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The University of Southampton
Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton

Research project: Critical Metals in Porphyry Copper Deposits

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Although intrusions of potassic and calc-alkaline magmatism are typically associated with Cu, Mo and Au mineralization, some are enriched in the so called Critical Metals (PGM, Te, Se, Ag). However, the processes responsible for these enhanced metal concentrations are poorly understood and limit the development of optimum exploration strategies. This project aims to constrain the controls on critical metal distribution within intrusion centred mineralization.

Source: Eldoradogold Corp.
Location of the Stratoni Region

 Stratoni Region

Research will focus on the Stratoni region of N. Greece, where a Miocene porphyry system hosts Cu and Au mineralization. However, although the anatomy of the system is typical for a porphyry copper deposit, there are significant differences from the classical model:

  1. Magmatism is contemporaneous with the exhumation of a major metamorphic core-complex and is spatially related to the main detachment fault along which the core-complex was exhumed
  2. The main detachment fault is associated with a range of metamorphosed mafic and ultramafic rocks that predate porphyry magmatism and are interpreted to represent a Jurassic-Cretaceous suture zone.

 

Source: Eldoradogold Corp.
Stratoni Mine

Scientific Aims

This project will test the hypothesis that the enhanced levels of critical metals in the porphyry system result from the interaction between the porphyry magmas and pre-existing mafic and ultramafic rocks, rather than from mantle-derived melts.

Key Contacts

Miss Katie Sullivan

PhDs and Other Opportunities

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Associated research themes

Hydrothermal Processes and Mineral Deposits

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