Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Gessner, K
• Schaubs, P M
• Ord, A
• Sheldon, H
• Regenauer-Lieb, K
• Potma, W
• Zhang, Y
• Zhao, C
• Hobbs, B E
• Elmer, F
• Cleverley, J

Titel

Simulating Coupled Processes in Hydrothermal Ore Systems for Predictive Mineral Discovery

Ist Teil von

• Eos (Washington, D.C.), 2006-12, Vol.87 (52)

Erscheinungsjahr

2006

Quelle

EZB Electronic Journals Library

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Hydrothermal mineralization requires metal-bearing fluids to flow across gradients of pressure, temperature, chemical concentration, or a combination of the above. Predicting the location of mineralization therefore requires an understanding of the hydraulic architecture of a fossil hydrothermal system in relation to thermal and deformation events, fluid pressure regimes, and the chemical composition of rocks and fluids. There is substantial need in mineral exploration to understand the mechanical, thermal, and chemical controls on ore deposition on a range of scales, in order to find new deposits. Conceptual models are insufficient to gain an understanding of the complex interplay between these processes, but such models can provide input to more quantitative understanding which can form the basis of mineral target decision making. We have developed a number of numerical schemes to investigate coupled deformation-fluid flow, deformation-fluid flow-thermal, and thermal-fluid flow-transport-reaction processes in three dimensions. These methods have been successfully applied on different scales to a number of hydrothermal ore deposit styles, such as orogenic gold, unconformity- related uranium, copper-lead-zinc-silver deposits and Archean ophiolitic copper. We present examples of such simulations in order to (1) illustrate the importance of coupling and feedback between processes in mineralized systems and (2) demonstrate how the conclusions from such models may be put to practical use in mineral exploration programs.