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.

据估计，在未来25年内，世界人口将增加20亿。到2040年，地球上总共有90亿人口(是1980年世界人口的两倍)，如果没有持续的资源供应，特别是如果目标是改善所有人而不是少数人的生活质量，就不可能想象人类的发展。金属开采是维持经济增长和人类发展的根本，因为金属是不可再生资源，单靠回收不能满足当前和未来的需要。我的研究计划的长期目标是更好地了解矿藏形成过程中涉及的地球化学过程。只有了解了这一点，才能制定出更省时、更划算、更成功的勘探策略。短期目标是评估某些微量元素是否可以用来区分矿藏形成所涉及的多种地质过程。为了实现这一目标，我们将使用最先进的分析技术来量化已知矿藏中天然硫化物和氧化物中的微量元素浓度。与此同时，我们将对其中一些过程进行实验模拟，并使用相同的技术来分析合成样品。对这两类数据的比较将有助于我们评估某些元素是否可用于确定特定情景的指纹，从而有助于区分岩浆作用和热液作用，或有助于评估变质叠加过程中金属的再活化作用。在过去的几年里，我的研究小组开发了一些技术，使我们能够在复杂的、多元素的系统中进行实验，这些系统更接近自然组装，并使用简化的系统提供传统实验的补充信息。这类工作的结果将有助于结束长达十年的关于许多矿藏形成的主导过程的讨论(例如，许多矿体的岩浆成因与热液成因)。回答这些问题对于优化与硫化物有关的碱金属和贵金属(铜、镍、钴、钯、铂、金等)和与氧化物有关的金属(例如钒和铬)的矿产勘探至关重要。参与这一研究项目的学生将对矿石成因中涉及的地球化学方面有价值的了解，包括理论和分析，以及获得批判性思维和其他可转移的技能，这些技能将使他们在矿业、政府或学术界具有价值。从本质上讲，我们的工作将有助于推进矿产勘探，这是加拿大经济的一个非常重要的组成部分。