| Credit |
6 points |
| Availability |
Semester 2 (see Timetable) |
| Old unit code |
520.346 |
| Outcomes |
Students are able to demonstrate skills in the analysis and evaluation of magma and hydrothermal ore deposit genesis; recognising constraints on the transport and deposition of ore and gangue minerals; understanding processes associated with hydrothermal alteration; and structural mapping or ore bodies. Students are also able to demonstrate research skills in critical literature review, seminar presentation and report writing. |
| Content |
This unit discusses Earth's metallic ore deposits in terms of their geographic location, economic importance, geological setting, and physical and chemical characteristics. The character and origin of ore-bearing magmas and hydrothermal fluids, including the transport and deposition of ore and gangue minerals are explored.
Ore deposit types discussed include orthomagmatic (Cr-PGE-Ni-Cu), diamond, carbonatite (multi-element), iron ore (banded iron formation, magmatic, sedimentary), Mississippi Valley Type (Pb-Zn), volcanogenic massive sulphide-sedimentary exhalative (Cu-Pb-Zn-Au), Broken Hill Type (Pb-Zn), skarns (multi-element), epithermal-porphyry (Au-Ag-Cu), orogenic gold, Carlin-type (Au), granite-greisen (Sn-W) and pegmatite deposits.
Laboratory work includes (1) the study of rock suites of orthomagmatic and hydrothermal ore deposits by hand lens, reflected and transmitted light microscopy; (2) determination and interpretation of hydrothermal alteration zonation and paragenetic sequences; (3) interpretations of plan-, cross-, and long-sections to visualise the structural control and three-dimensional aspects of ore bodies; (4) interpretation of whole rock, trace element and mineral chemistry signatures of alteration zones and ore-bearing rocks; and (5) reconstruction of pressure-temperature-composition-time evolution of paleohydrothermal systems involving ore microscopy, phase equilibria, fluid inclusion, stable and radiogenic isotope techniques.
A field trip to an active mine site in Western Australia is used to gain experience in underground and open-pit mapping and diamond-core logging techniques. |
| Assessment |
This comprises a laboratory assignment, a seminar and a final theory examination.
Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit except in the case of a bachelor's pass degree student who has obtained a mark of 45 to 49 and is currently enrolled in this unit, and it is the only remaining unit that the student must pass in order to complete their course. |
| Unit Co-ordinator(s) |
Professor Steffen Hagemann |
| Location |
UWA (Crawley) |
| Mode |
on-campus |
| Unit Rules |
| Prerequisites: EART2234 Structural and Metamorphic Geology |
| Advisable prior study: EART2235 Introduction to Geochemistry |
Contact hours—lectures: 4 hrs per week; labs: 4 hrs per week; field work: 5 days (charges: cost of food and accommodation is borne by the student)
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- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change.
- Assistance with study skills, including English language skills, is available free of charge from Student Services for all enrolled students (see http://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/ss/learning). Student Services location: Second Floor, South Wing, Guild Village; telephone: 6488 2423.
- Books and other materials wherever listed may be subject to change. Book lists relating to 'Preliminary Reading', 'Recommended Reading' and 'Textbooks' are, in most cases, available at the University Co-operative Bookshop (from early January) and appropriate administrative offices for students to consult. For first-year units the Bookshop will endeavour to make available photocopies of book lists for individual units. Books marked with an asterisk (*) are available in paperback.
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