Askold Gold Deposit (Askold Island,Primorye, Russia): Physicochemical Parameters and Composition of Ore-Forming Fluids

Geology of Ore Deposits - Individual fluid inclusions in quartz from ore veins of the Askold gold deposit, which was previously attributed to the epithermal type, are studied for the first time. It...     

First Data on Formation Conditions of the Zhilnoye Au–Ag Epithermal Gold Deposit (Eastern Chukotka,Russia)

The first data on study of individual fluid inclusions in the Zhilnoye deposit have been obtained. It has been found that the gold-bearing quartz veins of the deposit were formed by heterogeneous hydrothermal fluids with low salt concentrations (0.2–3.6 wt% equiv. NaCl under intermediate temperature conditions of 246–350°C). The fluid pressure was 80–160 bar corresponding to 0.3–0.6 km depths of formation under hydrostatic conditions. The parameters of the mineral-forming fluids of the Zhilnoye deposit correspond to typical parameters of the fluids of epithermal deposits.     

Evidence for Granitoid Magmatism and the Composition of the Silicic Melt in the Gabbroid Assemblage of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 13° N: New Data on Melt Inclusions

Doklady Earth Sciences - Despite the local occurrence of silicic magmatism during the formation of the oceanic crust, the nature of felsic granitoid veins (“oceanic plagiogranite”)...     

Hydrothermal Mineral Assemblages at 71° N of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (First Results)

Oceanology - The article discusses the preliminary results of plume and bottom sediment studies of the Trollveggen hydrothermal vent field based on data from cruise 68 of the R/V Akademik Mstislav...     

Geology,alteration, age,and origin of iron oxide–apatite deposits in Upper Eocene quartz monzonite,Zanjan district,NW Iran

Iron oxide–apatite deposits are present in Upper Eocene pyroxene-quartz monzonitic rocks of the Zanjan district, northwestern Iran. Mineralization occurred in five stages: (1) deposition of disseminated magnetite and apatite in the host rock; (2) mineralization of massive and banded magnetite ores in veins and stockwork associated with minor brecciation and calcic alteration of host rocks; (3) deposition of sulfide ores together with potassic alteration; (4) formation of quartz and carbonate veins and sericite, chlorite, epidote, silica, carbonate, and tourmaline alteration; and (5) supergene alteration and weathering. U–Pb dating of monazite inclusions in the apatite indicates an age of 39.99?±?0.24 Ma, which is nearly coeval with the time of emplacement of the host quartz monzonite, supporting the genetic connection. Fluid inclusions in the apatite have homogenization temperatures of about 300 °C and oxygen isotopic compositions of the magnetite support precipitation from magmatic fluids. Late-stage quartz resulted from the introduction of a cooler, less saline, and isotopically depleted fluid. The iron oxide–apatite deposits in the Tarom area of the Zanjan district are typical of a magmatic–hydrothermal origin and are similar to the Kiruna-type deposits with respect to mineral assemblages, fabric and structure of the iron ores, occurrence of the ore bodies, and wall rock alteration.     

Gold–Silver mineralization in porphyry–epithermal systems of the Baimka trend,western Chukchi Peninsula,Russia

Mineralogical, fluid inclusion, and geochemical studies of precious metal mineralization within the Baimka trend in the western Chukchi Peninsula have been preformed. Porphyry copper–molybdenum–gold deposits and prospects of the Baimka trend are spatially related to monzonitic rocks of the Early Cretaceous Egdygkych Complex. Four types of precious metal-bearing assemblages have been identified: (1) chalcopyrite + bornite + quartz with high-fineness native gold enclosed in bornite, (2) low-Mn dolomite + quartz + sulfide (chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, tennantite-tetrahedrite) ± tourmaline with low-fineness native gold and hessite, (3) rhodochrosite + high-Mn dolomite + quartz + sulfide (chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, tennantite- tetrahedrite) with low-fineness native gold, electrum, acanthite, Ag and Au–Ag tellurides, and Ag sulfosalts, and (4) calcite + quartz + sulfide (chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena) with low-fineness native gold, Ag sulfides and selenides, and Ag-bearing sulfosalts. Study of fluid inclusions from quartz, sphalerite, and fluorite have revealed that hydrothermal ores within the Baimka trend precipitated from fluids with strongly variable salinity at temperatures and pressures ranging from 594 to 104°C and from 1200 to 170 bar, respectively. An indicator of vertical AgPbZn/CuBiMo geochemical zoning is proposed. The value range of this indicator makes it possible to estimate the erosion level of the porphyry–epithermal system. The erosion level of the Baimka deposits and prospects deepens in the following order: Vesenny deposit → Pryamoi prospect → Nakhodka prospect → Peschanka deposit → III Vesenny prospect.     

Unusual acid melts in the area of the unique Rosia Montana gold deposit, Apuseni Mountains, Romania: Evidence from inclusions in quartz

Crystalline and melt inclusions were studied in large (up to 2 cm across) dipyramidal quartz phenocrysts from Miocene dacites in the area of the Rosia Montana Au-Ag deposit in Romania. Data were obtained on the homogenization of fluid inclusions and the composition of crystalline inclusions and glasses in more than 40 melt inclusions, which were analyzed on a electron microprobe. The minerals identified in the crystalline inclusions are plagioclase (An 51–62), orthoclase, micas (biotite and phengite), zircon, magnetite (TiO₂ = 2.8 wt %), and Fe sulfide. Two types of the melts were distinguished when studying the glasses of the melt inclusions. Type 1 of the melts is unusual in composition. The average composition of 20 inclusions is as follows (wt %): 76.1 SiO₂, 0.39 TiO₂, 6.23 Al₂O₃, 4.61 FeO, 0.09 MnO, 1.64 MgO, 3.04 CaO, 2.79 Na₂O, 3.79 K₂O (Na₂O/K₂O = 0.74), 0.07 P₂O₅, 0.02 Cl. The composition of type 2 of the melts is typical of acid magmas. The average of 23 inclusion analyses is (wt %) 79.3 SiO₂, 0.16 TiO₂, 10.27 Al₂O₃, 0.63 FeO, 0.08 MnO, 0.29 MgO, 1.83 CaO, 3.56 Na₂O, 2.79 K₂O (Na₂O/K₂O = 1.28), 0.08 P₂O₅, 0.05 Cl. The compositions of these melts significantly differ in concentrations of Ti, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, and K. The high analytical totals of the analyses (close to 100 wt %, more specifically 98.9 and 99.0 wt %, respectively) testify that the melts were generally poor in water. Two inclusions of type 1 and two inclusions of type 2 were analyzed on an ion probe, and their analyses show remarkable differences in the concentrations of certain trace elements. These concentrations (in ppm) are for the melts of types 1 and 2, respectively, as follows: 10.0 and 0.69 for Be, 29.3 and 5.7 for B, 6.4 and 1.4 for Cr, 146 and 6.9 for V, 74 and 18 for Cu, 92 and 29 for Rb, 45 and 15 for Zr, 1.7 and 0.6 for Hf, 10.3 and 2.3 for Pb, and 52 and 1.3 for U. The Th/U ratio of these two melt types are also notably different: 0.04 and 0.19 for type 1 and 2.0 and 2.9 for type 2. These data led us to conclude that the magmatic melts were derived from two different sources. Our data on the melts of type 1 testify that the magmatic chamber was contaminated with compositionally unusual crustal rocks (perhaps, sedimentary, metamorphic, or hydrothermal rocks enriched in Si, Fe, Mg, U, and some other components). This can explain the ore-forming specifics of magmatic chambers in the area.     

Fahlore and Sphalerite from the Darasun Gold Deposit in the Eastern Transbaikal Region,Russia: II. Fe and Zn Partitioning,Fluid Inclusions,and Formation Conditions

The partitioning of Fe and Zn between coexisting fahlore and sphalerite and fluid inclusions in sphalerite from the Darasun gold deposit have been studied. These data were used to estimate the formation temperature of the minerals by the sphalerite–fahlore geothermometer. The calculated crystallization temperature of 175–355°С is close to the homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions in sphalerite of 225–385°С.The estimated pressure for fluid inclusion trapping ranged from 340 to 1420 bar. The sulfur fugacity obtained from the FeS content in sphalerite associated with pyrite and the calculated temperature ranges from 10^–5.5 to 10^–11 bar.     

Golʼtsovoe Ag–Pb–Zn Deposit (Northeastern Russia): Geological Setting,Mineralogy, Geochemistry,and Ore Formation Conditions

Geology of Ore Deposits - The Gol’tsovoe Ag–Pb–Zn-deposit (1600 t silver in ores with an average grade of 1025 g/t Ag) is located on the southeastern flank of the Dukat mining...