Lead isotope heterogeneity in sulfides from different assemblages at the Verninskoe gold deposit (Baikal-Patom Highland,Russia)

Using the high-precision technique of MC-ICP mass spectrometry, the isotope composition of lead was studied for the first time in sulfides of different mineral associations at the Verninskoe deposit that belong to large gold deposits of the Lena Province. In 23 monofractions of sulfides (pyrite, arsenopyrite, galena, and sphalerite), the Pb-Pb data showed a pronounced heterogeneity of the isotope composition of ore lead (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.21–18.69, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.59–15.67, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 37.98–38.63) for the deposit as a whole. This heterogeneity is also seen to a lesser degree within individual samples. In this case, a correlation takes place between the isotope composition of ore Pb and the type of mineral association: the sulfides in earlier associations are characterized by lower contents of the ²⁰⁶Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb, and ²⁰⁸Pb radiogenic isotopes compared to the minerals of later parageneses. The comparison of Pb-Pb isotope characteristics of ore mineralization of the Verninskoe deposit to those of the Sukhoi Log deposit (the greatest in the Lena Province) testifies to the geochemical similarity of the sources of ore Pb involved in the formation of these deposits. The sources as such were terrigenous rocks of the Bodaibo synclinorium formed mainly as a result of the disintegration of Precambrian rocks of the Siberian craton.     

Metal sources of the large Nezhdaninsky orogenic gold deposit, Yakutia, Russia: Results of high-precision MC-ICP-MS analysis of lead isotopic composition supplemented by data on strontium isotopes

A collection of galena from the Nezhdaninsky gold deposit (62 samples), as well as galena from the Menkeche silver-base-metal deposit and the Sentyabr occurrence and K-feldspar from intrusive rocks of the Tyry-Dyby ore cluster have been studied using the high-precision (±0.02%) MC-ICP-MS method. Particular ore zones are characterized by relatively narrow variations of isotope ratios (no wider than σ_6/4 = 0.26%). Vertical zoning of Pb isotopic composition is not detected. Variation in Pb isotope ratios mainly depends on the type of mineral assemblage. Galena of the gold-sulfide assemblage dominating at the Nezhdaninsky deposit is characterized by the following average isotope ratios: ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.472, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.586, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.605. Galena from the regenerated silver-base-metal assemblage is distinguished by less radiogenic lead isotope ratios: 18.420, 15.575, and 38.518, respectively. In lead from the Nezhdaninsky deposit, the component, whose source is identified as Permian host terrigenous rocks, is predominant. The data points of isotopic composition of lode lead make up a linear trend within the range of μ₂ = 9.5-9.6. K-feldspar of granitic rocks has less radiogenic and widely varying lead isotopic composition compared to that of galena. The isotopic data on Pb and Sr constrain the contribution of Late Cretaceous granitic rocks as a source of gold mineralization at the Nezhdaninsky deposit. The matter from the Early Cretaceous fluid-generating magma chamber participated in the ore-forming system of the Nezhdaninsky deposit. The existence of such a chamber is confirmed by the occurrence of Early Cretaceous granitoid intrusions on the flanks of the Nezhdaninsky ore field. The greatest contribution of magmatic lead (～30%) is noted in galena from the silver-base-metal mineral assemblage. This component has isotopic marks characteristic of lower crustal lead: the elevated ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratio relative to the mean crustal value and the lower ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratio. Taken together, they determine a high Th/U ～ 4.0 in the source and μ₂ = 9.37–9.50. This conclusion is consistent with the contemporary tectonic model describing evolution of the South Verkhoyansk sector of the Verkhoyansk Foldbelt and the Okhotsk Terrane.     

Listvenite-related gold deposits of the South Urals (Russia): A review

The Urals is a complex fold belt, which underwent long geological evolution. The formation of most gold deposits in the Urals is related to the collision stage. In this paper, we review some relatively small listvenite-related gold deposits, which are confined to the large Main Uralian fault zone and some smaller faults within the Magnitogorsk zone. The Mechnikovskoe, Altyn-Tash, and Ganeevskoe deposits are studied in detail in this contribution. They comprise the ore clusters along with other numerous small gold deposits, and constituted the sources for the gold placers exploited in historical time. The gold is hosted by metasomatites (listvenites, beresites) and quartz veins with economic gold grades (up to 20 g/t Au). Listvenites are developed after serpentinites and composed of quartz, fuchsite, and carbonates (magnesite, dolomite) ± albite. Volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks are altered to beresites, consisting of sericite, carbonates (dolomite, ankerite), quartz and albite. Pyrite and chalcopyrite are major ore minerals associated with gold; pyrrhotite, Ni sulfides, galena, sphalerite, arsenopyrite and Au-Ag tellurides are subordinate and rare. Gold in these deposits is mostly high-fineness (>900‰). The lower fineness (∼800‰) is typical of gold in assemblage with polymetallic sulfides and tellurides. The ores have been formed from the NaCl–CO₂–H₂O ± CH₄ fluids of low (∼2 wt% NaCl-equiv.) to moderate (8–16 wt% NaCl-equiv.) salinity at temperatures of 210–330 °C. The oxygen isotopic composition of quartz (δ¹⁸O) varies from 14.7 to 15.4‰ (Mechnikovskoe deposit), 13.2 to 13.6‰ (Altyn-Tash deposit) and 12.0 to 12.7‰ (Ganeevskoe deposit). The oxygen isotopic composition of albite from altered rocks of the Ganeevskoe deposit is 10.1‰. The calculated δ¹⁸O_H2O values of the fluid in equilibrium with quartz are in a range of 5.7–6.3, 4.2–4.6 and 6.3–6.7‰ respectively, and most likely indicate a magmatic fluid source.     

Lead isotopic composition from data of high-precession MC-ICP-MS and sources of matter in the large-scale Sukhoi Log noble metal deposit,Russia

The lead isotopic composition of 33 sulfide samples from orebodies of the Sukhoi Log deposit was studied by high-precession MC-ICP-MS with a precision of ±0.02% (±2SD from 120 analyses of the SRM 981 standard sample). The deposit is located in the Bodaibo gold mining district in the northern Baikal-Patom Highland. Gold mineralization is hosted in Neoproterosoic black slates. Variations of lead isotope ratios of the Sukhoi Log sulfides are generally typical of Phanerozoic deposits and ore fields. They are significant for ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (17.903–18.674), moderate for ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (37.822–38.457), and relatively narrow for ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (15.555–15.679). In the Pb-Pb isotope diagrams, the data points of pyrite and galena constitute a linear trend. The points corresponding to pyrite from metasomatic ore occupy the left lower part of the trend. Galena from late gold-quartz veins shows more radiogenic Pb, and corresponding data points are located in the upper part of the trend. According to the Stacey-Kramers model, the end points of the trend, which is regarded as a mixing line, have μ₂ = 9.6 and μ₂ = 13.2 and model Pb-Pb ages 455 and 130 Ma, respectively. The isotope characteristics of ore lead, their relationships in pyrite and galena, and the mixing trend of Pb isotopic compositions are clearly tied to two Paleozoic stages in the formation of the Sukhoi Log deposit (447 ± 6 and 321 ± 14Ma) and testify to the leading role of crustal sources, which are suggested as being the Neoproterozoic black-shale terrigenous-carbonate rocks.     

Variations in the sulfur isotopic composition of sulfides from phanerozoic gold-silver deposits

Data on the sulfur isotopic composition of sulfides from gold-silver deposits of volcanoplutonic belts were systematized. The deposits differ in the variation range, character of distribution, and modal values of δ₃₄S. It was shown that the sulfur isotopic composition is an integral parameter related to a combination of geologic factors. Based on the analysis of the compiled database, it was concluded that the sulfur isotopic composition of deposits evolves in time in an oscillatory manner, similar to the periodic variations in the isotopic composition of sulfide and sulfate sulfur in the Earth’s sedimentary shell.     

Genesis of gold and silver sulfides at the Ulakhan deposit (northeastern Russia)

Geology and mineralogy of the Ulakhan Au-Ag epithermal deposit (northeastern Russia, Magadan Region) are considered. A four-stage scheme of mineral formation sequence is proposed. Concentrations of Au and Ag in minerals of early and late parageneses were determined. It has been established that uytenbogaardtite is associated with native gold and hypergenesis stage minerals — goethite, hydrogoethite, or limonite replacing pyrite. The compositions of uytenbogaardtite (Ag₃AuS₂), acanthite (Ag₂S), and native gold were studied. The composition of the Ulakhan uytenbogaardtite is compared with those of Au and Ag sulfides from other deposits. Thermodynamic calculations in the system H₂O–Fe–Au–Ag–S–C–Na–Cl were carried out, which simulate the interaction of native gold and silver with O₂- and CO₂-saturated surface waters (carbonaceous, sulfide-carbonaceous, and chloride-sodium-carbonaceous) in the presence and absence of acanthite and pyrite at 25 °C and 1 bar. In closed pyrite-including systems, native silver and kustelite are replaced by acanthite; electrum, by uytenbogaardtite, acanthite, and pure gold; and native gold with a fineness of 700–900‰, by pure gold and uytenbogaardtite. Under the interaction with surface waters in the presence of Ag₂S and pyrite, Au-Ag alloys form equilibrium assemblages with petrovskaite or uytenbogaardtite and pure gold. The calculation results confirmed that Au and Ag sulfides can form after native gold in systems involving sulfide-carbon dioxide solutions (H₂Saq > 10^–4 m). The modeling results support the possible formation of uytenbogaardtite and petrovskaite with the participation of native gold in the hypergenesis zone of epithermal Au-Ag deposits during the oxidation of Au(Ag)-containing pyrite, acanthite, or other sulfides.     

Prediction of gold forms in sulfides: Evidence from experiments and calculations

Doklady Earth Sciences -     

Specific genesis of gold and silver sulfides at the Yunoe deposit (Magadan Region,Russia)

Hypogene uytenbogaardtite, acanthite, and native gold parageneses have been revealed at the epithermal Yunoe gold-silver deposit, Magadan Region, Russia. Thermodynamic calculations in the system Si–Al–Mg–Ca–Na–K–Fe–Pb–Zn–Cu–Ag–Au–S–C–Cl–H₂O were carried out at 25–400 °C and 1–1000 bars to elucidate the role of hydrothermal solutions in the formation of gold and silver sulfides. Several most probable scenarios for ore-forming processes in the deposit are considered: (1) interaction between cold and heated meteoric waters percolating along cracks from surface to depth and reacting with the host rock—rhyolite; (2) evolution of ascending postmagmatic fluid resulting in chloride–carbonic acid solution, which interacts with rhyolite at 100–400 °C; (3) stepwise cooling of hydrothermal ore-bearing solutions; (4) rapid cooling of ore-bearing hydrotherms on their mixing with cold surface waters. Rhyolite with Pb, Zn, Cu, Cl, S, Ag, and Au clarke contents was taken as an initial host rock. Calculations by model 3 showed the possible formation of uytenbogaardtite and petrovskaite at low-temperature stages. Gold and silver sulfides can be deposited during the mixing of ore-bearing acid chloride–carbonic acid hydrothermal solutions with surface alkaline waters.     

西藏冈底斯-念靑唐古拉成矿带典型矿床硫化物Pb同位素特征——对成矿元素组合分带性的指示

冈底斯-念青唐古拉成矿带矿床成矿元素组合由南向北存在着Cu-Au、Cu-Mo向Pb-Zn-Cu-Fe、Pb-Zn过渡的变化规律,但引起该变化规律的原因目前少研究。本文通过对成矿带典型矿床Pb同位素特征较为系统的总结,并结合成矿年代学和区域构造演化研究成果,从成矿物质来源的角度对该分带性进行了初步探讨。研究表明成矿带由南到北成矿物质来源存在着差异:最南端Cu-Au矿床Pb同位素组成具幔源特征(207Pb/204Pb和208Pb/204Pb平均值分别为15.490和38.016),反映成矿物质来自于俯冲过程中的交代地幔楔;最北端的Pb-Zn矿床Pb同位素组成与念青唐古拉群基底片麻岩相近(207Pb/204Pb和208Pb/204Pb分别变化于15.641～15.738和38.976～39.362),反映成矿物质来自于基底片麻岩。Pb-Zn-Cu-Fe矿床Pb同位素组成介于幔源Pb和上地壳Pb之间,且具混合线特征,反映了同碰撞期成矿物质同时从俯冲板片和念青唐古拉基底片麻岩活化的混源模式;而Cu-Mo矿床不具混合线特征的造山带Pb同位素组成,反映了成矿物质来源于俯冲阶段楔形地幔部分熔融并底侵到地壳底部与地壳发生物质交换后所形成的新生下地壳源区。甲马Cu多金属矿床Pb同位素组成具幔源和造山带两个端元,推测除新生下地壳源区提供成矿物质外,叶巴组火山岩也提供了部分成矿物质。由南向北成矿物质来源的差异很大程度上与板片俯冲的"距离效应"有关,正是由于成矿物质来源的差异导致成矿带成矿元素分带性的形成。     

大西洋洋中脊TAG热液区硫化物铅和硫同位素研究

位于大西洋洋中脊26.08°N的TAG热液区是目前已知的赋存在无沉积物覆盖的洋中脊区的一个最大的海底热液硫化物矿床.新测得来自ODP-158航次钻孔的9件热液硫化物的铅、硫同位素组成;2件铁锰氧化物和1件底盘玄武岩的铅同位素组成.结果表明,矿石硫化物的铅同位素组成206Pb/204Pb为18.2343～18.3181,207Pb/204Pb为15.4717～15.5061,208Pb/204Pb为37.7372～37.8417;它们位于该区底盘玄武岩(206Pb/204Pb=18.1454,207Pb/204Pb=15.4572,208Pb/204Pb=37.6534)和近洋底铁锰氧化物(206Pb/204Pb,207Pb/204Pb,208Pb/204Pb分别为18.6907～18.9264,15.5615～15.6279,38.1164～38.3687)的铅同位素组成之间.三者呈线性相关关系,说明硫化物中铅来源于地幔(玄武岩)与海水(铁锰氧化物)的两端元混合.硫化物的硫同位素组成δ34S为6.2‰～9.5‰,它明显高于地幔玄武岩的硫同位素组成(δ34S=±0‰),也高于东太平洋海隆EPR21°N(δ34S=0.9‰～4.0‰)和大西洋洋中脊MAR23°N(δ34S=1.2‰～2.8‰)等热液活动区硫化物的硫同位素组成,这一特征反映了TAG热液体系中硫来源于地幔玄武岩硫与海水硫酸盐无机还原作用产生的硫的两端元混合.因此,铅硫同位素研究为现代大洋底热液硫化物矿床形成过程中矿质来源及流体混合作用提供了十分有益的信息.     

The problem of genesis of gold and silver sulfides and selenides in the Kupol deposit (Chukotka,Russia)

Gold and silver minerals from the Kupol epithermal deposit, Chukotka, were studied. A schematic sequence of mineral formation has been compiled. Specific mineral assemblages have been revealed in jarosite breccias: with native gold, uytenbogaardtite, fischesserite, acanthite, and native sulfur. We considered a possible mechanism of formation of gold and silver sulfides and selenides in volcanogenic deposits: They might have formed during solfatara and postsolfatara processes with the participation of volcanic gases or their condensates and sublimates as well as liquid sulfur (and selenium) and sulfuric hydrotherms produced under the interaction of volcanic gases with meteoric waters. The specific features of the Kupol deposit confirm the solfatara genesis of Au–Ag sulfides and selenides.     

Geodynamic setting of gold deposits in Eastern and Central Trans-Baikal (Chita Region, Russia)

It is proposed that there are three types of gold deposits in Eastern and Central Transbaikalia (Trans-Baikal province), namely: (i) high-sulphide intrusion-related deposits with some signs of porphyry deposits, (ii) low-sulphide intrusion-related deposits, and (iii) low-sulphide epithermal Au–Ag deposits. Most of the gold deposits belong to the first two types, and their ages are Middle–Late Jurassic. Deposits of the third type are not numerous, and their age is Early Cretaceous.The majority of the gold mineralization is spatially related to the two branches of the Mongolia–Okhotsk suture, along which Siberia collided, at the Early/Middle Jurassic boundary, with the Mongolia–North China continent and the Onon island-arc terrane located between the two continents. Collision-related thrusting, folding and magmatism lasted until the latest Jurassic, when they gave way to post-collisional rifting that continued until the end of Early Cretaceous.According to their age, relation to magmatism and tectonic framework, the intrusion-related deposits (high- and low-sulphide) were formed in a regional collisional setting. Extensional environments at that time existed only in local areas in the roofs of great magmatic chambers. Low-sulphide epithermal deposits were formed during Early Cretaceous post-collisional rifting.     

云南富宁者桑金矿床硫铅同位素地球化学特征与成矿物质来源

者桑金矿床赋存于上二叠统吴家坪组沉积碎屑岩中,矿体受构造破碎带控制,呈似层状、透镜状产出,是滇东南金成矿带上一个典型的卡林型金矿床。硫铅同位素地球化学研究显示,沉积黄铁矿和热液硫化物(黄铁矿和毒砂)的δ34S值均为正值,变化范围较窄(8.4‰～11.3‰),与二叠纪沉积时期海水硫酸盐δ34S值一致,具有地层硫的特征。矿石中的硫主要通过地层中有机质与海水硫酸盐的热还原作用(TSR)提供。铅同位素组成中,206Pb/204Pb变化范围较宽,207Pb/204Pb和208 Pb/204 Pb较为稳定,计算获得的模式年龄变化范围大(-62～389Ma),甚至出现"负年龄",表明除正常铅外,还有较多的放射性成因铅的混入。铅主要来自于上地壳,有少量岩浆物质的混入。矿石与围岩的硫铅同位素具有一定的继承性,成矿物质主要来自地层。     

内蒙古常福龙沟金矿床地质特征和硫、铅同位素地球化学

常福龙沟金矿位于华北陆块北缘隆起带,是中元古界渣尔泰群阿古鲁沟组在内蒙古中部金矿找矿的新突破。常福龙沟金矿体呈中脉状-薄脉状产出于渣尔泰山群阿古鲁沟组浅变质碎屑岩中,矿石矿物为黄铁矿及少量方铅矿、黄铜矿、自然金和银金矿;脉石矿物有石英、方解石、绢云母等。发育自形-半自形粒状结构、它形粒状结构、包含结构、交代残余结构、显微鳞片粒状变晶结构和压碎结构等,以及稀疏或稠密浸染状、网脉状、碎裂状、角砾状等构造。围岩蚀变主要为硅化、黄铁绢英岩化、碳酸岩化,其中硅化强度与金矿化呈正相关关系。载金矿物黄铁矿硫同位素组成介于-0.6‰~2.9‰之间,极差较小,暗示硫源比较单一且成矿环境和物理化学条件较为稳定,硫可能来自于岩浆。黄铁矿铅同位素206Pb/204Pb=16.849~17.035,207Pb/204Pb=15.343~15.411,208Pb/204Pb=37.310~37.547,与渣尔泰山群全岩铅同位素范围相近,结合铅同位素模式年龄,推测中元古界渣尔泰山群可能是成矿物质的提供者。     

内蒙古白乃庙地区铜(金)和金矿床钕、锶和铅同位素研究

内自古白乃庙地区产出有白乃庙铜（金）矿床（南、北矿带）、白乃庙金矿床和徐尼乌苏金矿化带，是华北陆台北缘金属成矿带的重要组成部分。笔者测定和解释了上述三个矿床的钕、锶和铅同位素比值和变化特征。研究认为：白乃庙铜（金）矿床南、北矿带在成矿时代、成矿物质来源和形皮过程方面存在明显差异，南矿带条带状、块状硫化物矿石的形成作用始于１１３０×１０￣６ａ前的基性火山喷发活动。相比之下，北矿带细脉浸染状和脉状铜－钼－金矿石与加里东期（４４０×１０￣６ａ）花岗闪长斑岩的侵位和结晶分异密切相关。白乃庙金矿床和徐尼乌苏金矿化带是岩浆热液、大气降水混合，并且对基底岩层或绿片岩围岩进行淋滤、萃取的结果。白乃庙地区铜（金）矿床和金矿床（点）成矿物质来源和形成机制的厘定，对于了解华北地台北缘内蒙古中南段金属成矿带的形成与演化具有重要意义。     

冲绳海槽Jade热液活动区块状硫化物的铅同位素组成及其地质意义

新测行Ｊａｄｅ热液活动区中５件块状硫化物样品的铅同位素组成,具有较小的变化范围,表现出较均一的铅同位素组成特征。在Ｐｂ－Ｐｂ图解上,块状硫化物的铅同位素数据构成线形排列,与该区沉积物和蚀变火山岩的铅同位素组成一致,而与该区新鲜火山岩相比具较高的放射成因铅,证实了该区海底块状硫化物中的铅是由沉积物长英质火山岩来源铅共同构成的混合铅。不同热液活动区铅同位素组成对比研究表明,地质－构造环境的不同是导致各