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Conference Proceedings

PACRIM Congress 2008

Conference Proceedings

PACRIM Congress 2008

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Quartz and Fluid Inclusions from Porphyry Deposits - Were Hydrosilicate Liquids Involved?

Formation of porphyry-style ore deposits starts with the metal extraction from magmas at so-called magmatic-hydrothermal transition (MHT). The processes and compositions at MHT are difficult to study as the record of them is poorly preserved. As the MHT is characterised by massive crystallisation of quartz, including quartz eyes' and veins, their study can elucidate questions related to metal transport and deposition. Quartz grains from the porphyry deposits all over the world (Antapaccay, Peru; Batu Hijao, Indonesia; Climax, USA; Panguna, PNG; Far Southeast porphyry, Philippines; Rio Blanco, Chile; Omsukchan, Russia) were studied by optical, SEM-CL and BSE microscopy, electron microprobe and LA ICPMS. Quartz grains, even within each sample, have different shapes (rounded, egg-shaped, amoeboid or euhedral) and cathodoluminesence (CL) patterns (shape, number and width of bands in CL images). The outer layers of quartz are markedly different, which is unexpected if the grains had formed in the same conditions._x000D_
Inflections and blurring of CL bands are often structurally associated with fractures that are commonly healed with secondary quartz and associated fluid inclusions. Our results show that quartz eyes' could not crystallise from a silicate melt as normal phenocrysts. It is likely that in situ segregation of residual SiO2- and H2O-rich liquid and its solidification followed by coagulation (eg formation of silica-gel globules) took place in the magma (crystal mush) during MHT. Such globules could remain in a plastic state for a long time even at rather low temperatures. The solidification of globules occurred after bands of different composition had formed and led to fracturing of solidified and inflection of unconsolidated layers. All fluids (liquid and vapour) released from the original silicagel during solidification were trapped as inclusions (aqueous, salt-rich and sulfide)._x000D_
AnEXTENDED ABSTRACTis available for download. A full-length paper was notprepared for this presentation.
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  • Quartz and Fluid Inclusions from Porphyry Deposits - Were Hydrosilicate Liquids Involved?
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  • Published: 2008
  • PDF Size: 0.467 Mb.
  • Unique ID: P200811050

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