An international study has uncovered new pathways to future copper deposits by cracking the code to the metal’s origins that could reshape the future of copper mining.
Released as part of the “High Grade Hypogene Copper” initiative that includes partners like BHP, the University of Western Australia and the University of Bristol, its just been published in Nature Geoscience.
The study proposes a new model for the formation of large copper deposits by looking at the formation of copper deposits beneath volcanic chains where tectonic plates converge, a process known as flat slab subduction
The phenomenon causes the sinking plate to heat up and release fluids, which then percolate into the overlying plate, melting it and channeling copper and other metals upwards to form ore deposits.
By identifying areas where flat slab subduction has occurred in the past copper can be discovered and potentially mined, a powerful new tool in the constant search for new copper deposits globally to help fuel decarbonisation and electrification.
The University of Western Australia—UAW—has also developed a way to precisely date copper deposits using radiometric lasers. The new technique, which is now being implemented at UWA, allows researchers to link copper deposits to specific geological events, providing a clearer understanding of their formation.
The collaborative international effort was “a testament to the power of innovative research and its potential to drive sustainable resource development,” the researchers said.
Detail: https://www.uwa.edu.au/news/article/2024/november/cracking-the-code-to-coppers-fiery-origins