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pnocrssess
OF FoRMATION OF MINERAL DEPoSITS
orthotectic and orthomagmatic. These deposits
have been formed by (l) simple crystallization with-
out concentration, (2) segregation of early formed
crystals, and (3) injections of materials concen-
trated elsewhere by differentiation. The ore min-
erals have crystallized earlier than the rock silicates
and in part presumably have separated by crystal-
lization differentiation.
Dissemination. Simple crystallization of a deep-
seated magma in situ will yield a granular igneous
rock in u'hich early formed crystals may be dissem-
inated throughout it. If such crystals are valuable
and abundant, the result is a magmatic mineral de-
posit. The whole rock mass, or a part of it, may
cons,litute the deposit, and the individual crystals
may or may not be phenocrysts.
The diamond pipes of South Africa are examples.
The diamonds are sparsely disseminated through-
out kimberlite rock and the whole kimberlite pipe
is the mineral deposit. The diamonds are pheno-
crysts, and in this example, as far as knou'n, they
crystallized in a former deep magma chamber and
\r,ere transported u'ith the encios[ng magma and
perhaps even continued to grow before final con-
solidation occurred in the present pipes. The dis-
seminated corun,ium in nepheline syenite in On-
tario is another example.
The resulting deposits of this class have the shape
of the intrusive, s'hich may be a dike, pipe, or small
stocklike mass. Their size is large in comparison
with most mineral deposits.
The same process may also yield noncommercial
bodies of valuable minerals which, however, may
undergo later concentration by mechanical or resid-
ual processes to yield economic placers or residual
concentrations. Placer deposits of ilmenite. mona-
zite. and some gemstones are examples.
Segregation. The term segregatiott has often been
ioosely used to designate magmatic deposits as con-
trasted u'ith those formed by solutions or other
means. In the sense here used. however. following
the original meaning, it is restricted to concentra-
tions of earl1, crystallizing minerals in place and is
to be distinguished from an injectiott, where the
differentiate has undergone a change in position
before consolidation. Early magmatic segregations
are earl1, concentrations of valuable constituents of
the magma that have taken place as a result of
gravitative crystallization differentiation. Conse-
quently, they have often been referred to as
"liquid
magmatic." Such constituents as chromite may
crystallize early and become segregated in bodies
of sufficient size and richness to constitute eco-
nomic deposits. The segregation may take place by
the sinking of heavy early formed crystals to the
lower part of the magma chamber, by marginal ac-
cumulation, or by constrictional flowage, as ex-
plained by Balk.
The early demonstration of magmatic ore depos-
its at Taberg by Sjogren, T6rnebohm, and
Igelstrom, and their later establishment by J. H. L.
Vogt'in l89l to 189:l led to the conclusion that all
magmatic ore deposits were segregations formed as
described above. Then it was found that iri many
deposils, pa(icularly those of iron, the ore minerals
were later than the silicates and, therefore, could
not have originated by the separation of early
formed crystals. This led to a restudy of certain
Adirondack titaniferous magnetite deposits which,
since the work of Kemp in 1897, had been consid-
ered type examples of segregations. The work was
undertaken by F. F. Osborne, who found that those
deposits are injections and not segregations and are
either concordant or discordant with the primary
structure of the host rock. He found that the ore
minerals ari definitely later than the silicares and,
therefore. could not be segregations of early crys-
tals.
The restudy of other magnetite deposits has led
to similar conclusions, and today few representa-
tives of early magmatic segregations, as defined
above, remain. Perhaps some of these will prove to
be injections instead of segregations; others may
prove to be late magmatic deposits.
Chromite deposits have long been considered un-
impeachable illustrations of early magmatic segre-
gation. Field and microscopic evidence restify that
in many places this is the case. However, Diller; J.
T. Singeu'ald. Jr.; Sampson; C. S. Ross; E. Cam-
eron; and others cite evidence of some late mag-
matic or even hydrothermal chromite. Similarly,
several magmatic ilmenite deposits, long consid-
ered typical early segregations, have been shown
to be late magmatic. Some nickeliferous sulfide de-
posits u,ere also thought to be early magmatic seg-
regations, but the sulfides are now known to be
later than the silicates and, therefore, cannot be
considered as early magmatic. They are either late
magmatic or hydrothermal.
Few new deposits have been added to the class
of early magmatic segregations. Many have been
removed and few remain. It is probable that with
further detailed work even more ex:rmples will be