Isotope composition of Medieval lead glasses reflecting early silver production in Central Europe

The lead isotope composition of 32 lead glasses excavated from strata of the twelfth to early fifteenth century in six countries of NW Europe made the predominance of the Harz Mountains in this period of the Medieval European lead and silver production highly probable. Post-Variscan vein type galena, Devonian syngenetic hydrothermal ore (Rammelsberg) and blended ore from both deposits in the Harz were used. Our evaluation of 200 mining sites in Germany, Britain and Ireland also demonstrated that minor lead sources for lead glass were located in Bavaria/Bohemia and England. Lead ores from the Rhenohercynian orogenic belt in Germany are derived from rock sources close to the upper continental crust composition in ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb of about 10 and Th/U of about 4. The ores in Central England originated from rocks with ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb of about 11. Received: 24 September 1996 / Accepted: 17 January 1997     

Lead isotope data from selected galena occurrences in the North Eifel and North Sauerland,Germany

The isotopic ratios of Pb have been determined from 33 galena samples collected from a variety of occurrences in the north Eifel and north Sauerland. On the basis of the data presented, it is not possible to distinguish between the isotopic characteristics of galena-Pb from veins, carbonate cavity-filling and sandstone-hosted disseminated mineralisation in the north Eifel. In the north Sauerland, Saxonian (late Mesozoic-Tertiary) disseminated Pb mineralisation in Cretaceous-Tertiary sediments is generally more radiogenic than Saxonian vein mineralisation in Paleozoic country rocks. Variscan vein-type mineralisation (Ramsbeck, Ebbe Mountains) proved to have the least radiogenic Pb. The results are discussed in terms of potential sources of the Pb, and are compared to other data reported from European deposits.     

The Rammelsberg massive sulphide Cu-Zn-Pb-Ba-Deposit, Germany: an example of sediment-hosted, massive sulphide mineralisation

The Rammelsberg polymetallic massive sulphide deposit was the basis of mining activity for nearly 1000 y before finally closing in 1988. The deposit is hosted by Middle Devonian pelitic sediments in the Rhenohercynian terrane of the Variscan Orogen. The deposit consists of two main orebodies that have been intensely deformed. Deformation obscures the original depositional relationships, but the regional setting as well as the geochemistry and mineralogy of the mineralisation display many characteristics of the SHMS (sediment-hosted massive sulphide) class of ore deposits. Rammelsberg is briefly compared to the other massive sulphide deposits in the European Variscan, including Meggen and those deposits in the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Received: 28 September 1998 / Accepted: 5 January 1999     

Lead isotope data on three North Australian galena localities

Gas-source intercomparison data from three Precambrian locations, reproducing to within 0.1 to 0.2 percent in each ratio at the 95 percent level, have been normalized through the Broken Hill standard to the NBS lead, SRM 981. The bedded Pb-Zn deposits at Mount Isa and McArthur River show the marked isotopic uniformity long associated with major stratiform deposits. At Mount Isa this uniformity extends meridionally for at least 35 km, and over the full depth of the host formation. It encompasses samples of fault-fill sulphides within the mine area, thus emphasizing the dominance of the ore lead during subsequent remobilization. At McArthur River there is strong evidence that veins cutting the adjacent formations comprise a mixture of ore Pb with material of different provenance; the evidence for comparable mixtures at Mount Isa is not strong. At the intervening Law Hill field, the Pb in vein deposits is similar to the more extreme of the McArthur River vein leads. This could possibly indicate a geochemical and age similarity between the source rocks in these two widely-separated areas.     

Lead isotopes of the carbonate-hosted Kabwe, Tsumeb, and Kipushi Pb-Zn-Cu sulphide deposits in relation to Pan African orogenesis in the Damaran-Lufilian Fold Belt of Central Africa

Lead isotope ratios of galena from the carbonate-hosted massive sulphide deposits of Kabwe (Pb-Zn) and Tsumeb (Pb-Zn-Cu) in Zambia and Namibia, respectively, have been measured and found to be homogeneous and characteristic of upper crustal source rocks. Kabwe galena has average isotope ratios of ^206/204Pb = 17.997 ± 0.007, ^207/204Pb = 15.713 ± 0.010 and ^208/204Pb = 38.410 ± 0.033. Tsumeb galena has slightly higher ^206/204Pb (18.112 ± 0.035) and slightly lower ^207/204Pb (15.674 ± 0.016) and ^208/204Pb (38.276 ± 0.073) ratios than Kabwe galena. The isotopic differences are attributed to local differences in the age and composition of the respective source rocks for Kabwe and Tsumeb. The homogeneity of the ore lead in the two epigenetic deposits suggests lead sources of uniform isotopic composition or, alternatively, thorough mixing of lead derived from sources with relatively similar isotopic compositions. Both deposits have relatively high ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb ratios of 10.31 and 10.09 for Kabwe and Tsumeb galenas, respectively. These isotope ratios are considered to be typical of the upper continental crust in the Damaran-Lufilian orogenic belt, as also indicated by basement rocks and Cu-Co sulphides in stratiform Katangan metasediments which have a mean μ-value of 10.25 ± 0.12 in the Copperbelt region of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). The ²³²Th/²⁰⁴Pb isotope ratios of 43.08 and 40.42 for Kabwe and Tsumeb suggest Th-enriched source regions with ²³²Th/²³⁵U (κ-values) of 4.18 and 4.01, respectively. Model isotopic ages determined for the Kabwe (680 Ma) and Tsumeb (530 Ma) deposits indicate that the timing of the mineralisation was probably related to phases of orogenic activity associated with the Pan-African Lufilian and Damaran orogenies, respectively. Galena from the carbonate-hosted Kipushi Cu-Pb-Zn massive sulphide deposit in the Congo also has homogeneous lead isotope ratios, but its isotopic composition is comparable to that of the average global lead evolution curve for conformable massive sulphide deposits. The μ (9.84) and κ (3.69) values indicate a significant mantle component, and the isotopic age of the Kipushi deposit (456 Ma) suggests that the emplacement of the mineralisation was related to a post-tectonic phase of igneous activity in the Lufilian belt. The isotope ratios (^206/204Pb, ^207/204Pb, ^208/204Pb) of the three deposits are markedly different from the heterogeneous lead ratios of the Katangan Cu-Co stratiform mineralisation of the Copperbelt as well as those of the volcanogenic Nampundwe massive pyrite deposit in the Zambezi belt which typically define radiogenic linear trends on lead-lead plots. The host-rock dolomite of the Kabwe deposit also has homogeneous lead isotope ratios identical to the ore galena. This observation indicates contamination of the Kabwe Dolomite Formation with ore lead during mineralisation. Received: 8 September 1997 / Accepted: 21 August 1998     

Lead isotope geochemical characteristics of Pb-Zn-Cu deposits on the southwestern margin of Tarim, and their significance

The polymetallic(Pb,Zn,Cu,etc) ore belt on the southwestern margin of Tarim is one of the major regions with the greatest prospecting potential in Xinjiang.Reported in this paper are the lead isotope data for 66 sulfide samples(including 50 galena samples,15 chalcopyrite samples and 1 pyrite sample) collected from such representative deposits as Tamu,Tiekelike,Kalangu,Abalieke,etc.in this ore belt.The Pb isotopic ratios of 206 Pb/204 Pb,207 Pb/204 Pb and 208 Pb/204 Pb in the galena samples range from 17.931 to 18.176,15.609 to 15.818 and 38.197 to 38.944,with the average values of 18.017,15.684 and 38.462,respectively.Those in the chalcopyrite samples range from 17.926 to 18.144,15.598 to 15.628 and 38.171 to 38.583,with the average values of 18.020,15.606 and 38.262,respectively.The pyrite sample has the Pb isotopic ratios of 206 Pb/204 Pb,207 Pb/204 Pb and 208 Pb/204 Pb to be 17.980,15.604 and 38.145,respectively.In combination with the previous Pb isotope data for sulfides,it is found that there is only a slight variation in the Pb isotopic composition of galena,chalcopyrite,sphalerite and pyrite in the ore belt.However,there is some difference in Pb isotopic characteristics between galena and chalcopyrite,especially the Pb isotopic composition of galena shows an obvious linear correlation with some other relevant parameters(e.g.β and γ).The comprehensive analysis suggested that lead in galena(maybe including sphalerite and pyrite) was derived principally from wall rocks and underlying basement,and that in chalcopyrite only originated from the basement.The single-stage model ages of these sulfides couldn’t indicate the time limit of metallogenesis(Pb,Zn,Cu,etc.),and the positive linear correlations for the Pb isotopic composition of galena are of no single-stage and two-stage Pb-Pb isochron significance.Furthermore,there are significant differences in Pb isotopic composition characteristics between the genetic type of deposits in this polymetallic ore belt and the Mississippi Valley type(MVT).In addition,the authors also pointed out that there is a phenomenon of differentiation(not paragenesis) for lead and copper elements during the process of metallogenesis in this ore belt.     

Pb-isotope evidence for the origin of lead in strata-bound Pb-Zn deposits in triassic carbonates of the Eastern and Southern Alps

A comparison of ore-lead isotope ratios of Pb-Zn deposits hosted in Triassic carbonates of the Eastern and Southern Alps with the isotopic composition of trace leads of their host rocks, of Triassic volcanics, and of the underlying clastic sediments shows that these rocks could have supplied only part of the ore lead. The isotopic signature of feldspar lead from crystalline basement rocks, however, reveals that they must have contributed a significant amount of metal to these deposits. The presence of barite and of thallium is also indicative that feldspars were the main source of lead. Arsenic is one of the few important trace elements in these deposits and is known to occur in some areas of Lower Paleozoic metasediments in unusually high concentrations. Any model explaining the origin of these deposits must consider the extensive leaching of the basement and to some extent of the overlying clastic sediments as well. How the metal-bearing solutions entered the lagoonal back-reef areas is still open to question as feeder channels have not yet been positively identified. The results further demonstrate that the basement also acted as a metal source for galena-bearing deposits hosted in Permian sediments, vein-type deposits in Permian volcanics, and probably the barite-fluorite polymetallic deposits along a Devonian erosional surface in the Carnic Alps as well.     

Characterization of Galena and Vein Paragenesis in the Penjom Gold Mine, Malaysia: Trace Elements, Lead Isotope Study and Relationship to Gold Mineralization Episodes

The Penjom Gold Mine is located 30 km from the Bentong-Raub Suture at the western boundary of the Central Belt in Peninsular Malaysia. Gold mineralization hosted within the vein system is associated with pyrite, arsenopyrite, and minor base metals including galena. Trace element and lead isotope analysis was undertaken on nine samples that represent two stages of galena formed during two tectonic events. Both the Pb isotopes and the trace elements show that the first stage galena within the mineralized areas at the footwall has different geochemical characteristics compared with galena in non mineralized areas in the hanging wall, suggesting that galena crystallized from two different ore fluids and probably at two different times. Higher Te, Se and Bi in the galena from the mineralized area may indicate hydrothermal fluids that migrate through the structural conduit and leached out the metal along the pathway that consist of dominant carbonaceous unit. The Pb isotopic ratio composition are transitional between the bulk crustal growth and an upper crustal growth curve, indicating that derivation was from arc rocks associated with continental crust or a crustal source that includes arc volcanic and old continental sedimentary rocks.     

A lead isotope study of two sulphide deposits and adjacent igneous rocks in south-central Sweden

Two sulphide ore deposits, Svärdsjö and Åmmeberg, occurring in the Bergslagen ore district in south-central Sweden have been examined for their Pb isotope compositions. Analyses of the ore lead reveals a great isotopic homogeneity, with compositions that nearly coincide with results obtained from other deposits in the area. The Stacey and Kramers growth model for Pb in conformable ores yields model ages, however, that are 100–150 Ma too low in comparison with the accepted geological ages. Isotopic data from whole rocks and mineral separates indicate an open system behaviour with respect to U and Pb. On the basis of geological/geochemical evidence the sulphide ores in Bergslagen are considered to have formed by volcanic-exhalative processes. The ore lead is interpreted as a mixture of newly added mantle-material and a minor Archean component. It is likely that the main part of the ore lead was derived from volcanic source rocks, but most probably sediments, interbedded in the volcanic succession also played some role.     

Differences in lead isotope composition in the stratiform McArthur zinc-lead-silver deposit

Lead isotopic composition and uranium and lead concentrations have been determined for galena, sphalerite, pyrite and acetic acid soluble material from the McArthur area in order to test the hypothesis of a dual sulphur source suggested by the sulphur isotope data of Smith and Croxford (Sulphur isotope ratios in the McArthur lead-zinc-silver deposit, Nature Phys. Sci. 245, 10–12 (1973)). Galena, sphalerite and the acetic acid washes from the McArthur deposit have uniform isotopic ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 16.07–16.15; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 15.37–15.47; ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 35.57–35.89) consistent with other conformable ore deposits, whereas the ratios for pyrite are variable and quite radiogenic (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 16.24–16.49; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 15.42–15.58; ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 35.82–36.98). Acid washes where dolomite is a major dissolved phase are also radiogenic. The lead in the pyrite appears to have been derived from at least two sources: the less radiogenic lead coming from an exhalative source as for galena and sphalerite and the more radiogenic lead probably being leached from the country rocks. It is proposed that analysis of pyrite for isotopic composition and concentration of lead could be used as an indicator for similar types of deposits in this area.     

小秦岭地区文峪和东闯石英脉型金矿床铅及硫同位素研究

小秦岭地区文峪和东闯金矿床均是华北地台南缘的大型金矿床，金和金(铅）矿化主要在太古宙太华群变质岩层内呈脉状产出，并且同中生代燕山期花岗岩类具密切的时空分布关系。文章对文峪金矿床、东闯金（铅）矿床、花岗岩类侵入岩和变质岩地层的硫和铅同位素组成进行了系统研究，对不同地质体的硫和铅同位素变化特征进行了详细讨论。研究结果表明：中生代花岗岩体起源于太古言变质岩的重熔和岩浆结晶分异作用。金的成矿作用发生在中生代燕山期，成矿物质主要来自花岗岩类侵入岩，岩浆热流体对太古富变质岩地层的淋滤作用亦为金矿床的形成提供了部分物质来源。     

秦岭凤太矿集区喷流沉积型铅锌矿床S、Pb同位素地球化学特征

凤太矿集区位于秦岭泥盆系铅锌等多金属成矿带的中段,铅锌矿床主要产于中泥盆统古道岭组和上泥盆统星红铺组之间的硅质岩中。对区内三个典型铅锌矿床中S、Pb同位素组成研究表明,铅硐山、八方山、银母寺3个铅锌矿床金属硫化物的δ34S值变化范围较小,均不超过10‰。区内硫化物的δ34S值总体变化于4.3‰~13.2‰,指示S主要来自海水硫酸盐的还原作用。3个矿床矿石矿物的Pb同位素中206 Pb/204 Pb变化于17.775~18.180,207Pb/204Pb变化于15.457~15.805,208Pb/204Pb变化于37.977~38.670。各个矿床之间Pb同位素组成均有较大的重叠,暗示3个铅锌矿床具有相似的铅源。通过Pb同位素构造模式图解以及Δβ-Δγ分类图解分析表明,矿石铅来源于早古生代中期到末期扬子板块向华北板块之下俯冲以及晚古生代扬子板块、秦岭微板块向华北板块俯冲的历程中。     

Black shales and massive sulfide deposits: causal or casual relationships? Insights from Rammelsberg, Tharsis, and Draa Sfar

Black shales and massive sulfides represent reduced lithofacies that require isolation from oxic environments to be preserved. This, together with the sedimentary affinity of both lithofacies, can explain their common concurrence in the geologic record. The present study is based on the comparison of Rammelsberg in Germany, Tharsis in Spain, and Draa Sfar in Morocco, three massive sulfide deposits closely associated with black shales that are distributed along the European and North African Variscan orogen. The study entails geochemical, biostratigraphic, and stratigraphic analyses of the black shale sequences hosting the three deposits and mineralogical and textural analyses of the sulfides. All three deposits were formed in immature, tectonically unstable basins within an active continental margin or continental magmatic arc. Their stratigraphic records consist of a sequence of black shales enclosing massive sulfides and variable proportions of bimodal volcanic and subvolcanic rocks. The major differences among the three deposits concern the size, composition, and mineralogy. Regarding age, they are diachronous and younger southward: Rammelsberg is middle Eifelian, Tharsis latest Famennian, and Draa Sfar late Viséan. The study of redox conditions of the paleoenvironment using organic and inorganic proxies highlights similarities and significant differences among the three ore-hosting basins during massive sulfide and black shale deposition. The black shales generally display low C_org and high S_tot contents. At Rammelsberg, the S_tot/C_tot ratios provide values typical for normal Middle Devonian marine environments, which suggests that the original reactive organic C is now fixed in carbonates. At Tharsis, most of the samples have C_org >1 and S_tot/C_org values equivalent to those of Devonian?CCarboniferous normal marine sediments. However, some pyritic hanging-wall samples have C_org <1 and S_tot up to 5?wt.%, suggesting the epigenetic addition of HS^?. The S_tot/C_org ratio for the Draa Sfar samples resembles that of Middle Carboniferous normal marine environments. Geochemical inorganic proxies used to define the environmental conditions include the enrichment factors of U (U_EF) and Mo (Mo_EF) together with V/Cr and V/(V?+?Ni) ratios. Footwall shales at Filón Norte (Tharsis) show positive and eventually elevated U_EF and Mo_EF values, which suggests anoxic conditions, whereas at Rammelsberg and Draa Sfar oxic bottom water is indicated. The relations V/Cr and V/(V + Ni) in all three cases point to a redox boundary near the sediment?Cwater interface, although at Tharsis some samples indicate anoxic/euxinic conditions (i.e., V/(V + Ni) >0.9). Regarding the environmental conditions of the source areas, feldspar illitization and selective depletion in Na and Ca occurred at the three studies sites. Available sulfur isotopic data from the Rammelsberg and Tharsis sulfide ore indicate that biogenic reduction of marine sulfate was a major sulfur source during massive sulfide generation. Nevertheless, a hydrothermal sulfur source has also been detected. At Rammelsberg, this is indicated from the polymetallic sulfides that replace sedimentary and diagenetic pyrite. At Tharsis, the bacteriogenic sulfur signature is also restricted to sulfide with less evolved textures, whereas a hydrothermal source is more evident in sulfides showing evidence of recrystallization. Both geochemical and isotopic data suggest that the bacteriogenic reduction process was inhibited by rapid burial. The sedimentation rates calculated for Rammelsberg, Tharsis, and Draa Sfar were in the range 7?C13, 8?C14, and 19?C27?cm/ka, respectively. Continuous sedimentation of black shale favored the isolation of the massive sulfides and organic material from bottom waters and hence favored their preservation. Accordingly, the relationships between black shales and massive sulfides are considered to be casual. Nevertheless, the tectono-sedimentary evolution of each basin controlled the deposition of both black shales and massive sulfides and the parameters that favored their coeval deposition.     

The Paleozoic Ozbak-Kuh carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit of East Central Iran: Isotope (C,O, S,Pb) geochemistry and ore genesis

Lead and zinc mineralization occurs in dolostones of the Middle Devonian Sibzar Formation at Ozbak-Kuh, which is located 150 km north of Tabas city in East Central Iran. The ore is composed of galena, sphalerite and calcite, with subordinate dolomite and bitumen. Wall-rock alterations include carbonate recrystallization and dolomitization. Microscopic studies reveal that the host rock is replaced by galena and sphalerite. The Pb–Zn mineralization is epigenetic and stratabound. The δ¹³C values of hydrothermal calcite samples fall in the narrow range between ?0.3‰ and 0.8‰. The δ¹⁸O values in calcite display a wider range, between ?14.5‰ and ?11.9‰. The δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values overlap with the oxygen and carbon isotopic compositions of Paleozoic seawater, indicating the possible important participation of Paleozoic seawater in the ore-forming fluid. The δ¹⁸O signature corresponds to a spread in temperature of about 70 °C in the ore-bearing fluid. The δ¹³C values indicate that the organic materials within the host rocks did not contribute significantly in the hydrothermal fluid. The δ³⁴S values of galena and sphalerite samples occupy the ranges of 12.2‰–16.0‰ and 12.1–16.8‰, respectively. These values reveal that the seawater sulfate is the most probable source of sulfur. The reduced sulfur was most likely supplied through thermochemical sulfate reduction. The sulfur isotope ratios of co-precipitated sphalerite–galena pairs suggest that deposition of the sulfide minerals took place under chemical disequilibrium conditions. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios of the galena samples represent average values of 18.08, 15.66, and 38.50, respectively. These ratios indicate that galena Pb likely originated from an orogenic source in which supracrustal rocks with high ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb and ²³²Th/²⁰⁴Pb ratios are dominant. The average lead isotope model age portrays Cambrian age. This model age is not coeval with the host rocks, which are of middle Devonian age. It is probable that the pre-Middle Devonian model age shows the derivation of Pb from older sources either from host rocks of Cambrian age or from deposits previously formed in these rock units. The Pb isotopic composition of galena accords with the occurrence of an orogenic activity from Late Neoproterozoic to Lower Cambrian in Central Iran. The proposed genetic model considers the fact that mineralization formed in fractured and brecciated host rocks along shear zones and faults from metal-bearing connate waters that were discharged due to deformational dewatering of sediments.     

Sulfur, lead and helium isotopic compositions of sulfide minerals from the Dachang Sn-polymetallic ore district in South China: implication for ore genesis

Summary The Dachang Sn-polymetallic ore district is one of the largest tin producing districts in China. Its origin has long been in dispute between magmatic-hydrothermal replacement and submarine exhalative-hydrothermal origin. The Dachang ore district comprises several types of ore deposits, including the Lamo magmatogenic skarn deposit near a granite intrusion, the Changpo-Tongkeng bedded and vein-type sulfide deposit, and the Gaofeng massive sulfide deposit. Sulfide minerals from the Lamo skarn ores show δ³⁴S values in the range between −3 and +4‰ with a mean close to zero, suggesting a major magmatic sulfur source that likely was the intrusive Longxianggai granite. Sulfide minerals from the Gaofeng massive ores show higher δ³⁴S values between +5 and +12‰, whereas sulfide minerals from the Changpo-Tongkeng bedded ores display lighter δ³⁴S values between −7 and −0.2‰. The difference in the sulfur isotope ranges in the two deposits can be interpreted by different degrees of inorganic thermochemcial reduction of marine sulfate using a one-step batch separation fractionation model. Sulfur isotopic compositions from the vein-type ores at Changpo-Tongkeng vary widely from −8 to +4‰, but most of the data cluster around −2.9‰, which is close to that of bedded ores (−3.6‰). The sulfur in vein-type ores might be derived from bedded ores or it represents a mixture of magmatic- and sedimentary-derived sulfur. Pb isotopic compositions of sulfide minerals in the Dachang ore district reveal a difference between massive and bedded ores, with the massive ores displaying more radiogenic Pb isotope ratios. Correlations of ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb or ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb for the massive and bedded ores are interpreted as two-component mixing of Pb leached from sedimentary host rocks and from deep-seated Precambrian basement rocks composed of metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary rocks. Pb isotopic compositions of sulfide minerals from vein-type ores overlap with those of bedded sulfides. Similar to the sulfur, the lead in vein-type ores might be derived from bedded ores. Skarn ores at Lamo show very limited variations in Pb isotopic compositions, which may reflect a major magmatic-hydrothermal lead source. Helium isotope data of fluid inclusions trapped in sulfides indicate that He in the massive and bedded ores has a different origin than He in fluorite of granite-related veins. The ³He/⁴He ratios of 1.2–2.9 Ra of fluid inclusions from sulfides at Gaofeng and Changpo-Tongkeng imply a contribution of mantle-derived fluids. Overall our data support a submarine exhalative-hydrothermal origin for the massive and bedded ore types at Dachang. Supplementary material to this paper is available in electronic form at Appendix available as electronic supplementary material     

Studies on mineralization and composition of DC ore field,Guangxi, China

DC, a multi-metal ore field, is an important and well known producer of tin in China. Besides tin, also mined are zinc, lead, antimony, copper, arsenic, tungsten, mercury, silver and many other metals. Most of the deposits in this region occur in Devonian limestones and siliceous shales. The ore deposits in this field are predominated by cassiterite sulphide type. As to the origin of those deposits, they seem closely related to biotite granite. The ore-forming material is mainly derived from magmatic rocks, and part of it may come from the host rocks. The appearance of horizontal zoning of ore deposits in this field is extremely distinct, with LXG biotite granite as the core. Found in the magmatic rocks is molybdenum mineralization. From the biotite granite outwards there displays such an occurring sequence as the following: copper (zinc) skarn ore deposits, scheelite ore deposits, wolframite ore deposits, cassiterite sulphide ore deposits, lead-zinc (antimony) ore deposits and mercury or arsenic ore deposits. In this region the mineralizing-temperature zoning is also distinguishable, basically in agreement with the horizontal zoning of ore deposits. In other words, the formation temperature of ore deposits occurring around the granite is higher than that farther away from the granite. The following mineralization periods and stages can be divided: the first period, including skarn sub-stage, cassiterite-quartz sub-stage, cassiterite-sulphide sub-stage, cassiterite-calcite sub-stage; the second period, including ferrosphalerite (galena)-franckeite sub-stage, jamesonite-boulangerite sub-stage; and the third period, including pyrite-calcite sub-stage. The characters of material composition are as follows: ore minerals are characterized by great variety, perfect crystallinity, large grain-size and abundant sulfosalts. More than 90 species of minerals have been identified. What is more interesting is that lead and antimony in some of the cassiterite-sulfide deposits are derived from jamesonite rather than galena and stibnite, which provides an example rarely encountered in metallic deposits throughout the world.     

广西DC矿田成矿作用和物质成分研究

广西DC矿田是我国著名的锡矿产地,除锡以外,还有锌、铅、铜等多金属矿床,以及锑、砷、硫、汞、银、分散元素等可以综合利用。     

湘南两类铅锌矿床的铅同位素组成特征

一、前言湘南的两类铅锌矿床,主要指的是东坡、香花岭矿田的铅锌、锡铅锌矿床和产于泥盆纪的层控铅锌矿床。前一类矿床的形成,不仅与燕山期花岗岩类小岩体密切有关,而且具有明显的地层效应,集中产于中上泥盆统棋梓桥组、佘田桥组碳酸盐岩中。如香花岭矿田的铅锌矿床约有80％的矿床(点)都集中产于棋梓桥组上段下部的白云岩和白云岩化灰岩内,同时还受到断裂构造的控制。以往的多数研究者认为,东坡、香花岭矿田的铅锌矿床,其成因属于典型的岩浆期后热液     

新疆阿舍勒铜矿区双峰式火山岩与成矿背景的初步研究

新疆阿舍勒铜矿是我国近十多年来找到的一个大型海相火山岩型块状硫化物多金属矿床，在经济上和矿床学上都有重要意义。阿舍勒铜矿的容矿岩是早－中泥盆世阿舍勒组海相火山岩，具特征的双峰式组合，缺少含ＳｉＯ２５４％－６１％的中性岩，在地表和钻孔都经常见到基性与酸性火山岩紧密互层现象。稀土和微量元素地球化学表明基性、酸性火山岩来自两个不同的源区。矿石铅同位素组成与细碧岩一致，硫同位素呈典型塔式分布，表明成矿物质     

Galena mineralization in the Orcadian Basin,Scotland: Geological and isotopic evidence for sources of lead

Galena and other sulphides are widespread in the Old Red Sandstone (Devonian) Orcadian Basin. Syndiagenetic occurrences are associated with organic-rich sedimentary rocks, especially algal limestones. Epigenetic galenas are often spatially related to these syndiagenetic occurrences, particularly in the vicinity of Permo-Carboniferous igneous intrusions. Mineralization is concentrated about the granite-gneiss basement inlier in southwest Orkney.Orcadian Basin galenas have lead isotope compositions which show a linear trend related to Lewisian granulite facies metamorphism at about 2,700 Ma. The most radiogenic leads must include a component of average orogene or upper crustal lead. The isotopic compositions are notably similar to those of Caledonian granite feldspar leads measured by Blaxland et al. (1979). Granite was probably a source for lead in galena deposits about the basement in south-west Orkney, but away from the basement an average orogene component would have become increasingly important. There was no major input of magmatic lead to the basin during Permo-Carboniferous times, only a remobilization of existing lead.