Cassiterite oxygen isotopes in magmatic-hydrothermal systems: in situ microanalysis, fractionation factor, and applications

Abstract

Tin and tungsten are important metals for the industrializing society. Deciphering the origin and evolution of hydrothermal fluids responsible for their formation is critical to underpin genetic models of ore formation. Traditional approaches obtain isotopic information mainly from bulk analysis of both ore and gangue minerals, or less frequently from in situ analysis of gangue minerals, which either bear inherited complexities and uncertainties or are indirect constraints. Hence, directly obtaining isotopic information from ore minerals such as cassiterite by in situ techniques is warranted. However, this has been hampered by challenges from both analytical and applicational aspects. In this study, we first demonstrate a lack of crystallographic orientation effects during cassiterite ion microprobe oxygen isotope analysis. Along with our newly developed matrix-matched reference material, the Yongde-Cst, which has a recommended δ18O value of 1.36 ± 0.16‰ (VSMOW) as defined by gas source isotope ratio mass spectrometry, in situ oxygen isotope analysis of cassiterite now is possible. We further refine the oxygen isotope fractionation (1000 ln α) for quartz-cassiterite by first-principles calculations, which is given by the equation of 1.259 × 106/T2 + 8.15 × 103/T − 4.72 (T is temperature in Kelvin). The 1000 ln α for quartz-cassiterite has a sensitive response to temperature, and makes cassiterite-quartz an excellent mineral pair in oxygen isotope thermometry, as described by the equation of T (℃) = 2427 × (δ18Oqtz − δ18Ocst)−0.4326 − 492.4. Using the well-established 1000 ln α of quartz-water, 1000 ln α of cassiterite-water is derived as 2.941 × 106/T2 − 11.45 × 103/T + 4.72 (T in Kelvin), which shows a weak response to temperature. This makes cassiterite an ideal mineral from which to derive δ18O of fluids as robust temperature estimates are no longer a prerequisite. We have applied oxygen isotope analysis to cassiterite samples from six Sn(-W) deposits in China. The results show considerable variability in δ18O values both within a single deposit and among studied deposits. Combining the δ18O of cassiterite samples and the equilibrium oxygen isotope fractionation, we find that the δ18O values of ore-forming fluids show a strong magmatic affinity with variable but mostly no to low degree involvements (~0-10%) of meteoric water, hence our results invite a reassessment on the extent and role of meteoric water in Sn-W mineralization. This study demonstrates that in situ oxygen isotope analysis of cassiterite is a promising tool to refine sources of ore-forming fluids, and to decode hydrothermal dynamics controlling tin and tungsten mineralization.