Mineral Deposits and Earth EvolutionMineral deposits are not only primary sources of wealth generation, but also act as windows through which to view the evolution and interrelationships of the Earth system. Deposits formed throughout the last 3.8 billion years of the Earth's history preserve key evidence with which to test fundamental questions about the evolution of the Earth. These include: the nature of early magmatic and tectonic processes, supercontinent reconstructions, the state of the atmosphere and hydrosphere with time, and the emergence and development of life. The interlinking processes that form mineral deposits have always sat at the heart of the Earth system and the potential for using deposits as tools to understand that evolving system over geological time is increasingly recognized. This volume contains research aimed both at understanding the origins of mineral deposits and at using mineral deposits as tools to explore different long-term Earth processes. |
Contents
L REIMOLD W U GIBSON R L ROBB L J Gold mineralization | 31 |
DE WIT M THIART C Metallogenic fingerprints of Archaean cratons | 59 |
GUILLOUFROTTIER L BONNEVILLE A FEYBESSE J L | 103 |
LEAHY K BARNICOAT A C FOSTER R P LAWRENCE S R NAPIER R W | 119 |
BOYCE A J FALLICK A E STEPHENS W E GRASSINEAU N V Terrane | 133 |
HERRINGTON R J PUCHKOV V N YAKUBCHUK A S A reassessment of the tectonic | 153 |
Common terms and phrases
activity Archaean associated atmospheric base basin belt Black Canada carbon chemical Complex composition concentrations contain continental crater craton crust crustal diamonds distribution drainage early Earth East Economic effects elements et al evidence evolution example faults fluid flux formation formed Geology gold deposits grains Group heat host hydrothermal impact impact structure inclusions indicate iron isotope Journal kimberlites komatiites Late lower magmatic major mantle margin melt metal metamorphism mineral deposits Nature North observed occur oceanic origin orogenic oxidation placer porphyry possible potential present processes produced pyrite quartz range ratio record reef regional relatively Research River rocks samples Science sediments sequence similar Society South Africa southern Stage structure Sudbury suggest sulphide sulphur Table tectonic temperature terrane thermal tion types units Urals values veins volcanic West Wits Witwatersrand zone