Mineralogical and Geochemical Features of Sulfide Chimneys of the Yubileynoe Massive Sulfide Deposit (South Urals)

Abstract

Three mineral types of hydrothermal chimneys (pyrite-chalcopyrite, pyrite-sphalerite-chalco-pyrite and chalcopyrite-pyrite-sphalerite) form a continuous mineralogical range in ores from the Yubileynoe deposit. In this range, the amount of chalcopyrite decreases, the relative amounts of sphalerite and pyrite increase, quartz is replaced by talc and calcite, telluride assemblage transits into gold-galenite-fahlore assemblage, and the contents of «high-temperature» (Bi, Te, Se, Co) and «low-temperature» (Ag, Sn, Pb) elements decrease and increase in sulfdes, respectively. Each mineral type can be compared with corresponding varieties of modern black, gray, and colorless smokers by mineral zoning, composition, ratios of Se, Te, Sn, and Ag in chalcopyrite. In higher Bi content of chalcopyrite, higher Te, Ni, Au content of colloform pyrite and low Fe and Co content of sphalerite, paleosmokers are closer to those of present-day island-arc basins. Figures 13. Table 1. References 45.