Distribution and occurrence of some naturally‐occurring polytypes of molybdenite in Australia and Papua New Guinea

156 samples of naturally‐occurring molybdenite from 87 localities in Australia have been examined to determine the distribution of the hexagonal (2H₁) and rhombohedral (3R) polytypes. 90% of the specimens examined are 2H₁ polytypes, the remainder being 3R and mixtures of 2H₁ and 3R polytypes. The 3R and mixed polytypes are more abundant in porphyry copper deposits or as disseminations, in veins, and in garnet‐quartz pipes in granite. 2H₁ polytypes are the sole modification observed in pegmatites, quart‐pegmatite pipes, simple quartz veins, and skarns.

The highest average concentrations of rhenium are in molybdenite from porphyry copper deposits, quartz porphyry pipes, skarn deposits, garnet‐quartz pipes, and pegmatites. Low concentrations occur in molybdenite which is disseminated or in quartz veins in granite and in quartz or pegmatitic pipes. Molybdenites in which the 2H₁ polytype is dominant have a lower average rhenium content than those with dominant 3R polytype.     

Typomorphic Characteristics of Molybdenite from the Bystrinsky Cu–Au Porphyry–Skarn Deposit,Eastern Transbaikal Region,Russia

The paper presents pioneering data on the composition, texture, and crystal structure of molybdenite from various types of molybdenum mineralization at the Bystrinsky Cu–Au–Fe porphyry–skarn deposit in the eastern Transbaikal region, Russia. The data were obtained using electron microprobe analysis (EMPA), laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Molybdenite found at the deposit in skarn, sulfide-poor quartz veins, and quartz–feldspar alteration markedly differs in the concentrations of trace elements determined by their species in the mineral, as well as in its structural features. Molybdenite-2H from skarn associated with phyllosilicates occurs as ultrafine crystals with uniform shape and texture; no dislocations or inclusions were found but amorphous silica was. The molybdenite composition is highly contrasting in the content and distribution of both structure-related (Re, W, and Se) and other (Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Cd, Sb, Te, Ag, Pd, Au, Hg, Pb, and Bi) metals. In the sulfide-poor quartz veins, highly structurally heterogeneous (2H + 3R) molybdenite microcrystals with abundant defects (dislocations and volumetrically distributed inclusions) are associated with illite, goethite, and barite. Some single crystals are unique three-phase (2H + 3R polytypes + amorphous MoS₂). The mineral has a low concentration of all trace elements, which are uniformly distributed. However, individual domains with uniquely high Pd, Te, Ni, Hg, and W concentrations caused by mineral inclusions are found in some grains. Molybdenite from quartz–feldspar alteration is characterized by low concentrations of all trace elements except for Re and Se, which enrich some domains of the grains. Our data indicate that the compositional and structural heterogeneity of molybdenite from the Bystrinsky deposit are its crucial features, which obviously correlate with the types of Mo mineralization.     

一种酸淋滤成因的含钼石英脉——来自小秦岭北矿带大湖-秦南矿区的证据

大湖-秦南钼矿床位于小秦岭金矿田北矿带,属于东秦岭钼钨成矿带小秦岭-外方山成矿亚带。其矿床类型为含钼石英脉型,与小秦岭北矿带含金石英脉空间上伴生。根据野外地质观察、PIMA测试等结果,对大湖-秦南含钼石英脉的产出、矿石结构构造、蚀变特征进行了研究。含钼石英脉为奶白色,易碎,发育蜂窝状、团块状、角砾状构造。角砾成分为太华群片麻岩角砾、细脉状浸染状辉钼矿化的中生代花岗斑岩角砾等。蚀变有钾化、硅化、绢云母化、高岭土化以及硬石膏化等。根据野外地质特征,蚀变可分为早期钾化+硅化+绢云母化+黄铁矿化+辉钼矿化,晚期为硅化+高岭土化+硬石膏化等。含钼石英脉中的围岩角砾或多或少地发育高岭土化。辉钼矿化主要充填于石英脉的裂隙和蜂窝中。根据包裹体显微测温数据推测含钼石英脉的成矿温度为134～463℃。含钼石英脉中的δ18 O石英值为10.7‰～11.5‰,δDH2O为-96‰～-110‰;这一特征反映了既有岩浆水,也有变质水和天水的参入,高岭土δ18 O为0.1‰～2.3‰,反映了热液成因。黄铁矿δ34S值为-5.778‰～-7.841‰,以富含轻硫为特征,反映了其形成时有生物硫参入。在此基础上,通过区域地质分析,讨论了高岭土化的成因,进而认为大湖-秦南含钼石英脉很可能是与秦岭造山带在245～211Ma全面陆陆碰撞过程有关的花岗斑岩侵位形成的斑岩型钼矿体,在后期金矿形成时,在酸性热液淋滤下进一步富集。     

Geology, Geochemistry, and Genesis of the Tongcun Reduced Porphyry Mo (Cu) Deposit, NW Zhejiang Province, China

The Tongcun Mo(Cu) deposit in Kaihua city of Zhejiang Province,eastern China,occurs in and adjacent to the Songjiazhuang granodiorite porphyry and is a medium-sized and important porphyry type ore deposit.Two irregular Mo(Cu) orebodies consist of various types of hydrothermal veinlets.Intensive hydrothermal alteration contains skarnization,chloritization,carbonatization,silicification and sericitization.Based on mineral assemblages and crosscutting relationships,the oreforming processes are divided into five stages,i.e.,the early stage of garnet + epidote ± chlorite associated with skarnization and K-feldspar + quartz ± molybdenite veins associated with potassicsilicic alteration,the quartz-sulfides stage of quartz + molybdenite ± chalcopyrite ± pyrite veins,the carbonatization stage of calcite veinlets or stockworks,the sericite + chalcopyrite ± pyrite stage,and the late calcite + quartz stage.Only the quartz-bearing samples in the early stage and in the quartzsulfides stage are suitable for fluid inclusions(FIs) study.Four types of FIs were observed,including1) CO_2-CH_4 single phase FIs,2) CO_2-bearing two- or three-phase FIs,3) Aqueous two-phase FIs,and4) Aqueous single phase FIs.FIs of the early stages are predominantly CO_2- and CH_4-rich FIs of the CO_2-CH4-H_2O-NaCl system,whereas minerals in the quartz-sulfides stage contain CO_2-rich FIs of the CO_2-H_2O-NaCl system and liquid-rich FIs of the H_2O-NaCl system.For the CO_2-CH_4 single phase FIs of the early mineralization stage,the homogenization temperatures of the CO_2 phase range from 15.4 ℃ to 25.3 ℃(to liquid),and the fluid density varies from 0.7 g/cm~3 to 0.8 g/cm~3;for two- or three-phase FIs of the CO_2-CH_4-H_2O-NaCl system,the homogenization temperatures,salinities and densities range from 312℃ to 412℃,7.7 wt%NaCl eqv.to 10.9 wt%NaCl eqv.,and 0.9 g/cm~3 to 1.0 g/cm~3,respectively.For CO_2-H_2O-NaCI two- or threephase FIs of the quartz-sulfides stage,the homogenization temperatures and salinities range from255℃ to 418℃,4.8 wt%NaCl eqv.to 12.4 wt%NaCl eqv.,respectively;for H_2O-NaCl two-phase FIs,the homogenization temperatures range from 230 ℃ to 368 ℃,salinities from 11.7 wt%NaCl eqv.to16.9 wt%NaCl eqv.,and densities from 0.7 g/cm~3 to 1.0 g/cm~3.Microthermometric measurements and Laser Raman spectroscopy analyses indicate that CO_2 and CH_4 contents and reducibility(indicated by the presence of CH_4) of the fluid inclusions trapped in quartz-sulfides stage minerals are lower than those in the early stage.Twelve molybdenite separates yield a Re-Os isochron age of 163 ± 2.4 Ma,which is consistent with the emplacement age of the Tongcun,Songjiazhuang,Dayutang and Huangbaikeng granodiorite porphyries.The S18OSMow values of fluids calculated from quartz of the quartz-sulfides stage range from 5.6‰ to 8.6‰,and the JDSMOw values of fluid inclusions in quartz of this stage range from-71.8‰ to-88.9‰,indicating a primary magmatic fluid source.534SV-cdt values of sulfides range from+1.6‰ to +3.8‰,which indicate that the sulfur in the ores was sourced from magmatic origins.Phase separation is inferred to have occurred from the early stage to the quartz-sulfides stage and resulted in ore mineral precipitation.The characteristics of alteration and mineralization,fluid inclusion,sulfur and hydrogen-oxygen isotope data,and molybdenite Re-Os ages all suggest that the Tongcun Mo(Cu) deposit is likely to be a reduced porphyry Mo(Cu) deposit associated with the granodiorite porphyry in the Tongcun area.     

小秦岭车仓峪钼矿成因研究:辉钼矿Re-Os年龄及黄铁矿微量元素制约

车仓峪钼矿位于小秦岭中生代娘娘山花岗岩体与太华群基底的接触带内,矿体发育在由一组X节理控制的石英脉内。本文对车仓峪钼矿开展了辉钼矿Re-Os定年以及黄铁矿微量元素LA-ICP-MS原位分析工作。所得辉钼矿Re-Os模式年龄为133.8±4.3Ma和132.7±2.2Ma,表明车仓峪钼矿的成矿年龄为早白垩世,与娘娘山岩体的成岩年龄一致。辉钼矿样品的Re含量较低,为83×10-6和86×10-6,指示了成矿物质可能来源于I型花岗岩——娘娘山花岗岩。对与辉钼矿共生的黄铁矿进行LA-ICP-MS微量元素原位分析,发现黄铁矿中Ni含量低(4.5×10-6~76.1×10-6,平均17.4×10-6),表明其来源应该是酸性岩,也就是其围岩娘娘山花岗岩。综合辉钼矿定年以及黄铁矿微量元素分析结果,车仓峪钼矿应该是早白垩世娘娘山花岗岩侵位时,由岩浆冷凝分异出的成矿流体充填和交代围岩形成。同时,小秦岭燕山期Mo矿化并不伴随Au矿化,结合已有资料,从侧面说明燕山期可能并不是小秦岭金的主成矿期。     

Fluid evolution of the Yuchiling porphyry Mo deposit,East Qinling,China

The Yuchiling Mo deposit, East Qinling, China, belongs to a typical porphyry Mo system associated with high-K calc-alkaline intrusions. The pure CO₂ (PC), CO₂-bearing (C), aqueous H₂O-NaCl (W), and daughter mineral-bearing (S) fluid inclusions were observed in the hydrothermal quartz. Based on field investigations, petrographic, microthermometric and LA-ICP-MS studies of fluid inclusions, we develop a five-stage fluid evolution model to understand the ore-forming processes of the Yuchiling deposit. The earliest barren quartz ± potassic feldspar veins, developed in intensively potassic alteration, were crystallized from carbonic-dominant fluids at high temperature (> 416 °C) and high pressure (> 133 MPa). Following the barren quartz ± potassic feldspar veins are quartz-pyrite veins occasionally containing minor K-feldspar and molybdenite, which were formed by immiscible fluids at pressures of 47–159 MPa and temperatures of 360–400 °C. The fluids were characterized by high CO₂ contents (approximately 8 mol%) and variable salinities, as well as the highest Mo contents that resulted in the development of quartz-molybdenite veins. The quartz-molybdenite veins, accounting for > 90% Mo in the orebody, were also formed by immiscible fluids with lower salinity and lower CO₂ content of 7 mol%, at temperatures of 340–380 °C and pressures of 39–137 MPa, as constrained by fluid inclusion assemblages. After the main Mo-mineralization, the uneconomic Cu-Pb-Zn mineralization occurred, as represented by quartz-polymetallic sulfides veins consisting of pyrite, molybdenite, chalcopyrite, digenite, galena, sphalerite and quartz. The quartz-polymetallic sulfide veins were formed by fluids containing 5 mol% CO₂, with minimum pressures of 32–110 MPa and temperatures of 260–300 °C. Finally, the fluids became dilute (5 wt.% NaCl equiv) and CO₂-poor, which caused the formation of late barren quartz ± carbonate ± fluorite veins at 140–180 °C and 18–82 MPa.It is clear that the fluids became more dilute, CO₂-poor, and less fertile, with decreasing temperature and pressure from quartz-pyrite to late barren veins. Molybdenite and other sulfides can only be observed in the middle three stages, i.e., quartz-pyrite, quartz-molybdenite and quartz-polymetallic sulfide veins. These three kinds of veins are generally hosted in potassic altered rocks with remarkable K-feldspathization, but always partly overprinted by phyllic alteration. The traditional porphyry-style potassic–phyllic–propylitic alteration zoning is not conspicuous at Yuchiling, which may be related to, and characteristic of, the CO₂-rich fluids derived from the magmas generated in intercontinental collision orogens.Among the fluid inclusions at Yuchiling, only the C-type contains maximum detectable Mo that gradationally decreases from 73 ppm in quartz-pyrite veins, through 19 ppm in quartz-molybdenite veins, and to 13 ppm in quartz-polymetallic sulfide veins, coinciding well with the decreasing CO₂ contents from 8 mol%, through 7 mol%, to 5 mol%, respectively. Hence it is suggested that decreasing CO₂ possibly results in decreasing Mo concentration in the fluids, as well as the precipitation of molybdenite from the fluids. This direct relationship might be a common characteristic for other porphyry Mo systems in the world.The Yuchiling Mo deposit represents a new type Mo mineralization, with features of collision-related setting, high-K calc-alkaline intrusion, CO₂-rich fluid, and unique wall-rock alterations characterized by strong K-feldspathization and fluoritization.     

Magmatic–hydrothermal processes in Sangdong W–Mo deposit,Korea: Study of fluid inclusions and 39Ar–40Ar geochronology

The Sangdong scheelite–molybdenite deposit in northeast South Korea consists of strata-bound orebodies in intercalated carbonate-rich layers in the Cambrian Myobong slate formation. Among them, the M1 layer hosts the main orebody below which lie layers of F1–F4 host footwall orebodies. Each layer was first skarnized with the formation of a wollastonite + garnet + pyroxene assemblage hosting minor disseminated scheelite. The central parts of the layers were subsequently crosscut by two series of quartz veining events hosting minor scheelite and major scheelite–molybdenite ores, respectively. The former veins associate amphibole–magnetite (amphibole) alteration, whereas the latter veins host quartz–biotite–muscovite (mica) alteration. Deep quartz veins with molybdenite mineralization are hosted in the Cambrian Jangsan quartzite formation beneath the Myobong formation. In the Sunbawi area, which is in close proximity to the Sangdong deposit, quartz veins with scheelite mineralization are hosted in Precambrian metamorphic basement. Three muscovite ³⁹Ar–⁴⁰Ar ages between 86.6 ± 0.2 and 87.2 ± 0.3 Ma were obtained from M1 and F2 orebodies from the Sangdong deposit and Sunbawi quartz veins. The Upper Cretaceous age of the orebodies is concordant with the published ages of the hidden Sangdong granite, 87.5 ± 4.5 Ma. This strongly suggests that the intrusion is causative for the Sangdong W–Mo ores and Sunbawi veins.Fluid inclusions in the quartz veins from the M1 and F2 orebodies, the deep quartz-molybdenite veins, and the Sunbawi veins are commonly liquid-rich aqueous inclusions having bubble sizes of 10–30 vol%, apparent salinities of 2–8 wt% NaCl eqv., and homogenization temperatures of 180–350 °C. The densities of the aqueous inclusions are 0.70–0.94 g/cm³. No indication of fluid phase separation was observed in the vein. To constrain the formation depth in the Sangdong deposit, fluid isochores are combined with Ti–in–quartz geothermometry, which suggests that the M1 and F2 orebodies were formed at depths of 1–3 km and 5–6 km below the paleosurface, respectively. The similarity of the Cs (cesium) concentrations and Rb/Sr ratios in the fluid inclusions of the respective orebodies indicate an origin from source magmas having similar degrees of fractionation and enrichment of incompatible elements such as W and Mo. High S concentrations in the fluids and possibly organic C in the sedimentary source likely promoted molybdenite precipitation in the Sangdong orebodies, whereas the scheelite deposition in the deep quartz–molybdenite veins hosted in the quartzite is limited by a lack of Ca and Fe in the hydrothermal fluids. The molybdenite deposition in the Sunbawi quartz–molybdenite veins hosted in the Precambrian metamorphic basement rocks was possibly limited by a lack of reducing agents such as organic C.     

华南志留纪钼的矿化: 白石顶钼矿锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄和辉钼矿Re-Os年龄证据

白石顶钼矿床位于湘粤桂交界的桂北姑婆山地区,主要以石英辉钼矿脉的形式产于桂岭岩体(角闪石)黑云母二长花岗岩和南华系浅变质浅海相碎屑岩中.桂岭岩体岩石类型以中-细粒斑状(角闪石)黑云母二长花岗岩为主,岩石呈灰白色,似斑状结构.斑晶主要由微斜长石和斜长石组成,基质则由微斜长石、斜长石、石英、黑云母和普通角闪石组成,副矿物有磁铁矿、锆石、褐帘石、绿帘石、磷灰石、榍石等.白石顶钼矿的矿石矿物主要为辉钼矿、黄铁矿、黄铜矿和白钨矿等.围岩蚀变有黄铁矿化、钾长石化、白云母化、绿泥石化等.文章通过对桂岭岩体及其包体中锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄和辉钼矿Re-Os年龄的测定,初步揭示了白石顶钼矿床的成矿年代,桂岭岩体(角闪石)黑云母二长花岗岩锆石SHRIMP UPb年龄为(424.4±5.6)Ma,其中的闪长质包体的SHRIMP U-Pb年龄为(428±4)Ma.6件辉钼矿Re-Os的加权平均年龄为(424.6±5.7)Ma,这表明白石顶钼矿床形成于志留纪.此次工作首次认为在华南地区志留纪也发生了金属钼的富集成矿,该成果对于深入认识华南地区加里东期的构造.岩浆演化及其成矿作用具有重要的科学价值.     

Geology,geochemistry and genesis of the Qianfanling quartz-vein Mo deposit in Songxian County,Western Henan Province,China

The Qianfanling Mo deposit, located in Songxian County, western Henan province, China, is one of the newly discovered quartz-vein type Mo deposits in the East Qinling–Dabie orogenic belt. The deposit consists of molybdenite in quartz veins and disseminated molybdenite in the wall rocks. The alteration types of the wall rocks include silicification, K-feldspar alteration, pyritization, carbonatization, sericitization, epidotization and chloritization. On the basis of field evidence and petrographic analysis, three stages of hydrothermal mineralization could be distinguished: (1) pyrite–barite–quartz stage; (2) molybdenite–quartz stage; (3) quartz–calcite stage.Two types of fluid inclusions, including CO₂-bearing fluid inclusions and water-rich fluid inclusions, have been recognized in quartz. Homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions vary from 133 °C to 397 °C. Salinity ranges from 1.57 to 31.61 wt.% NaCl eq. There are a large number of daughter mineral-CO₂-bearing inclusions, which is the result of fluid immiscibility. The ore-forming fluids are medium–high temperature, low to moderate salinity H₂O–NaCl–CO₂ system. The δ³⁴S values of pyrite, molybdenite, and barite range from − 9.3‰ to − 7.3‰, − 9.7‰ to − 7.3‰ and 5.9‰ to 6.8‰, respectively. The δ¹⁸O values of quartz range from 9.8‰ to 11.1‰, with corresponding δ¹⁸O_fluid values of 1.3‰ to 4.3‰, and δ¹⁸D values of fluid inclusions of between − 81‰ and − 64‰. The δ¹³C_V-PDB values of fluid inclusions in quartz and calcite have ranges of − 6.7‰ to − 2.9‰ and − 5.7‰ to − 1.8‰, respectively. Sulfur, hydrogen, oxygen and carbon isotope compositions show that the sulfur and ore-forming fluids derived from a deep-seated igneous source. During the peak collisional period between the North China Craton and the Yangtze Craton, the ore-forming fluids that derived from a deep igneous source extracted base and precious metals and flowed upwards through the channels that formed during tectonism. Fluid immiscibility and volatile exsolution led to the crystallization of molybdenite and other minerals, and the formation of economic orebodies in the Qianfanling Mo deposit.     

Fluid Inclusion, Rare-Earth Element and Stable Isotope Study of Carbonate Minerals from the Pongkor Epithermal Gold–Silver Deposit, West Java, Indonesia

The Pongkor gold–silver deposit is the largest low‐sulfidation epithermal precious metal deposit in Indonesia, and is of Pliocene age. The deposit consists of nine major subparallel quartz–adularia–carbonate veins with very low sulfide content. Vein infill records five paragenetic sequences, dominated by calcite in the early stage and quartz in the later stage of the hydrothermal evolution. Fluid inclusions in hydrothermal calcite and quartz of all stages indicate a temperature ranging from 180 to 220°C and a meteoric water origin (very low salinity close to 0 wt% NaCl equivalent). Carbon isotope data on calcite display a narrow range from ?6.5 to ?3.0‰δ¹³C. The oxygen isotope values have a wider range of +4.6 to +10.1‰δ¹⁸O. The broadly positive correlation of the δ¹³C versus δ¹⁸O plot suggests that the carbon species, which equilibrated during the formation of calcite, is dominated by H₂CO₃ not far from equilibrium with HCO₃^?. The abundance of rare earth and yttrium (REY) in carbonate samples is very low (>REY mostly <2 ppm). However, there is always a positive Eu anomaly, which indicates a deeper fluid reservoir at >250°C.     

Geology and genesis of Variscan porphyry-style gold mineralization, Petráčkova hora deposit, Bohemian Massif, Czech Republic

A large number of Variscan mesothermal gold deposits are located in the central part of the Bohemian Massif, close to the Central Bohemian Plutonic Complex. The Petrá)kova hora deposit has many features that distinguish it from other deposits in the region and suggest its mineralization is closely related to the late magmatic processes associated with the Petrá)kova hora granodiorite. The gold ores occur as sheeted arrays of quartz veins and veinlets hosted by the small Petrá)kova hora granodiorite stock. Gold is found mainly as free grains of >900 fineness, and is accompanied by abundant pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite, and accessory pyrite, arsenopyrite, loellingite, and molybdenite. Molybdenite from the Petrá)kova hora deposit has been dated by the Re-Os method at 344.4DŽ.8 Ma. Hydrothermal alteration in the Petrá)kova hora deposit exhibits a distinct temporal paragenesis. Selectively pervasive, early K-alteration and silicification are the oldest hydrothermal phases. These were followed by early quartz veins (Q₁ to Q₄) that contain most of the gold mineralization. Late quartz veins (Q₅) and fracture-controlled silicification are gold-poor or barren. Barren calcite veins are the youngest hydrothermal product. Extensive low-temperature, meteoric-water dominated alteration, as is typical of classic porphyry deposits, is absent. However, the lower '¹⁸O whole rock values for Petrá)kova hora granodiorite and aplite (+2.4 to +5.1‰ SMOW) compared to other intrusions in the region reflect either interaction with isotopically light external fluids or magma assimilation of small volumes of hydrothermally altered country rock. The '¹⁸O isotopic compositions for quartz, scheelite and hornblende (7.7 to 13.4‰ SMOW) and the '³⁴S compositions for sulfide minerals (-1 to +3.5‰ CDT) from early, gold-rich quartz veins indicate formation at high temperatures (590 to 400 °C) from fluids with a magmatic isotopic signature ('¹⁸O_FLUID of 5.7 to 7.2‰). Fluids related to late quartz veins (Q₅) suggest the presence of a significant component of non-magmatic water ('¹⁸O_FLUID: +2.5 to +4.0‰). The '³⁴S values of post-Q₅ sulfide minerals (-4.5 to -3.5‰) reflect at least partial derivation of late-stage sulfur from a source external to the intrusions. Aqueous, aqueous-carbonic and nitrogen-bearing fluid inclusions were identified in hydrothermal and igneous quartz, with the aqueous inclusions being the most common. In hydrothermal vein quartz, the salinity of primary aqueous inclusions falls into ranges 6 to 23 and 33 to 41 equiv. wt% NaCl; in igneous quartz, populations in salinity were observed between 5 to 16, 35 to 40 and 62 to 70 equiv. wt% NaCl. The salt component of these fluids is best, and minimally, approximated by the NaCl-KCl-CaCl₂ system. Low- and high-salinity aqueous-carbonic inclusions are accessory in many of the analyzed samples. Three large successive pulses of fluids are recognized. Each pulse begins with a high-salinity (>30 equiv. wt% NaCl) magmatic fluid and evolves toward a lower salinity (~5 equiv. wt% NaCl) fluid. Data suggest that external (meteoric?) water(s) were significant for only the third fluid pulse, which formed the late Q₅ quartz veins and the calcite veins. Polyphase fluid inclusions hosted by igneous quartz of the Petrá)kova hora granodiorite indicate minimum trapping conditions of about 3 kbar and 550 °C. The gold-rich Q₁ to Q₄ veins may have formed along a quasi-isobaric cooling path at 2.5 to 1.5 kbar and 590 to 400 °C. This was followed by uplift, and formation of late Q₅ quartz veins (0.5 to 1.5 kbar; ~300 °C) and post-ore calcite veins (<0.5 kbar; 100 to 140 °C). The characteristics of the Petrá)kova hora deposit suggest that it may represent a position intermediate between intrusion-related gold systems (e.g., Fort Knox deposit, Alaska) and gold-rich, copper-poor porphyry deposits (e.g., Maricunga Belt in Chile). As such, the Petrá)kova hora deposit might be an example of the reduced gold sub-type of porphyry deposit.     

Ore Genesis and Tectonic Significance of the Xiaojiashan Tungsten Deposit,Eastern Tianshan,Xinjiang, China: Evidence from Geology,Fluid Inclusions,and Stable Isotope Geochemistry

The Xiaojiashan tungsten deposit is located about 200 km northwest of Hami City, the Eastern Tianshan orogenic belt, Xinjiang, northwestern China, and is a quartz vein‐type tungsten deposit. Combined fluid inclusion microthermometry, host rock geochemistry, and H–O isotopic compositions are used to constrain the ore genesis and tectonic setting of the Xiaojiashan tungsten deposit. The orebodies occur in granite intrusions adjacent to the metamorphic crystal tuff, which consists of the second lithological section of the first Sub‐Formation of the Dananhu Formation (D₂d ₁²). Biotite granite is the most widely distributed intrusive bodies in the Xiaojiashan tungsten deposit. Altered diorite and metamorphic crystal tuff are the main surrounding rocks. The granite belongs to peraluminous A‐type granite with high potassic calc‐alkaline series, and all rocks show light Rare Earth Element (REE)‐enriched patterns. The trace element characters suggest that crystallization differentiation might even occur in the diagenetic process. The granite belongs to postcollisional extension granite, and the rocks formed in an extensional tectonic environment, which might result from magma activity in such an extensional tectonic environment. Tungsten‐bearing quartz veins are divided into gray quartz vein and white quartz veins. Based on petrography observation, fluid inclusions in both kinds of vein quartz are mainly aqueous inclusions. Microthermometry shows that gray quartz veins have 143–354°C of T_h, and white quartz veins have 154–312°C of T_h. The laser‐Raman test shows that CO₂ is found in fluid inclusions of the tungsten‐bearing quartz veins. Quadrupole mass spectrometry reveals that fluid inclusions contain major vapor‐phase contents of CO₂, H₂O. Meanwhile, fluid inclusions contain major liquid‐phase contents of Cl^?, Na⁺. It can be speculated that the ore‐forming fluid of the Xiaojiashan tungsten deposit is characterized by an H₂O–CO₂, low salinity, and H₂O–CO₂–NaCl system. The range of hydrogen and oxygen isotope compositions indicated that the ore‐forming fluids of the tungsten deposit were mainly magmatic water. The ore‐forming age of the Xiaojiashan deposit should to be ~227 Ma. During the ore‐forming process, the magmatic water had separated from magmatic intrusions, and the ore‐bearing complex was taken to a portion where tungsten‐bearing ores could be mineralized. The magmatic fluid was mixed by meteoric water in the late stage.     

P-T-X parameters of metamorphogene and hydrothermal fluids,isotopy and age of the Bogunai gold deposit,southern Yenisei Ridge (Russia)

Fluid inclusions in quartz, sulfides from quartz veins, and quartz, garnet, plagioclase, and orthoclase from granulites of the Bogunai gold deposit located in the granulites of the Angara-Kan block of the Yenisei Ridge were studied by thermobarometry, gas chromatography, chromato-mass-spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. The formation temperatures (850-950 °C) and pressures (8.5-9.0 kbar) of minerals of the granulite metamorphic facies are much higher than the crystallization temperatures (220-420 °C) and pressures (0.1-1.6 kbar) of gold-quartz veins of the Bogunai deposit. These veins formed with the participation of H₂O-CO₂-hydrocarbon fluids with a salt (predominantly MgCl₂) concentration of 2-19 wt.% NaCl equiv. The gas phase of fluid inclusions from quartz, pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, and sphalerite contains not only H₂O, CO₂, CH₄, and N₂ but also the first found compounds of sulfur (CS₂, O₂S, COS, C₂H6S₂) and nitrogen (C3H₇N, C3H₇NO, C₄H8N₂O) and numerous hydrocarbons of different classes (paraffins, arenes, naphthenes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carbonic acids, and furans). The age of the Krasnoyarsk mineralized zone, one of the sites of the Bogunai deposit, is 466 ± 3.2-461.6 ± 3.1 Ma, which is almost 1400 Ma younger than the age of granulite metamorphism and 255 Ma younger than the age of diaphthoresis but is close to the age of the Lower Kan granitoid pluton (455.7 ± 3.4 Ma). The sulfur isotope ratios (5³⁴S) of sulfides (pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and galena) are close to the mantle values, 0.8 to 3.5%c, and are in the range of the granitoid values, which indicates the crustal source of the fluid sulfur. Gold of the Bogunai deposit accumulated with the participation of H₂O-CO₂-hydrocarbon fluids generated both in deep-fault zones and in granitoid intrusions.     

Fluid inclusions and H–O–S–Pb isotope systematics of the Baishan porphyry Mo deposit in Eastern Tianshan,China

The Baishan porphyry Mo deposit formed in the Middle Triassic in Eastern Tianshan, Xinjiang, northwestern China. Mo mineralization is associated with the Baishan monzogranite and granite porphyry stocks, mainly presenting as various types of hydrothermal veinlets in alerted wall rocks, with potassic, phyllic, propylitic, and fluorite alteration. The ore-forming process can be divided into four stages: stage I K-feldspar–quartz–pyrite veinlets, stage II quartz–molybdenite ± pyrite veinlets, stage III quartz–polymetallic sulfide veinlets and stage IV barren quartz–calcite veins. Four types of fluid inclusions (FIs) can be distinguished in the Baishan deposit, namely, liquid-rich two-phase (L-type), vapor-rich two-phase (V-type), solid-bearing multi-phase (S-type) and mono-phase vapor (M-type) inclusions, but only the stage I quartz contains all types of FIs. The stages II and III quartz have three types of FIs, with exception of M-type. In stage IV quartz minerals, only the L-type inclusions can be observed. The FIs in quartz of stages I, II, III and IV are mainly homogenized at temperatures of 271–468 °C, 239–349 °C, 201–331 °C and 134–201 °C, with salinities of 2.2–11.6 wt.% NaCl equiv., 1.1–10.2 wt.% NaCl equiv., 0.5–8.9 wt.% NaCl equiv. and 0.2–5.7 wt.% NaCl equiv., respectively. The ore-forming fluids of the Baishan deposit are characterized by high temperature, moderate salinity and relatively reduced condition, belonging to a H₂O–NaCl ± CH₄ ± CO₂ system. Hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions of quartz indicate that the ore-forming fluids were gradually evolved from magmatic to meteoric in origin. Sulfur and lead isotopes suggest that the ore-forming materials came predominantly from a deep-seated magma source from the lower continental crust. The Mo mineralization in the Baishan deposit is estimated to have occurred at a depth of no less than 4.7 km, and the decrease in temperature and remarkable transition of the redox condition (from alkalinity to acidity) of ore-forming fluids were critical for the formation of the Baishan Mo deposit.     

The geology of the Taparko gold deposit, Birimian greenstone belt, Burkina Faso, West Africa

The Taparko gold deposit, located in the eastern branch of the Proterozoic Birimian Bouroum-Yalogo greenstone belt (Burkina Faso) consists of a network of quartz veins developed in a N 170° trending shear zone (250 m wide, 4 km long) superimposed on the regional Birimian structural pattern. The quartz vein network is composed of: (a) a dominant array of quartz veins (type 1), parallel to the shear zone and comprising strongly deformed dark quartz exhibiting foliation, layering, ribbon, tension gashes, etc.; (b) oblique and subparallel related veins (type 2) of gray to white weakly deformed quartz crosscutting the dominant quartz veins resulting in breccia structures; and (c) shallow dipping veins (type 3), cross-cutting veins types 1 and 2 and filled by undeformed white buck structure quartz. Cross-cutting relationships and different quartz types in different veins and within individual veins imply a concomitant filling of the veins during the progressive deformation. Initial sinistral transcurrent shearing evolved with time to sinistral reverse shearing. Metallic minerals occur only in type 1 and 2 veins and were deposited in two stages, with native gold being related to second stage sulfides. Gold (and chalcopyrite) precipitated preferentially upon the surfaces of fractured pyrite grains in low-pressure sites (pressure shadow zones) around and/or within the sulfide grains (along subsequently annealed fractures). The formation of the South Taparko deposit can be divided into a succession of events: (a) during the first event, N 170°-directed sinistral transcurrent shearing resulted in a N 20° mylonitic foliation and fractured rock which allowed H₂O-, CO₂- and SiO₂-rich fluids to circulate and deposit quartz with buck texture; (b) during the second event, type 1 quartz was strongly deformed and type 2 veins formed with sigmoidal shapes as viewed on a horizontal plane; and (c) during the third event, the sinistral transcurrent shearing evolved to sinistral reverse shearing and the deformation style evolved correspondingly from ductile to brittle-ductile. During the last phase of deformation gold nucleated and deposited in low-pressure zones. Received: 9 July 1997 / Accepted: 23 March 1998     

Compositional zoning of fluid inclusions in the Archaean Junction gold deposit,Western Australia: A process of fluid ‐ wall‐rock interaction?

The Junction gold deposit, in Western Australia, is an orogenic gold deposit hosted by a differentiated, iron‐rich, tholeiitic dolerite sill. Petrographic, microthermometric and laser Raman microprobe analyses of fluid inclusions from the Junction deposit indicate that three different vein systems formed at three distinct periods of geological time, and host four fluid‐inclusion populations with a wide range of compositions in the H₂O–CO₂–CH₄–NaCl ± CaCl₂ system. Pre‐shearing, pre‐gold, molybdenite‐bearing quartz veins host fluid inclusions that are characterised by relatively consistent phase ratios comprising H₂O–CO₂–CH₄ ± halite. Microthermometry suggests that these veins precipitated when a highly saline, >340°C fluid mixed with a less saline ≥150°C fluid. The syn‐gold mineralisation event is hosted within the Junction shear zone and is associated with extensive quartz‐calcite ± albite ± chlorite ± pyrrhotite veining. Fluid‐inclusion analyses indicate that gold deposition occurred during the unmixing of a 400°C, moderately saline, H₂O–CO₂ ± CH₄ fluid at pressures between 70 MPa and 440 MPa. Post‐gold quartz‐calcite‐biotite‐pyrrhotite veins occupy normal fault sets that slightly offset the Junction shear zone. Fluid inclusions in these veins are predominantly vapour rich, with CO₂?CH₄. Homogenisation temperatures indicate that the post‐gold quartz veins precipitated from a 310 ± 30°C fluid. Finally, late secondary fluid inclusions show that a <200°C, highly saline, H₂O–CaCl₂–NaCl–bearing fluid percolated along microfractures late in the deposit's history, but did not form any notable vein type. Raman spectroscopy supports the microthermometric data and reveals that CH₄–bearing fluid inclusions occur in syn‐gold quartz grains found almost exclusively at the vein margin, whereas CO₂–bearing fluid inclusions occur in quartz grains that are found toward the centre of the veins. The zonation of CO₂:CH₄ ratios, with respect to the location of fluid inclusions within the syn‐gold quartz veins, suggest that the CH₄ did not travel as part of the auriferous fluid. Fluid unmixing and post‐entrapment alteration of the syn‐gold fluid inclusions are known to have occurred, but cannot adequately account for the relatively ordered zonation of CO₂:CH₄ ratios. Instead, the late introduction of a CH₄–rich fluid into the Junction shear zone appears more likely. Alternatively, the process of CO₂ reduction to CH₄ is a viable and plausible explanation that fits the available data. The CH₄–bearing fluid inclusions occur almost exclusively at the margin of the syn‐gold quartz veins within the zone of high‐grade gold mineralisation because this is where all the criteria needed to reduce CO₂ to CH₄ were satisfied in the Junction deposit.     

陕西西沟钼矿床辉钼矿Re-Os年代学和同位素地球化学特征及其地质意义

西沟钼矿床是东秦岭黄龙铺地区近些年新发现和勘查的碳酸岩脉型钼矿床。钼矿体主要赋存于新太古界太华群变质岩内的石英方解石碳酸岩脉中,呈脉状、似层状或透镜状产出。辉钼矿主要呈浸染状、薄膜状、团块状分布于石英方解石碳酸岩脉中,成矿有关的围岩蚀变有钾长石化、硅化、黄铁矿化、萤石化、硬石膏化等。为查明西沟钼矿床的成矿时代、成矿物质来源、成矿机制、确定矿床类型,文章开展了辉钼矿Re-Os同位素测年,同位素地球化学分析。6件辉钼矿样品Re-Os同位素测年结果,模式年龄为(222.3±3.4)Ma～(226.6±3.7)Ma;加权平均年龄为(225.1±1.4)Ma;等时线年龄为(224.6±9.1)Ma,表明该矿床形成于晚三叠世。硫化物和硫酸盐的S同位素组成、重晶石和方解石Sr-Nd同位素组成及方解石C-O同位素组成均指示:西沟钼矿的成矿物质可能主要来源于地幔。根据其与华北陆块南缘其他碳酸岩型钼矿床地质特征、成矿时代和成矿物质来源等对比,确定西沟钼矿床属碳酸岩型脉状矿床。成矿作用发生于扬子板块与华北板块碰撞造山的后碰撞伸展环境,由于软流圈物质上涌诱发富集岩石圈地幔发生低程度部分熔融,所形成的碳酸质流体携带钼等成矿物质上升,在NW-NWW向深断裂带沉淀富集成矿。     

Structural setting,style and timing of vein-hosted gold mineralization at the Pogo deposit,east central Alaska

Gold-bearing veins within the Liese zone of the Pogo deposit display a two-stage evolutionary history that records temporal variation in kinematics, fluid chemistry and temperature. Several stacked shallow northwest-dipping shear veins are developed at Pogo, and collectively comprise the Liese Zone. Veins consist of: (1) early, narrow biotite-bearing shear veins; (2) white quartz veins with pyrite-arsenopyrite bands, referred to as main stage quartz veins, that have sericite-Fe-Mg carbonate alteration envelopes and which exploit the early shear veins; and (3) extension veins that form as steeper offshoots from the main stage veins. The presence and orientation of oblique fabrics developed in the older biotite-bearing shear veins are indicative of top-to-the-south displacement under ductile to semi-brittle conditions at higher temperatures. In contrast, the orientation of the extension veins and local sigmoidal shapes indicate a component of top-to-the-northwest normal displacement on the main stage veins in their present orientation, and brittle to semi-brittle conditions of formation. Dolomite-sericite alteration surrounding main stage veins may represent late to post-mineral hydrothermal fluid exploitation of vein margins during ongoing normal displacement along vein systems. All types of veining overprint 107–106 Ma, post-metamorphic granitic dykes. Molybdenite in main stage quartz assemblages has returned Re-Os ages of 104.2±1.1 Ma, significantly older than 96 to 91 Ma ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages obtained from vein alteration assemblages that may reflect thermal resetting during post-mineral fault related hydrothermal activity, magmatism and/or retrograde cooling of the lithologic sequence. Unlike typical mesothermal shear vein hosted gold systems, Pogo is temporally and tectonically separated from metamorphic deformation events, and has a comparable kinematic and geometric architecture to Cretaceous plutonic gold deposits in the region. We interpret the deposit to have formed during a regional Cretaceous extensional event during multi-stage exploitation of extensional fault surfaces by hydrothermal fluid from a cooling magmatic source.Editorial handling: S.G. Hagemann     

Ore-bearing fluids of the Eldorado gold deposit (Yenisei Ridge,Russia)

The Eldorado low-sulfide gold-quartz deposit, with gold reserves of more than 60 tons, is located in the damage zone of the Ishimba Fault in the Yenisei Ridge and is hosted by Riphean epidote-amphibolite metamorphic rocks (Sukhoi Pit Group). Orebodies occur in four roughly parallel heavily fractured zones where rocks were subject to metamorphism under stress and heat impacts. They consist of sulfide-bearing schists with veins of gray or milky-white quartz varieties. Gray quartz predominating in gold-bearing orebodies contains graphite and amorphous carbon identified by Raman spectroscopy; the contents of gold and amorphous carbon are in positive correlation. As inferred from thermobarometry, gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and Raman spectroscopy of fluid inclusions in sulfides, carbonates, and gray and white quartz, gold mineralization formed under the effect of reduced H₂O-CO₂-HC fluids with temperatures of 180 to 490 °C, salinity of 9 to 22 wt.% NaCl equiv, and pressures of 0.1 to 2.3 kbar. Judging by the presence of 11% mantle helium (³He) in fluid inclusions from quartz and the sulfur isotope composition (7.1-17.4‰ δ³⁴S) of sulfides, ore-bearing fluids ascended from a mantle source along shear zones, where they “boiled”. While the fluids were ascending, the metalliferous S- and N-bearing hydrocarbon (HC) compounds they carried broke down to produce crystalline sulfides, gold, and disseminated graphite and amorphous carbon (the latter imparts the gray color to quartz). Barren veins of milky-white quartz formed from oxidized mainly aqueous fluids with a salinity of < 15 wt.% NaCl equiv at 150-350 °C. Chloride brines (> 30 wt.% NaCl equiv) at 150-260 °C impregnated the gold-bearing quartz veins and produced the lower strata of the hydrothermal-granitoid section. The gold mineralization (795-710 Ma) was roughly coeval to local high-temperature stress metamorphism (836-745 Ma) and intrusion of the Kalama multiphase complex (880-752 Ma).     

Geology and Metallogenesis of the Sawayaerdun Gold Deposit in the Southwestern Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China

The Sawayaerdun gold deposit, located in Wuqia County, Southwest Tianshan, China, occurs in Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian low‐grade metamorphic carbonaceous turbidites. The orebodies are controlled by a series of NE‐NNE‐trending, brittle–ductile shear zones. Twenty‐four gold mineralized zones have been recognized in the Sawayaerdun ore deposit. Among these, the up to 4‐km‐long and 200‐m wide No. IV mineralized zone is economically the most important. The average gold grade is 1–6 g/t. Gold reserves of the Sawayaerdun deposit have been identified at approximately 37 tonnes and an inferred resource of 123 tonnes. Hydrothermal alteration is characterized by silicification, pyritization, arsenopyritization, sericitization, carbonatization and chloritization. On the basis of field evidence and petrographic analysis, five stages of vein emplacement and hydrothermal mineralization can be distinguished: stage 1, early quartz stage, characterized by the occurrence of quartz veins; stage 2, arsenopyrite–pyrite–quartz stage, characterized by the formation of auriferous quartz veinlets and stockworks; stage 3, polymetallic sulfide quartz stage, characterized by the presence of auriferous polymetallic sulfide quartz veinlets and stockworks; stage 4, antimony–quartz stage, characterized by the formation of stibnite–jamesonite quartz veins; and stage 5, quartz–carbonate vein stage. Stages 2 and 3 represent the main gold mineralization, with stage 4 representing a major antimony mineralization episode in the Sawayaerdun deposit. Two types of fluid inclusion, namely H₂O–NaCl and H₂O–CO₂–NaCl types, have been recognized in quartz and calcite. Aqueous inclusions show a wide range of homogenization temperatures from 125 to 340°C, and can be correlated with the mineralization stage during which the inclusions formed. Similarly, salinities and densities of these fluids range for each stage of mineralization from 2.57 to 22 equivalent wt% NaCl and 0.76 to 1.05 g/cm³, respectively. The ore‐forming fluids thus are representative of a medium‐ to low‐temperature, low‐ to medium‐salinity H₂O–NaCl–CO₂–CH₄–N₂ system. The δ³⁴S_CDT values of sulfides associated with mineralization fall into a narrow range of ?3.0 to +2.6‰ with a mean of +0.1‰. The δ¹³C_PDB values of dolomite and siderite from the Sawayaerdun gold deposit range from ?5.4 to ?0.6‰, possibly reflecting derivation of the carbonate carbon from a mixed magmatic/sedimentary source. Changes in physico‐chemical conditions and composition of the hydrothermal fluids, water–rock exchange and immiscibility of hydrothermal fluids are inferred to have played important roles in the ore‐forming process of the Sawayaerdun gold–antimony deposit.