Ordovician Intrusive-related Gold-Copper Mineralization in West-Central New South Wales, Australia

Three major types of Ordovician intrusive-related gold-copper deposits are recognized in central-west New South Wales, Australia: porphyry, skarn and high sulphidation epithermal deposits. These deposits are mainly distributed within two Ordovician volcano-intrusive belts of the Lachlan Fold Belt: the Orange-Wellington Belt and the Parkes-Narromine Belt. Available isotopic age data suggest that mineralization of the three types of deposits is essentially coeval with the Ordovician intrusive rocks (480-430 Ma).Porphyry gold-copper deposits can be further divided into two groups. The first group is associated with monzonite showing shoshonitic features, represented by Cadia and Goonumbla. The second group is associated with diorite and dacite, including the Copper Hill and Cargo gold-copper deposits. Gold skarn is associated with Late Ordovician (430-439 Ma) monzonitic intrusive complexes in the Junction Reefs area (Sheahan-Grants, Frenchmans, and Cor-nishmens), Endeavour 6, 7 and 44, Big and Little Cadia     

黑龙江省嫩江—黑河构造混杂岩区永新金矿热液蚀变与矿化关系定量及定位研究

黑龙江省嫩江县永新金矿是近几年在嫩江—黑河构造混杂岩地区新发现的大型断裂带蚀变岩型金矿床,矿石矿物主要为碲金矿、碲金银矿、自然金,有少量的硫化物及氧化物。通过钾长石化带、绢云母化带及硅化带厚度与矿体厚度的线性关系分析得出,本区钾长石化带厚度、硅化带厚度与矿体厚度呈正相关关系,绢云母化带厚度与矿体厚度呈负相关关系。蚀变带厚度及矿体厚度水平面投影结果表明,矿区内热液蚀变在水平方向上具有明显的分带现象,自矿区东南到西北呈“阶梯状”分布,且绢云母化带厚度高值区、钾长石化带厚度高值区及硅化带厚度高值区在各阶梯中具有一定的对应关系。据以上分析,永新金矿成矿流体来自北西方向,矿体总体向北西延伸,暗示矿区西北深部具有较好的找矿前景。     

高光谱遥感地空综合预测方法在新疆卡拉塔格地区铜金矿床找矿中的应用

新疆卡拉塔格地区位于东天山成矿带,地质矿产资源丰富,铜金及多金属矿床集中,找矿潜力较大。铜金矿床地表矿化蚀变现象明显,发育的褐铁矿化+黄钾铁矾化+绢云母化形成地物反射光谱特征,为高光谱遥感地空综合预测方法用于探测铜金矿化蚀变信息成为可能,并成为寻找铜金矿床的有效技术方法。本文在卡拉塔格地区开展了航空高光谱和地面高光谱在铜金多金属矿床找矿研究,分别采用Hy Map航空成像光谱仪和Field Spec Pro FR光谱仪,获取了研究区Hy Map航空高光谱数据、地面准同步定标数据、地面高光谱数据,提取并筛选了基于Hy Map航空高光谱影像的成矿有利蚀变信息,在此基础上对该区红山铜金矿床航空-地面高光谱提取的蚀变信息进行了综合剖析,并结合矿区地质背景,建立了红山铜金矿床高光谱遥感地空综合找矿模型,经对比分析在该区圈定了2处找矿预测区。说明高光谱遥感地空综合预测方法在该区得到了很好的应用效果。     

扬子地块西北缘及西南缘卡林型金矿的有机质地质地球化学

扬子地块西北缘，西南缘卡林型金矿床的有机碳含量为０．０５％－８．７３％。含金建造形成的环境不同，其改造成的金矿床的有机碳含量不同；矿化主岩的岩性不同，基有机碳的含量不同。由浊积岩型含金建筑改造成的卡林型金矿床，其干酪根属Ⅱ型酪根，原始有机母质属还原环境沉积的海相菌藻类生物演化成的腐泥型有机质。     

Geology and Hydrothermal Alteration of the Duobuza Gold‐Rich Porphyry Copper District in the Bangongco Metallogenetic Belt,Northwestern Tibet

The Duobuza gold‐rich porphyry copper district is located in the Bangongco metallogenetic belt in the Bangongco‐Nujiang suture zone south of the Qiangtang terrane. Two main gold‐rich porphyry copper deposits (Duobuza and Bolong) and an occurrence (135 Line) were discovered in the district. The porphyry‐type mineralization is associated with three Early Cretaceous ore‐bearing granodiorite porphyries at Duobuza, 135 Line and Bolong, and is hosted by volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Middle Jurassic Yanshiping Formation and intermediate‐acidic volcanic rocks of the Early Cretaceous Meiriqie Group. Simultaneous emplacement and isometric distribution of three ore‐forming porphyries is explained as multi‐centered mineralization generated from the same magma chamber. Intense hydrothermal alteration occurs in the porphyries and at the contact zone with wall rocks. Four main hypogene alteration zones are distinguished at Duobuza. Early‐stage alteration is dominated by potassic alteration with extensive secondary biotite, K‐feldspar and magnetite. The alteration zone includes dense magnetite and quartz‐magnetite veinlets, in which Cu‐Fe‐bearing sulfides are present. Propylitic alteration occurs in the host basic volcanic rocks. Extensive chloritization‐silicification with quartz‐chalcopyrite or quartz‐molybdenite veinlets superimposes on the potassic alteration. Final‐stage argillic alteration overlaps on all the earlier alteration. This alteration stage is characterized by destruction of feldspar to form illite, dickite and kaolinite, with accompanying veinlets of quartz + chalcopyrite + pyrite and quartz + pyrite assemblages. Cu coexists with Au, which indicates their simultaneous precipitation. Mass balance calculations show that ore‐forming elements are strongly enriched during the above‐mentioned three alteration stages.     

论铁氧化物铜金型(IOCG)矿床地球化学岩相学填图新技术研发

在铁质苦橄岩—铁质安山岩、钛铁辉长岩—钛铁质闪长岩和二长岩—二长斑岩岩体附近,同岩浆侵入期脆韧性剪切带中构造岩相和热液角砾岩相,它们是铁氧化物铜金型(IOCG)矿床含矿岩相学类型。总体垂向蚀变分带为:上部为粘土化—绢云母化—赤铁矿蚀变带,中部钾质蚀变相带(电气石—铁质)+热液角砾岩化相带,下部钠质蚀变相(铁质)—热液角砾岩化带。围绕二长斑岩—二长闪长岩舌状侵入体形成电气石蚀变岩相带,属于汽成热液蚀变中心。大型—超大型IOCG矿床具有多期蚀变相系叠加特征,不同成因的热液角砾岩化相带发育、异时同位多期蚀变岩相叠加和汽成热液蚀变相发育等是寻找大型—超大型IOCG矿床标志。     

A metasomatic origin for the iron-oxide Au-Cu Starra orebodies, Eastern Fold Belt, Mount Isa Inlier

The Starra ironstone-hosted Au-Cu deposit in northwest Queensland, Australia, displays evidence of a polyphase history of late-post metamorphic, structurally controlled metasomatism. The mineralisation is hosted within several massive ironstone units which occur at a lithological contact of metamorphosed sandstone and siltstone sequences and foliated chlorite-biotite-magnetite schists. The ironstones strike north-south and occur as discontinuous lenses that cross cut the host rocks in places. Magnetite ironstone textures are generally massive in appearance, but relict deformed breccia and foliation textures are locally preserved. Sulphide ore textures are more brittle and consist of fine, pervasive brecciation of the ironstones and host rocks. Petrological and textural observations support a hydrothermal origin for both ironstone and mineralisation. Three dominant post-peak metamorphic paragenetic stages of alteration and mineralisation are recognised: (1) early widespread Na-Ca metasomatism consisting of albite-quartz-actinolite-scapolite, (2) localised K-Fe metasomatism consisting of biotite-magnetite-hematite- quartz-pyrite and (3) the mineralising stage consisting of anhydrite-calcite-hematisation of magnetite-pyrite-chalcopyrite-gold and extreme chloritisation of biotite. The Na dominant alteration occurs throughout the Eastern Fold Belt and for at least 50 km to the east and 150 km to the north of Starra. The ironstones were products of localised Fe-metasomatism associated with shearing and brecciation of previously Na-metasomatised host rocks. Gold and copper mineralisation resulted from the interaction of magnetite, a late oxidising fluid and an increase in pH. This produced variable hematisation of magnetite and caused the solubility of chloride-complexed gold to decrease dramatically. High gold:copper ratios can be explained in terms of the solubility differences of gold and copper in the thermochemical conditions that existed at Starra. Received: 15 May 1996 / Accepted: 17 January 1997     

Mineral Paragenesis of the Lepanto Copper and Gold and the Victoria Gold Deposits, Mankayan Mineral District, Philippines

Abstract: Mineral paragenesis of the alteration, ore and gangue minerals of the Lepanto epithermal copper‐gold deposit and the Victoria gold deposit, Mankayan Mineral District, Northern Luzon, Philippines, is discussed. The principal ore minerals of the Lepanto copper‐gold deposit are enargite and luzonite, with significant presence of tennantite‐tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, native gold/electrum and gold‐silver tellurides. Pervasive alteration zonations are commonly observed from silicification outward to advanced argillic then to propylitic zone. The ore mineralogy of the Lepanto copper‐gold deposit suggests high f_S2 in the early stages of mineralization corresponding to the deposition of the enargite‐luzonite‐pyrite assemblage. Subsequent decrease in the f_S2 formed the chalcopyrite‐tennantite‐pyrite assemblage. An increase in the f_S2 of the fluids with the formation of the covellite‐digenite‐telluride assemblage caused the deposition of native gold/electrum and gold‐silver tellurides. The principal ore minerals of the Victoria gold deposit are sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite and native gold/electrum. The alteration halos are relatively narrow and in an outward sequence from the ore, silica alteration grades to illitic‐argillic alteration, which in turn grades to propylitic alteration. The Victoria gold mineralization has undergone early stages of silica supersaturation leading to quartz deposition. Vigorous boiling increased the pH of the fluids that led to the deposition of sulfides and carbonates. The consequent decrease in H₂S precipitated the gold. Gypsum and anhydrite mainly occur as overprints that cut the carbonate‐silica stages. The crosscutting and overprinting relationships of the Victoria quartz‐gold‐base metal veins on the Lepanto copper‐gold veins manifest the late introduction of near neutral pH hydrothermal fluids.     

Gold mineralizing efficiency during hydrothermal alteration of the Mesozoic granitoids in the northwest Jiaodong Peninsula: Contrasting conditions between the Guojialing and Linglong plutons

Mesozoic granitoids were extensively altered by hydrothermal fluids in the northwest Jiaodong Peninsula, and gold precipitated from the fluids developing prevalent mineralization in this district. The 160–158 Ma Linglong granite and 130–120 Ma Guojialing granodiorite are the major Mesozoic granitoids in this district, both of which are hydrothermally altered and intimately associated with gold mineralization. Although numerous studies were carried out by previous researchers, mainly focusing on tectonics, lithology, mineralogy, geochronology, and fluid geochemistry, knowledge about hydrothermal alteration processes of these granitoids and their gold mineralization efficiency (i.e. which one is more effective to precipitate the gold from its parent solution) is far beyond clear illumination. Geochemical simulation software GEM-Selektor (based on the Gibbs energy minimization algorithm) was applied in this study, which aims to test the gold mineralization efficiency of these two granitoids during the hydrothermal alteration processes. Simulation results indicate that solutions in equilibrium with the Linglong granite are capable of hosting more sulfur than that with the Guojialing granodiorite, since the latter contains more Fe. However, the solutions with these two granitoids display similar gold solubility. “Bulk cooling” simulation results show that the gold mineralization pattern is similar between the Linglong and Guojialing case; “Rock titration” simulation results reveal that the Guojialing granodiorite is prone to precipitate gold more strongly than the Linglong granite, as gold-bearing solutions (or ore-forming fluids) flowing-through at high temperature, equivalent to a deeper level, implying that if the gold mineralization is developed at depth, the Guojialing rock will precipitate more gold. If the gold-bearing solution flow-through the wall rocks relatively fast, and gold mineralization fails to take place, then the Guojialing granodiorite is probably unfavorable for subsequent gold enrichment of the ore-forming fluid. The Linglong granite will precipitate the gold more efficiently from its parent solution at low temperature or at a shallower level, and this is consistent with previous mining prospecting results. Therefore, we suggest that the Guojialing granodiorite should be treated as the main target during future deep prospecting project.     

西藏多不杂斑岩铜(金)矿床磁铁矿元素地球化学特征及其对成矿过程的指示

多不杂铜(金)矿床是西藏多龙矿集区重要的斑岩型铜矿床之一。详细的岩心编录和岩相学研究显示,多不杂铜(金)矿床发育4类磁铁矿:磁铁矿-1(Mt₁)反射色呈灰白色,它形粒状,部分颗粒包含在黑云母内部;磁铁矿-2(Mt₂)反射色呈粉棕色,半自形-它形粒状,边缘被赤铁矿交代,颗粒内部见少量黄铜矿;磁铁矿-3(Mt₃)反射色呈粉棕色,自形-半自形,粒度小,表面平整,主要产于角岩化蚀变内;磁铁矿-4(Mt₄)反射色呈深灰色,颗粒间隙被黄铁矿、黄铜矿交代。Mt₁、Mt₂属岩浆磁铁矿或岩浆-热液磁铁矿的过渡类型;Mt₃、Mt₄属岩浆-热液磁铁矿的过渡类型。Mt₁、Mt₂、Mt₄磁铁矿形成温度大致在300～500℃,Mt₃形成温度明显低于其他三类磁铁矿,大致在200～500℃。4类磁铁矿具有明显的地球化学差异,其中Mt₁具...     

Mineralogy and Mineral Chemistry of the Cretaceous Duolong Gold‐Rich Porphyry Copper Deposit in the Bangongco Arc,Northern Tibet

The Early Cretaceous Duolong gold‐rich porphyry copper deposit is a newly discovered deposit with proven 5.38 Mt Cu resources of 0.72% Cu and 41 t gold of 0.23 g t^?1 in northern Tibet. Granodiorite porphyry and quartz diorite porphyrite are the main ore‐bearing porphyries. A wide range of hydrothermal alteration associated with these porphyries is divided into potassic, argillic and propylitic zones from the ore‐bearing porphyry center outward and upward. In the hydrothermal alteration zones, secondary albite (91.5–99.7% Ab) occurs along the rim of plagioclase phenocryst and fissures. Secondary K‐feldspar (75.1–96.9% Or) replaces plagioclase phenocryst and matrix or occurs in veinlets. Biotite occurs mainly as matrix and veinlet in addition to phenocryst in the potassic zone. The biotite are Mg‐rich and formed under a highly oxidized condition at temperatures ranging from 400°C to 430°C. All the biotites are absent in F, and have high Cl content (0.19–0.26%), with log (X_Cl/X_OH) values of ?2.74 to ?2.88 and IV (Cl) values of ?3.48 to ?3.35, suggesting a significant role of chloride complexes (CuCl₂^‐ and AuCl₂^‐) in transporting and precipitating copper and gold. Chlorites are present in all alteration zones and correspond mainly to pycnochlorite. They have similar Fe/(Fe+Mg), Mn/(Mn+Mg) ratios, and a formation temperature range of 280–360°C. However, the formation temperature of chlorite in the quartz‐gypsum‐carbonate‐chlorite vein is between 190°C and 220°C, indicating that it may have resulted from a later stage of hydrothermal activity. Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ ratios of chlorites have negative correlation with Al^IV, suggesting oxygen fugacity of fluids increases with decreasing temperature. Apatite mineral inclusions in the biotite phenocrysts show high SO₃ content (0.44–0.82%) and high Cl content (1–1.37%), indicating the host magma had a high oxidation state and was enriched in S and Cl. The highest Cl content of apatite in the propylitic zone may have resulted from pressure decrease, and the lowest Cl content of apatite in the argillic zone may have been caused by a low Cl content in the fluids. The low concentration of SO₃ content in the hydrothermal apatite compared to the magmatic one may have resulted from the decrease of oxygen fugacity and S content in the hydrothermal fluid, which are caused by the abundant precipitation of magnetite.     

新疆哈赞布拉克金铜矿成矿地质特征及成因探讨

哈赞布拉克金铜矿位于博罗科努金铜钼铅锌成矿带.矿化产于华力西中期中酸性侵入岩体内及与围岩接触带内,主要蚀变为围岩地层中的角岩化,闪长岩中的钾化、绢云母化、青盤岩化及含矿岩石中的硅化、碳酸盐化等,矿区发现Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ号三个矿化带,以Ⅱ号矿化带规模最大,矿床为铜、金共生矿化,矿化成因类型为石英脉型、矽卡岩型、斑岩型,以石英脉型矿化为主,矿化主要受岩浆岩和构造控制,矿床为先期斑岩型矿化,伴矽卡岩型矿化,经后期热液改造叠加的石英脉型矿床.     

蒙古国巴颜乌列盖多兰哈达地区地球化学特征及成矿

蒙古国巴颜乌列盖多兰哈达位于世界著名的铜—金—铅锌—钨金属成矿区—阿尔泰多金属成矿带北西段。区内出露地层主要为泥盆纪火山—沉积岩系。地球化学异常呈环带状分布,与岩体关系密切,该区铅锌矿为受火山通道控制的火山热液型金—铅锌矿床。矿区西部有寻找深部富矿体的前景,矿区南部及矿区东部次火山斑岩体附近,有寻找深部盲矿体的潜力。     

新疆西昆仑金(铜)矿找矿前景分析

位于塔里木西南缘的木吉－大同一库地金铜成矿带是西昆仑地区重要成矿带,带内金矿主要产于碳质千枚岩、碎屑岩及绢去母石英片岩等岩石中,受韧性剪切带及构造蚀变带控制。铜（金）矿化与华力西期花岗岩类关系较紧密,金铜找矿以海相喷流沉积型铜（金银）矿、斑岩及夕卡岩型铜金矿、构造蚀变岩型金矿及韧性剪切带型金矿为主,根据金铜成矿环境分析,认为该区的金铜找矿潜力巨大。     

Woodcutters goldfield: Gold in an Archaean granite,Kalgoorlie, Western Australia

The 43 t (1.4 Moz) of gold in the Woodcutters goldfield 50 km north of Kalgoorlie has wide geological significance in terms of gold in Archaean granite, as well as its local commercial and exploration significance. Woodcutters is already one of the largest Archaean gold systems in granite, and is unusual in being so far laterally from the nearest greenstone belt. Gold in the Federal zone, one of the deposits making up the Woodcutters goldfield, is hosted in hornblende‐biotite granodiorite,6 km from the mapped contact with greenstone. In Federal open pit, the granodiorite is coarse‐grained in the northern half, and a fine‐grained granodiorite in the south, with both hosting gold. These two types of granodiorite are rather similar in both mineralogy and geochemistry. There is also a subordinate fine‐grained monzodiorite. The Federal gold mineralisation is in a northwest‐striking, northeast‐dipping (315° strike/60°E dip) shear zone in the Scotia granite. Variation in grainsize of the host rocks might have affected the style of deformation with more brittle fabrics in the coarse‐grained phase and more ductile fabrics prominent in the fine‐grained granodiorite. Hydrothermal alteration is extensively developed around the Federal deposit and is a useful vector towards gold mineralisation. Distal epidote alteration surrounds a proximal muscovite‐biotite alteration zone that contains quartz‐sulfide veins. The alteration shares some of the common alteration characteristics of Archaean greenstone‐hosted gold, but differs in that carbonate‐chlorite alteration is only weakly developed. This difference is readily explained in terms of host‐rock composition and lower concentrations of Fe, Mg and Ca in the granite compared with greenstone. Fluid‐inclusion studies demonstrate that the fluids associated with the hydrothermal alteration at Woodcutters shared the common characteristics of fluids in Archaean greenstone gold, namely low‐salinity and dominant H₂O–CO₂. Fluid inclusions with moderate salinity were found in one fresh sample away from mineralisation, and are inferred to represent possible magmatic fluid. There is no evidence of a granite‐derived fluid being responsible for gold mineralisation. The granodiorite host rock had cooled, crystallised and had at least started to undergo deformation prior to gold introduction. The distribution of gold mineralisation in the Woodcutters goldfield has the style, shape and orientation comparable with greenstone‐hosted gold deposits in the same region. The northwest trend, the quartz veining and simple pyrite mineralogy are all features common to other greenstone‐hosted gold deposits near Kalgoorlie such as Mt Pleasant. The alteration fluid appears to have penetrated the granite on the scale of many hundreds of metres, causing large‐scale alteration. Woodcutters gold mineralisation resulted from the same metamorphic fluid processes that led to formation of greenstone gold deposits. In this metamorphic model, granitic rocks are predicted to be less‐favourable gold hosts than mafic rocks for two reasons. Granitic rocks do not generally fracture during regional deformation in such a way as to create large‐scale dilation. Furthermore, with less iron and no carbon, granitic rocks have lower potential to precipitate gold from solution by wall‐rock reaction. The metamorphic model predicts that those granite types with higher Fe should host better gold deposits, all other factors being equal. Accordingly, tonalite‐trondhjemite and hornblende‐bearing granodiorite should provide better environments for major gold deposits compared with monzogranite, and granite sensu stricto, as borne out by Woodcutters, but mafic rocks should be better hosts than any of these felsic to intermediate rocks.     

Granite-hosted gold mineralization in the Midlands greenstone belt: a new type of low-grade gold deposit in Zimbabwe

In 1992, the Ford gold deposit was rediscovered during field work in the Kwekwe district near the Indarama mine, approximately 200 km southwest of Harare, Zimbabwe. Based on diamond drilling and open pit operations, estimated ore reserves are at least 3 Mt with an average gold content of 2.5 g/t. The gold deposit is located within a porphyritic granite dike with a thickness of 20–50 m, striking 800 m NNW-SSE. It dips 60–70° to the NE and intrudes a volcano-sedimentary sequence of tholeiitic basalts, acid volcanics, and banded iron formations of the Bulawayan Group (2900–2700 Ma). The intrusion of the dike occurred at 2541 ± 17 Ma (Pb/Pb step leaching technique) within a second order structure and is related to displacement along transcrustal deformation zones such as the Sherwood- and Taba-Mali deformation zones. Gold mineralization is confined to the s-shaped part of the dike intrusion. At the present stage of mining, the deposit is characterized by the absence of major veins, the occurrence of disseminated pyrite throughout the orebody, and a distinct alteration pattern comparable to that of porphyry copper deposits. The central zone of the dike shows a typical K-feldspar-albite-sericite-pyrite (±biotite?) alteration, followed by a narrow external propylitic zone. Native gold with an average Ag content of 5 wt.% and a grain size of 5–100 μm is rare and occurs within pyrite and secondary K-feldspar. Sulphide mineral separates of pyrite and minor arsenopyrite probably contain invisible gold (up to 120 ppm) amenable to cyanidation. Anomalously high gold values of ～7 ppm have been found in the transition between the K-feldspar-albite-sericite-pyrite alteration and the propylitic zone, indicating that the mineralizing fluids have experienced major physico-chemical changes in the transition zone. The regional tectonic position of the orebody suggests that the emplacement of the granite and the gold mineralization are structurally controlled. The Pb isotope composition of several leachates of pyrite indicate isotope disequilibrium with magmatic minerals and point to a contamination of the mineralizing fluid by Pb from older (sedimentary?) sources. Stable isotope geochemistry of sulphides and carbonates as well as the metallogeny of the deposit compare to shear-zone hosted gold mineralization in the Kwekwe district, for which a deep crustal origin has been discussed. Although this study documents contrasting evidence for a porphyry-gold versus a shear-zone type of mineralization, it is suggested that gold-bearing fluids were syntectonically introduced into a ductile shear zone within the granite dike either during cooling of the intrusion or later in Archaean or early Proterozoic times.     

The Guelb Moghrein Cu–Au deposit: Neoarchaean hydrothermal sulfide mineralization in carbonate-facies iron formation

The Guelb Moghrein copper–gold deposit in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania reopened in 2006 and has produced copper concentrate and gold since then. The deposit is hosted in Neoarchaean–Palaeoproterozoic Fe–Mg carbonate-dominated metamorphic rocks interpreted as carbonate-facies iron formation. It forms tabular orebodies controlled by shear zones in the hanging wall and footwall of this meta-iron formation. Copper and gold are hosted in a complex sulfide ore in tectonic breccia replacing Fe–Mg carbonate and magnetite. Hydrothermal monazite dates the mineralization at 2492 ± 9 Ma. Two types of aqueous fluid inclusions suggest fluid mixing at 0.75–1.80 kbar and ~ 410 °C as the mineralization and precipitation mechanism, which is temporally coincident with regional retrograde metamorphism at 410 ± 30 °C (garnet-biotite). Distal alteration zones are enriched in K, Rb and Cu, whereas orebodies are depleted in K, Rb, Sr and Ba. The copper–gold mineralization at Guelb Moghrein formed during retrograde shearing in metamorphic rocks and contemporaneous hydrothermal alteration. The stable isotope signature of alteration and ore minerals suggest an external crustal fluid source. Fluids were focused in the reactive and competent meta-iron formation. Potassium alteration, magnetite and copper–gold mineralization suggest an IOCG mineral system akin similar deposits in Australia and Brazil.     

Overprinting porphyry‐type veinlets on the intrusive rocks and phreatomagmatic breccias in the Southwest prospect,southwestern Sto. Tomas II (Philex), Baguio District,Philippines

The Southwest prospect is located at the southwestern periphery of the Sto. Tomas II porphyry copper–gold deposit in the Baguio District, northwestern Luzon, Philippines. The Southwest prospect hosts a copper‐gold mineralization related to a complex of porphyry intrusions, breccia facies, and overlapping porphyry‐type veinlets emplaced within the basement Pugo metavolcanics rocks and conglomerates of the Zigzag Formation. The occurrences of porphyry‐type veinlets and potassic alteration hosted in the complex are thought to be indications of the presence of blind porphyry deposits within the Sto. Tomas II vicinity. The complex is composed of at least four broadly mineralogically similar dioritic intrusive rocks that vary in texture and alteration type and intensity. These intrusions were accompanied with at least five breccia facies that were formed by the explosive brecciation, induced by the magmatic–hydrothermal processes and phreatomagmatic activities during the emplacement of the various intrusions. Hydrothermal alteration assemblages consisting of potassic, chlorite–magnetite, propylitic and sericite–chlorite alteration, and contemporaneous veinlet types were developed on the host rocks. Elevated copper and gold grades correspond to (a) chalcopyrite–bornite assemblage in the potassic alteration in the syn‐mineralization early‐mineralization diorite (EMD) and contemporaneous veinlets and (b) chalcopyrite‐rich mineralization associated with the chalcopyrite–magnetite–chlorite–actinolite±sericite veinlets contemporaneous with the chlorite–magnetite alteration. Erratic remarkable concentrations of gold were also present in the late‐mineralization Late Diorite (LD). High X_Mg of calcic amphiboles (>0.60) in the intrusive rocks indicate that the magmas have been oxidizing since the early stages of crystallization, while a gap in the composition of Al between the rim and the cores of the calcic amphiboles in the EMD and LD indicate decompression at some point during the crystallization of these intrusive rocks. Fluid inclusion microthermometry suggests the trapping of immiscible fluids that formed the potassic alteration, associated ore mineralization, and sheeted quartz veinlets. The corresponding formation conditions of the shallower and deeper quartz veinlets were estimated at pressures of 50 and 30 MPa and temperatures of 554 and 436°C at depths of 1.9 and 1.1 km. Temperature data from the chlorite indicate that the chalcopyrite‐rich mineralization associated with the chlorite–magnetite alteration was formed at a much lower temperature (ca. 290°C) than the potassic alteration. Evidence from the vein offsetting matrix suggests multiple intrusions within the EMD, despite the K‐Ar ages of the potassic alteration in EMD and hornblende in the LD of about the same age at 3.5 ± 0.3 Ma. The K‐Ar age of the potassic alteration was likely to be thermally reset as a result of the overprinting hydrothermal alteration. The constrained K‐Ar ages also indicate earlier formed intrusive rocks in the Southwest prospect, possibly coeval to the earliest “dark diorite” intrusion in the Sto. Tomas II deposit. In addition, the range of δ³⁴S of sulfide minerals from +1.8‰ to +5.1‰ in the Southwest prospect closely overlaps with the rest of the porphyry copper and epithermal deposits in the Sto. Tomas II deposit and its vicinity. This indicates that the sulfides may have formed from a homogeneous source of the porphyry copper deposits and epithermal deposits in the Sto. Tomas II orebody and its vicinity. The evidence presented in this work proves that the porphyry copper‐type veinlets and the adjacent potassic alteration in the Southwest prospect are formed earlier and at a shallower level in contrast with the other porphyry deposits in the Baguio District.     

西藏东窝东矿床矿化蚀变过程元素迁移及绢云母~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar年代学及其地质意义

东窝东铜多金属矿床位于羌塘地体南缘,多龙铜金矿集区东侧。该矿床尚未开展矿化蚀变时限、成矿作用中元素迁移特征等问题的研究。为确定矿床的蚀变矿化作用时限,本文对东窝东矿床的黄铁绢英岩化蚀变带中的蚀变绢云母进行了~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar年代学测试,获得~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar坪年龄为122.20±0.84 Ma,该年龄与已有的斑岩体侵位时代(122 Ma)一致,说明东窝东矿床黄铁绢英岩化蚀变与斑岩体侵位有密切联系。此外,对比分析地表弱蚀变和钻孔中强黄铁绢英岩化花岗闪长斑岩的岩石地球化学结果,运用"等浓度线(isocon)方程"及其推导方程,探讨黄铁绢英岩化蚀变过程中的不同元素的带入、带出特点及元素迁移特征。结果表明:高场强元素质量基本守恒;轻稀土元素较重稀土元素迁移量较大,但总体上稀土元素的迁移程度较弱;主要的成矿元素Cu、Pb、Zn为带入元素。东窝东矿床含矿斑岩侵位时代和热液蚀变时限均与多龙矿集区内多不杂、波龙、铁格隆南等多个超大型-大型铜金矿床一致,说明东窝东矿床和多龙矿集区内的多个矿床受控于同一构造-岩浆成矿背景,东窝东矿区具有重要的找矿潜力。     

Hydrothermally altered peraluminous Archaean granites as a provenance model for Witwatersrand sediments

Hydrothermal alteration of peraluminous granitic rocks, occurring at Varkenskraal, northwest of the Witwatersrand Basin, consists of two major styles. The first style, pervasive in nature, is represented by two stages: i) A propylitic alteration and ii) A disseminated sericitization. Both alteration stages were accompanied by a deposition of disseminated sulphides. The second style is represented by a vein related alteration in four stages including potassium feldspar, minor carbonate and minor sulphide mineralization. Nodules of uraniferous carbonaceous matter and small amounts of particulate gold could possibly be associated with either one or both styles. Hydrothermally altered rocks of similar nature have been observed in a number of other localities close to the Witwatersrand Basin. Their abundance, large volumes and low-grade, disseminated pyrite/gold mineralization indicate that rocks of this type could have been the provenance of the Witwatersrand gold-bearing sediments.