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PSM Economic Geology

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MEng Mineral Resources

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  • Fall Semester
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UA's Unique Attributes

Ten-Day Field Geology Course

Topics Economic Geology (GEOS 404C/504C)

This intensive course deals with the lithologic, structural, and geochemical characteristics of major ore deposit types. It focuses on mineral exploration geology and how it can influence metallurgical, engineering, economic, and historical aspects of mining. The course includes lectures, labs, and field trips to selected ore systems.

Instructors

Mark Barton, faculty
Eric Seedorff, faculty
Lukas Zurcher, staff
and others TBA

Topics

Lectures:

1. Welcome and Introduction
2. Overview of Porphyry, IOCG, and Alkaline Cu-Au Deposits
3. Geochemical Principles and Terminology of Alteration-Mineralization
4. Hydrothermal Alteration
5. Ore Mineralogy: Key Hydrothermal and Igneous Assemblages
6. Relative Ages of Hydrothermal Alteration-Mineralization
7. Economics of Porphyry Copper Deposits
8. Linking Igneous and Hydrothermal Systems: Material and Energy Sources, Mass Transfer, and Paths
9. Supergene Enrichment and Leached Capping
10. Porphyry Copper Mining: A Short History and Life-Cycle of a Technological System
11. Mineral Processing and Smelting
12. SO2 Capture
13. Hydrometallurgy of Copper Leaching
14. Stable Isotopes in Porphyry Systems
15. Metallogenetic Aspects of the SW North American Cordillera
16. Geochronology of Ore Deposits: New Methods-New Interpretations
17. Levels of Systems and Structural Dismemberment
18. Classification of Porphyry Deposits and Spatial Distribution of Igneous and Hydrothermal Features
19. Space-Time-Temperature Relationships
20. Examples of Porphyry Deposits
21. Geophysics for Porphyry Copper and IOCG Exploration
22. Au (±Cu) Mineralization Associated with Alkaline Igneous Rocks: Characteristics and Exploration Models
23. Magmatic and Hydrothermal Evolution of Cripple Creek, Colorado           
24. Ferricretes, Manganocretes, and Exotic Cu Deposits
25. Fe-oxide(-Cu-Au) “IOCG” Deposits: Overview
26. Iron Oxide Copper Gold Deposits: Characteristics and Selected Descriptions
27. District Geology and IOCG Deposits near Copiapó, Chile

In addition two dinner talks are also delivered (TBA)

Labs:

1. Laboratory exercise - Alteration 1
2. Laboratory exercise - Alteration 2
3. Laboratory exercise - Leached Capping Interpretation
4. Laboratory exercise - Porphyry deposits 1
5. Laboratory exercise - Porphyry deposits 2
6. Laboratory exercise - Alkaline rocks and alteration
7. Laboratory exercise - IOCG Deposits

Field Trips (may change from year to year):

1. Silver Bell or Morenci mines: Leached capping and supergene enrichment
2. Sierrita or Mission mines: Pima District igneous-hydrothermal time-space relations
3. Globe area:
   • Teacup-Grayback composite pluton, associated hydrothermal systems, and supergene processes
   • Overview of the Superior district and the Resolution Deposit
   • Overview of the Miami-Inspiration and Ray deposits
   • Schultze Pluton and roots of porphyry systems

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