COURSE ON

Endapan Mineral Ekonomis

Advanced Geology of Ore Deposits
(2 SKS)

VMS DEPOSITS
SEDEX AND MVT DEPOSITS
(Major Pb-Zn-Cu Suppliers)

Dr. Arifudin Idrus

Program Pascasarjana S2 Teknik
Geologi
Universitas Gadjah Mada
Yogyakarta

Stolberg, Germany, 200

VOLCANOGENIC MASSIVE SULPHIDES DEPOSITS

Terminology
Massive Sulphide deposits divided into two type:
1. Volcanic-dominated marine succession
= Volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits
Mineral deposits formed from mid-ocean ridge
volcanism
2. Pelites Semipelites (shale-hosted)
= Sedimentary Exhalative (SEDEX) deposit
VMS & SEDEX are major suppliers for Cu and Pb-Zn,
w/ by product Au & Ag

VMS

Classification of massive sulphide deposits

Tectonic setting of MS

Mineralogy
Main minerals: Pyrite, Pyrrhotite, Sphalerite,
Galena, Chalcopyrite, Chalcosite, Bornite
Minor minerals: Arsenopyrite, Tetrahedrite,
Tennantite
Gangue: Quartz, Carbonates, Chlorite, Sericite

Architechture of VMS deposits

VMS has concordant lenses from masive sulfide,

consist of 60% or more sulfide minerals.
Stratigraphicly , this deposits is covered by
discordant stockwork from sulfide mineral veins
occured in altered rocks.
Upper lens of masive sulfide has sharp contact
with the hostrocks, but in its lower side has
gradational contact.

Conceptual Model

in VMS deposits (e.g. Kuroko style), basemetals e.g. Cu, Zn and Pb will
form certain zonations.

Hidrothermal Alteration

Model of Kuroko type

Controlling factors forming VMS

Model of Formation

Stage of Formation

Process of sulfide accumulation

Metal sources

VMS in Indonesia (e.g. P. Wetar)

Kali Kuning, P. Wetar

Evolution of the Wetar deposits

ENDAPAN SEDIMENTARY
EXHALATIVE (SEDEX)

The Wetar deposits initiated as typical volcanogenic massive sulfides with

a zoned footwall alteration predominantly propylitic to argillic in
character (Kuroko like).

The barite deposits originate as a peripheral vent system, with fluids circulating
through the sulfide mound and undergoing significant mixing of seawater. As the
system evolves conductively cooled hydrothermal fluids circulate beneath the
massive sulfide mound generating the alteration and reflecting the passage of more
oxidized and acidic fluids. This results in the argillic to advanced argillic alteration
observed. This is also the major Au-precipitation phase.

The sulfide and barite system is preserved beneath limestones and lahars,
prior to exhumation from the ocean floor, due to continued collision of the
Australian continental margin and the Outer Banda Arc

SEDIMENTARY EXHALATIVE DEPOSITS

(SEDEX)

What are SEDEX Deposits?

Sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) is a type of

massive sulphide deposit associated with
sedimentary rocks
SEDEX deposits consist of layers of massive
sulphide (a rock composed of at least 60% sulphide
minerals) interbedded with layers of sedimentary
rock.
The term "sedimentary exhalative" reflects the
current thinking that the massive sulphides
precipitated from hydrothermal fluids exhaled or
vented on to the seafloor.

What are SEDEX Deposits?

Generally tabular bodies composed of Zn, Pb and

Ag (Sph, Gal); barite may be common gangue
Contain 50-60% of worlds reserves of these metals
in a few very large deposits (e.g., Red Dog, Broken
Hill, Mt. Isa)
Zn-Pb sulphides occur interbedded with iron
sulphides and seafloor sedimentary rocks
Mineralization formed from venting of metalbearing hydrothermal fluids into reduced
sedimentary basins in continental rifts
Fluids are saline (20-30 wt.% NaCl equiv.) and high
T (>200-250C)

SEDEX DEPOSITS

Some of the worlds most important ores of lead,

zinc, and copper occur in sedimentary rock;
The ore mineralsgalena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite,
and pyriteoccur in such regular, fine layers that
they look like sediments.
The sulfide mineral layers are enclosed by and
parallel to the sedimentary strata in which they
occur.

For this reason, they are also called stratabound

mineral deposits.

Tectonic Setting of Sedimentary

Sulfide Deposits

Geological setting is generally intracratonic including

First marine transgressions over continental deposits

(Kupferschiefer, Zambia; White Pine, USA
Carbonate shelf sequence (Ireland)
Fault controlled sedimentary basins or aulocogens failed rift
valleys (Selwyn Basin, Yukon; Belt-Purcell Basin British
Columbia)

Important source of Cu, 2nd only to porphyry Cu

deposits & the worlds most important source of cobalt,
with Ag also becoming an important by-product

TEKTONICS VS MINERALIZATION

Diagram illustrating the setting for the formation of SEDEX-type Pb-Zn ores and a scenario
which incorporates both exhalative and replacement concepts for the formation of these
ores (after compilations by Goodfellow et al., 1993; Misra, 2000).

SEDEX (e.g. Sullivan, Canada)

Mount Isa Stratiform Pb-Zn Ore

SEDEX DEPOSITS

Sulphide mineral layers are enclosed by and parallel to the

sedimentary strata.

SEDEX Dairi Project-Sopokomil

Anjing Hitam prospect

SEDEX Sokopomil resources

MVT DEPOSITS
(MISSISSIPPI VALLEY-TYPE)

MVT DEPOSITS
MVT deposits are the deposits that contain Pb-Zn that
formed in carbonate rock (dolomite) at relative low
temperature and pressure.
Fluids flow in sedimentary basin, both duringand
after theformation ofbasinformation, driven by
hydrostatic gradients that influenced by compaction,
thermal gradients (25OC/km), topographic relief,
deformation etc. This condition is capable of
transport and precipitate basemetals.
Locations: East and central Tennessee, Southeast
Missouri, Tri-state area (Missouri, Oklahoma dan
Kansas) dan Wisconsin (Upper Mississippi River
Valley)

MVT-DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC SETTING
Carbonate rocks mainly dolomite
OCCURRENCES
Sedimentary basins of Proterozoic (ca. 2500 Ma)
to Cretaceous (ca. 150 Ma) age
DEPOSITS ARE FOUND

At or near the edges of basins (in breccia or karst structures

In platform carbonates or fold and thrust belts

In district of hundres of square kilometres

Host carbonates are unmetamorphosed

No local igneous activity

MINERALOGY
Galena, sphalerite, pyrite, and/or marcasite
Very minor chalcopyrite
DEPOSIT SIZE
Generally > 20 Mio tonnes at 4% Zn and 1% Pb

MVT (Mississippi Valley-Type)

METAL TRANSPORT AND ORE DEPOSITION

Pb and Zn saline brines (5-10 times salinity of seawater, 3.5%
equi. NaCl) mixed with hydrocarbons (bitumen, petroleum)
TEMPERATURES: low T (80-200OC), low pressure (<500 brs)
ORIGIN OF METALS AND FLUIDS:

METALS: Leached from shales and/or evaporites

FLUIDS: From in- and outside the basin (orogeny/gravity

drive), complex mixtures of seawater and meteoric water
modified by rock-water interaction within the basin.
DEPOSITION: pH change, cooling, dilution, etc.
STRUCTURAL TRAP
Solution and collapse of carbonates (breccia and karst
features) and faulting.
STRATIGRAPHIC CONTROL
Flanks of large, deep basins, dolomitized sequences,
carbonaceous matter