Metallic Mineral Resources

Year
0
Academic year
2019-2020
Code
01003864
Subject Area
Área Científica do Menor
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Elective
Level
1st Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

The required course units are: Mineralogy, Igneous Petrology, Metamorphic Petrology, Sedimentary Petrology, and Structural Geology.

The students should have a comprehensive knowledge of the geological processes responsible for the origin of magmatic, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and also the processes that lead to the deformation of rocks.

The prerequisites skills include the ability to study minerals and rocks on a mesoscopic and microscopic scale and to read and understand Basic English.

Teaching Methods

Face-to-face teaching with the following components:

Theorical: expository teaching using audiovisual means to make easier to understand the concepts, models and methodologies; presentation and discussion of synthesis reports.

Practical and laboratory: methods of identifying “opaque” phases and ore textures using reflected light microscope; study of examples of metalliferous mineral deposits.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Recognize the geological characteristics of the main types of mineral deposits and to understand how do they fit into the Earth System.

2. Recognize and understand the principles that rule the natural concentration of minerals in the Earth's crust.

3. Characterize and identify ores using appropriate laboratory methods and techniques.

4. Communicate, in written and oral language, information concerning studied examples of mineral deposits, using literature sources and appropriate methodologies of analysis.

5. Understand and describe autonomously the geological characteristics and the processes of formation of the types or examples of mineral deposits not taught in formal classes.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. INTRODUCTION

A classification scheme for ore deposits. Mineral deposit. Viability of an ore deposit. Mineral resources and ore reserves.

2. IGNEOUS ORE PROCESSES

Igneous ore processes (layered intrusions, podiforme chromitites, komatiites, anorthosites, kimberlites and lamproites, carbonatitos).

Magmatic-hydrothermal ore-forming processes (pegmatites, porphyry Cu-(Mo), porphyry Mo-(Cu), and porphyry W-type deposits, skarn deposits, epithermal Au-Ag-(Cu) deposits).

3. HYDROTHERMAL PROCESSES

VMS-SEDEX deposits. Stratiform sediment-hosted copper (SSC) deposits. Mississippi Valley type  (MVT) Pb-Zn deposits.

4. SEDIMENTARY/SURFICIAL PROCESSES

Lateritic deposits. Bauxites. Placer deposits. Banded Iron Formations (BIF). Ironstones. Mn deposits.

5. GLOBAL TECTONICS AND METALLOGENY

Patterns in the distribution of mineral deposits. Crustal evolution and metallogenesis. Metallogeny through time.

6. Reflected light microscopy. Study of ore hand samples and polished sections.

Head Lecturer(s)

Elsa Maria de Carvalho Gomes

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Laboratory work or Field work: 10.0%
Synthesis work: 20.0%
Exam: 70.0%

Bibliography

CRAIG, J. R. & VAUGHAN, D. J. (1994). Ore microscopy and ore petrography. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 434pp.

CRAIG, J. R., VAUGHAN, D. V. & SKINNER, B. J. (2001). Resources of the Earth: origin, use, and environmental impact. Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 520pp.

DILL, H. G. (2010). The "chessboard" classification scheme of mineral deposits: Mineralogy and geology from aluminum to zirconium. Earth Science-Reviews, 100, 1-420.

GUILBERT, J. M. & PARK, C. F. Jr. (1986). The geology of ore deposits. Freeman, New York, 985pp.

PICOT, P. & JOHAN, Z. (1977). Atlas des mineraux metalliques. Mémoires du BRGM, nº 9, 403pp.

ROBB, L. (2005). Introduction to ore-forming processes. Blackwell, Oxford, 373pp.

ROBERTS, R. G. & SHEAHAN, P. A. (1994). Ore deposit models. Geoscience Canada, Ontário, 194pp.

SHEAHAN, P. A. & CHERRY, M. E. (1993). Ore deposit models (volume II). Geoscience Canada, Ontario, 154pp.

TAYLOR, R. (2009). Ore Textures. Recognition and Interpretation. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 288pp.