Abstract
A correlation has been established between Zn productivity of volcanic-hosted massive sulfide districts and δ 18 O of quartz phenocrysts from cogenetic rhyolitic rocks. In highly productive districts, ores are associated with rhyolitic rocks, of possible S-type affinity, containing high δ 18 O quartz phenocrysts. In less-productive districts, ores are associated with I-type rhyolitic rocks with low δ 18 O phenocrysts. This correlation may be caused by (1) low-temperature isotopic alteration that produced 18 O-rich overgrowths on phenocrysts, and (2) emplacement of transitional S-type intrusions at greater depths than I-type intrusions, resulting in larger hydrothermal cells and allowing leaching of more Zn. The latter hypothesis is favored.
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