This investigation will include determination of the relevant hydraulic and physical characteristics of the carbonate host rocks and the stratigraphic environment. Field work will be conducted to measure fracture densities and orientations for input to a numerical model of flow through fracture networks. These data and fracture flow estimates will then be applied to a numerical model to simulate flow of mineralizing fluids and heat in the area of ore mineralization. Flow patterns and temperature distributions established with this flow model will then be used with a chemical speciation model to simulate zones of ore and gangue mineral precipitation. The model will be used to test several postulated ore transport and emplacement mechanisms. Results of this research will help validate or constrain hypotheses on the formation of the Upper Mississippi Valley ore deposits, as well as Mississippi Valley-Type deposits in general.
