Recognition of Yanshanian magmatic-hydrothermal gold and polymetallic gold mineralization in the Laowan gold metallogenic belt,Tongbai Mountains: New evidence from structural controls,geochronology and geochemistry

The Laowan metallogenic belt in China is an important metallogenic belt within the Tongbai orogenic belt, and contains the medium-sized Laowan and Shangshanghe gold deposits, the small Huangzhuyuan lead–zinc–silver–gold deposit and some gold and Cu–Pb occurrences. These deposits are hosted in Mesoproterozoic plagioclase amphibolite (or schist) and mica-quartz schist. The gold ores are mainly quartz veins and veinlets and disseminated altered ores. Subordinate ore types include massive sulfides and breccias. The Laowan gold deposit is characterized by three right-stepping en-echelon fracture-controlled alteration zones that dip gently to the south and includes disseminated, sheeted and stockwork ores. These lodes were formed by the interaction of ore-forming fluid with foliated-to laminated cataclasite within the transpressional faults. The Shangshanghe gold deposit is characterized by parallel ore lodes that dip steeply to the north, and includes quartz veins and breccias in addition to ores in altered wallrocks. These lodes were formed by focusing of fluids into transtensional faults. These ore controlling faults displaced early barren quartz veins 10 m horizontally with a dextral sense of motion. The ore-hosting structures at the Laowan and Shangshanghe deposits correspond to the P and R-type shears of a brittle dextral strike-slip fault system, respectively, which make angles of about 15° and − 15° to the Laowan and Songpa boundary faults. The ore-controlling fault system post-dated formation of a ductile shear zone, and peak regional metamorphism. This precludes a genetic relationship between hydrothermal mineralization and regional metamorphism and ductile shear deformation. These gold deposits are not typical orogenic gold deposits. The metallogenic belt displays district-scale-zoning of Mo → Cu–Pb–Zn–Ag → Au relative to Songpa granite porphyry dike zone, suggesting the mineralization may be closely related to the granite porphyry. Measured δ³⁴S of sulfides and δ¹⁸O and δD of fluid inclusion waters in auriferous quartz also are consistent with a magmatic source for sulfur and ore fluids. The similarity of Pb isotope ratios between the ores and Yanshanian granitoids suggests a similar source. As the age (139 ± 3 Ma) of granite porphyry obtained by zircon U–Pb isotope overlaps the mineralization age (138 ± 1 Ma: Zhang et al., 2008a), the gold and polymetallic metallogenesis of the Laowan gold belt has close spatial, temporal and possibly genetic relationships with Yanshanian high level magmatism.     

Volcanic degassing,hydrothermal circulation and the flourishing of early life on Earth: A review of the evidence from c. 3490-3240 Ma rocks of the Pilbara Supergroup,Pilbara Craton,Western Australia

New data gathered during mapping of c. 3490–3240 Ma rocks of the Pilbara Supergroup in the Pilbara Craton show that most bedded chert units originated as epiclastic and evaporative sedimentary rocks that were silicified by repeated pulses of hydrothermal fluids that circulated through the footwall basalts during hiatuses in volcanism. For most cherts, fossil hydrothermal fluid pathways are preserved as silica ± barite ± Fe-bearing veins that cut through the footwall and up to the level of individual bedded chert units, but not above, indicating the contemporaneity of hydrothermal silica veining and bedded chert deposition at the end of volcanic eruptive events. Silica ± barite ± Fe-bearing vein swarms are accompanied by extensive hydrothermal alteration of the footwall to the bedded chert units, and occurred under alternating high-sulphidation and low-sulphidation conditions. These veins provided pathways to the surface for elements leached from the footwall (e.g., Si, Ba, Fe) and volcanogenic emissions from underlying felsic magma chambers (e.g., CO₂, H₂S/HS⁻, SO₂).Stratigraphic evidence of shallowing upward and subsequent deepening associated with the deposition of Warrawoona Group cherts is interpreted to relate to the emplacement of subvolcanic laccoliths and subsequent eruption and/or degassing of these magmas. Heat from these intrusions drove episodes of hydrothermal circulation. Listric normal faulting during caldera collapse produced basins with restricted circulation of seawater. Eruption of volcanogenic emissions into these restricted basins formed brine pools with concentration of the volcanogenic components, thereby providing habitats suitable for early life forms.Fossil stromatolites from two distinct stratigraphic units in the North Pole Dome grew in shallow water conditions, but in two very different geological settings with different morphologies. Stratiform and domical stromatolites in the stratigraphically lower, c. 3490 Ma, Dresser Formation of the Warrawoona Group are intimately associated with barite and chert precipitates from hydrothermal vents, suggesting that component microbes may have been chemoautotrophic hyperthermophiles. Evidence of shallow water to periodically exposed conditions, active growth faulting and soft sediment deformation indicates that the volcanogenic emissions were erupted into a shallow water, tectonically active caldera and concentrated therein to produce an extreme habitat for early life.Widespread conical and pseudocolumnar stromatolites in the c. 3400 Ma, Strelley Pool Chert at the base of the unconformably overlying Kelly Group occur in shallow marine platform carbonates. Silicification was the result of later hydrothermal circulation driven by heat from the overlying, newly erupted Euro Basalt. The markedly different morphology and geological setting of these only slightly younger stromatolites, compared with the Dresser Formation, suggests a diversity of microbial life on early Earth.The biogenicity of putative microfossils from this and younger hydrothermal silica veins in the Warrawoona Group remains controversial and requires further detailed study.     

Fluid inclusion evidence for hydrothermal fluid evolution in the Darreh-Zar porphyry copper deposit,Iran

The Darreh-Zar porphyry copper deposit is associated with a quartz monzonitic–granodioritic–porphyritic stock hosted by an Eocene volcanic sedimentary complex in which magmatic hydrothermal fluids were introduced and formed veins and alteration. Within the deepest quartz-rich and chalcopyrite-poor group A veins, LVHS2 inclusions trapped high salinity, high temperature aqueous fluids exsolved directly from a relatively shallow magma (0.5 kbar). These late fluids were enriched in NaCl and reached halite saturation as a result of the low pressure of magma crystallization and fluid exsolution. These fluids extracted Cu from the crystallizing melt and transported it to the hydrothermal system. As a result of ascent, the temperature and pressure of these fluids decreased from 600 to 415 °C, and approximately 500–315 bars. At these conditions, K-feldspar and biotite were stabilized. Type A veins were formed at a depth of ∼1.2 km under conditions of lithostatic pressure and abrupt cooling. Upon cooling and decompressing, the fluid intersected with the liquid–vapor field resulting in separation of immiscible liquid and vapor. This stage was recorded by formation of LVHS1, LVHS3 and VL inclusions. These immiscible fluids formed chalcopyrite–pyrite–quartz veins with sericitic alteration envelopes (B veins) under the lithostatic–hydrostatic pressure regime at temperatures between 415 and 355 °C at 1.3 km below the paleowater table. As the fluids ascended, copper contents decreased and these fluids were diluted by mixing with the low salinity-external fluid. Therefore, pyrite-dominated quartz veins were formed in purely hydrostatic conditions in which pressure decreased from 125 bars to 54 bars and temperature decreased from 355 to 298 °C. During the magmatic-hydrothermal evolution, the composition and P–T regime changed drastically and caused various types of veins and alterations. The abundance of chalcopyrite precipitation in group B veins suggests that boiling and cooling were important factors in copper mineralization in Darreh-Zar.     

Fluid evolution of the Yuchiling porphyry Mo deposit,East Qinling,China

The Yuchiling Mo deposit, East Qinling, China, belongs to a typical porphyry Mo system associated with high-K calc-alkaline intrusions. The pure CO₂ (PC), CO₂-bearing (C), aqueous H₂O-NaCl (W), and daughter mineral-bearing (S) fluid inclusions were observed in the hydrothermal quartz. Based on field investigations, petrographic, microthermometric and LA-ICP-MS studies of fluid inclusions, we develop a five-stage fluid evolution model to understand the ore-forming processes of the Yuchiling deposit. The earliest barren quartz ± potassic feldspar veins, developed in intensively potassic alteration, were crystallized from carbonic-dominant fluids at high temperature (> 416 °C) and high pressure (> 133 MPa). Following the barren quartz ± potassic feldspar veins are quartz-pyrite veins occasionally containing minor K-feldspar and molybdenite, which were formed by immiscible fluids at pressures of 47–159 MPa and temperatures of 360–400 °C. The fluids were characterized by high CO₂ contents (approximately 8 mol%) and variable salinities, as well as the highest Mo contents that resulted in the development of quartz-molybdenite veins. The quartz-molybdenite veins, accounting for > 90% Mo in the orebody, were also formed by immiscible fluids with lower salinity and lower CO₂ content of 7 mol%, at temperatures of 340–380 °C and pressures of 39–137 MPa, as constrained by fluid inclusion assemblages. After the main Mo-mineralization, the uneconomic Cu-Pb-Zn mineralization occurred, as represented by quartz-polymetallic sulfides veins consisting of pyrite, molybdenite, chalcopyrite, digenite, galena, sphalerite and quartz. The quartz-polymetallic sulfide veins were formed by fluids containing 5 mol% CO₂, with minimum pressures of 32–110 MPa and temperatures of 260–300 °C. Finally, the fluids became dilute (5 wt.% NaCl equiv) and CO₂-poor, which caused the formation of late barren quartz ± carbonate ± fluorite veins at 140–180 °C and 18–82 MPa.It is clear that the fluids became more dilute, CO₂-poor, and less fertile, with decreasing temperature and pressure from quartz-pyrite to late barren veins. Molybdenite and other sulfides can only be observed in the middle three stages, i.e., quartz-pyrite, quartz-molybdenite and quartz-polymetallic sulfide veins. These three kinds of veins are generally hosted in potassic altered rocks with remarkable K-feldspathization, but always partly overprinted by phyllic alteration. The traditional porphyry-style potassic–phyllic–propylitic alteration zoning is not conspicuous at Yuchiling, which may be related to, and characteristic of, the CO₂-rich fluids derived from the magmas generated in intercontinental collision orogens.Among the fluid inclusions at Yuchiling, only the C-type contains maximum detectable Mo that gradationally decreases from 73 ppm in quartz-pyrite veins, through 19 ppm in quartz-molybdenite veins, and to 13 ppm in quartz-polymetallic sulfide veins, coinciding well with the decreasing CO₂ contents from 8 mol%, through 7 mol%, to 5 mol%, respectively. Hence it is suggested that decreasing CO₂ possibly results in decreasing Mo concentration in the fluids, as well as the precipitation of molybdenite from the fluids. This direct relationship might be a common characteristic for other porphyry Mo systems in the world.The Yuchiling Mo deposit represents a new type Mo mineralization, with features of collision-related setting, high-K calc-alkaline intrusion, CO₂-rich fluid, and unique wall-rock alterations characterized by strong K-feldspathization and fluoritization.     

Volcanological and environmental controls on the Snowdon mineralization,North Wales,UK: A failed volcanogenic massive sulfide system in the Avalon Zone of the British Caledonides

The Snowdon caldera of North Wales is host to base metal sulfide-bearing veins and stockworks, mineralized breccias, disseminated sulfides, and localized zones of semi-massive to massive sulfide, with subordinate magnetite-rich veins. The late Ordovician host volcanic sequence accumulated in a shallow marine, back-arc environment in the Welsh Basin, which forms part of the Avalon Zone of the British and Irish Caledonides. New field evidence, sulfur isotopes, and U-Pb dating indicate that the Snowdon mineralization is genetically and temporally related to Late Ordovician magmatism and caldera formation. It is interpreted to represent volcanogenic pipe-style sulfide mineralization, resulting from focused hydrothermal fluids moving along caldera-related faults and simultaneous dispersal of fluids through the volcaniclastic pile. Sulfur isotope data suggest that, whilst a limited contribution of magmatic S cannot be ruled out, thermochemical reduction of contemporaneous Ordovician seawater sulfate was the dominant mechanism for sulfide production in the Snowdon system, resulting in a mean value of about 12‰ in both the host volcanic strata and the mineralized veins. Despite the tectonic setting being prospective for VMS deposits, strata-bound sulfide accumulations are absent in the caldera. This is attributed to the shallow water depths, which promoted boiling and the formation of sub-seafloor vein-type mineralization. Furthermore, the tectonic instability of the caldera and the high energy, shallow marine environment would have limited preservation of any seafloor deposits. The new U-Pb dates for the base (454.26 ± 0.35 Ma) and top (454.42 ± 0.45 Ma) of the host volcanic rocks, indicate that the Snowdon magmatic activity was short lived, which is likely to have limited the duration and areal extent of the ore-forming system. The absence of massive sulfide mineralization is consistent with the general paucity of economic VMS deposits in the Avalon Zone. Despite the highly prospective geological setting this study further illustrates the importance of volcanic facies mapping and associated paleo-environmental interpretations in VMS exploration.     

Hydrothermal alteration associated with Mesozoic granite-hosted gold mineralization at the Sanshandao deposit,Jiaodong Gold Province,China

The Sanshandao gold deposit (reserves of more than 200 t Au and average grade of 3.96 g/t), located at northwestern edge of the Jiaodong Peninsula, eastern North China Craton, is one of the largest gold deposits in the Jiaodong gold province. In this deposit, disseminated- and stockwork-style ores are hosted in Mesozoic granitoids; mineralization and alteration are largely controlled by the regional Sanshandao–Cangshang fault. Host granitic rocks for the deposit display a complex paragenetic sequence of alteration and mineralization. Activities of the Sanshandao–Cangshang fault created structurally controlled permeability allowing for infiltration of hydrothermal fluids, leading to diffusive K-feldspar alteration on the two fault planes. Later, large scale diffusive sericitization symmetrically developed across the main fault, and partially overprinted the earlier K-feldspar alteration. Following the sericitization, relatively small scale silicification occurred, but now it is only retained in the hanging wall of the main fault. Subsequently, the fault gouge formed as a “barrier layer”, which is impermeable for later fluids to move upward. After that, strong pyrite–sericite–quartz alteration occurred only in the footwall of the main fault, and was accompanied by gold precipitation. The last stage carbonation and quartz-carbonate veins marked the waning of gold-related hydrothermal activity. Mass-balance calculations indicate complex behaviors of different types of elements during fluid–rock interaction. Most major elements were affected by intensive mineral replacement reactions. As expected, the fluid-mobile elements, LILE and LREE, generally show moderate to high mobility. It is notable that even the commonly assumed fluid-immobile elements, such as HREE and HFSE, tend to be changed to various degrees. In addition, Y–Ho, Zr–Hf and Nb–Ta fractionations are observed in altered domains. Studies on alteration assemblages and fluid inclusions suggest that the ore-forming fluids were characterized by low salinity (≤ 8.4 wt.% NaCl equiv.), moderate temperature (300–400 °C), weakly acidic (pH: 3–5), and relatively reducing (log f_O2: ~–28) characteristics. In this type of fluids, gold was most likely transported as Au(HS)₂⁻ complex. With alteration going on, log (a_K⁺/a_H⁺) of fluids generally decreased due to significant formation of secondary K-bearing minerals. In addition, there might be a decrease of f_O2 from pre-gold alteration stage to the main gold mineralization stage, and decrease of f_O2 was probably one of the factors controlling gold precipitation. The Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of hydrothermal minerals, combined with previous H–O and He–Ar isotopic studies, indicate that the hydrothermal fluids were mainly derived from crustal sources (e.g., degassing of felsic magmas and meteoric water), but with involvement of mantle derived components. The gold mineralization event just coincided with reactivation of the North China Craton, as marked by asthenosphere upwelling, voluminous igneous rocks, and high crustal heat flow, which may have provided sufficient heat energy and fluid input required for the formation of the gold deposits.     

Authigenic potassic silicates in the Rathdowney Trend,southwest Ireland: New perspectives for ore genesis from petrography of gangue phases in Irish-type carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb deposits

Petrographic studies of Zn-Pb ore zones hosted by Lower Carboniferous dolomitized Waulsortian reef limestones in the Rathdowney Trend reveal a paragenetic association between sphalerite and potassium silicates: (Ba, K)-feldspar, adularia, and albite as well as rare quartz, illite and phengite. The dominant mineral assemblage is composed of 1) sphalerite ± (K,Ba) feldspar ± pengite/illite near the putative feeder conduit for the Lisheen Main Zone, and 2) a sphalerite ± pengite/illite assemblage distal to the major normal faults (NW of Main Zone, Island Zone and Rapla occurrence). In addition, clay minerals have been identified in fault gouges located at the interface between the Waulsortian reef and argillaceous limestone of the Ballysteen Formation. This mineral assemblage has provided additional constraints on the physico-chemical conditions of ore formation (eH, pH, sulfur and metal species). Another implication of the mineral assemblage, is a revision of fluid rock interaction processes, in which mineral solution-precipitation reactions are contributing to the development of hydrothermal breccias, with dolomitic black matrix breccias interpreted as a by-product of massive sulfide precipitation. Additionally, textural studies of the breccias through fractal dimension analysis of fragment geometry extracted from large scale scanning electron microscope element maps (1 cm² areas or more), indicates the prevalence of chemical brecciation-corrosion processes in the generation of the black matrix breccias. Integration of these new observations allows for comparison of ore forming processes across the Irish Midlands from the perspective of gangue mineralogy and may provide further links with classic Mississippi-type deposits from the mid-continent region of the United States of America.     

Gold occurrences of the Archean North Atlantic craton,southwestern Greenland: A comprehensive genetic model

The North Atlantic craton of southwestern Greenland hosts several orogenic gold occurrences, although, to date, none is in production. Four gold provinces are distinguished and include Godthåbsfjord, Tasiusarsuaq, Paamiut, and Tartoq. In the Godthåbsfjord gold province, the hypozonal gold occurrences are aligned along the major ca. 2660–2600 Ma Ivinnguit fault. Orogenic gold mineralization correlates temporally with, and is related to, ductile deformation along this first-order structure. The northern part of the Tasiusarsuaq gold province is characterized by small hypozonal gold occurrences that are controlled by 2670–2610 Ma folds and shear zones. Auriferous fluids were focused into the structures in both gold provinces during west-directed accretion of the Kapisilik terrane (2650–2580 Ma) to the already amalgamated terranes of the North Atlantic craton. In the southern part of the Tasiusarsuaq gold province, hypozonal gold mineralization is hosted in back-thrusts (Sermilik prospect) and thrusts (Bjørnesund prospect) that formed at 2740 Ma and 2860–2830 Ma, respectively. The deformation is related to the ca. 2850 Ma accretion of the Sioraq block and the Tasiusarsuaq terrane, and the 2800–2700 Ma accretion of the Tasiusarsuaq terrane and the Færingehavn and Tre Brødre terranes.Mesozonal orogenic gold mineralization is hosted in an accretionary complex in the Paamiut and Tartoq gold provinces. Gold occurrences cluster over a strike extent of approx. 40 km in thrusts and complex strike-slip settings in lateral ramps. The timing of the E-vergent terrane accretion in both areas is unknown, and could either be at ca. 2850 Ma or 2740 Ma. In the eastern part of the Paamiut gold province, quartz veins and associated alteration zones were overprinted by granulite facies metamorphism and show evidence for partial melting. These outermost parts of the accretionary complex were involved in burial-exhumation tectonics during crustal accretion.Mainly three different orogenic stages related to gold mineralization are distinguished in the North Atlantic craton between ca. 2850 Ma and 2610 Ma. These are generally accretionary tectonic episodes, and gold mineralization is hosted either in reactivated fault systems between terranes or accretionary complex structures along the deformed cratonic margin. The larger orogenic gold occurrences formed at ca. 2740–2600 Ma that appears to be a period of orogenic gold mineralization globally, although significant gold resources in the North Atlantic craton have yet to be identified.     

Basin architecture and evolution in the Mount Isa mineral province,northern Australia: Constraints from deep seismic reflection profiling and implications for ore genesis

Deep seismic reflection profiling confirms that the Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic Mount Isa mineral province comprises three vertically stacked and partially inverted sedimentary basins preserving a record of intracontinental rifting followed by passive margin formation. Passive margin conditions were established no later than 1655 Ma before being interrupted by plate convergence, crustal shortening and basin-wide inversion at 1640 Ma in both the 1730–1640 Ma Calvert and 1790–1740 Ma Leichhardt superbasins. Crustal extension and thinning resumed after 1640 Ma with formation of the 1635–1575 Ma Isa Superbasin and continued up to ca. 1615 Ma when extensional faulting ceased and a further episode of basin inversion commenced. The 1575 Ma Century Pb–Zn ore-body is hosted by syn-inversion sediments deposited during the initial stages of the Isan Orogeny with basin inversion accommodated on east- or northeast-dipping reactivated intrabasinal extensional faults and footwall shortcut thrusts. These structures extend to considerable depths and served as fluid conduits during basin inversion, tapping thick syn-rift sequences of immature siliciclastic sediments floored by bimodal volcanic sequences from which the bulk of metals and mineralising fluids are thought to have been sourced. Basin inversion and fluid expulsion at this stage were entirely submarine consistent with a syn-sedimentary to early diagenetic origin for Pb–Zn mineralisation at, or close to, the seafloor. Farther east, a change from platform carbonates to deeper water continental slope deposits (Kuridala and Soldiers Cap groups) marks the position of the original shelf break along which the north–south-striking Selwyn-Mount Dore structural corridor developed. This corridor served as a locus for strain partitioning, fluid flow and iron oxide–copper–gold mineralisation during and subsequent to the onset of basin inversion and peak metamorphism in the Isan Orogeny at 1585 Ma. An episode of post-orogenic strike-slip faulting and hydrothermal alteration associated with the subvertical Cloncurry Fault Zone overprints west- to southwest-dipping shear zones that extend beneath the Cannington Pb–Zn deposit and are antithetic to inverted extensional faults farther west in the same sub-basin. Successive episodes of basin inversion and mineralisation were driven by changes in the external stress field and related plate tectonic environment as evidenced by a corresponding match to bends in the polar wander path for northern Australia. An analogous passive margin setting has been described for Pb–Zn mineralisation in the Paleozoic Selwyn Basin of western Canada.     

Geology,geochronology, geochemistry and ore genesis of the Wangu gold deposit in northeastern Hunan Province,Jiangnan Orogen,South China

The Wangu gold deposit in northeastern Hunan, South China, is one of many structurally controlled gold deposits in the Jiangnan Orogen. The host rocks (slates of the Lengjiaxi Group) are of Neoproterozoic age, but the area is characterized by a number of Late Jurassic–Cretaceous granites and NE-trending faults. The timing of mineralization, tectonic setting and ore genesis of this deposit and many similar deposits in the Jiangnan Orogen are not well understood. The orebodies in the Wangu deposit include quartz veins and altered slates and breccias, and are controlled by WNW-trending faults. The principal ore minerals are arsenopyrite and pyrite, and the major gangue minerals are quartz and calcite. Alteration is developed around the auriferous veins, including silicification, pyritic, arsenopyritic and carbonate alterations. Field work and thin section observations indicate that the hydrothermal processes related to the Wangu gold mineralization can be divided into five stages: 1) quartz, 2) scheelite–quartz, 3) arsenopyrite–pyrite–quartz, 4) poly-sulfides–quartz, and, 5) quartz–calcite. The Lianyunshan S-type granite, which is in an emplacement contact with the NE-trending Changsha-Pingjiang fracture zone, has a zircon LA-ICPMS U–Pb age of 142 ± 2 Ma. The Dayan gold occurrence in the Changsha-Pingjiang fracture zone, which shares similar mineral assemblages with the Wangu deposit, is crosscut by a silicified rock that contains muscovite with a ca. 130 Ma ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar age. The gold mineralization age of the Wangu deposit is thus confined between 142 Ma and 130 Ma. This age of mineralization suggests that the deposit was formed simultaneously with or subsequently to the development of NE-trending extensional faults, the emplacement of Late Jurassic–Cretaceous granites and the formation of Cretaceous basins filled with red-bed clastic rocks in northeastern Hunan, which forms part of the Basin and Range-like province in South China. EMPA analysis shows that the average As content in arsenopyrite is 28.7 atom %, and the mineralization temperature of the arsenopyrite–pyrite–quartz stage is estimated to be 245 ± 20 °C from arsenopyrite thermometry. The high but variable Au/As molar ratios (>0.02) of pyrite suggest that there are nanoparticles of native Au in the sulfides. An integration of S–Pb–H–O–He–Ar isotope systematics suggests that the ore fluids are mainly metamorphic fluids originated from host rocks, possibly driven by hydraulic potential gradient created by reactivation of the WNW-trending faults initially formed in Paleozoic, with possible involvement of magmatic and mantle components channeled through regional fault networks. The Wangu gold deposit shares many geological and geochemical similarities as well as differences with typical orogenic, epithermal and Carlin-type gold deposits, and may be better classified as an “intracontinental reactivation” type as proposed for many other gold deposits in the Jiangnan Orogen.     

Small-scale positive flower structures

Field relations indicate that small-scale positive flower structures along sub-regional strike-slip faults localize ore in particular 4 m thick, bedded ore zones in Mississippi Valley-type Pb-Zn deposits of the Viburnum Trend, southeast Missouri, U.S.A. Outwardly divergent, shallow-dipping, duplex-deformed fault splays control ore and merge inwardly with sub-vertical fault strands. The characteristics of both duplex-deformed splays and ore suggest that the flower structures acted as drains for fluids being moved vertically along the strike-slip faults. This ore control differs from pipe-like conduits of transtensional dilation jogs in that duplex-deformed splays form under transpression and develop horizontal veins adjacent to strike-slip faults.     

Hydrothermal alteration and Cu–Ni–PGE mobilization in the charnockitic rocks of the footwall of the South Kawishiwi intrusion,Duluth Complex,USA

In the Neoarchean (~ 2.7 Ga) contact metamorphosed charnockitic footwall of the Mesoproterosoic (1.1 Ga) South Kawishiwi intrusion of the Duluth Complex, the primary metamorphic mineral assemblage and Cu–Ni–PGE sulfide mineralization is overprinted by an actinolite + chlorite + cummingtonite + prehnite + pumpellyite + quartz + calcite hydrothermal mineral assemblage along 2–3 cm thick veins. In calcite, hosted by the hydrothermal alteration zones and in a single recrystallized quartz porphyroblast, four different fluid inclusion assemblages are documented; the composition of these fluid inclusions provide p–T conditions of the fluid flow, and helps to define the origin of the fluids and evaluate their role in the remobilization and reprecipitation of the primary metamorphic sulfide assemblage.Pure CO₂ fluid inclusions were found as early inclusions in recrystallized quartz porphyroblast. These inclusions may have been trapped during the recrystallization of the quartz during the contact metamorphism of the footwall charnockite in the footwall of the SKI. The estimated trapping pressure (1.6–2.0 kbar) and temperature (810–920 °C) conditions correspond to estimates based on felsic veins in the basal zones of the South Kawishiwi intrusion.Fluid inclusion assemblages with CO₂–H₂O–NaCl and CH₄–N₂–H₂O–NaCl compositions found in this study along healed microfractures in the recrystallized quartz porphyroblast establish the heterogeneous state of the fluids during entrapment. The estimated trapping pressure and temperature conditions (240–650 bar and 120–150 °C for CO₂–H₂O–NaCl inclusions and 315–360 bar and 145–165 °C for CH₄–N₂–H₂O–NaCl inclusions) are significantly lower than the p–T conditions (> 700 °C and 1.6–2 kbar) during the contact metamorphism, indicating that this fluid flow might not be related to the cooling of the Duluth Complex and its contact aureole. The presence of chalcopyrite inclusions in these fluid inclusions and in the trails of these fluid inclusion assemblages confirms that at least on local scale these fluids played a role in base metal remobilization. No evidences have been observed for PGE remobilization and transport in the samples. The source of the carbonic phase in the carbonic assemblages (CO₂; CH₄) could be the graphite, present in the metasedimentary hornfelsed inclusions in the basal zones of the South Kawishiwi intrusion.The hydrothermal veins in the charnockite can be characterized by an actinolite + cummingtonite + chlorite + prehnite + pumpellyite + calcite (I–II) + quartz mineral assemblage. Chlorite thermometry yields temperatures around 276–308 °C during the earliest phase of the fluid flow. In the late calcite (II) phase, high salinity (21.6–28.8 NaCl + CaCl₂ equiv. wt.%), low temperature (90–160 °C), primary aqueous inclusions were found. Chalcopyrite (± sphalerite ± millerite), replacing and intersecting the early hydrothermal phases, are associated to the late calcite (II) phase. The composition of the formational fluids in the Canadian Shield is comparable with the composition of the studied fluid inclusions. This suggests that the composition of the fluids did not change in the past 2 Ga and base metal remobilization by formational fluids could have taken place any time after the formation of the South Kawishiwi intrusion.Sulfur isotope studies carried out on the primary metamorphic (δ³⁴S = 7.4–8.9‰) and the hydrothermal sulfide mineral assemblage (δ³⁴S = 5.5–5.7‰) proves, that during the hydrothermal fluid flow the primary metamorphic ores were remobilized.     

Delineating mineralized phases based on lithogeochemical data using multifractal model in Touzlar epithermal Au–Ag (Cu) deposit,NW Iran

The aim of this study is to delineate and separate mineralization phases based on surface lithogeochemical Au, Ag, As and Cu data, using the Concentration–Area (C–A) fractal method in the Touzlar epithermal Au–Ag (Cu) deposit, NW Iran. Four mineralization phases delineated by multifractal modeling for these elements are correlated with the findings of mineralization phases from geological studies. The extreme phase of Au mineralization is higher than 3.38 ppm, which is correlated with the main sulfidation phase, whereas Ag extreme phase (higher than 52.48 ppm) is associated with silicic veins and veinlets. The resulting multifractal modeling illustrates that Au and Ag have two different mineralization trends in this area. Extreme (higher than 398.1 ppm) and high mineralization phases of Cu from the C–A method correlate with hydrothermal breccias and main sulfidation stage in the deposit, respectively. Different stages of Au mineralization have relationships with As enrichment, especially in high and extreme (higher than 7.9%) phases. The obtained results were compared with fault distribution patterns, showing a positive correlation between mineralization phases and the faults present in the deposit. Moreover, mineralization phases of these elements demonstrate a good correlation with silicification and silicic veins and veinlets.     

Timing and mechanism of gold mineralization at the Wang'ershan gold deposit,Jiaodong Peninsula,eastern China

The Wang'ershan gold deposit, located in the southern Jiaojia goldfield, is currently the largest gold deposit hosted within the subsidiary faults in Jiaodong Peninsula, with a gold reserve of > 60 t gold at a grade of 4.07 g/t Au. It is hosted in the Late Jurassic Linglong biotite granites and controlled by the second-order, N- to NNE-trending Wang'ershan Fault (and its subsidiary faults) which is broadly parallel to the first-order Jiaojia Fault in the goldfield. Gold mineralization occurs as both disseminated- and stockwork-style and quartz–sulfide vein-style ores, mainly within altered cataclasites and breccias, and sericite–quartz and potassic alteration zones, respectively. Mineralization stages can be divided into (1) the pyrite–quartz–sericite stage, (2) the quartz–pyrite stage, (3) the quartz–sulfide stage, and (4) the quartz–carbonate stage.Two sericite samples associated with the main ore-stage pyrites from pyritic phyllic ores of the deposit with weighted mean plateau ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 120.7 ± 0.6 Ma and 119.2 ± 0.5 Ma, respectively, were selected for ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology. On the basis of petrography and microthermometry, three types of primary fluid inclusions related to the ore forming event were identified: type 1 H₂O–CO₂–NaCl, type 2 aqueous, and type 3 CO₂ fluid inclusions (in decreasing abundance). Stage 1 quartz contains all three primary fluid inclusions, while stages 2 and 3 quartz contain both type 1 and 2 inclusions, and stage 4 quartz contains only type 2 inclusions. The contemporaneous trapping, similar salinities and total homogenization temperature ranges, and different homogenization phases of type 1 and type 2 inclusions indicate that fluid immiscibility did take place in stages 1, 2 and 3 ores, with P–T conditions of 190 to 85 MPa and 334 to 300 °C for stage 1 and 200 to 40 MPa and 288 to 230 °C for stages 2 and 3. Combined with the H–O–C–S–Pb isotopic compositions, ore-forming fluids may have a metamorphic-dominant mixed source, which could be associated with the dehydration and decarbonisation of a subducting paleo-Pacific plate and characterized by medium–high temperature (285–350 °C), CO₂-bearing (~ 8 mol%) with minor CH₄ (1–4% in carbonic phase), and low salinity (3.38–8.45 eq. wt.% NaCl). During mineralization, the fluid finally evolved into a medium–low temperature NaCl–H₂O system. Au(HS)₂⁻ was the most probable gold-transporting complex at Wang'ershan, due to the low temperature (157–350 °C) and near-neutral to weakly acidic ore fluids. The reaction between gold-bearing fluids and iron-bearing wall-rocks, and fluid-immiscibility processes caused via fluid–pressure cycling during seismic movement along fault zones that host lode-gold orebodies, which led to breakdown of Au(HS)₂⁻, are interpreted as the two main precipitation mechanisms of gold deposition.In general, the Wang'ershan deposit and other deposits in the Jiaojia camp have concordant structural system and wall-rock alteration assemblages, nature of orebodies and gold occurrence conditions, as well as the similar geochronology, ore-forming fluids system and stable isotope compositions. Thus gold mineralization in the Jiaojia goldfield was a large-scale unified event, with consistent timing, origin, process and mechanism.     

Episodic gold mineralisation correlated with discrete structural events at Ballarat East,southeast Australia

New ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronological data suggest orogenic gold mineralisation at the Ballarat East deposit, southeast Australia, occurred in three main episodes at ca. 445–435 Ma, ca. 420–415 Ma and ca. 380–370 Ma. The gold mineralisation is localised in muscovite-bearing quartz and quartz-carbonate veins hosted in the steep faults (70–90°), on limbs of tight and isoclinal folds in an Ordovician turbidite sequence, and within west-dipping (≤45°) faults, historically known as leather jacket lodes. Initiation of the ≤45° faults that are confined to fold culminations, begins at ca. 445 Ma, with peak metamorphic conditions at 440 Ma. The earliest vein sets (V₁), were emplaced on limb thrusts at ca. 445–435 Ma and are characterised by arsenopyrite-dominated quartz veins. These V₁ veins parallel arsenopyrite-rich shale units, historically referred to as ‘indicator beds’. Both the steep and ≤45° faults were reactivated during fold amplification with deposition of the V₂ auriferous veins at ca. 420–415 Ma. A later set of auriferous veins (V₃–V₄) with ages of 380–370 Ma, dominated by pyrite-sphalerite-galena-white-mica quartz-(V₃) or carbonate-rich (V₄) veins are predominantly associated with reactivation of the ≤45° west-dipping faults. This new geochronological data constrains the local kinematic history of the Ballarat East deposit and has regional implications. The V₁–V₂ vein development appears to be synchronous across the entire western section of the Lachlan Orogen, where previous studies have suggested that initial gold mineralisation was linked to orogenesis at ∼440 Ma, as a result of metamorphic devolatilisation reactions in the lower crust. In contrast, a close spatial and temporal relationship exists between the felsic dykes and the mineralisation recognised in the V₃–V₄ veins. The deformation that accompanies V₃–V₄ vein development is attributed to small, localised events during east-west shortening, utilising pre-existing fold and fault structures. The origin of the fluids producing the V₃–V₄ veins may be metamorphic devolatilisation associated with widespread felsic magmatism that occurred at this time across central Victoria.     

Origin and evolution of hydrothermal fluids in the Taochong iron deposit,Middle–Lower Yangtze Valley,Eastern China: Evidence from microthermometric and stable isotope analyses of fluid inclusions

The Middle–Lower Yangtze River Valley is one of the most important metallogenic belts in China, hosting numerous Cu–Fe–Au–Mo deposits. The Taochong deposit is located in the northern part of the Fanchang iron ore district of the Middle–Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt. The Fe-orebody is hosted by Middle Carboniferous to Lower Permian limestones. Skarns and Fe-orebodies occur as tabular bodies along interlayer-gliding faults, at some distance from the inferred granitic intrusions. Field evidence and petrographic observations indicate that the three stages of hydrothermal activity—the skarn, iron oxide (main mineralization stage), and carbonate stages—all contributed to the formation of the Taochong iron deposit. The skarn stage is characterized by the formation of garnet and pyroxene, with high-temperature, hypersaline hydrothermal fluids with isotopic compositions similar to those of typical magmatic fluids. These fluids were probably generated by the separation of brine from a silicate melt instead of the product of aqueous fluid immiscibility. The iron oxide stage coincides with the replacement of garnet and pyroxene by actinolite, chlorite, quartz, calcite and hematite. The hydrothermal fluids at this stage are represented by saline fluid inclusions that coexist with vapor-rich inclusions with anomalously low δD values (− 66‰ to − 94‰). The decrease in ore fluid δ¹⁸O_water with time and decreasing depth is consistent with the decreases in fluid salinity and temperature. The fluid δD values also show a decreasing trend with decreasing depth. Both fluid inclusion and stable isotopic data suggest that the ore fluid during the main period of mineralization was evolved by the boiling of various mixtures of magmatic brine and meteoric water. This process was probably induced by a drop in pressure from lithostatic to hydrostatic. The carbonate stage is represented by calcite veins that cut across the skarn and orebody, locally producing a dense stockwork. This observation indicates the veins formed during the waning stages of hydrothermal activity. The fluids from this stage are mainly represented by a variety of low-salinity fluid inclusions, as well as fewer high-salinity inclusions. These particular fluids have the lowest δ¹⁸O_water values (− 2.2‰ to 0.4‰) and a wide of range of δD values (− 40‰ to − 81‰), which indicate that they were originated from a mixture of residual fluids from the oxide stage, various amounts of meteoric water, and possibly condensed vapor. Low-temperature boiling probably occurred during this stage.We also discuss the reasons behind the anomalously low δD values in fluid inclusion water extracted by thermal decrepitation from quartz at high temperatures, and suggest that calcite data provide a possible benchmark for adjusting low δD values found in quartz intergrown with calcite.     

Fluid inclusion geochemistry and Ar–Ar geochronology of the Cenozoic Bangbu orogenic gold deposit,southern Tibet,China

Located along the southern part of the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone in southern Tibet, Bangbu is one of the largest gold deposits in Tibet. Auriferous sulfide-bearing quartz veins are controlled by second- or third-order brittle fractures associated with the regional Qusong–Cuogu–Zhemulang brittle-ductile shear zone. Fluid inclusion studies show that the auriferous quartz contains aqueous inclusions, two-phase and three-phase CO₂-bearing inclusions, and pure gaseous hydrocarbon inclusions. The CO₂-bearing inclusions have salinities of 2.2–9.5% NaCl_eq, and homogenization temperatures (Th) of 167–336 °C. The δD, δ¹⁸O, and δ¹³C compositions of the Bangbu ore-forming fluids are − 105.5 to − 44.4‰, 4.7 to 9.0‰ and − 5.1 to − 2.2‰, respectively, indicating that the ore-forming fluid is mainly of metamorphic origin, with also a mantle-derived contribution. The ³He/⁴He ratio of the ore-forming fluids is 0.174 to 1.010 R_a, and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ranges from 311.9 to 1724.9. Calculations indicate that the percentage of mantle-derived He in fluid inclusions from Bangbu is 2.7–16.7%. These geochemical features are similar to those of most orogenic gold deposits. Dating by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar of hydrothermal sericite collected from auriferous quartz veins at Bangbu yielded a plateau age of 44.8 ± 1.0 Ma, with normal and inverse isochronal ages of 43.6 ± 3.2 Ma and 44 ± 3 Ma, respectively. This indicates that the gold mineralization was contemporaneous with the main collisional stage between India and Eurasia along the Yarlung Zangbo suture, which resulted in the development of near-vertical lithospheric shear zones. A deep metamorphic fluid was channeled upward along the shear zone, mixing with a mantle fluid. The mixed fluids migrated into the brittle structures along the shear zone and precipitated gold, sulfides, and quartz because of declining temperature and pressure or fluid immiscibility. The Bangbu is a large-scale Cenozoic syn-collisional orogenic gold deposit     

Geology,U-Pb geochronology,and stable isotope geochemistry of the Tunca semi-massive sulfide mineralization,Black Sea region,NE Turkey: Implications for ore genesis

Upper Cretaceous volcano-sedimentary sequences of the Eastern Pontide orogenic belt, NE Turkey, are host to significant VMS mineralization, including near Tunca. The initial stages of felsic volcanism within the mineralized area are marked by the eruption of dacitic lavas and breccias of the Kızılkaya Formation. This was accompanied by the emplacement of domelike hematitic dacites. Autobrecciated and volcaniclastic rocks, both in situ and resedimented, were likely generated from extrusive portions of these dacite bodies. Basaltic volcanism is marked by the eruption of the lava flows and pillow lavas of the Çağlayan Formation. Hiatuses in basaltic activity are marked by thin horizons of volcaniclastics and mudstones. The uppermost felsic volcanic units were accompanied by resedimentation of autoclastic facies from previous volcanism and represent the latest phase of Upper Cretaceous volcanism in the area. The semi-massive sulfide mineralization is associated with a late stage of the initial felsic volcanism. U-Pb LA-ICP-MS zircon dating of a dacitic tuff breccia yielded an age of 88.1 ± 1.2 Ma (Coniacian-Upper Cretaceous), which is interpreted to be the age of the sulfide occurrences.A concentric zoned alteration pattern is observed in the footwall rocks. The alteration pattern is considered to have formed by lateral migration of hydrothermal fluids which had ascended along the discharge conduit. Fluid inclusion data indicate precipitation or mobilization processes within a relatively narrow temperature range of 152–255 °C (avg. 200 °C). The low-salinity fluids in the fluid inclusions, less than 5.9 wt% NaCl equivalent, are consistent with typical modified seawater-dominant hydrothermal vent fluids. Sulfur isotope analysis of the Tunca sulfides yields a narrow range of 1.5–4.1 per mil. These δ³⁴S values are also typical of many VMS deposits. Most of the recorded δ¹⁸O values (+7.1 to +14.0 per mil) are greater than 9 per mil. The most intensely hydrothermally altered rocks tend to have lower δ¹⁸O values relative to the less altered rocks. Collectively, the geologic relationships, mineralization style, and the lack of seafloor ore facies suggest that mineralization is principally of sub-seafloor origin. The most geologically reasonable interpretation of the genesis of the Tunca mineralization is the continuous interaction between the host rocks and seawater-derived fluids, without significant involvement of a magmatic fluid.     

New geochemical and mineralogical constraints on the genesis of the Vani hydrothermal manganese deposit at NW Milos island,Greece: Comparison with the Aspro Gialoudi deposit and implications for the formation of the Milos manganese mineralization

The Mn-Ba-Pb deposit at Aspro Gialoudi in NW Milos is shown to be a fossil inhalative-exhalative hydrothermal deposit that represents the deepest part of the Vani succession at the western extremity of the main Vani manganese deposit. The geology of the Vani-Aspro Gialoudi area is characterized by Upper Pliocene-Lower Pleistocene dacitic and rhyodacitic lava domes, which are overlain by the Vani volcaniclastic unit considered to be part of the 2.66–1.44 Ma magmatic event at Milos Island. The presence of in-situ and intrusive hyaloclastite breccias surrounding the coherent lava domes at Aspro Gialoudi and Vani areas indicates submarine emplacement for the domes. The dacitic-rhyodacitic domes are variously altered (mainly propylitic and/or argillic alteration, silicified and in some cases locally exhibiting adularia alteration). Both Aspro Gialoudi and main Vani deposit are located proximal to fault systems: the main Vani manganese deposit is adjacent to the NW-trending Kondaros-Katsimouti-Vani Dome fault, whereas the Aspro Gialoudi deposit is adjacent to the relatively minor NE-trending fault on the west coast of Milos. At Aspro Gialoudi, mineralization took place in a subseafloor and/or seafloor environment and is characterized by a stratabound Mn-barite-rich deposit mainly within a package of propylitized intrusive hyaloclastites and within the overlying sandstones. Banded epithermal veins trending NE-SW and composed of chalcedonic silica/quartz + barite + Mn-oxide ± sulfides crosscut the dacitic lavas, the hyaloclastites and the overlying volcaniclastic sequence at Aspro Gialoudi and are considered to represent the feeder zones of the manganese-barite mineralization. Within the veins, early sulfide (galena-sphalerite) barite and quartz deposition is followed by manganese oxides and aragonite, thus resembling the epithermal-style Pb-Zn-Ag-Mn mineralization across the NW-trending Katsimoutis-Kondaros-Vani fault. Mineralization in Aspro Gialoudi and Vani deposits seems to be controlled by alternating cycles of deposition of sulfides and hydrothermal manganese oxides within the faults. Manganese deposition in both deposits formed in a similar manner, namely by transport of hydrothermal fluids through the adjacent fault systems into a reservoir of volcanoclastic sandstone and hyaloclastites to produce a deposit initially consisting of principally of pyrolusite and occasionally ramsdellite, which were subsequently replaced by cryptomelane, hollandite, coronadite and hydrohaeterolite. Precipitation of hydrothermal manganese oxides took place very quick and under microbial Mn(II) oxidation. Compositional data show that metallic elements most enriched in the Aspro Gialoudi and Vani manganese deposits relative to the average continental crust, lie in the sequences Pb > Cd > Mn > As > Sb > Zn > W > Tl > Ba > Cu > Mo > Co > Bi and As > Sb > Pb > Mn > Tl > Cd > Zn > W > Cu > Ba > Mo > Co, respectively. Mineralogical and geochemical (e.g. REE) data from both Aspro Gialoudi and main Vani deposit are taken to indicate mainly a seawater source for the hydrothermal fluids. These two deposits are genetically and spatially related to base- and precious metal intermediate-sulfidation epithermal mineralization. They formed successively by similar processes and are considered to be integral parts of the same hydrothermal system.     

Sulfur and lead isotope systematics: Implications for the genesis of the Riópar Zn-(Fe-Pb) carbonate-hosted deposit (Prebetic Zone,SE Spain)

The Zn-(Fe-Pb) deposits of the Riópar area (Prebetic Zone, SE Spain) are hosted by dolostones that replace Berriasian to Valanginian (Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous) limestones. Mineralization consists of hypogene sphalerite, marcasite and galena, and supergene calamine zones. The hypogene ores are associated with a saddle dolomite gangue. The ore bodies occur as discordant and stratiform lenses, ore-cemented breccias, cm- to mm-wide veins and veinlets, disseminations and stylolite porosity filling within the host dolomites. The main ore controls include stratigraphy and/or lithology, tectonics (faults, fractures and breccias) and availability of metals and sulfur. The morphologies and epigenetic character of the hypogene ore bodies are consistent with the classification of this mineralization as a Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposit. The Ga/Ge geothermometer in sphalerite yielded a temperature range of 194–252 °C, which represents the temperature of the source region of the ore solution. This value is comparable to the temperature obtained in the ore deposition site, 159 ± 15 °C from the Δ³⁴S geothermometer in sphalerite galena pairs. This similitude points to a hydrothermal fluid that did not cool down significantly during flow from the fluid reservoir area to the precipitation site. δ³⁴S values of base-metal sulfides (−7.5 to +3.5‰) are consistent with thermochemical reduction of Triassic sulfate (seawater and/or derived from dissolution of evaporites) by interaction with organic compounds (e.g., hydrocarbons, methane), which reduced sulfate to sulfide in the deposition site. The lead isotope ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.736–18.762; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.629–15.660; ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.496–38.595) of galena suggest that Pb, and probably other metals as Zn, is derived from continental crustal rocks. On the other hand, these relations points to a unique metal source probably derived from the Paleozoic basement rocks. The relationship between bedding-parallel stylolites, dolomitization, sulfide precipitation and Alpine tectonic affecting the MVT ore, suggests a relative timing range for the mineralization in the Riópar area of 95–20 Ma (Upper Cretaceous-Tertiary). The sulfide mineralization and the associated dolomitization are thus explained by the contribution of two fluids that mixed in different proportions during dolomitization and mineralization: i) a fluid probably derived from Cretaceous seawater saturating Mesozoic sediments (Fluid A), characterized by being dilute and initially low temperature, which should have contained organic rich compounds in the ore deposition site (e.g., hydrocarbons and CH₄ dissolved gas); and ii) a high salinity hydrothermal brine (Fluid B) rich in both metals and sulfate, circulated through the Paleozoic basement. During the pre-ore dolomitizing stage the fluid phase was dominated by the diluted fluid (Fluid A > Fluid B), whereas in a later fluid pulse, the proportion of the high salinity fluid increased (Fluid A < Fluid B) which allowed sulfide precipitation. MVT exploration in the Prebetic Zone should focus towards the SW of the Riópar mines, in the vicinity of the Alto Guadalquivir-San Jorge fault.