Mineral Resource Reviews – serie

This book reviews the geochemical and petrological characteristics of potassic igneous rock complexes, and investigates the various tectonic settings in which these rocks occur. The authors provide an overview and classification of these rocks and elucidate the geochemical differences between barren and mineralized potassic igneous complexes. High-K rocks are genetically associated with a number of epithermal gold and porphyry copper-gold deposits. In recent years, there has also been growing recognition of an association of such rocks with iron-oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposits, intrusion-related gold deposits (IRGDs) and Carlin-type gold deposits. This fifth updated and expanded edition incorporates new data and references from world-class copper and gold deposits worldwide. It also includes the latest publications on the petrogenesis of high-K magmatism and related mineral deposits. Numerous new representative ore photographs of the mineral deposits described are also included in the new edition. As such, the book offers a valuable guide not only for academic petrologists working on alkaline rocks, but also for exploration geologists prospecting for epithermal gold and/or porphyry copper-gold deposits in modern and ancient terrains.

This second and expanded edition of the first book on agromining (phytomining) presents a comprehensive overview of the metal farming & recovery of the agromining production chain. Agromining is an emerging technology that aims to transform the extraction of sources of target elements not accessible by traditional mining and processing techniques. Agromining, which is based on sustainable development, uses hyperaccumulator plants as 'metal crops' farmed on sub-economic soils or minerals wastes to obtain valuable target elements. This volume is edited and authored by the pioneers in the rapidly expanding field of agromining and presents the latest insights and developments in the field. This book provides in-depth information on the global distribution and ecology of hyperaccumulator plants, their biogeochemical pathways, the influence of rhizosphere microbes, the physiology and molecular biology of hyperaccumulation, as well as aspects of propagation and conservation of theseunusual plants. It describes the agronomy of metal crops and opportunities for incorporating agromining into rehabilitation and mine closure, including test cases for agromining of  nickel, cobalt, manganese, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, zinc, thallium, rare earth elements and platinum group elements. Since the first edition was published, there have successful nickel agromining field trials in the tropics (in Malaysia and Guatemala), and these are presented in a dedicated case study chapter. Other new chapters focus on the processing of bio-ore for elements other than nickel, such as rare earth elements and cadmium, and on agromining from industrial wastes such as tailings, and industrial by-products and sites. Furthermore, the book features two new chapters that provide a comprehensive assessment of accumulation a very wide range elements from the Periodic Table in various plant species around the globe, and a chapter on practical methods for discovery of hyperaccumulator plantspecies in the field and in the herbarium. This book is of interest to environmental professionals in the minerals industry, government regulators, and academics.

This second and expanded edition of the first book on agromining (phytomining) presents a comprehensive overview of the metal farming & recovery of the agromining production chain. Agromining is an emerging technology that aims to transform the extraction of sources of target elements not accessible by traditional mining and processing techniques. Agromining, which is based on sustainable development, uses hyperaccumulator plants as 'metal crops' farmed on sub-economic soils or minerals wastes to obtain valuable target elements. This volume is edited and authored by the pioneers in the rapidly expanding field of agromining and presents the latest insights and developments in the field. This book provides in-depth information on the global distribution and ecology of hyperaccumulator plants, their biogeochemical pathways, the influence of rhizosphere microbes, the physiology and molecular biology of hyperaccumulation, as well as aspects of propagation and conservation of theseunusual plants. It describes the agronomy of metal crops and opportunities for incorporating agromining into rehabilitation and mine closure, including test cases for agromining of  nickel, cobalt, manganese, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, zinc, thallium, rare earth elements and platinum group elements. Since the first edition was published, there have successful nickel agromining field trials in the tropics (in Malaysia and Guatemala), and these are presented in a dedicated case study chapter. Other new chapters focus on the processing of bio-ore for elements other than nickel, such as rare earth elements and cadmium, and on agromining from industrial wastes such as tailings, and industrial by-products and sites. Furthermore, the book features two new chapters that provide a comprehensive assessment of accumulation a very wide range elements from the Periodic Table in various plant species around the globe, and a chapter on practical methods for discovery of hyperaccumulator plantspecies in the field and in the herbarium. This book is of interest to environmental professionals in the minerals industry, government regulators, and academics.

This open access book documents the use of radiogenic and stable isotopes to study mineral deposits from a global to the deposit scale. It includes data-sets that have been directly used in mineral exploration. Isotopic data have been key to developing models for the origin of many mineral deposit types. The book has four sections: (1) the use of radiogenic isotopes to date mineral deposits, (2) the use of radiogenic isotope mapping to understand metal sources and regional- to district-scale controls on metallogenesis, (3) the use of light stable isotopes to determine fluid and sulfur sources, and (4) the use of metallic stable isotopes to understand the sources of ore metals. Each section includes chapters on specific isotopic systems and/or mineral systems that provide information on theory, analytical methods, uses in deposit and metallogenic studies, examples, and traps for young players.

This open access book documents the use of radiogenic and stable isotopes to study mineral deposits from a global to the deposit scale. It includes data-sets that have been directly used in mineral exploration. Isotopic data have been key to developing models for the origin of many mineral deposit types. The book has four sections: (1) the use of radiogenic isotopes to date mineral deposits, (2) the use of radiogenic isotope mapping to understand metal sources and regional- to district-scale controls on metallogenesis, (3) the use of light stable isotopes to determine fluid and sulfur sources, and (4) the use of metallic stable isotopes to understand the sources of ore metals. Each section includes chapters on specific isotopic systems and/or mineral systems that provide information on theory, analytical methods, uses in deposit and metallogenic studies, examples, and traps for young players.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the major supergene mineral deposits formed in intensely weathered lateritic terrains. It discusses both contemporary and pre-existing supergene deposits, describing their geological, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics. Supergene processes of enrichment are those that occur under ambient near-surface conditions, compared to hypogene processes mostly at depth under higher temperatures and pressures. Supergene processes include the predominance of meteoric water circulation with concomitant oxidation and chemical weathering. Descending meteoric waters oxidize the primary (hypogene) minerals and redistribute the chemical elements. Residual supergene enrichment occurs as a physical process when the predominant rock-forming minerals oxidize and dissolve, concentrating ore elements hosted in resistant stable minerals; absolute chemical enrichment occurs when the ore elements themselves are leached and migrate in groundwater and precipitate due changes in the pH, oxidation potential and chemical composition of water. These processes can enrich commercially important elements to produce orebodies formed entirely by supergene processes. These include Al (bauxite), Fe ore, Ni-Co laterites, kaolinite, REE (clay deposits), Nb and REE (on carbonatites), base metals (secondary sulfides and oxidate minerals including  gossans), gold and surficial U (in calcretes).

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the major supergene mineral deposits formed in intensely weathered lateritic terrains. It discusses both contemporary and pre-existing supergene deposits, describing their geological, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics. Supergene processes of enrichment are those that occur under ambient near-surface conditions, compared to hypogene processes mostly at depth under higher temperatures and pressures. Supergene processes include the predominance of meteoric water circulation with concomitant oxidation and chemical weathering. Descending meteoric waters oxidize the primary (hypogene) minerals and redistribute the chemical elements. Residual supergene enrichment occurs as a physical process when the predominant rock-forming minerals oxidize and dissolve, concentrating ore elements hosted in resistant stable minerals; absolute chemical enrichment occurs when the ore elements themselves are leached and migrate in groundwater and precipitate due changes in the pH, oxidation potential and chemical composition of water. These processes can enrich commercially important elements to produce orebodies formed entirely by supergene processes. These include Al (bauxite), Fe ore, Ni-Co laterites, kaolinite, REE (clay deposits), Nb and REE (on carbonatites), base metals (secondary sulfides and oxidate minerals including  gossans), gold and surficial U (in calcretes).

This book contained the geological investigation condition of the territory of Mongolia for uranium, the geodynamic position of the uranium mineralization. To delineate metallogenic zoning for uranium in the territory of Mongolia, we determined geodynamic settings based on the development of geological complexes and formations with which uranium mineralization is related both genetically and spatially. It should be noted that a larger number of NRE radio-geochemical anomalies are associated with various types of rocks of different ages and genesis. However, a careful study of the distribution and composition of these rocks showed that uranium mineralization is associated with igneous rocks of active continental margins and their back-arc (back-arc) structures of rift origin. In addition, mostly in Eastern and Northern Mongolia, uranium mineralization is also associated with alkaline bimodal volcanic of the rift origin. This pattern has been noted previously by various researchers. The main regularities in the distribution of uranium objects based on the geodynamic position of tectonics are revealed, uranium-bearing provinces, zones and districts are characterized, uranium-ore epochs are identified, the main genetic types of genetic uranium deposits according to the IAEA classification of uranium deposits, the state of uranium reserves and resources in Mongolia is given. The characteristics of the geological structure of all uranium deposits in Mongolia are given. According to the classification of uranium deposits (Franz J. Dahlkamp, 2015) by the IAEA, the following types of uranium deposits can be distinguished on the territory of Mongolia: sandstone deposits; deposits related with volcanic rocks; deposits related with granites; deposits related with intrusions; deposits related with metasomatites; deposits related with lignites and coals; deposits related with phosphorites; deposits related with black shales; near-surface deposits, of which the first 2 types are the most studied. The rest are distinguished only by direct prospecting signs and need detailed study in the future and have good prospects for increasing Mongolia's uranium reserves. The main share (66.69%) of Mongolia's reserves falls on the deposits of the East Mongolian and Gobi uranium zones, where sandstone deposits are common. Deposits related with volcanic rocks in the Eastern zone occupy about 25.19% of Mongolia's uranium reserves. The book is intended not only for geologists, specialists and scientists in the field of uranium geology, but for investors in geological exploration and exploitation in Mongolia for uranium.

This book contained the geological investigation condition of the territory of Mongolia for uranium, the geodynamic position of the uranium mineralization. To delineate metallogenic zoning for uranium in the territory of Mongolia, we determined geodynamic settings based on the development of geological complexes and formations with which uranium mineralization is related both genetically and spatially. It should be noted that a larger number of NRE radio-geochemical anomalies are associated with various types of rocks of different ages and genesis. However, a careful study of the distribution and composition of these rocks showed that uranium mineralization is associated with igneous rocks of active continental margins and their back-arc (back-arc) structures of rift origin. In addition, mostly in Eastern and Northern Mongolia, uranium mineralization is also associated with alkaline bimodal volcanic of the rift origin. This pattern has been noted previously by various researchers. The main regularities in the distribution of uranium objects based on the geodynamic position of tectonics are revealed, uranium-bearing provinces, zones and districts are characterized, uranium-ore epochs are identified, the main genetic types of genetic uranium deposits according to the IAEA classification of uranium deposits, the state of uranium reserves and resources in Mongolia is given. The characteristics of the geological structure of all uranium deposits in Mongolia are given. According to the classification of uranium deposits (Franz J. Dahlkamp, 2015) by the IAEA, the following types of uranium deposits can be distinguished on the territory of Mongolia: sandstone deposits; deposits related with volcanic rocks; deposits related with granites; deposits related with intrusions; deposits related with metasomatites; deposits related with lignites and coals; deposits related with phosphorites; deposits related with black shales; near-surface deposits, of which the first 2 types are the most studied. The rest are distinguished only by direct prospecting signs and need detailed study in the future and have good prospects for increasing Mongolia's uranium reserves. The main share (66.69%) of Mongolia's reserves falls on the deposits of the East Mongolian and Gobi uranium zones, where sandstone deposits are common. Deposits related with volcanic rocks in the Eastern zone occupy about 25.19% of Mongolia's uranium reserves. The book is intended not only for geologists, specialists and scientists in the field of uranium geology, but for investors in geological exploration and exploitation in Mongolia for uranium.

This book presents the results of the major EU project Promine. For the first time there is now a European database available on mineral deposits, as well as 3D, 4D and predictive models of major mineral belts in Europe: Fennoscandia (Skellefteå and Vihanti-Pyhäsalmi), the Fore-Sudetic basin (Kupferschiefer deposits in Poland and Germany), the Hellenic belt in northern Greece, and the Iberian Pyrite belt and Ossa Morena zone in Spain and Portugal. The book also describes the modelling techniques applied and how different types of software are used for three- and four-dimensional modelling. Furthermore, fundamental descriptions of how to build the database structure of three-dimensional geological data are provided and both 2D and 3D predictive models are presented for the main mineral belts of Europe.

This book reviews the geochemical and petrological characteristics of potassic igneous rock complexes, and investigates the different tectonic settings in which these rocks occur. The authors provide an overview and classification of these rocks and elucidate the geochemical differences between barren and mineralized potassic igneous complexes. High-K rocks host a number of epithermal gold and porphyry copper-gold deposits. In recent years, there has also been growing recognition of an association of such rocks with iron-oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposits, intrusion-related gold deposits (IRGDs) and possibly even Carlin-type gold deposits. This book is not only relevant to academic petrologists working on alkaline rocks, but also to exploration geologists prospecting for epithermal gold and/or porphyry copper-gold deposits in modern and ancient terrains. This fourth, updated and expanded edition incorporates new data and references from Africa, Australia, Brazil, China, Greece, Iran,Mongolia, North America, Russia and Turkey, including new maps and sections and new color plates of high-grade gold-copper ore from major deposits hosted by potassic igneous rocks.

This volume presents an exhaustive overview of major orebodies and mineral deposits of North Africa. It is intended both for academic researchers and especially for exploration geologists interested in mineral exploration in the northern part of the African continent. Recent changes in the mining laws of most countries in this region have encouraged international mining companies to invest in local mineral industries. Accordingly, this volume will be very useful for these professionals, as well as for researchers in the field of economic geology.

This book presents the results of the major EU project Promine. For the first time there is now a European database available on mineral deposits, as well as 3D, 4D and predictive models of major mineral belts in Europe: Fennoscandia (Skellefteå and Vihanti-Pyhäsalmi), the Fore-Sudetic basin (Kupferschiefer deposits in Poland and Germany), the Hellenic belt in northern Greece, and the Iberian Pyrite belt and Ossa Morena zone in Spain and Portugal. The book also describes the modelling techniques applied and how different types of software are used for three- and four-dimensional modelling. Furthermore, fundamental descriptions of how to build the database structure of three-dimensional geological data are provided and both 2D and 3D predictive models are presented for the main mineral belts of Europe.

This volume presents an exhaustive overview of major orebodies and mineral deposits of North Africa. It is intended both for academic researchers and especially for exploration geologists interested in mineral exploration in the northern part of the African continent. Recent changes in the mining laws of most countries in this region have encouraged international mining companies to invest in local mineral industries. Accordingly, this volume will be very useful for these professionals, as well as for researchers in the field of economic geology.

This is the first book on global agromining/phytomining technology. It presents the complete metal farming or agromining chain; an emerging technology expected to be transformative in the extraction of resources of those elements not accessible by traditional mining techniques. Meeting the demand for critical minerals (rare earth elements, platinum group elements, nickel cobalt) is increasingly difficult in the 21st century due to resource depletion and geopolitical factors. Agromining uses hyperaccumulator plants as “metal crops” farmed on sub-economic soils or mineral waste to obtain valuable elements.This book, which follows the metal farming chain, starts with the latest information on the global distribution and ecology of hyperaccumulator plants, biogeochemical pathways, the influence of rhizosphere microbes, as well as aspects of propagation and conservation of these unusual plants. It then presents the state of the art in new tools for identifying hyperaccumulator plants and for understanding their physiology and molecular biology. It goes on to describe the agronomy of “metal crops,” and opportunities for incorporating agromining into rehabilitation and mine closure, including test-cases of nickel, cobalt, selenium, thallium, rare earth elements and PGEs. Finally, it concludes with an overview of the latest developments in the processing of bio-ores and associated products. This book is edited and authored by the pioneers in the field who have been at the foreground of the development of agromining over the past three decades. It is timely as agromining is now at a pivotal point in its development with rapid expansion of activities in the field around the globe. As such it is of interest to environmental professionals in the minerals industry, government regulators and academics.