Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 1977. / Also available in print form.

Thesis (MScIng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

It has been established that porphyry copper/copper-gold deposits have formed from I Ma to 2 Ga ago. Generally, they are related to the Mesozoic-Cenozoic interval with few reported occurrences from the Palaeozoic or Precambrian. A reason cited is the erosion of these deposits which are often related to convergent plate margins and orogenic belts. Observations of the alteration and mineralisation within and around porphyry copper/copper-gold systems have been included in numerous idealised models. These alteration and mineralisation patterns are dependent on the phases of intrusion, the tectonic setting and rock type, depth of emplacement and relationship to coeval volcanics, physiochemical conditions operative within and surrounding the intrusive and many other mechanical and geochemical conditions. Island arc and cratonic arc/margin deposits are generally considered to be richer in gold than their molybdenum-rich, intra-cratonic counterparts. Metal zonation may occur around these copper/copper-gold deposits, e.g. copper in the core moving out to silver, lead, zinc and gold. This zonation is not always present and gold may occur in the core, intermediate or distal zones. Examples of gold-rich porphyry deposits from British Columbia, Chile and the SW Pacific Island regions suggest gold is closely associated with the potassic-rich zones. Generally these gold-rich zones have greater than 2% magnetite and a high oxygen fugacity is considered to be an important control for gold deposition. High Cl contents within the magma are necessary for gold mobility within the host intrusive centres. Beyond this zone HS₂ becomes an important transporting ligand. Exploration for porphyry copper-gold deposits includes an integrated geological, geophysical and geochemical approach. Petrographic work through to Landsat imagery may be used to determine the chemical conditions of the system, ore association, favourable structural zones and alteration patterns, in order to focus exploration activities.

Casino porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit ia in the Dawson Range, midway between Dawson City and Whitehorse, Y.T. Mid-Cretaceous granitic rocks of the Klotassin batholith form the backbone of the Dawson Range and have intruded the Yukon Hetamorphic Complex of Paleozoic or earlier age. A 70 m.y. old volcanic unit, the Casino complex, intruded the Klotassin batholith, and is cogenetic with Casino deposit. Hear the deposit extrusive volcanic rocks are unknown but formation of a subvolcanic plug of feldspar porphyry was followed by an explosive event that formed a steeply plunging, conical breccia pipe. This permeable pipe, about 2,000 ft. (670m.) by 1,200 ft. (400m.) at the surface localized hydrothermal fluids that formed large concentrically zoned alteration patterns during upward and outward percolation. A potassic alteration facies core, about 1,500 ft. (500m.) in diameter, is centered approximately on the breccia pipe, and is characterized by secondary magnetite, biotite and potassium feldspar. This core is surrounded by phyllic (quartz, sericite, sulphide) alteration that extends about 1,000 ft. (330m.) into adjacent rocks of the Klotassin batholith. Chalcopyrite and molybdenite are concentrated in the phyllic zone along the potassic alteration side of a pyrite halo. Peripheral, weakly developed zones of argillic (clay-carbonate minerals) and propylitic (chlorite) alterations are present. This characteristic location of economically significant minerals within a zonal distribution of alteration minerals provides an important exploration guide for porphyry-type deposits in the area. Breccia formation and hydrotherrnal zoning appear interrelated and probably result from escape of metal-bearing saline solutions from "wet" magmas derived from an underlying Benioff zone associated with subduction of an oceanic plate. Supergene enrichment, preserved because the area is unglaciated, probably occurred mainly in the Paleogene and resulted in an increase in the grade of copper by an average factor of 1.7 through precipitation of chalcocite in a subhorizontal enriched zone. Copper added to this zone was extracted from up to 500 ft. (l70a.) of overlying capping rock. Controls for enrichment processes include grade of original hypogene copper, favourable breccia occurrence and alteration, and presence of pyrite. A plate-tectonic model relates the genesis of Upper Cretaceous to Tertiary porphyry-type deposits to the evolution of the western and central Canadian Cordillera. Existence of two Benioff zones is assumed from definition of two distinct younging trends of intrusive centres. The first Benioff zone, initiated west of the Queen Charlotte Islands near the Middle Triassic, continued activity until the early Tertiary when 50 m.y. old granitic rocks and associated porphyry deposits near the eastern boundary of the Coast Crystalline Belt were formed. The second Benioff zone, initiated near the earliest-Cretaceous, extended under the western margin of the North America plate and produced stocks and associated porphyry deposits that become younger from west to east across the Intennontane Belt. Intrusive activity associated with both Benioff zones ceased at about the same time, 50 m.y. ago, implying that they became imbricated. As a result, the North America plate overrode the Insular plate. Doubling of these plates is reflected in the late Mesozoic and Tertiary uplift and erosion of the Coast Crystalline Belt. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

The Poplar copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit, located 270 km west of Prince George, is centered in a late Upper Cretaceous differentiated calc-alkaline stock, which intruded Lower and Upper Cretaceous sedimentary rocks. The stock is capped by late Upper Cretaceous volcanic flow rocks. The lower Cretaceous Skeena Group consists of intermediate tuff, siltstone, and interbedded sandstone, which steeply dip to the south. This unit is unconformably overlain by a moderately sorted polylithic pebble conglomerate belonging to the Upper Cretaceous Kasalka Group. The Poplar Stock, which hosts mineralization, includes a border phase of hornblende quartz monzodiorite porphyry which grades in to a central biotite quartz monzonite porphyry. The stock is intruded by several post-ore dyke units, which include porphyritic dacite, porphyritic rhyolite, felsite, and andesite. Ootsa Lake porphyritic volcanic flow rocks overly the deposit, and are dacite in composition. Pre-ore, and post-ore rock units have been K-Ar dated, and are within analytical error of each other, having a mean age of 74.8 ±2.6 Ma. The deposit is covered extensively with glacial till and alluvial sediments. Therefore the majority of geologic information was obtained from logging the drill core from 34 diamond drill holes, twelve of which were logged in detail using a computer compatible logging format. Information logged in this manner was used in statistical studies , and for producing computer generated graphic logs and plots of various geologic parameters, along two cross-sections through the deposit. Alteration zoning at the Poplar porphyry consists of a 600 m by 500 m potassic alteration annulus which surrounds a 300 m by 150 m argillic alteration core. These are enclosed by 750 m wide phyllic alteration zone, which is itself bordered by a low intensity propylitic alteration zone. Phyllic alteration is defined by the occurence of sericite, and is the most abundant type of alteration present. Potassic alteration, recognized by the occurence cf secondary K-feldspar and/or secondary biotite, is most closely associated with chalcopyrite and molybdenite. At least two episodes of alteration are recognized at the Poplar porphyry. The first was contemporaneous with mineralization, following intrusion and crystallization of the Poplar Stock. This episode consisted of potassic alteration in the center of the deposit, which surrounded a 'low grade1 core, and graded out to phyllic and propylitic alteration facies at the periphery. The second alteration event took place after the intrusion of the post-ore dykes and consisted mainly of hydrolytic alteration of pre-existing alteration zones which were adjacent to more permeable centers, such as faults, contacts, and highly jointed areas. This alteration event is responsible for the anomalous central argillic zone, and the alteration of dykes, in addition to probably intensifying and widening the phyllic alteration halo surrounding the deposit. Chalcopyrite and molybdenite were deposited in the potassic zone at approximately 375° C and less than 250 bars, with relatively low oxygen, and relatively high sulfer, activities and moderate pH. As the potassic alteration zone was invaded by more acidic solutions feldspars were altered sericite and clay, and chalcopyrite was destroyed to form pyrite and hematite. Copper was removed from the system. Statistical studies include univariant one-way and two-way correlation matrices, and multivariant regression analysis. Statistical correlations generally support empirical correlations made in the field. These include positive correlations between various potassic alteration facies minerals, and these minerals and chalcopyrite and molybdenite. Multivariant regression analysis was used to determine which alteration minerals were best suited for indicating chalcopyrite and molybdenite. These minerals are quartz, biotite, magnetite, sericite, K-feldspar, and pyrite. Large error limits and poor correlation statistics in the results from these studies are attributed to deviations from normal distributions for all minerals. A possible cause of this may have been the multistage alteration events that the deposit has undergone. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1965. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis. 1978. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth and Planetary Science. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science. / Bibliography: leaves 111-114. / Ph.D.

Thesis (MScEng (Process Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Previous work has shown that microwave heating of mineral ores induces micro cracks within the ore structure, which can be attributed to the difference in the adsorption of microwaves amongst the different mineral phases. This reduces the energy required during subsequent grinding and enhances the liberation of valuable minerals. In order to design microwave applicators for this purpose, knowledge of the effective dielectric properties of the crushed ore is required. Of particular interest is the effective complex permittivity of the bulk crushed ore. The measurement of the effective permittivity of a large volume of crushed ore is most readily accomplished using the waveguide measurement technique. In this method a representative sample of the material is placed in a defined and fixed volume in a standard size rectangular section metallic waveguide. The magnitude and phase angle of the transmitted and reflected low power microwaves through and from the sample are measured. The complex permittivity can be extracted from these so-called scattering, or Sij parameters. In this study the effective complex permittivities for two porphyry copper ores and a copper carbonatite ore were determined as a function of particle size distribution (-26.5+2mm) using two sizes of waveguide (WR284 and WR340). The sample holders incorporate dielectric windows for the location of the material under test. The extraction of dielectric properties from Sij parameter measurements is problematic using standard algorithms in such cases. Accordingly a new Database Extraction (DBE) Algorithm has been developed. In this method, a database of scattering parameters is established through electromagnetic modelling of the measurement system. A search algorithm is used to determine the effective complex permittivity of the modelled load whose scattering parameters provide the best fit to the experimental data. The goodness of the experimental fit of the simulated to the measured Sij parameters is determined by a root mean squared deviation minimisation metric. Results show that the method can be used successfully to determine an effective complex permittivity for a bulk volume of the crushed material. It is concluded that the dielectric property extraction over the full operational frequency interval (2.3-3 GHz) is preferred as it has a larger degree of extraction confidence and hence reliability. Results show that with increasing particle size, the experimental fit between the simulated and measured Sij parameters becomes increasingly poor, as wall effect become more prominent. The effect is most prominent for the smaller WR284 waveguide size. It is shown that for a waveguide size of similar size to the particle size, the Sij parameter fitting is poorer compared to when a larger waveguide size is used. The extracted complex permittivity reproducibility between repeated dielectric property measurements is improved for the WR340 waveguide size, as the extractions in the WR284 waveguide is dominated by the combined particle size and wall-effects of the sample holder. Ore mineralogy is identified as a key parameter that influences the dielectric properties of the crushed ore. For ores with a dominant microwave absorbent mineral phase, the dielectric constant and loss factor is found to be larger, compared with ores with a more dominant microwave transparent gangue mineral phase. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Navorsing toon dat die verhitting van mineraal erts, met mikrogolwe, mikroskaal frakture in die mineraalstruktuur teweeg bring weens die verskil in die adsorpsie van mikrogolwe in die verskillende mineraalfases. Gevolglik verminder die energievereiste vir die vergruising van die erts en verbeter die vrystelling van waardevolle minerale wat vasgevang is in die mineraalmatriks. Vir die ontwerp van mikrogolfapplikators vir dié doel, word die effektiewe diëlektriese eienskappe van die vergruisde erts benodig. Van spesifieke belang is die effektiewe komplekse permittiwiteit van die erts. Die effektiewe permittiwiteit van `n vergruisde materiaal monster word met behulp van die golfgeleier tegniek gemeet. Vir dié tegniek word `n verteenwoordigende monster van die materiaal in `n rigiede volume in `n standaard grootte reghoekige golfgeleier geplaas. Die grootte en fasehoek komponente van die deurgelate en weerkaatste mikrogolwe deur en van die oppervlak van die materiaal word gemeet. Die komplekse permittiwiteit van die vergruisde materiaal kan geëkstrakteer word vanaf hierdie sogenaamde verspreide, of Sij parameters. In hierdie studie word die effektiewe permitiwiteit van twee porforie koper ertse en `n koper karbonatiet erts bepaal as funksie van partikel grootte (-26.5+2 mm) deur gebruik te maak van twee standaard grootte golfgeleiers. Die monster houers inkorporeer diëlektriese vensters om die vergruisde materiaal monster in posisie te hou. In so `n geval is die ekstraksie van die diëlektriese eienskappe vanuit die Sij parameter metings problematies. Gevolglik is ‘n nuwe Databasis Ekstraksie Algoritme ontwikkel wat `n databasis van verspreide parameters opstel deur die elektromagnetiese simulasie van die metingsisteem. `n Soek-algoritme word gebruik om die effektiewe komplekse permitiwiteit van die gesimuleerde monster te bepaal wat die beste ooreenstem met dié van die gemete eksperimentele Sij parameter data. Die mate van ooreenstemming tussen die parameters, word bepaal aan die hand van die minimaliserings prosedure. Resultate toon dat dié metode geskik is vir die bepaling van die effektiewe komplekse permitiwiteit van die vergruisde monster. Dit word vasgestel dat die betroubaarheid van die geëkstraeerde Sij parameters, en gevolglik die diëlektriese eienskappe van die erts, toeneem indien die algoritme oor `n groter frekwensie band uitgevoer word. Resultate toon verder dat met toenemende partikel grootte, die mate waartoe die absolute grootte en fasehoek komponente van die gesimuleerde en gemete Sij parameters ooreenstem, versleg. Dit word toegeskryf aan wand-effekte. Hierdie verskynsel is veral opmerklik vir die kleiner grootte golfgeleier. Dit word getoon dat vir metings waar die golfgeleier dieselfde orde grootte geometriese afmetings het as die vergruisde erts self, die passing tussen die gesimuleerde en gemete Sij parameters swakker is, wanneer dit vergelyk word met metings waar dit nie die geval is nie. Die reproduseerbaarheid van die geëkstraeerde diëlektriese eienskap waardes verbeter vir lesings wat uitgevoer word in `n groter grootte golfgeleier. Laasgenoemde word toegeskryf aan die meer dominante wand-effekte wat kenmerklik is vir `n kleiner golfgeleier. Erts mineralogie word geïdentifiseer as `n sleutel parameter wat die diëlektriese eienskappe van die vergruisde materiaal beïnvloed. Beide die diëlektriese konstante en verliesfaktor is groter vir ertse met `n oorheersende mikrogolf absorberende mineraalfase.