Target group:
MSc students who would like to do an MSc thesis project in ore geology or hydrothermal
geochemistry, want to work in the exploration or mining industry, or who take the specialization in
bedrock geology.
First year of MSc studies.
Aim
After completion of the course the student has general knowledge of hydrothermal geochemistry,
metal transport and deposition in hydrothermal systems.
Content
Properties of water and salty fluids at elevated temperatures and pressures, experimental
techniques in hydrothermal geochemistry, principles of mineral and gas solubility in aqueous
solutions, solubility of rock-forming minerals, speciation and transport of ore metals, systematics of
ore metal complexing in hydrothermal systems, essentials of fluid-rock equilibria, chemistry of
hydrothermal alteration, chemistry of ore precipitation mechanisms, stable isotope geochemistry of
hydrothermal systems, simple calculations with SUPCRT92.
Evaluation
Grading is based on the term paper assignment.
Teacher
Thomas Wagner
Previous studies:
BSc in Earth Sciences and Ore Geology (54106) are required.
Additional info:
Students who want to do an MSc thesis project in ore deposit geology or hydrothermal
geochemistry should have completed this course.
Course is entirely in English, including lectures and writing of the final term paper.
Course practices:
Mainly lectures.
Each student writes a term paper (about 10 pages) on a specific topic in hydrothermal geochemistry
Textbook:
Basic textbook: Barnes, H.L. (1997) Geochemistry of hydrothermal ore deposits. Third edition, John
Wiley and Sons, New York, 972 pp.