Magmatic-hydrothermal systems in Tuscany: crustal processes, ore deposits and geothermics

November 25-26th 2014

Kalin Kouzmanov, collaborateur scientifique, Section des sciences de la Terre et de l'environnement, Université de Genève

Andrea Dini, senior researcher at Istituto di Geoscienze et Georisorse (IGG) of CNR in Pisa, Italy

Tuscany is a mining region for iron, pyrite, base metals, silver, antimony, mercury as well as industrial minerals and super-heated steam. Most of these resources are strictly related to fossil and active hydrothermal systems, triggered by Tertiary magmatic activity. Post-collisional extensional tectonics of Northern Apennines (Tuscany), driven by the eastward roll-back of the Adriatic Plate, induced a significant thinning of the continental crust (22 km), asthenosphere upwelling and a widespread heat flux anomaly. Since 8.5 Ma, optimum conditions for the production of crustal melts, and their transfer/emplacement at shallow crustal levels (peraluminous granites and rhyolites), were reached in the Tuscan crust. The progressive eastward migration of the magmatic activity was responsible for the sequential activation of hydrothermal systems now recorded in a large variety of ore deposits. The course will include a lecture part on all the aspects of the magmatic-hydrothermal systems including field data, mineralogy and geochemistry, as well as a practical part providing raw data (geological maps, drill logs, geophysical logs, rocks, thin sections, geochemical and isotopic data, etc.) for a re-processing and re-interpretation of well-studied areas/outcrops/samples and establishing discussions rounds between teachers and students

Université de Genève, 25/11 (room 606), 26/11 (room 203)

Link to detailed description and flyer of the course.

30