Original paper
Giant Ore Deposits: A Quantitative Approach
Laznicka, Peter
Global Tectonics and Metallogeny Volume 2 Number 1-2 (1983), p. 41 - 64
19 references
published: Jan 1, 1983
ArtNo. ESP136000201005, Price: 19.00 €
Abstract
The study of giant ore deposits and their distribution is gaining popularity, yet a satisfactory quantitative definition has not yet been proposed. To do so, it is suggested to convert the existing mining data on ore deposits (grades and tonnages) into geology/geochemistry compatible units: tonnage-accumulation index t.a.i. (to express the magnitude of metal accumulation), and clarke of concentration c.c. (to express the magnitude of metal concentration). This was done with a substantial population of large metallic deposits. It has been found that most deposits of different metals fall into more-or-less distinct groups with similar magnitudes of geochemical concentration (c.c.), but there is almost no separation among deposits of various metals arranged by their magnitude of geochemical accumulation (t.a.i.). The metal content of economic ore deposits of the world is distributed in such a way that a few supergiant and giant deposits contain over 50% of the metals, whereas the metal content in medium-size and small deposits is almost negligible. This compares with the global distribution of petroleum resources.
Keywords
Giant Ore Deposit • metallic deposit • petroleum