Comparison of isotope data obtained with Sm-Nd and Re-Os methods for minerals and rocks from the Ozernoe ore occurrence, Salla-Kuolajarvi belt

Abstract

Sm-Nd isochrone, drawn for rock-forming and sulfide minerals from the Ozernoe ore occurrence, indicates albitite age of 1,759 ± 11 Ma. It shows synchronous formation of albitite and sulfide mineralization, and fully corresponds to the earlier defined age of rutile in albitite (1,757 ± 7 Ma U-Pb, n = 3, MSWD = 0.2), and Rb-Sr isochrone age 1,754 ± 39 Ma for biotite, apatite, albite, and WR. Recently published Re-Os ages of molybdenite 1,872 ± 23 Ma and chalcopyrite 1,891 ± 230 Ma indicate more ancient age of sulfide mineralization. These figures are in conflict with the age of rock-forming minerals, defined with Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr methods. The possibility of use of molybdenite from the Salla-Kuolajarvi belt for rock dating has been considered, and low reliability of Re-Os method for it has been shown. The reasons are the following: 1) extremely uneven distribution of Re in molybdenite, where Re content varies 1 wt.% even within one and the same grain, and 2) openness of the Re-Os system after molybdenite crystallization, Re is mobylized and partly removed from the mineral in the zone of hypergenesis. Removal of Re from molybdenite promotes erroneous ancient age of the molybdenite. According to the equations of radioactive decay, the age would be 110-130 Ma bigger if 5-6 % of Re is taken away. The conclusion is that molybdenite must be studied in detail, proved to be homogenous and unaltered, before it is used for Re-Os dating. In the other case the results will be not reliable.