Volcanic domes and gold mineralization in the Pueblo Viejo district, Dominican Republic

Gold mineralization in the Pueblo Viejo district, Dominican Republic, is spatially and temporally related to a series of Early Cretaceous volcanic domes. Separate but overlapping hydrothermal cells, centered on the domes, together deposited more than 40 million oz. of gold, 240 million oz. of silver, 3 million tonnes of zinc, and 0.4 million tonnes of copper. Two principal deposits (Moore and Monte Negro) and a number of smaller deposits (Cumba, Mejita, Upper Mejita, Banco V, Arroyo Hondo I and II) have contributed ore since mining commenced in 1975. New geologic mapping has identified a series of previously unrecognized volcanic domes that vary from andesite to dacite in composition. A dacite porphyry dome intrudes epiclastic sediments in the Moore deposit and is surrounded by a baked contact metamorphic aureole. Crumble breccias of mixed epiclastic and pyroclastic origin mantle andesite domes in the Monte Negro, Cumba, and Mejita deposits. Epiclastic volcanic sediments surrounding each of the domes reflect the composition of the local source rock. Andesite domes of the Monte Negro deposit are surrounded by andesitic volcaniclastic sediments. Epiclastic sediments surrounding a dacite porphyry dome in the Moore deposit contain detrital quartz eyes and debris flows of dacite porphyry. A series of at least seven volcanic centers interfinger, overlap, and are interbedded with locally derived epiclastic sediments. Field relations indicate that volcanic dome emplacement, epiclastic sediment accumulation, hydrothermal alteration, and gold mineralization were coeval events. Domes were emplaced in a shallow subaqueous environment on the flanks of an emergent volcanic edifice. Hydrothermal cells responsible for gold mineralization are controlled by high-angle faults. These same faults influenced the emplacement of volcanic domes, an essential step in the development of gold ore in the Pueblo Viejo district. Received: 15 March 1999 / Accepted: 29 September 1999     

印度尼西亚苏门答腊岛马塔比(Martabe)浅成低温热液型金-银矿床的地质特征与找矿标志

马塔比矿床位于印度尼西亚北苏门答腊省,是印度尼西亚近年确认的一处世界级高硫浅成低温热液型金-银矿床.文章在梳理前人研究的基础上,对其成矿地质特征与找矿标志进行了总结,以丰富该类型矿床实例,指导找矿实践.该矿床金银矿化呈现典型的高硫型浅成低温热液系统蚀变分带特征,由内而外依次发育硅化带、高级泥化带、泥化带、青磐岩化带.赋...     

Mineral formation in an acid pit lake from a high-sulfidation ore deposit: Kirki, NE Greece

Open pit mining of base-metals from the high-sulfidation epithermal type deposit of Kirki (Thrace, NE Greece) resulted in the formation of an acid pit lake by infilling of the open cast by rain and draining waters after mine closure. The high toxic metals content of the ore, the limited buffering capacity of host rocks and the direct exposure of the ore zone to weathering result in an intense release of metals into the pit lake. The acidic and oxidative pit lake waters show high concentrations of trace metals. A mineral precipitate, covering the floor of the pit lake, comprises secondary anglesite, several species of the jarosite-group, rozenite, melanterite, wroewolfeite, gypsum, bukovskyite, beaverite, scorodite and minor goethite. The mineral precipitate presents a significant heavy metal content indicating effective removal of metals from the acid waters. Compared to other pit lakes in high-sulfidation type deposits it has a higher metal load, consistent with the mineralogy and grade of ore in pit walls.     

Evidence for a magmatic origin for Carlin-type gold deposits: isotopic composition of sulfur in the Betze-Post-Screamer Deposit, Nevada, USA

We report here new sulfur isotope analyses from the Betze-Post-Screamer deposit, the largest Carlin-type gold deposit in the world. Carlin-type deposits contain high concentrations of arsenic, antimony, mercury, tellurium and other elements of environmental interest, and are surrounded by large volumes of crust in which these elements are also enriched. Uncertainty about the source of sulfur and metals in and around Carlin-type deposits has hampered formulation of models for their origin, which are needed for improved mineral exploration and environmental assessment. Previous studies have concluded that most Carlin-type deposits formed from sulfide sulfur that is largely of sedimentary origin. Most of these studies are based on analyses of mineral separates consisting of pre-ore diagenetic pyrite with thin overgrowths of ore-related arsenian pyrite rather than pure, ore-related pyrite. Our SIMS spot analyses of ore-related pyrite overgrowths in the Screamer zone of the Betze-Post-Screamer deposit yield δ³⁴S values of about −1 to 4‰ with one value of about 7‰. Conventional analyses of realgar and orpiment separates from throughout the deposit yield δ³⁴S values of about 5–7‰ with one value of 10‰ in the Screamer zone. These results, along with results from an earlier SIMS study in the Post zone of the deposit and phase equilibrium constraints, indicate that early arsenian pyrite were formed from fluids of magmatic origin with variable contamination from sulfur in Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. Later arsenic sulfides were formed from solutions to which sulfur of sedimentary origin had been added. The presence of Paleozoic sedimentary sulfur in Carlin-type deposits does not require direct involvement of hydrothermal solutions of sedimentary origin. Instead, it could have been added by magmatic assimilation of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks or by hydrothermal leaching of sulfur from wall rocks to the deposit. Thus, the dominant process delivering sulfur, arsenic, gold and mineralizing fluids to Carlin-type systems and their surrounding country rocks was probably separation of fluids from a magmatic source. Editorial handling: G. Beaudoin     

重元素的甲基化合物及其在自然环境中的分布

根据有关资料,本文概述了铅、镉、汞、砷、锑、铊、铟、硒、碲和铋10种重元素在环境中的甲基化作用,以及其中汞、铅、砷、硒在环境中的分布水平的国外的一些研究成果。     

紫金山金铜矿床深部成矿作用研究和找矿前景评价的关键

紫金山铜金矿床是典型的高硫化浅成低温热液矿床, 发育巨厚的热液蚀变帽, 多孔状石英和高级泥化蚀变带等标志性特征; 特别是在金矿体之下出现垂直厚度超过1000米的巨大铜矿体, 属于蓝辉铜矿－铜蓝－硫砷铜矿－明矾石矿物组合的高硫化型浅成低温热液铜矿床类型, 铜硫化物的矿物学研究预示着深部可能变为斑岩型铜矿床。     

中国碲矿成矿规律概要

富金斑岩-矽卡岩矿床产出了大部分碲资源,其他类型碲矿资源时空分布规律暂未明确。在全国矿产资源潜力动态评价项目开展过程中,本文对中国碲矿资源特征、碲矿类型、时空分布进行分析与归纳,初步总结了中国碲矿成矿规律。本文对中国碲矿的资源特征进行了介绍;收集了全国45个含碲矿床的资料,将中国碲矿分为碱性-偏碱性侵入岩型、卡林-类卡林型、浅成低温热液型、斑岩-矽卡岩型、造山型、铜镍硫化物型6大预测类型;将碲矿形成时代分为元古宙、古生代、中生代、新生代4个成矿期,划分了9个碲成矿带,即吉黑、华北陆块西缘、华北陆块北缘、辽东、秦岭、苏鲁、长江中下游、三江、南岭成矿带;厘定出34个与碲矿有关的成矿系列,建立了中国碲矿成矿谱系。综合研究所得,中国碲矿以晚古生代和中生代华北和东北地区的浅成低温热液型、斑岩-矽卡岩型、铜镍硫化物型矿床,小秦岭-熊耳山地区的造山型矿床,长江中下游和滇川黔地区的斑岩-矽卡岩型、铜镍硫化物型矿床为主。     

Fluid salinities obtained by infrared microthermometry of opaque minerals: Implications for ore deposit modeling — A note of caution

Infrared microthermometry of opaque minerals has revealed that temperatures of phase changes vary with the infrared light source intensity, resulting in an overestimate of fluid salinities and an underestimate of homogenization temperatures. Failing to recognize this analytical artifact during infrared microthermometry may result in meaningless geological models. A fluid inclusion investigation on enargite from a high-sulfidation epithermal deposit is used as an example to document this. Fluid salinities obtained during an early investigation ranged between 6.3 and 20.4 wt.% NaCl, which were interpreted as intense boiling or as evidence for the involvement of a magmatic brine during ore formation. Fluid inclusion salinities obtained with improved analytical settings, i.e. low light intensities, fall between 1.1 and 1.7 wt.% NaCl and are in better agreement with fluid salinities obtained in quartz from similar deposits, and recent modeling suggesting vapor transport of Au and Cu from deep porphyry-Cu environments to shallower high-sulfidation epithermal deposits.     

Ore formation at the Kupol epithermal gold-silver deposit in northeastern Russia deduced from fluid inclusion study

The Kupol epithermal gold-silver deposit-the largest of this type of mineralization in northeastern Russia-is situated in the outer zone of the Okhotsk-Chukotka volcanic belt. The results of thermobarogeochemical study of fluid inclusions in quartz from ore veins at the Kupol deposit are compared with the data on the Dvoinoi and Arykvaam deposits. The study of aqueous extracts from fluid inclusions revealed that the chemical compositions of ore-forming fluids at the Dvoinoi and Kupol deposits are similar in most elements. The only substantial difference is that fluids from the Kupol deposit are considerably enriched in sulfate, as is characteristic of the alunite-subtype of epithermal high-sulfidation mineralization. The salinity of aqueous solutions filling inclusions in amethyst and quartz from ore veins at the Kupol and Dvoinoi deposits is two-three times higher than the salinity of fluid inclusions from the barren veins at the Arykvaam occurrence. The data obtained support the hypothesis put forward earlier that fumaroles and solfataras played a part in ore deposition at the Kupol deposit.     

Trace metal nanoparticles in pyrite

Hydrothermal pyrite contains significant amounts of minor and trace elements including As, Pb, Sb, Bi, Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Au, Ag, Se and Te, which can be incorporated into nanoparticles (NPs). NP-bearing pyrite is most common in hydrothermal ore deposits that contain a wide range of trace elements, especially deposits that formed at low temperatures. In this study, we have characterized the chemical composition and structure of these NPs and their host pyrite with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), analytical electron microscopy (AEM), and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA). Pyrite containing the NPs comes from two types of common low-temperature deposits, Carlin-type (Lone Tree, Screamer, Deep Star (Nevada, USA)), and epithermal (Pueblo Viejo (Dominican Republic) and Porgera (Papua New-Guinea)).EMPA analyses of the pyrite show maximum concentrations of As (11.2), Ni (3.04), Cu (2.99), Sb (2.24), Pb (0.99), Co (0.58), Se (0.2), Au (0.19), Hg (0.19), Ag (0.16), Zn (0.04), and Te (0.04) (in wt.%). Three types of pyrite have been investigated: “pure” or “barren” pyrite, Cu-rich pyrite and As-rich pyrite. Arsenic in pyrite from Carlin-type deposits and the Porgera epithermal deposit is negatively correlated with S, whereas some (colloform) pyrite from Pueblo Viejo shows a negative correlation between As + Cu and Fe. HRTEM observations and SAED patterns confirm that almost all NPs are crystalline and that their size varies from 5 to 100 nm (except for NPs of galena, which have diameters of up to 500 nm). NPs can be divided into three groups on the basis of their chemical composition: (i) native metals: Au, Ag, Ag–Au (electrum); (ii) sulfides and sulfosalts: PbS (galena), HgS (cinnabar), Pb–Sb–S, Ag–Pb–S, Pb–Ag–Sb–S, Pb–Sb–Bi–Ag–Te–S, Pb–Te–Sb–Au–Ag–Bi–S, Cu–Fe–S NPs, and Au–Ag–As–Ni–S; and (iii) Fe-bearing NPs: Fe–As–Ag–Ni–S, Fe–As–Sb–Pb–Ni–Au–S, all of which are in a matrix of distorted and polycrystalline pyrite. TEM-EDX spectra collected from the NPs and pyrite matrix document preferential partitioning of trace metals including Pb, Bi, Sb, Au, Ag, Ni, Te, and As into the NPs. The NPs formed due to exsolution from the pyrite matrix, most commonly for NPs less than 10 nm in size, and direct precipitation from the hydrothermal fluid and deposition into the growing pyrite, most commonly for those > 20 nm in size. NPs containing numerous heavy metals are likely to be found in pyrite and/or other sulfides in various hydrothermal, diagenetic and groundwater systems dominated by reducing conditions.     

Mineralogy and formation conditions of ores in the Bereznyakovskoe ore field,the Southern Urals,Russia

The Bereznyakovskoe ore field is situated in the Birgil’da-Tomino ore district of the East Ural volcanic zone. The ore field comprises several centers of hydrothermal mineralization, including the Central Bereznyakovskoe and Southeastern Bereznyakovskoe deposits, which are characterized in this paper. The disseminated and stringer-disseminated orebodies at these deposits are hosted in Upper Devonian-Lower Carboniferous dacitic-andesitic tuff and are accompanied by quartz-sericite hydrothermal alteration. Three ore stages are recognized: early ore (pyrite); main ore (telluride-base-metal, with enargite, fahlore-telluride, and gold telluride substages); and late ore (galena-sphalerite). The early and the main ore stages covered temperature intervals of 320–380 to 180°C and 280–300 to 170°C, respectively; the ore precipitated from fluids with a predominance of NaCl. The mineral zoning of the ore field is expressed in the following change of prevalent mineral assemblages from the Central Bereznyakovskoe deposit toward the Southeastern Bereznyakovskoe deposit: enargite, tennantite, native tellurium, tellurides, and selenides → tennantite-tetrahedrite, tellurides, and sulfoselenides (galenoclausthalite) → tetrahedrite, tellurides, native gold, galena, and sphalerite. The established trend of mineral assemblages was controlled by a decrease in $ f_{S_2 } $ f_{S_2 } , $ f_{Te_2 } $ f_{Te_2 } and $ f_{O_2 } $ f_{O_2 } and an increase in pH of mineral-forming fluids from early to late assemblages and from the Central Bereznyakovskoe deposit toward the Southeastern Bereznyakovskoe deposit. Thus, the Central Bereznyakovskoe deposit was located in the center of an epithermal high-sulfidation ore-forming system. As follows from widespread enargite and digenite, a high Au/Ag ratio, and Au-Cu specialization of this deposit, it is rather deeply eroded. The ore mineralization at the Southeastern Bereznyakovskoe deposit fits the intermediate- or low-sulfidation type and is distinguished by development of tennantite, a low Au/Ag ratio, and enrichment in base metals against a lowered copper content. In general, the Bereznyakovskoe ore field is a hydrothermal system with a wide spectrum of epithermal mineralization styles.     

贵州南部“半边街式”铅锌矿床地质特征及其成因探讨

贵州省南部地区是全国重要的汞、锑资源分布区。2000年由于产于上泥盆统中铅锌矿的陆续发现,贵州省地矿局启动了以铅锌资源评价和成矿规律研究为主的地质工作,目标是总结铅锌矿产出的地质特征和成矿规律。通过三年的研究认为,该区处扬子准地台、华南褶皱带和右江造山带交汇部位,受晚古生代初期发生的陆内裂谷活动影响,产生了一个与桂中台陷相连的大型沉积凹陷区—黔南台陷沉积区,形成了巨厚碳酸盐和碎屑岩沉积,产生了与裂陷盆地边缘同沉积断层活动有关的低温成矿作用,造成了在晚泥盆纪以前的地层中汞、锑、砷、金、铅锌等矿床沿同沉积断层密集分布。本文通过矿床特征总结和矿床成因探讨,建立了准同生沉积成矿作用模式,旨在为该区寻找这类矿床提供参考和借鉴作用。     

Evolution of hydrothermal fluids of HS and LS type epithermal Au–Ag deposits in the Seongsan hydrothermal system of the Cretaceous Haenam volcanic field,South Korea

The Haenam volcanic field was formed in the southern part of the Korean peninsula by the climactic igneous activity of the Late Cretaceous. The volcanic field hosts more than nine hydrothermal clay deposits and two epithermal Au–Ag deposits. This study focuses on the relationship between hydrothermal clay alteration and epithermal Au–Ag mineralization based on the geology, alteration mineralogy, geochronology, and mineralization characteristics.These clay and epithermal Au–Ag deposits are interpreted to have formed by the same hydrothermal event which produced two distinct types of mineral systems: 1) Au-dominant epithermal Au–Ag deposit and 2) clay-dominant hydrothermal clay deposit. The two types of mineral systems show a close genetic relationship as suggested by their temporal and spatial relationships. The Seongsan hydrothermal system progressively evolved from a low-intermediate sulfidation epithermal system with Au–Ag mineralization and phyllic alteration to an acid–sulfate high-sulfidation system with Au–Ag mineralization and/or barren advanced argillic/argillic alteration. The Seongsan system evolved during post volcanic hydrothermal activity for at least 10 Ma in the Campanian stage of the late Cretaceous.The Seongsan hydrothermal system shows the rare and unique occurrence of superimposed high to low (intermediate) sulfidation episodes, which persisted for about 10 Ma.     

伊朗浅成低温热液矿床时空分布规律与矿床类型

特提斯成矿域是地球上三大成矿域之一,矿产资源丰富.文章综述了特提斯域内伊朗高原浅成低温热液矿床的地质特征,讨论了成矿事件的时空分布规律以及主要矿床类型.研究表明,伊朗浅成低温热液矿床大部分位于乌兹密尔-杜克塔尔岩浆弧和阿尔博兹岩浆弧.其中,前者主要产出高硫型Cu-Au±Ag矿床和低硫型Au±Ag±Cu矿床,分布较为稀疏...     

玻利维亚铜金锡铁主要矿床类型及资源潜力

玻利维亚的铜矿规模以中小型为主,主要成矿类型为红层型(砂岩层)、沉积相关脉状型、VMS型和IOCG型等。金矿规模以中小型为主,主要成矿类型有火山成因浅成热液型、与深成岩相关的脉状矿床、造山型矿床和砂金矿。锡矿发育众多大型、超大型矿床,成矿类型以玻利维亚型多金属脉状矿床和与长英质深成岩相关的脉状矿床为主,少量砂锡矿。铁矿以El Mutún超大型BIF型铁锰矿著称。西科迪勒拉和玻利维亚高原有重要的浅成低温热液贵金属资源潜力;东科迪勒拉北部主要为钨、锡、金、锑资源,中部为锡、银、金、锑资源,南部有金、锑、银、铅、锌潜力;次安第斯带南部有银-锌资源潜力;查科-贝尼平原带有广泛的砂金矿资源;前寒武纪克拉通内金、铂、镍、钽、铜和铁锰资源潜力丰富。     

西藏冈底斯成矿带浅成低温热液型金锑矿床的发现及其意义--以西藏弄如日金锑矿床为例

通过化探、槽探和平硐等手段,对位于冈底斯成矿带东段的弄如日金矿床进行了评价和研究,在矿区发现金矿化带4条,圈出金矿体5个,控制2．3g／t品位以上的金资源量（333＋3341）为2．97t,确定该矿床属典型的浅成中低温热液型金矿床。矿区的金矿体赋存于破碎蚀变角岩和蚀变二长花岗斑岩中,受南北向正断裂系统的控制,矿化以金为主,伴有辉锑矿、雄黄、黄铁矿等矿物,可分为浅成低温热液和表生氧化2个成矿期,金可能以独立的自然金状态存在于脉石矿物的粒问或裂隙中。弄如日金矿床形成于伸展构造背景,在空间上居斑岩铜矿床外围,成矿时代为中新世一上新世,与冈底斯斑岩型铜钼矿床及其外围的矽卡岩型铅锌矿床的成矿时代基本一致,说明三者受统一的成矿作用制约,属斑岩岩浆一热液成矿系统中的浅成低温热液型金锑矿床。     

General characteristics and research progress of tellurium mineralizationSCIEI北大核心CSCD

碲作为稀散元素,很少形成独立矿床,主要以共伴生形式产出于多个类型矿床中,包括铜镍硫化物和铂族矿床、铁氧化物铜金(IOCG)矿床、块状硫化物(VMS)矿床、斑岩矿床、矽卡岩矿床、造山型金矿、卡林型金矿和浅成低温热液矿床等。研究表明,碲元素可以形成上百种碲矿物,除了自然碲之外,多与Au、Ag、Pb、Bi、Cu等形成碲化物,与S或者Se形成碲的硫化物或硒化物,也可以形成碲酸盐、硅酸盐、磷酸盐、硫酸盐等矿物;此外Te还可以以类质同象形式替换寄主矿物中的元素。在成矿带尺度、矿床尺度及其矿石中碲均表现出极不均匀的分布特征,与主矿种Cu、Au、Ag等具有成因关系。碲具有多来源特征,可以源自地幔,也可以是浅部壳源岩浆或是围岩地层提供。碲矿化一般发生在成矿的中晚阶段,流体可通过混合作用、水岩反应、沸腾作用等改变体系的物理化学条件(如pH值、硫逸度、氧逸度、碲逸度、温度等),导致流体pH值升高、硫逸度和氧逸度降低,碲逸度升高,这是诱发碲矿物富集和沉淀的主要机制。碲由于其受控成矿条件较为特殊,需要着重加强碲富集成矿的关键控制因素、成矿物质来源和富集沉淀机制的研究。