Palaeoenvironmental significance of rounded pyrite in siliciclastic sequences of the Late Archaean Witwatersrand Basin: oxygen‐deficient atmosphere or hydrothermal alteration?

Petrographic and sulphur isotope studies support the long‐held contention that rounded grains of pyrite in siliciclastic sequences of the Late Archaean Witwatersrand Supergroup originated as placer grains. The grains are concentrated at sites where detrital heavy minerals are abundant within quartz‐pebble conglomerates and quartzose sandstones. Depositional sites with abundant pyrite are: (1) within the matrix of bar‐type, clast‐supported conglomerates; (2) on scoured or winnowed surfaces; and (3) on stratification planes. The grains are internally compact or porous, with truncation of internal structure at outer margins indicating fragmentation and rounding of pyritic source‐rocks during erosion and sediment transport. A large range in textures reflects source‐rock lithologies, with known varieties linked to sedimentary‐hosted diagenetic pyrite, volcanic‐hosted massive sulphide deposits and hydrothermal pyrite. Laser ablation sulphur isotope analysis of pyrite reveals a broader range in δ³⁴S values (? 5·3 to + 6·7‰) than that of previously reported conventional bulk‐grain analyses (? 1 to + 4‰). Rounded pyrite from the Steyn Reef has significant variation in δ³⁴S values (? 4·7 to + 6·7‰) that establishes heterogeneous sulphur compositions, with even adjacent grains having diverse isotopic signatures. The heterogeneity supports a placer origin for rounded pyrite. Euhedral pyrite and pyrite overgrowths which are undoubtedly authigenic have restricted δ³⁴S values (? 0·5 to + 2·5‰), are chemically distinct from rounded pyrite and are probably the products of metamorphism or hydrothermal alteration. The placer origin of rounded pyrite indicates that pyrite was a stable heavy mineral during erosion and transport in the early atmosphere. Its distribution in three sequences (Witwatersrand Supergroup, Ventersdorp Contact Reef and Black Reef), and in other sequences not linked to Witwatersrand‐type Au‐U ore deposits, implies deposition of redox‐sensitive detrital heavy minerals during the Late Archaean. Consequently, rounded grains of detrital pyrite are strong indicators of an oxygen‐poor atmosphere. While not confirming a placer origin for gold in Witwatersrand Au‐U ore deposits, the palaeoenvironmental significance of rounded pyrite negates its link to hydrothermal mineralization.     

Trace-element characteristics of different pyrite types in Mesoarchaean to Palaeoproterozoic placer deposits

A comparative in situ LA-ICP MS trace-element study on pyrite from three different, variably auriferous, Archaean to Palaeoproterozoic palaeoplacer deposits in the Ouro Fino Syncline (Quadrilátero Ferrífero; Brazil), the Elliot Lake area north of Lake Huron (SE Canada) and several deposits within the Witwatersrand Basin (South Africa) revealed systematic differences between morphologically different pyrite types and between the various palaeoplacer deposits. Especially the Ni and Au concentrations as well as Co/Ni and Mo/Ni ratios were found to be systematically different in detrital compact, detrital porous and post-sedimentary/hydrothermal pyrite grains from different source areas. High Co/Ni ratios and low Au concentrations are typical of post-sedimentary pyrite, which is hydrothermal in origin. In contrast, relatively low Co/Ni ratios and high Au contents characterise detrital porous banded and concentric pyrite grains (Au > 1 ppm), which are syn-sedimentary in origin. In the Elliot Lake area and the Witwatersrand Basin, detrital compact rounded pyrite is characterised by high Co/Ni ratios, which is in agreement with derivation from a hydrothermal source. Low Au concentrations in this pyrite type support the contention of the gold and the pyrite in these deposits coming from different source rocks. In contrast, derivation from an originally diagenetic pyrite is suggested for the detrital compact pyrite in the Ouro Fino Syncline because of low to intermediate Co/Ni ratios. High Au contents may indicate a genetic relationship between pyrite and gold there. Systematic differences exist between the three areas with respect to Au, Ni, Co, Mo and Cu distributions in detrital pyrite, which reflects differences in the provenance. A predominantly mafic/ultramafic source is indicated for the Ouro Fino, a felsic source for the Elliot Lake, and a mixed felsic–mafic provenance for the Witwatersrand pyrite populations. Independently of pyrite type, the higher Au endowment of the studied Witwatersrand and Ouro Fino conglomerates are also reflected by an overall higher Au concentration in the respective pyrite grains compared to the relatively Au-poor samples from Elliot Lake. In general, a strong positive correlation between Au and Pb levels in the various pyrite grains is noted. Analogous to Pb, which is well known for not being easily accommodated in the pyrite crystal lattice but occurring as discrete PbS phases, Au is considered to be present mainly in the form of discrete Au phases in minute pores and interstices of the pyrite grains rather than within the pyrite lattice.     

Trace element distribution in uraninite from Mesoarchaean Witwatersrand conglomerates (South Africa) supports placer model and magmatogenic source

The first systematic analyses of the trace and rare earth element (REE) distribution in uraninite from various gold-bearing conglomerates of the Mesoarchaean Central Rand Group in South Africa’s Witwatersrand Basin by in situ laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry confirms a placer origin for the uraninite and a magmatogenic provenance thereof. The chemistry of commonly rounded to sub-rounded uraninite is highly variable from grain to grain but generally marked by elevated Th, W, Bi, Mo, Ta, Y, REE contents and unusually high Au concentrations. Especially, the high Th contents and the chondrite-normalised REE patterns are incompatible with post-sedimentary hydrothermal genetic models for the U mineralisation and point to derivation of the detrital uraninite from a high-temperature, magmatogenic, presumably granitic to pegmatitic source. The elevated Au concentrations (of as much as 67 ppm) in this uraninite are unique to the Witwatersrand and hint at a granitic hinterland that was enriched in both U and Au, thus presenting a potential source domain for some of the detrital gold in the Witwatersrand conglomerates. Minute fracture fills of brannerite in close proximity to the larger, rounded uraninite grains are devoid of detectable Bi, Mo, REE and Au and have only very low concentrations of Th, W, Ta and Y. This is explicable by crystallisation from a low-temperature hydrothermal fluid. Thus, Witwatersrand U phases show, analogous to many other ore constituents, such as pyrite and gold, clear evidence of partial, short-range mobilisation of originally detrital particles by post-sedimentary fluids.     

Gold and sulphide minerals in Tertiary quartz pebble conglomerate gold placers, Southland, New Zealand

Auriferous quartz pebble conglomerates (QPC) formed during Tertiary sedimentary recycling in the Waimumu district, Southland, New Zealand. These sediments contain fine-grained gold of detrital origin with abundant surface textures and gold-forms associated with authigenic gold remobilisation. Most authigenic gold contains no detectable silver and occurs as overgrowths on detrital Au–Ag and Au–Ag–Hg alloys that contain up to 13 wt.% Ag, and 9 wt.% Hg. Fine-grained Au–Ag and Au–Ag–Hg alloys are compositionally heterogeneous, exhibiting both well-defined silver-depleted and silver-enriched rims. Rare coarse Au–Ag alloy is intergrown with quartz and is homogenous. Discrete grains of authigenic, porous, sheet-like gold occur in carbonaceous mudstone within a QPC sequence. Some QPC contain abundant sulphide minerals. Some of these sulphides (pyrite and arsenopyrite) are of long-distance detrital origin, presumably from the Otago Schist, whereas the bulk of the sulphide suite is marcasite of variably transported diagenetic origin, derived from the erosion of QPC and underlying Tertiary sediments. There has also been authigenic deposition of sulphide minerals in the QPC themselves. These diagenetic sulphides include framboidal and anhedral marcasite, and framboidal and euhedral pyrite. Sulphur isotope data for the sulphide minerals range from − 45‰ to + 18‰ (relative to VCDT). Sulphur isotope data for euhedral detrital pyrite and arsenopyrite range from − 9‰ to − 1‰ and are most likely derived from the Otago Schist to the north. Both framboidal and anhedral marcasite have lower values (< − 20‰) reflecting microbial sulphate reduction as a source for the precursor hydrogen sulphide. Anhedral marcasite contains elevated concentrations of Ni, Co, As and Cr, commonly with compositional banding of these metals.Both the gold and diagenetic sulphides from the Belle-Brook QPC are compositionally similar to gold and sulphides from Archaean QPC. Porous, sheet-like authigenic gold is morphologically similar to gold associated with carbonaceous material in the Witwatersrand. In addition, Southland marcasite textures resemble the rounded and banded pyrite in Witwatersrand QPC placers. There is abundant evidence from these Tertiary QPC in southern New Zealand for sedimentary transport of sulphide minerals and post-depositional sulphide mineralisation in the surficial environment despite an oxygen-rich atmosphere. These young deposits thus provide an example of authigenic gold and sulphide textures formed during diagenesis in unmetamorphosed placers. Many of these textures are similar to those commonly ascribed to metamorphic processes in Archaean auriferous QPC.     

Microfabric analyses applied to the Witwatersrand gold- and uranium-bearing conglomerates: constraints on the provenance and post-depositional modification of rock and ore components

Microfabrics of detrital quartz grains and quartz cement of four gold- and uranium-bearing conglomerates of various goldfields of the Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa, were investigated by optical and cathodoluminescence microscopy. The study revealed that the vast majority of quartz grains (<5 mm) originate from felsic magmatic source rocks. Cherts and polymineralic mineral grains, pointing to greenschist to amphibolite facies metasedimentary rocks, follow in abundance, whereas diagenetic to weakly metamorphosed quartzites are subordinate. Material from hydrothermal vein quartz is almost completely lacking, both in the sand and in the pebble fraction. No obvious relationships are discernible between the varying proportions of detrital siliciclastic components of the different reefs and their ore grades. Assuming a sedimentological control of gold distribution, this finding supports multiple sources for the detrital components, which were thoroughly mixed during transport. The post-depositional history of the sediments is characterized by a complex polyphase succession of deformation, cementation and hydrothermal alteration events. Both fragmentation and pressure solution features within detrital quartz, quartz cement and round grains of pyrite, zircon, chromite and uraninite demonstrate that these materials were present in the conglomerates during diagenesis, and, thus, are true detrital grains with abraded, rounded grain morphologies. By analogy, it is assumed that gold is also a detrital component, although most of the gold grains display characteristics of hydrothermal overprinting. During subsequent metamorphism, micro-shear zones are developed, and brittle-ductile crystal-plastic deformation and limited quartz recrystallization occur. Maximum temperatures of about 350 °C were reached on the prograde metamorphic path. Recrystallization and redistribution of detrital siliciclastic and ore minerals took place, and various hydrothermal/metamorphic minerals including chlorite, sericite, pyrophyllite and chloritoid were formed. These redistribution processes involved existing detrital minerals only and were generally isochemical because little evidence exists for the development of a secondary porosity and permeability that would allow major external inputs into the Witwatersrand conglomerates. Most of the gold grains have hydrothermal characteristics, as evidenced by their authigenic, crystalline shapes and their chemical compositions. However, these features are regarded to result from overprinting. Most likely, the gold grains experienced more drastic modifications relative to other ore components because of the ductile and mobile nature of gold. The retrograde metamorphic path is characterized by percolating radioactive fluids at T<300 °C, recorded by radiation damage indicated by cathodoluminescence alteration rims along quartz grain boundaries and microcracks. The degrees of radiation damage observed are proportional to the uranium contents of the conglomerate ores. The collective evidence of our study supports the modified placer model for the genesis of the Witwatersrand ores. This model explains most of the observations on the detrital mineral assemblage and its post-depositional modification elegantly and in a satisfactory manner.     

Detrital origin of hydrothermal Witwatersrand gold—a review

The Witwatersrand 'basin' is the largest known gold province in the world. The gold deposits have been worked for moren than 100 years but there is still controversy about the ore forming process. Detailed petrographic studies often reveal that the gold is late in the paragenetic sequence, which has led many researchers to propose a hydrothermal origin for the gold. However, observations, such as the occurrence of rounded, disc-like gold particles next to irregularly shaped or idiomorphic secondary gold particles in the same sample, suggest an initial detrital gold source within the Witwatersrand strata. Mineral chemical and isotopic data, together with SEM cathodoluminescence imaging and fluid inclusion studies, provide evidence for small-scale variations in the fluid chemistry – a requirement for the short-range mobilization of the gold. The existing data and observations on the Witwatersrand rocks support a model of hydrothermally altered, metamorphosed placer deposits, with at least two subsequent gold mobilization events: hydrothermal infiltration in early Transvaal time (2.6–2.5 Ga) and during the 2.020 Ga Vredefort impact event.     

Microstructural evolution and trace element mobility in Witwatersrand pyrite

Microstructural analysis of pyrite from a single sample of Witwatersrand conglomerate indicates a complex deformation history involving components of both plastic and brittle deformation. Internal deformation associated with dislocation creep is heterogeneously developed within grains, shows no systematic relationship to bulk rock strain or the location of grain boundaries and is interpreted to represent an episode of pyrite deformation that predates the incorporation of detrital pyrite grains into the Central Rand conglomerates. In contrast, brittle deformation, manifest by grain fragmentation that transects dislocation-related microstructures, is spatially related to grain contacts and is interpreted to represent post-depositional deformation of the Central Rand conglomerates. Analysis of the low-angle boundaries associated with the early dislocation creep phase of deformation indicates the operation of <010>{100} slip systems. However, some orientation boundaries have geometrical characteristics that are not consistent with simple <010>{100} deformation. These boundaries may represent the combination of multiple slip systems or the operation of the previously unrecognized <001>{120} slip system. These boundaries are associated with order of magnitude enrichments in As, Ni and Co that indicate a deformation control on the remobilization of trace elements within pyrite and a potential slip system control on the effectiveness of fast-diffusion pathways. The results confirm the importance of grain-scale elemental remobilization within pyrite prior to their incorporation into the Witwatersrand gold-bearing conglomerates. Since the relationship between gold and pyrite is intimately related to the trace element geochemistry of pyrite, the results have implications for the application of minor element geochemistry to ore deposit formation, suggest a reason for heterogeneous conductivity and localized gold precipitation in natural pyrite and provide a framework for improving mineral processing.     

Uraniferous paleoplacers of the Mesoarchean Mahagiri Quartzite,Singhbhum craton,India: Depositional controls,nature and source of > 3.0 Ga detrital uraninites

The quartz-pebble conglomerate (QPC)-hosted detrital uranium mineralization is unique in character in terms of their restricted distribution before 2.2 Ga atmosphere during pre-Great Oxidation Event (pre-GOE). Such QPC paleoplacer deposits over the world are good targets for moderate to high tonnage and low grade uranium deposits and more importantly for their gold content. The Mahagiri Quartzite, dated c. 3.02 Ga for their youngest detrital zircon population, is developed unconformably over the Mesoarchean Singhbhum Granite (3.44 Ga to 3.1 Ga). The Mahagiri Quartzite includes a conglomerate-pebbly sandstone dominated subaerial alluvial fan to coastal braided plain sequence in the lower parts and shallow marine mature quartz arenite in the upper parts. The alluvial fan-braided plain deposits in the lower parts host a number of pyritiferous and uraniferous conglomerate and pebbly sandstone beds. The uraninite grains are rounded to subrounded in outline suggesting mechanical transport and detrital origin. Together with detrital pyrite and uraninite constitute the example of > 3.0 Ga paleoplacer closely comparable to the Witwatersrand Au–U deposits. EPMA and SEM-EDS studies suggest that the uraninite grains are rich in Th (> 4 wt.%), S and REE-Y. Chemical formula calculations from EPMA analyses suggest uraninite grains belong to two populations with different oxidation states as revealed from Y/REE and cation U^4 +: U^6 + [apfu] ratios. The U contents of the detrital uraninite grains from Mahagiri are significantly lower than that of the ideal stoichiometric composition of UO₂. This is mainly due to higher amount of heterovalent cationic substitution by Th, REE, Y, Pb, and Ca in Mahagiri QPC uraninite structures, and partial alteration and metamictization of uraninites. Alteration due to metamictization resulted in elevated concentration of Si, Al, P, and Ca in more altered and metamict uraninite grains. The REE pattern is typically flat with comparable LREE–HREE concentration. The high Th content flat REE-pattern suggests that the uraninitere presents high temperature phases (> 350 °C) and are magmatic in origin. The Mahagiri detrital uraninite grains suggest existence of highly felsic and K-rich (richer than TTG) granodiorite–granite–monzogranite suites (GGM) of rocks older than 3.1 Ga in the Singhbhum craton.     

Morphology and geochemistry of different pyrite types from the Upper Witwatersrand System of the Klerksdorp Goldfield,South Africa

The morphology of pyrites from the Proterozoic, auriferous and uraniferous conglomerates of the Upper Witwatersrand System of the Klerksdorp Goldfield (South Africa) was studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The pyrite particles were recovered by hydrofluoric acid leaching, thus making a three-dimensional SEM examination possible. According to morphological criteria the pyrites were classified into three types. Trace-element analysis by atomic absorption spetrophotometry (Au, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, As) and the statistical evaluation of the results confirmed the morphological classification:

Type 1: Authigenic, idiomorphic to hypidiomorphic pyrites or pyrite accumulations, which were formed in the conglomerates during diagenesis or metamorphism.

Type 2: Allogenic, rounded, compact pyrites. This type was eroded from primary deposits in the hinterland of the Witwatersrand basin and deposited with the Witwatersrand sediments. It shows the closest trace-element affinity to pyrites from the Barberton Mountain Land, the source area model for the Witwatersrand sediments. The recognition of this pyrite type from the Klerksdorp Goldfield is in agreement with observations on detrital compact pyrites described from other goldfields of the Witwatersrand.

Type 3: Allogenic, rounded, porous pyrites. These were formed from pyritic muds and iron sulfide gels existing on the surface of the alluvial fan, and later were reworked as mud balls or fragments and deposited with the conglomerates. Indentations with radial fracture patterns point to transport partly in a plastic state. The occurrence of colloform pyrites among this type supports the postulation of pyritic muds or iron sulfide gels. Only in this type of pyrite various inclusions such as gold, quartz, silicates, brannerite, copper- and titanium-bearing minerals were found. It is suggested that these inclusions were trapped as dust-like particles in the pyritic muds or iron sulfide gels on the surface of the alluvial fan. Only the presence of the allogenic, porous pyrites could be correlated with high gold values in the conglomerates.

The three-dimensional SEM examination of the pyrites has shown that the pyrite types described by previous authors from the Witwatersrand System can be classified into the three types of pyrite given here.     

Geochemical and morphological characteristics of gold particles from recent river deposits and the fossil placers of the Witwatersrand

A relationship has been established between morphological features and fineness of gold particles and the distance over which they have been transported in recent alluvial placer deposits, such as the rivers of the Barberton Mountain Land, South Africa and the river Rhine in Germany. It was possible to show that most gold particles from the Witwatersrand conglomerates retained their detrital morphology and by comparing them with particles from recent alluvial gold deposits it was possible to estimate the distance of transport for the Witwatersrand gold, which in most cases ranged from 10 km to 30 km. Gold particles in recent placers show a characteristic increase in fineness with increasing distance of transport because of the leaching of the silver from them. The Witwatersrand gold particles on the other hand, have retained their primary fineness, because leaching of silver in the oxygen-deficient Precambrian atmosphere was not feasible chemically.     

THE PROBLEM OF UNDERSTANDING THE NOMENCLATURE OF FACIES

Chert-plus-pyrite pebbles have been known for some time in a number of Witwatersrand conglomerates, but their distribution is highly variable. A wide variety of textures in chert-plus pyrite pebbles are documented here, and these textures place constraints on the origin of such pebbles. Replacement of chert pebbles by pyrite is indicated (pyrite grains and aggregates continue across many pebble boundaries), and both distributional and textural evidence favors a post-burial timing for this process. Significant mobility of sulfur after burial is indicated. Whether this replacement was diagenetic or metamorphic is not certain.     

The Witwatersrand deposit and the problem of the ore formation

The problem of the origin of the Witwatersrand gold-uranium deposit is considered. The fluvial and explosion hydrothermal origin of pyrite spheroids and Au-bearing pseudoconglomerate is denied. Evidence for the primary character of spheroids and the autochthonous crystallization of pyrite under endogenic conditions is furnished. The association of gold with carbonaceous rocks is interpreted in terms of the nuclear magnetic physicochemical phenomena. It is concluded that the Witwatersrand deposit is a hydrothermal metasomatic deposit.     

New constraints on the auriferous Witwatersrand sediment provenance from combined detrital zircon U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotope data for the Eldorado Reef (Central Rand Group,South Africa)

Combined U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotope analyses of detrital zircon grains from the auriferous Eldorado Reef conglomerate, upper Central Rand Group, reveal new insights into the provenance of the sediments and thus, by implication, possibly also into that of the gold. Most of the detrital zircon grains, which are of magmatic origin, yielded Mesoarchaean ages clustering around 2.94 and 3.06 Ga. A subordinate zircon population gave ages with maxima at 3.28 and 3.44 Ga. The Mesoarchaean zircon grains mostly show super-chondritic ?Hf_t of up to +5.2, whereas the Palaeoarchaean zircon grains have nearly chondritic composition with ?Hf_t between −1.3 and +2.0. The new dataset of the Mesoarchaean zircon populations provides the first unambiguous evidence of the formation of juvenile crust not only at 3.06 but also at 2.94 Ga. As the analysed zircon grains are from the ruditic fraction, they must be derived from a comparatively proximal source in close vicinity to the Central Rand Basin. Based on currently available data, this source was most likely a magmatic arc that existed at the northern edge of the Witwatersrand Block at 3.06 Ga. An additional source might be the 2.94 Ga magmatic rocks of the Kraaipan Greenstone Belt that occurs to the west of the Witwatersrand Block. The minor fraction of Palaeoarchaean zircon grains in the Eldorado Reef perhaps stem from sources that are isotopically similar to the Barberton Greenstone Belt and the Limpopo Belt but were more proximal to the Central Rand Basin.     

Mineral chemical study of U-bearing minerals from the Dominion Reefs,South Africa

The Neo-Archean Dominion Reefs (~3.06 Ga) are thin meta-conglomerate layers with concentrations of U- and Th-bearing heavy minerals higher than in the overlying Witwatersrand Reefs. Ore samples from Uranium One Africa’s Rietkuil and Dominion exploration areas near Klerksdorp, South Africa, were investigated for their mineral paragenesis, texture and mineral chemical composition. The ore and heavy mineral assemblages consist of uraninite, other uraniferous minerals, Fe sulphides, Ni–Co sulfarsenides, garnet, pyrite, pyrrhotite, monazite, zircon, chromite, magnetite and minor gold. Sub-rounded uraninite grains occur associated with the primary detrital heavy mineral paragenesis. U–Ti, U–Th minerals, pitchblende (colloform uraninite) and coffinite are of secondary, re-mobilised origin as evidenced by crystal shape and texture. Most of the uranium mineralisation is represented by detrital uraninite with up to 70.2 wt.% UO₂ and up to 9.3 wt.% ThO₂. Re-crystallised phases such as secondary pitchblende (without Th), coffinite, U–Ti and U–Th phases are related to hydrothermal overprint during low-grade metamorphism and are of minor abundance.     

Silver and mercury in single gold grains from the Witwatersrand and Barberton,South Africa

The contents of silver and mercury in 323 spots on gold grains from seven localities of the Witwatersrand palaeo-placer and Archaean vein deposits from Barberton were measured using an electron microprobe. The objective was to obtain information on the extent of gold alteration during fluvial transport and post-depositional geological processes. The results, however, show that Ag and Hg are distributed homogeneously in the gold grains studied. No indications were found that the gold was transported in solution nor that leaching took place in an oxidizing fluvial environment. This strongly suggests that the Ag and Hg contents in Witwatersrand gold grains represent geochemical ‘fingerprints’ inherited from their eroded primary sources. Combined analysis for Ag and Hg in Witwatersrand gold grains by electron microprobe can therefore be a valuable tool in establishing the types of primary sources for the gold.     

Microtextures of authigenic Or-rich feldspar in the Upper Jurassic Humber Group, UK North Sea

ABSTRACT Detrital alkali feldspars currently at burial depths of 3·2–3·5 km in the Upper Jurassic Humber Group of the Fulmar oilfield, UK North Sea, are overgrown and have been partially replaced by authigenic Or‐rich feldspar. Intracrystal microtextures suggest several different provenances for the detrital grains. The overgrowths are uniformly non‐cathodoluminescent and have occasional celsian‐rich zones. Transmission electron microscopy shows that they are composed of a microporous mosaic of subµm‐ to µm‐sized sub‐grains associated with barite, illite and pyrite. The subgrains are somewhat rounded but have an approximate {110} Adularia habit and display a faint modulated microtexture on the nanometre scale. They have triclinic symmetry, but the lattice angles depart only slightly from monoclinic symmetry. These features are characteristic of K‐feldspar precipitated relatively rapidly and at low temperature. Authigenic Or‐rich feldspar has also partially replaced microcline and perthitic albite within the detrital grains, often at a suboptical scale. Although, like diagenetic albitization, replacement by K‐feldspar is probably a very common diagenetic reaction, it has rarely been reported owing to difficulties in imaging the diagnostic textures with the scanning electron microscopy techniques used by most workers. The permeability of the subgrain microtexture may significantly hinder the use of feldspar overgrowths for K/Ar and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of diagenesis, and the existence of suboptical, replacive authigenic K‐feldspar within detrital grains may significantly modify the apparent Ar ages of detrital grains. Similar subgrain microtextures in optically featureless quartz overgrowths are also illustrated.     

LA-ICPMS原位微区面扫描分析技术及其矿床学应用实例

LA-ICPMS原位微区面扫描技术的发展对解析具有包裹体、环带结构的矿物或受多期岩浆/热液活动影响形成的溶蚀再结晶的矿物具有重要的地质意义。黄铁矿作为最普遍的硫化物种类之一,可形成于各种类型矿床中,其微量元素组份记录了矿床形成过程的重要信息。通过LA-ICPMS原位微区面扫描技术获得的黄铁矿晶体内部结构组份信息可用来限定成矿流体的性质、厘定成矿流体的演化规律、示踪成矿物质来源、约束变形变质作用过程中元素的活化和迁移行为,以及约束矿床成因等。本次研究选取了内蒙古二连盆地中巴彦乌拉大型铀矿床、辽宁青城子地区榛子沟铅锌矿、加拿大Pardo砂金矿中的黄铁矿作为研究对象,运用原位微区LA-ICPMS元素面扫描技术揭示其内部组份及结构信息,探索该技术在不同类型矿床中的应用价值。巴彦乌拉大型砂岩型铀矿床中的黄铁矿的内部组构信息显示成矿体系的p H和Eh对硫酸盐还原细菌活动均有影响,并控制与之相关的铀矿化;且成矿体系的p H和Eh受到外界不断供给的地下水的影响,呈振荡性变化。辽宁榛子沟铅锌矿中的黄铁矿的内部组构信息显示矿化过程受到了至少两期流体活动的叠加影响,包括早期同沉积时期的流体以及晚期与燕山期岩浆活动有关的热液流体。加拿大Pardo金矿中黄铁矿的内部组构信息显示矿床中半自形-自形的黄铁矿实际包含碎屑成因的磨圆状核部及后期热液活动形成的增生边;金主要呈浸染状分布在碎屑成因的黄铁矿核部,后期热液活动对金矿化影响微弱。     

Stratiform gold mineralization in palaeosol and ironstone of early Proterozoic age,Transvaal Sequence,South Africa

An early Proterozoic palaeosol, developed on basalt and the basal part of an overlying transgressive marine sedimentary sequence, contains pyrite which is auriferous in places. The mineralization is stratiform and continuous over a distance of several hundred kilometres. Although this mineralization can be explained by a number of genetical models the author concluded that the mineralization took place during pedogenesis and/or diagenesis. Gold is considered to have been leached from the basalt and from the B horizon of the palaeosol by sulphide-rich groundwater and was then precipitated by the effect of the lowering of the HS^– activity. The latter is thought to have been caused by atmospheric oxidation and by reaction with Fe-rich leachate from the A horizon, and pyritization of pre-existing iron oxide minerals may also have contributed. It is concluded that a pedogenic gold protore may explain the origin of at least some of the gold of the Witwatersrand type of deposit.     

Visible gold in arsenian pyrite at the Shuiyindong Carlin-type gold deposit, Guizhou, China: Implications for the environment and processes of ore formation

Carlin-type gold deposits are best known for the scarcity of visible gold in their ores. It has long been recognized that the majority of gold is “invisible”, such that it cannot be resolved by conventional microscopy, and resides in arsenian pyrite. Shuiyindong differs in that sub-μm to μm-sized native gold is present in arsenian pyrite veinlets and disseminations. It is also the largest (55 tonnes) and highest grade (7 to 18 ppm), stratabound, Carlin-type gold deposit in Guizhou, China and has produced 5 tonnes of gold from sulfide refractory ores extracted by underground mining methods. In this study, an electron microprobe analyzer (EMPA) was used to map the spatial distribution of “invisible” gold and sub-μm to μm-size visible gold particles in arsenian pyrite in high-grade ore samples from the Shuiyindong. The samples studied are hosted in Permian bioclastic ferroan limestone of the Longtan Formation and exhibit evidence of decarbonation, silicification and sulfidation. Arsenian pyrite with detectable Au (> 400 to 3800 ppm) is disseminated in altered limestone and was deposited in two stages separated by an episode of corrosion in a veinlet.The results show that there are two populations of native gold in arsenian pyrite. One is comprised of sub-μm size gold particles (0.1 to 0.2 μm) that are occasionally present in the gold-bearing arsenian pyrite disseminated in the host rocks. This arsenian pyrite is interpreted to have been formed by sulfidation of ferroan calcite and dolomite. Another is comprised of coarser (1 to 6 μm) native gold grains present in the arsenian pyrite veinlet, either on the first stage where it has been corroded or on the second stage. The lack of fluid inclusion or other evidence of boiling and the low iron content of fluid inclusions in quartz, suggest the veinlet formed by sulfidation of another fluid containing Fe. The Fe-bearing fluid may be a depleted ore fluid that gained Fe by dissolution of ferroan limestone after H₂S had been consumed. The association of the largest visible gold grains with an episode of corrosion suggests that fluids episodically became undersaturated with arsenian pyrite while remaining saturated with gold (e.g., pH decrease or an increase in the oxidation state). This may have resulted from incursion of relatively acidic or oxidized fluids that were able to dissolve arsenian pyrite and remain saturated with gold. In this case, sulfidation of iron from the host rock, was the most important depositional mechanism for Au-bearing arsenian pyrite with, or without, grains of native gold.     

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

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