Breccia Cement Research Articles

Geological setting and timing of the Chah Zard breccia-hosted epithermal gold–silver deposit in the Tethyan belt of Iran

The breccia-hosted epithermal gold–silver deposit of Chah Zard is located within a high-K, calc-alkaline andesitic to rhyolitic volcanic complex in the central part of the Urumieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Arc (UDMA), west central Iran. The total measured resource for Chah Zard is ∼2.5 million tonnes of ore at 12.7 g/t Ag and 1.7 g/t Au (28.6 t Ag, 3.8 t Au), making it one of the largest epithermal gold deposits in Iran. Magmatic and hydrothermal activity was associated with local extensional tectonics in a strike-slip regime formed in transtensional structures of the Dehshir-Baft strike-slip fault system. The host rocks of the volcanic complex consist of Eocene sedimentary and volcanic rocks covered by Miocene sedimentary rocks. LA-ICP–MS U–Pb zircon geochronology yields a mean age of 6.2 ± 0.2 Ma for magmatic activity at Chah Zard. This age represents the maximum age of mineralization and may indicate a previously unrecognized mineralization event in the UDMA. Breccias and veins formed during and after the waning stages of explosive brecciation events due to shallow emplacement of rhyolite porphyry. Detailed systematic mapping leads to the recognition of three distinct breccia bodies: volcaniclastic breccia with a dominantly clastic matrix; gray polymict breccia with a greater proportion of hydrothermal cement; and mixed monomict to polymict breccia with clay matrix. The polymictic breccias generated bulk-mineable ore, whereas the volcaniclastic breccia is relatively impermeable and largely barren. Precious metals occur with sulfide and sulfosalt minerals as disseminations, as well as in the veins and breccia cements. There is a progression from pyrite-dominated (stage 1) to pyrite-base metal sulfide and sulfosalt-dominated (stages 2 and 3) to base metal sulfide-dominated (stage 4) breccias and veins. Hydrothermal alteration and deposition of gangue minerals progressed from illite-quartz to quartz-adularia, carbonate, and finally gypsum-dominated assemblages. Free gold occurs in stages 2 and 4, principally intergrown with pyrite, quartz, chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite, and Ag-rich tennantite–tetrahedrite, and also as inclusions in pyrite. High Rb/Sr ratios in ore-grade zones are closely related to sericite and adularia alteration. Positive correlations of Au and Ag with Cu, As, Pb, Zn, Sb, and Cd in epithermal veins and breccias suggest that all these elements are related to the same mineralization event.

Porphyry to epithermal transition in the Agua Rica polymetallic deposit, Catamarca, Argentina: An integrated petrologic analysis of ore and alteration parageneses

Agua Rica (27°26′S–66°16′O) is a world class Cu–Au–Mo deposit located in Catamarca, Argentina. In the E–W 6969400 section examined, the Seca Norte and the Trampeadero porphyries that have intruded the metasedimentary rock are cut by interfingered igneous and hydrothermal heterolithic and monolithic breccias, and sandy dikes. Relic biotite and K-feldspar of the early potassic alteration (370° to >550°C) with Cu (Mo–Au) mineralization are locally preserved and encapsulated in a widespread, white mica+quartz+rutile or anatase halo (phyllic alteration) with pyrite+covellite that suggests fluids with temperatures ≤360°C and high f(S2). The Trampeadero porphyry and the surrounding metasedimentary rock with phyllic alteration have molybdenite in stringers and B-type quartz veinlets and the highest Mo grades (>1000ppm).Multistage advanced argillic alteration overprinted the earlier stages. Early andalusite±pyrite±quartz is preserved in the roots of the argillic halo rimmed by an alumina–silica material and white micas. This alteration assemblage is considered to have been formed at temperatures ≥375°C from condensed magmatic vapor. At higher levels, pyrophyllite replaces muscovite and illite in clasts of hydrothermal breccias in the center and east sector of the study section, suggesting temperatures of 280 to 360°C. Clasts of vuggy silica in the uppermost levels of the central breccia, indicates that at lower temperatures (<250°C), fluids reached very low pH (pH<2). In this early stage of the advanced argillic alteration, hydrothermal fluids seem to have not precipitated sulfides or sulfosalts.Hydrothermal brecciation was concurrent with fluid exsolution (↑∆ V), which precipitated intermediate-temperature advanced argillic alunite (svanbergite+woodhouseite)±diaspore±zunyite as breccia cement along with abundant covellite+pyrite+enargite±native sulfur±kuramite at intermediate depths and in lateral transitional zones to unbrecciated rocks. This mineral assemblage indicates temperatures near 300°C, oxidized and silica-undersaturated hydrothermal fluids with high sulfur fugacity to prevent gold precipitation. Multiple generations of pyrite, emplectite, colusite, Pb- and Bi-bearing sulfosalts, and native sulfur with Au and Ag, accompanied by alunite introduction in the upper level breccias, probably occurred at lower temperatures, but still high sulfur and oxygen activity. An independent Zn and Pb (as galena) mineralization stage locally coincides with Au–Ag and sulfosalts, and advanced at depth, controlled by fractures and overprinting much of the previous mineralization. A later paragenesis of veinlets of alunite+woodhouseite+svanvergite+pyrite±enargite that cut the phyllic halo suggests temperatures ~250°C and without woodhouseite+svanvergite, temperatures ~200°C. Kaolinite occurs in the phyllic halo as a late mineral in clots and in veinlets thus, in this zone, the fluid had cooled enough for its formation.

Magmatogenic manganese ores of the South Minusa Intermontane Trough

The first data on the mineral composition and formation conditions of manganese ore at the Chapsordag and Malosyrsky deposits in the Askiz ore district of Khakassia are integrated and systematized. The detailed mineralogical mapping of the deposits has been carried out. The identification of minerals and examination of the ore microstructure were performed with optical microscopy in transmitted and reflected light and using SEM/EDS, EMPA, XRD, IRS, and other methods. It was established that the ore mineralization is spatially and genetically related to the Early Devonian magmatism and accompanying hydrothermal activity and metasomatism. Syngenetic braunite was detected for the first time in elevated amounts reaching an economic level in the devitrified groundmass of volcanic rocks, in cement of lava breccia, and in fragments in pyroclastic rocks. By analogy with iron deposits, this magmatogenic type of manganese mineralization is regarded as ore lavas and tuffs combined with metasomatic and hydrothermal mineral assemblages into a strata-bound orebearing complex and as a source of hydrothermal metasomatic ore. The elevated Mn content in magmatic melts of the Early Devonian trachybasalt-trachyandesite-trachydacite association is caused by assimilation of Riphean and Lower Cambrian high-Mn carbonate sequences in crustal magma chambers. In contours of economic orebodies, the hydrothermal economic ore is recognized as sites of massive, patchy and impregnated, brecciated, stringer-disseminated, and disseminated varieties. High-grade massive ore occurs as stratiform and branching bodies up to 1.5 m thick and a few tens of meters long and as smaller pocketlike bodies. Braunite and pyrolusite (polianite) are major ore minerals varying in size, degree of crystallinity, and character of intergrowths with associating minerals. Gangue minerals include carbonates, sulfates, albite, quartz, chlorite, actinolite, piemontite, and okhotskite, a Mn-pumpellyite identified in Russia for the first time and studied in detail in this paper. The veined hydrothermal ore is classified as a calcite-barite-pyrolusite type. The crystallization temperature of hydrothermal metasomatic ore is estimated at 350–180°C; oxygen fugacity is above the hematite-magnetite buffer. The surface of high-grade ore is encrusted with supergene goethite-hydrogoethite, chalcedony-hematite, and pyrolusite-psilomelane crusts and veinlets (less than 1% of the bulk ore mass). The data obtained facilitate prospecting for high-quality manganese ore at walls of superimposed rifts in fold regions, including large economic manganese concentrations in the form of ore lavas and tuffs as products of solidification of metalliferous melt.

Mineralogy and fluid inclusions study of carbonate-hosted Mississippi valley-type Ain Allega Pb–Zn–Sr–Ba ore deposit, Northern Tunisia

The Ain Allega Pb–Zn–Sr–Ba ore deposit is located in the flysch zone on the Eastern edge of the Triassic diapir of Jebel Hamra. It is part of the extrusive Triassic evaporate formation along the Ghardimaou–Cape Serrat faults. The ore body consists of argilic–dolomite breccias surrounded by argilo–gypsum Triassic formation, which forms the hanging wall of the deposit, and rimmed by the Paleocene marls. The ore minerals show a cap-rock type mineralization with different styles particularly impregnation in dolomite, cement of breccias, replacement ore and open space filling in the dissolution cavities and fractures. Ore minerals include sphalerite, galena, marcasite and pyrite. Principal gangue minerals are composed of barite, celestite, calcite, dolomite and quartz. The ore minerals are hosted by the Triassic carbonate rocks which show hydrothermal alteration, dissolution and brecciation. X-ray – crystallographic study of barite–celestite mineral series shows that pure barite and celestite are the abundant species, whereas strontianiferous barite (85–96.5% BaSO 4) and barian–celestite (95% SrSO 4) are minor. Primary and secondary mono-phase (liquid only) fluid inclusions are common in celestite. Microthermometric analyses in two-phases (liquid and vapour) fluid inclusions suggest that gangue and ore minerals were precipitated by a low-temperature (180 °C) saline (16.37 wt.% NaCl equivalent) solution originated possibly from a basinal brine with some input from magmatic or metamorphic fluid. Based on geology, mineralogy, texture and fluid characteristics, the Ain Allega deposit is classified as a carbonate-hosted Mississippi valley-type deposit.

Two Cu–Co sulfide phases and contrasting fluid systems in the Katanga Copperbelt, Democratic Republic of Congo

The Katanga Copperbelt is the Congolese part of the well-known Central African Copperbelt, the largest sediment-hosted stratiform Cu–Co province on Earth. Petrographic examination of borehole samples from the Kamoto and Luiswishi mines in the Katanga Copperbelt recognized two generations of hypogene Cu–Co sulfides and associated gangue minerals (dolomite and quartz). The first generation is characterized by fine-grained Cu–Co sulfides and quartz replacing dolomite. The second generation is paragenetically later and characterized by coarse-grained Cu–Co sulfides and quartz overgrown and partly replaced by dolomite. Fluid inclusion microthermometric data were collected from two different types of fluid inclusions: type-I fluid inclusions (liquid + vapor) in the quartz of the first generation and type-II fluid inclusions (liquid + vapor + halite) in the quartz of the second generation. The microthermometric analyses indicate that the fluids represented by type-I and type-II fluid inclusions had very different temperatures and salinities and were not in thermal equilibrium with the host rock. Petrographic and microthermometric data indicate the presence of at least two main hypogene Cu–Co sulfide phases in the Katanga Copperbelt. The first is an early diagenetic typical stratiform phase, which produced fine-grained sulfides that are disseminated in the host rock and frequently concentrated in nodules and lenticular layers. This phase is related to a hydrothermal fluid with a moderate temperature (115 to 220 °C, or less if reequilibration of inclusions has occurred) and salinity (11.3 to 20.9 wt.% NaCl equiv.). The second hypogene Cu–Co phase produced syn-orogenic coarse-grained sulfides, which also occur disseminated in the host rock but mainly concentrated in a distinct type of stratiform nodules and layers and in stratabound veins and tectonic breccia cement. This second phase is related to a hydrothermal fluid with high temperature (270 to 385 °C) and salinity (35 to 45.5 wt.% NaCl equiv.). A review of available microthermometric and ore geochronological data of the Copperbelt in both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia supports the regional presence of the two Cu–Co phases proposed in our study. Future geochemical analyses in the Copperbelt should take into account the presence of, at least, these two Cu–Co phases, their contrasting fluid systems and the possible overprint of the first phase by the second one.

Structural and diagenetic control of fluid migration and cementation along the Moab fault, Utah

The Moab fault, a basin-scale normal fault that juxtaposes Jurassic eolian sandstone units against Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous shale and sandstone, is locally associated with extensive calcite and lesser quartz cement. We mapped the distribution of fault-related diagenetic alteration products relative to the fault structure to identify sealing and conductive fault segments for fluid flow and to relate fault–fluid-flow behavior to the internal architecture of the fault zone. Calcite cement occurs as vein and breccia cement along slip surfaces and as discontinuous vein cement and concretions in fault damage zones. The cement predominates along fault segments that are composed of joints, sheared joints, and breccias that overprint earlier deformation bands. Using the distribution of fault-related calcite cement as an indicator of paleofluid migration, we infer that fault-parallel fluid flow was focused along fault segments that were overprinted by joints and sheared joints. Joint density, and thus fault-parallel permeability, is highest at locations of structural complexity such as fault intersections, extensional steps, and fault-segment terminations. The association of calcite with remnant hydrocarbons suggests that calcite precipitation was mediated by the degradation and microbial oxidation of hydrocarbons. We propose that the discontinuous occurrence of microbially mediated calcite cement may impede, but not completely seal, fault-parallel fluid flow. Fault-perpendicular flow, however, is mostly impeded by the juxtaposition of the sandstone units against shale and by shale entrainment. The Moab fault thus exemplifies the complex interaction of fault architecture and diagenetic sealing processes in controlling the hydraulic properties of faults in clastic sequences.

The Chailag-Khem fluorite-barium-strontium rare earth carbonatite occurrence, the Western Sayan Range, Russia

The geological and mineralogical data on the Chailag-Khem F-Ba-Sr-REE occurrence in the Western Sayan Range, Russia, are discussed. The chemical compositions of rocks, ores, and minerals (ICP-MS, Link) are reported. The occurrence is localized in a tectonic crush zone composed of Cambrian quartz-sericite slates intruded by quartz syenite porphyry. Ore mineralization occurs as veins, cement of tectonic breccia, and metasomatic disseminations in host rocks. Massive ore consists of calcite, strontianite, and quartz; impregnations of euhedral fluorite, ankerite, and bastnaesite crystals; and fine-grained barite aggregate. Accessory minerals include parisite, synchysite, barytocelestine, sulfides, rutile, and uraninite. Late metasomatic calcite and strontianite segregations and veinlets are abundant. In genetic, mineralogical, and geochemical features, the Chailag-Khem occurrence is similar to the Late Mesozoic carbonatite deposits of Central Tuva, of which the Karasug Fe-F-Ba-Sr-REE deposit is the largest and best known. All carbonatite deposits and occurrences are located within a longitudinal zone transverse to the major tectonic elements of the region.

Volcanic facies and hydrothermal processes in Triassic pillow basalts from the Darnó Unit, NE Hungary

The Darnó Unit within the Zagorje-Mid-Transdanubian Megaunit is an allochtonous part of Dinarides in NE-Hungary and represents a relict of the Neotethyan accretionary complex. It contains blocks of submarine basalts of Triassic age in turbiditic sediments (olistrostrome) of Jurassic age. The lava clogged in the lime mud at the original site of volcanism and developed closely packed pillow, pillow fragment hyaloclastite breccia, and peperite facies. Interaction between the lava and the sea water produced mostly chloritic alteration of basalt and precipitation of hydrothermal calcite in amygdales, feeding channels of lava lobes and hyaloclastite breccia cements. Calcite is associated with chlorite, epidote, hematite and pyrite. Fluid inclusions in calcite infillings record conditions of fluid/rock interaction. Salinities of fluid inclusions (3.2 – 5.6 wt.% NaCl equiv. wt.%.) are close to the salinity of recent sea water and their homogenization temperatures in the range of 80 – 150oC. Fluid inclusion data support interpretation that volcanic facies represent rapidly cooled distal zones away from the submarine volcanic centre. This is also confirmed by the comparison to the volcanic and hydrothermal alteration facies of the submarine basalt lava-flow complex and associated pillow lava formation of Triassic age in the Hruškovec quarry in the Kalnik Mts., NW-Croatia. The obtained data contribute to understanding of the early history of Neotethyan evolution, i.e. dilemma about rifting or oceanization in Triassic time and offer new aspects of correlation between units of Dinaridic origin which had been displaced from their original setting by large scale Tertiary tectonic processes.

Hydrothermal Breccias and Veins at the Kelian Gold Mine, Kalimantan, Indonesia: Genesis of a Large Epithermal Gold Deposit

Mineralized hydrothermal breccias and veins formed during and after the waning stages of maar-diatreme-related volcanic activity at Kelian, Kalimantan, Indonesia. Subsurface phreatic explosions occurred around the margins of the diatreme breccia complex, focusing high-temperature fluid flow and generating several large, mineralized hydrothermal breccia bodies. Tectonic, phreatomagmatic, and hydraulic processes also contributed to hydrothermal brecciation. Explosive phreatic brecciation was followed by in situ hydraulic brecciation, and then by minor veining as the system returned to steady-state geothermal conditions. Brecciation and mineralization mostly occurred 400 to 700 m below the paleowater table. The Kelian deposit contained more than 240 t Au prior to mining. Precious metals occur with sulfide minerals as disseminations, in sheeted and conjugate veins and as breccia cement. There is a progression from pyrite-dominated (stage 1) to base metal sulfide-dominated (stages 2 and 3) to sulfosalt-dominated hydrothermal breccias and veins (stage 4). In terms of gangue minerals, the system evolved from illite-quartz to adularia- and/or quartz- and/or illite-dominated and then carbonate-dominated. Boiling produced abundant bladed carbonate during stages 3 and 4. Overall, carbonate and base metal sulfide minerals are abundant, whereas quartz is comparatively minor. Free gold is most abundant in stages 3 and 4 but also occurs in stages 1 and 2. Native gold occurs principally as inclusions in pyrite, sphalerite, galena, arsenopyrite, quartz, bladed carbonate, and sulfosalts. Hydrothermal alteration assemblages are zoned about contacts, faults, breccias and veins, and consist of secondary quartz, illite, pyrite, chlorite, and various carbonate minerals. Kelian preserves evidence of a magmatic component to the mineralizing fluids. Fluid inclusion analyses revealed the presence of saline fluid inclusions, in particular from stage 3. Isothermal mixing of low-salinity (∼0 to 2 wt % NaCl equiv) with moderate-salinity fluids (10 to 25 wt % NaCl equiv), rather than boiling, resulted in the range of salinity and homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions in sphalerite, carbonate and quartz deposited during stage 3. Salinities of ∼4 to 6 wt percent NaCl equiv for inclusions in adularia and quartz from stages 2 and 4 and in rhodochrosite and proustite-pyrargyrite from stage 4 may also reflect a component of mixing of low-salinity water with a moderately saline fluid. Sulfur isotope values from Kelian sulfides (δ 34S = -1.4 to 5.5 per mil) are consistent with a magmatic sulfur source. Both boiling and fluid mixing contributed to high-grade Au mineralization at Kelian. Rapid formation (hundreds of years or less) is inferred for the individual hydrothermal breccia bodies. © 2008 Society of Economic Geologists, Inc.

Isotopic-geochemical characteristics of the lost city hydrothermal field

The isotopic (δD, δ18O, δ13C, and 87Sr/86Sr) and geochemical characteristics of hydrothermal solutions from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the material of brucite-carbonate chimneys at the Lost City hydrothermal field at 30°N, MAR, were examined to assay the role of the major factors controlling the genesis of the fluid and hydrothermal chimneys of the Lost City field. The values of δD and δ18O in fluid samples indicates that solutions at the Lost City field were produced during the serpentinization of basement ultramafic rocks at temperatures higher than 200°C and at relatively low fluid/rock ratios (<1). The active role of serpentinization processes in the genesis of the Lost City fluid also follows from the results of the electron-microscopic studying of the material of hydrothermal chimneys at this field. The isotopic (δ18O, δ13C, and 87Sr/86Sr) and geochemical (Sr/Ca and REE) signatures indicate that, before its submarine discharging at the Lost City field, the fluid filtered through already cold altered outer zones of the Atlantis Massif and cooled via conductive heat loss. During this stage, the fluid could partly dissolve previously deposited carbonates in veins cutting serpentinite at the upper levels of the Atlantis Massif and the carbonate cement of sedimentary breccias underlying the hydrothermal chimneys. Because of this, the age of modern hydrothermal activity at the Lost City field can be much younger than 25 ka.

Aragonite and calcite cementation in “boulder-controlled” meteoric environments on the Fern Pass rockslide (Austria): implications for radiometric age dating of catastrophic mass movements

On the Fern Pass rockslide (Eastern Alps, Austria), projecting boulders collected surface runoff and delayed percolation of water into the rockslide mass, leading to decimetre-scale, fluctuating, phreatic/vadose diagenetic systems along their contact. In these systems, aragonite and calcite precipitation were nourished mainly by dissolution of carbonate-rock flour. Cement precipitation was limited to southern- and eastern-exposed “runoff haloes” of boulders and mainly resulted in cemented breccias. Aragonite precipitation was related to dissolved Mg2+ and/or to high CaCO3 supersaturation in evaporative-concentrated pore waters. Early aragonite cement yielded a 234U/230Th age of 4,150 ± 100 years. Relative to other radiometric ages (36Cl, 14C; by other authors) for the rockslide event, the U–Th age of the aragonite is the most precise proxy of depositional age. Carbonate cements are present in other rockslide and rockfall deposits also. U–Th dating of such cements is thus a comparatively rapid and inexpensive method of minimum-age dating catastrophic mass movements.

Evolution of the Large-scale Active Manisa Fault, Southwest Turkey: Implications on Fault Development and Regional Tectonics

This paper aims to illustrate and discuss mechanism(s) responsible for the growth and evolution of large-scale corrugated normal faults in southwest Turkey. We report spectacular exposures of normal fault surfaces as parts of the Manisa Fault - a ?50-km-long northeast-ward arched active fault that defines the northwestern edge of the Manisa graben, which is subsidiary to the Gediz Graben. The fault is a single through-going corrugated fault system with distinct along-strike bends. It follows NW direction for 15 km in the south, then bends into an approximately E-W direction in the northwest. The fault trace occurs at the base of topographic scarps and separates the Quaternary limestone scree and alluvium from the highly strained, massive bed-rock carbonates. The fault is exposed on continuous pristine slip surfaces, up to 60 m high. The observed surfaces are polished and ornamented by well-preserved various brittle structural features, such as slip-parallel striations, gutters and tool tracks, and numerous closely spaced extension fractures with straight or crescentic traces. The rocks both in the footwall and hanging-wall of the fault possess a well-developed fault rock stratigraphy made up, from structurally lowest to the top, of massive undeformed recrystallized limestone, a zone of cemented breccia sheets, corrugated polished slip planes, and first brecciated, then unbrecciated scree. The observed slip surfaces of the Manisa Fault contain two sets of striations that suggest an early phase of sinistral strike-slip and a subsequent normal-slip movements. The first phase is attributed to: (i) approximately E-W-directed compression that commenced during either (?) Early-Middle Pliocene time or (ii) the current extensional tectonics and consequent modern graben formation in southwest Turkey that initiated during the Plio-Quaternary. During this period, the Manisa Fault was reactivated and it became a major segment. Stress inversion of fault slip data suggests that southwest Turkey has been experiencing multidirectional crustal extension, with components of approximately N-S, E-W, NE-SW and NW-SE extension. Following the reactivation, the inherited fault segments were connected to each other through interaction, linkage and amalgamation of previously discontinuous and overlapping smaller stepping adjacent faults. Linkage was via the formation of new connecting (breaching) fault(s) or by curved propagation of fault-tips. The result is a single through-going corrugated fault trace with distinct along-strike bends. The final geometry of the Manisa Fault is thus the combined result of reactivation and continuing interaction between previously discontinuous segmented fault traces.

Textural and compositional analysis of multiple dolomite generations from the Latemar buildup, Dolomites, northern Italy

Fine-scale chemical variations and reaction mechanisms of dolomitization on the Latemar buildup are related to temperatures of, and contact time with, dolomitizing fluids. Dolomites formed at the highest temperatures are the most magnesian and those formed at the lowest temperatures are the most calcian. Three generations of dolomite, formed under subaerial sedimentary to subsurface hydrothermal conditions, partially replace Triassic Latemar limestones. Vadose crusts, which cap shallowing-upwards cycles, are partially altered to microcrystalline calcian dolomite (1 to 10 μm crystals, poorly ordered, 52 to 57 mole % CaCO3) that formed at earth surface temperatures. These dolomites are fabric-retentive replacements of allochems and micritic coatings on grains as well as void-lining cements. Subsurface hydrothermal dolomite, formed by platform-scale circulation of hot Triassic seawater, comprises a kilometer-scale mushroom-shaped body of massive replacement dolomite and saddle dolomite cement that crosscuts platform sediments (Wilson et al. 1990; Hardie et al. 1991). Temperatures and fluid flow rates of dolomitizing fluids decreased upwards and outwards through the body (Wilson et al. 1990; Hardie et al. 1991). The intensity of dolomitization and reaction mechanisms of dolomitization vary with temperature and fluid flow rate, hence position within the massively dolomitized body. Dolomite from the stem consists of dolomite breccia and saddle dolomite cement. Saddle dolomite cement compositions range from 49 to 55 mole % CaCO3, and dolomite breccia compositions range from 52 to 56 mol % CaCO3. Dolomite from the base of the dolomite body is the least calcian dolomite on the Latemar buildup. Dolomite from the top of the dolomite body is more calcian that that from the base, but less calcian than that in the vadose crusts. Fabric-destructive dissolution and precipitation dominates towards the base of the dolomite body, whereas fabric-retentive dissolution and precipitation is more common towards the top. Cementation takes place throughout the dolomite body.

Solution‐collapse breccias of the Minkinfjellet and Wordiekammen Formations, Central Spitsbergen, Svalbard: a large gypsum palaeokarst system

AbstractLarge volumes of carbonate breccia occur in the late syn‐rift and early post‐rift deposits of the Billefjorden Trough, Central Spitsbergen. Breccias are developed throughout the Moscovian Minkinfjellet Formation and in basal parts of the Kazimovian Wordiekammen Formation. Breccias can be divided into two categories: (i) thick, cross‐cutting breccia‐bodies up to 200 m thick that are associated with breccia pipes and large V‐structures, and (ii) horizontal stratabound breccia beds interbedded with undeformed carbonate and siliciclastic rocks. The thick breccias occur in the central part of the basin, whereas the stratabound breccia beds have a much wider areal extent towards the basin margins. The breccias were formed by gravitational collapse into cavities formed by dissolution of gypsum and anhydrite beds in the Minkinfjellet Formation. Several dissolution fronts have been discovered, demonstrating the genetic relationship between dissolution of gypsum and brecciation. Textures and structures typical of collapse breccias such as inverse grading, a sharp flat base, breccia pipes (collapse dolines) and V‐structures (cave roof collapse) are also observed. The breccias are cemented by calcite cements of pre‐compaction, shallow burial origin. Primary fluid inclusions in the calcite are dominantly single phase containing fresh water (final melting points are ca 0 °C), suggesting that breccia diagenesis occurred in meteoric waters. Cathodoluminescence (CL) zoning of the cements shows a consistent pattern of three cement stages, but the abundance of each stage varies stratigraphically and laterally. δ18O values of breccia cements are more negative relative to marine limestones and meteoric cements developed in unbrecciated Minkinfjellet limestones. There is a clear relationship between δ18O values and the abundance of the different cement generations detected by CL. Paragenetically, later cements have lower δ18O values recording increased temperatures during their precipitation. Carbon isotope values of the cements are primarily rock‐buffered although a weak trend towards more negative values with increasing burial depth is observed. The timing of gypsum dissolution and brecciation was most likely related to major intervals of exposure of the carbonate platform during Gzhelian and/or Asselian/Sakmarian times. These intervals of exposure occurred shortly after deposition of the brecciated units and before deep burial of the sediments.

Subsurface processes at the lucky strike hydrothermal field, Mid-Atlantic ridge: evidence from sulfur, selenium, and iron isotopes

At Lucky Strike near the Azores Triple Junction, the seafloor setting of the hydrothermal field in a caldera system with abundant low-permeability layers of cemented breccia, provides a unique opportunity to study the influence of subsurface geological conditions on the hydrothermal fluid evolution. Coupled analyses of S isotopes performed in conjunction with Se and Fe isotopes have been applied for the first time to the study of seafloor hydrothermal systems. These data provide a tool for resolving the different abiotic and potential biotic near-surface hydrothermal reactions. The δ 34S (between 1.5‰ and 4.6‰) and Se values (between 213 and 1640 ppm) of chalcopyrite suggest a high temperature end-member hydrothermal fluid with a dual source of sulfur: sulfur that was leached from basaltic rocks, and sulfur derived from the reduction of seawater sulfate. In contrast, pyrite and marcasite generally have lower δ 34S within the range of magmatic values (0 ± 1‰) and are characterized by low concentrations of Se (<50 ppm). For 82Se/ 76Se ratios, the δ 82Se values range from basaltic values of near −1.5‰ to −7‰. The large range and highly negative values of hydrothermal deposits observed cannot be explained by simple mixing between Se leached from igneous rock and Se derived from seawater. We interpret the Se isotope signature to be a result of leaching and mixing of a fractionated Se source located beneath hydrothermal chimneys in the hydrothermal fluid. At Lucky Strike we consider two sources for S and Se: (1) the “end-member” hydrothermal fluid with basaltic Se isotopic values (−1.5‰) and typical S isotope hydrothermal values of 1.5‰; (2) a fractionated source hosted in subsurface environment with negative δ 34S values, probably from bacterial reduction of seawater sulfate and negative δ 82Se values possibly derived from inorganic reduction of Se oxyanions. Fluid trapped in the subsurface environment is conductively cooled and has restricted mixing and provide favorable conditions for subsurface microbial activity which is potentially recorded by S isotopes. Fe isotope systematic reveals that Se-rich high temperature samples have δ 57Fe values close to basaltic values (∼0‰) whereas Se-depleted samples precipitated at medium to low temperature are systematically lighter (δ 57Fe values between −1 to −3‰). An important implication of our finding is that light Fe isotope composition down to −3.2‰ may be explained entirely by abiotic fractionation, in which a reservoir effect during sulfide precipitation was able to produce highly fractionated compositions.

Geologic Setting and Genesis of the Mule Canyon Low-Sulfidation Epithermal Gold-Silver Deposit, North-Central Nevada

The Mule Canyon mine exploited shallow, low-sulfidation, epithermal Au-Ag deposits that lie near the west side of the Northern Nevada rift in northern Lander County, Nevada. Mule Canyon consists of six small deposits that contained premining reserves of about 8.2 Mt at an average grade of 3.81 g Au/tonne. It is an uncommon mafic end member of low-sulfidation Au-Ag deposits associated with tholeiitic bimodal basalt-rhyolite magmatism. The ore is hosted by a basalt-andesite eruptive center that formed between about 16.4 to 15.8 Ma during early mafic eruptions related to regionally extensive bimodal magmatism. Hydrothermal alteration and Au-Ag ores formed at about 15.6 Ma and were tightly controlled by north-northwest- to north-striking high-angle fault and breccia zones developed during rifting, emplacement of mafic dikes, and eruption of mafic lava flows. Hydrothermal alteration assemblages are zoned outward from fluid conduits in the sequence silica-adularia, adularia-smectite, smectite (intermediate argillic), and smectite-carbonate (propylitic). All alteration types contain abundant pyrite and/or marcasite ± arsenopyrite. Field relations indicate that silica-adularia alteration is superimposed on argillic and propylitic alteration. Little or no steam-heated acid-sulfate alteration is present, probably the result of a near-surface water table during hydrothermal alteration and ore deposition. Two distinct ore types are present at Mule Canyon: early replacement and later open-space filling. Replacement ores consist of disseminated and vesicle-filling pyrite, marcasite, and arsenopyrite in argillically altered or weakly silicified rocks. Ore minerals consist of Au-bearing arsenopyrite and arsenian pyrite overgrowths on earlier-formed pyrite and marcasite. Open-space filling ores include narrow stockwork quartz-adularia veins, banded and crustiform opaline and chalcedonic silica-adularia veins, silica-adularia cemented breccias, and sparse carbonate-pyrite and/or marcasite veins. Ore minerals consist mostly of electrum and Ag sulfide and selenide minerals, with minor to major amounts of pyrite, marcasite, and arsenopyrite, and local stibnite. Both types of ores have similar geochemical signatures, characterized by high Au, Ag, As, Sb, and Se contents, locally high Hg, Mo, Tl, and W contents, and low Cu, Pb, and Zn contents. Stable isotope data indicate that ore fluids consisted dominantly of meteoric water that evolved by deep circulation through Paleozoic sedimentary rocks at low water/rock ratios (about 1) and high temperatures (>200°C). Calculated isotopic compositions of ore fluids are δ 18OH2O= –3 to –7 per mil, δ DH2O= –107 to –124 per mil, δ 13CCO2= 0 to –6 per mil, and δ 34SH2S= –3 to +8 per mil. The ore fluids obtained much of their H2S and CO2 and probably scavenged ore metals and trace elements from the Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. Some H2S and CO2 may have been derived from degassing Miocene magmas. Mule Canyon formed at shallow depths, probably about 100 m below the paleosurface. Ore fluids were dilute, nearly neutral in pH, reduced, H2S-rich, and CO2-bearing. Peak temperatures in ore zones reached 230° to 265°C at nearly lithostatic pressures when some crystalline quartz ± adularia precipitated, but most ore formed at temperatures <200°C at near hydrostatic pressures and was accompanied by precipitation of opaline and chalcedonic silica± adularia ± calcite and dolomite. Deposition of gold in As-rich overgrowths on pyrite and/or marcasite in disseminated ores occurred owing to decreasing H2S in the ore fluids resulting from sulfidation reactions. Later electrum and Ag selenide precipitation in open spaces occurred owing to boiling, loss of H2S to the vapor phase, and cooling. Mule Canyon is similar to most other low-sulfidation Au-Ag deposits associated with Miocene tholeiitic bimodal basalt-rhyolite magmatism in the Great Basin, such as Sleeper, Midas, and Buckhorn. Major differences at Mule Canyon are the high Fe sulfide contents of some ores and altered wall rocks, the paucity of silicification, and the presence of only narrow and discontinuous gold-bearing siliceous veins. These differences primarily are due to the mafic composition of the host rocks. Mule Canyon differs from low-sulfidation deposits associated with subduction-related calc-alkaline porphyry intrusions, such as the Comstock lode, in that a much smaller proportion of water, salts, and metals was derived from crystallizing magmas.

Discovery of ancient and active hydrothermal systems along the ultra‐slow spreading Southwest Indian Ridge 10°–16°E

We report the discovery of active and fossil hydrothermal systems during R/V Knorr Cruise 162, Legs VII and IX along a 400 km long segment of the ultra‐slow Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) between 10 and 16°E, where the effective spreading rate for mantle upwelling is the slowest of any ocean ridge explored to date (8.4 mm yr−1 full rate). Eight of forty‐one optical/temperature profiles contain hydrothermal plume characteristics that indicate firm evidence for two active vent sites and tentative evidence for as many as three others. Fossil hydrothermal material was recovered in 6 of the 38 dredge hauls and includes an occurrence of partially oxidized sulfide breccias, four deposits ofsepiolite and silica, as well as Mn‐oxide and nontronite cemented breccias. The massive sulfide deposit likely developed during mixing of upwelling hot fluids with cold seawater within a shallow permeable fault breccia along a deep‐seated normal fault bounding the southern rift valley wall. Silica and sepiolite deposits were found mostly on the rift valley walls and likely formed during low‐ to moderate‐temperature ultramafic‐hosted hydrothermal activity. The abundance of hydrothermal material and the frequency of localized hydrothermal activity is remarkable because the mantle upwelling and magma supply rates, and hence the magmatic heat input, along this section of the SWIR are lower than on any other explored segment of the global mid‐ocean ridge system. This observation suggests that high mantle upwelling and magma supply rates are not required to drive mid‐ocean ridge hydrothermal systems and that a close relationship between magmatic heat input and hydrothermal activity may not be established at the ultra‐slow end of the ridge spreading spectrum. The frequency and distribution of hydrothermal activity in the study area may reflect a largely tectonic control on fluid circulation, with hydrothermal vent sites being preferentially associated with long‐lived faults that provide fluid pathways. Our results suggest the contribution of magma‐starved ridge segments to the global ocean‐lithosphere geochemical budget is potentially much larger than previously thought.

Gold-Bearing Breccias of the Rain Mine, Carlin Trend, Nevada

The Rain mine includes two mined-out open pits that contained 36.4 t (1.17 Moz) gold, averaging 1.8 g/t gold, and underground reserves, including underground production, estimated at 4.9 t (157,000 oz) gold averaging 7.7 g/t. Rain orebodies are localized in a breccia complex within the hanging wall of the Rain fault and hosted within the Mississippian Webb Formation immediately overlying the contact with the Devonian Devils Gate Limestone. The ore host includes four texturally and genetically distinct breccia types: (1) crackle breccia; (2) hydrothermal breccia; (3) tuffisite with accretionary lapilli; and (4) collapse breccia. Crackle breccia forms a capping over multistage hydrothermal breccias that are cut by tabular- to pipe-shaped tuffisite dikes, with some containing accretionary lapilli. Pre- and synore hydrothermal breccias formed during at least three episodes of convective fluidization, followed by quartz-sulfide-barite cementation. High-grade gold was deposited as a late phase along the upper portion of the hydrothermal breccia mass and extended into the crackle breccia zone. Collapse breccias occur along the floor of the composite breccia mass and have irregular upper and lower contacts. The lower contact occurs on a dissolution boundary with the Devils Gate Limestone. Matrix-supported, heterolithic, hydrothermal breccias at Rain consist of sedimentary rock fragments composed of sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, limestone, and conglomerate. Some fragments contain as much as 8 percent introduced biotite in veinlets and/or fragment matrix replacements. The veinlets consist of euhedral quartz, biotite, sphalerite, and pyrite. Barite constitutes as much as 60 percent of the hydrothermal breccias in the form of fragments and as a cement to the breccias. Quartz replacement of fragments and as a breccia cement is pervasive. The total sulfide content in unoxidized ores is less than 5 volume percent. The Rain orebody resulted from five interpreted stages of development: (1) structural preparation along the right-lateral oblique Rain fault system and conjugate left-lateral oblique northeast-striking faults; (2) multiple episodes of hydrothermal breccia formation, with high-grade gold deposition immediately following the last brecciation event; (3) late channelized and fluidized rock fragments and fine clays forming tuffisite bodies with accretionary lapilli; (4) postmineral extensional reactivation of structures; and (5) collapse brecciation resulting from postore supergene acidic fluid ponding on and dissolving the upper Devils Gate Limestone. The age of the Rain orebody is poorly constrained. It is older than 22 Ma supergene alunite, but no maximum age constraints other than the Mississippian host rock are known.

Alteration History Studies in the Exploratory Studies Facility, Yucca Mountain, Nevada, USA

AbstractBy mid-1995, the Exploratory Studies Facility (ESF) extended about 1.1 km from Exile Hill westward toward Yucca Mountain, mostly within densely welded, devitrified Tiva Canyon Tuff. Secondary mineral occurrences in this unit include breccia cements of mordenite, a fibrous zeolite, and vapor-phase deposits of silica, alkali feldspar, apatite, hollandite, amphibole, and zircon. Calcite is also a common secondary mineral in faults and fractures. Studies of water and gas contents in fluid inclusions in calcites from a fault in nonwelded tuff and a fracture in densely welded tuff suggest mineral deposition under transient locally saturated conditions. Calcite in the nonwelded tuff incorporated air from the unsaturated tuff adjacent to the fault.A highly altered interval within pre-Pah Canyon tuffs just above the top of the Topopah Spring Tuff may be a fossil fumarole or other hydrothermal feature associated with cooling pyroclastic deposits, overprinted by later zeolitic alteration. The observed quartz, cristobalite, opal-CT, and fluorite have been widely identified as products of syngenetic devitrification and vapor-phase alteration in and above the Topopah Spring Tuff. Smectite, also an abundant secondary mineral at the ESF site, has been observed elsewhere at this stratigraphic level.Zeolitic alteration of nonwelded tuffs above the Topopah Spring Tuff, as seen in the ESF, has also been noted in drill core and outcrop at northeastern Yucca Mountain. The hydrologic and geochemical conditions that favored zeolitization only in certain areas of this stratigraphic interval have yet to be determined.

Structural controls and genesis of epithermal gold-bearing breccias at the Lebong Tandai mine, Western Sumatra, Indonesia

Lebong Tandai is a low-sulphidation, volcanic-hosted epithermal gold deposit of Neogene age, located within the foothills of the Barisan Mountains, Sumatra. To date, the mine has produced approximately 40 tonnes of gold and 400 tonnes of silver. The mineralisation is exclusively in the form of tabular quartz-cemented breccias bodies which are localised along faults. The breccias comprise angular to sub-rounded clasts of the wallrocks and earlier barren breccias cemented by banded or massive quartz, and in many instances, the clasts are supported within the quartz cement. The sulphide minerals occur as either a single cockade band around the clasts in the breccia, or as polymineralic aggregates disseminated throughout the breccia cement. The main precious-metal-bearing phase is electrum, with silver-sulphosalts and silver-tellurides also present. Highly variable concentrations of pyrite, sphalerite, galena and chalcopyrite are associated with the precious-metal phases. With the exception of two minor lodes, the mineralised breccias are localised along strike-slip faults which display changes in orientation indicative of D-, R- and P-shears and T-fractures, with individual segments ranging from a few metres to a few hundred metres in length. Two strike-slip fault systems are recognised, one sinistral, trending east-west and the other dextral, trending northwest, the latter of which is parallel to the Sumatran Fault System. The majority of gold and silver production is from breccias localised along faults formed during the sinistral tectonism. The breccias are believed to have been generated during compressional reactivation of the east-west sinistral strike-slip faults in response to the subduction of the Indian-Australian plate beneath Sumatra. Supralithostatic fluid pressures are a necessary pre-requisite for such reactivation, and the sudden drop in fluid pressure during reactivation is thought to have resulted in both the formation of the breccias by hydraulic fracturing, and the deposition of amorphous silica, precious metals and base metal sulphides. High rates of fluid flow subsequent to fracturing are thought to have led to fluidisation of the breccia clasts and abrasion to their current morphologies. Microthermometry of fluid inclusions in sphalerite indicates that the mineralising fluids were of low salinity, less than 3 wt% NaCl equivalent, and that mineralisation took place at temperatures of 260–280°C. Variations of salinity and homogenisation temperature due to boiling are poorly developed, although if boiling occurred, the metalliferous minerals would have been deposited early in the boiling process before the fluid had cooled appreciably.