高硫-低硫化浅成低温热液矿床的短波红外矿物分布特征及找矿模型

本文以铁格隆南(荣那矿段)高硫化浅成低温热液矿床和斯弄多低硫化浅成低温热液矿床为研究对象, 运用短波红外技术快速厘定了上述两个矿床的蚀变矿物类型及组合特征, 构建了基于短波红外勘查技术的找矿模型。研究发现: 铁格隆南矿床(荣那矿段)的蚀变矿物垂向分带组合为: 高岭石→高岭石+(地开石+明矾石)→高岭石+明矾石+(地开石)→高岭石+地开石+明矾石。由于高硫化浅成低温热液交代黄铁绢英岩化带的斑岩型矿体, 致使上部矿石中还有少量交代残余的绢云母; 斯弄多低硫化浅成低温热液矿床的蚀变矿物垂向分布为: 白(绢)云母+(钠云母)→白(绢)云母+钠云母+(伊利石)→白(绢)云母+钠云母+蒙脱石+伊利石→白(绢)云母+钠白云母+蒙脱石+伊利石, 其中顶部白(绢)云母是后期黑云母花岗斑岩蚀变所产生, 本身与成矿无关; 矿体主要赋存在伊利石+蒙脱石带, 随着蒙脱石被伊利石化, 矿体也逐渐尖灭。     

高硫-低硫化浅成低温热液矿床的短波红外矿物分布特征及找矿模型——以西藏铁格隆南(荣那矿段)、斯弄多矿床为例

本文以铁格隆南(荣那矿段)高硫化浅成低温热液矿床和斯弄多低硫化浅成低温热液矿床为研究对象,运用短波红外技术快速厘定了上述两个矿床的蚀变矿物类型及组合特征,构建了基于短波红外勘查技术的找矿模型。研究发现:铁格隆南矿床(荣那矿段)的蚀变矿物垂向分带组合为:高岭石→高岭石+(地开石+明矾石)→高岭石+明矾石+(地开石)→高岭石+地开石+明矾石。由于高硫化浅成低温热液交代黄铁绢英岩化带的斑岩型矿体,致使上部矿石中还有少量交代残余的绢云母;斯弄多低硫化浅成低温热液矿床的蚀变矿物垂向分布为:白(绢)云母+(钠云母)→白(绢)云母+钠云母+(伊利石)→白(绢)云母+钠云母+蒙脱石+伊利石→白(绢)云母+钠白云母+蒙脱石+伊利石,其中顶部白(绢)云母是后期黑云母花岗斑岩蚀变所产生,本身与成矿无关;矿体主要赋存在伊利石+蒙脱石带,随着蒙脱石被伊利石化,矿体也逐渐尖灭。     

基于短波红外技术的西藏多龙矿集区铁格隆南矿床荣那矿段及其外围蚀变填图-勘查模型构建

采用短波红外技术测量西藏多龙矿集区铁格隆南矿区地表岩石样本,发现蚀变矿物主要有绢云母和绿泥石,并在地表形成了一套从绢英岩化带-青磐岩化带的具有斑岩特点的蚀变矿物组合特征。通过测量地下ZK0804,ZK1604,ZK2404,ZK3204四个钻孔岩心的短波红外特征,发现钻孔岩心中存在大量明矾石、高岭石、地开石和绢云母,在东西向展布的过程中,绢云母数量及厚度明显增大,有继续向下延伸的趋势,说明矿体向深部逐渐从富含明矾石、地开石、高岭石的高硫、低温类型的矿物组合向绢英岩化带转变,并构成了规律的蚀变分带系统。根据地表、地下岩(矿)石的短波红外光谱特征及蚀变矿物分布趋势,构建了基于短波红外勘查技术的多龙矿集区斑岩-高硫浅成低温热液型铜(金)矿床找矿勘查模型,总结了从钾化带-绢英岩化带-泥化带-高级泥化带(明矾石-地开石-高岭石组合)-青磐岩化带的一套完整蚀变矿物组合及光谱特征。     

短波红外光谱技术在斑岩-高硫化型浅成低温热液矿床中的应用——以西藏铁格隆南超大型铜(金)矿床为例

铁格隆南铜(金)矿是西藏首例超大型斑岩-高硫化型浅成低温热液矿床.准确划分该矿床的蚀变分带对于后续的找矿勘探具有重要意义.本文主要运用短波红外光谱分析技术对西藏铁格隆南矿床进行蚀变矿物信息提取,同时利用X射线衍射辅助矿物识别;并结合岩相学和电子探针分析,对主要蚀变矿物绢云母的光谱特征进行系统梳理,构建铁格隆南矿区蚀变分带模型,探讨其勘查指示意义.结果表明:短波红外光谱清晰识别出高岭石、明矾石、地开石、叶腊石、绢云母、石膏、水铝石、蒙脱石8种蚀变矿物.根据蚀变矿物组合空间分布特征,从斑岩中心向外,可划分出钾硅酸盐化、绢英岩化、青磐岩化蚀变,在中浅部被高级泥化蚀变广泛叠加.矿区广泛产出绢云母,其主吸收谷波长介于2196～2215 nm(平均值为2206.6 nm)之间,且深部钾硅酸盐化带与绢英岩化带中的绢云母主吸收谷波长差异明显,钾硅酸盐化带中波长可大于2210 nm,可能是绢英岩化蚀变对钾硅酸盐化蚀变叠加改造的结果,绢英岩化带则集中于2206～2208 nm区间.绢云母1400 nm吸收峰波长(Pos1400值)和绢云母Al-OH的吸收深度(Dep2200值)与铜矿化强度呈现良好的耦合关系,可作为后续斑岩-浅成低温热液矿床勘查评价的重要指示标志.绢云母族矿物Al-OH吸收峰(Pos2200值)较小(＜2203 nm)且结晶度指数值越大(＞5.5)的区域揭示铁格隆南矿床的热液成矿中心主要位于ZK2404的深部.     

福建南部大矾山蚀变岩帽的明矾石特征及其找矿指示

含明矾石蚀变岩帽是斑岩-浅成低温热液成矿系统顶部的标志性蚀变,但关于其找矿指向性矿物——明矾石的特征系统地研究不够,特别是如何通过明矾石矿物学特征有效判断蚀变岩帽下伏的成矿潜力,是目前的难题。中国东南沿海地区已探明了以紫金山金-铜矿床、大矾山蚀变岩帽为代表的多个大型斑岩-浅成低温矿床和含明矾石蚀变岩帽,是探讨该问题的理想对象。文章以大矾山蚀变岩帽（面积约8 km²）为研究对象,利用短波红外光谱、电子探针、X射线衍射等技术分析手段,开展明矾石的矿物组合、类型和波谱等方面研究。结果表明,大矾山蚀变岩帽主要蚀变矿物为石英、明矾石、叶腊石、地开石、高岭石、白云母及少量蒙脱石,具有蚀变分带特征,中间主要为石英-明矾石-地开石和地开石-叶腊石蚀变带,南部主要为白云母化-蒙脱石蚀变带,北部为高岭石-白云母蚀变带。研究区的明矾石全为钾质明矾石,按晶形可分为粒状、叶片状和纤维状3种类型,明矾石颗粒普遍发育环带,暗示其形成过程中流体具脉冲式特征。明矾石的短波红外特征吸收峰在1477.69~1479.98 nm之间,具有从东南向西北逐渐变大的趋势,反映出热源可能位于西北部。结合区域地质背景,笔者认为大矾山蚀变岩帽是典型的酸性蚀变岩帽,该区的西北部靠近热源中心,其深部沿断裂带具有寻找浅成低温热液铜（金）矿床的潜力。     

安徽庐枞盆地酸性蚀变岩帽地质地球化学特征研究

酸性蚀变岩帽是浅成低温热液系统演化的产物,形成于酸性高氧化性流体的化学条件下;在高硫化型浅成低温热液金矿床中广泛发育,是该类矿床的显著识别特征。通过对酸性蚀变岩帽的野外地质特征、矿物共生组合和地球化学特征研究,能较好阐明浅成低温成矿热液系统的特征、性质、发生和发展演化及成矿作用过程。庐枞矿集区是长江中下游成矿带重要的矿集区之一,盆地内广泛发育以明矾石为特征蚀变矿物的酸性蚀变岩帽,面积超过30km~2,指示盆地内高硫化浅成低温热液系统的存在。目前为止,前期工作主要针对明矾石矿床地质特征和明矾石资源储量进行,该酸性蚀变岩帽的地质地球化学特征研究尚未开展。本次工作通过对酸性蚀变岩帽系统的野外采样、全岩地球化学分析和短波红外光谱测试分析技术(PNIRS测试)分析,确定其主要赋存在砖桥组火山岩中,组成矿物为石英、明矾石、高岭石、地开石,此外有少量绢云母、伊利石、珍珠陶土、叶蜡石、褐铁矿,极少数的叶腊石和黄钾铁矾等,在钻孔深部存在浸染状和半自形粒状黄铁矿。由于受到地表风化剥蚀和不同热热中心的影响,水平方向从矾山明矾石矿床向外围发育石英+明矾石带、石英+高岭石/地开石+明矾石带、石英+高岭石/地开石带、硅化带以及最外围的泥质带即高岭石±绢云母±伊利石带。根据酸性蚀变岩帽的矿物组合和主量元素特征,可将其分为三类:硅质蚀变岩、明矾石蚀变岩和粘土蚀变岩。硅质蚀变岩中SiO_2含量发生明显的富集作用,其余主量元素(K_2O、Na_2O、Al_2O_3、Fe_2O_3、P_2O5)含量显著降低;明矾石蚀变岩和粘土蚀变岩具有相似的地球化学特征,SiO_2、Al_2O_3、Fe_2O_3、P_2O_5元素含量范围变大,K_2O和Na_2O含量降低,且Na_2O降低更加明显;而钛为不活泼元素,在岩石发生蚀变过程中TiO_2含量变化很小。矾山地区的酸性蚀变岩帽的产状、蚀变类型、地球化学特征受构造和地层的双重控制。     

蚀变岩帽的特征、成因以及在华南的分布探讨

Sillitoe（1995）蚀变岩帽（Lithocap）的定义为大范围富黄铁矿的硅化、高级泥化和泥化蚀变,在地质环境上位于古地表和浅成中-酸性岩浆侵入体之间。蚀变岩帽往往显示为突出的正地形,有助于寻找隐伏的斑岩矿化体。但蚀变岩帽在地表的范围往往多达几十个平方千米,又常常掩盖下覆斑岩矿床的蚀变矿化特征及其地球化学印记,因此大型的蚀变岩帽又给勘探工作带来一定的挑战。蚀变岩帽相关矿床的勘探需以地质填图为基础,结合近红外光谱分析（SWIR）进行蚀变填图,以及全岩地球化学以及矿物地球化学表现的元素或元素组合异常,来帮助定位热源或深部斑岩体。遥感和地球物理中的激电响应,也可以辅助定位岩体。华南地区的蚀变岩帽主要分布于长江中下游成矿带和东南沿海火山岩带。前人对安徽庐枞盆地中的矾山蚀变岩帽进行了系统研究,确定了矾山蚀变岩帽形成于白垩纪,与围岩砖桥组火山岩年龄一致。同位素和流体包裹体工作证明了形成矾山蚀变岩帽的流体主要为深部岩浆热液中的酸性气体与浅部大气降水的混合,在浅部高渗透率的火山岩及其岩性界面反应,广泛发育了一套硅化和高级泥化蚀变,指示与矾山相关可能存在斑岩和高硫型浅成低温热液铜金矿床。福建紫金山地区有中国最大的高硫型浅成低温热液矿床,主要赋存于紫金山蚀变岩帽中。紫金山蚀变岩帽的地质特征和蚀变分带已经研究的较为详细,但目前深部的侵入体还没有发现。浙江的蚀变岩帽是中国非金属矿产的重要来源,包括明矾石矿、地开石矿和红柱石矿等,这些蚀变岩帽与金属矿化的关系尚未有相关研究。根据目前的资料总结,有较多的蚀变岩帽分布在中国华南,这些蚀变岩帽特征典型,但目前的研究程度尚浅。现有的研究结果表明,华南的蚀变岩帽的成矿潜力巨大,可能存在一条巨型的斑岩-浅成低温矿床成矿带,具有广阔的找矿勘查前景,建议加强蚀变岩帽及相关矿床的找矿与研究工作。     

西藏铁格隆南浅成低温热液型-斑岩型Cu-Au矿床流体及地质特征研究

铁格隆南铜金矿床(荣那矿段)是在西藏班公湖_怒江成矿带上多龙矿集区内发现的青藏高原首例高硫化型浅成低温热液型Cu(Au)矿床。文章通过对铁格隆南铜金矿床金属矿物、蚀变矿物组合、蚀变分带及流体包裹体地球化学特征的研究,初步确定了矿床类型,探讨了矿床成因。铁格隆南矿区存在硫砷铜矿、铜蓝、蓝辉铜矿等典型的高硫化态矿物组合和黄铜矿、斑铜矿等斑岩型矿床的典型矿物,此外,还识别出久辉铜矿、斯硫铜蓝、吉硫铜矿等少见的Cu_S二元体系矿物组合。矿床蚀变矿物组合以典型的强酸性环境下的明矾石_高岭石_地开石等黏土矿物组合为特征,并见金红石、锐钛矿、硬石膏、磷锶铝石、叶蜡石、水铝石等特征蚀变矿物。蚀变分带特征为石英_明矾石_高岭石/地开石带和高岭石_地开石带组成的高级泥化带叠加在绢英岩化带和钾化带的顶部和外围。矿区存在高温、高盐度(404~430℃,32.39%~38.94%)的岩浆流体和中低温、低盐度(239~292℃,0.35%~4.18%)的高硫化型矿化流体。高温、高盐度富气相(主要是H2O、HCl、SO2)的岩浆流体与大气降水的混合,形成的强酸性高氧逸度的中低温、低盐度流体,是高硫化型浅成低温热液矿床蚀变和矿化形成的关键。多龙矿集区具有较典型的斑岩型_浅成低温热液成矿系统的矿物组合、蚀变组合及成矿流体特征,因此预测矿集区内还能找到类似的斑岩型_浅成低温热液型矿床。     

基于红外光谱技术的内蒙古达斯矿区蚀变地质填图及其勘查指示意义

红外光谱技术,辅以显微镜下鉴定和矿物地球化学分析,通过系统采集达斯矿区地表岩石与钻孔岩芯样品,开展精细蚀变矿物填图,利用绢云母矿物Al- OH基团在2200 nm附近的光谱变化特征,开展勘查区及其外围的找矿预测。结果显示：① 研究区主要矿物为钠长石、微斜长石、石英、绢云母、高岭石、蒙脱石和绿泥石,另含有少量明矾石、电气石、石膏和黑云母等;② 电气石、明矾石、高岭石和绢云母矿物及其组合与成矿关系密切,具有中硫化浅成低温热液型矿床蚀变矿物组合特征;③ 目前已发现的Pb矿（化）体,主要产于300 m以浅,矿体底板为一套蒙脱石+绿泥石为主的蚀变矿物组合。矿体赋存于绢云母（高岭石+少量明矾石+电气石）蚀变带内,蚀变分带特征（矿化体中心向外）表现为：绢云母化→绢云母+高岭石（+少量明矾石+电气石）→绢云母+蒙脱石→蒙脱石+绿泥石;④ 区内长波绢云母指示了深部热源的位置,短波绢云母反映出热液流体与浅部大气降水的混合作用,根据绢云母矿物Al- OH波长插值填图及矿物组合特征变化确定了成矿流体pH值偏中性、温度逐渐降低的变化趋势;⑤ 绢云母矿物在2200 nm附近的光谱吸收深度与Pb品位之间呈正相关关系,10%吸收深度阈值可区分具有相似Al- OH吸收特征的绢云母和高岭石矿物;⑥ 结合GIS空间叠加分析,认为勘查区外围仍具一定找矿潜力。     

福建省紫金山矿田东南矿段铜钼矿床蚀变与矿化特征

紫金山矿田东南矿段铜钼矿床地处紫金山浅成低温热液型铜金矿床和罗卜岭斑岩型铜钼矿床之间。利用近红外光谱技术测试蚀变矿物特征,并结合地质填图、钻孔编录和岩矿鉴定等工作,划分出钾化带、绿泥石绢英岩化带、黄铁绢英岩化带、地开石硅化带、明矾石地开石硅化带等5个蚀变带。钻孔编录和镜下观察发现,金属矿物分为2个期次,生成顺序为磁铁矿-黄铁矿（第1期）→赤铁矿→辉钼矿-黄铜矿-斑铜矿-黄铁矿（第2期）→硫砷铜矿-蓝辉铜矿-铜篮。矿化类型与蚀变分带关系密切：以黄铜矿+斑铜矿+辉钼矿为主的Ⅱ号矿体产出于绿泥石绢英岩化带,与罗卜岭铜钼矿的蚀变矿化特征相似;以蓝辉铜矿+铜蓝交代黄铜矿+斑铜矿为主的Ⅳ号主矿体主要产出于地开石硅化带和明矾石地开石硅化带底部;以蓝辉铜矿+铜蓝+硫砷铜矿为主的Ⅴ号矿体产出于明矾石地开石硅化带,与紫金山铜金矿的蚀变矿化特征相似。明矾石温度分带显示具有罗卜岭斑岩和紫金山火山机构2个高温中心,中、低温混合明矾石化与Ⅳ号主矿体空间上呈显耦合关系。另外,Ⅳ号主矿体的云母矿物Al-OH吸收峰小于2205 nm。初步认为Ⅳ号主矿体是紫金山浅成低温热液叠加罗卜岭斑岩矿床外带所形成。     

The Lanthanide Tetrad Effect in Argillic Alteration: An Example from the Jizvan District,Northern Iran

Intrusion of quartz‐monzodioritic igneous bodies of Oligocene age into Eocene lithic crystal tuffs and trachy‐basalts resulted in the occurrence of a widespread argillic alteration zone in the Jizvan district (northern Iran). Mineralogically, the argillic alteration zone includes minerals such as kaolinite, quartz, smectite, pyrophyllite, muscovite‐illite, alunite, rutile, calcite, feldspar, chlorite, hematite and goethite. Therefore, the non‐CHARAC behaviour for trace elements in the argillic samples is reflected in the non‐chondritic Y/Ho and Zr/Hf ratios and the irregular REE patterns, which appear related to the tetrad effect phenomenon. The chondrite‐normalized REE distribution patterns indicate both concave (W‐shaped) and convex (M‐shaped) tetrad effects in the argillic samples. Based on the field evidence and the results from geochemical studies, it can be concluded that the samples from the argillic alteration zone having high fourth tetrad effect values (>0.30) were developed in the fault and breccia zones. The results indicate that factors such as preferential scavenging by Mn‐oxides, crystallization of clay minerals, fluid‐rock interaction, overprint of hypogene mineral assemblage by supergene ones, and the structural control, have all played an important role in the occurrence of tetrad effects in samples of the argillic zone in the Jizvan district.     

Constraints of stable isotopes on the origin of alunite from advanced argillic alteration systems in Bulgaria

Voluminous areas of advanced argillic alteration (AAA) constitute major exploration targets for surficial Cu–Au epithermal and potentially underlying porphyry-type deposits. In Bulgaria, more than 30 alunite occurrences are recognised, few of them being associated with a mineralised system. A mineralogical study combined with a stable isotopic (O, H, S) study has been carried out on nine alunite occurrences of advanced argillic zones hosted by volcanic rocks of Late Cretaceous age in the Srednogorie belt and of Oligocene age in the Rhodopes belt. This work was realised in order to constrain the origin of alunite and to define criteria to discriminate alunite from ore deposits and alunite from large barren alteration systems.Mineralogy of the nine occurrences consists of alunite + quartz + minor alumino-phospho-sulphates, associated with more or less kaolinite, dickite, pyrophyllite, diaspore and zunyite, depending on formation temperature. Alunite generally occurs as tabular crystals but is also present as fine-crystalline pseudocubic phases at Boukovo and Sarnitsa, in Eastern Rhodopes. In the advanced argillic alterations associated with economic ore, the presence of zunyite in the deeper parts indicates acid–fluorine–sulphate hydrothermal systems, whereas it is absent in uneconomic and barren advanced argillic alteration. All occurrences are formed at temperatures between 200 and 300 °C.(H, O, S) isotopic signatures of alunite combined with mineralogical features from all the studied occurrences, whatever their type, show characteristics of magmatic-hydrothermal systems. Sulphur data indicate essentially a magmatic origin for sulphur. Oxygen and hydrogen data suggest that hydrothermal fluids result from a mixing between magmatic fluids and an external component, which is identified as seawater-derived fluids or meteoric water in the vicinity of a sea. In most of the alunite occurrences, magmatic fluids are dominant and H₂S/SO₄ ratios are estimated to be higher than 2. Two exceptions exist in the Rhodopes. At Boukovo and Sarnitsa, where the estimated formation temperatures of alunite are the lowest, the external fluids are dominant and H₂S/SO₄ratios are estimated to be lower than or close to 1.At this stage of the work, the mineralogical and isotopic criteria do not enable a clear distinction between economic and uneconomic systems. However, some features are common in the economic ore deposits: the presence of zunyite in the deeper part of the system, the relatively high temperatures suggested by the zunyite + pyrophyllite + alunite + diaspore assemblages, the (O, H, S) signature of alunite, which is characteristic of dominant magmatic–hydrothermal acid–sulphate–fluorine systems.     

Geochemical Aspects of Hypogene Hydrothermal Alteration Zones in the Chol-qeshlaghi Area, NW Iran: Constrains on REEs

Chol-qeshlaghi altered area lies in the northwestern part of the post-collisional Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc, NW Iran. Pervasive silicic, argillic, phyllic and propylitic altered zones appears to be intimately affiliated to the fluids derivative of upper Oligocene Khankandi granodiorite. This paper is dedicated to the identification of geochemical characteristics of hydrothermal alterations, focusing on the determination of the mass gains and losses of REEs, to gain significant insights regarding the chemical exchanges prevailed between the host rocks and hydrothermal fluids. The low pH and high activity of SO_4~(-2) ligands in silicic alteration fluids, resulting in depletion of entire REEs. Decreasing of LREEs appeared in argillic zone may attributed to reduce in adsorption ability of clay minerals in low pH; whereas HREEs enrichment in phyllic zone was inclined to put it down to the abundance of sericite(± Fe oxides). A significant reduction of Eu/Eu* ratio in silicic zone can be attributed to negligible sulfides and clay minerals as some effective agents in adsorption of released Eu~(+2). Factors such as changes in pH, the abundance of absorptive neomorph mineral phases, activity of ligands play an important role in controlling the distribution and concentration of REEs in Chol-qeshlaghi alteration system.     

Mineralogy,textures, and whole-rock geochemistry of advanced argillic alteration: Hugo Dummett porphyry Cu–Au deposit,Oyu Tolgoi mineral district,Mongolia

Advanced argillic (AA) alteration is developed over a vertical interval of 500 m, above (and enclosing) Late Devonian quartz monzodiorite intrusions that accompany porphyry-style Cu–Au mineralization at the Hugo Dummett deposit. The AA alteration is mainly in basaltic rocks and locally extends into the overlying dacitic ash-flow tuff for about 100 m. The AA zone overprints porphyry-style quartz veins associated with quartz monzodiorite intrusions, but at least partly precedes high-grade porphyry-style bornite mineralization. Mineralogically, it consists of andalusite, corundum, residual quartz, titanium oxides, diaspore, alunite, aluminum phosphate-sulfate (APS) minerals, zunyite, pyrophyllite, topaz, kaolinite, and dickite, as well as anhydrite and gypsum, but is dominated by residual quartz and pyrophyllite. Alteration zonation is not apparent, except for an alunite-bearing zone that occurs approximately at the limit of strong quartz veining. Whole-rock geochemistry shows that the AA alteration removes most major elements except Si, Al, Ti, and P, and removes the trace elements Sc, Cs, and Rb. V, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, U, and Th are relatively immobile, whilst light REEs (La to Nd), Sr, Ba, and Ga can be enriched. Middle REEs (Sm to Gd) are moderately depleted; Y and heavy REEs (Tb to Lu) are strongly depleted except in two unusual samples where middle to heavy REEs are enriched.     

紫金山金铜矿床深部成矿作用研究和找矿前景评价的关键

紫金山铜金矿床是典型的高硫化浅成低温热液矿床, 发育巨厚的热液蚀变帽, 多孔状石英和高级泥化蚀变带等标志性特征; 特别是在金矿体之下出现垂直厚度超过1000米的巨大铜矿体, 属于蓝辉铜矿－铜蓝－硫砷铜矿－明矾石矿物组合的高硫化型浅成低温热液铜矿床类型, 铜硫化物的矿物学研究预示着深部可能变为斑岩型铜矿床。     

Gold mineralisation and advanced argillic alteration at the Dobroyde prospect,central New South Wales

Gold mineralisation at the Dobroyde prospect in central New South Wales is hosted by a zoned alteration system characterised by peripheral propylitic alteration, grading inwards through argillic and advanced argillic alteration to a siliceous altered core. Overprinting textures indicate that propylitic, argillic, advanced argillic and siliceous assemblages were successively superimposed on each other. Au grades between 0.3–0.8 ppm are associated with siliceous alteration and cross‐cutting pyrite veinlets. Higher Au grades are associated with barite veins that cut the pyrite veinlets. Native Au, native Te, Au, Pb and Hg tellurides, Pb selenide, chalcopyrite, Zn‐sphalerite and tennantite‐tetrahedrite occur in the barite veins. Microscopic pyrophyllite shears cut the barite veins. The location of the Dobroyde prospect, the orientation of its internal alteration zonation and the orientation of auriferous barite veins in the core of the prospect are controlled by a 330°‐striking fault. Movement on this fault, synchronous with hydrothermal activity, at some time between the Late Ordovician and mid‐Devonian controlled the development of successive phases of brecciation, siliceous alteration, pyrite and later barite‐Au veining in the prospect core. The restricted distribution of auriferous barite veins within the siliceous altered core of the prospect is inferred to be controlled by the relatively brittle rheology of this assemblage during deformation, and its location on the fault that formed the main hydrothermal fluid conduit. Alteration zones distal from this fault remain unmineralised. The Dobroyde prospect may be a product of the same Early Devonian metallogenic epoch as the paragenetically similar Temora and Peak Hill deposits. All three deposits/prospects appear to be localised in splays of either the Gilmore Fault Zone or the Parkes Thrust.     

Sulfur-poor intense acid hydrothermal alteration: A distinctive hydrothermal environment

A fundamentally distinct, sulfide-poor variant of intense acid (advanced argillic) alteration occurs at the highest structural levels in iron oxide-rich hydrothermal systems. Understanding the mineralogy, and geochemical conditions of formation in these sulfide-poor mineral assemblages have both genetic and environmental implications. New field observations and compilation of global occurrences of low-sulfur advanced argillic alteration demonstrates that in common with the sulfide-rich variants of advanced argillic alteration, sulfide-poor examples exhibit nearly complete removal of alkalis, leaving a residuum of aluminum-silicate + quartz. In contrast, the sulfur-poor variants lack the abundant pyrite ± other sulfides, hypogene alunite, Al-leached rocks (residual “vuggy” quartz) as well as the Au-Cu-Ag ± As-rich mineralization of some sulfur-rich occurrences. Associated mineralization is dominated by magnetite and/or hematite with accessory elements such as Cu, Au, REE, and P. These observations presented here indicate there must be distinct geologic processes that result in the formation of low-sulfur advanced argillic styles of alteration.Hydrolysis of magmatic SO₂ to sulfuric acid is the most commonly recognized mechanism for generating hypogene advanced argillic alteration, but is not requisite for its formation. Low sulfur iron-oxide copper-gold systems are known to contain abundant acid-styles of alteration (e.g. sericitic, chloritic), which locally reaches advanced argillic assemblages. A compilation of mapping in four districts in northern Chile and reconnaissance observations elsewhere show systematic zoning from near surface low-sulfide advanced argillic alteration through chlorite-sericite-albite and locally potassic alteration. The latter is commonly associated with specular hematite-chalcopyrite mineralization. Present at deeper structural levels are higher-temperature styles of sodic-calcic (oligoclase/scapolite – actinolite) alteration associated with magnetite ± chalcopyrite mineralization. These patterns are in contrast to the more sulfur-rich examples which generally zone to higher pyrite and locally alunite-bearing alteration.Fluid inclusion evidence from the systems in northern Chile shows that many fluids contain 25 to >50 wt% NaCl_eq with appreciable Ca, Fe, and K contents with trapping temperatures >300 °C. These geological and geochemical observations are consistent with the origin of the low-sulfur advanced argillic assemblages from HCl generated by precipitation of iron oxides from iron chloride complexes from a high-salinity fluid by reactions such as 3FeCl₂ + 4H₂O = Fe₃O₄ + 6HCl + H₂. Such HCl-rich (and relatively HSO₄⁼-poor) fluids can then account for the intense acid, Al-silicate-rich styles of alteration observed at high levels in some iron-oxide-coppe-gold (IOCG) systems. The geochemical differences between the presence of sulfide-rich and sulfur-poor examples of advanced argillic alteration are important to distinguishing between system types and the acid-producing capacity of the system, including in the modern weathering environment. They have fundamental implications for effective mineral exploration in low-sulfur systems and provide yet another vector of exposed alteration in the enigmatic IOCG clan of mineral deposits. Furthermore, understanding the geochemistry and mineralogy of this distinct geologic environment has applications to understanding the acid generating capacity and deleterious heavy metals associated with advanced argillic alteration.     

近红外光谱矿物分析技术在帕南铜-钼-钨矿区蚀变矿物填图中的应用

帕南矿区位于西藏冈底斯成矿带东段泽当矿田,具有形成中-大型斑岩型铜钼钨矿床的有利地质条件.使用近红外光谱矿物分析技术在帕南矿区北部进行了蚀变矿物填图,地表主要蚀变类型为青磐岩化及绢英岩化,有小范围泥化现象,未见高级泥化和钾化蚀变.根据蚀变矿物填图结果,结合物探、化探异常分布,推断在平面上主要成矿中心位于本次测区南西部,...     

Acid-sulphate Type Alteration and Mineralization in the Desmos Caldera, Manus Back-arc Basin, Papua New Guinea

Abstract: The Onsen acid‐sulphate type of mineralization is located in the Desmos caldera, Manus back‐arc basin. Hydrothermal precipitates, fresh and altered basaltic andesite collected from the Desmos caldera were studied to determine mineralization and mobility of elements under seawater dominated condition of hydrothermal alteration. The mineralization is characterized by three stages of advanced argillic alteration. Alteration stage I is characterized by coarse subhedral pyrophyllite with disseminated anhedral pyrite and enargite which were formed in the temperature range of 260–340°C. Alteration stage II which overprinted alteration stage I was formed in the temperature range of 270–310°C and is characterized by euhedral pyrite, quartz, natroalunite, cristobalite and mixed layer minerals of smectite and mica with 14–15 Å XRD peak. Alteration stage III is characterized by amorphous silica, native sulphur, covellite, marcasite and euhedral pyrite, which has overprinted alteration stages I and II. Relative to the fresh basaltic andesite samples, the rims and cores of the partly altered basaltic andesite samples have very low major, minor and rare earth elements content except for SiO₂ which is much higher (58–78 wt%) than SiO₂ content of the fresh basaltic andesite (55 wt%). REE patterns of the partly altered basaltic andesite specimens are variably depleted in LREE and have pronounced negative Eu anomalies. Normalization of major, minor and REE content of the partly altered basaltic andesites to the fresh basaltic andesite indicates that all the elements except for SiO2 in the partly altered basaltic andesite are strongly lost (e.g. Al₂O₃ = ‐8.3 to ‐10.9 g/100cm³, Ba = ‐2.2 to ‐5.6 mg/100cm³, La = ‐130 to ‐200 μg/100cm³) during the alteration process. Abnormal depletion of MgO, total Fe as Fe₂O₃, LREE especially Eu and enrichment of SiO₂ in the altered basaltic andesites from the Desmos caldera seafloor is caused by interaction of hot acidic hydrothermal fluid, which originates from a mixing of magmatic fluid and seawater.