Fluid mixing as the mechanism of formation of the Dajing Cu-Sn-Ag-Pb-Zn ore deposit,Inner Mongolia ——Fluid inclusion and stable isotope evidence

Since the 1990s, interest in the magmatic fluids and their relation to mineralization has been re-aroused[1—6]. Studies on stable isotopes of low-sulfidation deposits commonly show the predominance of meteoric water[7]. Paradoxically, the evidence for me…

Fluid mixing as the mechanism of formation of the Dajing Cu-Sn-Ag-Pb-Zn ore deposit, Inner Mongolia--Fluid inclusion and stable isotope evidence

Dajing Cu-Sn-Ag-Pb-Zn ore deposit, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, is a fissure-filling hydrothermal ore deposit. The δD values of quartz-hosted inclusion water are centered at -100‰ - -130‰. Theδ34S values of sulfide ore minerals andδ13C values of carbonate gangue minerals vary from -0.3‰ to 2.6‰ and from -2.9‰ to -7.0‰, respectively. Integrated isotopic data point to two major contributions to the mineralizing fluid that include a dominant meteoric-derived groundwater, and sulfur and carbon species from hypogene magma. Linear trends are exhibited on the gaseous H2O versus CO2 plot, and plots of CO, N2, CH4, and C2H6. It is shown by quantitative simulation that magma degassing cannot explain the linear trends. Hence, these linear trends are interpreted in terms of mixing of CO2-rich magmatic fluid with meteoric-derived groundwater. The groundwater circulated in Paleozoic sedimentary rocks and absorbed CO, N2, CH4, C2H6 and radiogenic Ar from organic matter. Cooling effects resulting from mixing have caused the precipitation of ore minerals.