Nature and Morphology of Ore Deposits

The oldest classifications of ore bodies are based on morphology. Although this would not seem the most
useful mechanism of classification, it is by its nature genetic.
Syngenetic - Ore deposit formed contemporaneously with the enclosing rocks.
Epigenetic- Ore deposit introduced at some time after the host rocks formed.
A. Discordant - Cut across bedding
1. Regularly shaped body
a) Tabular - Extensive in two dimensions, restricted in the third. Veins or fissure veins
and lodes result from the infilling of open space along fractures and faults. If the vein are
inclined, as most are, we use the same hanging wall and footwall terminology used to
describe faults. Often have a series of pinches and swells which form as a consequence of
differing fracture angles in rocks of different lithology. Movement along faults causes a
series of pinches where rocks are held against one another or swells (dilatant zones)
where open space occurs.

b) Tubular or Pipe-like - Relatively short in two dimensions, but extensive in the third.
When they are horizontal the term manto is used to describe a tubular ore body.

2. Irregularly shaped body

a) Disseminated deposits - Ore minerals are disseminated throughout the host rock.
Examples diamonds in a kimberlite or copper ore in a porphyry copper deposit.
Mineralization of this type is gradational and assay wall cutoff grades are the norm.
Overall shape of the deposit is usually roughly cylindrical.

b) Irregular replacement deposits - Often occur in sedimentary rocks. Example skarn

deposits where ore lies at the intrusive-sedimentary contact. Have very irregular shape
with the shape often constrained by changes in host lithology. Another example is
Mississippi Valley Type deposits that often result from the irregular replacement of
carbonates beneath some solution impervious cap-rock such as a shale.

B. Concordant - Parallel layer of the host rock

1. Sedimentary host rocks - Concordant with bedding, extensive in two dimensions and restricted
in the third. Stratiform appear to be laid down as individual beds with the sediment (massive
sulfides). Stratbound are restricted to a particular formation but locally can be concordant or
discordant (Mississippi Valley Type).
a) Limestone host - seem to favor certain beds, probably due to differences in
permeability. Example is the replacement of the Dolomite Breccias from the Silvermines
Ireland.

b) Shale host - seem to be layered within the host rock and not related to subsequent
replacement. Examples are the Kupferschiefer of Central Europe and Sullivan, British
Columbia. This group includes some of the true giants of ore deposits.

c) Arenaceous host - Far less common, but include the Zambian copper belt. Ores
generally occur in sandstones with chalcopyrite, bornite and various uranium species the
only ore minerals of consequence. Ores appear to have been introduced after the
sandstone was deposited, but prior to cementation.

d) Conglomerate host - most of the placer and paleoplacer gold and uranium deposits of
the world occur in conglomeratic host rocks. Famous example is the Witwatersrand
goldfield of South Africa.
2. Igneous host rocks - Ore concordant with bedding, but in plan view deposits are often circular
to elliptical.
a) Volcanic host - many of the major massive sulfide deposits of the world occur in
volcanic rocks. Rocks range in composition through the entire spectrum of compositions.
Ore appear to occur as distinct horizons within the volcanic pile. Most studied example
are the Kuroko deposits of Japan.

b) Plutonic host - include the layered ultramafic complexes such as the Bushveld which
produces much of the worlds chromium and platinum as well as nickel deposits in a
variety of different plutonic settings.
3. Metamorphic host rocks - Only important as hosts of preexisting sedimentary or igneous
deposits.