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Hydrothermal mineral deposits are divided into six main subcategories: porphyry, skarn, volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS), sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX), and epithermal and Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits. Each hydrothermal mineral deposit has different distinct structures, ages, sizes, grades, geological formation, characteristics and ...
Eventually a point is reached where the minerals start to crystallise out. [2] Minerals formed in this way are called primary, or hypogene, minerals. Sulfur is a common component of the fluids, and most of the common ore metals, lead , zinc , copper , silver , molybdenum and mercury , occur chiefly as sulfide and sulfosalt minerals. [ 3 ]
Classification of hydrothermal ore deposits is also achieved by classifying according to the temperature of formation, which roughly also correlates with particular mineralising fluids, mineral associations and structural styles. [2] This scheme, proposed by Waldemar Lindgren (1933) classified hydrothermal deposits as follows: [2]
Volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposits, also known as VMS ore deposits, are a type of metal sulfide ore deposit, mainly copper-zinc which are associated with and produced by volcanic-associated hydrothermal events in submarine environments. [2] [3] [4] These deposits are also sometimes called volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposits
The sulphide minerals are a class of minerals containing sulphide (S 2−) or disulphide (S 2− 2) as the major anion. Some sulfide minerals are economically important as metal ores . The sulphide class also includes the selenides , the tellurides , the arsenides , the antimonides , the bismuthinides, the sulpharsenides and the sulphosalts .
The descending meteoric waters oxidize the primary (hypogene) sulfide ore minerals and redistribute the metallic ore elements. Supergene enrichment occurs at the base of the oxidized portion of an ore deposit. Metals that have been leached from the oxidized ore are carried downward by percolating groundwater, and react with hypogene sulfides at ...
SMS deposits form in the deep ocean around submarine volcanic arcs, where hydrothermal vents exhale sulfide-rich mineralising fluids into the ocean. SMS deposits are laterally extensive and consist of a central vent mound around the area where the hydrothermal circulation exits, with a wide apron of unconsolidated sulfide silt or ooze which ...
The ore fluids of MVT deposits are typically low temperature (100 °C–150 °C) and have the composition of basinal brines (10–30 wt.% NaCl equivalent) with pH's of 4.5–5 (buffered by host carbonates). This hydrothermal fluid may or may not carry the required sulfur to form sulfide minerals.