What is a paragenesis in mineralogy ?
Paragenesis : definition
A paragenesis is an association of minerals sharing the same origin, and resulting from the same geological and/or geochemical processes.
This term paragenesis is mainly used to designate the associations of minerals in magmatic or metamorphic rocks (paragenesis with quartz - garnet - sillimanite), as well as that of metalliferous deposits (paragenesis with sphalerite - pyrite - galena).
This definition implies a balance between the minerals of a paragenesis and therefore the synchronism of their deposition. It excludes associations resulting from the superimposition of several geological events. Nevertheless, current usage tends to extend this definition to transitional associations that have not yet reached this state of equilibrium (paragenesis of oxidation with pyrite - goethite - hematite).
This term paragenesis is mainly used to designate the associations of minerals in magmatic or metamorphic rocks (paragenesis with quartz - garnet - sillimanite), as well as that of metalliferous deposits (paragenesis with sphalerite - pyrite - galena).
This definition implies a balance between the minerals of a paragenesis and therefore the synchronism of their deposition. It excludes associations resulting from the superimposition of several geological events. Nevertheless, current usage tends to extend this definition to transitional associations that have not yet reached this state of equilibrium (paragenesis of oxidation with pyrite - goethite - hematite).