This course covers a wide variety of chapters that are based on the combined knowledge of the principles of Geology, Mineralogy, Petrology, Tectonics, and Geochemistry, in order to understand and systematize the fundamental characteristics, and the genetic processes that lead to the genesis of Ore Deposits, i.e., mineral concentrations in the earth’s crust, which contain metals and other chemical elements in economic concentrations, and can be used be exploited to meet the metal demand of modern technology-based society.
Non-economic mineralization, and economic ore deposits: Definition of Reserves and Classification systems. Importance of ore deposits in the world economic and cultural evolution, and mineral industry in everyday life and modern technologies. Legal distinction of types of deposits based on Greek legislation. Geologic and geotectonic environment of ore deposits formation and their distribution in the earth’s crust. Genetic models, value chains and stages of mineral exploration programs for ore deposits.
“Magmatic Ore deposits” - Genetic Models: Fundamental petrologic and geochemical formation processes of magmatic ore deposits. Chromite ore deposits. Ni–Cu sulphide deposits in basic and ultrabasic rocks. Platinum group metal (PGM) ore deposits. Magmatic and hydrothermal rare earth element (REE) ore deposits. Ore deposits of hydrothermal magnesite in ultrabasic rocks.
“Magmatic-Hydrothermal” and “Hydrothermal Ore Deposits” - Genetic Models: Fundamental hydrothermal processes. Genesis of Magmatic-hydrothermal and Hydrothermal ore deposits formed around igneous centres: Skarn-type and carbonate-replacement ores. Porphyry-Cu systems and porphyry-type Cu-Au-Mo ores. High sulfidation and low-sulfidation, epithermal Cu-Au–Ag, and Au–Ag, ore deposits. Genesis of ore deposits on the seafloor: Fundamental principles of hydrothermal seafloor metallogeny.