Copper isotopic compositions of the Zijinshan high-sulfidation epithermal Cu–Au deposit, South China: Implications for deposit origin

Abstract

The Zijinshan high-sulfidation epithermal Cu–Au deposit is located in the Zijinshan ore field of South China, comprising porphyry–epithermal Cu–Au–Mo–Ag ore systems. The Cu ore body is more than 1000m thick and is characterized by an assemblage of digenite–covellite–enargite–alunite. Digenite is the dominant Cu-bearing mineral, which makes this deposit unique, although the mechanisms of digenite formation remain controversial. To elucidate the genesis of digenite, this paper presents the Cu isotopic compositions of Cu-sulfides in the Zijinshan high-sulfidation Cu–Au deposit. The Cu isotopic values (65Cu relative to NIST 976) of all samples range from −2.97‰ to +0.34‰, and most values fall in a narrow range from −0.49‰ to +0.34‰, which is similar to the Cu isotopic signature of typical porphyry systems. Copper isotope ratios of each mineral decrease with increasing depth, a trend that is also typical of porphyry deposits. The variation tendency of δ65Cu values between sulfides is consistent with the sequence of mineral formation. These observations suggest that the Cu-sulfides in the Zijinshan Cu–Au deposit have a hypogene origin.