Changes in antimony isotopic composition as a tracer of hydrothermal fluid evolution at the Sb deposits in Pezinok (Slovakia)

In this work, we investigated in situ isotopic compositions of antimony (Sb) minerals from two substages of the ore deposits near Pezinok (Slovakia). The δ123Sb values of the primary Sb minerals range from −0.4 and +0.8‰ and increase progressively along the precipitation sequence. In the substage II, the early-formed gudmundite (FeSbS) shows in all sections the lowest δ123Sb values, followed by berthierite (FeSb2S4), stibnite (Sb2S3), and valentinite (Sb2O3) with the heaviest δ123Sb values. A similar trend was observed for the substage III, from the initially-formed stibnite, followed by kermesite (Sb2S2O), valentinite, senarmontite (both Sb2O3), and schafarzikite (FeSb2O4). The evolution can be rationalized by a Rayleigh fractionation model with a starting δ123Sb value in the fluid of +0.3‰, applying the same mineral-fluid fractionation factor to all minerals. Thus, the texturally observed order of mineralization is confirmed by diminishing trace element contents and heavier δ123Sb values in successively crystallized Sb minerals. Antimony in substage III was likely supplied from the oxidative dissolution of stibnite that formed earlier during substage II. The data interpretation, although limited by the lack of reliable mineral-fluid fractionation factors, implies that Sb precipitation within each substage occurred from an episodic metal precipitation, likely associated with a similar Sb isotope fractionation between fluid and all investigated Sb minerals. Large isotopic variations, induced by precipitation from a fluid as a response to temperature decrease, may be an obstacle in deciphering the metal source in hydrothermal ore deposits. However, Sb isotopes appear to be an excellent instrument to enhance our understanding on how hydrothermal systems operate

Detecting Oxides Mineralization Utilizing Remote Sensing and Comprehensive Mineralogical Analysis: A Case Study Around Mikbi-Zayatit District, South Eastern Desert, Egypt

Undoubtedly, involving more tools, datasets, and techniques for detecting the mineralized areas sharply narrow the zones to be investigated and delivered, in most cases highly potential zones. Consequently, this study is an attempt to apply remote sensing data including Sentinel 2 and ASTER, field observations, petrography of the hydrothermal alteration processes, ore microscopic investigations, X-ray examinations, and EDX analysis to detect and emphasize mineralization types at Wadi Mikbi and Wadi Zayatit district, South Eastern Desert, Egypt. Towards accurate lithological mapping, remote sensing data, previous geological maps, and the field investigations recorded serpentinites, ophiolitic metagabbros, amphibolites, epidosite, arc-related metasediments (schists and quartzites), metagabbro-tonalite complex, dunite, olivine gabbros, and granitic rocks encountered in the study district. Additionally, various hydrothermal alteration zones have been primarily outlined using ASTER and Sentinel 2 data by implementing informative band ratios and constrained energy minimization techniques. The mineralogical studies have confirmed most of the remotely-detected hydrothermal alteration minerals. Ore microscopy, XRD technique, and EDX microchemical analysis of representative mineralized samples of the study district identified magnetite, ilmenite, titanomagnetite, chromite, magnesioferrite, quartz, apatite, clinochlore, plagioclase, pyroxene and epidote. Cross-linking remote sensing results, field observations and laboratory studies revealed that the dominant hydrothermal alteration processes include oxidization, serpentinization, carbonatization, epidotization, silicification, zoisitization, muscovitization, sericitization, and chloritization. Spatial overlay analysis of the resultant altered features, structural dissection, field observations, and analytical studies were integrated to build a mineral potentiality map of the study district

Variation spatiale des conditions de circulation des fluides à l'origine de la minéralisation en or orogénique dans le segment Augmitto-Bouzan (sous-province de l'Abitibi, Québec, Canada)

Augmitto-Bouzan est un segment de 12 km de long à Rouyn-Noranda (Québec, Canada) de la zone de déformation Cadillac Larder-Lake (ZDCLL) caractérisé par une minéralisation aurifère inégalement distribuée, dans des veines de quartz-carbonate±tourmaline. L'étude compare les conditions de circulation passées des fluides entre les secteurs enrichis et pauvres en or afin d'identifier les processus responsables de l'enrichissement en or du segment. Les veines de quartz (δ¹⁸O: 11.3-16.8‰) tourmaline (δ¹⁸O: 8.5-11.9‰; δD: -59- -18‰) et carbonate (δ¹⁸O: 11.3-15‰; δ¹³C: -6.2- -2.8‰) sont principalement encaissées dans les roches ultramafiques-mafiques altérées du Groupe de Piché, reconnus comme étant l'expression physique de la ZDCLL. Le quartz et la tourmaline présentent des températures d'équilibre (228-420°C) qui définissent un gradient thermique vertical élevé (~30°C/100m) au sein du Groupe de Piché. La covariation entre la température et les valeurs δ¹⁸O[indice H2O] et δD[indice H2O] est interprétée comme représentant un mélange entre un fluide métamorphique profond de haute température (>420°C), haut δ¹⁸O[indice H2O] (>10.8‰) et bas δD (420°C), high δ¹⁸O (>10.8‰), and low δD (<-29‰) deep-seated metamorphic fluid, and a low temperature (<230°C), low δ¹⁸O (<4‰) and high δD (~0‰) upper crustal pore fluid. The higher δD[subscript H2O] (up to 43‰) values are likely associated with flash vaporization and condensation cycles related to fault-valve mechanisms in the veins. Local upwellings of deep-seated fluid, evidenced by interpolation of δ¹⁸O[subscript H2O], are observed in the Augmitto-Cinderella and Astoria blocks and were likely focused along deformation-related pathways of higher permeability. Sectors of low gold endowment have lower δ¹⁸O[subscript H2O] and fluid/rock ratios, likely reflecting a larger proportion of upper crustal fluid and fluid-flow changes. Modelling of fluid flow shows that the larger proportion of upper crustal fluid in the less endowed sectors is due to 1) the less abundant metamorphic fluid that flowed in the thinner band of Piché Group rocks and 2) the presence of more porous rocks north of the CLLDZ, from which a larger quantity of pore fluid was drawn into the fault. We suggest that most of the variation of gold endowment is related to the variation of the gold-bearing metamorphic fluid flow along the segment. Less abundant or diluted metamorphic fluid flow decreases the gold potential along the CLLDZ

Золото Фенноскандинавского щита

Сборник материалов Международной конференции охватывает широкий круг вопросов по различным проблемам золотоносности Фенноскандинавского щита. Приведена также новейшая информация по золоторудным объектам различных регионов России и некоторых стран ближнего зарубежья. Материалы конференции представляют интерес как для специалистов научных учреждений в области наук о Земле, так и для производственных организаций и фирм, а также для аспирантов и студентов геологических образовательных учреждений

Metallogenic Characteristics and Formation Mechanism of Naomugeng Clay-Type Lithium Deposit in Central Inner Mongolia, China

A newly discovered Naomugeng lithium mineralization area is located to the east of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The lithium is hosted in the volcanic rocks of the Manketou’ebo Formation. The altered volcanic rocks mainly consist of quartz, orthoclase, chlorite, montmorillonite, calcite, and dolomite. Here, we present integrated studies of petrography, mineralogy, and geochemistry of the altered volcanic rocks (with an average Li2O content of 0.43 wt.%) collected from the drilling hole and trail trench to systematically investigate the occurrence of lithium, the mineralizing processes, and the metallogenic mechanisms. The secondary minerals of the core samples are montmorillonite, chlorite calcite, and dolomite, while the secondary minerals from the earth surface ones are montmorillonite, chlorite, and calcite. The mass change calculation and isocon analysis show that the rocks received MnO, P2O5, Co, Ni, Cu, and Li and lost Na2O, K2O, MgO, rare earth elements (REE), and Rb in the alteration process. However, other elements such as Fe, V, Co, and Ca of the core samples increased while those of the earth surface ones did not change by much. Hence, there are two zones of alterations, i.e., the montmorillonization-chloritization zone and the montmorillonization-chloritization-carbonatization zone. Lithium enrichment occurs in the zone where montmorillonization and chloritization occur. The lithium is probably enriched in altered minerals such as montmorillonite and chlorite in the forms of interlayered or adsorbed ions. The slightly negative to positive Eu anomalies of the rocks can be explained by the metasomatism of hydrothermal fluid that enriched Eu. We suggest that the Naomugeng deposit is a clay-type lithium deposit and formed under a caldera setting. The meteoric and hydrothermal fluids leach the lithium from the volcanic materials and then alter the host rocks (e.g., tuff or sediments) in the caldera basin, which forms the type of lithium clay deposit. This study analyzed the migration behavior of elements in the Naomugeng lithium deposit during a hydrothermal process, which shows that the mass balance calculation has good application in reflecting the mineralization process of clay type deposit. This study also reveals the great exploration potential of the Naomugeng deposit and has important significance for further prospecting of clay-type lithium deposits in central Inner Mongolia