The Role of Organic Matter in Ore Transport Processes

Hydrocarbons as ore fluids

“…For example, it has been suggested that hydrocarbons may have contributed to the transport of gold in the Carlin-type deposits in Nevada (Emsbo and Koenig, 2007) and to the mobilisation of metals in MVT deposits (Banks, 2014). These findings are in agreement with an earlier report that shows gold can substitute Ni in porphyrin-like structures, which are abundant in natural oils (Manning and Gize, 1993). It has also been proposed that uranium and titanium in the Witwatersrand deposits were mobilised and concentrated by liquid hydrocarbons (Fuchs et al, 2015).…”

Re–Os elemental and isotopic systematics in crude oils

“…The discovery that the asphaltene component of oil is the host for the majority of Re and Os represents the first direct knowledge of Re and Os partitioning in oil, and this behaviour is consistent with the association of other metals in oil (Manning and Gize, 1993). However, exactly how Re and Os are bound in oil is not known.…”

“…This is also the case for many metals due to the considerable lack of information on the speciation of metals in oil, with the exception of Ni and V (Manning and Gize, 1993); the latter are known to exist as metalloporphyrins (tetrapyrrole complexes) (Filby and Branthaver, 1987;Strong and Filby, 1987). Although the asphaltene component is known to be metal-rich, particularly in heavy oils, metalloporphyrins are not specific to either maltenes or asphaltenes (Filby and Branthaver, 1987;Manning and Gize, 1993). Theoretical calculations suggest that Re and Os are capable of forming stable porphyrin complexes (Buchler, 1975), and the existence of a Re porphyrin is likely in some organic-rich sediments, but not for Os (Miller, 2004).…”

“…Trace element abundances in oil, particularly Ni, V and Mo, are often present at the parts per million (ppm) level, (Curiale, 1987;Manning and Gize, 1993) and are known to exist as part of a porphyrin structure, as a tetrapyrrole complex (Filby and Van Berkel, 1987;Manning and Gize, 1993). In addition to these trace elements, rhenium (Re) and osmium (Os) have been reported to occur in oil, with abundances one to two orders of magnitude lower than Ni, V and Mo (parts [weight] per billion/trillion, [ppb/ppt]), respectively (Poplavko et al, 1975;Barre et al, 1995;Woodland et al, 2001;Selby and Creaser, 2005a,b;Selby et al, 2005).…”

Geochemistry of the sediment-hosted disseminated gold deposits in Southwestern Guizhou Province, China /

“…Of particular interest is the ubiquitous occurrence of organic matter in the Mississippi Valley type (MVT) Pb-Zn mineralization, in disseminated sandstone hosted uranium mineralization, and in the sediment hosted disseminated gold (or the Carlin-type) deposits. The roles of organic matter in metal transportation and deposition have been extensively reviewed by Disnar and Sureau (1990), Manning and Gize (1993), Landis and Gize (1997). Yang (1996) and Tu (1996) demonstrated the consistent temporal and spatial distribution of organic-rich strata and strata-bound deposits, and discussed the similarities and differences between oil-gas accumulations and reworked deposits of active elements.…”