Epithermal Gold Mineralization in the Trenggalek District,East Java,Indonesia

Gold‐mineralized quartz veins at the Trenggalek district of the Southern Mountains Range in East Java, Indonesia, are hosted by Oligo‐Miocene volcaniclastic and volcanic rocks, and are distributed close to andesitic plugs in the northern prospects (Dalangturu, Suruh, Jati, Gregah, Jombok, Salak, and Kojan) and the southern prospects (Sentul and Buluroto). The plugs are subalkaline tholeiitic basaltic‐andesite to calc‐alkaline andesite in composition. ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar dating of a quartz‐adularia vein at the Dalangturu prospect yielded an age of 16.29 ± 0.56 Ma (2σ), and a crystal tuff of a limestone‐pyroclastic rock sequence at the southwest of the Dalangturu prospect was determined as 15.6 ± 0.5 Ma (2σ). Statistic overlap of ages suggests that the gold mineralization in the northern prospects took place in a shallow marine to subaerial transitional environment. Hydrothermal alteration of the host rocks is characterized by the replacement of quartz, illite and adularia. Quartz veins in surface outcrops are up to 50 cm wide in the northern prospects and up to 3 m wide in the southern prospects, showing a banded or brecciated texture, and are composed of quartz, adularia, carbonates with pyrite, electrum, sphalerite, galena, and polybasite. Gold contents of quartz veins are positively correlated with Ag, Zn, Pb, and Cu contents in both the northern and southern prospects. The quartz veins at the Jati, Gregah, and Sentul prospects have relatively lower gold‐silver ratios (Ag/Au = 23.2) compared to those at the Kojan, Dalangturu, Salak, and Suruh prospects (Ag/Au = 66.8). The quartz veins at the Dalangturu prospect are relatively rich in base metal sulfides. Ag/(Au+Ag) ratios of electrum in the Dalangturu prospect range from 45.2 to 65.0 at%, and FeS contents of sphalerite range from 1.2 to 6.4 mol%. Fluid inclusion microthermometry indicates ore‐forming temperatures of 190–200°C and 220–230°C at the Sentul and Kojan prospects, respectively. Widely variable vapor/liquid ratio of fluid inclusions indicates that fluid boiling took place within the hydrothermal system at the Sentul prospect. Salinities of ore‐fluids range from 0 to 0.7 wt% (av. 0.4 wt% NaCl equiv.) and from 0.5 to 1.4 wt% (av. 0.9 wt%) for the Sentul and Kojan prospects, respectively. The boiling of hydrothermal fluid was one of the gold deposition mechanisms in the Sentul prospect.     

Textural and Chemical Evolution of Unidirectional Solidification Textures in Highly Differentiated Granitic Rocks at Kharaatyagaan,Central Mongolia

Unidirectional solidification texture (UST) in an aplite body is recognized in the Neoproterozoic highly differentiated granitic rocks at Kharaatyagaan, central Mongolia. On the basis of crystal morphology, two main types of UST were identified in the aplite body: (i) thin crenulate UST layers; and (ii) thick intergrowth UST layers. Bulk geochemistry indicates that the Kharaatyagaan UST‐bearing aplite and aplite dike are alkaline, and are enriched in light rare‐earth elements. Scanning electron microscopy and cathadoluminescence imaging of UST quartz from Kharaatyagaan show four types of quartz: euhedral quartz phenocrysts with well‐developed concentric growth zoning (Qa1) in the aplite; euhedral quartz with weak growth zoning in the aplite (Qa2); UST quartz exhibiting distinct growth zones (Qu1); and UST quartz showing mosaic texture (Qu2). Crystallization temperatures determined by the Ti‐in‐quartz geothermometer of Qa1 and Qu1 quartz range between around 500°C and 780°C and Qa2 and Qu2 range between about 490° and 630°C. The cathodoluminescence textures of quartz are predominantly caused by variations in the trace elements contents of quartz. The Qa1 and Qu1 quartz crystals are characterized by high Ti and Al concentrations in the quartz lattice, and are observed in the bottom of the Kharaatyagaan hill, which formed in the early, less evolved magmatic stage. The Qa2 and Qu2 UST quartz characterized by low Ti and variable Al concentrations are found at the top. The UST layers crystallized along the upper part of the magma chamber in the presence of fluid phases exsolved from felsic magma.     

Upward transport of iron at the west shelf edge–slope of the Okinawa Trough in the East China Sea

We studied the behavior of chemical substances in the upper 300 m of the water column across the continental shelf–slope interface in the East China Sea off the Okinawa Trough. The behaviors of iron, inorganic nutrients, and humic-like fluorescent dissolved organic matter were strongly influenced by the extensive water exchange between the East China Sea and the Kuroshio Current across the shelf break and slope via upwelling and frontal processes. We attributed the high humic-like fluorescent intensity at the subsurface of the shelf break and slope regions to the lateral supply of humic-like fluorescent dissolved organic matter from the shelf sediments to the outer shelf region due to the intrusion of shelf water into Kuroshio subsurface water. We found that the behavior of iron at the continental shelf–slope was remarkably different from the conservative mixing of inorganic nutrients and humic-like fluorescent dissolved organic matter. In deep and bottom waters at the shelf–slope, high total iron concentrations, which were closely related to water transmittance, possibly resulted from the swept transport of iron-rich resuspended sediments over the shelf floor from the slope by the invading Kuroshio Intermediate Water close to the bottom.     

Content of plutonium,thorium and protactinium in sea water and recent coral in the North Pacific

The contents of plutonium isotopes (²³⁹Pu and²³⁸Pu), thorium isotopes (²³²Th,²³⁰Th and²²⁸Th) and protactinium-231 in sea water collected in the North Pacific, the East China Sea and the Japan Sea were determined. These nuclides were sequentially analyzed byα-ray spectrometry after separating them mainly with solvent extraction technique. The contents of²³⁹Pu in surface sea water ranged from 0.6 to 1.6 pCi/10001,²³⁸Pu/²³⁹Pu activity ratios being 0.2～0.7. The²²⁸Th/²³²Th activity ratios for the North Pacific waters varied between 7.6 and 30, whereas the sample from the East China Sea showed the very high value, 65. The contents of²³¹Pa are less than 6 percent of that in equilibrium with its parent²³⁵U. Furthermore, the analysis of plutonium isotopes in recent coral from Yoron Island was carried out and it was confirmed that plutonium isotopes have concentrated in recent coral with the concentration factor of about 1～2×10³.     

Petrography,geochemistry, and tectonics of a rifted fragment of Mainland Asia: evidence from the Lasala Formation,Mindoro Island,Philippines

Petrological and geochemical investigations of the sedimentary Lasala formation in northwest Mindoro, Philippines, offer new insights into the origin of this geologically contentious region. Mindoro island’s position at the boundary between Sundaland and the Philippine Mobile Belt has led to variable suggestions as to how much of it is continent derived or not. The Eocene Lasala formation overlies the Jurassic Halcon metamorphics, a regionally metamorphosed suite generally thought to have formed as a result of arc-continent collision processes. The sedimentary formation consists mainly of sandstones and shales interbedded with mudstones, basalt flows, and subordinate limestones and conglomerates. Petrographic information on the Lasala clastic rocks demonstrates a uniform framework composition that is predominantly quartzose. Major oxide, trace element abundances, and various elemental ratios similarly impart a strongly felsic signature. These characteristics are taken to indicate a chiefly continental, passive margin derivation and deposition of the Lasala sediments during the Eocene. The weak indication of active margin influence is suggested to be an inherited signature, supported by paleogeographic models of the southeastern Asian margin area during the pre-Cenozoic.     

Overprinting porphyry‐type veinlets on the intrusive rocks and phreatomagmatic breccias in the Southwest prospect,southwestern Sto. Tomas II (Philex), Baguio District,Philippines

The Southwest prospect is located at the southwestern periphery of the Sto. Tomas II porphyry copper–gold deposit in the Baguio District, northwestern Luzon, Philippines. The Southwest prospect hosts a copper‐gold mineralization related to a complex of porphyry intrusions, breccia facies, and overlapping porphyry‐type veinlets emplaced within the basement Pugo metavolcanics rocks and conglomerates of the Zigzag Formation. The occurrences of porphyry‐type veinlets and potassic alteration hosted in the complex are thought to be indications of the presence of blind porphyry deposits within the Sto. Tomas II vicinity. The complex is composed of at least four broadly mineralogically similar dioritic intrusive rocks that vary in texture and alteration type and intensity. These intrusions were accompanied with at least five breccia facies that were formed by the explosive brecciation, induced by the magmatic–hydrothermal processes and phreatomagmatic activities during the emplacement of the various intrusions. Hydrothermal alteration assemblages consisting of potassic, chlorite–magnetite, propylitic and sericite–chlorite alteration, and contemporaneous veinlet types were developed on the host rocks. Elevated copper and gold grades correspond to (a) chalcopyrite–bornite assemblage in the potassic alteration in the syn‐mineralization early‐mineralization diorite (EMD) and contemporaneous veinlets and (b) chalcopyrite‐rich mineralization associated with the chalcopyrite–magnetite–chlorite–actinolite±sericite veinlets contemporaneous with the chlorite–magnetite alteration. Erratic remarkable concentrations of gold were also present in the late‐mineralization Late Diorite (LD). High X_Mg of calcic amphiboles (>0.60) in the intrusive rocks indicate that the magmas have been oxidizing since the early stages of crystallization, while a gap in the composition of Al between the rim and the cores of the calcic amphiboles in the EMD and LD indicate decompression at some point during the crystallization of these intrusive rocks. Fluid inclusion microthermometry suggests the trapping of immiscible fluids that formed the potassic alteration, associated ore mineralization, and sheeted quartz veinlets. The corresponding formation conditions of the shallower and deeper quartz veinlets were estimated at pressures of 50 and 30 MPa and temperatures of 554 and 436°C at depths of 1.9 and 1.1 km. Temperature data from the chlorite indicate that the chalcopyrite‐rich mineralization associated with the chlorite–magnetite alteration was formed at a much lower temperature (ca. 290°C) than the potassic alteration. Evidence from the vein offsetting matrix suggests multiple intrusions within the EMD, despite the K‐Ar ages of the potassic alteration in EMD and hornblende in the LD of about the same age at 3.5 ± 0.3 Ma. The K‐Ar age of the potassic alteration was likely to be thermally reset as a result of the overprinting hydrothermal alteration. The constrained K‐Ar ages also indicate earlier formed intrusive rocks in the Southwest prospect, possibly coeval to the earliest “dark diorite” intrusion in the Sto. Tomas II deposit. In addition, the range of δ³⁴S of sulfide minerals from +1.8‰ to +5.1‰ in the Southwest prospect closely overlaps with the rest of the porphyry copper and epithermal deposits in the Sto. Tomas II deposit and its vicinity. This indicates that the sulfides may have formed from a homogeneous source of the porphyry copper deposits and epithermal deposits in the Sto. Tomas II orebody and its vicinity. The evidence presented in this work proves that the porphyry copper‐type veinlets and the adjacent potassic alteration in the Southwest prospect are formed earlier and at a shallower level in contrast with the other porphyry deposits in the Baguio District.     

Trace elements mineral chemistry of sulfides from the Woxi Au-Sb-W deposit,southern China

The Woxi Au-Sb-W deposit is one of the largest polymetallic ore deposits in the Xuefengshan Range, southern China, hosted in low-grade metamorphosed Neoproterozoic volcaniclastic rocks. The orebodies of the deposit are predominantly composed of banded quartz veins, which are strictly controlled by bedding and faults. Petrographic observations and geochemical results are reported on the occurrence of Au and properties of the ore-forming processes for different stages in the deposit. The veins extend vertically up to 2 km without obvious vertical metal zoning. The ore-forming process can be subdivided into four mineralization stages: Pre-ore stage; Early stage (scheelite-quartz stage); Middle stage (pyrite-stibnite-quartz stage); and Late stage (stibnite-quartz sage). Four types of pyrite (Py0, Py1, Py2, and Py3) were identified in the ores and host-rock: Py0 occurs as euhedral grains with voids in the core, ranging in size from 50 to 100 μm and formed mainly in the Pre-ore stage and Early stage; Py1 occurs as subhedral grains. Small grains (around 10 μm) of Py1 form irregularly shaped clusters of variable size ranging from tens to hundreds of μm and mainly formed in the Middle stage; Euhedral-subhedral fine-grained Py2 formed in the Late stage; Minor subhedral fine-grained Py3 was deposited in the Late-stage. Stibnite is widely distributed in the Middle and Late stage ore veins. No systemic difference was recognized in mineralogical features among stibnite formed in different stages. In addition to native gold, the lattice bound Au⁺¹ widely exists in Py1 and Py2 in the deposit, and widespread Py1 is considered as the main Au-bearing mineral with the highest Au contents. Most elements (such as Co, Ni, Cu, As, Sb, Ba, and Pb) are considered to occur as solid solution within the crystal lattice and/or invisible nanoparticles in sulfides minerals. The Co/Ni ratio of most pyrite is lower than 1, suggesting that the metals in the ore-forming fluid are sourced from sedimentary rocks. The coupled behavior between Au and As; Au and Sb suggests that the substitution of As and Sb in pyrite can enhance the incorporation of Au. Variation of trace elements in pyrites of different stages suggests some information on the mineralization processes: Large ion lithophile elements (such as Ba and Pb) are enriched in Py0 indicating that water-rock reaction occurred in the Early stage; Fine-grained Py1 with a heterogeneous distribution of elements suggests fast crystallization of pyrite in the Middle stage.     

Characteristics and Mineralization Age of the Fukusen No. 1 Vein,Hishikari Epithermal Gold Deposits,Southern Kyushu,Japan

The Fukusen No. 1 vein is located in the southeastern part of the Yamada deposit, Hishikari epithermal gold deposits, southern Kyushu, Japan. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of adularia from the margin and the center of the Fukusen vein are determined to be 0.617 ± 0.024 Ma and 0.606 ± 0.009 Ma, respectively. The Fukusen No. 1 vein shows banding structure composed mainly of quartz, adularia and clay minerals. Colloform texture is displayed by cryptocrystalline to amorphous silica material that is associated with fine-grained electrum and sulfides near the center of the vein. Pyrite in the Fukusen No. 1 vein often shows acicular shape resulting from inversion from marcasite. Near the center of the vein, primary marcasite occurs associated with colloform texture of silica. The Fukusen No.1 vein preserves primary texture and materials which were deposited from the ore-forming hydrothermal solution. The Fukusen No. 1 vein was formed in a short period and is one of the youngest veins in the Hishikari deposits.