Genetic model of the El Laco magnetite-apatite deposits by extrusion of iron-rich melt
Genetic model of the El Laco magnetite-apatite deposits by extrusion of iron-rich melt
Magnetite-apatite deposits are important sources of iron and other metals. A prominent example are the magnetite lavas at the El Laco volcano, Northern Chile. Their formation processes remain debated. Here, we test the genetic hypothesis that an Fe-rich melt separated from silicate magma and ascended along collapse-related fractures. We complement recent analyses with thermodynamic modelling to corroborate Fe-Si liquid immiscibility evident in melt inclusions at El Laco and present viscometry of Fe- and Si-rich melts to assess the time and length scales of immiscible liquid separation. Using a rock deformation model, we demonstrate that volcano collapse can form failure zones extending towards the edifice flanks along which the ore liquid ascends towards extrusion driven by vapour exsolution despite its high density. Our results support the proposed magmatic genesis for the El Laco deposits. Geochemical and textural similarities indicate magnetite-apatite deposits elsewhere form by similar processes.
Keller, Tobias
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Tornos, Fernando
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Hanchar, John M.
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Pietruszka, Dorota K.
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Soldati, Arianna
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Dingwell, Donald B.
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Suckale, Jenny
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Keller, Tobias
d8dfcfa5-89d1-4203-aa2d-8c142c00a169
Tornos, Fernando
1b94fae8-7bd9-4753-8ddd-3fb312a56199
Hanchar, John M.
79b951ef-790b-4734-8238-a11ea05ae998
Pietruszka, Dorota K.
20c19747-c689-4312-9025-7a38c245c78e
Soldati, Arianna
d0431afd-b317-4600-8f81-aa87efd4cb41
Dingwell, Donald B.
91b63328-2d04-4e85-b9d5-f79966321043
Suckale, Jenny
2f422629-845e-4186-bf3a-c00dd1a417d6
Keller, Tobias, Tornos, Fernando and Hanchar, John M.
,
et al.
(2022)
Genetic model of the El Laco magnetite-apatite deposits by extrusion of iron-rich melt.
Nature Communications, 13, [6114].
(doi:10.1038/s41467-022-33302-z).
Abstract
Magnetite-apatite deposits are important sources of iron and other metals. A prominent example are the magnetite lavas at the El Laco volcano, Northern Chile. Their formation processes remain debated. Here, we test the genetic hypothesis that an Fe-rich melt separated from silicate magma and ascended along collapse-related fractures. We complement recent analyses with thermodynamic modelling to corroborate Fe-Si liquid immiscibility evident in melt inclusions at El Laco and present viscometry of Fe- and Si-rich melts to assess the time and length scales of immiscible liquid separation. Using a rock deformation model, we demonstrate that volcano collapse can form failure zones extending towards the edifice flanks along which the ore liquid ascends towards extrusion driven by vapour exsolution despite its high density. Our results support the proposed magmatic genesis for the El Laco deposits. Geochemical and textural similarities indicate magnetite-apatite deposits elsewhere form by similar processes.
Text
s41467-022-33302-z
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Accepted/In Press date: 12 September 2022
e-pub ahead of print date: 17 October 2022
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Local EPrints ID: 488372
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/488372
ISSN: 2041-1723
PURE UUID: e610f924-7f92-49ed-905d-2377880d8980
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Date deposited: 21 Mar 2024 17:32
Last modified: 22 Mar 2024 03:09
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Contributors
Author:
Tobias Keller
Author:
Fernando Tornos
Author:
John M. Hanchar
Author:
Dorota K. Pietruszka
Author:
Arianna Soldati
Author:
Donald B. Dingwell
Author:
Jenny Suckale
Corporate Author: et al.
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