Characterizing enigmatic tube-shaped igneous intrusions, called chonoliths, that host the majority of known magmatic sulfide deposits: contribution to exploration targeting

描述神秘的管状火成岩侵入体（称为岩棉岩）的特征，该岩体蕴藏着大多数已知的岩浆硫化物矿床：对勘探目标的贡献

• 批准号: 548618-2019
• 负责人: Ernst, Richard
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: Carleton University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=700920
• 关键词: Characterizing; enigmatic; tube; shaped; igneous

Mining of ore deposits of sulfide ores of Ni, Cu, Co, Pt, Pd, and Au derived from magmas (i.e., magmatic sulfide deposits) contributes over $5B to Canada's economy annually (NRCan, 2018). Canadian production from known resources will shrink as miners pursue ore to greater depths where technical challenges pose increasing costs. Discoveries of magmatic sulfide deposits in future will be under areas that are covered, rendering them 'blind' to prospecting techniques, and masking their signatures in geophysical datasets. As exploration for these high value deposits in covered areas is expensive, it is critical to improve the understanding of the nickel sulfide mineralising system to allow industry to better predict where these deposits occur. A key gap in understanding of magmatic sulfide deposit formation is the formation of a rare type of intrusion called chonoliths, in which these deposits are usually found, and which are part of the plumbing system for Large Igneous Provinces. The proposed research will match the experience and knowledge of private-sector geologists with the technical expertise of academic specialists. It will be the first to combine models of fluid dynamics of magmas and mechanics of host rocks with the most sophisticated available thermodynamic models of magma chemistry and properties to assess a variety of conceptual models for chonolith formation. We will erect a classification scheme for chonoliths based on their geometry and origin, and establish guiding principles to explain the physics surrounding their formation; the result of this will be a refined ore deposit model that can be used to inform exploration programs with a clear idea of the anticipated structural settings in which chonoliths can be expected to be found. BHP will provide industry context to the postdoctoral fellow who will be employed in this research program, fostering stronger links between fundamental geoscience research and its direct application to industry, and developing an early career researcher who will learn how to work at the interface between industry and academia.

岩浆衍生的镍、铜、钴、铂、钯和金硫化物矿床（即岩浆硫化物矿床）的开采每年为加拿大经济贡献超过 50 亿美元（NRCan，2018 年）。 随着矿商将矿石开采到更深处，而技术挑战导致成本增加，加拿大已知资源的产量将减少。 未来岩浆硫化物矿床的发现将位于被覆盖的区域，这使得它们对勘探技术“视而不见”，并掩盖了它们在地球物理数据集中的特征。由于在覆盖区域勘探这些高价值矿床的成本很高，因此提高对硫化镍矿化系统的了解至关重要，以便行业能够更好地预测这些矿床的产地。对岩浆硫化物矿床形成理解的一个关键差距是一种称为岩棉岩的罕见侵入体的形成，这些沉积物通常存在于岩浆岩中，并且是大型火成岩省管道系统的一部分。 拟议的研究将把私营部门地质学家的经验和知识与学术专家的技术专长相结合。 它将是第一个将岩浆流体动力学模型和围岩力学模型与现有最复杂的岩浆化学和特性热力学模型相结合，以评估各种千层岩形成的概念模型。 我们将根据粒石的几何形状和起源建立分类方案，并建立指导原则来解释其形成的物理原理；其结果将是一个精炼的矿床模型，可用于为勘探计划提供信息，并清楚地了解预计会发现棉岩的预期结构环境。 必和必拓将为参与该研究项目的博士后提供行业背景，促进基础地球科学研究与其直接应用于工业之间更紧密的联系，并培养一名早期职业研究员，学习如何在工业和工业之间的界面上工作。学术界。