UltraMAfic-hosted seafloor MassIve sulfide deposits: a mineral system approach (UMAMI)

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The path to a low carbon emission society in Europe drastically increases our needs for mineral raw materials and requires a reliable and sustainable supply of mineral resources. Europe has a long tradition of mining, but classic ore deposits are harder to discover. Unconventional ore deposits appear as promising targets for securing mineral resources needed for the transition. Among these are ultramafic-hosted volcanogenic massive sulfide (UM-VMS) deposits, which are enriched in Au, Ag, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn. These deposits are well known from slow-spreading Mid-Ocean Ridges (MOR) where they generally form along low-angle detachment faults. At present, however, only a few UM-VMS deposits have been discovered on land. This scarcity is partly due to the lack of modern and coherent genetic and exploration models. Recent work highlights that UM-VMS deposits form in more complex tectonic settings than previously thought such as ocean-continent transitions (OCT) and supra-subduction zones (SSZ) in addition to MOR. In this project, we plan to develop genetic and exploration models using an integrated multi-scale mineral system approach in diverse tectonic settings such as the Troodos ophiolite (Cyprus, SSZ) and the Outokumpu ophiolite (Finland, metamorphosed OCT). Specific focus on the metal sources, fluid pathways, trapping mechanisms and ore preservation will allow to determine the paramount parameters leading to ore deposit formation and ultimately will help to discover new deposits on land and on the seafloor, such as in the German INDEX area. Furthermore, the investigated areas are within Europe, promoting characterization of the mineral resources in the European Union.