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Hydrothermal Alteration

  • Chapter
Hydrothermal Mineral Deposits

Abstract

Hydrothermal alteration is a very complex process involving mineralogical, chemical and textural changes, resulting from the interaction of hot aqueous fluids with the rocks through which they pass, under evolving physico-chemical conditions. Alteration can take place under magmatic subsolidus conditions by the action and infiltration of supercritical fluids into a rock mass. At lower temperature and pressure, exsolution of gas and aqueous phases constitute hydrothermal solutions which act on the surrounding rocks, producing changes as the result of disequilibrium, largely due to H+ and OH- and other volatile constituents (e.g. B, CO2, F).

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  1. Professor Dr. Franco Pirajno

    Present address: , 2/34 Kennedy Street, Maylands, 6051, Western Australia, Australia

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  1. Department of Geology Mineral Exploration, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, 6140, Grahmstown, South Africa

    Professor Dr. Franco Pirajno

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  1. Professor Dr. Franco Pirajno
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© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Pirajno, F. (1992). Hydrothermal Alteration. In: Hydrothermal Mineral Deposits. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75671-9_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75671-9_5

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