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This open access book documents the use of radiogenic and stable isotopes to study mineral deposits from a global to the deposit scale. It includes data-sets that have been directly used in mineral exploration. Isotopic data have been key to developing models for the origin of many mineral deposit types. The book has four sections: (1) the use of radiogenic isotopes to date mineral deposits, (2) the use of radiogenic isotope mapping to understand metal sources and regional- to district-scale controls on metallogenesis, (3) the use of light stable isotopes to determine fluid and sulfur sources, and (4) the use of metallic stable isotopes to understand the sources of ore metals. Each section includes chapters on specific isotopic systems and/or mineral systems that provide information on theory, analytical methods, uses in deposit and metallogenic studies, examples, and traps for young players.
List of contents
1. Isotopes in economic geology, metallogeny and exploration - an introduction.- 2. Radiometric dating applied to ore deposits: theory and methods.- 3. U-Pb dating of mineral deposits: from age constraints to ore-forming processes.- 4. The 187Re-187Os and 190Pt-186Os radiogenic isotope systems.- 5. Applications of Nd isotopes to ore deposits and metallogenic terranes.
About the author
David Huston is research scientist at the Geoscience Australia, Minerals and Natural Hazards division. His research concerns geochemistry, mineralogy, especially Pyrite, as well as Archean and volcanic rocks. His studies in Mineralogy integrate field topics such as siltstone, Red beds, geologic records and clastic rocks.
Jens Gutzmer is the founding director of the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology. He is Visiting Professor at the Paleoproterozoic Mineralization Research Group (PPM) in the Department of Geology, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. His research interests include geometallurgy, mineral systems analysis and ore-forming processes in the context of Earth's evolution.
