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Epigenetic identification and geology

Describing a geological feature or mineral deposit that formed after the host rock was already in place, as opposed to syngenetic formed at the same time as the host rock . Epigenetic ore deposits include hydrothermal vein deposits, replacement deposits, and supergene enrichment zones. The term is important in economic geology for understanding the timing and genesis of mineralization. Field: economic geology. Example: The gold-bearing quartz veins at Kirkland Lake, Ontario, are epigenetic—they formed when gold-bearing hydrothermal fluids were injected into fractures in the pre-existing greenstone belt host rocks long after the host rocks were deposited.. Related terms: Syngenetic, Hydrothermal, Vein deposit, Replacement.

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Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:41.999576+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Epigenetic mean in geology?
Describing a geological feature or mineral deposit that formed after the host rock was already in place, as opposed to syngenetic formed at the same time as the host rock . Epigenetic ore deposits include hydrothermal vein deposits, replacement deposits, and supergene enrichment zones. The term is important in economic geology for understanding the timing and genesis of mineralization.
What is an example of Epigenetic?
The gold-bearing quartz veins at Kirkland Lake, Ontario, are epigenetic—they formed when gold-bearing hydrothermal fluids were injected into fractures in the pre-existing greenstone belt host rocks long after the host rocks were deposited.
Which earth-science field uses the term Epigenetic?
Epigenetic is used in economic geology.
Which terms are related to Epigenetic?
Related terms in this reference are Syngenetic, Hydrothermal, Vein deposit, Replacement.

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