Fluorine in orthoamphibole dominated Zn-Cu-Pb deposits: examples from Finland and Australia

Abstract

Abstract Volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits commonly occur within much larger fluorine (F)-bearing hydrothermal systems, where cordierite-orthoamphibole rocks are characteristic pathfinder assemblages. Here we report whole-rock and mineral F contents for orthoamphibole bearing rocks and associated rock types from Zn-Cu-Pb deposits in Finland (Orijärvi, Iilijärvi, Pyhäsalmi, Mullikkoräme) and central Australia (Oonagalabi). Textural and mineralogical data suggest that F influx predates peak metamorphism in these deposits. The Mullikkoräme whole-rock data show positive correlations between F and X Mg = molar Mg/(Mg + Fe) and between F and elements of relatively low mobility (Ti, Al, Mg) and negative correlations between Fe and these elements. This suggests that iron was leached from silicate rocks by F-bearing fluids and was transferred to the Fe-rich sulphide ore. When normalized to immobile elements, F correlates positively with total metal content (Cu + Pb + Zn + Fe), consistent with the commonly observed increase of F content towards ore bodies. Combining all microprobe data, hydrous minerals show the following order of decreasing F/(F + OH) ratio when coexisting: apatite > chondrodite > biotite > gedrite > (hornblende, muscovite, anthophyllite) > chlorite. The low- to medium-grade Finnish samples (Mullikkoräme: 500–560 °C at 1–3 kbar; Orijärvi: 550–650 °C at 3–5 kbar; Pyhäsalmi: 600–700 °C at 5–7 kbar) contain mainly F-poor anthophyllite, whereas F-rich gedrite is dominant in the higher grade Oonagalabi deposit (750–800 °C, 8–9 kbar). Temperature seems to have a significant, but X Mg a negligible influence on F partitioning between biotite and orthoamphiboles.