Hydrothermal Alteration Minerals Research Articles

Mapping Regolith and Gossan for Mineral Exploration in the Eastern Kumaon Himalaya, India using hyperion data and object oriented image classification

Crystalline in the Kumaon Himalaya, India near Askot area is a prominent site of the base metal mineralization and gossanised surface. This area is hosted by the sulphides and sulphates of Cu, Pb, Zn and Au and Ag mineralization with the altered rocks like sericite chlorite schist, gneiss etc. Due to the deep weathering this area is also a good illustration site of the gossanised outcrop.Regolith mapping through the multispectral remotely sensed data using different parametric and nonparametric classification algorithm has been used for many years. In recent years, object oriented classification for classification of object rather than pixel has gained a good success within the geospatial community. On the other hand, space borne hyperspectral remote sensing has gained a great success in identification of the minerals from space. The narrow contiguous bands of this hyperspectral remote sensing data can provide more information of the chemical content of the different minerals.In this study EO1 (Earth Observation) Hyperion hyperspectral sensor data has been evaluated for regolith and gossan mapping using the object oriented image classification technique. The efficacy of the hyperion data is evaluated in and around the Askot base metal mineral deposits for hydrothermal alteration and base metal minerals. Three sites were selected by regolith mapping using object oriented image classification method and were evaluated by the aid of hyperspectral data for alteration minerals. During the field verification it was found that the mineralization within these sites was associated with the dolomite, gneiss and schists. Strong hydrothermal activity and shearing were dominated at these sites. Minerals like carbonates, sulphates and sulphides of copper, lead, zinc and silver, magnetite along with the altered minerals like, mica, chlorite, talc etc. were found at the target sites. eCognition™ and ENVI® software’s were used for the object based classification and for the hyperspectral data processing, respectively. It was concluded from this study that object oriented classification is a suitable classification algorithm for regolith and gossan mapping as it uses the spatial, spectral and textural information of the remote sensing dataset. Target areas suggested by the object oriented classification method were examined by the hyperspectral data analysis. Results of the hyperspectral analysis were in good confirmation of the minerals found in the field as well as in the lab. Though the signal to noise ratio of the scene was low but still hyperion data was able to highlight the mineralogy of the Askot and nearby areas. It was also concluded by this study that the spectral analysis was very helpful for identification of the gossan and limonite over the conventional petrography analysis.

Structural genesis of the Eunsan and Moisan low-sulphidation epithermal Au–Ag deposits, Seongsan district, Southwest Korea

The Seongsan district in the Jindo–Haenam basin of southwest Korea comprises Precambrian gneissic basement, overlain and intruded by Cretaceous volcanic (98–71 Ma) and plutonic (86–68 Ma) rocks, respectively. Haenam Formation volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks are the dominant rock type exposed in the district and are the main host to high-sulphidation (82–77 Ma) and low-sulphidation (79–73 Ma) epithermal deposits. The Eunsan and Moisan low-sulphidation epithermal deposits have similar vein mineralogy, zoned hydrothermal alteration mineral assemblages, structural framework and interpreted deformation events. These similarities suggest that they formed by district-scale hydrothermal fluid flow at about 77.5 Ma. At this time, ore fluid movement along subvertical WNW-trending faults was particularly focussed in dilatant fault bends, jogs, and at intersections with N-trending splays. At Eunsan, Au–Ag ore shoots coincide with these areas of structural complexity, whereas at Moisan, narrower ore zones correspond with several parallel, poorly connected veins. A secondary control on the location of ore zones is the intersection between mineralised WNW-striking structures and rocks of the Haenam Formation. The higher permeability and porosity of these rocks, in comparison with mudstones and siltstones of the underlying Uhangri Formation, resulted in the more efficient lateral migration of ore fluids away from subvertical faults and into wall rocks. The intersection between subvertical WNW-striking faults and the gently dipping Haenam Formation imparts a low angle SW plunge to both ore bodies. WNW-striking post-mineralisation faults displace ore zones up to 100 m and complicate the along-strike exploration and mining of WNW-trending ore zones. Future exploration strategies in the district involve the systematic testing of WNW-trending mineralised structures along strike from known deposits, with a particular emphasis on identifying structurally complex areas that experienced local dilation during the mineralisation event. Poorly exposed regions have historically been under-explored. However, based on the proposed exploration model for the Eunsan and Moisan deposits, these areas of poor outcrop are now considered important target areas for hidden ore bodies using ground-based geophysical exploration tools, such as seismic surveys.

ANOMALY DETECTION AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION MATERIALS TROUGH HYPERSPECTRAL MULTISENSOR DATA IN THE TURRIALBA VOLCANO

Abstract. The aim of this work is the comparative study of the presence of hydrothermal alteration materials in the Turrialba volcano (Costa Rica) in relation with computed spectral anomalies from multitemporal and multisensor data adquired in spectral ranges of the visible (VIS), short wave infrared (SWIR) and thermal infrared (TIR). We used for this purposes hyperspectral and multispectral images from the HyMAP and MASTER airborne sensors, and ASTER and Hyperion scenes in a period between 2002 and 2010. Field radiometry was applied in order to remove the atmospheric contribution in an empirical line method. HyMAP and MASTER images were georeferenced directly thanks to positioning and orientation data that were measured at the same time in the acquisition campaign from an inertial system based on GPS/IMU. These two important steps were allowed the identification of spectral diagnostic bands of hydrothermal alteration minerals and the accuracy spatial correlation. Enviromental impact of the volcano activity has been studied through different vegetation indexes and soil patterns. Have been mapped hydrothermal materials in the crater of the volcano, in fact currently active, and their surrounding carrying out a principal components analysis differentiated for a high and low absorption bands to characterize accumulations of kaolinite, illite, alunite and kaolinite+smectite, delimitating zones with the presence of these minerals. Spectral anomalies have been calculated on a comparative study of methods pixel and subpixel focused in thermal bands fused with high-resolution images. Results are presented as an approach based on expert whose main interest lies in the automated identification of patterns of hydrothermal altered materials without prior knowledge or poor information on the area.

Tracing the evolution and distribution of F and Cl in plutonic systems from volatile-bearing minerals: a case study from the Liujiawa pluton (Dabie orogen, China)

Fluorine and chlorine play an important role in magmatic differentiation, hydrothermal alteration, and related mineralization processes, but tracing their evolution in magmatic and especially plutonic systems is not an easy task. The F and Cl in melts can be estimated from F and Cl concentrations in minerals, provided that partitioning between minerals and melts are constrained. Based on available partitioning models between mineral/melt, mineral/fluid, and melt/fluid, a set of equations has been derived to determine F and Cl concentrations in melts from the compositions of amphibole, biotite, and apatite. The new calculation procedure has been applied to a plutonic system, the Liujiawa pluton, eastern Dabie orogen (China). Cl and F concentrations in amphiboles, biotites, and apatites from different rock types (gabbronorite, two-pyroxene diorite, clinopyroxene diorite, and hornblende gabbro) have been determined by electron microprobe. Most amphiboles show a negative correlation between log(Cl/OH) and Mg-number and a positive correlation between log(F/OH) and A-site occupation. Biotites from the gabbronorite and two-pyroxene diorite show a slight positive correlation between log(Cl/OH) and Mg, which is however not the case for the clinopyroxene diorite. Apatites from all the samples are rich in F and show negative correlations between Cl and F concentrations. In our case study, we demonstrate that the Cl concentration in melt remains approximately constant at 1,000–2,000 ppm over the major crystallization interval, but decreases strongly at near solidus temperatures as a result of fluid exsolution. The F concentration in melt remains nearly constant at ca. 2,000–3,000 ppm at high temperatures as well as near solidus conditions, indicating that it is not largely affected by fluid exsolution because of its strongly preferred incorporation into melt. Interestingly, the evolution of Cl and F concentrations in melt with magmatic differentiation is similar to that determined in volcanic systems, suggesting that the evolution of Cl and F in melts during crystallization and late magmatic stages at depth (plutonic systems) is similar to that observed in volcanic systems during decompression and degassing.

ASTER 분광분석을 통한 해남지역 강고령토변질 암석의 식별

해남 천열수 광화대는 우리나라 남서부에 위치하고 있으며, 저유황계 천열수 금-은 광상(은산-모이산)과 점토광상(옥매산, 성산, 춘산)을 배태하고 있다. 백악기 화산활동과 관련된 천열수 광상과 이와 함께 수반되는 열수변질작용은 열수변질광물들로 구성된 대규모의 대상분포를 야기 시켰다. 명반석-석영, 명반석-딕카이트-석영, 딕카이트-카올리나이트-석영의 광물조합을 갖는 강고령토변질작용으로 변질된 암석들은 옥매산, 성산, 춘산지역에 노출되어 있다. 세 개의 가시근적외선 밴드, 여섯 개의 단파장적외선 밴드, 다섯 개의 열적외선 밴드로 구성된 Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER)는 해남 천열수 광화대 내 강고령토변질작용을 받은 암석들을 식별하는데 사용되었다. 열수변질광물들의 특정한 분광특성들은 연구지역내 변질 받지 않은 암석들로부터 강고령 토변질작용을 받은 암석들의 식별을 가능하게 한다. 연구지역 내 강고령토변질작용을 받은 암석들을 주로 구성하는 명반석, 딕카이트, 카올리나이트는 대표적인 함 Al-O-H 광물로 <TEX>$2.20{\mu}m$</TEX>에서 강한 흡수특성을 갖는다. ASTER 밴드조합 및 밴드비 변환은 강고령토변질작용을 받은 암석과 비변질 암석으로부터 획득된 DN 값의 차이를 증가시킨다. 옥매산, 성산, 춘산지역으로부터 강고령토변질작용을 받은 암석들 내 명반석과 딕카이트-카올리나이트는 각각 1.523과 1.737의 평균 DN 값을 갖는다. 이러한 DN 값은 비변질 지역으로부터 획득된 DN (각각 평균 1.211과 1.308)값에 비해 훨씬 높다. ASTER 영상은 지표환경에서 열수변질광물의 분포특성을 원격적으로 제공할 수 있다. 이러한 측면에서 ASTER 분광분석과 야외지질조사 결과의 좋은 상관성은 ASTER 분광분석이 광물자원탐사의 초기 단계에서 유용한 탐사방법이 될 수 있음을 제시한다. The Haenam epithermal mineralized zone is located in the southwestern part of South Korea, and hosts low sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag deposit (Eunsan-Moisan) and clay quarries (Okmaesan, Seongsan, and Chunsan). Epithermal deposits and accompanying hydrothermal alteration related to Cretaceous volcanism caused large zoned assemblages of hydrothermal alteration minerals. Advanced argillic-altered rocks with mineral assemblages of alunite-quartz, alunite-dickite-quartz, and dickite-kaolinite-quartz exposed on the Okmaesan, Seongsan, and Chunsan area. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), with three visible and near infrared bands, six shortwave infrared bands, and five thermal infrared bands, was used to identify advanced argillic-altered rocks within the Haenam epithermal mineralized zone. The distinct spectral features of hydrothermal minerals allow discrimination of advanced argillic-altered rocks from non-altered rocks within the study area. Because alunite, dickite, and kaolinite, consisting of advanced argillic-altered rocks within the study area are characterized by Al-O-H-bearing minerals, these acid hydrothermal minerals have a strong absorption feature at <TEX>$2.20{\mu}m$</TEX>. The band combination and band ratio transformation cause increasing differences of DN values between advanced argillic-altered rock and non-altered rock. The alunite and dickite-kaolinite of advanced argillic-altered rocks from the Okmaesan, Seongsan, and Chunsan have average DN values of 1.523 and 1.737, respectively. These values are much higher than those (1.211 and 1.308, respectively) of non-altered area. ASTER images can remotely provide the distribution of hydrothermal minerals on the surface. In this way good relation between ASTER spectra analysis and field data suggests that ASTER spectral analysis can be useful tool in the initial steps of mineral exploration.

Identifying areas of high economic-potential copper mineralization using ASTER data in the Urumieh–Dokhtar Volcanic Belt, Iran

This study investigates the application of spectral image processing methods to ASTER data for mapping hydrothermal alteration zones associated with porphyry copper mineralization and related host rock. The study area is located in the southeastern segment of the Urumieh–Dokhtar Volcanic Belt of Iran. This area has been selected because it is a potential zone for exploration of new porphyry copper deposits. Spectral transform approaches, namely principal component analysis, band ratio and minimum noise fraction were used for mapping hydrothermally altered rocks and lithological units at regional scale. Spectral mapping methods, including spectral angle mapper, linear spectral unmixing, matched filtering and mixture tuned matched filtering were applied to differentiate hydrothermal alteration zones associated with porphyry copper mineralization such as phyllic, argillic and propylitic mineral assemblages. Spectral transform methods enhanced hydrothermally altered rocks associated with the known porphyry copper deposits and new identified prospects using shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands of ASTER. These methods showed the discrimination of quartz rich igneous rocks from the magmatic background and the boundary between igneous and sedimentary rocks using the thermal infrared (TIR) bands of ASTER at regional scale. Spectral mapping methods distinguished the sericitically- and argillically-altered rocks (the phyllic and argillic alteration zones) that surrounded by discontinuous to extensive zones of propylitized rocks (the propylitic alteration zone) using SWIR bands of ASTER at both regional and district scales. Linear spectral unmixing method can be best suited for distinguishing specific high economic-potential hydrothermal alteration zone (the phyllic zone) and mineral assemblages using SWIR bands of ASTER. Results have proven to be effective, and in accordance with the results of field surveying, spectral reflectance measurements and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. In conclusion, the image processing methods used can provide cost-effective information to discover possible locations of porphyry copper and epithermal gold mineralization prior to detailed and costly ground investigations. The extraction of spectral information from ASTER data can produce comprehensive and accurate information for copper and gold resource investigations around the world, including those yet to be discovered.

Geophysical Characteristics of Adularia-Sericite Epithermal Gold-Silver Deposits in the Waihi-Waitekauri Region, New Zealand

Aeromagnetic, airborne radiometric, and surface gravity data from the adularia-sericite epithermal province of the Hauraki goldfield have delineated distinct anomalies associated with pervasive hydrothermal alteration and gold-silver mineralization. Aeromagnetic derivative images, particularly the analytic signal, define the boundaries of several magnetic quiet zones that result from magnetite destruction in the volcanic host rocks. Six discrete zones, each of ≤10-km2 areal extent are evident and are comparable in size to modern-day geothermal systems in the Taupo volcanic zone. An extensive (>20-km2) zone in the Waitekauri Valley is likely to be the result of multiple overlapping systems, for which there are also analogues in the Taupo volcanic zone that form single large-scale alteration zones up to 100 km2. Low-pass filtering of the analytic signal data reveals still wider zones of relatively low magnetic intensity interpreted as areas of hydrothermally altered rock extending below younger, unaltered cover. Many of these magnetic quiet zones are aligned along a north-northeast–south-southwest structural corridor, indicating that regional-scale structures may have controlled the location of these geophysical features. Radiometric data delineate local high potassium anomalies that reflect up to 12/100 g potassium enrichment in the core of alteration zones in the form of adularia and illite. A broad K/Th anomaly correlates with the extent of the magnetic quiet zones and indicates widespread potassium enrichment in the Waitekauri-Maratoto area. Gravity data in the Waihi district define a unique, double-peaked, 50-gravity unit positive residual anomaly that correlates closely with the extent of the magnetic quiet zone and the locations of the Waihi and Favona deposits. Preliminary modeling indicates that the anomaly source body, beneath the near-surface, low-density altered andesite, has a volume of up to ~11 km3 and a minimum density of 2,900 kg m−3. The nature of this source body is enigmatic; possible causes include a dense intrusion, uplifted anomalously dense basement, dense sulfide mineralization, or some combination of these. In addition, the correlation of each of the two gravity peaks with a north-northeast–trending fault may indicate some structural focusing process active at the deposit scale. This integration of geophysical data provides an outstanding case study of the district- to regional-scale geophysical characteristics of a classic epithermal province and demonstrates the strengths of geophysical surveys in the exploration for epithermal mineral deposits.

Low potassium hydrothermal alteration in low sulfidation epithermal systems as detected by IRS and XRD: An example from the Co–O mine, Eastern Mindanao, Philippines

Detailed hydrothermal alteration investigations, including petrography, infrared reflectance spectroscopy (IRS) and XRD of the low sulfidation epithermal Co–O mine, located in Eastern Mindanao (Philippines) revealed that both distal and intermediate hydrothermal alteration zones contain dominantly illite and chlorite, whereas the proximal alteration zone comprises mainly illite, chalcopyrite and pyrite. The gold-bearing veins and the proximal hydrothermal alteration zone display a distinct absence of K-rich hydrothermal alteration minerals such as K-feldspar (adularia).Gold mineralization in the Co–O mine is controlled by an extensive quartz-breccia vein system, which is characterized by three distinct stages of vein (incl. breccias) formation. Gold is mainly observed in stages 2 and 3 veins. Stage 1 veins appear as fragments in stage 2 veins and display boiling textures such as quartz pseudomophs after bladed calcite. These veins further display colloform to crustiform banding and contain pyrite, chalcopyrite and minor gold located in the colloform bands and between bladed quartz pseudomorphs. Stage 2 veins comprise mostly banded to massive quartz and contains sulfides parallel to bands or disseminated. These veins are fine-grained with mosaic/jigsaw quartz and contain calcite blebs and/or fragments of stage 1 veins. Gold is in textural equilibrium with chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and locally pyrite. Stage 3 veins consist of quartz and carbonate (locally Mn-rich), and display irregular banded and comb textures. In auriferous veins of this stage gold is in textural equilibrium with chalcopyrite and pyrite (with local abundance of sphalerite). Other sulfide minerals observed with gold in stages 2 and 3 are galena, acanthite and locally jalpaite.The XRD and IRS provide inconsistent results regarding the abundance of K-rich clays (e.g., illite) associated with auriferous veins. Illite, with possibly interlayered swelling clays, such as Al-smectite, was identified in auriferous vein stages 2 and 3 using IRS, but could not be confirmed by XRD. Comparative analysis of the results of these techniques with respect to the ordering of micaceous minerals, suggest less ordered white mica proximal to the veins.Vein textures such as banded quartz, the absence of K-feldspar and the abundance of illite (interlayered Al-smectite) suggest relatively low temperatures of formation of the hydrothermal alteration system and point to a potential boiling horizon located deeper or marginal to the currently exploited levels of the Co–O mine. The absence of K-feldspar may also be related to relatively low temperatures of the hydrothermal fluid, the medium potassium-rich magma series of the host rocks, and/or a relatively low oxidation state of the hydrothermal fluid.

Identification of hydrothermal alteration minerals for exploring of porphyry copper deposit using ASTER data, SE Iran

The NW–SE trending Central Iranian Volcanic Belt hosts many well-known porphyry copper deposits in Iran. It becomes an interesting area for remote sensing investigations to explore the new prospects of porphyry copper and vein type epithermal gold mineralization. Two copper mining districts in southeastern segment of the volcanic belt, including Meiduk and Sarcheshmeh have been selected in the present study. The performance of Principal Component Analysis, band ratio and Minimum Noise Fraction transformation has been evaluated for the visible and near infrared (VNIR) and, shortwave infrared (SWIR) subsystems of ASTER data. The image processing techniques indicated the distribution of iron oxides and vegetation in the VNIR subsystem. Hydrothermal alteration mineral zones associated with porphyry copper mineralization identified and discriminated based on distinctive shortwave infrared (SWIR) properties of the ASTER data in a regional scale. These techniques identified new prospects of porphyry copper mineralization in the study areas. The spatial distribution of hydrothermal alteration zones has been verified by in situ inspection, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and spectral reflectance measurements. Results indicated that the integration of the image processing techniques has a great ability to obtain significant and comprehensive information for the reconnaissance stages of porphyry copper exploration in a regional scale. The results of this research can assist exploration geologists to find new prospects of porphyry copper and gold deposits in the other virgin regions before costly detailed ground investigations. Consequently, the introduced image processing techniques can create an optimum idea about possible location of the new prospects.

거풍구리광상: 산출공물, 유체포유물 및 안정동위원소 연구

거풍구리광상은 트라이아스기 청산화강암 내에 발달된 NE 계열의 열극대를 충진한 2개조의 석영맥으로 구성된 열수맥상광상이다. 본 광상의 석영맥은 주로 괴상으로 산출되며 일부 정동 및 각력상 조직이 관찰되고 연장성은 500 m, 맥폭은 0.2에서 2.2 m 정도이다. 이들 석영맥의 광화작용은 hypogene 시기와 supergene 시기로 구분된다. Hypogene 시기의 광물은 견운모, 황철석, 석영, 녹니석 및 점토광물로 구성된 열수변질광물과 황철석, 유비철석, 자류철석, 백철석, 섬아연석, 황석석, 황동석 및 방연석으로 구성된 황화광물이 관찰된다. Supergene 시기에는 침철석이 생성되었다. 유체포유물 자료에 의하면, 광화시기 광석광물의 침전과 관련된 균일화온도와 염농도는 각각 <TEX>$163{\sim}356^{\circ}C$</TEX>, 0.2~7.2 wt.% NaCl 로서 광화유체가 천수의 혼입에 의한 냉각과 희석작용이 있었음을 지시한다. 황(<TEX>${\delta}^{34}S$</TEX>: 4.3~9.3‰)의 기원은 주로 화성기원과 일부 모암내의 황에서 유래된 것으로 해석된다. 산소 (<TEX>${\delta}^{18}O$</TEX>: 0.9~4.0‰)와 수소(<TEX>${\delta}D$</TEX>: -86~-69‰) 동위원소값의 자료로 볼 때, 이 광상의 광화유체는 마그마 기원 또는 천수 기원의 유체로 생각되며 광화작용이 진행됨에 따라 기원이 다른 천수의 혼입이 작용한 것으로 해석할 수 있다. The Geopung Cu deposit consists of two subparallel quartz veins that till the NE-trending fissures in Triassic Cheongsan granite. The quartz veins occur mainly massive with partially cavity and breccia. They can be followed along strike for about 500 m and varies in thickness from 0.2 to 2.2 m. Based on the mineralogy and paragenesis of veins, mineralization of quartz veins can be divided into hypogene and supergene stages. Hypogene stage is associated with hydrothermal alteration minerals such as sericite, pyrite, quartz, chlorite, clay minerals and sulfides such as pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, marcasite, sphalerite, stannite, chalcopyrite and galena. Supergene stage is composed of geothite. Fluid inclusion data from quartz indicate that homogenization temperatures and salinity of hypogene stage range from 163 to <TEX>$356^{\circ}C$</TEX> and from 0.2 to 7.2 wt.% eq. NaCl, respectively. They suggest that ore forming fluids were progressively cooled and diluted from mixing with meteoric water. Sulfur (<TEX>${\delta}^{34}S$</TEX>: 4.3~9.2‰) isotope composition indicates that ore sulfur was derived from mainly magmatic source although there is a partial derivation from the host rocks. The calculated oxygen (<TEX>${\delta}^{18}O$</TEX>: 0.9~4.0‰) and hydrogen (<TEX>${\delta}D$</TEX>: -86~-69‰) isotope compositions suggest that magmatic and meteoric ore fluids were equally important for the formation of the Geopung Cu deposit and then overlapped to some degree with another type of meteoric water during mineralization.

Domos volcánicos y mineralización de oro en el distrito Pueblo Viejo, República Dominicana

La mineralización de oro en el Distrito PuebloViejo de la República Dominicana se encuentra re-lacionada espacial y temporalmente con una serie de domos volcánicos del Cretácico Inferior. Las celdas hidro-termales separadas, pero solapadas, centradas en los domos, depositaron en conjunto más de 40 millones de onzas de oro, 240 millones de onzas de plata, 3 millones de toneladas métricas de cinc y 0,4 millones de toneladas métricas de cobre. Los dos depósitos principales (Moore y Monte Negro) y varios depósitos más pequeños(Cumba, Mejita, Mejita Arriba, Banco 5, Arroyo Hondo I y II) han producido mena desde que comenzó la mina en 1975.Cartografía geológica del Distrito Pueblo Viejo ha identificado por lo menos siete centros volcanicos los cuales seinterdigitan, solapan y se encuentran interestratificados con sedimentos epiclásticos derivados localmente. Éstos centros se localizan sobre domos volcánicos que varían en composición entre andesita y dacita. Los sedimentos volcánicos epiclásticos que rodean cada domo reflejan la composición de la roca fuente local. Un domo dacítico en el depósito de Moore se encuentra rodeado de sedimentos epiclásticos con ojos de cuarzo detrítico y res-tos de flujo de pórfido dacítico. Domos andesíticos en los depósitos de Monte Negro, Cumba, y Mejita se encuentran rodeado y parcialmente cubiertos por brechas de origen mixto, epiclástica y piroclástica, y por sedi-mentos volcánicos andesíticos.Las relaciones de campo indican que el emplazamiento de domos volcánicos, la acumulación de sedimentos epiclásticos, la alteración hidrotermal y la mineralización de oro fueron eventos contemporáneos. Los domos fueron emplazados en un ambiente subacuático de poca profundidad en los flancos de un emergente edificio volcánico. Las celdas hidrotermales responsables de la mineralización del oro están controladas por fallas de ánguloempinado. Estas mismas fallas influenciaron en el emplazamiento de los domos, los cuales son considerados como una etapa esencial en el desarrollo de la mena de oro del Distrito de Pueblo Viejo.

New insights on the evolution of the Lyon Mountain Granite and associated Kiruna-type magnetite-apatite deposits, Adirondack Mountains, New York State

The integrated approach of field work, microscopy, whole-rock and mineral-scale geochemistry, and in situ U-Th-Pb zircon geochronology has proven to be useful for recognizing the type, timing, and sequence of complex Na and K fluid alteration related to the development of Kiruna-type magnetite-apatite deposits and the tectonic evolution of the granites that host these deposits. The Lyon Mountain Granite in the northeastern Adirondack Mountains of New York State has undergone multiple episodes of hydrothermal fluid alteration and Fe mineralization. Perthite granite containing ubiquitous 1060–1050 Ma zircon grains was overprinted by potassic alteration, which in turn was overprinted by pervasive Na alteration. During the Na alteration, preexisting orebodies, consisting of magnetite, clinopyroxene, and apatite, were overprinted and remobilized to form new deposits that contain magnetite, apatite, quartz, and zircon. The U-Th-Pb zircon geochronology data suggest that the Lyon Mountain Granite intruded the Adirondack Highlands during the Ottawan orogeny between ca. 1060 and 1050 Ma. However, subsequent alteration obscured much of the prehistory of the LMG. Amphibolite layers within the Lyon Mountain Granite and granitic dikes and pegmatites that crosscut the foliation in the Lyon Mountain Granite have been dated between 1045 and 1016 Ma. These ages coincide with previous published zircon age data from second-generation orebodies associated with Na alteration.

Using spectral mapping techniques on short wave infrared bands of ASTER remote sensing data for alteration mineral mapping in SE Iran

Spectral mapping techniques were applied on shortwave infrared of advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer (ASTER) data for discriminating between hydrothermal alteration zones, and the identification of high potential mineralized lithologic unit associated with hydrothermal porphyry copper mineralization in the Central Iranian Volcanic Belt. In this study, shortwave infrared radiations of ASTER data were processed with spectral angle mapping, linear spectral unmixing, matched filtering, and mixture tuned matched filtering techniques. Two copper mining districts were used as reference to demonstrate the applicability of the spectral mapping techniques for spectral distinction of specific hydrothermal alteration zones such as argillic, phyllic and propylitic. The results of this study showed that spectral information can be used for generating spatial alteration mineral maps for purely virgin regions, and it can provide a cost-effective method to discriminate the new prospects for porphyry copper exploration prior to detailed and costly ground investigations. Key words: ASTER, spectral mapping techniques, hydrothermal alteration minerals, copper exploration.

Geological setting, alteration, and fluid inclusion characteristics of Zaglic and Safikhanloo epithermal gold prospects, NW Iran

Abstract The Zaglic and Safikhanloo epithermal gold prospects are located in the Arasbaran zone, to the west of the Cenozoic Alborz-Azarbaijan magmatic belt in NW Iran. Mineralization is mainly restricted to quartz and quartz -carbonate veins and veinlets. Pyrite is the main sulphide, associated with subordinate chalcopyrite and bornite. Gold occurs as microscopic and submicroscopic grains in quartz and pyrite. The country rocks are Tertiary intermediate–mafic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks of andesite to trachy-andesite composition intruded by a composite granitic to syenitic pluton. They are medium- to high-K, calc-alkaline and alkaline rocks and display fractionated REE (rare earth element) patterns, with light rare earth elements (LREE) significantly enriched relative to the heavy rare elements (HREE). On primitive mantle normalized plots, they display depletions in Nb, Ti and P, and enrichments in Pb, which are common characteristics of arc-related magmas worldwide. Hydrothermal alteration minerals developed in the wall rocks include quartz, calcite, pyrite, kaolinite, montmorillonite, illite, chlorite, and epidote. Minor alunite occurs in Safikhanloo. Gold is locally enriched in the altered rocks immediate to the veins. The ore-stage quartz from both prospects is dominated by liquid-rich fluid inclusions; vapour-rich inclusions are rare. The homogenization temperature varies between 170–230 and 170–330 °C and salinity varies between 1.4 to 9.5 and &lt;1 to 6.7 wt% NaCl equivalent, for Safikhanloo and Zaglic, respectively. The occurrence of hydrothermal breccias, bladed calcite, adularia, and rare coexisting vapour- and liquid-dominant inclusions suggest that boiling occurred in the course of the evolution of the ore fluids. The large variations in Th and the salinity values can be explained by boiling and/or mixing. Lack of sulphate minerals in the veins suggests that sulphides and gold precipitated from a reduced, H 2 S-dominant fluid. Calculated δ 34 S values for the ore fluid vary between −4.6 and −9.3‰. Sulphur could have been derived directly from magmatic sources, or leached from the volcanic and plutonic country rocks. Ore formation in Zaglic and Safikhanloo occurred in response to mixing, boiling, and interactions with wall rocks. Considering the intermediate-argillic alteration, the low contents of base metal sulphides, and the overall low salinities, the Zaglic and Safikhanloo can be classified as low-sulphidation epithermal systems.

Magmatic-vapor expansion and the formation of high-sulfidation gold deposits: Structural controls on hydrothermal alteration and ore mineralization

High-sulfidation copper–gold lode deposits such as Chinkuashih, Taiwan, Lepanto, Philippines, and Goldfield, Nevada, formed within 1500 m of the paleosurface in volcanic terranes. All underwent an early stage of extensive advanced argillic silica–alunite alteration followed by an abrupt change to spatially much more restricted stages of fracture-controlled sulfide–sulfosalt mineral assemblages and gold–silver mineralization. The alteration as well as ore mineralization stages of these deposits were controlled by the dynamics and history of syn-hydrothermal faulting. At the Sulfate Stage, aggressive advanced argillic alteration and silicification were consequent on the in situ formation of acidic condensate from magmatic vapor as it expanded through secondary fracture networks alongside active faults. The reduction of permeability at this stage due to alteration decreased fluid flow to the surface, and progressively developed a barrier between magmatic-vapor expansion constrained by the active faults and peripheral hydrothermal activity dominated by hot-water flow. In conjunction with the increased rock strength resulting from alteration, subsequent fault-slip inversion in response to an increase in compressional stress generated new, highly permeable fractures localized by the embrittled, altered rock. The new fractures focused magmatic-vapor expansion with much lower heat loss so that condensation occurred. Sulfide Stage sulfosalt, sulfide, and gold–silver deposition then resulted from destabilization of vapor phase metal species due to vapor decompression through the new fracture array. The switch from sulfate to sulfide assemblages is, therefore, a logical consequence of changes in structural permeability due to the coupling of alteration and fracture dynamics rather than to changes in the chemistry of the fluid phase at its magmatic source.

Hydrothermal formation of Clay-Carbonate alteration assemblages in the Nili Fossae region of Mars

The Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) has returned observations of the Nili Fossae region indicating the presence of Mg-carbonate in small (< 10 km sq 2), relatively bright rock units that are commonly fractured (Ehlmann et al., 2008b). We have analyzed spectra from CRISM images and used co-located HiRISE images in order to further characterize these carbonate-bearing units. We applied absorption band mapping techniques to investigate a range of possible phyllosilicate and carbonate minerals that could be present in the Nili Fossae region. We also describe a clay-carbonate hydrothermal alteration mineral assemblage in the Archean Warrawoona Group of Western Australia that is a potential Earth analog to the Nili Fossae carbonate-bearing rock units. We discuss the geological and biological implications for hydrothermal processes on Noachian Mars.

Subglacial Hydrothermal Alteration Minerals in Jökulhlaup Deposits of Southern Iceland, with Implications for Detecting Past or Present Habitable Environments on Mars

Jökulhlaups are terrestrial catastrophic outfloods, often triggered by subglacial volcanic eruptions. Similar volcano-ice interactions were likely important on Mars where magma/lava may have interacted with the planet's cryosphere to produce catastrophic floods. As a potential analogue to sediments deposited during martian floods, the Holocene sandurs of Iceland are dominated by basaltic clasts derived from the subglacial environment and deposited during jökulhlaups. Palagonite tuffs and breccias, present within the deposits, represent the primary alteration lithology. The surface abundance of palagonite on the sandurs is 1-20%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of palagonite breccias confirms a mineral assemblage of zeolites, smectites, low-quartz, and kaolinite. Oriented powder X-ray diffractograms (< 2 microm fraction) for palagonite breccia clasts and coatings reveal randomly ordered smectite, mixed layer smectite/illite, zeolites, and quartz. Visible light-near infrared (VNIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) lab spectroscopic data of the same palagonite samples show H2O/OH(-) absorptions associated with clays and zeolites. SWIR spectra derived from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) images of the sandurs reveal Al-OH(-) and Si-OH(-) absorption features. The identified alteration mineral assemblage is consistent with low temperature (100-140 degrees C) hydrothermal alteration of basaltic material within the subglacial environment. These results suggest that potential martian analog sites that contain a similar suite of hydrated minerals may be indicative of past hydrothermal activity and locations where past habitable environments for microbial life may be found.

Putative fossil life in a hydrothermal system of the Dellen impact structure, Sweden

AbstractImpact-generated hydrothermal systems are commonly proposed as good candidates for hosting primitive life on early Earth and Mars. However, evidence of fossil microbial colonization in impact-generated hydrothermal systems is rarely reported in the literature. Here we present the occurrence of putative fossil microorganisms in a hydrothermal system of the 89 Ma Dellen impact structure, Sweden. We found the putative fossilized microorganisms hosted in a fine-grained matrix of hydrothermal alteration minerals set in interlinked fractures of an impact breccia. The putative fossils appear as semi-straight to twirled filaments, with a thickness of 1–2 μm, and a length between 10 and 100 μm. They have an internal structure with segmentation, and branching of filaments occurs frequently. Their composition varies between an outer and an inner layer of a filament, where the inner layer is more iron rich. Our results indicate that hydrothermal systems in impact craters could potentially be capable of supporting microbial life. This could have played an important role for the evolution of life on early Earth and Mars.

Intermediate sulfidation epithermal gold-base metal deposits in Tertiary subaerial volcanic rocks, Sahinli/Tespih Dere (Lapseki/Western Turkey)

Gold in the Sahinli and Tespih Dere intermediate sulfidation gold-base metal deposits in Western Turkey occurs in relatively deep epithermal quartz veins along with base metal minerals which have epithermal textures, including plumose quartz, vug infills, comb and cockade textures and matrix-supported milled breccias. The total sulfide content of the veins in the area is variable ranging from < 1% to 60% and is dominated by pyrite, galena, sphalerite and chalcopyrite. Sphalerite is Fe-poor (0.6 to 1.4 mol% FeS). Minor amounts of Ag-rich tetrahedrite are present. Primary hydrothermal alteration minerals include illite/muscovite, mixed-layer illite/smectite (11.6 Å) and clinochlore towards the east and, alunite, dickite/nacrite and pyrophyllite towards the west at Sahinli; major illite/muscovite and dickite occur at Tespih Dere and Sarioluk, respectively. Fluid inclusions in main-stage quartz at Sahinli are only liquid-rich, with homogenization temperatures ranging from 220 to 322 °C and the majority of T h values between 250 and 300 °C. Salinity ranges from 4.3 to 6.9 wt.% NaCl equiv. First ice-melting temperatures ( T mf) between −24.5 and −19.0 °C indicate that the fluids were dominated by NaCl – H 2O during mineralization. The relatively higher average T h at the Tespih Dere deposit (295 °C) is attributed to a relatively deeper level of exposure. Calculated δ 18O values indicate that ore-forming hydrothermal fluids in the study area had δ 18O H2O ranging from + 1.1 to + 9.7‰ (average = 3.8‰), strongly 18O-enriched compared with present-day hydrothermal meteoric water in the area ( δ 18O = −8.5‰). δD values of fluid inclusions in quartz range from −58 to −93‰ and δD values of clay minerals and alunite from −40 to −119‰. δD values from intermediate argillic alteration (average = −68‰) in the study area are very similar to δD values of the present-day local geothermal system (average δD = −54‰) whereas δD values from advanced-argillic alteration (average δD = −33‰) are very different from the present-day local geothermal system. The δ 34S values in samples from the Sahinli and Tespih Dere deposits average −2.9‰ for pyrite; −3.3‰ for chalcopyrite; −5.4‰ for sphalerite and −7.6‰ for galena. These data are consistent with derivation of the sulfur from either igneous rocks or possibly from local wallrock.

Extraction of hydrothermal alterations from ASTER SWIR data from east Zanjan, northern Iran

The use of satellite images for mineral exploration has been very successful in pointing out the presence of minerals such as smectite and kaolinite which are important in the identification of hydrothermal alterations. Shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) with the wavelength of ASTER SWIR bands between 1.65 and 2.43 μm has a good potential for mapping a hydrothermal alteration minerals such as alunite, pyrophyllite, kaolinite, illite–muscovite–sericite, and carbonate. In this range, hydroxide minerals which have been produced by hydrothermal alteration exhibit good absorption compared to shorter or longer wavelengths. In this research which aims to remove atmospheric and topographic effects from ASTER SWIR data, the authors used the log-residual method (LRM) with the minimum noise fraction (MNF) transformation to create a pixel purity index (PPI) which was used to extract the most spectrally pure pixels from multispectral images. Spectral analyses of the clay mineralogy of the study area (east Zanjan, in northern Iran) were obtained by matching the unknown spectra of the purest pixels to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) mineral library. Three methods, spectral feature fitting (SFF), spectral angle mapping (SAM), and binary encoding (BE) were used to generate a score between 0 and 1, where a value of 1 indicates a perfect match showing the exact mineral type. In this way, it was possible to identify certain mineral classes, including chlorite, carbonate, calcite–dolomite–magnesite, kaolinite–smectite, alunite, and illite. In this research, two main propylitic and phyllic–argillic zones could be separated using their compositions of these minerals. These two alteration zones are important for porphyry copper deposits and gold mineralization in this part of Iran.