金顶超大型铅锌矿床角砾岩及含角砾砂岩分类、特征及成因

兰坪盆地金顶超大型铅锌矿床广泛发育特征特殊的角砾岩和含角砾砂岩,前人对其成因有不同的认识。本文在矿区岩相构造填图的基础上,根据岩石角砾、杂基、胶结物成分和结构特点,划分出以下8类岩石:(1)层状含灰岩角砾砂岩,(2)方解石胶结灰岩砾角砾岩,(3)石膏/硬石膏胶结灰岩砾角砾岩,(4)铁泥质胶结灰岩砾角砾岩,(5)混杂状砂质胶结灰岩砾角砾岩(或称含灰岩角砾砂岩),(6)膏砂泥胶结复成分砾角砾岩,(7)砂质胶结复成分砾角砾岩,(8)含矿石砾角砾岩。其中,含矿石角砾岩形成于矿后,而其它角砾岩形成于矿前且可能近同期形成。角砾岩均处于下部"原地"和上部"外来"地层系统之间。研究认为含矿石砾角砾岩为矿后垮塌成因,其它角砾岩为(含砂)膏盐底辟成因,或含砂膏盐底辟破碎围岩、携带角砾流动的产物。目前角砾岩砂质杂基间的方解石胶结物和灰岩角砾间的方解石胶结物,可能为后期含有机质流体与先存的、作为胶结物的膏盐反应形成。这一过程同时产生H2S,对后期成矿具有重要意义。角砾岩的矿化与膏盐底辟体有关,具"单中心"分带、"多中心"叠加的特点。矿化主要为闪锌矿、方铅矿、黄铁矿等热液矿物交代角砾岩间或砂质杂基间的方解石胶结物,角砾本身弱/无矿化。比较而言,层状含灰岩角砾砂岩为含矿最普遍,次为方解石胶结灰岩砾角砾岩、铁泥质胶结灰岩砾角砾岩、含矿石砾角砾岩,混杂状砂质胶结灰岩砾角砾岩局部含矿。     

云南金顶超大型铅锌矿区的构造格架与控矿构造问题讨论

金顶铅锌矿床是一个以沉积岩(灰岩与砂岩)为寄主岩石的超大型铅锌矿床。本文在对矿区构造和矿床基本特点研究的基础上,重点阐述了两种不同类型矿体(砂岩型和灰岩型)的构造类型、矿石显微构造及矿石组构的特点。本文研究表明,极其发育的断裂构造系统是兰坪盆地地质构造发育的基本特点,在盆地边缘、盆地内部普遍发育了具有薄皮式逆冲断层和推覆构造组合特点的成矿前断裂,它们造成矿区内大规模地层倒转与堆叠现象;盆地中发育了由构造角砾岩与透镜体带构成、宽度达近3km的NE-NNE向成矿期中轴断裂,它控制着矿体或矿床的发育与分布;近SN方向的成矿后地堑构造对于矿床具有破坏作用,并使之剥露于地表。金顶铅锌矿床主要有两种重要的矿床类型,即板状或层状砂岩型矿床和角砾状灰岩型矿床,它们分别位于白垩系钙质长石石英砂岩与三叠系沥青质灰岩构成的两个逆冲席体内。以凤凰山矿区为典型,金顶铅锌矿床具有3层结构:上部的三叠系白云质灰岩岩盖,中部的砂岩型矿体和下部的灰岩型矿体,三者之间被两条作为圈闭存在的重要逆冲断层带间隔。砂岩型矿体与灰岩型矿体之间由几个角砾岩筒连接,作为成矿时期的矿液运移通道存在。破裂与微破裂构造、块状构造、对生脉状构造及假晶构造等是最常见的显微构造型式,它们的存在揭示出破裂与碎裂、充填和交代作用过程在铅锌矿化过程中均起着重要的作用。金顶铅锌矿床的形成与就位,直接受构造作用控制。成矿前的逆冲推覆作用为高压成矿流体的形成以及成矿圈闭的发育创造了条件,成矿期中轴断裂的活动性促使成矿流体向上运移,而灰岩与砂岩的物理性质(包括孔隙度/渗透率以及力学属性)则制约了两种不同类型矿体的出现。致密的灰岩渗透率较低,含矿流体加热了灰岩并使之软化,同时高流体压力使得围岩易碎,形成由早期到晚期的细角砾岩、粗角砾岩和破裂,成矿物质同时沉淀结晶,胶结围岩角砾形成角砾型灰岩矿体。高压流体通过流体通道进入低孔隙度的砂岩后,便迅速弥散于其中,沿着颗粒边界或裂隙充填,并交代岩石中的钾长石碎屑及方解石胶结物,形成块状的砂岩型矿体。     

兰坪金顶铅锌矿床泥底辟流体成矿特征初探

兰坪金顶铅锌矿床的成矿过程与油气的生成有许多相似之处,泥底辟构造在金顶铅锌矿床的成矿过程中起着极为重要的作用。首先,随着泥底辟的上侵,塑性泥流夹带大量气体到构造圈闭中释放压力,扩大成矿空间;其次,流体的去气作用在构造圈闭中进行一系列的强改造活动,进而促使铅锌矿体的形成。文章通过对金顶铅锌矿床形成有关的泥底辟流体的来源、流体形成原因、流体在张性-挤压走滑盆地阶段的演化及金顶铅锌矿床成矿的泥底辟流体特征的分析,认为兰坪金顶铅锌矿床的形成与泥底辟构造密切相关,该矿床具泥底辟流体的成矿特征。     

湖南水口山矿田老鸭巢爆破角砾岩特征及成因初探

老鸭巢铅锌金多金属矿床中的岩体超覆侵入时形成了一系列角砾岩,其中岩浆隐蔽爆破角砾岩就是矿床铅锌金矿体主要赋矿构造.隐蔽爆破角砾岩可分为隐爆角砾、震碎角砾、流化角砾.老鸭巢矿区广泛分布着晚三叠世-中侏罗世的古岩溶沉积体,这些沉积的孔隙度高且富含地下水.当岩浆超覆侵入此处时,由于外部环境发生急剧变化,岩浆减压、降温、二次沸腾,并不断析出流体,在局部圈闭环境下流体压力将逐渐增大;加之岩溶中地下水丰富,地下水不断的气化,使气体的压力骤然增大.在屏蔽作用良好的超覆部发生了爆破作用形成了隐爆角砾;在爆破的外部震碎带形成了震碎角砾;而爆破之后的流化作用则形成了流化角砾.通过对老鸭巢爆破角砾岩的特征的研究,结合爆破角砾岩形成的地层、构造、岩体等条件的分析来探讨隐蔽爆破角砾岩的形成过程.分析了老鸭巢铅锌金矿体与隐蔽爆破角砾岩的关系,为今后矿山找矿提供服务.     

信息动态

<正>1.刘俊来等(Mineralium Deposita,2010,45:567-582),砂岩型铅锌矿床中方铅矿成矿过程的破裂机制:以云南金顶大型硫化物矿床为例第一作者联系方式:刘俊来,中国地质大学地质过程与矿产资源国家重点实验室,北京100083云南金顶超大型铅锌矿床主要有两种矿床类型,即板状或层状砂岩型矿床和角砾状灰岩型矿床。构造分析表明,逆冲断层与穹窿构造是控制铅锌矿化作用的主要构造。具有3层结构的这两种矿床保存在金顶穹窿构造格架内的两条逆冲席体内。砂岩型矿床形成穹窿的岩盖,灰岩型矿床集中在砂岩型矿床岩     

青海南部东莫扎抓矿区挤压断层带结构及其对铅锌成矿的控制

大量逆断层控矿的实例表明挤压断层带具有较大含矿潜力,但挤压环境下矿质运移沉淀的过程尚不清楚。文章从断层带结构解剖入手,以东莫扎抓铅锌矿床为例,研究挤压断层带对成矿的控制。控矿断层可分为碎裂化带、浑圆角砾带和扁长角砾带3部分,其中碎裂化带内灰岩角砾中含有细脉状矿化,浑圆角砾带无矿化,扁长角砾带的角砾内部发育不规则脉状矿化,角砾间有浸染状、角砾状、团块状矿化。矿脉形态及与围岩接触关系表明成矿受断裂控制,矿质充填与灰岩破裂基本同时发生。分析认为,断层带经历了两个阶段的生长过程,成矿流体在第二次挤压的早期阶段贯入,挤压过程中的碎裂化和压溶作用为矿质运移和沉淀提供了重要保障。     

安徽省汞洞冲铅锌-多金属矿床流体包裹体和稳定同位素地球化学研究

<正>汞洞冲矿床地处安徽省六安市金寨县鲜花岭地区,大地构造位置在华北与扬子克拉通接合带之秦岭-大别造山带东段,东临郯庐断裂带。汞洞冲铅锌矿床仅由一个主矿体组成,矿体形状和产状受角砾岩体控制,其围岩为佛子岭群云母石英片岩,采区内未见侵入岩。角砾岩体显示出热液角砾岩的特征:1角砾岩体呈筒状与围岩界限清晰;2胶结物主要为热液石英、方解石、白云石和金属硫化物,晶洞构造发育;3角砾形态多为棱角状,可见胶结物呈细脉状穿插角砾,角砾边部可见蚀变晕圈。     

隐爆角砾岩型金矿床成矿特征浅析--以山西堡子湾、河南祁雨沟金矿床为例

中酸性岩浆侵入体隐蔽爆破作用形成角砾岩体(筒)的同时于其中形成隐爆角砾岩型金矿床.侵入岩体规模一般较小,岩性主要为闪长岩类、石英(二长)斑岩类或正长岩类的中酸性岩石.角砾岩体在平面上呈近圆形或椭圆形,面积相对较小,在剖面上呈垂直地表的筒状,深部一般与中酸性侵入岩体相连.角砾的成分在浅部多为围岩角砾,往深部逐渐变为以花岗质角砾为主,胶结物主要是细岩屑和蚀变矿物.中酸性侵入体是矿床的成矿母岩,隐爆作用的发生及形成的隐爆角砾岩体(筒)是容矿构造,角砾岩体中的次级断裂是控矿构造,各因素对于此类型金矿床的形成起着重要的作用.     

华北地区中奥陶统蒸发盐岩溶解坍塌角砾岩化作用

华北地区中奥陶统下马家沟组第二、四段及上马家沟组第三段广泛分布着三层角砾岩。角砾岩系由蒸发盐溶解致使其白云岩夹层及残留蒸发盐岩沉陷坍塌所形成。这是一个复杂的过程,可划分为四个阶段:1.蒸发盐岩层塑性变形和矿物相的转变导致原生沉积构造破坏和部分角砾岩化;2.形成具蒸发盐和白云石基质的角砾岩;3.形成具白云石基质的角砾岩;4.形成细-粗晶石灰岩、角砾灰岩。     

白垩系膏岩层序对铅锌矿床形成的贡献——以云南兰坪金顶超大型铅锌矿床云龙组为例

通过野外地质观察, 结合勘探资料和前人研究, 本次用K-Ar法对兰坪盆地金顶超大型铅锌矿床云龙组中的伊利石开展测年研究, 并分析典型勘探线剖面的主要围岩、矿体及矿石结构构造特点, 论述了矿区膏岩层序可能的时代及其在成矿过程中的作用和方式, 形成如下初步认识: 金顶铅锌矿区云龙组中黏土矿物伊利石的K-Ar法年龄为(105.7±1.4) Ma, 与前人测得地层中黄铁矿Re-Os等时线年龄(114±13) Ma相近, 表明该套膏岩层序的地层时代为白垩纪阿尔布期(Albian); 膏盐岩呈似层状、透镜状、角砾状赋存于云龙组中上部, 经后期成矿作用改造而形成呈似层状、角砾状、不规则状产出的铅锌矿体, 并常与膏盐岩共存; 铅锌矿体的就位空间既包括原膏岩层序的空间位置, 也包括高孔隙度的景星组砂岩; 巨量的云龙组膏盐岩在成矿过程中通过硫酸盐还原提供丰富的硫, 使铅锌矿床达到超大型规模。因此, 巨量膏岩层的消耗是金顶矿床巨量金属得以富集成矿的关键因素之一, 这对特提斯造山带含膏岩层序内寻找类似矿床具有普遍意义。同时, 该类膏岩层序的对比研究, 对于“金顶式”的MVT型铅锌矿床的区域找矿潜力评判也具有重要的指示价值。     

Characteristics of Breccias and C-O-Sr-S Isotope Geochemistry of the Duocaima Pb-Zn Deposit in Tuotuohe, Qinghai Province: Implications for the Ore-forming Process

The Duocaima carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit is a newly found large deposit in the southern area of Qinghai Province.In this paper, the characteristics, genesis, significance to Pb-Zn mineralization of the widely developed breccias, and the ore-forming process have been carefully studied based on geological documentation of drilling holes, microscopic observations of petrography and microstructure and some stable isotope measurements.Based on the compositions of the clast and matrix, the breccias can be classified into three types: limestone clasts cemented by marl; limestone clasts with fine-grained calcareous materials; and limestone clasts cemented by hydrothermal calcite.The mineralization in the first type of breccia is weak, whereas it is strong in the latter two types of breccias.According to the locations of occurrence and structural characteristics of the breccias along with the relationship between the breccias and mineralization, part of the limestone clasts that are cemented by marl and outcrop in the contact zone between the Wudaoliang Formation(Nw) and the underlying Jiushidaoban Formation(Pj) are attributed to synsedimentary fault-genetic breccia, whereas the last of the limestone clasts that are cemented by marl and developed in the Jiushidaoban Formation(Pj) are attributed to the breccia generated by karst cave collapse; the limestone clasts with fine-grained calcareous materials and the limestone clasts cemented by hydrothermal calcite are attributed to breccia formed by hydrothermal dissolution.The breccia formed by karst collapse had consistently evolved for a long period of time, while the breccias with other origins were formed around the period of mineralization(i.e., about or slightly later than 20–16 Ma).The breccia generated by karst cave collapse and hydrothermal dissolution are somewhat related; the formation of the breccia from karst cave collapse provided open space for the later mineralization and reaction between hydrothermal fluids and host rocks, and the subsequent strong dissolution by hydrothermal fluids transformed some of the breccia formed earlier by karst cave collapse.Meanwhile, carbonate host rocks with breccias and brecciaed mineralization can be a potential sign of Mississippi Valley Type(MVT) deposits and important indicators for regional mineral exploration.The δ13CV-PDB, δ18OVSMOW, and 87Sr/86 Sr values of hydrothermal calcite in the Duocaima deposit range from 4.3‰ to 7.1‰, 14.9‰ to 20.1‰, and 0.707494 to 0.708185, respectively; the δ13CV-PDB, δ18OV-SMOW, and 87Sr/86 Sr values of the host limestones of the Jiushidaoban Formation range from 3.6‰ to 5.3‰, 18.0‰ to 20.5‰, and 0.707372 to 0.707945, respectively.The δ13CV-PDB and 87Sr/86 Sr values of hydrothermal calcite and limestone are similar, indicating single sources of C and Sr in this deposit, with the likely source being the limestone of the Jiushidaoban Formation.The minor scattering of the δ18OV-SMOW values suggests that different O isotope fluids underwent the isotope exchange reaction.The C-O-Sr isotope characteristics indicate that the host limestones experienced a dissolution and precipitation process during mineralization, which is beneficial to improving the porosity of host rocks and promoting the precipitation of metal sulfides.The δ34SV-CDT value of the breccia-type mineralization sulfides ranges from-30.4‰ to-0.3‰; that is, the δ34SV-CDT value is negative with considerable variation, illustrating that during the breccia-type mineralization process, the bacteriogenic reduction of sulfates provided the vast majority of sulfur, whereas the thermochemical reduction of sulfates was relatively unimportant.The brecciation that occurred as a result of karst cave collapse was mainly generated by the dissolution of groundwater; however, the brecciation related to hydrothermal dissolution and mineralization processes were caused by mixing of different fluids.     

UNAM Scientific Shallow-Drilling Program of the Chicxulub Impact Crater

A scientific drilling program is being carried out by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) at the southern sector of the Chicxulub impact crater in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Eight boreholes, ranging in depth from 60 m to 702 m, with a total of 2.62 km of continuos core, were recovered. A high recovery rate of up to 99% (overall average recovery rate for the eight boreholes is 87%) allows us to investigate in detail the stratigraphy of the impact lithologies and the Tertiary carbonate sequence. Three of the boreholes (UNAM-5, UNAM-6, and UNAM-7, with core recovery rates from 89 to 99%) sampled impact breccias that were classified in two units—an upper breccia sequence rich in basement clasts, impact glass, and fragments of melt (suevitelike breccia) and a lower breccia sequence rich in limestone, dolomite, and evaporite clasts (bunte-like breccia). Depths of contact between the Tertiary carbonate sequence and the impact breccias are 332.0 m in UNAM-5, 222.2 m in UNAM-7, and 282.8 m in UNAM-6, giving the depth to the K/T boundary. In UNAM-7, the contact between the upper and the lower breccias is at 348.4 m, which yields a thickness of 126.2 m for the suevitelike breccia. The rest of the boreholes sampled part of the Tertiary carbonate sequence (～200 m thick), composed mainly of limestones, dolomitized carbonates, and calcarenite, with some fossiliferous horizons.     

云南金顶超大型铅锌矿床沥青Re-Os法测年及地质意义

油气藏与金属矿床在世界许多沉积盆地内共存,油气成藏与金属成矿的动力学关系备受关注。云南兰坪金顶产有中国目前最大铅锌矿床,也是世界上唯一陆相沉积岩容矿、且形成于新生代的超大型铅锌矿床。矿床中常见沥青、重油等有机质,它们的形成早于或晚于铅锌硫化物成矿存在明显分歧,限制了对油气成藏与铅锌成矿关系的认识。本文针对金顶超大型矿区以古新统云龙组含砾砂岩和砂砾岩为主岩铅锌矿石中沥青,开展了Re-Os法同位素测年,获得68±5Ma的等时线年龄(MSWD=9.2,n=6),指示金顶古油气成藏形成于古新世,先于铅锌硫化物大规模成矿;烃类物质具有通过热化学还原硫酸盐提供铅锌成矿所需硫化氢的客观条件;油气成藏与铅锌成矿在云南金顶矿区很可能是一个先后发生的连续地质过程,成藏为成矿奠基,成矿伴随着油气藏的破坏。     

中国云南金顶铅锌矿碎屑灌入体和水力压裂构造的观察及流体动力学分析

金顶铅锌矿曾被认为是形成于相对被动地受构造与沉积相控制的盆地流体,类似于许多其他沉积岩容矿的金属矿床。然而,一些近期研究显示在金顶矿区露天采场存在砂岩灌入体、侵位角砾岩和水力压裂构造,说明矿床可能形成于超压流体的爆发性释放。文中报道在地下坑道（跑马坪和峰子山）中新观察到的与超压流体有关的构造,这些构造显示比露天采场有更...     

滇西北兰坪地区金顶超大型铅锌矿床架崖山-北厂矿段岩石地层特征

详细描述了滇西北兰坪金顶矿区架崖山-北厂主矿段露采剖面的岩石地层学特征。架崖山-北厂矿段出露正常沉积岩和非正常沉积岩两大岩石系列,分别由灰白色白云质灰岩、黑色泥晶灰岩、青灰色泥灰岩、杂色泥质粉砂岩、砖红色粉砂岩、红色膏溶角砾岩和浅灰色钙质砂岩、灰褐色灰岩角砾岩、杂色垮塌角砾岩组成。空间上以非正常沉积岩系列灰褐色灰岩角砾岩和浅灰色钙质砂岩为中心,正常沉积岩系列灰白色白云质灰岩、黑色泥晶灰岩、杂色泥质粉砂岩、青灰色泥灰岩和红色膏溶角砾岩分布于其周围。灰褐色灰岩角砾岩和浅灰色钙质砂岩构成了金顶矿区的2种主要矿石类型,二者空间上密切共生,近直立的灰岩角砾岩分布于近水平的钙质砂岩层的下部,构成似“蘑菇”状的几何形态。架崖山-北厂矿段岩石地层学的特征揭示了兰坪金顶铅锌矿泥底辟机制的成因特点,为矿区勘查和外围寻找金顶式矿床提供了新恩路。     

Petrography and geochemistry of the Belle Roche breccia (lower Visean, Belgium): evidence for brecciation by evaporite dissolution

The lower Visean Belle Roche breccia (east Belgium) displays a number of features that indicate brecciation by evaporite dissolution collapse: the sharp lower contact of the breccia, the gradual transition into the overlying strata, the presence of semi-continuous beds within the breccia giving it a crude ‘stratification’, and the existence of several types of (calcite, dolomite and silica) evaporite pseudomorphs. Furthermore, the majority of the breccia fragments indicates hypersaline to lagoonal sedimentation conditions. Most of these fragments display an interlocking fabric. The interpretation is also supported by the existence of continuous evaporite beds replaced by carbonates (calcite and dolomite) both under and overlying the breccia. The brecciation history is characterized by gradual subsidence. Multiple brecciation episodes are recognized, and are best seen in the lower breccia which underwent at least two major brecciation episodes. Here, brecciated and veined breccia fragments occur within a microsparite (neomorphosed mud) matrix. Brecciation of these strata was due to the dissolution of interlayered evaporites. The second brecciation event relates to infiltration of meteoric water and to the dissolution of the remaining evaporites. This infiltration was probably triggered by the orogenic event at the end of the Visean (Sudetic orogenic phase). The whole breccia was finally cemented by a blocky calcite. The different lithologies and cements were characterized by their trace element (Mg, Sr, Na, Fe, Mn, K), insoluble residue and organic matter content. Carbon/oxygen isotope data of the cements and replaced evaporite layers helped to place the multiple collapse episodes within a general diagenetic model. Solution-reprecipitation processes within the original aragonite-dominated mud fragments, as well as in the early diagenetic dolomite fragments, have been recognized. The geochemical data show that these transformation processes occurred in equilibrium with the same fluid. These processes may have occurred within a freshwater lens very early in the diagenetic evolution or under shallow burial conditions. Cementation of blocky calcite occurred in a meteoric realm under burial conditions.     

Late Jurassic tectonics and sedimentation: breccias in the Unken syncline,central Northern Calcareous Alps

This study analyses and discusses well preserved examples of Late Jurassic structures in the Northern Calcareous Alps, located at the Loferer Alm, about 35 km southwest of Salzburg. A detailed sedimentary and structural study of the area was carried out for a better understanding of the local Late Jurassic evolution. The Grubhörndl and Schwarzenbergklamm breccias are chaotic, coarse-grained and locally sourced breccias with mountain-sized and hotel-sized clasts, respectively. Both breccias belong to one single body of breccias, the Grubhörndl breccia representing its more proximal and the Schwarzenbergklamm breccia its more distal part, respectively. Breccia deposition occurred during the time of deposition of the Ruhpolding Radiolarite since the Schwarzenbergklamm breccia is underlain and overlain by these radiolarites. Formation of the breccias was related to a major, presumably north-south trending normal fault scarp. It was accompanied and post-dated by west-directed gravitational sliding of the Upper Triassic limestone (“Oberrhätkalk”), which was extended by about 6% on top of a glide plane in underlying marls. The breccia and slide-related structures are sealed and blanketed by Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous sediments. The normal fault scarp, along which the breccia formed, was probably part of a pull-apart basin associated with strike slip movements. On a regional scale, however, we consider this Late Jurassic strike-slip activity in the western part of the Northern Calcareous Alps to be synchronous with gravitational emplacement of “exotic” slides and breccias (Hallstatt mélange), triggered by Late Jurassic shortening in the eastern part of the Northern Calcareous Alps. Hence, two competing processes affected one and the same continental margin.     

The role of intrusions in the formation of Irish-type mineralisation

The Stonepark Prospect is located in County Limerick, south-central Ireland. Multiple zones of Zn–Pb mineralisation have been identified at Stonepark and these are approximately 5 km west of the Pallas Green Prospect. At Stonepark, the sulphide bodies are hosted within the Waulsortian Limestone and closely resemble other Irish-type deposits. The mineralisation is composed of pyrite-marcasite, sphalerite and galena with gangue Fe-dolomite and calcite cements. A key difference at Stonepark is the presence of Chadian-aged volcanic rocks (Knockroe Volcanics) that intrude into and overlie the Waulsortian Limestone. Subsequent hydrothermal brecciation of the Waulsortian Limestone and Knockroe intrusions resulted in the formation of tabular polymict breccia bodies containing mixed carbonate and clasts of intrusive rocks. These have then been overprinted by massive sulphide mineralisation. Further syn-mineralisation brecciation has overprinted the earlier breccias. Drilling has demonstrated a spatial relationship between the volume of intrusive rocks (dykes and polymict breccias) and Zn–Pb mineralisation. This association suggests that the intrusive rocks provided a mechanism for the introduction of the mineralising fluids into the breccia bodies. This is significant as to date no large controlling fault has been identified, as is seen at other Irish-type deposits. Further work is required to understand the alteration process of the intrusive rocks and how this may relate to the mineralising process.     

Facies analysis of the Trypali carbonate unit (Upper Triassic) in central-western Crete (Greece): an evaporite formation transformed into solution-collapse breccias

The Trypali carbonate unit (Upper Triassic), which crops out mainly in central‐western Crete, occurs between the parautochthonous series (Plattenkalk or Talea Ori‐Ida series, e.g. metamorphic Ionian series) and the Tripolis nappe (comprising the Tripolis carbonate series and including a basal Phyllite–Quartzite unit). It consists of interbedded dolomitic layers, represented principally by algally laminated peloidal mudstones, foraminiferal, peloidal and ooidal grainstones, as well as by fine‐grained detrital carbonate layers, in which coarse baroque dolomite crystals and dolomite nodules are dispersed. Baroque dolomite is present as pseudomorphs after evaporite crystals (nodules and rosettes), which grew penecontemporaneously by displacement and/or replacement of the host sediments (sabkha diagenesis). However, portions of the evaporites show evidence of resedimentation. Pre‐existing evaporites predominantly consisted of skeletal halite crystals that formed from fragmentation of pyramidal‐shaped hoppers, as well as of anhydrite nodules and rosettes (salt crusts). All microfacies are characteristic of peritidal depositional environments, such as sabkhas, tidal flats, shallow hypersaline lagoons, tidal bars and/or tidal channels. Along most horizons, the Trypali unit is strongly brecciated. These breccias are of solution‐collapse origin, forming after the removal of evaporite beds. Evaporite‐related diagenetic fabrics show that there was extensive dissolution and replacement of pre‐existing evaporites, which resulted in solution‐collapse of the carbonate beds. Evaporite replacement fabrics, including calcitized and silicified evaporite crystals, are present in cements in the carbonate breccias. Brecciation was a multistage process; it started in the Triassic, but was most active in the Tertiary, in association with uplift and ground‐water flow (telogenetic alteration). During late diagenesis, in zones of intense evaporite leaching and brecciation, solution‐collapse breccias were transformed to rauhwackes. The Trypali carbonate breccias (Trypali unit) are lithologically and texturally similar to the Triassic solution‐collapse breccias of the Ionian zone (continental Greece). The evaporites probably represent a major diapiric injection along the base of the parautochthonous series (metamorphic Ionian series) and also along the overthrust surface separating the parautochthonous series from the Tripolis nappe (Phyllite–Quartzite and Tripolis series). The injected evaporites were subsequently transformed into solution‐collapse breccias.