Hydrogen isotope fractionation factors between hydrous minerals and ore fluids at low temperatures: evidence from the Granny Smith gold deposit, Western Australia

Abstract

There are no reported experimental data on hydrogen isotope fractionation between muscovite and water at low temperatures (< 400 °C). A fractionation curve derived from extrapolation of the high temperature calibration of Suzuoki and Epstein (1976) yields 20 to 40%. higher δD values than the empirical graphical calibration of Bowers and Taylor (1985) at temperatures of about 300 °C. Data from natural hydrothermal systems formed at approximately 300 °C, where δD analyses are available both from fluid inclusions and alteration muscovite/sericite, support the Bowers and Taylor (1985) calibration, thus indicating smaller fractionation factors at these temperatures than suggested by extrapolations from high-temperature experimental results.