New toolkit aids discovery of mineral deposits crucial to 'green
economy' transition

Date:
March 15, 2022
Source:
University of Exeter
Summary:
Scientists have developed a new toolkit for the discovery of
mineral deposits crucial to our transition to a 'green economy'.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Scientists have developed a new toolkit for the discovery of mineral
deposits crucial to our transition to a 'green economy'.


==========================================================================
A study led by Lawrence Carter from the University of Exeter's Camborne
School of Mines, has given fascinating new insights into how to discover porphyry-type copper deposits.

Porphyry-type deposits provide most of the world's copper and molybdenum,
as well as large amounts of gold and other metals, which are of increasing demand for green technologies such as electric vehicles, wind turbines
and solar panels, and for power transmission. They are the principle
target of many mining companies who employ a wide range of invasive and expensive exploration techniques to find them.

Porphyry-type deposits originally form several kilometres below the
Earth's surface above large magma chambers. Not only are they rare
but most large near- surface examples have already been found. To meet
future demand for copper, new methods are needed to discover deeper and possibly smaller deposits -- using techniques that meet increasingly
strict environmental regulations.

The researchers show that certain textures preserved in rock may be
indicative of the types of physical processes that form these deposits,
and may give an early indication of their location.

Previous understanding of such textures was disjointed because they are
often small, poorly exposed or are simply not recognised when encountered.

The new study was carried out in the Yerington district of Nevada where
tilting of the upper crust has provided a globally unique cross-section
through four porphyry-type deposits and their host rocks. Because of
this, previous studies in the district have underpinned much of the
current understanding of how porphyry-type deposits form.

Lawrence Carter, a final year PhD student and Research Associate at
Camborne School of Mines, based at the University of Exeter's Penryn
Campus said: 'We provide a textural framework for exploration geologists
to assess the likely 3D architecture of porphyry-type deposits before
employing more invasive and expensive techniques.' Professor Ben
Williamson, co-author of the study and Associate Professor in Applied Mineralogy at Camborne School of Mines added: 'this innovative applied
study, led by one of the UK's leading young geo-scientists, will provide
much needed field criteria for the discovery of economically important
and green- technology-crucial porphyry-type deposits.' The research was supported by NERC GW4+ DTP, the Society of Economic Geologists Foundation
and the NERC highlight topic 'FAMOS'.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Exeter. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Lawrence C. Carter, Ben J. Williamson. Textural indicators of
mineralisation potential in porphyry magmatic systems - A framework
from the archetypal Yerington district, Nevada. Ore Geology Reviews,
2022; 143: 104783 DOI: 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2022.104783 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220315150117.htm

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