Timing of mineralization in the palm of your hand: Cross-cutting relations, copper minerals and ore-forming hydrothermal fluid evolution

Barbara Dutrow

Louisiana State University

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Initial Publication Date: June 8, 2008 | Reviewed: October 19, 2012 (see revision history: 2 events)

Summary

This lab is designed to familiarize students with the geologic history of an ore-deposit, deciphered in the palm of your hand. By determining cross cutting relations of veins and mineralogy, students decipher the evolution of mineralizing fluids that formed the minerals of a copper ore deposit.

Aqueous Solutions, Geochemistry, Igneous Processes, Igneous ...(more) | College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)

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Context

Audience

This exercise is used in a sophomore or junior level required course in petrology.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Students should have an understanding of basic geologic principles (cross-cutting relationships) and basic petrology.

How the activity is situated in the course

This activity is a stand-alone exercise.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

This activity is designed to teach students about the formation of ore deposits by utilizing information from cross-cutting relationships and order of mineralization.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

This activity involves analyzing data.

Other skills goals for this activity

Description of the activity/assignment

This lab accompanies lectures/classes in economic geology and ore mineralogy, either in a mineralogy or petrology course. It can also accompany studies of fluid rock interactions, fracture flow, fluid evolution, or geochemistry; or these topics be woven together using this lab as a base. This lab exercise also integrates previously learned material: cross-cutting relationships (Introductory Geology),with determination of mineralogy (Mineralogy), review of idochromatic elements producing color and their use in mineral identification (Mineralogy),chemistry of the fluids (Geochemistry), and changes in fluids with time during hydrothermal alteration events (Economic Geology). It also demonstrates the linkage between fluid composition, igneous petrology, ore geology and mineralogy.