Mining Geology Flashcards
A type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals that can be extracted from the rock at a profit
Ore
commercially worthless material that surrounds, or is closely mixed with, a wanted mineral in an ore deposit.
Gangue
Ore accumulation. Parts of the crust, where ores are concentrated
Ore deposits
the study of the genesis of mineral deposits, with emphasis on their relationships in space and time to geological features of the Earth’s crust
Metallogeny
any geological, tectonic, lithological or geochemical feature that has played a role in the concentration of one or more elements in the Earth’s crust
Metallotect
a unit of geologic time favorable for the deposition of ores or characterized by a particular assemblage of deposit type
Metallogenic Epoch
a region characterized by a particular assemblage of mineral deposit types
Metallogenic Province
refers to ore deposits that form at the same time as their host rocks
Syngenetic
refers to ore deposits that form after their host rocks
Epigenetic
refers to mineralization caused by ascending hydrothermal solutions
Hypogene
refers to mineralization caused by descending solutions
Supergene
concentration caused by processes in the Earth’s interior. i.e vein and lode deposits
Endogenetic:
concentration caused by processes at the Earth’s surface
Exogenetic
concentration of metals by abstraction from surrounding rock
Lateral secretion
ores formed by hot aqueous solution
Hydrothermal deposits
hydrothermal ore deposits formed at shallow depths (less than ____ meters) and fairly low temperatures (______ °C).
Epithermal
1500m
50-200C
hydrothermal ore deposits formed at intermediate depths (_____ meters) and temperatures (_____ °C).
Mesothermal
1500-4500m
200-400C
hydrothermal ore deposits formed at substantial depths (greater than ____ meters) and elevated temperatures (______ °C).
Hypothermal
>4500m
400-600C
open fissures filled with mineral leached from the adjacent rocks
Veins
ore formed from either magma or fluids
Primary Ore
ore formed as consequences of alteration of preexisting material
Secondary ore
process where a partly crystallized magma is subject to stress, the fluid fraction is squeezed off from the residual crystalline mash
Filter pressing
the gangue minerals of historic lead-zinc mining in the English Pennine ore field, are now major minerals, with galena and sphalerite as byproducts
Fluorite and Barite
another term in common use, is extensive and unmineralized, and presumably it has nothing to do with the mineral deposit
Country Rock
association may occur in foliated metamorphic rocks, in tactite, within an intrusion, or in relatively unaltered limeston
pyrite-galena-sphalerite-quartz
Rocks and ore deposits share another characteristic. Their components have entered new surroundings from time to time during geologic history where they have retained some aspects ad change other aspects in their mineralogical nature under the new geochemical conditions.
Heritage
An important industrial mineral composed of calcium and fluorine. It is deposited in veins by hydrothermal processes. It is also found in the fractures and cavities of some limestones and dolomites
Fluorite
The nonmetallic mineral with an incredible specific gravity. Specific gravity is 4.5, which is exceptional for a nonmetallic mineral. The high specific gravity of _____ makes it suitable for a wide range of industrial, medical, and manufacturing uses.
Barite
Large, low grade deposits usually associated with a porphyritic intrusive body.
A. Cu-Mo
B. Cu (-Au)
C. Mo (-W tungsten)
