Genesis of calc-alkaline molybdenum deposits

These are associated with calc-alkaline and high-K calc-alkalic arc magmas. The parent
magmas are low in fluorine and molybdenum. They may occur as stock-type or as
plutonic-type stockworks. The lack of co-magmatic extrusive rocks suggests the magma
had a low water content or was emplaced at rather deep levels in the crust. Formation of
the zone of stockwork fracturing started a complex magmatic hydrothermal convective
system. A central zone dominated by magmatic hydro thermal fluids at lithostatic
pressure was surrounded by a large meteoric convection system under hydrostatic
pressure (Westra and Keith, 1981). In the plutonic stockworks high confining pressures
prevent boiling of the magmatic hydro thermal fluid. Lack of boiling stops effective H"S
fractionation into the vapour phase and the pyrite halo is weakly developed or lacking in
these plutonic stockworks. Owing to the low initial molybdenum content of the parent
magma and the relatively inefficient concentration mechanisms in the magma, the final
grade in the hydrothermal system will rarely exceed 0.25% MoS2.