The Engineer Mine,British Columbia: An example of epithermal Au-Ag mineralization with mixed alkaline and subalkaline characteristics

The Engineer Mine epithermal precious metal deposit in British Columbia, Canada, is related to Eocene Sloko-Skukum-Group (SSG) volcanism and, according to previous studies, contains roscoelite in intimate association with electrum. Roscoelite, a vanadian mica, is considered characteristic of low-sulfidation epithermal deposits related to alkaline magmatism. This contradicts the fact that the SSG volcanics are subalkaline. In order to address this ambiguity and to accurately classify the style of epithermal mineralization at the Engineer Mine we conducted detailed petrographic, mineralogical, geochronological, fluid inclusion, and stable isotope studies.The principal ore assemblage of the Engineer Mine epithermal veins precipitated in response to boiling during a hydrothermal event at 49.90 Ma ± 0.25 Ma. During this event electrum, arsenopyrite, pyrite ± chalcopyrite ± sphalerite ± löllingite ± tetrahedrite-group phases ± allargentum ± acanthite ± hessite ± dyscrasite ± stibarsen ± galena and an unidentified Ag-rich phase were deposited in conjunction with amorphous silica, platy and rhombic calcite, K-feldspar, and vanadian illite. Fluid inclusion and stable isotope data suggest that the ore-forming fluid was boiling at ∼220 °C during vein mineralization and had an isotopic composition derived from local meteoric water. Based on these results the Engineer Mine is classified as an epithermal low-sulfidation deposit, which shares similarities with alkaline and subalkaline epithermal low-sulfidation deposits. This is attributed to the fact that the SSG volcanic rocks are borderline subalkaline to alkaline in character and that the sedimentary host rocks are vanadium-bearing. These sedimentary rocks contributed the bulk of the vanadium to the Engineer Mine epithermal system. The presence of roscoelite at the Engineer Mine could not be confirmed during this study. The mica referred to as roscoelite in previous publications instead is vanadian illite. To our knowledge the only alkaline low-sulfidation epithermal precious metal deposit that contains V-mica which exclusively qualifies as true roscoelite is the Porgera deposit, Papua New Guinea.     

Au-Pb compounds in nature: A general overview and new evidence from the Inagli Pt–Au placer deposit,the Aldan Shield,Russia

This study presents a new and first finding of Au-Pb intermetallic compounds in the Inagli Pt–Au placer deposit, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russia. This is the first time that all three accepted minerals (hunchunite, anyuiite and novodneprite), as well as unnamed Au-Pb intermetallics, corresponding in composition to Au_1.5Pb and AuPb, are present together in the same locality. We provide chemical compositions of Au-Pb compounds and host gold particles, describe morphology and relationships between different mineral phases. We also present an unexpected finding of unusual inclusion of Pb-Fe-aluminosilicate associated with K-feldspar and anyuiite in the gold grain. The new data together with data from other occurrences of Au-Pb compounds worldwide were reviewed to discuss type localities, mineralogy, conditions and possible mechanisms of formation of Au-Pb intermetallics and to provide an overview of current knowledge about these uniquely rare but naturally occurring minerals.     

Current impact of mining alkaline rocks on Save River water quality in Zimbabwe

Alkaline rocks (phosphate deposits in particular) of igneous origin are currently being mined in Zimbabwe. Exploitation of these deposits, which are associated with metals and non-metals, provides a potential for changing the river water quality in the surrounding areas by increasing metal and phosphates levels in the water, thereby endangering the beneficial use of the river. The aim and objectives of this paper are to enumerate the current impacts associated with mining alkaline rocks on Save River water quality in Zimbabwe using the Dorowa mine as a case study. Though there are several impacts associated with the mining of alkaline rocks, this paper deals only with impacts on water quality.A preliminary assessment of the water quality in the Save River downstream of the Dorowa phosphate mine showed an increase in conductivity, iron content, manganese content, nitrates and hardness when compared to those taken before mining activity began. However, there was no notable increase in phosphate and metals except for Fe and Mn. A plausible explanation for the low phosphate values in the water is that the phosphates are precipitating and settling as sediments. Phosphate is known to effectively remove metals from the surface water through the formation of metal–phosphate minerals. Thus, various pollutants may be adsorbed into sediments accumulated on the bottom of the river. These sediments may accumulate pollutants over long periods and act as new pollutant sources to the overlying water when phosphate desorbs from sediments due to changes in water conditions. Therefore, the sediments can act as a source of water pollution in the future.     

云南维西格坡洛斑岩型锑矿矿床成因

锑矿化集中于喜马拉雅期石英斑岩内接触带,存在矿源层形成、充分分异及近地表成矿三个阶段。可作为滇西碱性岩锡矿床典型。     

Petrogenesis of extension-related alkaline volcanism in Karaburhan (Sivrihisar–Eskisehir), NW Anatolia, Turkey

Alkaline lavas were erupted as phonolites and trachytes around Karaburhan (Sivrihisar–Eskisehir, NW Anatolia) within the Izmir–Ankara–Erzincan suture zone. These volcanic rocks were emplaced as domes, close and parallel to the ophiolite thrust line. According to ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronological analyses of sanidine crystals from the phonolites, the age of the alkaline volcanics is 25 Ma (Late Oligocene–Early Miocene).The flow-textured phonolites are porphyritic and consist mainly of sanidine, clinopyroxene, and feldspathoid crystals. The clinopyroxenes show compositional zoning, with aegirine (Na_0.82–0.96Fe⁺³_0.68–0.83) rims and aegirine–augite cores (containing calcium, magnesium, and Fe⁺²). Some aegirine–augites are replaced with sodium-, calcium-, and magnesium-rich amphibole (hastingsite). Feldspathoid (hauyne) crystals enriched with elemental Na and Ca have been almost completely altered to zeolite and carbonate minerals. The fine-grained trachytes with a trachytic texture consist of feldspar (oligoclase and sanidine) phenocrystals and clinopyroxene microphenocrystals within a groundmass made up largely of alkali feldspar microlites.Although there are some differences in their element patterns, the phonolites and trachytes exhibit enrichment in LILEs (Sr, K, Rb, Ba, Th) and LREEs (La, Ce, Pr, Nd) and negative anomalies in Nb and Ta. These geochemical characteristics indicate a lithospheric mantle enriched by fluids extracted from the subduction component. In addition, the high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.706358–0.708052) and low ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.512546–0.512646) isotope concentrations of the alkaline lavas reflect a mantle source that has undergone metasomatism by subduction-derived fluids. Petrogenetic modeling indicates that the alkaline lavas generated from the subduction-modified lithospheric mantle have undergone assimilation, fractional crystallization, and crustal contamination, acquiring high Pb, Ba, Rb, and Sr contents and Pb isotopic compositions during their ascent through the thickened crust in an extensional setting.     

Microscopy and rock magnetism of fine grain-size titanomagnetite from the Jacupiranga Alkaline Complex,Brazil: unearthing Ti-magnesioferrite nanoparticles

Very fine samples from the mineralized zones of the Jacupiranga complex at the Cajati mine were selected for crystallographic identification of Ti-magnesioferrite (TMf) nanostructures embedded in titanomagnetite (TM) using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A magnetic concentrate obtained of pyroxenite samples (sites 4 to 7) was reduced and divided into fractions of distinct range sizes: 26±2 μm, 19±1 μm, 13±1 μm, 9±1 μm, 6±1 μm and 6-0.1 μm. The mineralized samples of carbonatite and pyroxenite were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmitted and reflected light microscope, and scanning electron microscope with multielemental analysis. The finest magnetic concentrate sample (MC₆) was analyzed under high-resolution transmitted electron microscopy (TEM) and high angle annular dark field and Raman spectroscopy. Magnetic properties were measured for the distinct granulometric fractions, showing drastic changes when grain sizes go beyond the frontier from micro to nanometer sizes. Frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility percentage (÷_fd%) report higher values (10.2%) for the finer fractions (6±1 μm and 6-0.1 μm) attributed to dominant fractions of superparamagnetic particles. Nanometer and < 6 μm grain size TMf in TM particles require a magnetic field up to 249 mT to reach saturation during the isothermal remanent magnetization experiment. Coercivity and remanent magnetization of these samples increase when the particle size decreases, probably due to parallel coupling effects. Magnetic susceptibility versus temperature experiments were conducted two times on the same (< 35 nm) sample, showing that the repetition during the second heating is probably due to the formation of new TMf nanoparticles and growth of those already present during the first heating process.     

扬子地块北缘周庵超镁铁质岩体矿物学特征及其对铜镍矿化的启示

扬子地块北缘~635 Ma周庵超镁铁质岩体是一个新发现的含铜镍硫化物矿化的隐伏岩体,主要由二辉橄榄岩组成。文章通过研究周庵岩体中橄榄石、铬铁矿和辉石的矿物成分变化探讨了岩浆演化过程和含矿岩体成因。根据岩石的矿物组合和蚀变程度,岩体从上到下分为3个部分:上部绿泥石-蛇纹石化二辉橄榄岩相带、中部二辉橄榄岩相带和下部绿泥石-角闪石化二辉橄榄岩相带。根据岩体中部带橄榄石和铬铁矿的成分,计算得到母岩浆的Mg^#值为0.63,MgO/FeO摩尔比值为1.72,w(Al₂O₃)为10.2%~11.7%,w(Ni)为476×10^-6,说明其为高镁玄武质岩浆;岩体中部带原生铬铁矿和粒间相铬铁矿核部的Cr₂O₃和Al₂O₃呈正相关关系,说明铬铁矿与粒间硅酸盐熔体发生了平衡交换,铬铁矿的高w(TiO₂) 和Cr^#值与拉张环境中层状岩体的铬铁矿特征一致;根据辉石温压计得到岩体中部单斜辉石和斜方辉石的共结温度为1 017~1 077℃,压力为(3.6~4.5)×10⁸ Pa,暗示形成岩体的浅部岩浆房深度约为12 km。岩体上部和中部带的橄榄石Fo值大部分集中在80 mol%~85 mol%,w(Ni)介于2 255×10^-6~4 455×10^-6,说明这些橄榄石是从没有经过强烈分离结晶和硫化物熔离的岩浆中结晶出来的。岩体下部带橄榄石的Fo值(67 mol%~68 mol%)和w(Ni) (1 500×10^-6~2 000×10^-6)都低于岩体上部和中部带的橄榄石相应值,说明岩体下部带的橄榄石可能形成于演化程度较高、并经历了硫化物熔离的岩浆。因此,笔者认为周庵岩体是由相对原始的和演化了的高镁玄武质岩浆两期侵位形成的。     

西藏普兰超镁铁岩体东部铬尖晶石矿物学特征及其地质意义

尖晶石是地幔橄榄岩中一种非常重要的矿物,虽然含量很低,却可以作为其寄主岩石——地幔橄榄岩——的成因指示剂.普兰岩体东部铬尖晶石分布广泛,几乎在所有岩石类型中都有出现.通过矿物学特征的研究,认为尖晶石可分为两类,一类较自形,颜色较深;另一类多呈不规则状和蠕虫状,颜色较浅.根据其化学特征,又可分为富铬型的尖晶石(Cr#＞60)和富铝型的尖晶石(Cr#＜60),富铬型尖晶石主要出现在纯橄岩、蛇纹岩和辉石岩中,富铝型尖晶石主要出现在二辉橄榄岩中.其中,方辉橄榄岩中的尖晶石形态、化学成分变化比较大,说明它经历了较为复杂的形成和变化过程.通过对尖晶石矿物学和化学特征的综合研究,认为该区尖晶石具有深海橄榄岩和上部俯冲板片(SSZ)构造环境橄榄岩特征,普兰岩体可能先后经历了MOR和SSZ两种构造环境.     

Elemental mobility in subduction metamorphism: insight from metamorphic rocks of the Franciscan Complex and the Feather River ultramafic belt,California

The degree of element mobility in subduction metamorphism has generated much debate; some workers advocate considerable mobility during metamorphism, whereas others postulate minimal mobility. We assess this issue by examination of major and trace element concentrations and Pb-, Nd-isotopic data for 39 mafic metavolcanic rocks from the Franciscan subduction complex, related units of coastal California, and the Feather River ultramafic belt of the northern Sierra Nevada, California; these samples span a wide range of metamorphic grade. We conclude that these rocks, despite their metamorphism up to eclogite facies, preserve protolith major and trace elemental compositions and isotopic ratios, with the exception of some mobile large ion lithophile elements such as Ba, Pb, and to a smaller extent La, U, and Sr. Thus subduction metamorphism of these metabasalts occurred in a largely closed system. Lack of light rare earth element enrichment in the rocks demonstrates lack of chemical exchange with subducted metasediments. Relatively low SiO₂ content (<48 wt.%) of many of the metamorphic rocks and the lack of correspondence between silica depletion and metamorphic grade suggests that the silica depletion resulted from seafloor hydrothermal alteration before subduction. In spite of demonstrated mobility of Pb, and possible mobility of Nd, isotopic ratios of Pb and Nd were not modified during subduction metamorphism. In contrast to our results from metabasaltic rocks, our analysis of actinolite-rich rinds from high-grade Franciscan mélange blocks suggests some chemical exchange between metachert and the overlying mantle. The increasing enrichment in Ba and Pb with increasing metamorphic grade suggests that Ba- and Pb-rich fluids interacted more intensely with metabasalt at the higher grades of metamorphism. Comparison of these results with studies of the active Mariana forearc suggests that fluids interacting with the mantle wedge up-dip of the region of magma genesis are derived from subducting sediments overlying the down-going plate.     

Geochronologic-petrochemical studies of the Hongshishan mafic–ultramafic intrusion,Beishan area,Xinjiang (NW China): petrogenesis and tectonic implications

The Hongshishan mafic–ultramafic intrusion (SIMS zircon U–Pb age 286.4 ± 2.8 Ma) consists of dunite, clinopyroxene peridotite, troctolite, and gabbro. Major elements display systematic correlations. Trace elements have identical distribution patterns, including flat rare-earth element (REE) patterns with positive Eu anomalies and enrichments in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) but depletions in Nb and Ta, indicating fractional crystallization as a key factor in magmatic evolution. Petrologic and geochemical variations in drill core samples demonstrate that minor assimilation and progressive magma injections were closely associated with Ni–Cu mineralization. Mass balance estimates and Sr–Nd isotopes reveal that the Hongshishan parental magmas were high-Mg and low-Ti tholeiitic basalts and were derived from a lithospheric mantle source that had been modified by subducted slab metasomatism before partial melting.

Southward subduction of the Palaeo-Tianshan–Junggar Ocean is further constrained by a compilation of inferred, subduction-induced modifications of mantle sources in mafic–ultramafic intrusions distributed in the eastern Tianshan–Beishan area. Integrating the regional positive ?_Nd(t) granites, high-Mg and low-Ti basaltic magmas (mafic–ultramafic intrusions), and slightly later high-Ti basalts in NW China suggests that their petrogenesis could be attributed to Permian mantle plume activities.