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。     

安徽庐枞盆地矾山酸性蚀变岩帽形成时代及其地质意义

酸性蚀变岩帽是岩浆热液流体和围岩在近地表相互作用的产物,是斑岩-浅成低温热液成矿系统的重要指标。发育在长江中下游成矿带庐枞盆地内的矾山酸性蚀变岩帽产出面积较大( 20km~2)。前人对该酸性蚀变岩帽中的明矾石矿床的地质和地化特征进行了相关研究,但详细的年代学研究工作尚未开展。为精确厘定矾山酸性蚀变岩帽的形成时代,本文开展了明矾石~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar法和金红石原位U-Pb法定年。矾山酸性蚀变岩帽中明矾石共有三种类型:ⅠA型明矾石主要呈交代蚀变发生在热液蚀变早阶段,与石英、粒状黄铁矿或赤铁矿、少量金红石共生;ⅠB型明矾石形成于热液蚀变晚阶段,主要呈叶片状集合体充填在开放空间中,与石英、星点状赤铁矿、粒状金红石集合体共生,少量金红石和赤铁矿沿明矾石解理裂隙分布;Ⅱ型明矾石是表生明矾石,主要呈细粒集合体沿裂隙分布,与赤铁矿、高岭石、地开石共生。三类明矾石形成于不同环境下:ⅠA和ⅠB型明矾石形成于岩浆热液环境下,是大矾山明矾石矿区的主要产物;Ⅱ型细粒明矾石分布在矾山酸性蚀变岩帽的非明矾石矿区,是表生环境下的产物。ⅠA型明矾石的~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar定年的坪年龄为131±6Ma,代表了矾山酸性蚀变岩帽的形成时代。与Ⅱ型明矾石密切共生的金红石U-Pb定年结果为32. 7±4Ma,在该期间,整个盆地内无岩浆活动发生,该年龄反映了矾山酸性蚀变岩帽经历表生氧化作用的时间。明矾石和金红石定年结果分别对应岩浆热液和表生明矾石的形成时代。在利用明矾石进行找矿工作时需先明确明矾石成因,矾山酸性蚀变岩帽中深成明矾石是下一阶段的找矿研究的基础。     

浙东南后坑酸性蚀变岩帽地质及矿物学特征

蚀变岩帽在地表一般表现为陡倾的正地形,是高温、高氧逸度流体对围岩进行酸性淋滤,形成的一系列高级泥化和泥化等蚀变矿物组合。这种蚀变是浅成低温热液蚀变系统的一部分,其深部可能具有寻找斑岩型矿化的潜力。浙东南陆相火山岩地区普遍发育此种蚀变岩帽,但该类型蚀变常被前人定义为“次生石英岩”。本文选择其中典型的后坑蚀变岩帽,通过大比例尺蚀变填图、岩心编录,利用短波红外(ASD)、电子探针(EPMA)、扫描电镜(SEM)、能谱仪(EDS) 等分析技术手段,发现蚀变岩帽具有垂直方向和水平方向的蚀变矿物分带。垂直方向由深到浅依次发育刚玉-绢云母,绢云母-叶蜡石,明矾石-高岭石-地开石具分带特征;水平方向上从核部到边部依次发育多孔状石英-金红石、高级泥化带(明矾石-叶蜡石-高岭石-地开石-水铝石-Aluminum Phosphate and sulphates矿物)、泥化带(高岭石-伊利石-蒙脱石)。并得出以下几点认识：①后坑蚀变岩帽中明矾石短波红外特征吸收峰在1480~1491nm之间,以岩浆-热液成因的钾明矾石为主,含少量钠明矾石;②叶蜡石短波红外特征吸收峰在2167nm左右,分为两种成因：早期高级泥化阶段的绢云母经后期热液退变质蚀变而成以及早期高岭石经后期热液进变质作用形成;③蚀变岩帽根部的刚玉被后期热液蚀变形成绢云母,刚玉-绢云母蚀变带之下可能是黄铁绢英岩化带;④早期水铝石被后期热液蚀变形成地开石,代表了热液的多期次性;通过对比后坑蚀变岩帽与其他斑岩-浅成低温热液矿床(如Horse- Ivaal和Vuda等矿床)的蚀变矿物分带后,发现后坑蚀变岩帽蚀变矿物分带与这些典型矿床相似。本文认为后坑蚀变岩帽属于该成矿系统上部的浅成低温热液蚀变部分,其深部具有寻找斑岩矿床的潜力,同时提出浙东南其他发育在陆相火山岩中的蚀变岩帽也属于该蚀变系统,具有寻找斑岩型铜金矿床的较大潜力。     

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。     

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。     

紫金山铜金矿明矾石交代蚀变岩的岩石地球化学特征

在野外地质调查和岩(矿)相学的基础上,通过对比分析紫金山铜金矿各种交代蚀变岩的岩石地球化学特征,对本矿高硫化型浅成低温热液成矿体系有了进一步认识.相比其他种类的交代蚀变岩,明矾石交代蚀变岩的岩石地球化学特征主要表现为:①主量元素中Al2O3,K2O明显增加,而SiO2明显降低,其他造岩元素也都有降低的趋势;②成矿元素Cu与运矿元素S,F相关性密切;Cu与Au,Ag等成矿元素呈一定的正相关性,而与Pb,Zn,Sn等矿化相关性较差;③微量元素均显示出大离子亲石元素较高,明显富集Rb,Ba,Tb,U,Pb,而低P,Ti;④稀土元素普遍具有较高的轻稀土、较低的重稀土,负Eu异常较小或不明显.明矾石交代蚀变岩的这些岩石地球化学特征显示出紫金山铜金矿高硫化型浅成低温热液是富含Cu,Au,Ag等多种成矿元素和S,F等运矿元素的成矿流体,其形成是与燕山晚期中酸性的火山—侵入杂岩有关的岩浆热液与燕山早期的花岗岩类长期广泛水—岩反应的结果.     

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。     

Geochemical behavior during mineralization and alteration events in the Baiyinchang volcanic-hosted massive sulfide deposits,Gansu Province,China

The Zheyaoshan deposit is the largest within the Baiyinchang (BYC) volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) district, located in the northern Qilian orogenic belt of North China. The deposit is hosted by quartz keratophyre tuffs, with wall-rock alteration mainly comprising chlorite, sericite, quartz, pyrite and epidote. Mineral assemblages within the altered host rocks can be divided into a sericite-quartz-dominant assemblage (sericite-silicified zone), a chlorite-dominant assemblage (chlorite-dominant zone) and a pyrite-dominant assemblage (mineralized zone) based on geochemical analysis and alteration characteristics. We have conducted detailed processing and critical analysis of the geochemical data of both the altered and least-altered host rocks in order to investigate the problem of closure in the geochemical dataset to eliminate the influence that each component has on the other in terms of mass change, and have applied the standardized method of the mass change calculation to analyze this data. The results show that: (1) the sericite-silicified zone formed along fissures due to the ingress of hydrothermal fluids, with MnO₂, Na₂O and CaO being mobilized into the hydrothermal fluids leached and MgO, Fe₂O₃, SiO₂, K₂O, BaO deposited. Additionally, Ag, Cu and chalcophile elements (Ag, As and Bi) were enriched while Pb, Zn and large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) (Cs, Sr, Eu, Be) were mobilized into hydrothermal fluids; (2) the physiochemical conditions and pH levels of the hydrothermal fluids changed during sericitization, with MgO, Fe₂O₃, BaO being further enriched and MnO, Na₂O, CaO further depleted, leading to formation of chlorite and the initial precipitation of metallogenic the (Cu, Zn, Pb) and chalcophile elements (Ag, As, Bi); (3) the negative Eu anomaly was mainly due to its strong activity when Eu is mobilized into the hydrothermal fluids during since plagioclase break-down during the sericite-silicification process; (4) AI and CCPI values gradually increase towards the orebody. The chlorite-dominant assemblage and sericite-quartz-dominant assemblage on the periphery of the chlorite-dominant zone can all be used as vectors towards the volcanic massive sulfide orebody and for regional-scale mineral exploration. Either leached elements or enriched elements can be considered as significant indicator elements and as prospective indicators for geochemical exploration within the BYC district. The Eu anomaly may be especially useful as an indicator for distinguishing the least-altered rocks which has great significance for exploration on the regional scale.     

东天山玉峰金矿热液蚀变作用与元素迁移规律

玉峰金矿位于中亚造山带东天山东缘,是近年来新发现的含银高品位金矿床。该矿床目前已探明6个金矿体,均赋存在石英斑岩中。矿区热液蚀变作用发育,与成矿关系最密切的为黄铁绢英岩化和硅化,显示明显的蚀变分带:以石英硫化物脉为中心,黄铁绢英岩化带在其两侧大致对称分布。本文选取矿体上盘和下盘的石英斑岩、黄铁绢英岩进行了全岩的主、微量元素及成矿元素测试,并对其中的长石和绢云母进行电子探针成分分析。测试结果表明,黄铁绢英岩中的Au含量较蚀变前呈指数级增长,Ag、Cu、As等成矿元素大量增加,CaO、Na_2O、P_2O_5、P_2O_5、Sr、Pb、Th、U、Sb等元素显著迁出,而SiO_2、Al_2O_3、TiO_2含量和稀土元素含量变化较小,表现稳定。热液蚀变过程中,石英斑岩中71%～76%的正长石发生绢云母化,导致K_2O大量迁出;而钠长石几乎全部蚀变为绢云母,造成Na_2O大量迁出。热液流体的贡献使得蚀变岩中MgO、Fe_2O_3~T含量成倍增加,并主要富集在绢云母和/或黄铁矿晶格中。综合分析认为,绢英岩化蚀变带,Au、Cu、As和Bi等元素的综合化探异常,低电阻率、高激化率的地球物理特征可以作为玉峰矿区深部和外围找矿的标志。研究区内的石炭纪石英斑岩带,尤其是在构造叠加部位,热液活动使其更有利于矿化富集,是找矿勘探的有利部位。     

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.     

Lithologic controls on mineralization at the Lagunas Norte high-sulfidation epithermal gold deposit, northern Peru

The 13.1-Moz high-sulfidation epithermal gold deposit of Lagunas Norte, Alto Chicama District, northern Peru, is hosted in weakly metamorphosed quartzites of the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Chimú Formation and in overlying Miocene volcanic rocks of dacitic to rhyolitic composition. The Dafne and Josefa diatremes crosscut the quartzites and are interpreted to be sources of the pyroclastic volcanic rocks. Hydrothermal activity was centered on the diatremes and four hydrothermal stages have been defined, three of which introduced Au ± Ag mineralization. The first hydrothermal stage is restricted to the quartzites of the Chimú Formation and is characterized by silice parda, a tan-colored aggregate of quartz-auriferous pyrite–rutile ± digenite infilling fractures and faults, partially replacing silty beds and forming cement of small hydraulic breccia bodies. The δ³⁴S values for pyrite (1.7–2.2?‰) and digenite (2.1?‰) indicate a magmatic source for the sulfur. The second hydrothermal stage resulted in the emplacement of diatremes and the related volcanic rocks. The Dafne diatreme features a relatively impermeable core dominated by milled slate from the Chicama Formation, whereas the Josefa diatreme only contains Chimú Formation quartzite clasts. The third hydrothermal stage introduced the bulk of the mineralization and affected the volcanic rocks, the diatremes, and the Chimú Formation. In the volcanic rocks, classic high-sulfidation epithermal alteration zonation exhibiting vuggy quartz surrounded by a quartz–alunite and a quartz–alunite–kaolinite zone is observed. Company data suggest that gold is present in solid solution or micro inclusions in pyrite. In the quartzite, the alteration is subtle and is manifested by the presence of pyrophyllite or kaolinite in the silty beds, the former resulting from relatively high silica activities in the fluid. In the quartzite, gold mineralization is hosted in a fracture network filled with coarse alunite, auriferous pyrite, and enargite. Alteration and mineralization in the breccias were controlled by permeability, which depends on the type and composition of the matrix, cement, and clast abundance. Coarse alunite from the main mineralization stage in textural equilibrium with pyrite and enargite has δ³⁴S values of 24.8–29.4?‰ and $ {\delta^{18 }}{{\mathrm{O}}_{{\mathrm{S}{{\mathrm{O}}_4}}}} $ values of 6.8–13.9?‰, consistent with H₂S as the dominant sulfur species in the mostly magmatic fluid and constraining the fluid composition to low pH (0–2) and logfO₂ of ?28 to ?30. Alunite–pyrite sulfur isotope thermometry records temperatures of 190–260 °C; the highest temperatures corresponding to samples from near the diatremes. Alunite of the third hydrothermal stage has been dated by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar at 17.0?±?0.22 Ma. The fourth hydrothermal stage introduced only modest amounts of gold and is characterized by the presence of massive alunite–pyrite in fractures, whereas barite, drusy quartz, and native sulfur were deposited in the volcanic rocks. The $ {\delta^{18 }}{{\mathrm{O}}_{{\mathrm{S}{{\mathrm{O}}_4}}}} $ values of stage IV alunite vary between 11.5 and 11.7?‰ and indicate that the fluid was magmatic, an interpretation also supported by the isotopic composition of barite (δ³⁴S?=?27.1 to 33.8?‰ and $ {\delta^{18 }}{{\mathrm{O}}_{{\mathrm{S}{{\mathrm{O}}_4}}}} $ ?=?8.1 to 12.7?‰). The Δ³⁴S_py–alu isotope thermometry records temperatures of 210 to 280 °C with the highest values concentrated around the Josefa diatreme. The Lagunas Norte deposit was oxidized to a depth of about 80 m below the current surface making exploitation by heap leach methods viable.     

Gold Abundance and Stable Isotopes (H, O, S) in Hydrothermal Alteration Zones of Gasa Island (Gasado), Korea

Geology of the Gasa Island (Gasado), Korea, consists mainly of tuffaceous rocks, rhyolite and andesitic rocks related to Cretaceous volcanic activity. These rocks are hydrothermally altered, and are classified into the following four alteration zones based on the alteration mineral assemblages: advanced argillic alteration (alunite‐pyrophyllite‐kaolinite‐pyrite); sericitic alteration (sericite‐kaolinite‐quartz); propylitic alteration (quartz‐chlorite‐carbonate‐pyrite); and silicified zones. Alunite in the advanced argillic zone occurred in two types; a massive or disseminated type and a vein type. Most of the massive or disseminated alunites are ≥50 μm in size, whereas the size of vein alunites is <20–30 μm. Alunite grain size is greater in the central part of disseminated or massive alunite, while it is smaller toward the margins. The gold content of each alteration zone is 21–2900 ppb, 15–88 ppb, 57–1730 ppb, and 2–231 ppb, respectively. The gold content of quartz veins developed in the alteration zones is 39–715 ppb. Gold is enriched in the minerals and rocks around faults and fissures, and is strongly concentrated in the advanced argillic alteration zone around faults. Hydrothermal solutions traveling along the fracture systems might be responsible for the comparatively high gold content in the study area. δ³⁴S of alunites occurring in the advanced argillic alteration zone range from +16.5 to +3.9‰, although most are in a comparatively narrow range from +8.6 to +5.2‰. There is no difference between disseminated or massive and vein alunites. The δ³⁴S of pyrites in the advanced argillic alteration zone are from +4.8 to ?2.9‰. Oxygen and hydrogen isotope values of alunites are from +8.5 to 0‰ and from ?59.6 to ?97.3‰, respectively. With an assumed temperature of 200°C, δD and δ¹⁸O of hydrothermal solutions calculated for alunites are from ?53.6 to ?91.3‰, and from ?2.4 to ?8.1 for massive or disseminated alunites and from ?6.6 to ?10.9‰ for vein alunites, respectively. These data suggest that meteoric water dominated during the alunite formation. Isotopic data, geological setting, mineralogy, size of alunite and pure alunite composition (K end member) indicate that alunites of the study area were formed in the steam‐heated environment of acid sulfate alteration.     

Role of fluid mixing and wallrock sulfidation in gold mineralization at the Semna mine area, central Eastern Desert of Egypt: Evidence from hydrothermal alteration, fluid inclusions and stable isotope data

The Semna gold deposit is one of several vein-type gold occurrences in the central Eastern Desert of Egypt, where gold-bearing quartz veins are confined to shear zones close to the boundaries of small granitoid stocks. The Semna gold deposit is related to a series of sub-parallel quartz veins along steeply dipping WNW-trending shear zones, which cut through tectonized metagabbro and granodiorite rocks. The orebodies exhibit a complex structure of massive and brecciated quartz consistent with a change of the paleostress field from tensional to simple shear regimes along the pre-existing fault segments. Textural, structural and mineralogical evidence, including open space structures, quartz stockwork and alteration assemblages, constrain on vein development during an active fault system. The ore mineral assemblage includes pyrite, chalcopyrite, subordinate arsenopyrite, galena, sphalerite and gold. Hydrothermal chlorite, carbonate, pyrite, chalcopyrite and kaolinite are dominant in the altered metaggabro; whereas, quartz, sericite, pyrite, kaolinite and alunite characterize the granodiorite rocks in the alteration zones. Mixtures of alunite, vuggy silica and disseminated sulfides occupy the interstitial open spaces, common at fracture intersections. Partial recrystallization has rendered the brecciation and open space textures suggesting that the auriferous quartz veins were formed at moderately shallow depths in the transition zone between mesothermal and epithermal veins.Petrographic and microthermometric studies aided recognition of CO₂-rich, H₂O-rich and mixed H₂O–CO₂ fluid inclusions in the gold-bearing quartz veins. The H₂O–CO₂ inclusions are dominant over the other two types and are characterized by variable vapor: liquid ratios. These inclusions are interpreted as products of partial mixing of two immiscible carbonic and aqueous fluids. The generally light δ³⁴S of pyrite and chalcopyrite may suggest a magmatic source of sulfur. Spread in the final homogenization temperatures and bulk inclusion densities are likely due to trapping under pressure fluctuation through repeated fracture opening and sealing. Conditions of gold deposition are estimated on basis of the fluid inclusions and sulfur isotope data as 226–267 °C and 350–1100 bar, under conditions transitional between mesothermal and epithermal systems.The Semna gold deposit can be attributed to interplay of protracted volcanic activity (Dokhan Volcanics?), fluid mixing, wallrock sulfidation and a structural setting favoring gold deposition. Gold was transported as Au-bisulfide complexes under weak acid conditions concomitant with quartz–sericite–pyrite alteration, and precipitated through a decrease in gold solubility due to fluid cooling, mixing with meteoric waters and variations in pH and fO₂.     

云南腾冲地热区主要蚀变矿物含量与蚀变母岩的关系

腾冲地热区出露有众多热泉泉群,地热活动频繁,岩石发生强烈蚀变,形成的主要蚀变矿物包括高岭石、绢云母、蒙脱石、I/M间层矿物、石英和蛋白石。主要蚀变矿物的种类和含量受蚀变母岩性质的控制,花岗质砂砾岩和花岗岩形成高岭石,玄武岩形成伊利石和蒙托石,安山岩中发育硅化作用。泥化作用增强的趋势是安山岩→花岗岩→玄武岩→花岗质砂砾岩。由于花岗质砂砾岩在热区内广泛分布,通过蚀变作用形成了有经济价值的高岭土矿床。