Tourmaline in Appalachian - Caledonian massive sulphide deposits and its exploration significance.
Tourmaline is a common gangue mineral in several types of stratabound mineral deposits, including some massive base-metal sulphide ores of the Appalachian - Caledonian orogen. It is most abundant (sometimes forming massive foliated tourmalinite) in sediment-hosted deposits, such as those at the Elizabeth Cu mine and the Ore Knob Cu mine (North Carolina, USA). Trace amounts of tourmaline occur associated with volcanic-hosted deposits in the Piedmont and New England and also in the Trondheim district. Tourmaline associated with the massive sulphide deposits are Mg- rich dravites with major- and trace-element compositions significantly different from schorl. It is suggested that the necessary B was produced by submarine exhalative processes as a part of the same hydrothermal system that deposited the ores. An abundance of dravite in non-evaporitic terrains is believed to indicate proximity to former subaqueous fumarolic centres.-R.A.H.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 1982 |
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Title | Tourmaline in Appalachian - Caledonian massive sulphide deposits and its exploration significance. |
Authors | J. F. Slack |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Transactions of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Section B: Applied Earth Science |
Index ID | 70011895 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |