Apr 24 2014
Disseminated ore is an ore containing small particles of valuable minerals, spread quite uniformly throughout the host rock. Large, disseminated deposits form significant sources of ore, e.g. porphyry copper deposits.
The disseminated mineral deposit is a geological body, and mostly consists of metallic ore mineral in low concentrations. Many of these deposits contain very low ore grades, measuring just about a few ounces per ton, and these ore minerals are not visible to the naked eye. Although the concentrations are low, the deposits are profitable enough for mining projects, especially under the current market scenario.
Disseminated mineral deposits can be very large, with maximum dimensions measuring in the 10s of kilometers. They are formed by a number of geologic processes and, in most cases, contain very large amounts of ore. Gold, copper, molybdenum, and several other valuable metals have been discovered and mined from disseminated deposits.
The Carlin Trend in Nevada, USA, is a very good example of disseminated ore. In Australia, gold occurs in the following:
- Disseminated and stockwork gold-silver deposits in igneous bodies
- Disseminated gold-silver deposits in volcaniclastic and sedimentary beds
- Disseminated gold-silver and silver-gold occurrences in volcanic flows and related volcaniclastic rocks
Sources and Further Reading