Geochemistry of ore metals at very high temperatures

Most of the known resources of copper and gold, as well as other important metals such as molybdenum and silver, occur within young volcanic centers around the Pacific Rim. New data show that their formation was at much higher temperatures than generally realized, and importantly, directly from the gas phase released by sub-volcanic intrusions. This project focuses on the transport of metals in the sub-volcanic environment using advanced experimental and analytical techniques. These new data will open up new opportunities for exploration for new deposits based on advances in understanding of behaviour of volcanic gases rather than the much cooler hot water environments that have previously been assumed