Pb–Pb isotopic systematics of orogenic gold deposits of the Baikal–Patom fold belt (Northern Transbaikalia,Russia) and estimation of the role of neoproterozoic crust in their formation

The paper reports the results of Pb isotope study of several gold deposits of the Russia’s largest metallogenic province of Northern Transbaikalia. Potential sources of the ore material are considered by the example of new and previously published Pb–Pb data on nine deposits and occurrences of different scales. The comparison of Pb–Pb isotope-geochemical characteristics of ores, Paleozoic granitoids, as well as metamorphic pyrite from barren metasedimentary sequences shows that the Neoproterozoic terrigenous–carbonate rocks of the Baikal–Patom fold belt (BPB) served as the main source of lead and other components in the mineral-forming systems of the deposits. Significant variations of Pb isotope ratios typical in general of the considered deposits of the BPB reflect the initial isotopic heterogeneity of Pb source. This heterogeneity is caused by mixing of two geochemical types of continental crust during sedimentation: old (Early Precambrian) crust of the Siberian craton with long-term geochemical evolution and newly formed Late Precambrian crust. Pb–Pb data serve in support of the hydrothermal–metamorphogenic hypothesis of the formation of gold deposits of the BPB.     

Geodynamic evolution of the western Tien Shan,Uzbekistan: Insights from U-Pb SHRIMP geochronology and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotope mapping of granitoids

Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotope mapping combined with U-Pb zircon SHRIMP ages of granitoids from four sampling profiles across terrane boundaries in Uzbekistan reveal distinct reservoir types (cratonic and accretionary), witnessed by the diverse nature and origin of the predominant Paleozoic granitic magmatism that provided hosts for major ore-bodies. The study region comprises four major terranes, including 1) the Sultan-Uvais terrane, 2) the Kyzylkum-Nurata Segment and 3) the Gissar Segment of the South Tien Shan and 4) the Chatkal-Kurama terrane of the Middle Tien Shan. Sr-Nd isotope analyses show a wide range of εNdt (− 5 to + 7) and (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)t of 0.704–0.707, indicating involvement of both mantle-derived material and older crustal sources. A wide range of Hf-isotope compositions found in zircons of Chatkal-Kurama granites, Middle Tien Shan (εHf mainly ~ − 5 to + 5), could be due to recycling of older crustal protolith(s); in particular, the earliest (Silurian) granites may be directly derived from 1.5 to 1.7 Ga lower crust. In the Southern Tien Shan, some involvement of subducted oceanic crust is evidenced by strongly juvenile εHft values of up to + 14 and + 16 (Sultan-Uvais, Teskuduk-Kyzylkum). Permo-Carboniferous granitoids, which occur across all terranes also exhibit a wide range of isotope signatures, corresponding to Mesoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic crustal protoliths with a westward increase in juvenile contributions. Pb isotopes (whole-rock) imply the dominance of a crustal component and crust-mantle mixing processes. New age data confirmed: 1) old age of the Turkestan Ocean (505 Ma in Sultan-Uvais), 2) fragments of Silurian island arcs in the accretionary complex of the Chatkal-Kurama terrane (granites of 429–416 Ma) and in the upper allochthon of the South Tien Shan (gabbro 438 Ma in Tamdytau), and 3) a significant volume of granitoid magmatism of subduction or early-collisional stages (around 320–310 Ma) in the Chatkal-Kurama Segment and especially in the Gissar Segment. The westernmost part of the Tien Shan is characterized by multiple subduction processes responsible for 300 million years of geodynamic evolution history (accretionary collage, crustal growth) with the pre-Mesozoic crust formation concluded by Permian post-collisional extensional magmatism.     

接触交代夕卡岩型多金属矿床铅源新认识

本文研究的接触交代夕代岩型多金属（铜－铅－锌）矿床是与燕山期中－酸性岩浆作用有密切关系的矿床工业类型，传统上认为成矿物质是岩浆分异的产物。文中用矿石铅、岩浆岩铅及围岩铅同位素组成，探讨了三者之间的关系，阐明了该类矿床矿石铅的三种来源，即单一的岩浆源，岩浆与围岩混合源及多元（三种以上）混合源，认为在运用铅同位素研究矿石成因时，既要研究矿石铅，也要研究岩浆岩长石铅和围岩（沉积岩）铅的同位素组成，并考虑     

An Eburnean base metal source for sediment-hosted zinc-lead deposits in Neoproterozoic units of Namibia: Lead isotopic and geochemical evidence

The lead isotopic composition of galena from the Neoproterozoic sediment-hosted Zn-Pb sulphide deposit at Rosh Pinah and the oxidised Zn deposit at Skorpion in the Pan-African Gariep Belt, southwestern Namibia, as well as that of galena from minor occurrences in the wider Rosh Pinah ore province was investigated and is compared with that of other major sediment-hosted base metal ore deposits hosted by Neoproterozoic strata in southwestern Africa and Brazil. The isotope data were supplemented by a geochemical provenance study of the argillitic host rock to the Rosh Pinah deposit and its stratigraphic equivalents. The pre-orogenic Rosh Pinah deposit and the inferred progenitor for the secondary Skorpion deposits have very similar Pb isotopic compositions. In contrast, syn-orogenic deposits (e.g. Tsumeb-type) show a larger proportion of radiogenic Pb from the country rocks that were infiltrated by orogenic ore fluids.In all examples studied, the ore Pb has elevated ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios compared to Pb that evolved according to average crustal Pb growth models. The isotopic composition of the ore Pb is in agreement with that of the oldest crustal component known from the pre-Gariep basement, i.e. an Eburnean (c. 2.0 Ga) volcanic arc, best preserved in the Richtersveld Terrane, that represents the largest volume of post-Archaean juvenile crust in southern Africa. Erosion of that arc provided the main sediment source for the metasedimentary siliciclastic host to the Rosh Pinah deposit. Derivation of the Pb, and by analogy Zn, from this Eburnean volcanic arc is therefore inferred for the formation of Rosh Pinah-type syn-rift, early diagenetic replacement mineralisation.The calculated ₂- and ₂-values for the Rosh Pinah ore province (around 10.2 and 42, respectively) are higher than predicted by conventional Pb crustal growth models and are similar to those found in the wider region of southern Africa (Otavi Mountain Land) and eastern Brazil. The obtained data highlight not only that calculated Pb model ages may have no geochronological significance but might also point to a common crustal evolution of this part of SW-Gondwana.Editorial handling: M. Chiaradia     

2: Hydrothermal ore deposits related to post-orogenic extensional magmatism and core complex formation: The Rhodope Massif of Bulgaria and Greece

The Rhodope Massif in southern Bulgaria and northern Greece hosts a range of Pb–Zn–Ag, Cu–Mo and Au–Ag deposits in high-grade metamorphic, continental sedimentary and igneous rocks. Following a protracted thrusting history as part of the Alpine–Himalayan collision, major late orogenic extension led to the formation of metamorphic core complexes, block faulting, sedimentary basin formation, acid to basic magmatism and hydrothermal activity within a relatively short period of time during the Early Tertiary. Large vein and carbonate replacement Pb–Zn deposits hosted by high-grade metamorphic rocks in the Central Rhodopean Dome (e.g., the Madan ore field) are spatially associated with low-angle detachment faults as well as local silicic dyke swarms and/or ignimbrites. Ore formation is essentially synchronous with post-extensional dome uplift and magmatism, which has a dominant crustal magma component according to Pb and Sr isotope data. Intermediate- and high-sulphidation Pb–Zn–Ag–Au deposits and minor porphyry Cu–Mo mineralization in the Eastern Rhodopes are predominantly hosted by veins in shoshonitic to high-K calc-alkaline volcanic rocks of closely similar age. Base-metal-poor, high-grade gold deposits of low sulphidation character occurring in continental sedimentary rocks of synextensional basins (e.g., Ada Tepe) show a close spatial and temporal relation to detachment faulting prior and during metamorphic core complex formation. Their formation predates local magmatism but may involve fluids from deep mantle magmas.The change in geochemical signatures of Palaeogene magmatic rocks, from predominantly silicic types in the Central Rhodopes to strongly fractionated shoshonitic (Bulgaria) to calc-alkaline and high-K calc-alkaline (Greece) magmas in the Eastern Rhodopes, coincides with the enrichment in Cu and Au relative to Pb and Zn of the associated ore deposits. This trend also correlates with a decrease in the radiogenic Pb and Sr isotope components of the magmatic rocks from west to east, reflecting a reduced crustal contamination of mantle magmas, which in turn correlates with a decreasing crustal thickness that can be observed today. Hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions of the related hydrothermal systems show a concomitant increase of magmatic relative to meteoric fluids, from the Pb–Zn–Ag deposits of the Central Rhodopes to the magmatic rock-hosted polymetallic gold deposits of the Eastern Rhodopes.     

Lead isotope signatures of epithermal and porphyry-type ore deposits from the Romanian Carpathian Mountains

Lead isotope analyses have been performed on the two major Miocene mining districts of Romania, Baia Mare and Apuseni Mountains. These two districts have different non-overlapping ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb isotopic signatures ranging from 18.752 to 18.876 and 18.497 to 18.740. In the Baia Mare district, epithermal deposits are overall homogeneous in their lead isotopic compositions and have values similar to the average of the calc-alkaline volcanic rocks. These results suggest a magmatic signature for the Pb (and possibly other metals) in the hydrothermal fluids. However, magmas in this district show isotopic evidence of crustal assimilation. In the southern Apuseni Mountains, the lead isotope compositions of sulfide minerals in porphyry copper deposits are clustered, confirming that Pb, and probably other metals, were derived principally from associated porphyry stocks. On the other hand, lead isotope data on sulfides in epithermal ore deposits are much more scattered, indicating a notable contribution of Pb from local country rocks. In the Apuseni Mountains, 'fertile' volcanics are few and appear to come from a more primitive mantle-derived source. Most of the analysed volcanic rocks seem 'barren'. Differences in lead isotopic compositions between the Baia Mare district and the Apuseni Mountains are due to a different basement, and probably to variations in crustal assimilation superimposed on variations in the mantle source composition. In the Apuseni Mountains, Pb may be partly inherited from the previous Mesozoic magmatic-hydrothermal stage. From a geodynamic point of view, it seems that the nature and the source of volcanic rocks and their position related to the collision area of the Carpathian arc are not the only factors controlling the 'fertility' of a volcanic district.     

Source of Pb in orogenic lode-gold mineralisation: Pb isotope constraints from deep crustal rocks from the southwestern Archaean Yilgarn Craton, Australia

Southern Cross was one of the earliest gold mining centres in Western Australia. Over 142 tonnes of gold have been produced from the district, and, on a gold per hectare basis, the Southern Cross greenstone belt in the southwestern Yilgarn Craton is the most productive of Western Australia's Archaean greenstone belts. The SW Yilgarn Craton is characterised by high-grade (amphibolite- to granulite-facies) metamorphism, extensive granitoid magmatism and older greenstone volcanism ages, compared to the well-known greenschist-facies metamorphism and younger (2.7 Ga) eruption ages which dominate in the Eastern Goldfields Province. The Pb-isotope compositions of deep-seated granitoids in the SW Archaean Yilgarn Craton, which were emplaced coeval with a craton-wide major orogenic lode-gold mineralization event at about 2.64–2.63 Ga, have been determined for 96 whole-rock and 24 K-feldspar samples. The Pb isotope data of the granitoids are consistent with a crustal origin for their genesis, probably by reworking (partial melting) of older continental crust. The Pb isotope composition of greenstones, which are the main host rocks for gold mineralisation, and pyrites from the komatiite-hosted syngenetic Ni deposits in the amphibolite-facies Forrestania greenstone belt, have also been determined, with initial Pb-isotope ratios higher than that for the Eastern Goldfields Province. The Pb isotopic character of the orogenic lode-gold deposits in the region is intermediate between coeval granitoid and greenstone Pb, indicating that the ore fluids contained metals from both reservoirs. The Pb in the ore fluid of the most deeply formed deposit, Griffin's Find, overlaps the isotopic composition of coeval granitoids, indicating the deep-seated granitoid magmatism was the primary source for Pb in the ore fluids. Received: 8 October 1998 / Accepted 22 December 1998     

Isotope Tracing and Prospecting Assessment of Gold-Silver Deposits in Zhejiang Province

Three different types of gold and silver deposits in Zhejiang Province(Huangshan gold deposit, Zhilingtou gold-silver deposit and Haoshi silver deposit) showmarked differences in lead and strontium isotopic composition, suggesting three differentsources and geneses of these deposits. The Huangshan gold deposit features low initial Srisotope ratios and low μ values or low content of radiogenic Pb and its ore-forming materialscame primarily from the upper mantle; the Zhilingtou gold-silver deposit shows high initial Srisotope ratios and high μ values or high content of radiogenic Pb and the ore-forming materialswere derived mainly from the upper crust; and the Haoshi silver deposit has its Pb and Srisotope ratios between the above two cases with the ore-forming materials stemming from boththe mantle and the crust. The characteristic Pb isotopic composition may serve as an indicatorfor prospecting for different types of ore deposits.     

Geochemical anomalies in the mantle of the Pamirs and Tien Shan with applications to the deep-seated sources of ore material

The mantle metasomatites (fluidized magmatic rocks) of the Pamir-Tien Shan region show extremely high contents of lithophile and chalcophile trace elements, which often exceeds the regional average abundances of the Earth’s crust. Geochemical relations were established between mantle and crustal rocks, and it was shown that the compositions of magmatic rocks of different age and formation depth and polychronous mineralization are relatively stable. These data and some other facts indicate the possible influence of mantle fluids (melts) on the crustal rocks and processes. An alternative model implies the geochemical influence of crustal rocks on the geochemical characteristics of the regional mantle. The ore material of alkali basic rocks and some hydrothermal and rare metal deposits shows a geochemical affinity to the supposed mantle (mantle-crustal) sources. The ore-bearing fluids (melts) were presumably related to the evolution of ultradeep “hot” material of mantle plumes and “daughter” diapirs carrying alkaline, trace, and ore elements.     

安家营子金矿田矿床及同源岩体同位素地球化学

S、Pb、C、O和H同位素研究表明,安家营子矿田金矿成矿物质主要来自深部岩浆源,成矿流体为再平衡岩浆水.与金矿有关的安家营子二长花岗岩体为下地壳重熔成因,属金铜系列花岗岩类.金矿成矿年龄为120~130Ma.     

Pb isotope fingerprinting of mesothermal gold deposits from central Victoria, Australia: implications for ore genesis

New Pb isotope data from three major mesothermal lode gold deposits (Ballarat West, Tarnagulla, Maldon) in central Victoria support a model whereby the metals derived from a large reservoir with a long residence time in the crust below the Palaeozoic Lachlan Fold Belt. The Pb isotopic ratios of least radiogenic samples from these deposits are in close agreement with published Pb signatures for turbidite-hosted gold deposits, and for Devonian granites, elsewhere in the Lachlan Fold Belt. Despite their spatial distribution and variations in the geological setting, the Pb signatures point to the extraction and transport of metals from a crustal source area by long-lasting, large-scale hydrothermal systems, resulting in the prominent homogenisation of Pb isotopic ratios. The enduring interaction between large hydrothermal systems and an extensive crustal source reservoir were a vital pre-requisite in the formation of the Victorian gold province. In this regard, the prospectivity of Victoria is analogous to world-class ore provinces elsewhere, such as the Archaean Yilgarn Block in Western Australia. Received: 10 February 1998 / Accepted: 28 April 1998     

云南格咱岛弧岩浆成矿带铅同位素特征及成矿物质来源示踪

云南格咱岛弧成矿带是西南三江构造岩浆岩带的重要组成部分,是我国近年来新发现的铜多金属矿集区,产出有普朗超大型斑岩型铜矿、雪鸡坪中型斑岩型铜矿、红山大型矽卡岩-斑岩型铜矿等。测试结果表明,典型成矿斑岩体的矿石矿物铅同位素组成:206Pb/204Pb为17.680～19.165,207Pb/204Pb为15.453～15.773,208Pb/204Pb为37.730～39.654,铅同位素组成较为稳定,具有贫铀铅、富钍铅的特征。铅同位素组成与特征参数(Δβ与Δγ、V1与V2)之间具有明显的正相关性,依据铅构造模式判别和成因分类的综合分析,格咱岛弧成矿带的铅主要来源于地幔和下地壳,具壳幔混合来源的特征,其成矿作用与岩浆岩活动存在较为密切的关系。     

上黑龙江盆地虎拉林金矿床硫、铅同位素特征及其成因探讨

虎拉林矿床位于中亚造山带东段额尔古纳地块之上,处于上黑龙江盆地西侧,东与砂宝斯、老沟等金矿床相邻。矿床载金矿物主要为薄膜状、粒状及脉状黄铁矿,成矿与早白垩世花岗斑岩、石英斑岩及隐爆角砾岩有密切联系。在对矿床详尽的野外工作基础上,通过对金属硫化物硫、铅同位素分析研究,探讨成矿物质来源,揭示矿床成矿规律。研究结果表明,上黑龙江盆地虎拉林矿床矿石及围岩中黄铁矿δ34SV-CDT分布于0.7‰~2.2‰,平均为1.18‰,集中于1.0‰左右,呈塔式分布,显示主要为岩浆硫特征;铅同位素206Pb/204Pb、207Pb/204Pb、208Pb/204Pb值分别为18.468~18.511、15.578~15.625、38.215~38.370,分布范围较小,且具有造山带铅特征。铅同位素μ值为9.41~9.50,均小于9.58;ω值为35.04~35.93,均值35.49,小于正常铅ω值;Th/U为3.60~3.66,显示出具有壳幔混源特征;在铅同位素构造环境判别图中,显示出具有下地壳部分熔融的特征;Δγ-Δβ图解显示矿床铅来源于上地壳与地幔混合带俯冲岩浆作用成因的铅同位素源区。综合矿床类型、矿体产出特征、矿体及围岩硫、铅同位素特征认为,虎拉林金矿区成矿物质主要来源于下地壳物质熔融形成的深部岩浆,同时存在上地幔与上地壳部分熔融物质的参与,成矿过程与早白垩世岩浆活动关系密切,形成于蒙古—鄂霍茨克洋闭合后伸展环境背景下。     

Tectonic evolution of Early Paleozoic island-arc systems and continental crust formation in the Caledonides of Kazakhstan and the North Tien Shan

The extended Saryarka and Shyngyz-North Tien Shan volcanic belts that underwent secondary deformation are traced in the Caledonides of Kazakhstan and the North Tien Shan. These belts are composed of igneous rocks pertaining to Early Paleozoic island-arc systems of various types and the conjugated basins with oceanic crust. The Saryarka volcanic belt has a complex fold-nappe structure formed in the middle Arenigian-middle Llanvirnian as a result of the tectonic juxtaposition of Early-Middle Cambrian and Late Cambrian-Early Ordovician complexes of ensimatic island arcs and basins with oceanic crust. The Shyngyz-North Tien Shan volcanic belt is characterized by a rather simple fold structure and consists of Middle-Late Ordovician volcanic and plutonic associations of ensialic island arcs developing on heterogeneous basement, which is composed of complexes belonging to the Saryarka belt and Precambrian sialic massifs. The structure and isotopic composition of the Paleozoic igneous complexes provide evidence for the heterogeneous structure of the continental crust in various segments of the Kazakh Caledonides. The upper crust of the Shyngyz segment consists of Early Paleozoic island-arc complexes and basins with oceanic crust related to the Saryarka and Shyngyz-North Tien Shan volcanic belts in combination with Middle and Late Paleozoic continental igneous rocks. The deep crustal units of this segment are dominated by mafic rocks of Early Paleozoic suprasubduction complexes. The upper continental crust of the Stepnyak segment is composed of Middle-Late Ordovician island-arc complexes of the Shyngyz-North Tien Shan volcanic belt and Early Ordovician rift-related volcanics. The middle crustal units are composed of Riphean, Paleoproterozoic, and probably Archean sialic rocks, whereas the lower crustal units are composed of Neoproterozoic mafic rocks.     

The Bajo de la Alumbrera and Agua Rica Cu–Au (Mo) porphyry deposits of Argentina: Genetic constraints on ore formation and sources based on isotope signatures

Important copper-gold (± molybdenum) porphyry deposits occur in the northwest region of Argentina, part of the Central Andes. This paper provides new isotope information on two of these deposits, Bajo de la Alumbrera and Agua Rica, the latter having an epithermal overprint event. The two deposits are genetically associated with the Miocene Farallón Negro Volcanic Complex. Whole rock and sulfide samples were analyzed for Pb, Sr and Nd isotopes to characterize the sources of magma and mineralization of both deposits. Sr and εNd data made it possible to divide the samples into three distinct groups. Most samples are slightly differentiated, have OIB (Ocean Island Basalts) isotope characteristics, and show some Nd fractionation. Lead isotope also shows distinct groups with an enrichment trend in radiogenic lead. In both deposits, the sulfides are more radiogenic than the host rocks, but are clearly related to them because all plot on a single trend. A crustal contribution to the deposits is suggested on the basis of lead isotope signatures. The similarity on the Pb isotope signatures suggests the same magmatic fluid source, although at Agua Rica the crustal component is more evident than at Bajo de la Alumbrera, possibly because of the assimilation of Paleozoic country rocks at Agua Rica.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987113000790

The Heilangou gold deposit is located in the northern QixiaePenglai gold belt, which is one amongst the three large gold belts in the eastern Shandong Province （Jiaodong Peninsula）. The ore body has formed within the Guojialing granite. In this study, we report the mineral chemistry of pyrite, as well as the S, Pb, and HeO isotope data of the Heilangou gold deposit. The chemical composition of pyrite in the Heilangou gold deposit indicates that the associated gold deposit is a typical magmatic hydrothermal one. The geochemical signatures and crystal structure of pyrite show that the ore-forming materials have been derived from the crust. The S isotope data of the pyrites from Heilangou show an overall range from 5.5 to 7.8＆amp;and an average of 6.7＆amp;. The S isotope data in this deposit are similar to those from the deposits in the Jiaodong gold belt. The Pb and S isotope variations are small in the Heilangou gold deposit. The 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb ratios are 17.4653e17.5958, 15.5105e15.5746 and 38.0749e38.4361, respec-tively. These data plot between the lower crust and the orogenic belt. The Pb isotope data in the Heilangou gold deposit are similar to those in the Linglong gold deposit. From the Qixia gold area （the Liukou and Majiayao gold deposits） to the MupingeRushan gold belt （Rushan gold deposit） to the ZhaoeYe gold belt （the Linglong, Sanshandao and Jiaojia gold deposits）, the 206Pb/204Pb ratios progressively increase. The DeO isotope data obtained from quartz separates suggest that the ore-forming fluid was similar to a mixture of magmatic and meteoric waters. These results suggest that the ore-forming elements were primarily from source fluids derived from the lower crust.     

Nature and evolution of the lower crust under central Spain: Inferences from granulite xenoliths (Calatrava Volcanic Field-Spanish central system)

So far, the nature and evolution of the lower crust under central Spain have been constrained mainly on the basis of a heterogeneous suite of granulite xenoliths from the Spanish Central System (SCS). In recent years, ultramafic volcanics from the Calatrava Volcanic Field (CVF) have also provided deep-seated crustal xenoliths which have not been studied in detail. Our data, combining mineral, whole-rock and isotopic geochemistry with U–Pb–Hf isotope ratios in zircons from the CVF and SCS xenoliths, highlight the felsic composition of the lower crust under central Iberia. A number of the Calatrava xenoliths represents Variscan igneous protoliths, which are a minor population in the SCS, and were likely formed by crystallisation of intermediate and felsic melts in the lower crust during the Variscan orogeny (leucodiorite protolith age of 314 ± 3 Ma and leucogranite protolith age of 308 ± 2.5 Ma). U–Pb data of metamorphic zircons show that granulite-facies metamorphism mainly occurred from 299 to 285 Ma in both areas. These ages are slightly younger than those of granitic intrusions that could be genetically related to the granulitic residue, which points to a main role of U–Pb isotope resetting in lower crustal zircons during HT or UHT conditions. The zircon U–Pb–Hf isotopic ratios support the idea that the lower crust in central Iberia consists mainly of Ordovician–Neoproterozoic metaigneous and metasedimentary rocks associated with the Cadomian continental arc of northern Gondwana. These rocks provide evidence of mixing between juvenile magmas and an enriched crustal component, ultimately extracted from an Eburnean crust. Other more evolved components present in detrital zircons are likely related to recycling of Archean crust derived from North Africa cratonic terranes.     

New lead isotope determination from five Proterozoic sulfide deposits,Skellefte district,Sweden

Lead isotope analyses of 25 sulfide samples (galenas, iron sulfides, and sulfosalts) from five different mines of the Skellefte district, northern Sweden, demonstrate that the Pb-isotopic composition of galenas and other sulfides rich in lead varies between individual deposits within the district. This contrasts with many other base-metal districts, where ore lead is isotopically homogeneous on a regional basis. Although all of the Skellefte leads are depleted in ²⁰⁷Pb relative to average global lead evolution models, thus suggesting a large mantle-derived component in their sources, the Nasliden deposit lying at the contact of the host volcanic rocks and the overlying metasediments contains a significant component of crustal lead. It is concluded that while the Pb-isotope data are consistent with a volcanic exhalative origin of the ores of the Skellefte district, they also demonstrate that older crustal lead was incorporated into the sulfides during their emplacement and the subsequent period of magmatic and metamorphic activity which followed their deposition.     

Metallogenesis and geodynamics of the Lachlan Orogen: New (and old) insights from spatial and temporal variations in lead isotopes

Analysis of the distribution patterns of Pb isotope data from mineralised samples using the plumbotectonic model of Carr et al. (1995), which invokes mixing between crustal and mantle reservoirs, indicates systematic spatial patterns that reflect major metallogenic and tectonic boundaries in the Paleozoic Lachlan and Delamerian orogens in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia. This distribution pattern accurately maps the boundary between the Central and Eastern Lachlan subprovinces. The Central Lachlan Subprovince is characterised by Pb isotope characteristics with a strong crustal signature, whereas the Eastern Lachlan Subprovince is characterised by variable crustal and mantle signatures. The Macquarie Volcanic Province is dominated by Pb with a mantle signature: known porphyry Cu–Au and high sulphidation epithermal Au–Cu deposits in the province are associated with a zone characterised by the strongest mantle signatures. In contrast, granite-related Sn deposits in the Central Lachlan Subprovince are characterised by the strongest crustal signatures. The Pb isotope patterns are broadly similar to Nd isotope model age patterns derived from felsic magmatic rocks, although a lower density of Nd isotope data locations makes direct comparison difficult.The two reservoirs identified by Carr et al. (1995) do not appear to be isotopically linked: the crustal source was not formed via extraction from the mantle source. Rather, the two reservoirs formed separately. The mantle reservoir may have been sourced from a subducting proto-Pacific plate, whereas the crustal reservoir is most likely to be extended Australian crust. The data allow the possibility that the proto-Pacific mantle source was isotopically linked to the western Tasmanian crustal source.Comparison of Pb isotope data from the Girilambone district, Central Lachlan Subprovince, (e.g., Tritton and Avoca Tank Cu deposits) with those from the Cobar Cu–Au–Zn–Pb district, Eastern Lachlan Subprovince, in north central New South Wales indicates a less radiogenic signature, and probably older age, for deposits in the Girilambone district. Hence, a syngenetic volcanic-associated massive sulphide origin for these deposits is preferred over a syn-tectonic origin. The data are also consistent with formation of the Girilambone deposits in a back-arc basin inboard from the earliest phase of the Macquarie Volcanic Province.     

Separate lead isotope analyses of leachate and residue rock fractions: implications for metal source tracing in ore deposit studies

Separate lead isotope analyses of leachate and residue fractions are applied to a broad spectrum of rocks commonly investigated in metallogenic studies. Resulting data highlight a systematic behavior of leachate and residue fractions with respect to lead isotope compositions, which essentially depends on the mineralogical composition of the rock. Granitoid and high-grade metamorphic rocks have residue compositions virtually identical to common lead. In contrast, low-grade metasedimentary rocks may have residue compositions swamped by radiogenic lead of leach-resistant zircons. Mafic magmatic rocks have residues that are often more radiogenic than leachates, depending on the ratio of leach-refractory zircons to common lead in the residual fraction of these rocks. Separate leachate and residue analyses of source rocks provide two lead isotope end members whose mixture may represent lead with the appropriate ore fluid composition. Our leaching experiments indicate that hot acid solutions (and by inference hydrothermal fluids) preferentially leach radiogenic lead from medium- to high-grade metamorphic and granitoid rocks, whereas they preferentially leach common lead from low-grade metasedimentary and mafic magmatic rocks. The method presented in this study provides a reliable alternative to other methods (i.e., age-correction of bulk-rock compositions) for the determination of the common lead signature of felsic to intermediate magmatic rocks. This may be preferable to age-corrected bulk-rock analyses, where ages to apply for corrections of bulk-rock data are not known or where moderately to highly altered rocks must be used. Case studies of orogenic gold and MVT districts of Peru (Pataz and San Vicente, respectively) show that separate leachate and residue lead isotope analyses carried out systematically on whole rocks allow a more thorough evaluation of metal source reservoirs than does the standard method of age-corrected or uncorrected bulk-rock analyses.