Geology 147, Ore Deposit Geology, will examine the genesis of metallic ore deposits and their distribution in time and space. The class will start by considering the geochemistry of hydrothermal fluids, water-rock interaction, and the tools used by Economic Geologists, such as fluid inclusions, stable isotopes, and geochemical modeling. We will then examine various types of ore deposits with an emphasis on applying your knowledge of structural geology, petrology, geochemistry, and geophysics to understand both the mineral deposits and the rocks that host them.

Laboratory examination of suites of rocks from different types of ore deposits will reinforce the material covered in the text book and lectures, supplemented by selected journal articles that describe the geology and geochemistry of the deposits that we will study in lab. The lab will reinforce your ability to recognize minerals using a hand lens, and will provide you with practical experience in recognizing mineralization and alteration.

This class will provide valuable training for anyone interested in a job in mineral exploration. With gold at more than $1,000/oz and copper so valuable that people are stealing electrical wires, there are exploration jobs for young geologists. However, the class should also be beneficial to a broader audience as the emphasis is on applying a wide array of geological and geochemical tools to understand water-rock reactions, wall rock alteration, and the transport and deposition of dissolved species in aqueous solutions.

Prerequisites: Chem 2C or Hydro 134, Gel 60 and 62, Gel 105