Crustal fluids and ore deposits

虽然我们在理解地壳流体在形成基底和贵金属矿床中的作用方面取得了实质性进展，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，包括其他金属和新的矿床成因范例。这类研究为制定任何成功的矿产勘探战略提供了起点。我研究的主要目的是：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，需求量很大; 2）测试水蒸气可能是岩浆热液矿床形成中金属运输的重要因素的假设，例如，斑岩型铜矿床和浅成低温热液型金矿床; 3）评价液态石油可能构成锌、金、铂族元素和汞等金属矿床的成矿流体的可能性。我的研究将包括实地研究、理论和实验的结合。我和我的学生将使用岩石学/地球化学（现场关系，岩相学，矿物/岩石地球化学和流体/熔体包裹体研究）记录所选矿物存款类型的性质。我们还将研究火山环境和地热系统中的活跃热液系统。这一实地研究的两个特别重要的目标是获得关于矿液中金属浓度的定量信息，并评估水蒸气和碳氢化合物的金属迁移潜力。我们的实验室实验将被设计为：1）确定复杂物种的稳定性，可以控制选定的金属在含水液体中的溶解度; 2）评估金属在水蒸气中的溶解度和形态;和3）测量金属在碳氢化合物流体中的溶解度。拟议的研究有可能显着推进对各种金属矿床如何形成的理解，并帮助指导这些矿床的勘探策略。它还可以在冶金以及解决大气和地下水污染问题方面找到重要的应用。

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.