Understanding the geochemical processes involved in the formation of ore deposits

了解矿床形成中涉及的地球化学过程

• 批准号: DDG-2015-00043
• 负责人: Jugo, Pedro
• 金额: $ 0.73万
• 依托单位: Laurentian University of Sudbury
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Development Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=612445
• 关键词: Understanding; geochemical; processes; involved; formation

Within the next 25 years it is estimated that 2 billion people will be added to the world population. With a total of 9 billion people on Earth by 2040 (twice the world population of 1980) it is impossible to envision human development without a continuous supply of resources, especially if the goal is to improve the quality of life for all rather than just a few. Metal extraction is fundamental to sustain economic growth and human development because metals are non-renewable resources and recycling alone cannot cover current and future needs. The long-term goal of my research program is to provide a better understanding of the geochemical processes involved in the formation of mineral deposits. Only this understanding can lead to more time-efficient, more cost-effective, and more successful exploration strategies. The short-term goal is to assess whether certain trace elements can be used to distinguish between the multiple geological processes involved in the generation of mineral deposits. To achieve this goal we will use state-of-the-art analytical techniques to quantify the concentration of trace elements in natural sulfides and oxides from known mineral deposits. At the same time we will simulate experimentally some of those processes and use the same techniques to analyze synthetic samples. Comparison of the two types of data will help us assess whether some elements can be used to ‘fingerprint’ specific scenarios, thus helping differentiate, for example, between magmatic vs. hydrothermal processes, or helping assess remobilization of metals during metamorphic overprint. Over the last few years my research group has developed techniques that allow us to perform experiments in complex, multi-element systems that are better approximations to natural assemblages and provide complementary information to traditional experiments using simplified systems. The results of this type of work will help end decade-long discussions over the dominant process involved in the formation of many mineral deposits (e.g. magmatic vs. hydrothermal origin of many ore bodies). Answering such questions is essential to optimize mineral exploration of base and precious metals associated with sulfides (Cu, Ni, Co, Pd, Pt, Au, among others) and metals associated with oxides (V and Cr for example). Students involved in this research program will gain valuable understanding of the geochemical aspects involved in ore genesis, both theoretical and analytical, as well as gaining the critical thinking and other transferable skills that will make them valuable in the mineral industry, government, or academia. In essence, our work will help advance mineral exploration, which is a very important component of the Canadian economy.

在接下来的25年中，估计将增加20亿人口。到2040年，地球上总共有90亿人（1980年世界人口的两倍），如果没有持续的资源供应，就无法设想人类的发展，尤其是如果目标是改善所有人的生活质量，而不仅仅是少数。金属提取对于维持经济增长和人类发展至关重要，因为金属是不可再生的资源，仅回收就不能满足当前和未来的需求。我的研究计划的长期目标是更好地了解矿物质矿床形成的地球化学过程。只有这种理解才能导致更具时间效率，更具成本效益和更成功的探索策略。短期目标是评估是否可以使用某些痕量元素来区分矿藏产生中包含的多个地质过程。为了实现这一目标，我们将使用最先进的分析技术来量化自然硫化物和氧化物中已知矿物沉积物中的痕量元素的浓度。同时，我们将通过实验模拟其中一些过程，并使用相同的技术来分析合成样品。对两种类型的数据的比较将有助于我们评估某些元素是否可以用于“指纹”特定方案，从而有助于区分岩浆和水热过程，或帮助评估变质层次过化期间金属的重新启动。在过去的几年中，我的研究小组开发了技术，使我们能够在复杂的多元素系统中进行实验，这些系统可以更好地近似自然组合，并使用简化的系统为传统实验提供完整的信息。这类工作的结果将有助于对许多矿藏的形成涉及的主要过程（例如，许多矿石体的水热起源）进行长达十年的讨论。回答此类问题对于优化与硫化物（Cu，Ni，Co，Pd，Pt，Pt，Au等）和与氧化物相关的金属（例如V和Cr）相关的矿物探索（例如Cu，Ni，co，pd，pt，au）至关重要。参与该研究计划的学生将获得对矿石创世纪涉及的地球化学方面的宝贵理解，无论是理论和分析的，并获得了批判性思维和其他可转移技能，这将使它们在矿产行业，政府或学术界中都很有价值。从本质上讲，我们的工作将有助于推进矿产探索，这是加拿大经济中非常重要的组成部分。