ORE BODIES

Igneous host rocks

•Metamorphic host rocks

Diagram of lacolith and accompyning dikes and sills (Bateman 1951)

Diagram of a batolith with associated dikes and sills (Bateman 1951)

Structure development associated

(Bateman 1951) A, chambered vein, B. dilataion vein in schist, C.

(Grasberg, Timika Papua)

A, pinches and swells produced by movement along

Relation of fissures to physical

Why the mineralization

Classes of fissure systems. A. parallel system, B. Fan shaped, C.

Field Detail Structure of Outcrop Hand specimen

Ore filling in tension

Saddle reefs in vertical

Type of replacement: A. Bold face advance, B. Outer fringe of

Left: replacement ore localized by fissure intersection; Right: Replacement

Andris slab collection

Massive replacement deposits

Genesis & History of Ore Bodies (e.g. Magmatic

Open Space Filling

Fluid Inclusions (Formation & thermal history of ores;

Wall Rock Alteration

Uses of Texture and Structure

Influence of Original Rock Types

Correlation with type of mineralization

Timing of wall rock alteration

The nature of ore forming solution as deduced

Texture is defined as the general physical appearance

The term is applied to the smaller megascopic and

The term "structure" is generally used for the larger

(Prophylitic, Potassic (Garut) & Phyllic Zone Goa – South Celebes)

(Grasberg, Timika Papua)

(Ciarinem, Garut – West Java)

(Grasberg, Timika Papua) Fracture filling

Ore textures are commonly discussed in terms of being

Primary minerals are those characteristic or existing in a rock at

Secondary minerals are those resulting from the alteration of

Hypogene minerals are those formed by precipitation from

Supergene minerals are those formed by generally descending

(Grasberg, Timika Papua)

(Goa, South Celebes)

(Skarn DOZ Grasberg, Timika Papua)

(Quartz in Vein Prophylitic Zone, Goa – South Celebes)

(Prophylitic & Phyllic Zone Goa – South Celebes)

Abbildung F45. Hydrothermales

Table T10. Alkali budget, Hole 801C.

Volume K20 Total K

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