Nitrogen isotope systematics of mesothermal lode gold deposits: Metamorphic, granitic, meteoric water, or mantle origin?

Abstract

Research Article| November 01, 1999 Nitrogen isotope systematics of mesothermal lode gold deposits: Metamorphic, granitic, meteoric water, or mantle origin? Yiefei Jia; Yiefei Jia 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert Kerrich Robert Kerrich 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1999) 27 (11): 1051–1054. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)027<1051:NISOML>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Yiefei Jia, Robert Kerrich; Nitrogen isotope systematics of mesothermal lode gold deposits: Metamorphic, granitic, meteoric water, or mantle origin?. Geology 1999;; 27 (11): 1051–1054. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)027<1051:NISOML>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Archean gold-bearing quartz vein systems constitute one of the most important classes of precious metal deposits; however, their origin remains controversial. Mantle, granitoid, meteoric water, and metamorphic related models do not resolve this controversy. New N and nitrogen isotope data on hydrothermal muscovite from six gold camps from the Late Archean Superior Province of Canada, and biotite from nine Au-mineralized locations from the Norseman-Wiluna greenstone belt, Western Australia, are reported. The majority of muscovites and biotites have N contents of 20–190 ppm and δ15N of 10‰–20‰, and 10–70 ppm and 10‰–24‰, respectively. The δ15N of the mantle is −5‰, and of granitoids is 0‰–10‰, both with generally low N contents; organic N is 0‰–10‰; meteoric water is 1.9‰–9.4‰; and metamorphic rocks are 3‰–18‰, increasing with higher grade. Accordingly, the data appear to rule out a mantle hypothesis, granitoid-related magmatic processes, or meteoric water for the deposits, but are consistent with ore fluids derived by metamorphic dehydration reactions. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.