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Assuming the younger beds are at the top of the photo, these folded limestone beds form 2 anticline and one
syncline fold.

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Folding, Faulting and Mineralization

Posted by: Christopher Rawluk in Geology Basics, The Basics

On a smaller scale they can help identify planes of weakness and channels in
which fluids may have deposited economic minerals. On a larger scale they can
help the geologist to reconstruct the stresses that the rock has been exposed to
which may lead to other important regional or local structures.

Descriptions of an ore mineral deposit or project area often refer to geologic structures or features that
are important to the deposit. Indeed, we have often written about structurally controlled
mineralization in our mining company press release reviews. While hydrothermal activity and orebearing fluids are linked to most economic mineral deposits, the paths that these fluids take are
invariably the paths of least resistance: structural features like folds and faults.

So why should you care?

Mining companies will often refer to these structural features when describing their deposits. Here
are some examples from real mining company news releases:
drill intersected significant mineralization in the hanging
wall zone
hinge zone drilling encounters high grade gold
mineralization
encountered high-grade gold values in the upper limb portion
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of the fold structure

the axial plane of a large scale anticline fold axis which
plunges at a shallow angle to the north
High grade gold intersected in multiple holes along the strike
of the axial plane of the anticline continues to support our
geologic model
Some of these descriptions probably dont belong in a press
release, but geologists are often hesitant to over simplify in a
way that presents the data as inaccurate. Lets review the two
main structural features that may be described in a geologic
report or news release.

Faults
A fault is the displacement of rock due to fracturing and
movement along a plane. Large scale fault systems relating
to modern earthquakes are probably most familiar, but faults are
common features on large and small scales.

Three main fault types. Many

fault systems involve a
combination of movements
along multiple planes.

Tectonic activity along plate boundaries is the usual culprit for large scale structural features
creating large scale fault systems, folding and mountain belts. Many mineral deposits occur in
ancient terranes that are no longer tectonically active but include structural and geologic features
that reveal a more violent history.
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In very old terranes rock may be structurally deformed and metamorphosed by the high temperatures
and pressures exerted at depth.
The greenstone belts that host many mineral deposits in Canada and
Europe are deformed from these types of processes. Though the
deformation takes place deep within the crust, erosion and tectonic
activity may eventually expose these rocks at the surface.

A normal fault showing

the foot wall on the left
and the hanging wall on
the right.

Examples of fault-controlled mineralization include world-class gold

camps of Timmins, Ontario and Val dOr Quebec. Large scale fault
systems became channels for gold-bearing fluids through the region
creating many high-grade, high tonnage deposits.
Mineral deposit description will often refer to the hanging wall or
footwall zones relating to mineralizations. These terms refer to the
position of the rock in relation to the fault plane and are illustrated to

the left.
In structurally deformed terranes large and small scale folding and faulting will occur concurrently.

Folds
Much of the structural deformation that occurs within rock formations can be described as folding.
Folds may not be as readily apparent as in the photo included with this article: In fact, it is often only
through careful analysis of small scale rock textures such as mineral orientations or big-picture
geophysical anomalies can a fold structure be identified.
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In general terms, an anticline is a convex fold with the

youngest beds on the outside of the curve. A syncline
is is the opposite with the youngest beds on the
inside. But unless the relative ages of the folded rocks
can be determined, these labels cannot be used. The
various terms help geologists to describe the structure
accurately and in a standardized way, but the
descriptions can often be confusing. The diagram to
the right may help explain some of the terminology
related to structural folds
Ultimately fold structures are important for two
Geometry of a fold. Image CC
reasons. On a smaller scale they can help identify
planes of weakness and channels in which fluids may
have deposited economic minerals. On a larger scale they can help the geologist to reconstruct the
stresses that the rock has been exposed to which may lead to other important regional or local
structures.
Identifying a fold structure associated with mineralization can help the geologist plan new drill and
exploration targets.

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Tagged with:

FAULT

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FOLDING

MINERALIZATION

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STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY

ABOUT CHRISTOPHER RAWLUK

Christopher Rawluk holds degrees in both Geology and Environmental Science from the
University of Manitoba in Canada and has worked in both mineral and petroleum exploration. He
has been developing and publishing online for more than 15 years and is the President of
showtheplanet inc.

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