The “El Pilote” fluorite skarn: A crucial deposit in the understanding and interpretation of the origin and mobilization of F from northern Mexico deposits

Fluorite deposits are widespread in northern Mexico and those deposits have traditionally been categorized as exclusively hydrothermal–magmatic in origin. Recently, two different fluorite-bearing type models have been proposed for the Northern Mexican deposits: (1) MVT-like deposits formed from basinal brines mobilized during the Laramide Orogeny (La Encantada deposit, Gonzalez-Partida et al., [Gonzalez-Partida, E., Carrillo-Chavez, A., Grimmer, J.O.W., Pironon, J., 2002. Petroleum-rich fluid inclusions in fluorite, Purisima mine, Coahuila, Mexico. International Geological Review 44 (8), 751–763.]; Tritlla et al., [Tritlla, J., Gonzalez-Partida, E., Levresse, G., Banks, D., Pironon, J., 2004. Fluorite deposits at Encantada-Buenavista, Mexico: products of Mississippi Valley type processes — a reply. Ore Geology Reviews 25, 329–332.]); and (2) fluorite-bearing skarns in close contact with rhyolite intrusives (Levinson, [Levinson, A.A., 1962. Beryllium–fluorine mineralization at Aguachile Mountain, Coahuila, Mexico. American Mineralogist 47, 67–75.]). The El Pilote fluorite deposit falls into the second category, and is the only known example of a magmatic-related fluorite deposit in the area. The fluorite trace-element patterns from both the El Pilote skarn and La Encantada MVT deposits display comparable and very low relative abundances as well as comparable chondrite-normalized REE patterns; this would suggest that the skarn F-source comes from the remobilization of a MVT fluorite manto.     

The Paleoproterozoic carbonate-hosted Pering Zn–Pb deposit, South Africa: I. Styles of brecciation and mineralization

The Pering deposit on the Ghaap Plateau, Northwestern Province, South Africa, was the largest of several Zn–Pb occurrences hosted by Neoarchean platform dolostones of the Transvaal Supergroup. With a Paleoproterozoic mineralization age, these occurrences are widely regarded as the oldest representatives of Mississippi Valley-type Pb–Zn deposits. Hosting an initial resource of 18 Mt at an average grade of 3.6 wt% Zn and 0.6 wt% Pb, the Pering deposit was mined from 1984 until its final closure at the end of November 2002. In this study, available geological and grade distribution maps were evaluated and complemented by the examination of mining-related outcrops, drill core, and a large set of ore and host rock samples. Four different styles of brecciation can be distinguished at the Pering deposit: (1) pyritic rock matrix breccia; (2) chemical wear breccia; (3) mosaic breccia; and (4) crackle breccia. Geological and mineral paragenetic observations on these different breccia types suggest that the formation of the Pering deposit commenced with an initial stage of hydrothermal karstification. Large volumes of pyritic rock matrix breccia formed by wall rock collapsing into the open space attributed to carbonate dissolution. This stage of hydrothermal karstification acted as ground preparation for the subsequent mineralization event. By the upward advance of the hydrothermal karstification process, fluid reservoirs in the previously undisturbed dolostone host rock succession were tapped, ultimately leading to fluid mixing. Hydrothermal sulphides are the most abundant where fluid mixing was most effective, i.e. along the outer and upper margins of the breccia bodies, and in stratabound zones along permeable host rock units. Chemical wear brecciation and formation of large volumes of fine-grained replacive sphalerite mineralization mark the early stage of hydrothermal Zn–Pb mineralization associated with this fluid mixing. The fine-grained stage of sulphide mineralization was succeeded by very coarse-grained open-space-infill mineralization. The latter is very uniform across the entire deposit and typically cements mosaic and crackle breccia, but also fills remaining open space within chemical wear brecciated portions of the deposit.     

西昆仑地区塔木MVT型铅锌矿床成矿作用和成矿物质来源探讨

MVT型铅锌矿是西昆仑地区重要的铅锌矿床类型之一.为了探明西昆仑地区该类型矿床的成矿作用过程和成矿物质来源,本文以塔木矿床为例,在野外调研基础上,进行了光片鉴定、铅硫同位素、稀士元素和成矿元素研究,得到矿石中方铅矿的δ34SCDT为-5.04‰～+3.67‰,反映出油田卤水与深层卤水的混合特征;由铅同位素分析结果计算出表面年龄为461～481 Ma(早于泥盆纪438～410 Ma);由稀土元素分析数据得出岩(矿)石/球粒陨石标准化分配模式图表明,成矿物质主要来自地层.因而判定主要成矿物质可能来源于前泥盆系地层.喜马拉雅期逆冲推覆构造作用所引发的大规模热卤水运移、循环过程,导致矿质的进一步富集、沉淀.     

Hydrothermal Dolomite: A Review and PerspectiveEI北大核心CSCD

Hydrothermal dolomite commonly closely associates with oil-gas reservoirs and sediment-hosted Pb-Zn deposits, the Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) Pb-Zn deposits in particular. Host rocks of MVT deposits usually experienced extensive dolomitization, and indeed, hydrothermal dolomite is considered as a useful prospective indicator for MVT mineralization. However, genetic link between the hydrothermal dolomitization and MVT Pb-Zn mineralization is a matter of debate. This paper briefly reviewed the nomenclature and research history of hydrothermal dolomite, introduced the major geological, geochemical characteristics, and distribution of hydrothermal dolomite, spatial and possibly genetic relationship between hdyrothermal dolomite and hdyrothermal ore deposits and oil-gas reservoirs based on case studies including the occurrence of hydrothermal dolomites in MVT deposits in Southwest China. The temporal and genetic relationships between dolomitizaiton and thermal sulfate reduction, sulfide precipitation and thus the location of ore mineralization well worthy more attention, and comprehensive geological and isotope geochemical and state of art in situ techniques will contribute to understanding of the genesis of hydrotherml dolomite and the spatially related ore deposits and oil-gas reservoirs. © 2018, Science Press. All right reserved.     

甘肃代家庄铅锌矿的地质特征与找矿意义

位于甘肃宕昌县的代家庄矿床曾被认为是西成矿田铅锌找矿的重大进展,矿床产于秦岭西成盆地西北端泥盆系浅海相的富含生物化石的细碎屑岩—灰岩中。矿体不规则受NW向断裂的控制,呈角砾状分布于下部碎屑岩与上部厚层灰岩界面附近灰岩一侧。矿石的矿物共生组合为闪锌矿 方铅矿 少量黄铁矿 少量白铁矿 方解石,不含石英。硫化物发育大量的胶状、球粒状、草霉状微晶结构,部分显现出微生物化石结构特点。对代家庄与西成主要类型铅锌矿床地质地球化学特征的对比发现,二者在容矿围岩沉积环境、矿石形态、结构构造以及同位素地球化学等多方面存在明显的差异,代家庄矿床成因属于碳酸盐岩容矿的低温热液矿床,不同于西成矿田的主要SEDEX类型。主要控矿因素为灰岩—碎屑界面附近、NW向断裂等。     

MVT矿床中与成矿有关热液方解石的地球化学判据——以青海多才玛超大型铅锌矿床为例

碳酸盐矿物是MVT型铅锌矿床最为常见的热液蚀变矿物,记录了成矿流体特征,其元素或同位素组成对示踪和定位矿体具有一定的指示意义,但由于该类矿床中碳酸盐矿物成因多样,单一的岩相学观察往往难以准确识别与成矿有关和无关的方解石,需要辅以地球化学手段来确定方解石成因。本文利用钻孔编录、岩相学观察、C-O-Sr同位素和原位微量与稀土元素组成分析等手段,探讨了青海多才玛超大型MVT铅锌矿床中与成矿有关和无关两期方解石的矿物化学特征。结果表明,多才玛矿床成矿前方解石(Cal1)空间上与矿体无相关关系,遍布于中二叠统九十道班组灰岩内,阴极发光呈暗棕色至棕黄色,无明显生长环带;成矿期方解石(Cal2)主要产于铅锌矿体内及其上盘围岩中,多呈砂糖粒状-皮壳状充填于围岩裂隙和溶孔内,阴极发光呈暗黄色至亮橙色,常发育生长环带。相对于Cal2, Cal1与围岩的C-O-Sr同位素组成更为接近,这表明水岩反应期间,Cal1组成受围岩影响更大,Cal2组成受影响更小;相比于Cal1,Cal2具有较高的Mn、Fe、Zn、Pb含量和U/Th、V/Cr值以及较低的LREE/HREE值、Mg、Sr含量和弱的Ce负异常,指示成矿...     

3D Modeling and Determination of Factors Responsible for Zinc-Lead Mineralization in the Mehdiabad Deposit, Central Iran, based on Statistical Analysis of Geochemical Data

Although the Mehdiabad zinc-lead deposit is one of the most well-known deposits in the central Iran structural zone, the genesis of the deposit remains controversial. The host rock of the ore is a dolomitic limestone of the Lower Cretaceous Taft Formation. In the two main orebodies of the deposit, which includes the Black Hill and East Ridge ore zones, the oxide and sulfide ores are observed at the surface and at depth, respectively. The elements Zn, Fe, Mn and Mg are more abundant in the East Ridge ore zone (in both sulfide and oxide ores), with Ba, Pb, Ag and Cu being more abundant in the Black Hill oxide ore. Based on the distribution of elements and their correlation with each other in these ore zones, the elements are divided into three general groups, that of terrigenous elements, chemically-deposited elements and ore-forming (hydrothermally deposited) elements, a division that is supported by the results of factor analyses. The spatial distribution of elements is jointly affected by contact with host rocks, the boundary of oxide-sulfide ores and fault zones. The main factors governing the distribution of elements are the mechanical transfer of detrital sediments, chemical sedimentation, transfer by hydrothermal fluids, oxidation and surface dissolution, all of which affected the spatial distribution of elements. The ore-forming elements are mostly affected by hydrothermal fluids and oxidation. This study not only provides additional information about the genesis of the Mehdiabad deposit, but also could assist in the exploitation of ore and further exploration purposes. The results of this study can aid in the exploration and exploitation of the Mehdiabad deposit and similar deposits in the region.     

Regional stratigraphy and distribution of epigenetic stratabound celestine, fluorite, barite and Pb–Zn deposits in the MVT province of northeastern Mexico

Northeastern Mexico hosts numerous epigenetic stratabound carbonate-hosted low-temperature hydrothermal deposits of celestine, fluorite, barite and zinc-lead, which formed by replacement of Mesozoic evaporites or carbonate rocks. Such deposits can be permissively catalogued as Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits. The deposits studied in the state of Coahuila are associated with granitic and metasedimentary basement highs (horsts) marginal or central to the Mesozoic Sabinas Basin. These horsts controlled the stratigraphy of the Mesozoic basins and subsequently influenced the Laramide structural pattern. The Sabinas Basin consists of ~6,000-m-thick Jurassic to Cretaceous siliciclastic, carbonate and evaporitic series. The MVT deposits are mostly in Barremian and in Aptian-Albian to Cenomanian formations and likely formed from basinal brines that were mobilized during the Laramide orogeny, although earlier diagenetic replacement of evaporite layers (barite and celestine deposits) and lining of paleokarstic cavities in reef carbonates (Zn–Pb deposits) is observed. Fluid inclusion microthermometry and isotopic studies suggest ore formation due to mixing of basinal brines and meteoric water. Homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions range from 45°C to 210°C; salinities range from 0 to 26 wt.% NaCl equiv., and some inclusions contain hydrocarbons or bitumen. Sulfur isotope data suggest that most of the sulfur in barite and celestine is derived from Barremian to Cenomanian evaporites. Regional geology and a compilation of metallogenic features define the new MVT province of northeastern Mexico, which comprises most of the state of Coahuila and portions of the neighboring states of Nuevo León, Durango and, perhaps extends into Zacatecas and southern Texas. This province exhibits a regional metal zonation, with celestine deposits to the south, fluorite deposits to the north and barite and Zn–Pb deposits mostly in the central part.     

云南荒田大型铅锌矿床的成因:流体包裹体和C- H- O- S- Pb同位素地球化学约束

荒田铅锌矿位于扬子板块西南缘,与华夏地块和三江地块相接,属峨眉山大火成岩省的南延部分,川-滇-黔铅锌银多金属成矿域的南部。矿体赋存于上二叠统峨眉山玄武岩底部与下二叠统茅口组接触面上及其附近的玄武质-灰质角砾岩层中。本文应用流体包裹体和C-H-O-S-Pb同位素地球化学研究手段,来探讨荒田铅锌矿的成因。流体包裹体分析表明,成矿流体性质具有阶段性演化特征,早期硫化物阶段(阶段Ⅰ)出现含子矿物包裹体、CO_2包裹体和H_2O包裹体的组合发育特征,均一温度介于245～320℃,平均为270℃;到中期硫化物阶段(阶段Ⅱ)和晚期硫化物阶段(阶段Ⅲ)则逐渐变为以H_2O包裹体为主要类型,均一温度分别介于180～250℃和100～210℃,平均为224℃和174℃。随着成矿作用的进行,成矿流体的均一温度和盐度均表现出从早阶段到晚阶段逐渐降低的趋势。显微激光拉曼光谱分析显示流体包裹体的液相成分主要为H_2O,气相成分为H_2O、CO_2、CH_4以及N_2。碳、氧同位素组成(δ~(13)C_(PDB)值介于-8.54‰～3.76‰,δ~(18)O_(SMOW)值介于8.57‰～24.22‰)在δ~(18)O-δ~(13)C图上分布于原生碳酸岩和海相碳酸盐岩之间,指示CO_2可能来自地幔、海相沉积碳酸盐岩溶解和沉积物中有机质的脱羟基作用。氢氧同位素组成(δD值介于-97.4‰～-71.4‰,δ~(18)O_水值介于-4.6‰～8.0‰)在δD-δ~(18)O图上落在岩浆水和大气降水的过渡带上,推测热液流体运移过程中与顺层下渗的大气降水流体混合,期间可能有海水的加入。矿石硫化物的δ~(34)S值介于-5.5‰～10.3‰,指示矿化剂硫具有多种来源,除了直接来自玄武岩外,还来自古海水硫酸盐和碳酸盐岩地层,硫酸盐通过热化学还原(TSR)过程发生还原作用。矿石硫化物铅的~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb、~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb和~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb比值分别为38.320～39.365、15.603～15.860和18.136～18.786,数据分布呈线性趋势,几乎所有点均落在地壳铅平均演化线以上,且位于峨眉山组玄武岩、碳酸盐岩地层和基底岩石的Pb同位素组成范围之内,说明成矿物质具有多源性,铅同位素在成矿之前存在均一化过程。结合成矿物质和成矿流体来源,以及区域成矿地球动力学背景,认为荒田铅锌矿属于密西西比河谷型(MVT)叠加岩浆热液改造型矿床。     

Mineral-Potential Mapping for MVT Deposits with Limited Data Sets Using Landsat Data and Geological Evidence in the Borden Basin, Northern Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada

Posterior probabilities of occurrence for Zn-Pb Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) mineralization were calculated based on evidence maps derived from regional geology, Landsat-TM, RADARSAT-1, a digital elevation model and aeromagnetic data sets in the Borden Basin of northern Baffin Island, Canada. The vector representation of geological contacts and fault traces were refined according to their characteristics identified in Landsat-TM, RADARSAT-1, DEM, slope, aspect, and shaded relief data layers. Within the study area, there is an association between the occurrence of MVT mineralization and proximity to the contact of platformal carbonates and shale units of the adjacent geological formation. A spatial association also tends to exist between mineralization and proximity to E-W and NW-SE trending faults. The relationships of known MVT occurrences with the geological features were investigated by spatial statistical techniques to generate evidence maps. Supervised classification and filtering were applied to Landsat-TM data to divide the Society Cliffs Formation into major stratigraphic subunits. Because iron oxides have been observed at some of the MVT occurrences within the Borden Basin, Landsat-TM data band ratio (3/1) was calculated to highlight the potential presence of iron-oxides as another evidence map. Processed Landsat-TM data and other derived geological evidence maps provided useful indicators for identifying areas of potential MVT mineralization. Weights of evidence and logistic regression were used independently to integrate and generate posterior probability maps showing areas of potential mineralization based on all derived evidence maps. Results indicate that in spite of the lack of important data sets such as stream or lake sediment geochemistry, Landsat-TM data and regional geological data can be useful for MVT mineral-potential mapping.