 Sedimentary exhalative deposits

Sedimentary exhalative deposits (SedEx deposits) are ore deposits which are interpreted to have been formed by release of ore-bearing hydrothermal fluids into a water reservoir (usually the ocean), resulting in the precipitation of stratiform ore.

SedEx deposits are the most important source of lead, zinc and barite, a major contributor of silver, copper, gold, bismuth and tungsten.The palaeoenvironmental and palaeogeologic setting of these ore deposits sets them apart from other lead, zinc or tungsten deposits which generally do not share the same "source" or "trap" morphologies as SedEx deposits.