A New Occurrence Model for National Assessment of Undiscovered Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits

W.C. Pat Shanks III; Cynthia Dusel-Bacon; Randolph Koski; Lisa A. Morgan; Dan Mosier; Nadine M. Piatak; Ian Ridley; Robert R. Seal II; Klaus J. Schulz; John F. Slack; Roland Thurston

doi:10.3133/ofr20091235

A New Occurrence Model for National Assessment of Undiscovered Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits

Open-File Report 2009-1235

By: W.C. Pat Shanks III, Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, Randolph Koski, Lisa A. Morgan, Dan Mosier, Nadine M. Piatak, Ian Ridley, Robert R. Seal II, Klaus J. Schulz, John F. Slack, and Roland Thurston

https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20091235

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Abstract

Volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits are very significant current and historical resources of Cu-Pb-Zn-Au-Ag, are active exploration targets in several areas of the United States and potentially have significant environmental effects. This new USGS VMS deposit model provides a comprehensive review of deposit occurrence and ore genesis, and fully integrates recent advances in the understanding of active seafloor VMS-forming environments, and integrates consideration of geoenvironmental consequences of mining VMS deposits. Because VMS deposits exhibit a broad range of geological and geochemical characteristics, a suitable classification system is required to incorporate these variations into the mineral deposit model. We classify VMS deposits based on compositional variations in volcanic and sedimentary host rocks. The advantage of the classification method is that it provides a closer linkage between tectonic setting and lithostratigraphic assemblages, and an increased predictive capability during field-based studies.

Suggested Citation

Shanks, W.P., Dusel-Bacon, C., Koski, R., Morgan, L.A., Mosier, D., Piatak, N., Ridley, I., Seal, R., Schulz, K.J., Slack, J.F., Thurston, R., 2009, A New Occurrence Model for National Assessment of Undiscovered Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009-1235, iv, 27 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20091235.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Additional publication details
Publication type	Report
Publication Subtype	USGS Numbered Series
Title	A New Occurrence Model for National Assessment of Undiscovered Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits
Series title	Open-File Report
Series number	2009-1235
DOI	10.3133/ofr20091235
Year Published	2009
Language	ENGLISH
Publisher	U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s)	Eastern Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey
Description	iv, 27 p.
Online Only (Y/N)	Y