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Bringing the scientific and economic geology communities together as part of the
Subduction Zone Observatory
Philipp Ruprecht (University of Nevada, Reno), Adrian Fiege (American Museum of Natural
History), John Muntean (University of Nevada, Reno), Adam Simon (University of Michigan)
Subduction zones are important tectonic settings for the formation of hydrothermal and other ore
deposits, which are the source of most of the world’s copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, and other
metals. Here, the interplay of magmatism, crustal evolution, and fluid flow control the formation
of precious and base metal deposits that are embedded in the very fabric of modern society. In
recent years a plethora of new and exciting ideas for mass transfer and advection of metals from
the mantle through the crust have emerged, leading to a stronger interaction of applied research in
convergent margins and economic geology. Yet, these fields still have a surprising disconnect.
Resulting from the ever-increasing instrumentation capabilities, unprecedented details of the
physico-chemical pathways and processes of magmas, fluids, and metal deposition are currently
being discovered. This is especially important as the depth of cover for undiscovered ore deposits
increases. These pathways and processes are not just relevant for economic geology, but also bear
on alteration/metasomatism and metamorphism in the crust and mantle as well as the sub-surface
evolution of volcanic and plutonic systems. They are closely tied to the tectonic evolution of arc
crust (e.g., the effects of crustal thickening, and evolution of brittle fractures that serve as
conduits for magmas and ore fluids) and the overall magma production rate (e.g., magmatic flareups).
Thus, under the support of a Subduction Zone Observatory where interdisciplinary research is
front and center, the barriers between economic geology and other disciplines could further be
eroded, deepening our understanding of:
1) The role of juvenile, mantle-derived magmas and how they deliver volatile elements to
volcanic systems where they control, for example, eruptive behavior, but also to the crust
in general where the volatiles act as an agent for metal transport, fractionation, and
deposition.
2) The diversity of redox states within the arc system as the mobility of ore metals and
ligands such as sulfur are particularly sensitive to changing redox conditions.
3) The links between magmatism and tectonic evolution; again, where additional constraints
can arise from spatial and temporal patterns of different types of magmatic-hydrothermal
ore deposits along given arcs.
The Subduction zone observatory initiative is actively seeking national and international
partnerships that provide synergies in, for example, data acquisition, network maintenance, and
science output. We therefore suggest that the community should broaden these partnerships to the
mineral exploration industry, taking advantage especially of the extensive geological,
geochemical and geophysical data, the scientific expertise, and field knowledge that these
partners can provide.