Mantle plumes, associated intraplate tectono-magmatic processes and ore systems

Abstract

Intraplate tectonic and magmatic phenomena are linked to deep mantle plumes and asthenospheric upwellings. Resulting magmas, which include layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions, sill complexes, continental and oceanic flood lavas, giant dyke swarms and anorogenic A-type granitic rocks, are responsible, directly or indirectly, for a large number of intraplate and anorogenic ore systems. These ore systems can be considered in terms of 1) magma-associated, such as orthomagmatic Ni-Cu-PGE, Cr in mafic-ultramafic rocks and magmatic-hydrothermal ore systems in anorogenic A-type magmas (e. g. greisen Sn-W, Fe oxide-Cu-Au); and 2) hydrothermal systems powered by the large thermal energy that results from the emplacement of plume-derived melts into the crust. These hydrothermal ore systems include low-S epithermal, porphyry, VMS and Carlin style deposits.