Crustal fluids and ore deposits

虽然我们在了解地壳流体在形成碱金属和贵金属矿床中的作用方面取得了重大进展，但不断变化的社会需求和技术发展要求我们扩大研究范围，包括其他金属和矿石成因的新范例。这种类型的研究为制定任何成功的矿产勘探战略提供了起点。我研究的主要目标是：1)调查稀有金属矿床的成因，特别是稀土元素，由于它们在电动和混合动力汽车中的使用而需求量很大；2)验证水蒸气可能是岩浆热液矿床（如斑岩型铜矿和浅成热液型金矿）形成过程中金属运输的重要媒介的假设；3)评价液态石油构成锌、金、铂族元素和汞等金属矿床的矿石流体的可能性。我的研究将包括实地考察、理论和实验的结合。我和我的学生将使用岩石学/地球化学（野外关系、岩石学、矿物/岩石地球化学和流体/熔体包裹体研究）记录选定矿床类型的性质。我们还将研究火山环境中的活动热液系统和地热系统。这项实地研究的两个特别重要的目标将是获得关于矿物液中金属浓度的定量资料，并评估水蒸汽和碳氢化合物的金属输送潜力。我们的实验室实验将被设计为：1)确定可能控制选定金属在含水液体中的溶解度的复杂物质的稳定性；2)评估金属在水溶液中的溶解度和形态；3)测定金属在烃类流体中的溶解度。提出的研究有可能显著推进对各种金属矿床形成方式的理解，并有助于指导这些矿床的勘探策略。它还可以在冶金、解决大气和地下水污染问题方面得到重要应用。

Although we have made substantial progress in understanding the role of crustal fluids in forming base and precious metal ore deposits, changing societal needs and technological developments require that we expand our enquiry to include other metals and new paradigms of ore genesis. Research of this type provides the starting point for the development of any successful mineral exploration strategy. The main objectives of my research are to: 1) investigate the genesis of deposits of the rare metals, notably the REE, which are in high demand because of their use in electric and hybrid cars; 2) test the hypothesis that aqueous vapour may be an important agent of metal transport in the formation of magmatic hydrothermal ore deposits, e.g., porphyry copper and epithermal gold deposits; and 3) evaluate the possibility that liquid petroleum may constitute an ore fluid for some metallic mineral deposits of zinc, gold, the platinum group elements and mercury. My research will involve a combination of field studies, theory, and experiments. I and my students will document the nature of selected mineral deposit types using petrology/geochemistry (field relationships, petrography, mineral/rock geochemistry, and fluid/melt inclusion studies). We will also investigate active hydrothermal systems in volcanic settings and geothermal systems. Two particularly important aims of this field-based research will be to obtain quantitative information on the concentrations of metals in ore fluids and assess the metal transporting potential of aqueous vapours and hydrocarbons. Our laboratory experiments will be designed to: 1) determine the stability of complex species that may control the solubility of selected metals in aqueous liquids; 2) evaluate metal solubility and speciation in aqueous vapours; and 3) measure the solubility of metals in hydrocarbon fluids. The proposed research has the potential to significantly advance understanding of how a variety of metallic mineral deposits form, and help guide exploration strategies for these deposits. It could also find important applications in metallurgy, and in addressing problems of atmospheric and groundwater pollution.