Sulfide polymetallic ores

Ore deposits associated with volcanic rocks generally exhibit polymetallic (Cu, Pb, Zn, Sn, W, Au, Ag, Mo, Bi, Sb, As and In) mineralization. Sulfur isotopic values of sulfides from these deposits are close to 0%o, suggesting a deep-seated origin of the sulfide sulfur. Clay deposits (pyrophyllite, sericite and kaolinite) are associated with both felsic volcanic rocks and ilmenite-series granitic rocks of late Cretaceous age in the San-yo Belt. 

Hirabayashi (1907) defined Kuroko as an ore which is a fine compact mixture of sphalerite, galena, and barite. This definition can be applied to black ore , but not to yellow ore or siliceous ore because these minerals are not abundant in these ores. Kinoshita (1944) defined Kuroko deposit as a deposit genetically related to the Tertiary volcanic rocks, consisting of a combination of Kuroko (black ore), Oko (yellow ore), Keiko (siliceous ore), and/or Sekkoko (gypsum ore) (Matsukuma and Horikoshi, 1970). The deposit is generally defined as a strata-bound polymetallic sulfide-sulfate deposit genetically related to Miocene bimodal (felsic-basaltic) volcanism (T. Sato, 1974). 

Herzig, P.M. and Hannington, M.D., 1995. Polymetallic massive sulfides at the modem seafloor A review. Ore Geology Reviews, 10 95-115. 

Other sources of nickel, especially in deep-ocean polymetallic nodules (see Manganese) lying on the Pacific Ocean floor, will probably have an important economic role in the future. As a general rule, to be mineable, a nickel ore deposit must be able to produce annually at least 40,000 tonnes of nickel, that is, 800,000 tonnes for a period of 20 years. Annual world nickel production is 925,000 tonnes (2003), of which 70% is consumed for stainless steels. The world s largest nickel-producing countries are Russia, Canada, New Caledonia, and Australia. In 2005, the major nickel projects were the laterite deposit of Goro (New Caledonia, France) and the sulfide ore deposit of Voise/s Bay (Newfoundland, Canada). 

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