Paragenesis is a petrologic concept meaning an equilibrium assemblage of mineral phases. In Geology, petrology (from Greek πέτρα petra, rock and λόγος logos, knowledge is the study of rocks and the conditions on which It is used in studies of igneous and metamorphic rock genesis and importantly in studies of the hydrothermal deposition of ore minerals and the rock alteration (vein metasomatism) associated with ore mineral deposits. Igneous rocks (etymology from Latin ignis, fire are rocks formed by solidification of cooled Magma (molten rock Metamorphic rock is the result of the transformation of an existing rock type the protolith, in a process called Metamorphism, which means "change Hydrothermal circulation in its most general sense is the circulation of hot water 'hydros' in the Greek meaning water and 'thermos' meaning heat An ore is a volume of rock containing components or Minerals in a mode of occurrence that renders it valuable for mining In Geology, a vein is a finite volume within a rock, having a distinct shape filled with Crystals of one or more Minerals which were precipitated Metasomatism is the chemical alteration of a rock by Hydrothermal and other fluids The concept and application of paragenesis, from the Greek for born beside, was first applied by August Breithaupt in 1849 in his work Die Paragenesis der Mineralien. Johann Friedrich August Breithaupt (May 16 1791 - September 22 1873 was a German Mineralogist and professor at Freiberg Mining Academy in Freiberg Saxony
The paragenetic sequence in mineral formation is an important concept in deciphering the detailed geologic history of ore deposits and metamorphic events. The sequence is worked out through detailed microscopic studies in polished ore mineral section, petrologic thin section and fluid inclusion studies as well as macroscopic field relations. In Optical mineralogy and Petrography, a thin section is a Laboratory preparation of a rock, Mineral or Soil sample for Fluid inclusions are microscopic bubbles of liquid and gas that are trapped within Crystals As Minerals often form from a liquid or aqueous medium tiny Blebs
References
- Guilbert, John M. and Charles F. Park, 1986, The Geology of Ore Deposits, pp. 210-217, Freeman, ISBN 0-7167-1456-6
- Klein, Cornelis and Cornelius Hurlbut, Jr. (1985) Manual of Mineralogy, Wiley, 20th ed. , ISBN 0-471-80580-7
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