Advances in Earth Science ›› 2003, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (5): 773-782. doi: 10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2003.05.0773

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THE DEVELOPMENTS OF STUDY ON ANCIENT AND MODERN VOLCANOGENIC MASSIVE SULFIDE DEPOSIT

An Wei,Cao Zhimin,Zheng Jianbin,Liu Ji ,Chen Min   

  1. Marine Geology College,Ocean university of China,Qingdao 266003,China
  • Received:2003-05-23 Revised:2003-07-25 Online:2003-12-20 Published:2003-10-01

An Wei,Cao Zhimin,Zheng Jianbin,Liu Ji ,Chen Min. THE DEVELOPMENTS OF STUDY ON ANCIENT AND MODERN VOLCANOGENIC MASSIVE SULFIDE DEPOSIT[J]. Advances in Earth Science, 2003, 18(5): 773-782.

Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) deposits exist from pre-Cambrian to Quaternary.  Modern seafloor hydrothermal mineralization process provides a new way to study the VMS deposits. Studies of DSDP/ODP drilling data showed that: ①VMS deposits are related to rifting and subsidence. ②Ore-forming metals come from two sources, one is host volcano-sedimentary rocks and underlying basement, the other is liberated volatile components from deep magma chamber. ③Mid-ocean ridge seafloor hydrothermal circulation display double-diffusive convection pattern. In areas covered with sedimentary, more attention is paid to the effects produced by the reaction between the hydrothermal fluid and the sedimentary. ④From the point of spatial distribution of mineral assemblage of a hydrothermal sulfide congeries, the upper part is dominated with chimney, and the lower part with massive sulfides followed by stockwork sulfides in the deep part. This seems to be a common feature of various hydrothermal active areas. Mineralization pattern reflected the hydrothermal genesis of VMS deposits, in which the thermal fluid is generated by the circulation of seawater through heat dome, which in turn is a result of the intrusion of the deep (1~3 km) magma. Further studies of VMS deposits requires the discovery of new mineral occurrence, the improvement of sample collection, analyzing techniques, and the integration conception of seafloor hydrothermal activation, tectonic setting, magma processes and environment evolution.

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