Resource Geology 

About: Resource Geology is an academic journal published by Wiley-Blackwell. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Fluid inclusions & Pyrite. It has an ISSN identifier of 1344-1698. Over the lifetime, 794 publications have been published receiving 12495 citations. The journal is also known as: International journal for economic geology, geochemistry and environmental geology.

Redox and Compositional Parameters for Interpreting the Granitoid Metallogeny of Eastern Australia: Implications for Gold-rich Ore Systems

Abstract: . Granitoids and related rocks of eastern Australia can be classified according to their metallogenic potential using a scheme based on compositional character, degree of compositional evolution, degree of fractionation, and oxidation state. The scheme is based on empirical and theoretical considerations and satisfactorily describes the known distribution of granite-related mineralisation. The granitoids range from unevolved, mantle compatible compositions to highly evolved and fractionated. They exhibit age- and region-specific variations in silica content, compositional evolution and oxidation state. The most unevolved intrusive igneous rocks comprise those of the Ordovician of the Lachlan Orogen, and the Devonian of the New England Orogen. Strongly fractionated and evolved I-type granites occur in western Tasmania, the southern New England Orogen, and far north Queensland. Other fractionated suites tend to occur relatively rarely in the Lachlan Orogen and elsewhere. Oxidation states vary markedly. The most consistently oxidised rocks occur in the Ordovician of the central Lachlan Orogen, and the northernmost New England Orogen. The Carboniferous I-types of the northeastern Lachlan Orogen are consistently more oxidised than other Lachlan Orogen I-types. Gold-rich, Cu-poor systems associated with felsic I-types in eastern Australia are associated with W-Mo mineralised suites with gold occurring within a predictable metallogenic zonation. Gold mineralised I-types comprise weakly to moderately oxidised, high-K granitoid suites that, at least in the east Australian context, have low K/Rb ratios and show strong fractionation trends. Gold is readily removed from granitic magmas through the early precipitation of sulfides, or to a lesser extent by magnetite. Crystallisation of Fe-poor, silica-rich granitic magmas in a relatively narrow oxidation window between the FMQ and NNO buffers may provide conditions where retention of Au in magmas in felsic granitic magmas is optimised.

Intrusion–Related Vein Gold Deposits: Types, Tectono‐Magmatic Settings and Difficulties of Distinction from Orogenic Gold Deposits

Abstract: A spectrum of intrusion-related vein gold deposits is recognized. Representative examples are described of the following geochemical associations: Au-Fe oxide–Cu, Au–Cu–Mo–Zn, Au–As–Pb–Zn–Cu, Au–Te–Pb–Zn–Cu and Au–As–Bi–Sb. The associated intrusions range from small outcropping stocks to complex batholiths. The different vein associations are believed to reflect the compositions of related intrusions, which themselves characterize distinct tectonic settings. The Au-Fe oxide–Cu and Au–Cu–Mo–Zn associations belong to two broad groups of deposits, Fe oxide–Cu–Au and porphyry Cu–Au, both of which are related to highly oxidized calc-alkaline intrusions emplaced in sub–duction–related arcs. The Au–As–Pb–Zn–Cu association seems to be linked to somewhat less oxidized intrusions emplaced in a similar setting. The Au–Te–Pb–Zn–Cu association, which possesses well-known epithermal counterparts, is also found with highly oxidized intrusions, but of alkaline composition and back-arc location. In contrast, the Au–As–Bi–Sb association, part of a newly recognized class of intrusion-hosted Au–Bi–W–As deposits, is related to relatively reduced intrusions, spanning the boundary between the magnetite– and ilmenite–series. Such intrusions, which may host major bulk-mineable gold deposits, were emplaced along the landward sides of arcs, possibly during lulls in subduction, as well as in continental collision settings. Therefore, a variety of geological environments is prospective for vein and, by extrapolation, other styles of gold mineralization, not all of them fully appreciated in the past. Several features of vein gold deposits, including imprecise relationships to individual intrusive phases, poorly developed mineral and metal zoning, apparent time gaps between intrusion and mineralization and presence of low–salinity, CO2–rich fluid inclusions, are commonly taken to indicate a non-igneous origin and to be more typical of orogenic (mesothermal) gold deposits generated during accretionary tectonic events. However, several or all of these features apply equally to some intrusion– related vein gold deposits and, therefore, do not constitute distinguishing criteria. The currently popular assignment of most gold-rich veins to the orogenic category requires caution, because of the geological convergence that they show with some intrusion-related deposits. A proper distinction between intrusion-related and orogenic gold deposits is crucial for exploration planning.

Relationship Between Solidification Depth of Granitic Rocks and Formation of Hydrothermal Ore Deposits

Abstract: Chemical analysis of biotite in representative granitic rocks in Japan shows that the total Al (TAl) content changes with the metal type of the accompanying hydrothermal ore deposits and increases in the following order: Pb-Zn and Mo deposits < Cu-Fe and Sn deposits < W deposits < non-mineralized granitic rocks. The TAl content of biotite in granitic rocks may be a useful indicator for distinguishing between mineralized and non-mineralized granitic rocks. A good positive correlation is seen between the TAl content of biotite and the solidification pressure of the granitic rocks estimated by sphalerite and hornblende geobarometers and the mineral assemblages of the surrounding rocks. These facts suggest that the TAl content of biotite can be used to estimate the solidification pressure (P) of the granitic rocks. The following empirical equation was obtained: where TAl designates the total Al content in biotite on the basis O = 22. According to the obtained biotite geobarometer, it is estimated that Pb-Zn and Mo deposits were formed at pressures below 1 kb, Cu-Fe and Sn deposits at 1–2 kb, W deposits at 2–3 kb and non-mineralized granitic rocks were solidified at pressures above 3 kb.

High‐ and Low‐Temperature I‐type Granites

Abstract: I– and S-type granites differ in several distinctive ways, as a consequence of their derivation from contrasting source rocks. The more mafic granites, whose compositions are closest to those of the source rocks, are most readily classified as I– or S–type. As granites become more felsic, compositions of the two types converge towards those of lowest temperature silicate melts. While discrimination of the two is therefore more difficult for such felsic rocks, that in no way invalidates the twofold subdivision. If felsic granite melts undergo fractional crystallisation, the major element compositions are not affected to any significant extent, but the concentrations of trace elements can vary widely. For some trace elements, fractional crystallisation causes the trace element abundances to diverge, so the I– and S– type granites are again easily separated. Such fractionated S-type granites can be distinguished, for example, by high P and low Th and Ce, relative to their I-type analogues. Our observations in the Lachlan Fold Belt show that there is no genetic basis for subdividing peraluminous granites into more mafic and felsic varieties, as has been attempted elsewhere. The subdivision of felsic peraluminous granites into I– and S-types is more appropriate, and mafic peraluminous granites are always S–type. In a given area, associated mafic and felsic S-type granites are likely to be closely related in origin, with the former comprising both restite-rich magmas and cumulate rocks, and the felsic granites corresponding to melts that may have undergone fractional crystallisation after prior restite separation. We propose a subdivision of I-type granites into two groups, formed at high and low temperatures. The high-temperature I–type granites formed from a magma that was completely or largely molten, and in which crystals of zircon were not initially present because the melt was undersaturated in zircon. In comparison with low-temperature I–type granites, the compositions extend to lower SiO2 contents and the abundances of Ba, Zr and the rare earth elements initially increase with increasing SiO2 in the more mafic rocks. While the high-temperature I–type granite magmas were produced by the partial melting of mafic source rocks, their low-temperature analogues resulted from the partial melting of quartzofeldspathic rocks such as older tonalites. In that second case, the melt produced was felsic and the more mafic low-temperature I–type granites have that character because of the presence of entrained and magmatically equilibrated restite. High temperature granites are more prospective for mineralisation, both because of that higher temperature and because they have a greater capacity to undergo extended fractional crystallisation, with consequent concentration of incompatible components, including H2O.

Major and Trace Element Characteristics of Apatites in Granitoids from Central Kazakhstan: Implications for Petrogenesis and Mineralization

Abstract: This paper presents abundances of major and trace elements of apatites in granitic rocks associated with different types of ore deposits in Central Kazakhstan on the basis of electron probe microanalysis and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Our results demonstrate that the concentrations and ratios of elements in apatites from different granitoid rocks show distinct features, and are sensitive to magma evolution, petrogenetic and metallogenetic processes. Apatites in the rocks associated with Mo-W deposits have high content of F and MnO, low content of Cl, which may be indicative of sedimentary sources, while apatites from a Pb-Zn deposit show relatively high content of Cl and low F content, which possibly suggest a high water content. In these apatites, Sr contents decrease, while Mn and Y contents increase with magma evolution. This relationship reflects that these elements in apatites are related with the degree of magmatic differentiation. Four types of REE patterns in apatites are identified. Type 1 character of highest (La/Yb)N in apatites of Aktogai porphyry Cu-Mo deposit, Sayak-I skarn Cu deposit and Akzhal skarn Pb-Zn depposit is likely produced by the crystallization of heavy REE-enriched minerals. Type 2 character of upward-convex light REE in apatite of Aktogai porphyries likely results from La-enriched mineral crystallization. Type 3 feature of Nd depletion in apatites of East Kounrad and Zhanet deposits both from Mo-W deposits primarily inherits the character of host-rock. Type 4 apatites of Aktogai deposit and Akshatau W-Mo deposit with wide range of REE contents may suggest that apatites crystallize under a wide temperature range. Three types of apatite with distinct redox states are identified based on Eu anomaly. The Aktogai apatite with slight negative Eu anomaly displays the most oxidized state of the magma, and the apatites of other samples at Aktogai, East Kounrad and Akzhal with moderate negative Eu anomaly show moderate oxidizing condition of these rocks, while the remaining apatites with strong En anomaly indicate a moderate reductive state of these rocks.