The University of British Columbia

Course Description

Advanced concepts in the processes that lead to the formation of mineral deposits. Introduction to the study of ore minerals using reflected light microscopy.

UBC Calendar

For a full listing of course offerings please see the UBC calendar description

Learning Goals

To provide a framework for examining processes in the concentration of metals in the Earth’s crust and for assessing mineral potential in a given region based on available geologic information and constraints.

In this course, we will work through 3 different modules to establish the frameworks noted above:

1. Module 1: evaluation of the key mechanisms/processes for the concentration of metals (e.g., Ni-Cu-PGE-Cr-Ti) in magmatic ore deposits with an emphasis on the chemistry of magmas - first-half of course in lecture.
2. Module 2: evaluation of the key mechanisms/processes for the croncentration of metals (e.g., Cu-Au-Mo-Ag) by hydrothermal processes with an emphasis on hydrothermal fluid flow, fluid:rock interaction, and alteration - second-half of course in lecture and lab.
3. Module 3: introduction to ore petrography using reflected light microscopy (textures in ore minerals preserve a record of how they formed and were modified at low temperatures) - first-half of course in lab.

We will be moving to Vista this year (Jan-April 2012) - we'll let you know when the site is active!

 

Instructors

Kenneth Hickey

James Scoates

TAs: Michael Tucker, Brian McNulty

 

Textbook

There is no formal textbook for the lecture part of the course, however there will be lots to read!

• “Mineral Deposits of Canada”, Geological Association of Canada, Mineral Deposits Division, Special Publication No. 5 (i.e. the big blue book); select articles
• Robb, L. J., 2005, Introduction to ore-forming processes: Malden, MA, Blackwell, 373 p. available to read and print online through the UBC library at http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ubc/Doc?id=10303812

• “Ore Mineral Atlas” by Dan Marshall, C.D. Anglin & Hamid Mumin (required for the reflected light microscopy labs).
• Various assigned papers in international journals and short course volumes:
• Economic Geology
• Mineralium Deposita
• Ore Geology Reviews
• Exploration and Mining Geology

Start making it a habit to do regular web searches on the different topics that we cover in this course; the more you read, the more insight you will gain.

 

Course Content

Course marks

• Roundup Commodity Project - 10%
• Minex Term Project - 20%
• Midterm - 20%
• Labs - 30%
• Final - 20%

 

Roundup Commodity Project

• Project Guidelines PLEASE READ; Groups and allocated commodities

 

Minex Term Project

• Project Guidelines PLEASE READ

 

Previous Midterm exam (2008) for review

 

On-line materials

• Online Atlas of Ore and Opaque Minerals - invaluable resource

 

Grades

• See Vista site

 

Lecture Topics

LECTURES Jan-Apr 2012:

Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: Ore Microscopy + Magmatic Sulphides 1
Week 3: Magmatic Sulphides 2 + 3
Week 4: Mineral Exploration Roundup - Commodity Project (no classes)
Week 5: Ni Deposits - flood basalts + high-MgO basalts
Week 6: Ni Deposits in Subduction Zone Environments
Week 7: Roundup Commodity Project Presentations

Midterm Break

Week 8: Intro to MInex project + Midterm (Magmatic Ore Deposits)
Week 9: Hydrothermal Processes: Fluid flow and heat advection
Week 10: Hydrothermal Processes: Fluid flow and heat advection; Fluid inclusions
Week 11: Hydrothermal Processes: Fluid inclusions and ore fluids
Week 12: Hydrothermal Processes: Ore fluids
Week 13: Minex Term Project Presentations

Labs

LABS Jan-Apr 2012:

Week 1: no labs
Week 2: reflected light microscopy - introduction
Week 3: reflected light microscopy - mineral
Week 4: Mineral Exploration Roundup - no labs
Week 5: reflected light microscopy - textures
Week 6: reflected light microscopy - paragenesis
Week 7: magmatic ores - Ni-Cu + PGE (+V,Cr) deposits

Midterm Break

Week 8: Numerical lab - Fluid flow and heat advection
Week 9: Numerical lab - Mass transfer calculations
Week 10: Numerical lab - Mass transfer calculations (cont.)
Week 11: Alteration petrography - Carlin aletration
Week 12: Alteration petrography - Porphyry alteration
Week 13: no labs