Textu r e a nd

Struc t u re o f
ot he rm a l o re s
Hydr Glogy
e o
Econo m i c
Ass i g n m e n t
 r m a l O r e s
Hydrothe
re fe r to m in era l deposits
s
Hydrothermal ore in te raction
r es u lt o f th e
that form as a fl u id s) and
r (hy d ro th e rm a l
between hot wate
's crust.
rocks in the Earth
 Key elements of hydrothermal ore
formation

SOURCE OF HOST ROCKS MINERAL TEMPERATURE TYPES OF

FLUIDS PRECIPITATION AND PRESSURE HYDROTHERMAL
CONDITIONS DEPOSITS
 Ore Textures Ore Structures

• Scale: Microscopic to mesoscopic (small-scale). • Scale: Mesoscopic to macroscopic (larger-

• Focus: Describes the visual and microscopic scale).
characteristics of minerals within an ore deposit, • Focus: Describes the physical arrangements and
including features such as crystal shapes, sizes, patterns of rocks and minerals within an ore
arrangement, and relationships between
minerals.
• Information Provided: Offers insights into the
conditions under which minerals formed, such as
V deposit at a larger scale. Encompasses the
overall geometry, distribution, and spatial
relationships of the deposit.
• Information Provided: Provides insights into the
temperature, pressure, and the chemical broader geological context, such as the history
composition of hydrothermal fluids. of tectonic events, faulting, and the
emplacement of ore-bearing rocks. Helps in
understanding the three-dimensional
arrangement of mineralization.
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XO X WINS- HYDROTHERMAL ORE STRUCTURES
O WINS- HYDROTHERMAL ORE TEXTURES
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ORE
 VEINS AND
VEINLETS
Description: Hydrothermal veins are among the most
common structures associated with ore deposits. They
are fractures or conduits filled with minerals that have
precipitated from hydrothermal fluids.

Characteristics: Veins can vary in size, ranging from

thin veinlets to larger structures. The minerals within
the veins often exhibit a banded or zonal pattern.
 STOCKWORKS
Description: Stockworks are networks of
interconnected veins and veinlets that form a complex
three-dimensional pattern in a rock mass.

Characteristics: Stockworks result from intense

fracturing and mineralization, creating a mesh-like
structure. The interconnected veins may contain
various minerals deposited by hydrothermal fluids.
 BRECCIAS
Description: Hydrothermal breccias form when pre-
existing rocks are fragmented, and the resulting
angular or rounded rock fragments are cemented
together by minerals precipitated from hydrothermal
fluids.

Characteristics: Breccias can exhibit chaotic

textures, and the cementing minerals may fill the
spaces between the broken rock fragments.
 MASSIVE BODIES
Description: In some cases, hydrothermal ores can
form large, solid masses within the host rock.

Characteristics: These ore bodies may replace the

original rock, leading to a homogeneous mass of
valuable minerals. The texture can vary from fine-
grained to coarse-grained, depending on the specific
minerals present.
.
 DISSEMINATED
DEPOSITS
Description: In disseminated deposits, valuable
minerals are finely dispersed throughout a large
volume of host rock.

Characteristics: Instead of forming concentrated

veins or masses, the valuable minerals are distributed
as small particles within the rock matrix.
ALTERATION ZONES
Description: Hydrothermal fluids can alter the
composition of the host rocks surrounding ore
deposits.

Characteristics: Alteration zones may exhibit

changes in mineralogy, color, and texture. Common
alteration minerals include sericite, chlorite, and
epidote.
.
 FAULT RELATED
STRUCTURES
Description: Hydrothermal activity often occurs
along faults, fractures, and other tectonic features.

Characteristics: Ore deposits may be associated with

fault zones, and the mineralization can follow the
geometry of the fault structures.
SULFIDE CHIMNEYS
Description: In submarine hydrothermal systems,
sulfide chimneys can form on the seafloor.

Characteristics: These chimneys are composed of

sulfide minerals and can have a complex, chimney-
like structure. They are often associated with black
smoker hydrothermal vents.
.
 CONCENTRIC
BANDING
Description: Some hydrothermal deposits exhibit
concentric banding, where minerals are deposited in
layers around a central core.

Characteristics: This banding may result from

variations in the composition or temperature of
hydrothermal fluids during the formation of the
deposit.
.
CLASTIC TEXTURE
Description: In certain hydrothermal environments,
mineralization can occur in a clastic (broken or
fragmented) manner.

Characteristics: This can result in the formation of

clastic textures where minerals are cemented together,
similar to breccias, but with finer particles.
ORE TEXTURES
1. Banded or
Zoned
Textures

2. Cubic, Euhedral,
or Octahedral
Crystals
 BANDED OR
ZONED
•Description: Many hydrothermal ores exhibit bands or
TEXTURE
zones of different minerals within veins or replacement
bodies.
•Characteristics: Alternating layers of different minerals
may indicate variations in the composition or
temperature of the hydrothermal fluids during mineral
precipitation.

CUBIC, EUHEDRAL CRYSTALS

•Description: Crystals that form within hydrothermal
veins or replacement zones can exhibit specific geometric
shapes.
•Characteristics: Well-defined crystal faces (euhedral) or
distinct shapes like cubes or octahedra can indicate the
influence of specific growth conditions.
3. Drusy or
Botryoidal
Textures

4. Fibrous or
Acicular Habits
 DRUSY OR
BOTRYOIDAL
large number ofTEXTURE
•Description: Drusy textures involve the presence of a
small crystals coating a surface, while
botryoidal textures form rounded, grape-like clusters of
crystals.
•Characteristics: Drusy and botryoidal textures are
common in cavities or open spaces where minerals
precipitate from hydrothermal fluids.

FIBROUS OR ACICULAR HABITS

•Description: Some minerals in hydrothermal deposits
may exhibit elongated, fibrous, or needle-like crystal
habits.
•Characteristics: Fibrous or acicular textures can be
indicative of specific minerals, such as the needle-like
crystals of asbestos or the fibrous habit of some sulfide
minerals.
5. Reticulated or
Network Textures

6. Ore Veins in
Host Rock
 RETICULATED OR
NETWORK
TEXTURE
•Description: In certain hydrothermal deposits,
especially those with stockwork structures, minerals can
form a network or reticulated pattern.
•Characteristics: Interconnected crystals create a mesh-
like texture, reflecting the complex fracture systems
through which hydrothermal fluids migrated.

ORE VEINS IN HOST ROCK

•Description: Ore minerals within veins may exhibit
specific textures in relation to the surrounding host rock.
•Characteristics: The texture may vary along the contact
between the vein and host rock, with alteration zones or
specific mineralogical changes near the vein margins.
7. Crustiform or
Epitaxial Growth

8. Porphyritic
Textures
 CRUSTIFORM OR
EPITAXIAL
GROWTH
•Description: Some minerals in hydrothermal deposits
may exhibit crustiform or epitaxial growth, forming thin
layers on surfaces.
•Characteristics: Thin, parallel layers of minerals can
develop on the surfaces of other minerals or host rocks,
providing information about the sequential deposition of
minerals.

PORPHYRITIC TEXTURES
•Description: Porphyritic textures involve the presence
of larger crystals (phenocrysts) embedded in a finer-
grained matrix.
•Characteristics: This texture may indicate variations in
the rate of mineral growth during hydrothermal
processes, with larger crystals forming earlier than the
surrounding matrix.
9. Rim or
Overgrowth
Textures

10. Replacement
Textures
 RIM OR
OVERGROWTH
TEXTURES
•Description: Overgrowth textures occur when a later
phase of mineral growth encases or partially covers an
earlier-formed mineral.
•Characteristics: The rim or overgrowth may have a
different mineral composition, suggesting changes in the
chemical conditions of the hydrothermal fluids over time.

REPLACEMENT TEXTURES
•Description: In some cases, hydrothermal fluids replace
pre-existing minerals in the host rock, resulting in
replacement textures.
•Characteristics: The replacement can be partial or
complete, with the newly formed minerals retaining the
shape and structure of the original minerals.
Thank You