The Studied Deposit

The first step was to gain a theoretical understanding of what a VMS deposit is and why, given the rock bed maps of the area, the exploration was there. VMS deposits are formed as a result of submarine volcanism and contact with seawater or hydrothermal events. 

Hot mineral-rich fluids are expelled through the seafloor, often on mid-ocean ridges or their ancient counterparts. These fluids precipitate minerals as they cool, forming layers of sulfide minerals. 

The product is usually sulfides of iron in the form of pyrite, copper in the form of chalcopyrite, zinc in the form of sphalerite or lead in the form of galena. 

Fig. 1: Pseudo section of ERT parking lot, GEO-ZS

• Thus, it can be seen that these are polymetallic deposits. Given the conditions of formation, the fact is that the footwall must be of volcanic rock. In addition, one of the characteristic signs that one has hit a VMS deposit are sedimentary rocks, such as mudstone, which have turned into turbidites under the influence of volcanic processes, and poorly sorted conglomerates and breccias occurring in small areas. 

• These things, among others, were sought during the field exercise.

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