Sulfur isotopic composition of the Tianqiao Pb-Zn ore deposit, Northwest Guizhou Province, China: Implications for the source of sulfur in the ore-forming fluids

Abstract

The Tianqiao Pb-Zn ore deposit of Guizhou Province, China, is located in the mid-east of the Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou Pb-Zn-Ag multi-metallic mineralization area, which is representative of the Pb-Zn ore deposits in this area. It consists of three main orebodies, whose Pb+Zn reserves are more than 0.2 million ton. This paper analyzes the sulfur isotopic composition of these orebodies. The data show that the ore minerals (galena, sphalerite, pyrite) in these orebodies are enriched in heavy sulfur, with δ 34 S V-CDT values varying between 8.35‰ and 14.44‰, i.e. the δ 34 S V-CDT values of pyrite are between 12.81‰ and 14.44‰, the mean value is 13.40‰; the δ 34 S V-CDT values of sphalerite are range from 10.87‰ to 14.00‰, the mean value is 12.53‰; the δ 34 S V-CDT values of galena are range from 8.35‰ to 9.83‰, the mean value is 8.84‰, and they have the feature of δ 34 S pyrite >δ 34 S sphalerite >δ 34 S galena , which indicates the sulfur isotope in ore-forming fluids has attained equilibrium. The δ 34 S V-CDT values of the deposit are close to those of sulfates from carbonate strata of different ages in the ore-field (15‰), which suggests that the sulfur in the ore-forming fluids should be derived from the thermo-chemical sulfate reduction of sulfates from the sedimentary strata.

Geology, isotope geochemistry and geochronology of the Jinshachang carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn deposit, southwest China

“…For example, H-O and S isotopes have been widely used to constrain the source of hydrothermal fluids (e.g., Seal, 2006;Basuki et al, 2008;Zhou et al, 2010), and Pb and Sr isotopes are useful for tracing the origin of ore-forming metals (e.g., Carr et al, 1995;Deng et al, 2000;Mirnejad et al, 2011;Gromek et al, 2012;Zhou et al, 2013a-b;Dou et al, 2014). Several studies have explored the application of the Rb-Sr isotopic system to determine the age of hydrothermal mineral deposition (e.g., Brannon et al, 1992;Nakai et al, 1993;Li et al, 2005;Zhou et al, 2013a).…”

Trace elements of sulfides in the Dengjiashan Pb–Zn deposit from West Qinling, China: Implications for mineralization conditions and genesis

“…It is only in the late stage of low temperature that the ore‐forming fluid can be replaced in pairs when it has become relatively enriched. The sphalerite is enriched in Cd, Ga and Ge and is characterized by a lower In/Ge ratio (Frenzel et al, 2016; Höll et al, 2007; Liu et al, 1984; Zhou et al, 2009). The sphalerite in the Dengjiashan deposit is characterized by enrichment of Cd and Ge and the depletion of Fe, Mn, In and Sn.…”

Isotope geochemistry and Re–Os geochronology of the Yanjiagou Mo deposit in the central North China Craton

“…Ore minerals in the Yanjiagou Mo deposit are relatively simple, and the major minerals are molybdenite, pyrite and chalcopyrite, with no sulphate mineral yet identified. Therefore, the δ 34 S values of ore‐forming fluids can be represented by those of the sulphides (Ohmoto, ; Xi et al ., ; Zhou et al ., ), i.e. δ 34 S ƩS ≈ δ 34 S sulfide .…”