Productive versus non-productive magmatic-hydrothermal systems: implications for associated mineral resource prospects, with particular focus on critical metal contents.

Project code: PN 23-39-02-05

Project manager: Dr. Viorica Milu

Description
Objectives
Results

Description

Over time, the Geological Institute of Romania (IGR) has made a major contribution to the discovery of mineral resources and the delineation of Romania’s reserves of useful mineral substances. This project aims to conduct research in the field of metalliferous mineral resources.
Globally, research into metalliferous mineral deposits has advanced significantly. Combining experimental research findings with results from multidisciplinary studies of magmatic-hydrothermal systems across the globe has yielded new data on the processes that led to the accumulation of valuable mineral resources.
The primary objective of this project is to identify mineralization indicators and criteria for distinguishing between productive and non-productive magmatic-hydrothermal systems, with a view to assessing the mineral resource potential of the studied areas.

Objectives

The implementation of this project aims to achieve the following objectives:

  • increasing the level of knowledge regarding Romania’s metalliferous mineral resources;
  • estimates regarding the critical metal content of the studied magmatic-hydrothermal systems;
  • obtaining metallogenic data useful for making decisions regarding the advisability of initiating prospecting or geological exploration activities in the studied areas;
  • estimates regarding the depth extent of mineralization in the areas covered by this study.

Multidisciplinary research comparing productive and non-productive magmatic-hydrothermal systems can reveal mineralization indicators that may be specific to a particular tectono-magmatic setting, with relevance at local, regional, or much broader scales.

Rezultate PN 23-39-02-05

  • Documentation regarding: the state of research in the project’s field of study; modern analysis techniques and methods used in the study of magmatic-hydrothermal systems;
  • Compilation and synthesis of data regarding magmatic-hydrothermal systems associated with Neogene and Laramian magmatic rocks in Romania;
  • Defining target areas for fieldwork activities;
  • Acquisition of field data from areas with Neogene/Laramide magmatic rocks—including geological observations, measurements, mapping, photography, and the collection of geological samples—which were subsequently studied and analyzed to gather information, particularly regarding hydrothermal processes and products associated with structures of interest;
  • Creation of graphical representations highlighting the relationships between the host rock of the mineralization and the gangue minerals, between alteration minerals and the mineralization, etc.;
  • Characterization of some magmatic-hydrothermal systems focusing on: magmatic-hydrothermal systems that generated epithermal deposits; magmatic-hydrothermal systems that generated porphyry copper deposits, accompanied or not by epithermal mineralizations with significant contents of metallic minerals;
  • By correlating the data accumulated to date, the aim was to obtain indications regarding the possible depth extension of mineralization within certain magmatic-hydrothermal structures;
  • Finalization of the manuscript and its submission for publication to an ISI-indexed (Clarivate Analytics) journal. The study highlights the mineralogy of metallic minerals and the crystal chemistry of sulfosalts from the Săcărâmb deposit. It reports, for the first time, the occurrence of thallium sulfosalts in this Au-Ag telluride deposit. Based on microscopic observations and chemical analyses of minerals within the sulfide-telluride-sulfosalt assemblages, the authors propose a new evolutionary model for the Săcărâmb deposit, thereby contributing to the characterization of the complex process dynamics that led to the formation of such a deposit.
  • Production of a paper presented at an international scientific event. The aim of the work was to highlight the importance of the geological and mining heritage of the Southern Apuseni Mountains.
Article published in an ISI-indexed journal (Clarivate Analytics):

Dincă George, Popescu C. Gheorghe, Topa Dan (2025). Decoding the mineralogy and geochemistry of sulfosalts in the Săcărâmb Au-Ag-Te ore deposit (Romania): Unveiling a fresh insight into the evolution of a complex hydrothermal system. Ore Geology Reviews, vol. 176, 106424, p. 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2024.106424;

Presentation at an international symposium:

Milu Viorica (2023). Geological and mining heritage of two historical mining localities (Romania). 48th Symposium of the International Commission of the History of the Geological Sciences (INHIGEO); Kraków (Poland); 31 July – 4 August 2023; Book of Abstracts and Tour Guide, p. 37; ISBN: 978-83-67807-33-3.