Pracejus

1 Differentiation & Fixation Processes

The frame of this course comprises brief overviews for earth's structure, its geochemical composition, plate tectonics, and magma differentiation; natural fluids are also characterised as well as their respective role in ore genesis (e.g., precipitation processes, alteration, weathering, etc.). A major emphasis is then placed on the various types of mineral deposits (model and case studies). Bulk material deposits, such as limestones or other building materials, and fossil fuels and economic aspects are not included in this lecture; they are presented separately.

Rahders

2 Ore Petrography & Textures

The course gives a brief introduction to major world mining areas with examples from the FUB ore mineral collection, e.g., Witwatersrand, Bushveld-Complex, Iberian Pyrite Belt, Itabiri (BIF), Mississippi Valley type and Kiruna, supplemented by samples from historic German mining areas, such as Rammelsberg, Meggen, and the Erzgebirge. The participants will intensively analyse both textures and structures of characteristic ore samples. This approach is combined with the identification of paragenetic mineral sequences. The following section examines the genesis of primary (depositional) and secondary textures (replacement, alteration, and weathering phenomena).Texture analysis often helps to improve production output grades or open new ways in exploration efforts and is, thus, of great practical value for todays economic geology and material science.

Pracejus

3 Ore Microscopy (Petrography & Genesis)

Initially, the construction and operation of the ore microscope is illustrated, followed by an overview of application fields of this analytical technique. A more detailed instruction outlines the main optical characteristics that might be observed under the microscope. Some 30 different ore minerals will be examined in this lab. Through the identification of mineral assemblages and ore textures/structures, genetic implications will be discussed (including ambiguous interpretations), wherever possible.

Pracejus

4 Thermodynamic Mineral Stabilities

In order to understand geologic equilibration phenomena (e.g., replacement or enrichment), mineral reactions need to be constructed, evaluated, and calculated (here by the participants with the help of a pocket calculator). Several examples from natural specimens will serve as illustrations for the course.

Melcher

5 Oxidized Platinum Reefs

The course examines stratiform sulphide-Platinum Group Element (PGE) accumulations in layered intrusions and, in particular, the Main Sulphide Zone of the Great Dyke (Zimbabwe) and the Merensky Reef of the Bushveld Complex (South Africa). Keywords are: Oxidation of sulphide-PGE reefs, geochemical changes, mineralogical changes, secondary PGM formation, PGE “oxides”, Fe-(Mn) hydroxides, mineralogical balances, metallurgical problems, and PGE/PGM in the exogenic environment.

Melcher

6 The Association of PGE and Chromite

The distribution of chromite deposits and the different types are discussed first. Then, the mode of occurrence of PGE in chromite deposits (i.e., concentrations, fractionations, Re-Os isotope systematics, and PGE mineralogy) are illustrated. A further aspect presented here is the chromitite formation (settings and models). Model deposits included in the course are: Kempirsai/Urals (SSZ-type), Kraubath/Alps (metamorphosed SSZ-type), Mirdita/Albania (PGE-rich SSZ-type), Alto Condoto/Colombia (Alaskan-type), Kondyor/Siberia (Aldan-type), UG2/ South Africa (stratiform type).

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Mattern

1 Basin Evolution and Economic Aspects

The tectonic and depositional evolution of standard basin types will be characterized. Plate tectonic environments, aspects of subsidence, and structural features will be addressed as well as depositional systems, facies, stratigraphic organization, provenance and respective economic deposits (hydrocarbons, coal, evaporites, placers).

Mattern

2 Structural Styles of Hydrocarbon Habitats

The seven basic structural styles that occur in the brittle continental environment will be characterized, including their plate tectonic settings, structural inventory and geometric aspects. Geological cross sections, seismic sections and maps will be discussed leading to a spatial understanding of structures and hydrocarbon traps.

Mattern

3 Geologic Evolution and Deposits of N-America

The geological evolution of North America will be outlined from the Archaean to the Cenozoic. Mineral deposits will be discussed in the temporal and geological framework of their occurrence. Time-typical trends regarding the formation of deposits will be addressed.

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1 Characteristics of Natural Water

2 Water Rock Interactions