A Preliminary Study on Skarn-Related Calc-silicate Rocks Associated with the Batu Hijau Porphyry Copper-Gold Deposit, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia

Batu Hijau is a world-class gold-rich porphyry copper deposit, situated in Sumbawa Island, Indonesia. Deep drilling indicates that several intervals of calc-silicate rock were intersected, where they are apparently interbedded with volcaniclastic rocks. The calc-silicate rocks occur at the contact with copper-gold-bearing tonalite porphyries. The rocks are fine-grained and granular with green, reddish-brown and white layers. The green layers consist mostly of fine-grained clinopyroxene (diopside and hedenbergite) and the reddish-brown layers consist mostly of garnet (andradite), whereas the white layers are commonly composed of calcite and zeolite (chabazite). The calc-silicate rocks were formed by contact metasomatism of andesitic volcaniclastic rocks, as it is calcic in composition. Paragenesis study reveals at least two stages of calc-silicate mineralization. Stage 1 (prograde) is characterized by the presence of garnet (andradite), clinopyroxene (diopside and hedenbergite), anorthite and quartz at 340–360 C (high salinity 35–45 NaCl wt percentage eqn.). Stage 2 (retrograde) is characterized by chlorite and rare epidote at 280–300 C (low salinity 1–10 NaCl wt% eqn.). Late calcite ± quartz veinlets and calcite + chabazite veins/veinlets may also be related to this stage and cross cut the oldest mineral assemblages. Mineralization (magnetite, chalcopyrite and pyrite) may occur during the retrograde stage. Clinopyroxene and garnet were modified by Fe-rich hydrothermal fluid (oxidizing condition) indicated by increase of Fe from core to rim of both the cogenetic minerals. The presence of the calc-silicate rocks associated with massive magnetite-chalcopyrite-pyrite assemblage indicates the occurrence of calcic-exoskarn surrounding the Batu Hijau porphyry copper-gold deposit.     

Reconciling fluid inclusion types,fluid processes,and fluid sources in skarns: an example from the Bismark Deposit,Mexico

The Bismark deposit (8.5 Mt at 8% Zn, 0.5% Pb, 0.2% Cu, and 50 g/t Ag) located in northern Mexico is an example of a stock-contact skarn end member of a continuum of deposit types collectively called high-temperature, carbonate-replacement deposits. The deposit is hosted by massive sulfide within altered limestone adjacent to the Bismark quartz monzonite stock (~42 Ma) and the Bismark fault. Alteration concurrently developed in both the intrusion and limestone. The former contains early potassic alteration comprising K-feldspar and biotite, which was overprinted by kaolinite-rich veins and alteration and later quartz, sericite, and pyrite with minor sphalerite and chalcopyrite. Prograde exoskarn alteration in the limestone consists of green andradite and diopside, and transitional skarn comprising red-brown andradite, green hedenbergite and minor vesuvinite, calcite, fluorite, and quartz. The main ore stage post-dates calc-silicate minerals and comprises sphalerite and galena with gangue pyrite, pyrrhotite, calcite, fluorite, and quartz. The entire hydrothermal system developed synchronously with faulting. Fluid inclusion studies reveal several distinct temporal, compositional, and thermal populations in pre-, syn- and post-ore quartz, fluorite, and calcite. The earliest primary fluid inclusions are coexisting vapor-rich (type 2A) and halite-bearing (type 3A; type 3B contain sylvite) brine inclusions (32 to >60 total wt% salts) that occur in pre-ore fluorite. Trapping temperatures are estimated to have been in excess of 400 °C under lithostatic pressures of ~450 bar (~1.5 km depth). Primary fluid inclusions trapped in syn-ore quartz display critical to near critical behavior (type 1C), have moderate salinity (8.4 to 10.9 wt% NaCl equiv.) and homogenization temperatures (Th) ranging from 351 to 438 °C. Liquid-rich type 1A and 1B (calcite-bearing) inclusions occur as primary to secondary inclusions predominantly in fluorite and show a range in Th (104–336 °C) and salinity (2.7–11.8 wt% NaCl equiv.), which at the higher Th and salinity ranges overlap with type 1C inclusions. Oxygen isotope analysis was carried out on garnet, quartz, and calcite (plus carbon isotopes) in pre-, syn-, post-ore, and peripheral veins. Pre-ore skarn related garnets have a δ¹⁸O_mineral range between 3.9 and 8.4‰. Quartz from the main ore stage range between 13.6 and 16.0‰. Calcite from the main ore stage has δ¹³C values of –2.9 to –5.1‰ and δ¹⁸O values of 12.3 to 14.1‰, which are clearly distinct from post-ore veins and peripheral prospects that have much higher δ¹⁸O (16.6–27.3‰) and δ¹³C (1.3–3.1‰) values. Despite the numerous fluid inclusion types, only two fluid sources can be inferred, namely a magmatic fluid and an external fluid that equilibrated with limestone. Furthermore, isotopic data does not indicate any significant mixing between the two fluids, although fluid inclusion data may be interpreted otherwise. Thus, the various fluid types were likely to have formed from varying pressure–temperature conditions through faulting during exsolution of magmatic fluids. Late-stage hydrothermal fluid activity was dominated by the non-magmatic fluids and was post-ore.     

秦岭山阳-柞水矿集区150~140Ma斑岩-矽卡岩型CuMoFe(Au)矿床成矿作用研究

秦岭造山带内的山阳-柞水古生代弧前盆地中出露有池沟、小河口、冷水沟、园子街、下官坊及双元沟等CuMo、CuFe(Au)矿床,与这些矿床具有成因联系的岩体为形成于150~140Ma的高钾钙碱性和钾玄岩系列花岗岩,为华北和扬子大陆碰撞后伸展阶段壳、幔混合岩浆的产物。矿化主要发生在岩体与泥盆、石炭纪地层中碳酸盐岩的接触带附近,主要类型为矽卡岩型,少量为斑岩型,部分矿床具有统一的矽卡岩-斑岩型成矿系统,矿化组合主要为CuMo、CuFe(Au)和Cu矿化。外接触带主要发育有矽卡岩和角岩化蚀变,内接触带主要为岩体内部的硅化、钾化、绢云母化、绿泥石化及粘土化,内矽卡岩不发育。矽卡岩矿物主要有石榴石、透辉石、绿帘石、透闪石,阳起石等,其中石榴子石主要为钙铁榴石和钙铝榴石,透辉石是辉石的主体,早期形成的石榴石和透辉石等无水矿物组合常被后期的绿帘石、透闪石和阳起石等含水矿物及石英、方解石等所交代。金属矿物比较简单,最主要的含铜矿物为黄铜矿和斑铜矿,铁矿化主要为磁铁矿和镜铁矿。尽管这些矿床以矽卡岩型矿化为主,但部分矿床中已发现有斑岩型矿化和蚀变特征,这可能暗示了该区可能具有统一的矽卡岩-斑岩型成矿系统,进而表明山阳-柞水矿集区深部具有寻找斑岩型矿床的巨大潜力。     

Mineralogy,fluid inclusions,and isotopes of the Cihai iron deposit,eastern Tianshan,NW China: Implication for hydrothermal evolution and genesis of subvolcanic rocks-hosted skarn-type deposits

Most skarn deposits are closely related to granitoids that intruded into carbonate rocks. The Cihai (>100 Mt at 45% Fe) is a deposit with mineral assemblages and hydrothermal features similar to many other typical skarn deposits of the world. However, the iron orebodies of Cihai are mainly hosted within the diabase and not in contact with carbonate rocks. In addition, some magnetite grains exhibit unusual relatively high TiO₂ content. These features are not consistent with the typical skarn iron deposit. Different hydrothermal and/or magmatic processes are being actively investigated for its origin. Because of a lack of systematic studies of geology, mineral compositions, fluid inclusions, and isotopes, the genetic type, ore genesis, and hydrothermal evolution of this deposit are still poorly understood and remain controversial.The skarn mineral assemblages are the alteration products of diabase. Three main paragenetic stages of skarn formation and ore deposition have been recognized based on petrographic observations, which show a prograde skarn stage (garnet-clinopyroxene-disseminated magnetite), a retrograde skarn stage (main iron ore stage, massive magnetite-amphibole-epidote ± ilvaite), and a quartz-sulfide stage (quartz-calcite-pyrite-pyrrhotite-cobaltite).Overall, the compositions of garnet, clinpyroxene, and amphibole are consistent with those of typical skarn Fe deposits worldwide. In the disseminated ores, some magnetite grains exhibit relatively high TiO₂ content (>1 wt.%), which may be inherited from the diabase protoliths. Some distinct chemical zoning in magnetite grains were observed in this study, wherein cores are enriched in Ti, and magnetite rims show a pronounced depletion in Ti. The textural and compositional data of magnetite confirm that the Cihai Fe deposit is of hydrothermal origin, rather than associated with iron rich melts as previously suggested.Fluid inclusions study reveal that, the prograde skarn (garnet and pyroxene) formed from high temperature (520–600 °C), moderate- to high-salinity (8.1–23.1 wt.% NaCl equiv, and >46 wt.% NaCl equiv) fluids. Massive iron ore and retrograde skarn assemblages (amphibole-epidote ± ilvaite) formed under hydrostatic condition after the fracturing of early skarn. Fluids in this stage had lower temperature (220°–456 °C) and salinity (8.4–16.3 wt.% NaCl equiv). Fluid inclusions in quartz-sulfide stage quartz and calcite also record similar conditions, with temperature range from 128° to 367 °C and salinity range from 0.2 to 22.9 wt.% NaCl equiv. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopic data of garnet and quartz suggest that mixing and dilution of early magmatic fluids with external fluids (e.g., meteoric waters) caused a decrease in fluid temperature and salinity in the later stages of the skarn formation and massive iron precipitation. The δ¹⁸O values of magnetite from iron ores vary between 4.1 and 8.5‰, which are similar to values reported in other skarn Fe deposits. Such values are distinct from those of other iron ore deposits such as Kiruna-type and magmatic Fe-Ti-V deposits worldwide. Taken together, these geologic, geochemical, and isotopic data confirm that Cihai is a diabase-hosted skarn deposit related to the granitoids at depth.     

马坑铁钼铅锌多金属矿成矿流体演化及矿床成因类型

马坑铁矿是福建省一个大型铁钼铅锌多金属矿床,赋存于莒舟-大洋花岗岩外接触带上石炭统经畲组-下二叠统栖霞 组大理岩与下石炭统林地组石英砂岩之间,矿化阶段经历了从无水矽卡岩阶段（钙铁榴石-透辉石） →含水矽卡岩-磁铁矿 阶段（绿帘石-阳起石-绿泥石-钙铁辉石） →硫化物阶段（石英-方解石-萤石-黄铁矿-闪锌矿） →碳酸盐岩阶段（石英-方 解石） 演变,而本文对含水矽卡岩-磁铁矿阶段和硫化物阶段中的钙铁辉石、萤石、石英及方解石中流体包裹体所进行岩 相学观察和显微测温研究表明,早期含水矽卡岩-磁铁矿阶段包裹体类型主要有含NaCl子晶三相包裹体和富液相两相包裹 体,少量富气相两相包裹体;而晚期硫化物阶段包裹体类型主要为富液相两相包裹体。含水矽卡岩-磁铁矿阶段流体出现 流体沸腾作用,流体温度范围为448~596℃,两端员组分流体盐度分别为26.5~48.4 wt % NaCl equiv.和2.4~6.9 wt % NaCl equiv.;硫化物阶段流体呈现出混合趋势,流体温度和盐度分别为182~343℃和1.9~20.1 wt % NaCl equiv.。流体包裹体的均 一温度和盐度的研究结果表明含水矽卡岩-磁铁矿阶段流体主要来自岩浆水,而硫化物阶段流体以岩浆水为主,并有大气 降水加入。由于马坑铁矿化形成于含水矽卡岩阶段,铅锌矿化则形成于硫化物阶段,流体沸腾是导致马坑铁矿床形成的主 要因素,而流体混合则是引起马坑铁矿床铅锌矿化的主要因素。综合地质与地球化学研究,马坑铁矿床应属于与莒舟-大 洋花岗岩有关的矽卡岩型铁矿床。     

Thermobarometry in the Sarvian Fe-skarn deposit (Central Iran) based on garnet–pyroxene chemistry and fluid inclusion studies

The Sarvian Fe skarn deposit is located in the Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic arc, western Iran. The Sarvian quartz diorite intruded the surrounding Permian to Tertiary limy formation, culminated in thermal metamorphism as well as skarnification in which the Sarvian deposit formed. Microthermometry studies in the Sarvian skarn deposit reveal two distinct inclusion groups; group A with medium–high temperature and hypersaline and group B with low–medium temperature and low salinity. Group A inclusions which are entrapped during formation of prograde are thought to be derived from the magmatic source. Fluid boiling and subsequent developing of hydraulic fracturing led to inflow and/or mixing of early magmatic fluids (group A) with circulating groundwater culminated in formation of low salinity and low temperature fluid inclusions (group B) during the formation of retrograde assemblage. Fluid inclusion thermometry reveals the formation temperature and the salinity of 300–370 °C and 31–33 wt% NaCl for the prograde stage and 180–230 °C and 1–15 wt% NaCl for the retrograde stage of skarnification at Sarvian skarn rocks. Fe-mineralization as well as hydrothermal minerals occurred during retrograde metasomatism. The estimated depth and pressure of occurrence for prograde stage are 1000–1200 m and 100–150 bars, and for retrograde stage, these are about 200 m and 50 bars, respectively. Garnet and pyroxene, as the main constituent minerals of prograde stage, are the most informative minerals offering a suitable tool to constrain the skarnification conditions. Garnets in the Sarvian deposit are mainly grossular and andradite, showing both normal and inverse zoning as the result of variation in their chemical composition. Such types of zoning represent alternation of high acidity oxidation and low acidity oxidation conditions that were prevailed on skarnification in the Sarvian prograde assemblage. Also, chemical composition of the Sarvian pyroxenes shows an alternation of high oxygen fugacity and low oxygen fugacity conditions for their formation. This is also supported by fluctuation of the ratios of andradite to grossular and diopside to hedenbergite, denoting to an obvious shifting that was prevailed between oxidizing and redox conditions during formation of prograde assemblage in the Sarvian. Garnet–pyroxene thermometry determines the formation temperature of prograde assemblage between 370 and 550 °C at Sarvian skarn rocks which is verified also by fluid inclusion thermometry. Decomposition of limestone by reaction of high-temperature hydrothermal fluids with carbonate host rock resulted in injection of CO₂ into the Sarvian system that caused oxidation, changing Fe⁺² to Fe⁺³ culminated in the magnetite deposition.     

西藏列廷冈-勒青拉铅锌铁铜钼矿床成矿流体特征:来自流体包裹体及碳氢氧同位素的证据

列廷冈-勒青拉矿床位于西藏冈底斯北缘多金属成矿带东侧,是该成矿带内一个独特的同时发育Pb、Zn、Fe、Cu、Mo五种元素矿化的典型矽卡岩型矿床.对该矿床成矿流体性质研究有助于解决这种具有不同来源属性的多金属共生矿床的成矿机制等科学问题.基于此,选取与Fe-Cu-Mo矿化和Pb-Zn-Cu矿化密切相关的矽卡岩矿物和脉石矿物,系统开展了流体包裹体和碳氢氧同位素研究,结果显示二者的成矿流体来源相同并经历了相似的演化过程.矽卡岩阶段主要发育富液相包裹体,成矿流体具有高温中高盐度特征.成矿期石英硫化物阶段和成矿后期碳酸盐阶段主要发育富液相包裹体和含子晶的多相包裹体,前者成矿流体温度属于中高温范畴,而盐度分为高盐度和低盐度两类;后者成矿流体温度属于中低温范畴,而盐度同样分为高盐度和低盐度两类,研究表明出现两种盐度截然不同的流体是由于沸腾作用造成的.稳定同位素研究结果显示矽卡岩阶段成矿流体主要源于发生过脱水去气作用的残余岩浆水,石英硫化物阶段和碳酸盐阶段均有大气降水的参与.灰岩地层与正常海相碳酸盐岩相比δ18O明显亏损,表明成矿流体在矿区灰岩地层中大规模运移并发生水岩反应,从而在远端矽卡岩带形成铅锌铜矿化.结合前人及本次研究结果,列廷冈-勒青拉矿床Fe-Cu矿化与Pb-Zn矿化为同一时期岩浆活动的产物,但分别与不同属性的岩浆有关.降温冷却、流体混合作用以及pH值的变化是控制列廷冈-勒青拉矿床金属沉淀的重要因素,而成矿温度和岩浆属性的差异是造成成矿元素在空间上分带的主要原因.     

Fluid Inclusion Study of Skarns in the Maruyama Deposit, the Kamioka Mine, Central Japan

Abstract: Fluid inclusions in skarn minerals in the Maruyama deposit, the Kamioka mine, central Japan were studied. Homogenization temperatures (Th) of fluid inclusions in 48 skarn minerals (hedenbergite, andradite, epidote and quartz) were measured, and gas composition of fluid inclusions in 12 skarn minerals was measured with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The maximum Th value of primary inclusions in hedenbergite is 380C with peaks around 360C. Primary inclusions in hedenbergite near contact between skarn and limestone have slightly lower Th values and their distribution has a tendency of long trail skirt toward low temperature, which indicates ceasing of skarnization coincides with temperature decrease. Fluid inclusions in andradite and quartz in the hedenbergite skarn have lower Th values, in this order, than those in hedenbergite. CH4–detected fluid inclusions are localized around the Maruyama fault. Gas composition of the fluid inclusions indicates that fluid trapped in the hedenbergite has CO2 content less than 1 mole % and is not in equilibrium with graphite.     

Alteration and mineralization at the Zhibula Cu skarn deposit,Gangdese belt,Tibet

The Zhibula Cu skarn deposit contains 0.32 Mt. Cu metal with an average grade of 1.64% and is located in the Gangdese porphyry copper belt in southern Tibet. The deposit is a typical metasomatic skarn that is related to the interaction of magmatic–hydrothermal fluids and calcareous host rock. Stratiform skarn orebodies occur at the contact between tuff and marble in the Lower Jurassic Yeba Formation. Alteration zones generally grade from a fresh tuff to a garnet-bearing tuff, a garnet pyroxene skarn, and finally to a wollastonite marble. Minor endoskarn alteration zonations are also observed in the causative intrusion, which grade from a fresh granodiorite to a weakly chlorite-altered granodiorite, a green diopside-bearing granodiorite, and to a dark red-brown garnet-bearing granodiorite. Prograde minerals, which were identified by electron probe microanalysis include andradite–grossularite of various colors (e.g., red, green, and yellow) and green diopside. Retrograde metamorphic minerals overprint the prograde skarn, and are mainly composed of epidote, quartz, and chlorite. The ore minerals consist of chalcopyrite and bornite, followed by magnetite, molybdenite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, galena, and sphalerite. Three types of fluid inclusions are recognized in the Zhibula deposit, including liquid-rich two-phase inclusions (type L), vapor-rich two-phase inclusions (type V), and daughter mineral-bearing three-phase inclusions (type S). As the skarn formation evolved from prograde (stage I) to early retrograde (stage II) and later retrograde (stage III), the ore-forming fluids correspondingly evolved from high temperature (405–667 °C), high salinity (up to 44.0 wt.% NaCl equiv.), and high pressure (500–600 bar) to low-moderate temperature (194–420 °C), moderate-high salinity (10.1–18.3 and 30.0–44.2 wt.% NaCl equiv.), and low-moderate pressure (250–350 bar). Isotopic data of δ³⁴S (− 0.1‰ to − 6.8‰, estimated δ³⁴S_fluids = − 0.7‰), δD_H2O (− 91‰ to − 159‰), and δ¹⁸O_H2O (1.5‰ to 9.2‰) suggest that the ore-forming fluid and material came from magmatic–hydrothermal fluids that were associated with Miocene Zhibula intrusions. Fluid immiscibility likely occurred at the stage I and stage II during the formation of the skarn and mineralization. Fluid boiling occurred during the stage III, which is the most important Cu deposition mechanism for the Zhibula deposit.     

山东大张矽卡岩型铁矿床中铁的富集机制 ——来自流体包裹体和氢、氧同位素的证据

大张铁矿是鲁西地区近年来新发现的一个重要的矽卡岩型矿床.矿体主要赋存于石英二长闪长岩与奥陶系马家沟组灰岩接触带及其附近.根据脉体穿插关系和交代蚀变特征,将大张矽卡岩型铁矿床成矿过程划分为矽卡岩阶段、氧化物阶段、硫化物阶段和碳酸盐阶段.通过对透辉石、绿帘石、石英和方解石等透明矿物显微观察发现,大张铁矿中流体包裹体类型主要...     

Geochronology and Ore‐Forming Fluids of the Baizhangyan W–Mo Deposit in the Chizhou Area,Middle‐Lower Yangtze Valley,SE‐China

The Baizhangyan skarn‐porphyry type W–Mo deposit is located in a newly defined Mo–W–Pb–Zn metallogenic belt, which is in the south of Middle‐Lower Yangtze Valley Cu–Fe–Au polymetallic metallogenic belt in SE China. The W–Mo orebodies occur mainly within the contact zone between fine‐grained granite and Sinian limestone strata. There are two types of W–Mo mineralization: major skarn W–Mo mineralization and minor granite‐hosted disseminated Mo mineralization which was traced by drilling at depth. Eight molybdenite samples from Mo‐bearing ores yield Re–Os dates that overlap within analytical error, with a weighted average age of 134.1 ± 2.2 Ma. These dates are in close agreement with SIMS U–Pb concordant zircon age for fine‐grained granite at 133.3 ± 1.3 Ma, indicating that crystallization of the granite and hydrothermal molybdenite formation were coeval and likely cogenetic. The Baizhangyan W–Mo deposit formed in the Early Cretaceous extensional tectonic setting at the Middle‐Lower Yangtze Valley metallogenic belt and the Jaingnan Ancient Continent. Based on mineral compositions and crosscutting relationships of veinlets, hydrothermal alteration and mineralization, the ore mineral paragenesis of the Baizhangyan deposit is divided into four stages: skarn stage (I), oxide stage (II), sulfide stage (III), and carbonate stage (IV). Fluid inclusions in garnet, scheelite, quartz and calcite from W–Mo ores are mainly aqueous‐rich (L + V) type inclusions. Following garnet deposition at stage I, the high‐temperature fluids gave way to progressively cooler, more dilute fluids associated with tungsten–molybdenite–base metal sulfide deposition (stage II and stage III) (162–360°C, 2.7–13.2 wt % NaCl equivalent) and carbonate deposition (stage IV) (137–190°C, 0.9–5 wt % NaCl equiv.). Hydrogen‐oxygen isotope data from minerals of different stages suggest that the ore‐forming fluids consisted of magmatic water, mixed in various proportions with meteoric water. From stage I to stage IV, there is a systematic decrease in the homogenization temperature of the fluid‐inclusion fluids and calculated δ¹⁸O values of the fluids. These suggest that increasing involvement of formation water or meteoric water during the fluid ascent resulted in successive deposition of scheelite and molybdenite at Baizhangyan.     

Geochemical Characteristics,Origin, and Evolution of Ore‐Forming Fluids of the Khut Copper Skarn Deposit,West of Yazd in Central Iran

The Khut copper skarn deposit is located at about 50 km northwest of Taft City in Yazd province in the middle part of the Urumieh‐Dokhtar magmatic arc. Intrusion of granitoid of Oligocene–Miocene age into carbonate rocks of the Triassic Nayband Formation led to the formation of marble and a calcic skarn. The marble contains high grade Cu mineralization that occurs mainly as open space filling and replacement. Cu‐rich sulfide samples from the mineralized marble are also anomalous in Au, Zn, and Pb. In contrast, the calcic skarn is only weakly anomalous in Cu and W. The calcic skarn is divided into garnet skarn and garnet–pyroxene skarn zones. Paragenetic relationships and microthermometric data from fluid inclusions in garnet and calcite indicate that the compositional evolution of skarn minerals occurred in three main stages as follows. (i) The early prograde stage, which is characterized by Mg‐rich hedenbergite (Hd_53.7Di_42.3–Hd_86.1Di_9.5) with Al‐bearing andradite (69.8–99.5 mol% andradite). The temperature in the early prograde skarn varies from 400 to 500°C at 500 bar. (ii) The late prograde stage is manifested by almost pure andradite (96.2–98.4 mol% andradite). Based on the fluid inclusion data from garnet, fluid temperature and salinity in this stage is estimated to vary from 267 to 361°C and from 10.1 to 21.1 wt% NaCl equivalent, respectively. Pyrrhotite precipitation started during this stage. (iii) The retrograde stage occurs in an exoskarn, which consists of an assemblage of ferro‐actinolite, quartz, calcite, epidote, chlorite, sphalerite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite that partially replaces earlier mineral assemblages under hydrostatic conditions during fracturing of the early skarn. Fluids in calcite yielded lower temperatures (T < 260°C) and fluid salinity declined to ～8 wt% NaCl equivalent. The last stage mineralization in the deposit is supergene weathering/alteration represented by the formation of iron hydroxide, Cu‐carbonate, clay minerals, and calcite. Sulfur isotope data of chalcopyrite (δ³⁴S of +1.4 to +5.2‰) show an igneous sulfur source. Mineralogy and mineral compositions of the prograde assemblage of the Khut skarn are consistent with deposition under intermediately oxidized and slightly lower fS₂ conditions at shallow crustal levels compared with those of other typical Fe‐bearing Cu–Au skarn systems.     

Constraints on the mineralization processes of the Makeng iron deposit,eastern China: Fluid inclusion,H–O isotope and magnetite trace element analysis

The Makeng iron deposit is located in the Yong’an-Meizhou depression belt in Fujian Province, eastern China. Both skarn alteration and iron mineralization are mainly hosted within middle Carboniferous-lower Permian limestone. Five paragenetic stages of skarn formation and ore deposition have been recognized: Stage 1, early skarn (andradite–grossular assemblage); Stage 2, magnetite mineralization (diopside–magnetite assemblage); Stage 3, late skarn (amphibole–chlorite–epidote–johannsenite–hedenbergite–magnetite assemblage); Stage 4, sulfide mineralization (quartz–calcite–fluorite–chlorite–pyrite–galena–sphalerite assemblage); and Stage 5, carbonate (quartz–calcite assemblage). Fluid inclusion studies were carried out on inclusions in diopside from Stage 2 and in quartz, calcite, and fluorite from Stage 4.Halite-bearing (Type 1) and coexisting two-phase vapor-rich aqueous (Type 3) inclusions in the magnetite stage display homogenization temperatures of 448–564 °C and 501–594 °C, respectively. Salinities range from 26.5 to 48.4 and 2.4 to 6.9 wt% NaCl equivalent, respectively. Two-phase liquid-rich aqueous (Type 2b) inclusions in the sulfide stage yield homogenization temperatures and salinities of 182–343 °C and 1.9–20.1 wt% NaCl equivalent. These fluid inclusion data indicate that fluid boiling occurred during the magnetite stage and that fluid mixing took place during the sulfide stage. The former triggered the precipitation of magnetite, and the latter resulted in the deposition of Pb, Zn, and Fe sulfides. The fluids related to magnetite mineralization have δ¹⁸O_fluid-VSMOW of 6.7–9.6‰ and δD of −96 to −128‰, which are interpreted to indicate residual magmatic water from magma degassing. In contrast, the fluids related to the sulfide mineralization show δ¹⁸O_fluid-VSMOW of −0.85 to −1.04‰ and δD of −110 to −124‰, indicating that they were generated by the mixing of magmatic water with meteoric water. Magnetite grains from Stage 2 exhibit oscillatory zoning with compositional variations in major elements (e.g., SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, MgO, and MnO) from core to rim, which is interpreted as a self-organizing process rather than a dissolution-reprecipitation process. Magnetite from Stage 3 replaces or crosscuts early magnetite, suggesting that later hydrothermal fluid overprinted and caused dissolution and reprecipitation of Stage 2 magnetite. Trace element data (e.g., Ti, V, Ca, Al, and Mn) of magnetite from Stages 2 and 3 indicate a typical skarn origin.     

Geology,fluid inclusion and stable isotopes (O,S) of the Hetaoping distal skarn Zn-Pb deposit,northern Baoshan block,SW China

The Hetaoping zinc–lead deposit is located in the northern Baoshan block, Sanjiang region, SW China. The ore deposit comprises massive orebodies in the lower part and lenticular and vein-like orebodies in the upper part, both of which are hosted in the marbleized Upper Cambrian limestone and slate of the Hetaoping Formation. Three mineralization stages of Hetaoping skarn system have been recognized based on petrographic observation, which are pre-ore stage (pyroxene–garnet–actinolite–epidote–magnetite), syn-ore stage (sulfides–quartz–calcite–fluorite), and post-ore stage (calcite–quartz–chlorite). Andradite and hedenbergite are dominant in pre-ore garnet and pyroxene, respectively. Ore minerals consist of mainly pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, bornite and galena. Three types of fluid inclusions have been identified in Hetaoping, including primary two-phase (A type), primary three-phase (B type) and secondary two-phase (C type) inclusions. Based on fluid inclusion microthermometric study, the fluids forming the Hetaoping skarn minerals and sulfides evolved from high-moderate temperature (255–498 °C) and low-moderate salinity (5.0–18.0 wt.% NaCl equiv) in pre-ore stage, through moderate-low temperature (152–325 °C) and low salinity (0.4–14.2 wt.% NaCl equiv) in syn-ore stage, to low temperature (109–205 °C) and low salinity (0.9–10.0 wt.% NaCl equiv) in post-ore stage. The sulfide δ³⁴S values range from 3.7 to 7.1‰ (mean = 5.2‰, n = 29), indicative of a dominantly magmatic sulfur origin. Silicate and carbonate oxygen isotopes give calculated δ¹⁸O_H2O ranges of 3.9–11.1‰ in prograde stage, − 0.9 to 4.6‰ in early retrograde stage, and − 1.3 to 2.9‰ in late retrograde stage (syn-ore stage), The oxygen isotope data reveal that the prograde fluid in Hetaoping could be primarily magmatic, which has been mixed significantly with meteoric water in the late retrograde stage. Such a fluid mixing process is considered to be a key factor controlling ore precipitation.     

Ore-forming fluids of Xishimen skarn iron deposit,China

Fluid inclusions in calcite and diopside from the Xishimen skarn iron deposit in China were studied. The deposit ores were formed from chloride solutions with salinity ranging from 8.4 to 59.6 wt % NaCl equiv within the temperature range of 210 to 590°C. The model of skarn ore formation involving high-temperature magmatic fluids is discussed.     

The Raigorodok stockwork gold-sulfide-quartz deposit in the North Kazakhstan gold ore province

The Raigorodok stockwork gold-sulfide-quartz deposit is located in the contact zone of a monzogabbro-diorite intrusion belonging to the Stepnyak complex (442 Ma). Two main ore formation stages have been established: early, with disseminated gold-bearing pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization related to skarn, propylite, and K-feldspar formation, and late, with productive mineralization. The late stage was accompanied by the formation of beresite, sericite, and quartz and comprised two substages: (1) quartz-gold-pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization and (2) quartz-carbonate-gold-polysulfide mineralization. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of beresites and sericites are 422.9 ± 4.3 Ma and 416.7 ± 4.3 Ma, respectively, which is 19-22 Myr younger than the age of the host intrusion. The deposit ores formed stepwise, at temperatures of 112-335 °C and fluid salinity of 0.7-21.2 wt.% NaCl equiv. Sulfur for skarns, propylites, beresites, and ores might have been provided by a deep magma chamber, and the carbonaceous shales of the Vendian Sharyk Formation might have been the source of gold. The isotope and geochemical data and the results of fluid inclusion study suggest that Raigorodok is an intrusion-related deposit. At the same time, the deposit has a number of signs of porphyry-epithermal ore-magmatic systems.     

Fluid Inclusions and Hydrogen,Oxygen, Sulfur Isotopes of Nuri Cu‐W‐Mo Deposit in the Southern Gangdese,Tibet

The Nuri Cu‐W‐Mo deposit is located in the southern subzone of the Cenozoic Gangdese Cu‐Mo metallogenic belt. The intrusive rocks exposed in the Nuri ore district consist of quartz diorite, granodiorite, monzogranite, granite porphyry, quartz diorite porphyrite and granodiorite porphyry, all of which intrude in the Cretaceous strata of the Bima Group. Owing to the intense metasomatism and hydrothermal alteration, carbonate rocks of the Bima Group form stratiform skarn and hornfels. The mineralization at the Nuri deposit is dominated by skarn, quartz vein and porphyry type. Ore minerals are chalcopyrite, pyrite, molybdenite, scheelite, bornite and tetrahedrite, etc. The oxidized orebodies contain malachite and covellite on the surface. The mineralization of the Nuri deposit is divided into skarn stage, retrograde stage, oxide stage, quartz‐polymetallic sulfide stage and quartz‐carbonate stage. Detailed petrographic observation on the fluid inclusions in garnet, scheelite and quartz from the different stages shows that there are four types of primary fluid inclusions: two‐phase aqueous inclusions, daughter mineral‐bearing multiphase inclusions, CO₂‐rich inclusions and single‐phase inclusions. The homogenization temperature of the fluid inclusions are 280°C–386°C (skarn stage), 200°C–340°C (oxide stage), 140°C–375°C (quartz‐polymetallic sulfide stage) and 160°C–280°C (quartz‐carbonate stage), showing a temperature decreasing trend from the skarn stage to the quartz‐carbonate stage. The salinity of the corresponding stages are 2.9%–49.7 wt% (NaCl) equiv., 2.1%–7.2 wt% (NaCl) equiv._, 2.6%–55.8 wt% (NaCl) equiv. and 1.2%–15.3 wt% (NaCl) equiv., respectively. The analyses of CO₂‐rich inclusions suggest that the ore‐forming pressures are 22.1 M Pa–50.4 M Pa, corresponding to the depth of 0.9 km–2.2 km. The Laser Raman spectrum of the inclusions shows the fluid compositions are dominated in H₂O, with some CO₂ and very little CH₄, N₂, etc. δD values of garnet are between ?114.4‰ and ?108.7‰ and δ¹⁸O_H2O between 5.9‰ and 6.7‰; δD of scheelite range from ?103.2‰ to ?101.29‰ and δ¹⁸O_H2O values between 2.17‰ and 4.09‰; δD of quartz between ?110.2‰ and ?92.5‰ and δ¹⁸O_H2O between ?3.5‰ and 4.3‰. The results indicate that the fluid came from a deep magmatic hydrothermal system, and the proportion of meteoric water increased during the migration of original fluid. The δ³⁴S values of sulfides, concentrated in a rage between ?0.32‰ to 2.5‰, show that the sulfur has a homogeneous source with characteristics of magmatic sulfur. The characters of fluid inclusions, combined with hydrogen‐oxygen and sulfur isotopes data, show that the ore‐forming fluids of the Nuri deposit formed by a relatively high temperature, high salinity fluid originated from magma, which mixed with low temperature, low salinity meteoric water during the evolution. The fluid flow through wall carbonate rocks resulted in the formation of layered skarn and generated CO₂ or other gases. During the reaction, the ore‐forming fluid boiled and produced fractures when the pressure exceeded the overburden pressure. Themeteoric water mixed with the ore‐forming fluid along the fractures. The boiling changed the pressure and temperature, oxygen fugacity, physical and chemical conditions of the whole mineralization system. The escape of CO₂ from the fluid by boiling resulted in scheelite precipitation. The fluid mixing and boiling reduced the solubility of metal sulfides and led the precipitation of chalcopyrite, molybdenite, pyrite and other sulfide.     

The Ore-forming Fluid of the Gold Deposits of Muru Gold Belt in Eastern Shandong, China - a Case Study of Denggezhuang Gold Deposit

Abstract. Denggezhuang gold deposit is an epithermal gold‐quartz vein deposit in northern Muru gold belt, eastern Shandong, China. The deposit occurs in the NNE‐striking faults within the Mesozoic granite. The deposit consists of four major veins with a general NNE‐strike. Based on crosscutting relationships and mineral parageneses, the veins appear to have been formed during the same mineralization epochs, and are further divided into three stages: (1) massive barren quartz veins; (2) quartz‐sulfides veins; (3) late, pure quartz or calcite veinlets. Most gold mineralization is associated with the second stage. The early stage is characterized by quartz, and small amounts of ore minerals (pyrite), the second stage is characterized by large amounts of ore minerals. Fluid inclusions in vein quartz contain C‐H‐O fluids of variable compositions. Three main types of fluid inclusions are recognized at room temperature: type I, two‐phase, aqueous vapor and an aqueous liquid phase (L+V); type II, aqueous‐carbonic inclusions, a CC₂‐liquid with/without vapor and aqueous liquid (LCO₂+VCC₂+Laq.); type III, mono‐phase aqueous liquid (Laq.). Data from fluid inclusion distribution, microthermometry, and gas analysis indicate that fluids associated with Au mineralized quartz veins (stage 2) have moderate salinity ranging from 1.91 to 16.43 wt% NaCl equivalent (modeled salinity around 8–10 wt% NaCl equiv.). These veins formatted at temperatures from 80d? to 280d?C. Fluids associated with barren quartz veins (stage 3) have a low salinity of about 1.91 to 2.57 wt% NaCl equivalent and lower temperature. There is evidence of fluid immiscibility and boiling in ore‐forming stages. Stable isotope analyses of quartz indicate that the veins were deposited by waters with δ^O and δD values ranging from those of magmatic water to typical meteoric water. The gold metallogenesis of Muru gold belt has no relationship with the granite, and formed during the late stage of the crust thinning of North China.     

新疆准噶尔北缘托斯巴斯套铁铜金矿床矽卡岩和磁铁矿矿物学特征及其地质意义

托斯巴斯套铁铜金矿床赋存于中泥盆统北塔山组火山岩与闪长(玢)岩的接触带中,矿体呈脉状、透镜状,矿体及其周围发育大量矽卡岩.本文分别利用电子探针、电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS),对托斯巴斯套铁铜金矿附近的石榴子石、辉石、绿帘石的化学组分及磁铁矿的主量及微量元素开展研究.结果表明:矽卡岩矿物中石榴子石端员组分以钙铝榴石一钙铁榴石系列为主,辉石端员组分以透辉石为主,绿帘石化学成分富铁富钙,这些特点表明矿区矽卡岩具有钙矽卡岩特征.矽卡岩是由岩浆热液流体交代北塔山组基性火山岩而形成的,磁铁矿的形成与矽卡岩的退化变质作用有关.在石英-硫化物-碳酸盐阶段形成铜和金矿化.     

Mineralization and fluid evolution of the Jiyuan polymetallic Cu–Ag–Pb–Zn–Au deposit,eastern Tianshan,NW China

The newly discovered Jiyuan Cu–Ag–(Pb–Zn–Au) deposit is located in the southern section of the eastern Tianshan orogenic belt, Xinjiang, northwestern China. It is the first documented deposit in the large Aqikekuduke Ag–Cu–Au belt in the eastern Tianshan orogen. Detailed field observations, parageneses, and fluid inclusion studies suggest an epithermal ore genesis for the main Cu–Ag mineralization, accompanied by a complicated hydrothermal alteration history most likely associated with the multi-stage tectonic evolution of the eastern Tianshan. The Jiyuan Cu–Ag ore bodies are located along the EW-striking, south-dipping Aqikekuduke fault and are hosted by Precambrian marble and intercalated siliceous rocks. Early-stage skarn alteration occurred along the contact zone between the marble layers and Early Carboniferous diorite–granodiorite and monzogranite intrusions; the skarns are characterized by diopside–tremolite–andradite–pyrite–(magnetite) assemblages. Local REE-enriched synchysite–rutile–arsenopyrite–(clinochlorite–microcline–albite) assemblages are related to K–Na alteration associated with the monzogranite intrusions and formed under conditions of high temperature (310°C) and high salinity (19.9 wt.% NaCl). Subsequent hydrothermal alteration produced a series of quartz and calcite veins that precipitated from medium- to low-temperature saline fluids. These include early ‘smoky’ quartz veins (190°C; 3.0 wt.% NaCl) that are commonly barren, coarse-grained Cu–Ag mineralized quartz veins (210°C; 2.4 wt.% NaCl), and late-stage unmineralized calcite veins (140°C; 1.1 wt.% NaCl). Tremolite and Ca-rich scapolite veins formed at an interval between early and mineralized quartz veins, indicating a high-temperature, high-salinity (>500°C; 9.5 wt.% NaCl) Ca alteration stage. Fluid mixing may have played an important role during Cu–Ag mineralization and an external low-temperature Ca-rich fluid is inferred to have evolved in the ore-forming system. The Jiyuan auriferous quartz veins possess fluid characteristics distinct from those of the Cu–Ag mineralized quartz veins. CO₂-rich fluid inclusions, fluid boiling, and mixing all demonstrate that these auriferous quartz veins acted as hosts for the orogenic-type gold mineralization, a common feature in the Tianshan orogenic belt.