Zebra rocks: compaction waves create ore deposits
Zebra rocks: compaction waves create ore deposits
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斑马岩：压实波形成矿床
作者：
U. Kelka;M. Veveakis;D. Koehn;N. Beaudoin
自然界有一系列独特的机制，会使最初不均匀的系统打破其对称性并形成图案。其中一种图案是斑马白云岩，它常常含有具有重要经济价值的贱金属矿化。对于这些周期性条带状岩石的成因，仍然缺乏一个一致的通用模型。在本文中，我们首次通过将反应性流 - 固系统与流体力学耦合，提出了一个关于该图案成因的完全一致的数学模型。我们表明，在给定的应力和主岩渗透率下会形成可见的条带，这意味着对于自然环境而言，该图案的波长和出现可能是可预测的。这一发现为估算已知矿床的形成条件以及预测潜在的勘探目标提供了令人兴奋的可能性。
Nature has a range of distinct mechanisms that cause initially heterogeneous systems to break their symmetry and form patterns. One of these patterns is zebra dolomite that is frequently hosting economically important base metal mineralization. A consistent generic model for the genesis of these periodically banded rocks is still lacking. In this contribution, we present for the first time a fully consistent mathematical model for the genesis of the pattern by coupling the reactive fluid-solid system with hydromechanics. We show that visual banding develops at a given stress and host-rock permeability indicating that the wavelength and occurrence of the pattern may be predictable for natural settings. This finding offers the exciting possibility of estimating conditions of formation of known deposits as well as forecasting potential exploration targets.