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

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

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

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

云南保山金厂河铁铜铅锌多金属矿床Rb-Sr等时线测年及其地质意义

金厂河铁铜铅锌多金属矿床位于保山地块北部、NS向保山-施甸复背斜与NNW向澜沧江断裂锐角交汇部位的南部。矿体呈层状、似层状产于寒武系核桃坪组金厂河背斜的层间裂隙中,受NW向、NE向断裂交汇处的控制。选取闪锌矿及其共生的方铅矿、黄铜矿、石英样品,应用Rb-Sr同位素测年方法,获得闪锌矿等时线年龄为（118.9±5.9） Ma,闪锌矿+方铅矿等时线年龄为（119.3±1.7） Ma,闪锌矿+黄铜矿等时线年龄为（120.3±5.1） Ma,闪锌矿+石英等时线年龄为（117.0±2.4） Ma,闪锌矿+方铅矿+石英等时线年龄为（118.7±1.5） Ma,闪锌矿+方铅矿+黄铜矿等时线年龄为（119.6±1.6） Ma,闪锌矿+方铅矿+黄铜矿+石英等时线年龄为（118.9±1.4） Ma。Rb-Sr定年结果表明,金厂河铁铜铅锌多金属矿床的成矿时代为117~120 Ma,为早白垩世。热液矿物组合的 （⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr）_i平均值为0.713?885,与保山地块内志本山岩体的（⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr）_i值接近,指示其成矿物质主要来源于地壳,成矿作用与保山地块内燕山晚期花岗岩岩浆活动有关,结合矿区重力负异常特点,推测矿区内存在隐伏的中-酸性岩体。通过地球动力学背景探讨,认为该矿床的形成可能是对中特提斯洋闭合过程中腾冲地块与保山地块碰撞造山作用的响应,与地块内部受碰撞影响而导致地壳深熔所产生的岩浆作用有关。     

Geochronology of the Xiaodonggou Porphyry Mo Deposit in Northern Margin of North China Craton

The Xiaodonggou porphyry Mo deposit is located in the Mesozoic calc-alkaline Xiaodonggou granitoid within a Palaeozoic fold zone of northern China. The mineralization mainly occurred in an area of 0.54 km² at the south-eastern part of the Xiaodonggou granitoid. The mineralization includes disseminated molybdenite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, magnetite and pyrrhotite and stockwork quartz-sulfide veins. A molybdenite-rich inner core is surrounded by a concentric zone of the sulfide mineral assemblage of pyrite, galena and sphalerite. Intense potassic alteration is overprinted by sericitization and silicification in the mineralized zone. SHRIMP U-Pb data of zircon indicate that the granitoid crystallized at 142 ± 2 Ma (2σ). Re–Os age dating for six molybdenite samples from underground galleries of the deposit constrains the age of porphyry-style Mo mineralization to be 138.1 ± 2.8 Ma (2σ). These data suggest that porphyry-style mineralization was associated with the Xiaodonggou granitoid intrusion and support an Early Cretaceous porphyry-type metallogenic epoch along the northern margin of North China Craton.     

Fluid inclusion and sulphur isotope evidence for syntectonic mineralisation at the Elura mine,southeastern Australia

Fluid inclusion and sulphur isotope data for the discordant, metasediment-hosted massive sulphide deposit at Elura are consistent with a syntectonic origin of the orebodies. Thermometric and laser Raman microprobe analyses indicate that two-phase, primary fluid inclusions are low salinity and H₂O-CO₂-CH₄ types. Inclusion fluids from quartz in ore yield homogenisation temperatures (T_h) ranging from 298 ° to 354 °C (mean 320 °C). They are likely to have been trapped close to the solvus of the H₂O-CO₂-(CH₄-NaCl) system and thus should give temperatures of the mineralising fluid. An additional, low T_h population of later fluid inclusions is recognised in quartz from ore and syntectonic extension veins in the adjacent wallrock. T_h's for these low CO₂bearing inclusions range from 150 to 231 °C (mean 190 °C), and should be considerably lower than true trapping temperatures. Sulphur isotopic composition (³⁴S) of pyrite, sphalerite, pyrrhotite and galena ranges from 4.7 to 12.6% and indicates a sulphur source from underlying Cobar Supergroup metasediments. An average temperature of 275 °C from the sphalerite-galena sulphur isotopic thermometer suggests isotopic re-equilibration below peak metamorphic temperatures.     

Ore-bearing fluids of the Eldorado gold deposit (Yenisei Ridge,Russia)

The Eldorado low-sulfide gold-quartz deposit, with gold reserves of more than 60 tons, is located in the damage zone of the Ishimba Fault in the Yenisei Ridge and is hosted by Riphean epidote-amphibolite metamorphic rocks (Sukhoi Pit Group). Orebodies occur in four roughly parallel heavily fractured zones where rocks were subject to metamorphism under stress and heat impacts. They consist of sulfide-bearing schists with veins of gray or milky-white quartz varieties. Gray quartz predominating in gold-bearing orebodies contains graphite and amorphous carbon identified by Raman spectroscopy; the contents of gold and amorphous carbon are in positive correlation. As inferred from thermobarometry, gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and Raman spectroscopy of fluid inclusions in sulfides, carbonates, and gray and white quartz, gold mineralization formed under the effect of reduced H₂O-CO₂-HC fluids with temperatures of 180 to 490 °C, salinity of 9 to 22 wt.% NaCl equiv, and pressures of 0.1 to 2.3 kbar. Judging by the presence of 11% mantle helium (³He) in fluid inclusions from quartz and the sulfur isotope composition (7.1-17.4‰ δ³⁴S) of sulfides, ore-bearing fluids ascended from a mantle source along shear zones, where they “boiled”. While the fluids were ascending, the metalliferous S- and N-bearing hydrocarbon (HC) compounds they carried broke down to produce crystalline sulfides, gold, and disseminated graphite and amorphous carbon (the latter imparts the gray color to quartz). Barren veins of milky-white quartz formed from oxidized mainly aqueous fluids with a salinity of < 15 wt.% NaCl equiv at 150-350 °C. Chloride brines (> 30 wt.% NaCl equiv) at 150-260 °C impregnated the gold-bearing quartz veins and produced the lower strata of the hydrothermal-granitoid section. The gold mineralization (795-710 Ma) was roughly coeval to local high-temperature stress metamorphism (836-745 Ma) and intrusion of the Kalama multiphase complex (880-752 Ma).     

Gold deposits associated with the gabbroic rocks at Tirek area,western Hoggar,Algeria: fluid inclusion study

The Tirek gold deposit hosted in the Archean shield is one of the richest sources of mined gold for Algeria. The deposit is controlled by the East Ouzzal shear zone (EOSZ), a transcurrent N–S lithospheric fault. The EOSZ is a late Pan-African dextral-ductile shear zone separating two contrasting Precambrian domains: the Archean In Ouzzal block to the west (Orthogenesis with subordinate metasediments reworked and granulitized during the ca. 2 Ga Eburnean event) and a middle Proterozoic block to the east involved in the ca. 600 Ma Pan-African event. The auriferous quartz veins are mainly oriented in two directions, N–S veins hosted in mylonitic rocks and NE–SW veins hosted in gabbroic or gneissic bands. The NE–SW veins contain the richest ore. Gold ore is found in a system of veins and lenticular quartz veinlets arranged in anastomosing networks. The hydrothermal alteration associated with these veins is characteristically a carbonate-sericite-albite-pyrite assemblage. Gold is the main metal of economic importance; it is disseminated in the quartz as grains or fibers along microcracks and as microscopic grains in the host rocks. Microthermometric results and Raman laser data from fluid inclusions demonstrate that the ore-forming fluids contained H₂O-CO₂±CH₄ and were low salinity. Homogenization temperatures are commonly 250–310 °C. In the Tirek deposit, the role of the shear zone that hosts the mineralization was to drain the hydrothermal fluid. Interactions between the fluid and the mafic host rocks and CO₂ also contributed to the formation of the hydrothermal gold deposit at Tirek.     

Au–Ag–Te Mineralization of the Low‐Sulfidation Epithermal Aginskoe Deposit,Central Kamchatka,Russia

Mineralogic studies of major ore minerals and fluid inclusion analysis in gangue quartz were carried out for the for the two largest veins, the Aginskoe and Surprise, in the Late Miocene Aginskoe Au–Ag–Te deposit in central Kamchatka, Russia. The veins consist of quartz–adularia–calcite gangue, which are hosted by Late Miocene andesitic and basaltic rocks of the Alnei Formation. The major ore minerals in these veins are native gold, altaite, petzite, hessite, calaverite, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite. Minor and trace minerals are pyrite, galena, and acanthine. Primary gold occurs as free grains, inclusions in sulfides, and constituent in tellurides. Secondary gold is present in form of native mustard gold that usually occur in Fe‐hydroxides and accumulates on the decomposed primary Au‐bearing tellurides such as calaverite, krennerite, and sylvanite. K–Ar dating on vein adularia yielded age of mineralization 7.1–6.9 Ma. Mineralization of the deposit is divided into barren massive quartz (stage I), Au–Ag–Te mineralization occurring in quartz‐adularia‐clays banded ore (Stage II), intensive brecciation (Stage III), post‐ore coarse amethyst (Stage IV), carbonate (Stage V), and supergene stages (Stage VI). In the supergene stage various secondary minerals, including rare bilibinskite, bogdanovite, bessmertnovite metallic alloys, secondary gold, and various oxides, formed under intensely oxidized conditions. Despite heavy oxidation of the ores in the deposit, Te and S fugacities are estimated as Stage II tellurides precipitated at the log f Te₂ values ?9 and at log fS₂ ?13 based on the chemical compositions of hypogene tellurides and sphalerite. Homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions in quartz broadly ranges from 200 to 300°C. Ore texture, fluid inclusions, gangue, and vein mineral assemblages indicate that the Aginskoe deposit is a low‐sulfidation (quartz–adularia–sericite) vein system.     

Geochemical Characteristics of Jinwozi Gold Deposit,Xinjiang

The Jinwozi gold deposit consists of gold-bearing quartz veins in a biotite granodiorite of Hercynian age (zircon U-Pb age ≈ 335.7 Ma). Ore mineralogy is simple. In addition to native gold, there are only small amounts of sulfides, mainly pyrite and minor sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena. δ³⁴S values average 6.69‰, and δ¹⁸O 13.99‰ Abundant CO₂ is contained in fluid inclusions from quartz. Homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions are between 186 and 262 °C. REE distribution patterns indicate that the igneous mass may have been derived from a common initial material of calcareous-argillaceous sediments and alkali basalts as the country rocks. In other words, the Jinwozi granodiorite is of remelting origin from crustal material. Isotopic evidence of S, O and Pb shows that the ore-forming material is genetically related to magmatic hydrothermal activity.     

Characteristic Features of REE and Pb–Zn–Ag Mineralizations in the Na Son Deposit,Northeastern Vietnam

The Na Son deposit is a small‐scale Pb–ZnPb–Zn–Ag deposit in northeast Vietnam and consists of biotite–chlorite schist, reddish altered rocks, quartz veins and syenite. The biotite–chlorite schist is intruded by syenite. Reddish altered rocks occur as an alteration halo between the biotite–allanite‐bearing quartz veins and the biotite–chlorite schist. Allanite occurs in the biotite–allanite‐bearing quartz veins and in the proximal reddish altered rocks. Rare earth element (REE) fluorocarbonate minerals occur along fractures or at rim of allanite crystals. The later horizontal aggregates of sulfide veins and veinlets cut the earlier reddish altered rocks. The earlier Pb–Zn veins consist of a large amount of galena and lesser amounts of sphalerite, pyrite and molybdenite. The later Cu veins cutting the Pb–Zn veins include chalcopyrite and lesser amounts of tetrahedrite and pyrite. The occurrences of two‐phase H₂O–CO₂ fluid inclusions in quartz from biotite–allanite‐bearing quartz veins and REE‐bearing fluorocarbonate minerals in allanite suggest the presence of CO₂ and F in the hydrothermal fluid. The oxygen isotopic ratios of the reddish altered rocks, biotite–chlorite schist, and syenite range from +13.9 to +14.9 ‰, +11.5 to +13.3 ‰, and +10.1 to +11.6 ‰, respectively. Assuming an isotopic equilibrium between quartz (+14.6 to +15.8 ‰) and biotite (+8.6 ‰) in the biotite–allanite‐bearing quartz vein, formation temperature was estimated to be 400°C. At 400°C, δ¹⁸O values of the hydrothermal fluid in equilibrium with quartz and biotite range from +10.5 to +11.7 ‰. These δ¹⁸O values are consistent with fluid that is derived from metamorphism. Assuming an isotopic equilibrium between galena (+1.5 to +1.7 ‰) and chalcopyrite (+3.4 ‰), the formation temperature was estimated to be approximately 300°C. The formation temperature of the Na Son deposit decreased with the progress of mineralization. Based on the geological data, occurrence of REE‐bearing minerals and oxygen isotopic ratios, the REE mineralization is thought to result from interaction between biotite–chlorite schist and REE‐, CO₂‐ and F‐bearing metamorphic fluid at 400°C under a rock‐dominant condition.     

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.     

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。     

Origin and evolution of ore-forming fluid for the Gaosongshan gold deposit,Lesser Xing'an Range:Evidence from fluid inclusions,H-O-S-Pb isotopes

Epithermal gold deposits are typical precious metal deposits related to volcanic and subvolcanic magmatism.Due to the lack of direct geological and petrographic evidences,the origin of the ore-forming fluid is deduced from the spatial diagenesis-mineralization relationship,chronological data,physicochemical characteristics of mineral fluid inclusions,mineral or rock elements and isotopic geochemical characteristics.By objectively examining this scientific problem via a geological field survey and petrographic analysis of the Gaosongshan epithermal gold deposit,we recently discovered and verified the following points:(1)Pyrite-bearing spherical quartz aggregates(PSQA)occur in the rhyolitic porphyry;(2)the mineralization is structurally dominated by WNW-and ENE-trending systems and occurs mostly in hydrothermal breccias and pyrite-quartz veins,and the ore types are mainly hematite-crusted quartz,hydrothermal breccia,massive pyrite-quartz,etc.;(3)the alteration types consist of prevalent silicification,sericitization,propylitization and carbonation,with local adularization and illitization.The ore minerals are mainly pyrite,primary hematite,native gold,and electrum,with lesser amounts of chalcopyrite,magnetite,sphalerite,and galena,indicating a characteristic epithermal low-sulfidation deposit.The ore-forming fluid may have been primarily derived from magmatic fluid exsolved from a crystallizing rhyolitic porphyry magma.Further zircon U-Pb geochronology,fluid inclusion,physicochemical and isotopic geochemical analyses revealed that(1)rhyolitic porphyry magmatism occurred at 104.6 ± 1.0 Ma,whereas the crystallization of the PSQA occurred at 100.8 ± 2.1 Ma;(2)the hydrothermal fluid of the pre-ore stage was an exsolved CO_2-bearing H20-NaCl magmatic fluid that produced inclusions mainly composed of pure vapor(PV),vapor-rich(WV)and liquid-rich(WL)inclusions with a small number of melt-(M)and solid-bearing(S)inclusions;mineralization-stage quartz contains WL and rare PV,WV and pure liquid(PL)inclusions characterized by the H_2 O-NaCl system with low formation temperatures and low salinities;(3)the characteristics of hydrogen,oxygen,sulfur,and lead isotopes and those of rare earth elements(REEs)provide insight into the affinity between PSQA and orebodies resulting from juvenile crust or enriched mantle.Combined with previous research on the mineralogenetic epoch(99.32± 0.01 Ma),we further confirm that the mineralization of the deposit occurred in the late Early Cretaceous,which coincides with the extension of the continental margin induced by subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate.The formation of the ore deposit was proceeded by a series of magmatic and hydrothermal events,including melting of enriched juvenile crust,upwelling,the eruption and emplacement of the rhyolitic magma,the exsolution and accumulation of magmatic hydrothermal fluid,decompression,the cooling and immiscibility/boiling of the fluid,and mixing of the magmatic fluid with meteoric water,in association with water-rock interaction.     

Alteration geochemistry and fluid inclusion characteristics of the greenstone-hosted gold deposit of Hutti, Eastern Dharwar Craton, India

Gold mineralization of the Hutti mine, southern India, is situated in closely spaced laminated quartz veins and associated alteration haloes along steeply dipping shear zones within a sequence of rather uniform amphibolites. Intense shearing has resulted in large-scale mylonitization of the wall rocks. Anastomosing shear zones, with intervening lensoid bodies of unsheared amphibolites, are characteristic features of the deposit. The general pattern of symmetrical alteration comprises a distal zone of chlorite-rich rock, with a proximal biotite-rich zone adjacent to laminated quartz veins. Arsenopyrite thermometry yielded a temperature range of 350-477 °C for the biotite alteration zone, which preceded the formation of the laminated quartz veins. Mass balance calculations on the alteration zones indicate a gradual mass and volume loss during alteration. The alteration is accompanied by intense potash metasomatism and addition of sulfur, which resulted in the formation of arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, and pyrite. Results of fluid inclusion studies suggest that low salinity (3.9-13.5 wt% NaCl equivalent) H₂O-CO₂ rich fluids were responsible for gold-rich laminated quartz vein formation in the Hutti deposit. These fluids constituted a later counterpart of the protracted fluid activity that first formed the biotite alteration zone. The estimated P-T values range from 1.0 to 1.7 kbar at 280-320 °C. These data, along with the alteration assemblages and the characteristic gold-sulfide association, both in the altered wall rock and laminated quartz veins, suggest that gold, transported as reduced bisulfide complexes, was deposited in response to sulfidation reactions in the wall rocks. Comparison of P-T conditions of formation of gold-quartz veins at Hutti with two other large gold deposits in the eastern Dharwar Craton, namely Kolar (1.8 kbar/280 °C) and western Ramagiri (1.45-1.7 kbar/240-270 °C), indicates broadly similar lode-gold forming conditions in the Dharwar Craton.     

Ore geology,fluid inclusions and O-S stable isotope characteristics of Shurab Sb-polymetallic vein deposit,eastern Iran

The Shurab Sb-polymetallic mineralization is a subvolcanic rock-hosted epithermal deposit and located in north Lut Block, eastern Iran. It is one of the most important deposits of the Iranian East Magmatic Assemblage (IEMA) in which numerous Middle-Cenozoic precious and base metals deposits occur. The main lithological units in the area are Paleogene subvolcanic intrusions and minor Jurassic sedimentary rocks. Mineralization occurs as veins in a series of NW-SE and E-W trending faults and fractures in the Eocene-Oligocene dacite and andesite subvolcanic rocks. Mineralization at the Shurab deposit can be subdivided into four stages: pre-ore stage, Cu-Zn-Pb ore stage, Sb-Ag ± As ore stage and post-ore stage. The total sulfide content of the veins in the area is variable, ranging from 1 to 50%, and is dominated by stibnite, chalcopyrite, galena, Fe-poor sphalerite and pyrite with minor chalcostibite, Ag-tetrahedrite and bournonite; gangue minerals are mainly quartz and calcite. Silicic, argillic, propylitic, and sericitic, are the most obvious wall rock alterations. Microthermometric measurements of primary liquid-rich fluid inclusions in quartz and sphalerite indicate that the veins were formed at temperatures between 115 and 290 °C from fluids with salinities between 0.7 and 16.2 wt% NaCl eq., suggesting an epithermal origin. The δ³⁴S values of pyrite, chalcopyrite and galena vary between -2.5 and 0.8‰, and δ¹⁸O values of quartz range between 12.5 and 14.8‰. It is inferred that the Shurab mineralization is of epithermal origin, related to an Eocene-Oligocene magmatic geothermal system involving fluids of magmatic and meteoric origin.     

Ta Nang gold deposit in the black shales of Central Vietnam

The Ta Nang gold deposit is localized in Middle Jurassic black shales. The ore zone is a series of layer-by-layer crush zones and zones of hydrothermal rock alteration, < 10 m in thickness and > 2 km in length. It consists of quartz-sulfide veins, sulfidized black shales, and their hydrothermally altered varieties. Sulfide mineralization occurs as two assemblages: early pyrite-arsenopyrite and late chalcopyrite-sphalerite- galena. The pyrite-arsenopyrite assemblage is composed of different morphogenetic varieties. Coarse-crystalline arsenopyrite and pyrite aggregates and metacrystals of different orientations, 0.1 to 10 mm in size, are the most widespread. The chalcopyrite-sphalerite-galena assemblage is scarce. Along with the main ore minerals, it includes more rare minerals: pyrrhotite, lead sulfosalts (tsugaruite), and gold, which form a spatial assemblage with the main minerals or small inclusions in them. Gold occurs mainly as fine dissemination in cracks in pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, and quartz. Gold content in sulfidized carbonaceous shales is no more than tenths of ppm, averaging 0.38 ppm. This content in the quartz veins is considerably higher, averaging 3.92 ppm. Silver contents in the shales and quartz veins are similar and equal to 2.68 and 5.30 ppm, respectively. Also, the sulfidized rocks and veins have elevated contents of Fe, As, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, and Co; most of these elements (Fe, As, Pb, Zn, and Cu) make up their own sulfide minerals, and the others are trace elements. According to ³⁹Ar/⁴⁰Ar dating of sericite from the quartz-sulfide veins, their age is 129.3 ± 5.6 Ma, which is close to the age of the Cretaceous granite intrusions of the Deo Ca complex. These veins formed from moderately strong solutions (11.7-6.4 wt.% NaCl equiv) with the CH₄ + N₂ + CO₂ gas phase at 340–130 °C. Judging from the S isotope composition (5³⁴S = 1.6-4.3%c), predominantly deep-seated endogenic sulfur participated in the formation of ore sulfide associations. Analysis of the distribution of gold shows that it was deposited together with sulfide minerals (galena, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite) at a later stage.     

Geochemical characteristics of gold mineralization of the Huai Kham On deposit,Sukhothai Fold Belt,Northern Thailand

The Huai Kham On gold deposit is located in the central part of the Sukhothai Fold Belt, northern Thailand. The Sukhothai Fold Belt represents an accretionary complex formed by subduction and collision between the Indochina and Sibumasu Terranes. There are many small gold deposits in the Sukhothai Fold Belt; however, the styles and formation environments of those gold deposits are not clear. The geology of the Huai Kham On deposit consists of volcanic and volcanosedimentary rocks, limestone, and low‐grade metamorphic rocks of Carboniferous to Triassic age. Gold‐bearing quartz veins are hosted by volcanic and volcanosedimentary rocks. The quartz veins can be divided into four stages. The mineral assemblage of the gold‐bearing quartz veins of Stages I and II comprises quartz, calcite, illite, pyrite, native gold, galena, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite. Quartz veins of Stage III consist of microcrystalline quartz, dolomite, calcite, pyrite, native gold, and chalcopyrite. Veins of Stage IV consist of calcite, dolomite, chlorite, and quartz. Fluid inclusions in quartz veins are classified into liquid‐rich two‐phase (Types I_A and I_B), carbonic‐aqueous (Type II), and carbonic (Type III) fluid inclusions. The homogenization temperatures of Types I_A and II fluid inclusions that are related to the gold‐bearing quartz veins from Stages I to III ranged from 240° to 280°C. The δ¹⁸O values of quartz veins of Stages I to III range from +12.9 to +13.4‰, suggesting the presence of a homogeneous hydrothermal solution without temperature variation such as a decrease of temperature during the formation of gold‐bearing quartz veins from Stages I to III in the Huai Kham On gold deposit. Based on the calculated formation temperature of 280°C, the δ¹⁸O values of the hydrothermal solution that formed the gold‐bearing quartz veins range from +3.2 to +3.7‰, which falls into the range of metamorphic waters. The gold‐bearing quartz veins of the Huai Kham On deposit are interpreted to be the products of metamorphic water.     

Geology, Mineralogy, and Formation Environment of the Disseminated Gold-Silver Telluride Bulawan Deposit, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Abstract: The Bulawan deposit is located in the porphyry copper belt of southwest Negros island, Philippines. Propylitic, K–feldspar, sericitic, and carbonate alteration types can be distinguished in the deposit. Propylite alteration occurs mainly in Cretaceous-Eocene andesitic lavas and agglomerates while K–feldspar, sericite and carbonate alteration types occur mostly in the Middle Miocene dacite porphyry breccia pipes and stocks which were intruded into the andesites. K-feldspar zones occur in the inner parts of the sericitized zone. Sericite alteration overprinted the propylitized and K-feldspar alteration zones, at lower temperature than epidote and chlorite in the propylitized zone. Carbonate alteration is associated with the mineralization in the center of the breccia pipes and along faults. Mineralization consists of gold-silver telluride ores that are hosted by the carbonate– and sericite-altered dacite porphyry breccia pipes. The Bulawan ores occur mainly as disseminations, but unlike many epithermal gold deposits, lack classical epithermal colloform and crustiform quartz veins. The ore minerals are sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, pyrite and tetrahedite-tennantite with minor amounts of electrum, calaverite, petzite, sylvanite, hessite, tellurobismuthite, coloradoite, altaite, and rucklidgeite. Electrum and telluride minerals are associated mostly with calcite and dolomite-ankerite minerals. Fluid inclusions in quartz and calcite in clasts of propylitized andesite in the breccia pipes homogenize from about 300° to 400°C while fluid inclusions in quartz, calcite and sphalerite within the dacite porphyry breccia pipes homogenize between 300° to 310°C. The ores were formed around 300°C from hydrothermal solutions with salinity of about 6. 6 wt % NaCl equivalent. The presence of sylvanite and calaverite as intergrowths with each other, and the Ag content of calaverite are consistent with the above temperature estimate. Based on paragenesis, the Bulawan deposit formed in a pyrite-stable environment, with pH between 3. 4 and 5. 5, f_O2 between 10^-32 to 10^-30 atm, f_S2 between 10^-9.8 to 10^-7.8 atm, f_Te2 between 10^-8.9 to 10^-6.5 atm, and total sulfur content about 10^-2.8 molal. The dominant reduced sulfur species in the ore solutions may have been H₂S_(aq), and the likely aqueous tellurium species were H₂Te_(aq) and H₂TeO_3(aq). The ore minerals in the Bulawan deposit were probably formed by mixing of slightly saline and low salinity fluids.     

Electron microprobe analyses of ore minerals and H–O,S isotope geochemistry of the Yuerya gold deposit,eastern Hebei,China: Implications for ore genesis and mineralization

The Yuerya gold deposit in eastern Hebei Province, China, is located on the eastern margin of the North China Craton and is hosted by Mesozoic Yanshanian granitoid rocks and adjacent Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang Formation carbonates. The auriferous quartz veins in this deposit are dominated by pyrite, with subordinate sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and galena in a quartz-dominated gangue that also contains calcite, dolomite, barite, apatite, and fluorite. Gold is present as native gold and electrum, which are generally present as micron-size infillings in microfissures within pyrite and less commonly as tiny inclusions within pyrite, quartz, and tellurobismuthite. The pyrite in this deposit has high Co/Ni ratios and contains elevated concentrations of both of these elements, suggesting that the Yuerya gold deposit has a magmato-hydrothermal origin and that the ore-forming fluids that formed the deposit leached trace elements such as Co, Ni, As, and Au during passage through Archean metamorphic rocks, Mesoproterozoic carbonates, and the Yanshanian Yuerya granitoid. Pyrite in the study area has S/Se ratios and S isotopic compositions that suggest that the sulfur (and by inference the gold) within the deposit was sourced from magmato-hydrothermal fluids that were probably originally derived from Archean metamorphic rocks and Yanshanian granitoids. Tellurobismuthite in the study area is closely intergrown with gold and was the single telluride phase identified during this study. The fineness of gold associated with tellurobismuthite is greater than the fineness of gold associated with pyrite, although the fine particle size of the gold surrounded by tellurobismuthite means that the recovery of this gold is difficult, in turn meaning that the tellurobismuthite has little significance to the economics of the Yuerya gold deposit. Only trace amounts of sulfides are associated with the tellurobismuthite within the Yuerya gold deposit, suggesting that this mineral was deposited under conditions of low fS₂ and/or high fTe₂. In addition, the presence of tellurides within the Yuerya gold deposit reflects a genetic relationship between the deposit and magmatism. Quartz from mineralized veins in the study area has δ¹⁸O values of 11.2‰–12.9‰ and the fluids that formed these veins have δD values of − 78.3‰ to − 72.1‰. The δ³⁴S values of pyrite within the deposit are rather restricted (2.3‰–3.5‰). These data, combined with the trace element geochemistry of sulfides within the deposit, suggest that the formation of the Yuerya gold deposit was closely related to both Archean metamorphic rocks and the Yanshanian Yuerya granitoid.     

Genetic Environment of the Intrusion-related Yuryang Au-Te Deposit in the Cheonan Metallogenic Province, Korea

Abstract. The Yuryang gold deposit, comprising a Te‐bearing Au‐Ag vein mineralization, is located in the Cheonan area of the Republic of Korea. The deposit is hosted in Precambrian gneiss and closely related to pegmatite. The mineralized veins display massive quartz textures, with weak alteration adjacent to the veins. The ore mineralization is simple, with a low Ag/Au ratio of 1.5:1, due to the paucity of Ag‐phases. Ore mineralization took place in two different mineral assemblages with paragenetic time; early Fe‐sulfide mineralization and late Fe‐sulfide and Au‐Te mineralization. The early Fe‐sulfide mineralization (pyrite + sphalerite) occurred typically along the vein margins, and the subsequent Au‐Te mineralization is characterized by fracture fillings of galena, sphalerite, pyrrhotite, Te‐bearing minerals (petzite, altaite, hessite and Bi‐Te mineral) and electrum. Fluid inclusions characteristically contain CO₂ and can be classified into four types (Ia, Ib, IIa and IIb) according to the phase behavior. The pressure corrected temperatures (≥500d?C) indicate that the deposit was formed at a distinctively high temperature from fluids with moderate to low salinity (<12 wt% equiv. NaCl) and CH₄ (1?22 mole %). The sphalerite geo‐barometry yield an estimated pressure about 3.5 ?2.1 kbar. The dominant ore‐deposition mechanisms were CO₂ effervescence and concomitant H₂S volatilization, which triggered sulfidation and gold mineralization. The measured and calculated isotopic compositions of fluids (δ¹⁸O_H2^O = 10.3 to 12.4 %o; δD_H2^O = ‐52 to ‐77 %o) may indicate that the gold deposition originated from S‐type magmatic waters. The physicochemical conditions observed in the Yuryang gold deposit indicate that the Jurassic gold deposits in the Cheonan area, including the Yuryang gold deposit are compatible with deposition of the intrusion‐related Au‐Te veins from deeply sourced fluids generated by the late Jurassic Daebo magmatism.