GeologyRocks

It's only in italics in the preview. I realise now that is somewhat misleading and will change it.

"It's only in italics in the preview. I realise now that is somewhat misleading and will change it."

Good call... I toiled over that for a few minutes trying to get it to come out normally.

Any ideas on my question?

Thanks,

Afraid not, no. That's way beyond my area of knowledge

I think going from high pressure to low it goes:

Tin,

Copper,

Lead/Zinc,

Iron.

I dunno if that helps? :) 

in the andes mountain you can find metallogenetic belts parellel to the subduction zone. however, most metals would be transported in complexes like MeCl, or as Oxides. I dont have the time and papers where I am to explain this correctly. What I recommend is finding a book about mineral deposits and tectonics. There are some. I think in Evans or Hutchinsons you may find some examples. Not sure.

Thanks guys, 

Wow, that does complicate matters.

 So, perhaps if I figured out the density of all of the most common forms... and the temperature at which their oxides and hydroxides are stable... I might be able to sort it out.

 Looks like I'll need to hit a library.

I'm still not at home where I have my books and stuff. BUT I remember from my last exam that copper complexes will precipate from hydrothermal fluids at higher temperatures than zinc/lead complexes. Of course dependeng in vapor pressure, salinity and other chemical properties of the fluids.

Also, deposits of nickel or platinum are often magmatic in origin. you wont find many deposits of these that are worth mentioning and not magmatic. (except placers but thats a different story).

Wow, that is complex.  It's also pretty awesome.

Sounds like this is all much more intricate than any simple list could express.  Might be beyond my current abilities.

Do you think there would be any good ways to approximate it?  Maybe I could look at data from mining, and see how deep the average mine is for each major element, and figure it out from that?

Please excuse my slow answering. I am still travelling. Using your mine depth idea would be even more inaccurate than a list because mine depth is largely controlled by the local tectonics and how fast erosion has cut down towards a deposite. Try googling "plate tectonics" and "mineral deposits". it should provide a few, simple explainations.