Publisher's Synopsis
In recent years, hydrothermal-magmatic systems in modern volcanism areas have been in focus of researches as ore-generating structures. It is assumed that there is relation between geothermal and epithermal ore deposits. Hydrothermal deposits are diverse, being present in a wide range of geological settings and tectonic environments: some are closely associated with granitic intrusions, others form on the ocean floor and still others are in sedimentary basins. These components, including metals and their ligands, become concentrated in magmas in various ways from various sources, including subducted oceanic crust. Leaching of rocks also contributes components to the hydrothermal fluid-a process enhanced where acid magmatic vapors are absorbed by deeply circulating meteoric waters. Advances in understanding the hydrothermal systems that formed these ore deposits have come from the study of their active equivalents, represented at the surface by hot springs and volcanic fumaroles. This 1st volume of Encyclopaedia of Geological Belts, Plate Boundaries and Mineral Deposits it is intended to shows that processes of mineral ore formation evolved in the interior of modern hydrothermal-magmatic systems of an island arc during transition from progressive to regressive development stage. Hydrothermal deposits provide almost 100% of our Pb, Zn, Mo, and Ag, 60-90% of our Cu, Au and U, as well as gemstones and industrial materials such as clay minerals and quartz. The chapter's content is dedicated to the characterization and utilization of clay minerals in deposits, including different aspects of clay minerals research, especially to the characterization of structure and modifications for their application. It is also aimed to consider some of the special problems involved in the study of fluid inclusions in ore deposits and review the methodologies and tools developed to address these issues. The general properties of fluid inclusions in hydrothermal ore-forming systems are considered and the interpretation of these data in terms of fluid evolution processes is discussed.
