A Geological, Mineralogical and Geochemical Study of a Quartz-Andalusite-Sericite Alteration Zone in the Vicinity of the Udden Deposit
2016 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (professional degree), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
In this project a quartz-andalusite-sericite alteration zone in close vicinity to the Udden massive sulphide deposit in the Skellefte District in northern Sweden was studied. The objective was to find any correlation between the geological, mineralogical and geochemical character of the alteration zone and the associated Au-Te-Bi mineralization. The Udden area is situated in the Paleoproterozoic supracrustal rocks of the Skellefte Group in the central part of the Skellefte district. Most of the rocks in the Udden area are interpreted to be volcaniclastic, overlaid by a thick package of basinal sediments. The composition of the volcaniclastic rocks ranges from rhyolitic to mafic. The area has been subjected to several deformation events and regional metamorphism of upper greenschist facies. This, together with local deformation, has created a complex structural environment.A laterally extensive alteration zone is situated about 600 m south of the Udden open pit. It is characterized by strong leaching of most major elements, leaving a residue of mainly SiO2 and Al2O3. The mineral assemblage of the alteration zone mainly consists of quartz, andalusite and sericite with locally occurring biotite, chlorite, topaz, fluorite and minor rutile. Just above the alteration zone occurs a layer of strongly foliated quartz and sericite. The highest concentrations of Au, Te and Bi seem to be spatially related to this layer, although the concentrations of these metals are generally elevated in the whole alteration zone, sometimes together with Hg and Sb. In close vicinity of the Udden area the Kedträsk and Åsen massive sulphide deposits can be found. They are both related to similar types of alteration as occur in the alteration zone in Udden. In other parts of the Skellefte district similar types of alteration are known to occur as well, often related to mineral deposits. For example in the gold-rich Boliden massive sulfide deposit, in Mångfallberget telluride mineralization not far from Boliden, and in Kristineberg massive sulphide deposit.To obtain the aims of this study the rocks have been logged in diamond drill cores and the minerals and their textures have been studied by thin section microscopy. The lithogeochemical analyze data was interpreted by immobile element plots to classify the rock types and mass-balance calculations and studies of the AAAI and ACNK alteration indexes to quantify the alteration intensity. These results have then been compared to similar types of deposits in the world that have been studied more extensively.The mineralogy, lithogeochemistry and overall shape of the alteration zone suggests that the alteration zone in Udden was formed as a steam-heated blanket in an epithermal environment.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2016. , p. 139
Keywords [en]
Technology
Keywords [sv]
Teknik, Andalusite, steam heated alteration blanket, epithermal, alteration zone, advanced argillic alteration, Skellefte district
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-43410Local ID: 14b08964-6d29-4de0-914b-309e2d443081OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-43410DiVA, id: diva2:1016642
External cooperation
Subject / course
Student thesis, at least 30 credits
Educational program
Natural Resources Engineering, master's
Supervisors
Examiners
Note
Validerat; 20160304 (global_studentproject_submitter)
2016-10-042016-10-04Bibliographically approved