EPITHERMAL GOLD

DEPOSITS

MICHAEL P. HUNERLACH
Geologist
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
 OUTLINE
Definition
Model
Deposit Form
Texture/Structure
Ore mineralogy and controls
Alteration mineralogy
Weathering
Hands-On look at samples
 DEFINITION

Metalliferous deposits formed near the

surface by ascending thermal waters and
in genetic conjunction with igneous rocks
Waldemar Lindgren, 1933
 GENETIC MODEL
Deposits form in subaerial, predominantly felsic,
volcanic fields in extensional and strike-slip structural
regimes, and island arc or continental andesitic
stratovolcanoes above active subduction zones.

Near-surface hydrothermal systems represented by

hotsprings at surface or deeper (McLaughlin dormant
at surface, active at 200+ meters)
Structurally and permeability focused fluid-flow zones
are the sites of mineralization

Ore fluids consist of dilute and cool solutions that are

mixtures of magmatic and meteoric fluids

Mineral deposition takes place as these solutions

undergo cooling and degassing by fluid mixing and/or
boiling and decompression
 DEPOSIT FORM
Ore zones typically localized in structures
(shoots, pipes, voids, water-courses)

Upward-flaring, centered on structurally controlled

hydrothermal conduits

Large to small veins and stockworks common

cm-m wide, and up to 100s of meters in strike length

laterally extensive, ore shoots restricted vertically
High-grade ore common in dilational zones;
(faults, flexures, and splays)
TEXTURE AND STRUCURE
Successive phases of mineralization

Open-space filling
Symmetrical, other layering
Crustification
Comb structure
Colloform banding
Multiple brecciation
 ORE MINERALOGY
Primary: Pyrite, electrum(<70%Au, >30%Ag), gold,
silver, cinnabar, silver sulphsalts and/or
selenide-telluride minerals.
Secondary: Stibnite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena,
tetrhedrite
Au-Ag-rich top
Ag-rich base
Base metal, pyrite zone at depth (250-350m from
surface)
Alkalic hostrocks = Te, V mica (roscoelite), fluorite
 ORE CONTROL
Always depends upon ground preparation

Epithermal mineralization is generally tied to a specific

metallogenetic event; structural, magmatic, or both.

Veins emplaced within restricted stratigraphic interval,

generally within 1km of the paleosurface

Mineralization at surface in hotspring systems, at depth

along hydrothermal conduits
 ORE CONTROL cont.
Typical structural controls;
Normal faults
Margins of grabins
Coarse clastic caldera moat-fill units
Radial and ring dike fracture sets
Hydrothermal and tectonic breccias
Branching, through-going, bifurcating, intersecting
fracture systems are commonly mineralized
Ore shoots form where dilational openings develop
(fluid-pumping/negative pressure), change in strike & dip of vein,
hangingwall fractures particularly favorable for high-grade ore
 GANGUE MINERALOGY
Principal;
Quartz, amethyst, chalcedony, quartz
pseudomorphs after calcite, calcite, *adularia

Secondary;
sericite, barite, fluorite, Ca-Mg-Mn-Fe carbonate
minerals (rhodochrosite, hematite, chlorite)

*Adularia is the single most widespread characteristic

indicator mineral
ALTERATION MINERALOGY
Multiple generations of quartz and chalcedony often
accompanied by adularia and calcite = silica-carbonate rocks

Pervasive silicification and/or adularization enveloping veins

Intermediate argillic alteration =

kaolinite-illite-montmorillinite adjacent to some veins

Advanced argillic alteration=

kaolinite-alunite formed along tops of mineralized
zones

Propylitic alteration at depth and peripherally

 WEATHERING
Depends upon age of erosion

Tertiary and younger, entire system may be preserved

Older rocks, remnant portions of deposit may be present

Weathered outcrops characterized by quartz ledges with

bleached flanks

Clay-altered zones with supergene alunite, and other

limonite minerals