Block 3

Mining

Lesson 2
Mineral Resources

Exploring
Geosciences –
12 Thematic Lessons-
October 28th, 2020
Your Host:
Francine Fallara, P. Geo., M.Sc.A (OGQ #433)

Exploration geologist with over 25 years

of field experience in various difficult
geological environments
Consultant in analytical data analysis
specialized in complex geological
exploration studies
Expert in 3D geological modeling and
www.ffexplore3d.com
digital targeting of minerals

2
 Thematic Bloc 3 - Overview
Thematic Block 3 Lesson Subtitle Date - 2020 English

1 Drilling: Main Steps in October 14th 1:30 – 3:30 PM

the Mining Cycle
Mining 2 Mineral Resources October 28th 1:30 – 3:30 PM

3 Build a Mine November 4th 1:30 – 3:30 PM

3
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
 Lesson 2 – Mineral Resources
Lesson 2 Sub-lessons October 28th

a. What is a Mineral Deposit?

b. Mineral Deposit Formation Process

Mineral Resources c. Ore Mineral Deposit Classification 1:30 – 3:30
PM
d. Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
e. Ore Mineral Deposit Exploration

4
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
What is a Mineral Deposit?
 The technical definition of a mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic,
homogeneous solid with a definite chemical composition and an ordered
atomic arrangement.

 A mineral is a substance that is:

 Made of a single element: Gold (Au)

 Compound of elements: Salt (NaCl)

 Main component of a rock: Granite is composed primarily of the

minerals quartz and feldspar
5
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
What is a Mineral Deposit?
 A variety of natural resources taken from the Earth’s Crust including:

 Metallic (i.e. gold, copper, zinc, etc.)

 Nonmetallic (i.e. talc, limestone, sand, etc.)

– briefly discussed in this lesson

 Fossil Fuels or ‘energy minerals’ (i.e. oil, natural gas and coal)
– not discussed in this lesson

6
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
What is a Mineral Deposit?
 Basic mineral resource terms:
1. Aggregate —A rock or mineral material used separately and as filler in cement, asphalt, plaster,
and other materials.
2. Alloy —A substance having metallic properties and composed of two or more chemical elements,
of which at least one is a metal.
3. Element —A substance whose atoms have the same atomic number.

4. Metal —A class of chemical elements, such as iron, gold, and aluminum, that have a characteristic
luster, are good conductors of heat and electricity, and are opaque, fusible, and generally
malleable and ductile.
5. Ore —The naturally occurring material from which a mineral or minerals of economic value can be
extracted.
6. Rock —A naturally formed material composed of a mineral or minerals; any hard consolidated
material derived from the Earth

7
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Where and How do Mineral Deposits Occur?
 The Rock Cycle and Plate Tectonics are the two geological cycles which
determines how mineral deposits are formed:

 Mineral deposits occur in various tectonic and geologic settings and

activity:
 Some mineral deposits may be formed in one place but be
transported to another geographic location as a result of tectonic
forces or other geologic processes.

 The study of tectonic processes and regional geology is important

in understanding the distribution of mineral deposits:
• Gold, for example, can be concentrated with other minerals in veins that form in
fractures in rocks deep underground

8
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Where and How do Mineral Deposits Occur?

9
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Where and How do Mineral Deposits Occur?
 The Plate Tectonics: Four types of plate boundaries:
 Divergent boundaries:
 Where new crust is generated as the plates pull away from each other

 Convergent boundaries:
 Where crust is destroyed as one plate dives under another

 Transform boundaries:
 Where crust is neither produced nor destroyed as the plates slide
horizontally past each other

 Plate boundary zones:

 Broad belts in which boundaries are not well defined and the effects
of plate interaction are unclear
10
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Where and How do Mineral Deposits Occur?
 The Plate Tectonics: Four types of plate boundaries:

11
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Mineral Deposit Formation Process
 The Plate Tectonics: Five types of volcanism:

12
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Mineral Deposit Formation Process
 The Plate Tectonics: Five types of volcanism:

13
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Mineral Deposit Formation Process

14
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Mineral Deposit Formation Process
 Formation of a mineral deposit (Wyborn et al., 1995):
2. Ligand 3. Source 4. Transport
 Areas of much larger 1. Energy
Mineral System
5. Trap 6. Outflow

mass flux and energy (≤ 500 km) Deposit Halo

(≤ 10 km)
systems Deposit
(≤ 5 km)
 Critical processes that Model I
must occur to form a Metal
source Model II
deposit Energy
Ligand
source
Model III
 Identification of (Driving Force) Transporting fluid Fluid Discharge
Trap Region
mineralization processes No Deposits

at all scales
 Not restricted to
particular geologic
settings/deposit type
15
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Mineral Deposit Formation Process
 Formation of a mineral deposit (Wyborn et al., 1995):
1. Energy 2. Ligand 3. Source 4. Transport 5. Trap 6. Outflow
Mineral System
(≤ 500 km) Deposit Halo
(≤ 10 km)
Deposit
(≤ 5 km)

Model I
Metal
source Model II
Ligand
Energy source
(Driving Force) Transporting fluid Model III
Fluid Discharge
Trap Region

No Deposits
MAPPABLE

Deformation Connate brines Enriched Structures Structures Structures

CRITERIA

Metamorphism Magmatic fluids source rocks Permeable Chemical traps aquifers

Magmatism Meteoric fluids Magmatic zones
fluids

Radiometric Fault/shear zones, Dilational traps, Magnetic/

Metamorphic Evaporites, anomalies, folds geophysical/ reactive rocks, radiometric/
grade, igneous Organics, geochemical geochemical geophyiscal/ geochemical
PROXIES
SPATIAL

intrusions, isotopes anomalies, anomalies, geochemical anomalies,

sedimentary
whole-rock alteration anomalies, alteration,
thickness
geochemistry alteration structures 16
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
Metal ores are naturally occurring materials that can be profitably
mined.

When a rock has a high concentration of one mineral as compared to

other minerals, it is called ORE:

 Whether or not a mineral deposit is considered an ore depends

on its chemical composition, percentage of extractable metal, and
the current market value of the metal

 Metallic ore deposits can originate by crystal settling in igneous

intrusions, from hydrothermal fluids cooling in pores and
factures, by chemical precipitation in surface or groundwater, or
by river sedimentation (placers) 17
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
 On the basis of the mechanism responsible for concentrating the valuable
ore substance:

 Mineral Ore Deposits main process mechanism classes include:

1. Hydrothermal
2. Magmatic
 Pegmatite, Kimberlite (High-temperature ore-forming processes)
3. Sedimentary:
 Banded Iron, Evaporites
4. Placer:
 Low-temperature ore-forming processes
5. Residual
6. Metamorphic
18
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
 Based on the mechanism responsible for concentrating the valuable ore
substance:

1. Hydrothermal 2. Magmatic 3. Sedimentary

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

19
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
 Based on the mechanism responsible for concentrating the valuable ore
substance:

4. Placer
5. Residual

https://www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/occurrence-of-minerals-91880/ https://www.jxscmachine.com/new/placer-gold-deposit-and-mining-beneficiation/

20
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
1. Hydrothermal Deposits:

 Concentration of minerals by hot fluids circulating at through fractures

and rock pore/cavities and heats up close to hot igneous bodies and/or
at great depths naturally heated by geothermal gradients

 Hot groundwater circulation dissolves valuable minerals passing

through large volume of rocks

 As the hot fluids circulates in cooler areas of the crust, the dissolved
minerals precipitates within favorable natural traps

21
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
1. Hydrothermal Deposits:

 Three essential conditions for

their formation are:
 Highly active and enrichment
fluids
 Suitable pathways (cracks,
fissures, faults, etc.) for their
migration through the rocks
 Favorable physico-chemical
environments for their
deposition to take place

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

22
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
1. Hydrothermal Deposits: Highly active and enrichment fluids

23
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
1. Hydrothermal Deposits: Highly active and enrichment fluids
Sulfur Deposits around Volcanic
Fumaroles

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

24
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
1. Hydrothermal Deposits: Suitable pathways (cracks, fissures, faults, etc.)
for their migration through the rocks
Minerals are found in the cracks,
crevices, faults or joints in igneous and
metamorphic rocks.

https://www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/occurrence-of-minerals-91880/ 25
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
1. Hydrothermal Deposits: Favorable physico-chemical environments for
their deposition to take place
Minerals are found in the cracks,
crevices, faults or joints in igneous and
metamorphic rocks.

https://www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/occurrence-of-minerals-91880/ 26
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
1. Hydrothermal Deposits: Veins

The smaller amount

of minerals in the
rocks are called veins

https://www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/occurrence-of-minerals-91880/

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 27

Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
1. Hydrothermal Deposits: Lodes

The larger amount of

minerals in the rocks
are called lodes

https://www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/occurrence-of-minerals-91880/

https://stockhead.com.au/resources/in-pics-the-top-10-buttons-veins- 28
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources and-bonanzas-gold-miners-shared-with-us-in-2018/
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
2. Magmatic Deposits:

 Form when minerals in

liquid/molten and gaseous
zones are forced upward
through cavities towards
the Earth’s surface and
concentrate within a body
of igneous rock by
magmatic processes

https://www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/occurrence-of-minerals-91880/

29
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
2. Magmatic Deposits:

 Magmatic process such as Magma

Chamber
partial melting, fractional
crystallization, and crystal
settling in a magma
chamber:
 Concentrating ore minerals
containing valuable metals
by taking elements and
concentrating them in
minerals that separate
from the magma https://www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/occurrence-of-minerals-91880/

30
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
2. Magmatic Deposits:

 Magmatic process such as

partial melting, fractional
crystallization, and crystal
settling in a magma chamber:
 As minerals crystallize from a
magma body, heavy minerals
may sink to the bottom of the
magma chamber:
 Denser minerals like chromite
Crystal
or magnetite concentrates at Settling
the bottom of the chamber
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
31
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
2. Magmatic Deposits: Intrusive Igneous - Batholiths

Metamorphic Rocks

https://www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/occurrence-of-minerals-91880/
32
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
2. Magmatic Deposits: Doré Lake Complex (Chibougamau)

Vanadium Deposit
A layered intrusion hosting a large deposit of
Fallara et al., 2006-2007
vanadium titanomagnetite

33
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
2. Magmatic Deposits: Fe-Ti-V magmatic deposit of Chibougamau

BlackRock Metals

Vanadium Deposit: A layered intrusion hosting a large deposit of vanadium titanomagnetite

34
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
2. Magmatic Deposits: Fe-Ti-V magmatic deposit of Chibougamau

 Massive magnetite

 60 to 100 meters thick

 26Mt of magnetite

 up to 1,47 wt.% V2O3

BlackRock Metals

Vanadium Deposit: A layered intrusion hosting a large deposit of vanadium titanomagnetite

35
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
2. Magmatic Deposits: Bushveld Igneous Complex (BIC)

Vanadium Deposit
A layered intrusion hosting a large deposit of
vanadiferous titanomagnetite

Olivine-chromite rich ore https://www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/occurrence-of-minerals-91880/

36
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
3. Sedimentary Deposits: Minerals concentrated by chemical precipitation
from lake or sea water:

 Minerals deposits
form from chemical
sedimentation, where
minerals precipitate
directly out of water

https://www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/occurrence-of-minerals-91880/

37
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
3. Sedimentary Deposits: Minerals are found in beds or layers

Sedimentary Deposits: The beds and layers are formed due to deposition, accumulation and concentration
within the horizontal strata/beds/layers
https://www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/occurrence-of-minerals-91880/
38
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
3. Sedimentary Deposits: Banded Iron Formations

 Iron rich minerals

deposited in marine
environments:

 Iron-rich water
reacts with
oxygen released
by algae

Alternating layers of magnetite, hematite and chert 39

Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
3. Sedimentary Deposits: Gold-bearing Conglomerates

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witwatersrand

40
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
3. Sedimentary Deposits: Types: SEDEX (Zn-Pb) and Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) Pb-Zn

SEDEX (SEDimentary
Exhalative) deposits
are one of several
types of sediment-
hosted lead-zinc
deposits.

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Genetic-model-for-formation-of-sediment-hosted-Zn-Pb-and-coeval-Mississippi-Valley-type_fig9_276918556
41
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
3. Sedimentary Deposits: SEDEX Zn-Pb Deposits
Rich accumulations of lead, zinc and silver are found in the ore minerals sphalerite (zinc sulfide) and
 More than half of the galena (lead sulfide) deposited between thin layers of marine sand, silt and mud in sedimentary basins.
world’s zinc and lead are
SEDEX deposits like Mt
Isa in Australia, Red Dog
in Alaska and the former
Sullivan mine in Canada:

 Discovered over 100

years ago, the Sullivan
deposit was the largest
SEDEX deposit in
Canada
 Produced 116 million
tons of zinc (5.8 % Zn)
and lead (6.7 % Pb)

Folded, layered sulfides from the Sullivan mine. Scale in centimeters. (Image: NRC)
42
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources https://www.geologyforinvestors.com/sedex-biggest-lead-zinc-deposits-world/
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
3. Sedimentary Deposits: Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) Pb-Zn Deposits
 The fine banding in the
sample is a great
example of ‘colloform
texture’.

 The cream and light

brown bands are both
the same mineral:
 Sphalerite (ZnS)

43
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources http://oresome-christmas-reveal.weebly.com/ore-i-want-for-christmas-ishellip.html
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
3. Sedimentary Deposits: Evaporites formed in arid regions

44
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
3. Sedimentary Deposits: Evaporites formed in arid regions

 Evaporites include:

 Gypsum
 Potash salt
 Sodium salt

45
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
3. Sedimentary Deposits: Stalactites - Stalagmites
 Stalactites*:
 A type of formation that hangs
from the ceiling of caves, hot
springs, or manmade structures
such as bridges and mines.
 Stalagmites*:
 A type of rock formation that
rises from the floor of a cave due
to the accumulation of material
deposited on the floor from
ceiling drippings.

*Typically composed of calcium carbonate, but

may consist of lava, mud, peat, pitch, sand,
sinter and amber.

46
Wikipedia
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
4. Placer Deposits: Mineral concentrations by flowing surface waters
depositing high density minerals in streams or along coastlines

 Placer: Deposits of dense

minerals carried by water:

 Gold, silver, tin, and

platinum are most
important among such
mineral deposits

47
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
4. Placer Deposits: Mineral concentrations by flowing surface waters
depositing high density minerals in streams or along coastlines

 Placer: Deposits of dense

minerals carried by water:

 Gold, silver, tin, and

platinum are most
important among such
mineral deposits

48
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources https://www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/occurrence-of-minerals-91880/
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
4. Placer Deposits: Mineral concentrations by flowing surface waters
depositing high density minerals in streams or along coastlines

 Alluvial: Materials such as

soil or weathered rock
particles deposited by a river
or other flowing water

Some minerals are

obtained by placer deposits
called alluvial deposits in
sands of valley floors and
base of hills

Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources

Alluvial / Placer Deposit
https://howtofindgoldnuggets.com/how-placer-gold-is-deposited-in-a-river/
49
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
4. Placer Deposits: Types
Eluvial Placers:
Formed by gravity found along foot hills

Aeolian Placers:
Formed and sorting carried out by the wind

Alluvial Placers:
Formed and transported by running water such as streams and rivers

Beach Placers:
Accumulated by waves along waterbodies like seas, lakes, and oceans
 Deposit with an economic value

50
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
4. Placer Deposits: Types

https://www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/occurrence-of-minerals-91880/
51
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
5. Residual Deposits: Minerals formed after decomposition of surface rocks

 Surficial processes that form

mineral deposits:

 Formation by weathering
 Weathering enrichments
 Mechanical concentrations Due to decomposition
 Low-temperature precipitation and removal, a residual
mass of weathered
material is left that
contains ores

https://www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/occurrence-of-minerals-91880/

52
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
5. Residual Deposits: Biological deposits

 Chalks and limestones are formed from:

 Calcium carbonate shells of organism

 Fossil fuels are formed from:

 Organic matter build up compressed

in anaerobic* conditions
*An aerobic environment is characterized by the presence of free oxygen (O2) while an anaerobic
environment lacks free oxygen but may contain atomic oxygen bound in compounds such as nitrate (NO3),
nitrite (NO2), and sulfites (SO3). (https://www.rpi.edu/dept/chem-eng/Biotech-
Environ/Projects00/biotreat/denite/robics.htm)

53
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Classification
6. Metamorphic Deposits: Natural change

 Pre-existing rocks and minerals of economic

value undergo metamorphic changes due to
great pressure and heat:

 Marble deposits form from limestones

 Slate deposits form from shales
 Refractory minerals like kyanite,
sillimanite and andalusite form from
metamorphism

www.geology.com 54
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 An ore deposit model is a conceptual and/or empirical standard,
embodying both the descriptive features of the deposit type, and an
explanation of these features in terms of geological processes.

 Ore is a mineral or aggregate of minerals which can be

mined (extracted and processed) at a profit
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

55
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Gold Deposits: Where Is The Gold In World?

https://www.brrcc.org/where-can-you-find-gold-in-the-world/ 56
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Gold Deposits: World record highs between 2019-2020

https://www.brrcc.org/where-can-you-find-gold-in-the-world/ 57
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Gold Deposits: Where is the Gold in Canada?

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267098161_MINE_CLOSURE_AND_POST-MINING_MANAGEMENT_INTERNATIONAL_STATE-
OF-THE-ART_INTERNATIONAL_COMMISSION_ON_MINE_CLOSURE_INTERNATIONAL_SOCIETY_FOR_ROCK_MECHANICS

58
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Gold Deposits: Where is the Gold in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt (QC-ON)?

https://thedeepdive.ca/the-abitibi-greenstone-belt-one-of-the-worlds-richest-gold-regions/ 59
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Gold Deposits: Where is the Gold in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt (QC-ON)?

60
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Gold Deposit: Type: Orogenic

Poulsen, 2000

61
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Gold Deposit: Type: Orogenic: Drilling

62
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Gold Deposit: Type: Orogenic: Drilling

63
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Gold Deposit: Type: Orogenic: Drilling

64
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metals Deposit: Type: Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS)
Tectonic settings of VMS deposits

Franklin, 1996

65
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metals Deposit: Type: Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS)

Franklin, 1996

66
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metals Deposit: Type: Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS)
Metal Distributions in VMS Deposits

67
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metals Deposit: Type: Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS)

Pyrite and Sphalerite

68
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metals Deposit: Type: Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS)

Sphalerite

Pyrite

69
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metals Deposit: Type: Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS)

Pyrite

Sphalerite

70
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metals Deposit: Type: Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS)

71
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Where are the VMS in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt (QC-ON)?

Mercier-Langevin et al., 2015 72

Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Where are the VMS in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt (QC-ON)?

Clairet et al. 2005 73

Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 VMS: Drilling: Plan View of the Bracemac McLeod Deposit

74
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 VMS: Drilling: Cross-Section of the Bracemac Mcleod Deposit

75
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 VMS: Drilling: Cross-Section of several VMS lenses

76
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Porphyry Deposit: Under big volcanoes over subduction zones

77
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Porphyry Deposit: Cu-Au-Mo Magmas Hydration Melting

78
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Porphyry Deposit: Cu-Au-Mo Model
 Schematic porphyry system
in the root of an andesitic
stratovolcano showing
mineral zonation:
 Deepest zone hosts
the porphyry deposit
 Intermediate zone
hosts both precious-
metal and base-metal
veins and
replacements
 Shallow zone hosts
epithermal precious-
metal deposits
Kirkham and Sinclair, 1995

79
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Porphyry Deposit: Copper: Where are the Porphyry Deposits In World?

80
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Porphyry Deposit: Where are the Porphyry Deposits In Canada?

81
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Porphyry Deposit: Cu-Au-Mo Ore: Alteration and Textures
High Grade Bornite
Ore
Chalcopyrite

82
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Porphyry Deposit: Cu-Au-Mo Ore: Alteration and Textures
Phyllic Alteration

83
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Porphyry Deposit: Cu-Au-Mo Ore: Alteration and Textures

Potassic Alteration
84
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Porphyry Deposit: Cu-Au-Mo Ore: Alteration and Textures
Potassic Alteration Revealed by Staining

85
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Porphyry Deposit: Cu-Au-Mo Ore: Alteration and Textures
Potassically altered granite (pink) cut by molybdenite-
bearing quartz veins

86
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Porphyry Deposit: Cu-Au-Mo Ore: Drilling:

87
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Gold Deposit: Type: Epithermal: Location in the World?

88
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Gold Deposit: Type: Epithermal: Location in the Canada?

89
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Gold Deposit: Type: Porphyry- Epithermal Systems

90
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Gold Deposit: Type: Epithermal Low-Sulphidation Systems

91
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Gold Deposit: Type: Epithermal Gold-Silver Ore

Quartz (Au-Ag alloy) vein cross-cutting sericite (muscovite)-pyrite

altered volcanic
92
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Gold Deposit: Type: Epithermal Systems: Drilling

93
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metal Deposit: Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE-Cr: World Distribution?

Norilsk

Sudbury

Bushveld

PGE = Platinum-group elements 94

Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metal Deposit: Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE-Cr: Canada Distribution?

95
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources PGE = Platinum-group elements
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metal Deposit: Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE-Cr: Ore

Pyrrhotite and Pentlandite (Fe,Ni)8S9)

96
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metal Deposit: Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE-Cr: Sudbury

97
Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 4570, 2005
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metal Deposit: Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE-Cr: Sudbury
Evidence of Meteorite Impact

Shatter cones

Shatter cones

http://www.uoguelph.ca/geology/geol2250/glossary/HTML%20files/shattercone.html 98
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metal Deposit: Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE-Cr: Sudbury
Evidence of Meteorite Impact

Onaping fallback breccia

99
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
http://www.uoguelph.ca/geology/geol2250/glossary/HTML%20files/shattercone.html
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metal Deposit: Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE-Cr: Sudbury
Evidence of Meteorite Impact

Granophyre - Impact melt

100
http://www.uoguelph.ca/geology/geol2250/glossary/HTML%20files/shattercone.html
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metal Deposit: Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE-Cr: Drilling

101
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metal Deposit: Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE-Cr: Drilling

102
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Base Metal Deposit: Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE-Cr: Drilling

103
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Marine Mineral Resources
 Oceans: Our new mineral frontier:
 Sea water contains abundant dissolved minerals and many useful element:
 Most extraction techniques currently used are energy intensive and expensive

 Hydrothermal ore deposits along seafloor spreading ridges are a possible

source of many materials
 Currently, they are too deep - of limited benefit

 Manganese nodules are widely distributed on the ocean floors; a promising

solution
 Many political, environmental, and legal obstacles must be overcome before they can
be mined
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

104
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Marine Mineral Resources: The TAG* Model (Mid-Atlantic Ridge)
*Trans-Atlantic Geotraverse

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

105
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Marine Mineral Resources: The TAG Model (Mid-Atlantic Ridge)

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 106

Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Marine Mineral Resources: Black Smokers and VMS Deposits

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

107
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Marine Mineral Resources: Black Smokers chimney and Cu-Zn Sulphides

108
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources https://www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/occurrence-of-minerals-91880/
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
 Marine Mineral Resources: Black Smokers chimney and Cu-Zn Sulphides

Anhydrite

Chalcopyrite

Pyrite
Sphalerite

109
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
VMS Black Smokers

https://youtu.be/K4IY3dIwZdI
Ore Mineral Deposit Geological Models
Marine Mineral Resources: Formed by the precipitation of substance from
sea water:
 Very slow process taking millions of
years

Manganese Nodule

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 111

Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Industrial Mineral Deposits
 Important Industrial Mineral Deposits:

Sand and gravel Crushed rock Silica sand

Clay minerals Salt Phosphate

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 112

Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Non-Metallic Mineral Ore Deposits
 Non-Metallic Resources: Not mined to extract metals or a source of energy
 Such resources are used for:
 Construction materials:
 Sand, gravel, stone, limestone, and gypsum
 Agriculture:
 Fertilizers: Phosphate, nitrate and potassium compounds
 Industrial:
 Rock salt, sulfur, asbestos
 Gemstones:
 Diamonds, rubies
 Manufacture:
 Household and business products:
 Glass sand, fluorite, diatomite, graphite

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 113

Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Non-Metallic Mineral Ore Deposits
 Non-Metallic Resources: Not mined to extract metals or a source of energy

Pegmatite – Gemstone - Emeralds

Potassium Mining
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Limestone Quarry
114
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Exploration

Use geologic maps to Analyze the

identify favorable chemistry of rocks
rocks and structures
Reconstruct
Look for rocks geologic history of
altered by fluids the studied area:
 Observations
make, hide or
destroy
Chemically deposits
altered rocks The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

115
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Exploration
 Schematic illustration of
the various types of
gold deposits, including
Au-rich volcanogenic
massive sulphide,
shown at their inferred
crustal level of
formation (modified
from Hannington et al.
(1999), Poulsen et al.
(2000), and Dubé et al.
(2007a)).

Mercier-Langevin et al., 2015 116

Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Exploration
 Exploration criteria according to the scale of the study
 Example Orogenic Gold System (McCuaig and Beresford, 2009)
Ore-
Shoot
Deposit
Scale
Alok Porwal (2018)

Regional
Scale

‘Camp’
Scale

Prospect
Scale 117
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Exploration
 Exploration criteria according to the scale of the study:
 Example Au-VMS (Mercier-Langevin, 2015)

 Graphic summary of all the

different possible controls on
Au-Ag-enrichment in
volcanogenic massive sulphide
systems that operate on
different spatial and temporal
scales:

a. Observe crucial details

b. Understand key processes
c. Identify main features
d. Improve genetic models
e. Define queries based on
the type of ore exploration
Mercier-Langevin et al., 2015 118
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Ore Mineral Deposit Exploration
 What are the solid geology
exploration criteria for structural geology Primary data
the mineralization?
airborne magnetic
gravity

distance to faults
Empirical
strike of nearest fault

rheological contrast
reactivity (Fe2+/(Fetot+ Mg + Ca) contrast

favorable host rock lithology

favorable litho. contact type Conceptual

favorable tectonic environment
119
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources Alok Porwal (2018)
  Schematic diagram
illustrating various
settings and styles of
precious metal-rich
volcanogenic massive
sulphide (VMS) deposits.

 Note that the diagram is

not to scale, and some
systems are much larger
than others.

 The (relative) water depth

as depicted may not be
representative of the
water depth at the time
the deposits were formed.

 Metamorphic grade is not Mercier-Langevin et al., 2015

taken into account.
120
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
 1: System with similar features to Eskay
Creek

2: Sub-seafloor mineralization similar to

the Rainy River synvolcanic Au-deposit

3: Au-rich VMS-type systems such as

Bousquet 2-Dumagami or LaRonde
Penna

4: Represents systems such as Lemoine

5: Depicts Horne- and Quemont-style

Au-rich VMS systems

6: Typical Noranda-type VMS deposit in

which Au typically occurs in the
footwall stringer veins

Abbreviations:
Bo = Biotite, Cb = Carbonate
Chl = Chlorite, Chld = Chloritoid
Gt = Manganese garnet
Kfp = Potassium feldspar, Me = Metals
Py = Pyrite, Qz = Quartz, Sr = Sericite
Mercier-Langevin et al., 2015

121
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Conservation of Mineral Resources
 Overall need for resources is growing: How to reduce this expansion?

 Some mineral resources can be substituted by more abundant materials:

 Plastics replace automobile parts

 Recycling: Many metals are successfully recycled:

 More recycling is required
 Not all commodities are easy to recycle

 Measures to reduce demand must be the key

122
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Conservation of Mineral Resources
 Overall need for resources is growing: How to reduce this expansion?

 Recycling: Make used

materials into a new
resource:

 Melting of scrap metals and

glass

 Crushing of used concrete

123
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
Conservation of Mineral Resources
 Overall need for resources is growing: How to reduce this expansion?

 Substitution: Use an alternative

more abundant material

 Plastic pipes instead of copper

 Fibre-optics instead of copper for
telecommunications

124
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
 B3: Lesson 2: Mineral Resources: Videos
What is Ore? - Definition, Types, Uses & Examples:(4.28min)
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-ore-definition-types-uses-examples.html

How Minerals Become Concentrated:(6.53min)

https://study.com/academy/lesson/how-minerals-become-concentrated.html

Plate Tectonics and the Location of Mineral Deposits:(7.33min)

https://study.com/academy/lesson/plate-tectonics-and-the-location-of-mineral-deposits.html
https://www.aadnc-
Finding and Assessing Mineral Resources(7.47min) aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100028056/1100100028058
https://study.com/academy/lesson/finding-and-assessing-mineral-resources.html

Life on the deep ocean black smokers(3.41min)

https://youtu.be/K4IY3dIwZdI

Where does gold come from? - David Lunney(4.34min)

https://youtu.be/jf_4z4AKwJg

https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/DAM/DAM-INTER-
NU/STAGING/texte-text/ming_1100100028057_eng.pdf

110
Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources
 Questions?

Thanks!

FNQLSDI.CA

Exploring Geosciences: B3-Mining Exploitation: L2- Mineral Resources 126