Hobbs, Bruce, Ord, Alison, Williams, Sally, McLellan, John G., and Oliver, Nick (2009) A non-equilibrium approach to ore body formation. In: Proceedings of the 10th Biennial Meeting of the the SGA 2009 (2) pp. 861-863. From: Smart Science for Exploration and Mining: 10th Biennial Meeting of the SGA 2009, 17-20 August 2009, Townsville, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

A non-equilibrium view of mineralising processes shows that coupling between chemical reactions that produce alteration and mineralisation, deformation, fluid flow and heat transport can be unified within a single framework (The S-curve) borrowed from Combustion Physics. This arises because these processes are thermally activated and the basic physical parameters are governed by an Arrhenius temperature dependence. In addition many alteration reactions are exothermic and hence self-enhancing; they destabilise deformation and fluid flow. Endothermic reactions involving sulfide and quartz deposition are stabilising. Reactions initiate at temperatures governed by the Arrhenius Number and the chemical environment leading to a paragenetic sequence. The most efficient mode for supply of mineralising fluid involves multiphase flow at the mineralisation site. This is facilitated by dissipation arising from exothermic alteration reactions, deformation and fracturing. The physics of multiphase flow leads to separation of phases and supply of fluid at the mineralising site with a range of pH's and Eh's intimately structured within the pore/fracture space. Different fluid conduits for different fluids are not required to supply contrasting fluid chemistries to a mineralising site. The complete range of chemistry is delivered to each pore/fracture ready for reaction with the country rock and for precipitation of minerals.

Item ID:	27695
Item Type:	Conference Item (Research - E1)
ISBN:	978-0-9805586-8-5
Keywords:	non-equilibrium thermodynamics, mulltiphase flow, mineralisation, alteration
Related URLs:	Organisation
Date Deposited:	18 Jun 2013 05:33
FoR Codes:	04 EARTH SCIENCES > 0403 Geology > 040307 Ore Deposit Petrology @ 34% 04 EARTH SCIENCES > 0404 Geophysics > 040404 Geothermics and Radiometrics @ 33% 04 EARTH SCIENCES > 0404 Geophysics > 040403 Geophysical Fluid Dynamics @ 33%
SEO Codes:	84 MINERAL RESOURCES (excl. Energy Resources) > 8401 Mineral Exploration > 840107 Titanium Minerals, Zircon, and Rare Earth Metal Ore (e.g. Monazite) Exploration @ 100%
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