Abstract
If the chalcophile and siderophile metals are arranged in order of their melting points, they fall into temperature groups very similar to those found in ore deposits. The oxyphile (lithophile) metals are not so easily associated on the basis of melting point. The minerals in which the sulfophile elements occur are characterized by metallic or covalent bonds, whereas the oxyphile elements occur in minerals in which ionic bonding predominates. It appears that, where metallic or covalent bonding is most important, the melting point of an element is an index of the temperature at which that element may begin to move or cease to move; possibly it is an index of the temperature at which appreciable dissociation of sulphides occurs, thus allowing atomic diffusion to take place.The relationship appears to suggest an alternative to the "hydrothermal solution" theory of ore genesis.Temperature zoning, metal associations and the degree of concentration of various metals in ore deposits as compared with the quantities of the metals present in the crust, are examined in relation to these facts and ideas.The genesis of a number of well-known ore deposits is re-examined.
