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Types of Classifications
Morphologic - Size, shape etc.
Advantages
Easy to apply in the field
Requires little formal training
Disadvantages
Relates ore deposits which may be otherwise totally
unrelated
Tells us little of value
Commodity
Advantages
Easy to apply in the field
Requires little formal training
Disadvantages
Not all ore deposits of the same quantity are related
Separates metals/commodities which are related in
nature
Mode of Origin - Genetic
Advantages
A true genetic classification that relates only related ore
deposits
Can provide very useful information
Disadvantages
Requires extensive training to use successfully
Can be quite subjective; implies we know how an ore
2. Schneiderhohn Classification
Europe Uses numerous mineral/metal associations. Difficult large
number of categories. Is too specific to provide useful information many
geologists feel.
3. Lindgren Classification - Most widely used.
Totally independent of minerals/metals and thus restricted to a small
number of categories. genetic a classification possible to devise.
placing too much emphasis on hydrothermal deposits, and being rather
out-of-date in that it does not include some recent genetic concepts.
Host - Rock Ore Associations - First proposed by Stanton (1972).
enclose them as a single entity. E.g. Ni-Cu deposits in mafic/ultramafic
rocks. Largely a petrographic classification less genetic.
Antimony-mercury
Heavy metals
Gold-silver
Tin-bismuth (silver)
PLUTONIC OR INTRUSIVE
Carbonates-oxides-sulfides-fluorides
Hydrothermal
Nickel-cobalt-arsenic (silver)
Lead-zinc-silver
Iron-copper-gold (arsenic)
Tourmaline-quartz association
Pneumatolytic to Pegmatitic
Orthomagmatic
Titanium-iron-nickel-copper
Diamond, platinum-chromium
C. Lead-silver-zinc associations
(Schneiderhohn, 1949)
1. Hypabyssal suite
a. Mesothermal quartz-pyrite lead associations
b. Mesothermal true quartz veins with galena and silver minerals
c. Mesothermal lead associations with carbonates
d. Mesothermal fluorite-barite lead associations
e. Mesothermal silver-lead-zinc replacement deposits
f. Telethermal metasomatic lead-zinc deposits
2. Sub-volcanic suite
a. Meso-to epithermal lead-silver-zinc deposits
D. Silver-cobalt-bismuth-nickel-uranium associations
1. Hypabyssal suite
a. Calcite-bearing silver veins
b. Carbonate-bearing silver-cobalt-nickel veins
c. Calcite-bearing cobalt-nickel-bismuth-silver-uranium veins
d. Fluorite-barite bearing copper-bismuth veins
e. Baritic silver-cobalt-bismuth veins
f. Quartzose cobalt-bismuth-uranium veins
g. Carbonate-quartz cobalt-nickel-copper veins
h. Baritic cobalt veins
i. Uranium-silver veins
j. Katathermal uranium deposits
2. Sub-volcanic suite (same as hypabyssal)
(Schneiderhohn, 1949)
E. Tin-silver-tungsten-bismuth associations
1. Hypabyssal suite
a. Epithermal tin veins
b. Epithermal wolframite and scheelite veins
c. Katathermal bismuth veins
2.Sub-volcanic suite
a. Pneumatolytic-hydrothermal tin deposits
b.Meso-to epithermal tin-silver deposits
F. Antimony-mercury-arsenic-selenium associations
1. Hypabyssal suite
a. Epithermal stibnite veins
b. Epithermal stibnite replacement deposits
c. Epithermal antimony-mercury deposits
d. Epithermal mercury deposits
2. Sub-volcanic suite
a. Epi-telethermal mercury deposits
b. Realgar-orpiment deposits
c. Selenium deposits
(Schneiderhohn, 1949)
G. Iron-manganese association
1. Undifferentiated
a. Siderite veins
b. Metasomatic siderite deposits
c. Specularite veins
d. Platinum-bearing specularite veins
e. Manganese veins
f. Metasomatic hematite veins
g. Metasomatic magnesite
H. Iron-free associations
1. Undifferentiated
a. Fluorspar veins
b. Metasomatic fluorspar deposits
c. Barite veins
d. Metasomatic barite deposits
e. Witherite veins
f. Quartz veins
LINDGREN
a. Deposition and concentration at slight depth.
Epithermal deposits.
b. Deposition and concentration at intermediate depth.
Mesothermal deposits.
c. Deposition and concentration at great depth or at high temperature and
pressure.
Hypothermal deposits.
2. By direct igneous emanations.
a.From intrusive bodies. Contact metamorphic or pyro metasomatic
deposits.
b.From effusive bodies. Sublimates, fumaroles.
LINDGREN