Volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposits or VMS are a type of metal sulfide ore deposit, mainly Cu-Zn, associated with certain types of volcanism. These deposits are currently being formed by hydrothermal geological processes along submarine divergent margins: mid-ocean ridges and back arc rifts. The sulfurous plumes called black smokers deposit a variety of metal sulfides as the hot hydrothermal solutions meet and mix with deep ocean water. Massive sulfide ore deposits in ancient terranes are the product of this process in the past. Many lead, copper, and zinc sulfide ores are of this type. This article is about volcanoes in geology. ... Hydrothermal circulation in the oceans is the passage of the water through mid-ocean Ridge (MOR) systems. ... Geology (from Greek γη- (ge-, the earth) and λογος (logos, word, reason)) is the science and study of the Earth, its composition, structure, physical properties, history, and the processes that shape it. ... An oceanic ridge is an underwater mountain range, usually formed by plate tectonics. ... A black smoker in the Atlantic Ocean Black smokers are a type of hydrothermal vent found on the ocean floor. ... Lead - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic brown Atomic mass 63. ... Jump to: navigation, search General Name, Symbol, Number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Atomic mass 65. ...

The majority of world deposits are small, with about 80% of known deposits in the range 0.1-10 Mt. Examples of VMS deposits are Kidd Creek, Ontario, Canada, and Rio Tinto, Spain. Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Area 1,076,395 km² (4th) Land 917,741 km² Water 158,654 km² (14. ... NASA photograph of Rio Tinto River. ...

The mineralogy of VMS deposits consists of over 90% iron sulfide, mainly in the form of pyrite, with chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena also being major constituents. Magnetite is present in minor amounts; as magnetite content increases, the ores grade into massive oxide deposits. The gangue (the uneconomic waste material) is mainly quartz. Due to the high density of the deposits some have marked gravity anomalies (Neves-Corvo, Portugal) which is of use in exploration. Mineralogy is an earth science that involves the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals. ... The mineral pyrite, or iron pyrite, is iron disulfide, FeS2. ... Chalcopyrite is a copper iron sulfide mineral that crystallizes in the tetragonal system. ... Sphalerite sample Another sphalerite sample Sphalerite (ZnS) is a mineral that is the chief ore of zinc. ... Galena is a lead ore. ... Magnetite is a ferromagnetic mineral form of iron(II,III) oxide, with chemical formula , one of several iron oxides and a member of the spinel group. ... Quartz is the most abundant mineral in the Earths continental crust. ...

VMS deposits may be either bowl-shaped or mound-shaped. The bowl-shaped formations formed due to venting of hydrothermal solutions into submarine depressions. The mound-shaped deposits formed in a way similar to that of modern massive sulfide deposits - via collapse of a blacksmoker chimney.