Asked by Micah Awisus on Apr 26, 2024
Verified
What process can enrich a copper deposit, perhaps making it profitable?
A) intense fracturing associated with meteoroid impacts, like at Sudbury
B) deposition of large amounts of quartz and calcite in the rock
C) dispersing the copper-rich grains by wind and water
D) leaching by weathering and redeposition at the water table
Copper Deposit
An area of the Earth's crust containing a significant amount of copper, making it economically viable to mine.
Leaching
The process by which soluble substances are washed out from soil or wastes by the action of flowing water.
Meteoroid Impacts
Collisions between a meteoroid (space rock) and Earth, which can cause craters and have significant geological and biological effects.
- Understand the geologic procedures leading to the establishment of specific mineral deposits, notably copper, lead-zinc, and iron ore.
Verified Answer
KT
Khethani ThandoApr 29, 2024
Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
Leaching by weathering and redeposition at the water table can enrich a copper deposit by removing less soluble materials and concentrating copper minerals, potentially making the deposit more profitable to mine. This process, known as supergene enrichment, often occurs in the oxidation zone above the water table, where copper can be precipitated from solution as higher-grade ores.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the geologic procedures leading to the establishment of specific mineral deposits, notably copper, lead-zinc, and iron ore.