Regional oxygen isotope systematics of felsic volcanics; a potential exploration tool for volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits in the Iberian Pyrite Belt

Lerouge, Cathérine; Deschamps, Yves; Joubert, Marc; Béchu, E.; Fouillac, Anne‐Marie; Castro, J.A

doi:10.1016/s0375-6742(01)00161-3

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 36 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Whilst, lack of exposure of bedrock in the area prevented this hypothesis from being tested, the main mineralisation orientation is W-E at Tharsis and Ríotinto (Figs. 2 and 3;Carvalho 1998;Saez et al 1999;Lerouge et al 2001;Lunar et al 2002;Solomon et al 2004). If trace element concentrations were to reflect parent material, high values would be expected in W-E bands which is not the case (Figs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Parent materials at Tharsis and Ríotinto consist mostly of submarine felsic to mafic volcanic rocks intercalated with marine sediments (slate, quartzite, greywacke, limestone, chert) (Saez et al 1999;Lerouge et al 2001;Lunar et al 2002;Solomon et al 2004) of Middle Famennian-Upper Visean age (Oliveira 1983). These rocks host the sulphide mineralisation of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (Kase et al 1990;Saez et al 1999;Lerouge et al 2001;Lunar et al 2002;Solomon et al 2004). The sand-type geological formations of the Huelva area have been dated as Upper Miocene-Lower Pliocene (Muniz and Mayoral 2001).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Iberian Pyrite Belt is one of the largest massive sulphide deposits in the world (Flores Caballero 1981;Oliveira 1983;Kase et al 1990; Lerouge et al 2001;Lunar et al 2002;Solomon et al 2004). The most common type of mineralisation is the massive sulphide orebodies composed of 95% pyrite (FeS 2 ), chalcopyrite (CuFeS 2 ), sphalerite (ZnS), and accessory galena (PbS) and arsenopyrite (FeAsS), while a Cu-rich stockwork zone holds most of the remaining mineralisation (Kase et al 1990;Lerouge et al 2001;Lunar et al 2002;Solomon et al 2004).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most common type of mineralisation is the massive sulphide orebodies composed of 95% pyrite (FeS 2 ), chalcopyrite (CuFeS 2 ), sphalerite (ZnS), and accessory galena (PbS) and arsenopyrite (FeAsS), while a Cu-rich stockwork zone holds most of the remaining mineralisation (Kase et al 1990;Lerouge et al 2001;Lunar et al 2002;Solomon et al 2004). Therefore, mining and smelting of this ore has a potential for releasing As, Cu, Pb and Zn into the surrounding environment.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Distribution and Mobility of Trace Elements in Soils and Vegetation Around the Mining and Smelting Areas of Tharsis, Ríotinto and Huelva, Iberian Pyrite Belt, SW Spain

Chopin

Alloway

2007

Water Air Soil Pollut

143

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Trace elements may present an environmental hazard in the vicinity of mining and smelting activities. However, the factors controlling their distribution and transfer within the soil and vegetation systems are not always well defined. Total concentrations of up to 15,195 mg . kg -1 As, 6,690 mg . kg -1 Cu, 24,820 mg . kg -1 Pb and 9,810 mg . kg -1 Zn in soils, and 62 mg . kg -1 As, 1,765 mg . kg -1 Cu, 280 mg . kg -1 Pb and 3,460 mg . kg -1 Zn in vegetation were measured. However, unusually for smelters and mines of a similar size, the elevated trace element concentrations in soils were found to be restricted to the immediate vicinity of the mines and smelters (maximum 2-3 km). Parent material, prevailing wind direction, and soil physical and chemical characteristics were found to correlate poorly with the restricted trace element distributions in soils. Hypotheses are given for this unusual distribution: (1) the contaminated soils were removed by erosion or (2) mines and smelters released large heavy particles that could not have been transported long distances. Analyses of the accumulation of trace elements in vegetation (median ratios: As 0.06, Cu 0.19, Pb 0.54 and Zn 1.07) and the percentage of total trace elements being DTPA extractable in soils (median percentages: As 0.06%, Cu 15%, Pb 7% and Zn 4%) indicated higher relative trace element mobility in soils with low total concentrations than in soils with elevated concentrations.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Distribution and Mobility of Trace Elements in Soils and Vegetation Around the Mining and Smelting Areas of Tharsis, Ríotinto and Huelva, Iberian Pyrite Belt, SW Spain

Chopin

Alloway

2007

Water Air Soil Pollut

143

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Oliver et al (1998) advocated a 500 m zone of locally depleted whole-rock oxygen isotope values (δ 18 O = +6.4 to +9.3‰, relative to V-SMOW) within and adjacent to the Kanmantoo deposit that formed as a result of localized fluid flow derived from a crystallizing magma. However, Marshall and Spry (2000) suggested the isotopic anomaly could just as easily result from hydrothermal fluid flow related to the formation of massive sulfide deposits via syn-sedimentary hydrothermal exhalations (e.g., Nesbitt, 1996;Brauhart et al, 2000;Lerouge et al, 2001).…”

Section: Stable Isotopesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The origin of the sediment-hosted Kanmantoo Cu-Au deposit, South Australia: Mineralogical considerations

Pollock

Spry

Tott

et al. 2018

Ore Geology Reviews

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Multiply deformed sediments of the Cambrian Kanmantoo Group, which were metamorphosed to the amphibolite facies, host numerous Cu-Au, Fe-S, and Pb-Zn-Ag-(Cu-Au) deposits, of which the largest Cu-Au deposit is Kanmantoo (34.5 Mt @ 0.6% Cu and 0.1 g/t Au). Mineralization at Kanmantoo is characterized by discordant and pipe-like orebodies (Kavanagh and Emily Star) along with mineralization locally concordant to bedding (Nugent) that is spatially related to meta-exhalative rocks. Previous studies have suggested a syn-sedimentary origin for the Pb-Zn-Ag-(Cu-Au) and Fe-S deposits, whereas the Kanmantoo deposit remains controversial, with syn-sedimentary, metamorphogenic, and post-peak metamorphic models having being applied. The stratiform nature of some parts of the Nugent orebody, and disseminated sulfides locally concordant to bedding along with the recognition of a zone of chalcopyrite-magnetiterich rocks at the syn-sedimentary Wheal Ellen Pb-Zn-Ag-(Cu-Au) deposit, which shows a metallic mineral assemblage almost identical to the most common assemblage at Kanmantoo, supports a genetic link between the Pb-Zn-Ag-(Cu-Au) deposits and Cu-Au mineralization, and is consistent with a metamorphosed syn-sedimentary model for Cu-Au mineralization. The discordant nature of most orebodies at Kanmantoo is the result of the mineralization having formed as stockwork zones in sub-seafloor pipes. Varying degrees of remobilization were subsequently associated with syn-to post-peak metamorphism. Major and trace element compositions, coupled with principal component analyses, show that the compositions of garnet, biotite, staurolite, chlorite, muscovite, and magnetite in metamorphosed altered rocks spatially associated with sulfide mineralization at Kanmantoo can be distinguished from those, where present, in metamorphosed country rocks (i.e., metapsammites and metapelites). Garnet, chlorite, biotite, and muscovite in quartz garnetite within quartz mica schist associated with the Nugent orebody are elevated in Mn (up to 19.5 wt% MnOgarnet, 2,825 ppmchlorite, 3,206 ppmbiotite, and 108 ppmmuscovite) and Zn (up to 170 ppmgarnet, 1,602 ppmchlorite, 1,592 ppmbiotite, and 108 ppmmuscovite) relative to samples in other orebodies and in unmineralized rocks elsewhere in the Kanmantoo Group. Such enrichments in these elements mimic similar enrichments in the same minerals in metamorphosed altered rocks associated with Pb-Zn-Ag-(Cu-Au) deposits in the Kanmantoo Group. Biotite in metamorphosed altered rocks at Kanmantoo contains elevated concentrations of Pb (up to 110 ppm), and, in general, Zn (up to 841 ppm), whereas muscovite is also elevated in Pb, Zn, and Cu (up to 272 ppm Pb, 78 ppm Zn, and 173 ppm Cu). Staurolite in these same rocks contains up to 1.6 wt% ZnO (with one outlier that contains 3.2 wt% ZnO) and is considerably more enriched in Zn than in unaltered country rocks (∼0.1 wt% Zn). The trace element enrichments in silicates studied here constitute a potential pathfinder to metamorphosed Cu-Au mineralization in the Kanmantoo Group an...

show abstract

Light Stable Isotopes in Volcanic-Hosted Massive Sulfide Ore Systems

Huston

LaFlamme

Beaudoin

et al. 2023

Mineral Resource Reviews

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposits, the ancient analogues of “black smoker” deposits that currently form on the seafloor, are the products of complex mineral systems involving the interaction of seawater with the underlying volcanic pile and associated magmatic intrusions. Light stable isotopes, particularly those of oxygen, hydrogen and sulfur, have had a strong influence in determining sources of ore fluids and sulfur as well as elucidating geological processes important in the VHMS mineral systems. Oxygen and hydrogen isotope data indicate that evolved seawater was the dominant ore-forming fluid in VHMS mineral systems through geological time, although a small proportion of deposits, including high sulfidation and tin-rich deposits, may have a significant, or dominant, magmatic-hydrothermal fluid component. Higher-temperature (> 200 °C) interaction of evolved seawater alters the rock pile below the seafloor, producing δ18O depletion anomalies at the deposit and district scales that can be used as a vector to ore. In contrast, lower-temperature hydrothermal alteration results in δ18O-enriched zones that commonly cap mineralized positions. An apparent decrease in the degree of high temperature 18O depletion with time may relate to the increasing importance of felsic-dominated host successions in younger deposits. δ18O anomalies have potential as an exploration tool, and have contributed directly to discovery. The other important contribution of stable isotopes to understanding the VHMS mineral system is quantification of the contribution of sulfur sources. Conventional δ34S data, when combined with Δ33S data acquired using recently developed technologies, indicate that the dominant sulfur source is igneous sulfur, either leached from the volcanic pile or introduced as a magmatic volatile (these sources are not distinguishable). The thermochemical reduction of seawater sulfate is also an important, but subordinate, sulfur source. Estimation of the proportion of seawater sulfate with geological age indicate that, on average, it has increased from 5–10% in the Archean to 20–25% in the Phanerozoic. This most likely reflects the increase in seawater sulfate contents through geological time. Although untested as an exploration tool, variations in sulfur isotope data may have utility is discriminating fertile from barren sulfide accumulations or providing vectors to ores at the deposits scale. As exploration tools, light stable isotopes suffer from a relatively high cost and slow turn-around time. If these limitations can be overcome, and new analytical methods can be developed, light stable isotopes may emerge as another tool for exploration, particularly as discoveries are made at greater depth and under cover.

show abstract

Regional oxygen isotope systematics of felsic volcanics; a potential exploration tool for volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits in the Iberian Pyrite Belt

Cited by 6 publications

References 36 publications

Distribution and Mobility of Trace Elements in Soils and Vegetation Around the Mining and Smelting Areas of Tharsis, Ríotinto and Huelva, Iberian Pyrite Belt, SW Spain

Distribution and Mobility of Trace Elements in Soils and Vegetation Around the Mining and Smelting Areas of Tharsis, Ríotinto and Huelva, Iberian Pyrite Belt, SW Spain

The origin of the sediment-hosted Kanmantoo Cu-Au deposit, South Australia: Mineralogical considerations

Light Stable Isotopes in Volcanic-Hosted Massive Sulfide Ore Systems

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About