How Hydrothermal Breccia-Hosted Gossans Form

How Hydrothermal Breccia-Hosted Gossans Form

Hydrothermal breccia-hosted gossans form when sulphide-rich rocks fracture, weather, and oxidise near the surface, leaving behind colourful, iron-stained zones enriched with secondary minerals. These vibrant crusts are more than just geological curiosities—they’re rich records of past fluid flow, redox changes, and mineral transformation.

Gossans: Rusty Clues to Hidden Ore Beneath the Surface

Gossans: Rusty Clues to Hidden Ore Beneath the Surface

Gossans are the weathered remains of sulfide-rich ore bodies—natural “iron hats” that form when oxygen and water transform underground metal ores into iron-stained, mineral-rich surface rocks. These rusty outcrops not only reveal Earth’s geochemical story but often lead to valuable discoveries hidden just below.

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