NaCl Equiv Research Articles

A Study of Spontaneous Imbibition Recovery Mechanism of Surfactant Formulated from Methyl Ester Sulfonates

MES (Methyl Ester Suffocates) can be formulated to become surfactant-MES that has surfactant potential properties for EOR (enhanced oil recovery). A such formulated surfactant MES by adding some solvents and chemicals to adjust its properties in order to generate a compatibity with reservoir fluid and rock has been developed. This formulated surfactant MES, therefore, has been tested its properties for enhanced oil recovery in a selected oil field. The oil field produces an oil withc39.45oAPI, and brine content of about 18,900 mg/L equivalent NaCl concentration. While reservoir rock is not available and substituted by Bentheimer standard core. Basically the production enhancements of surfactant solution for EOR processes are wettability alteration and interfacial tension reduction. In these experiments, some evaluations have been done to observe the capability the formulated surfactant MES for oil production enhancements includingwettability alteration and imbibition capability. Formulated low interfacial tension surfactant-MES that will be evaluated for spontaneous imbibition ability have been diluted in the brine of 0.5 and 1.0% concentrations. Tests on wettability alteration indicated that the surfactant solutions could not change the wettability of the rocks. The initial wettability is mixed wet and still mixed wet after ageing in the surfactant solution. On other hand the spontaneous imbibition tests resulted in significant oil production coming out from the cores, i.e. 67.07% oil recovery with 0.5% surfactant and 92.25% for 1.0% surfactant solutions. But optimum oil recovery factor by brine imbibition is only 41.69%

Fluid inclusion and stable isotope constraints on the genesis of epithermal base-metal veins in the Armaqan Khaneh mining district, Tarom-Hashtjin metallogenic belt, NW Iran

Rashtabad, Aqkand and Jalilabad are neighbouring epithermal base-metal deposits in the Armaqan Khaneh mining district of the Tarom-Hashtjin metallogenic belt, northwestern Iran. Mineralised veins in these deposits consist of pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite with lesser bornite and minor amounts of specular hematite. The gangue mineralogy includes quartz, chlorite, and calcite in ore veins and sericite/illite, and sericite–epidote–chlorite–calcite in vein haloes. At Rashtabad and Jalilabad, primary LV fluid inclusion assemblages homogenise into liquid at 150–285 °C and 120–342 °C, respectively. The corresponding salinities, respectively, vary between 7.4–12.9 and 7.8–13.5 wt% NaCl equiv. At Aqkand, LV inclusions show a T h(total) of 229–353 °C and salinities of 7.4–9.8 wt% NaCl equiv. Calculated δ18Owater values of quartz samples at Rashtabad, Aqkand, and Jalilabad are +1.0‰ to +9.6‰ Vienna-Standard Mean Ocean Water, signifying that the ore-forming fluid progressed from magmatic to meteoric water. Sulfur isotopic values of sulfides range from −6.0 to −2.2‰ Vienna Cañon Diablo Troilite (averaging −3.7‰), indicate sulfur was derived from a rather homogeneous magmatic source that was oxidised by meteoric water through fluid mixing. Our data suggest that Rashtabad, Aqkand and Jalilabad are an intermediate-sulfidation type of epithermal mineralisation formed from a well-mixed source that experienced extensive fluid mixing and boiling. KEY POINTS The Rashtabad, Aqkand and Jalilabad deposits of the Armaqan Khaneh mining district are intermediate-sulfidation style of epithermal mineralisation. Fluid boiling and mixing facilitated hydrothermal alteration and mineralisation. Oxygen isotope values suggest that the ore–fluid system evolved from magmatic to meteoric. Sulfur derived from a magmatic source was oxidised by meteoric water through fluid mixing.

Genesis of the Baiyangping Cu–Co and Pb–Zn Mineralizations in Lanping Basin, SW China

The Oligocene to Miocene Baiyangping Cu–Co and Pb–Zn mineralization was deposited during the collision of the India and Asia continents. The mineralization is hosted in veins in faulted carbonate and clastic rocks, which act as fluid pathways. A detailed fluid-inclusion analysis and C–O–S isotopic study are reported, focusing on the origin of the mineralizing fluids and mineralizing processes. The microthermometry of fluid inclusions hosted in quartz and carbonates indicate that the fluid peak temperature for both Cu–Co and Pb–Zn mineralizations ranges from 160 to 200 °C and from 120 to 160 °C, respectively. During these metallogenic hydrothermal events, salinity evolved from 2.7 wt% NaCl equiv to 24.8 wt% NaCl equiv. The δ34S values measured on sphalerite and tennantite range from +5.2‰ to +9.5‰, which indicates that sulfur originated from a reservoir characterized by thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR). The C–O isotopic values obtained from the carbonate samples suggest that the fluid mainly originates from basinal brines. The combination of C and S isotopic values of the Cu–Co and Pb–Zn mineralization indicate the sedimentary source of the basin. Mineralization is controlled by faults, thermochemical sulfate reduction, and the physicochemical conditions of the fluid.

Inversion-based interpretation of borehole spontaneous potential measurements for accurate estimation of water resistivity in the presence of shoulder-bed and mud-filtrate invasion effects

Electrical resistivity of formation water is a fundamental property used to quantify in situ water quality for human consumption or for assessment of hydrocarbon pore volume. Resistivity interpretation methods commonly used to quantify the electrical resistivity of formation water invoke rock porosity and fitting parameters that require additional and independent core measurements. Alternatively, the spontaneous potential (SP) log can be used to calculate water resistivity without knowledge of rock porosity in wells drilled with water-based mud. In combination with resistivity and gamma-ray logs, SP logs can be used to estimate water quality, apparent volumetric concentration of shale, and for qualitative assessments of permeability. However, SP logs often exhibit shoulder-bed and mud-filtration effects; these effects need to be mitigated before using SP logs for calculation of water resistivity. We have developed a new inversion-based method to simultaneously mitigate shoulder-bed and mud-filtrate invasion effects present in SP logs via fast numerical simulations based on Green functions. The interpretation method was implemented on SP logs acquired across aquifers with various degrees of complexity using noisy synthetic and field measurements to estimate equivalent NaCl concentration, radius of mud-filtrate invasion, and sodium macroscopic transport number. Interpretation results compared well to those obtained from resistivity and nuclear logs, provided estimates of uncertainty, and could incorporate a priori knowledge of aquifer petrophysical properties in the estimation.

The Chah-Mesi epithermal Cu-Pb-Zn-(Ag-Au) deposit and its link to the Meiduk porphyry copper deposit, SE Iran: Evidence from sulfosalt chemistry and fluid inclusions

The polymetallic Chah-Mesi epithermal vein deposit is located about 2.5 km south of the Meiduk porphyry Cu-(Mo-Au) deposit in the Kerman Cenozoic Magmatic Arc (Kerman Belt), representing the southeastern sector of the Urumieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Belt in Iran. The veins are N-S to NNE-SSW oriented and hosted in volcanic rocks of basaltic, andesitic to dacitic composition and pyroclastics, which were affected by intense local silicification and sericitization in proximity to mineralized veins. Propylitic, argillic, as well as potassic alteration show a more regional distribution; the latter only observed closer to the Meiduk deposit. Mineralization occurs in various types of veins (massive, banded, crustiform) and to minor extent in replacement and breccia bodies. It encompasses several stages: An early higher-sulfidation stage, characterized by pyrite, chalcopyrite, enargite/luzonite and bornite, is followed by the main intermediate-sulfidation state assemblage with pyrite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite group minerals and sphalerite. The late Pb-Zn rich stage with sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite and pyrite overprints the earlier associations. Gold and silver of up to 7 g/t and 150 g/t, respectively, are associated with the main and late stages of mineralization. The main carriers of these precious metals are Ag-rich gold (electrum) and tetrahedrite; other Ag-bearing sulfosalts like pearceite are rare. The chemical composition of tetrahedrite group minerals ranges from tennantite-(Fe) to tetrahedrite-(Fe) and tetrahedrite-(Zn) exhibiting a positive correlation between Sb and Ag contents. The tetrahedrite group minerals show complex zoning and display an increase of Sb away from the Meiduk deposit. Primary fluid inclusions in sphalerite and quartz from the banded and crustiform veins are low saline aqueous H2O-salt inclusions with only traces of CO2. Homogenization temperatures of two-phase LV inclusions (Th LV→L) have an average of 210 °C in sphalerite and 260 °C in quartz. Salinity values range from 1.2 to 9.9 and 2.1 to 9.2 mass% NaCl equivalent in sphalerite and quartz, respectively with an average of c. 6 mass% NaCl equiv. Low CO2 concentrations in the vapor phase detected by Raman spectroscopy together with previously published stable isotope data indicate fluids of magmatic origin as the main fluid source that were mixed with meteoric water. Mineralization is linked to ascending hydrothermal fluids which evolved from high- to intermediate-sulfidation state due to cooling, dilution with meteoric water and progressing fluid-wallrock interaction. Similar low salinity, but higher CO2-bearing fluids were previously reported from the nearby Meiduk porphyry deposit. Conclusively, Chah-Mesi is classified as an intermediate-sulfidation epithermal deposit that developed in the peripheral parts of the Meiduk porphyry system.

A Fluid Inclusion and Critical/Rare Metal Study of Epithermal Quartz-Stibnite Veins Associated with the Gerakario Porphyry Deposit, Northern Greece

The Gerakario Cu-Au porphyry deposit in the Kilkis ore district, northern Greece, contains epithermal quartz-stibnite veins on the eastern side of the deposit, which crosscut a two-mica gneiss. Metallic mineralization in these veins consists of stibnite + berthierite + native antimony + pyrite + arsenopyrite, and minor marcasite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, löllingite, and native gold. Bulk geochemical analyses of the ore reveal an enrichment in critical and rare metals, including Ag, Au, Bi, Ce, Co, Ga, La, and Sb. Analysis of stibnite with LA-ICP-MS showed an enrichment in base metals (As, Cu, Pb), as well as weak to moderate contents of critical and rare metals (Ag, Bi, Ce, La, Re, Sm, Th, Ti, Tl). A statistical analysis of the trace elements show a positive correlation for the elemental pairs Ce-La, Ce-Sb, and La-Sb, and a negative correlation for the pair Bi-Sb. Fluid inclusions in the A-type veins of the porphyry-style mineralization show the presence of fluid boiling, resulting in a highly saline aqueous fluid phase (35.7 to 45.6 wt.% NaCl equiv.) and a moderately saline gas phase (14 to 22 wt.% NaCl equiv.) in the system H2O-NaCl-KCl at temperatures varying between 380° and 460 °C and pressures from 100 to 580 bar. Mixing of the moderate saline fluid with meteoric water produced less saline fluids (8 to 10 wt.% NaCl equiv.), which are associated with the epithermal quartz-stibnite vein mineralization. This process took place under hydrostatic pressures ranging from 65 to 116 bar at a depth between 600 and 1000 m, and at temperatures mainly from 280° to 320 °C.

Superimposed zinc and gold mineralization in the Dunde iron deposit, western Tianshan, NW China: Constraints from LA-ICP-MS fluid inclusion microanalysis

The submarine volcanogenic iron oxide (SVIO) deposits are one of the most important sources of high-grade iron ores in China. Many large- and medium-scale SVIO deposits were recently discovered in the Awulale metallogenic belt (AMB) in Western Tianshan, NW China. The Dunde deposit in the AMB is a unique iron deposit containing large-scale Zn and medium-scale Au resources. The zinc mineralization in this deposit is generally located at the margin of iron orebodies constituting composite iron-zinc orebodies. To clarify the genetic relation between iron and Zn with Au mineralization, we conducted a detailed investigation of sphalerite-hosted fluid inclusions in the Dunde deposit. The primary fluid inclusions in sphalerite are liquid-rich, with homogenization temperature in the range of 189–219 ℃, and salinity of 19.68–22.38 wt% NaCl equiv. Single fluid inclusion LA-ICP-MS analysis suggests a magmatic source for the fluid as reflected by high Rb/Na (0.001–0.016), K/Na (0.18–0.83) and low Ca/K (1.03–9.38) ratios, which are distinctly different from those of basinal brines. The Cs/(K + Na + Ca)*10000 values (6.0–13.4) of sphalerite-hosted fluid inclusions are equivalent to those in porphyry-type Cu-Mo deposit (4.7–23.8), indicating that the ore-forming fluid originated from a highly evolved granitic magma, rather than intermediate-mafic magmatism related to iron mineralization. Thus, we propose that the zinc and gold mineralization in the Dunde deposit might be products of superimposed mineralization on iron orebodies during hydrothermal alteration related to granitic intrusions.

Metallogeny of the Late Jurassic Qiucun epithermal gold deposit in southeastern China: Constraints from geochronology, fluid inclusions, and H-O-C-Pb isotopes

On the basis of zircon and apatite U-Pb dating, H-O-C-Pb isotopes, and fluid inclusion data, a metallogenic model is established for the Qiucun gold deposit (gold resource > 10 t, average grade: 4.9 g/t) in the Dehua goldfield in the Mesozoic Coastal Volcanic Belt (southeastern China). Three hydrothermal stages can be distinguished within the Late Jurassic volcanic host rocks: Stage I, dominated by quartz-pyrite, Stage II with a quartz-sulfide assemblage, and Stage III reflected by quartz-calcite. The ore-hosting volcanic rocks were formed at 170.2 ± 0.9 Ma. Distinctly younger U-Pb ages of 162.5 ± 1.0 Ma and 160.5 ± 6.0 Ma obtained on syn-ore hydrothermal zircon and apatite, respectively, clearly indicate that gold mineralization postdates the volcanic host rocks. Fluid inclusion data reveal that the ores were precipitated from low-temperature (275 to 170 °C), low-pressure (<55 bar), and low-salinity (<5 wt% NaCl equiv.) solutions, with a systematic decrease in temperature and pressure from stages I to III. The δ34SV-CDT ratios for gold ores vary between −3.2 and 0.6 ‰. Sulfide separates yielded 206Pb/204Pb ratios of 18.368 to 18.504, 207Pb/204Pb ratios of 15.685 to 15.718, and 208Pb/204Pb ratios of 38.792 to 39.063. These data suggest S and Pb derivation from the host volcanic rocks and perhaps deeper-seated crustal materials. Calcite from Stage III has δ13CV-PDB values of −2.9 to −2.7 ‰ and δ18OV-SMOW values of 8.2 to 10.8 ‰. Calculated δ18Ofluid (−7.6 to −2.7‰) and δDfluid (−119 to −49‰) values document a largely meteoric nature of the mineralizing fluid. All data together point at a Late Jurassic low-sulfidation epithermal gold mineralization with metal remobilization from host volcanic rocks and basement.

Geological, mineralogical and ore fluid characteristics of the Tagun‐Khin‐Dan gold mineralization in Mogok‐Mandalay‐Mergui Belt, Central Myanmar

AbstractThe Tagun‐Khin‐Dan gold deposit in the Mogok‐Mandalay‐Mergui Belt, Central Myanmar, is characterized by an array of quartz‐veins hosted in mudstone of the Kogwe Formation of the Carboniferous Mergui Group. Two major deformational stages were recorded in the area; (1) N‐S shortening and (2) uplifting and emplacement of various dykes and quartz veinlets. The N‐S shortening within the area lead the development of km‐scale faults, determined largely by the presence of a zone of major WNW‐ESE trending dextral strike‐slip faulting. Quartz veins in the deposit include: (1) type‐A quartz veins, parallel to the dextral NW‐SE trending major fault; and (2) type‐B quartz veins which occur as isolated parallel veins. Gold in the type‐A quartz vein is present as native gold and electrum locked within pyrite and associated with pyrite and galena and in the type‐B quartz veins as electrum associated with sulfide minerals such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena and sphalerite. The mineralization stages can be classified into the type‐A quartz vein stage and the type‐B quartz vein stage. Two type of fluid inclusions; liquid‐rich aqueous inclusions (L‐type) and vapor‐rich aqueous inclusions (V‐type) are identified in the type‐A quartz veins. The homogenization temperature of L‐type fluid inclusions of the type‐A quartz veins ranges from 203 to 321°C and salinity of the fluid inclusions varies from 0.4 to 1.6 wt% NaCl equiv. The homogenization temperature of V‐type fluid inclusions of type‐A quartz veins ranges from 290 to 340°C with a salinity ranging from 0.4 to 1.9 wt% NaCl equivalent. In the type‐B quartz veins, only liquid‐rich aqueous inclusions (L‐type) are identified. The type‐B quartz veins yielded low homogenization temperatures from 160 to 220°C, with low salinities from 0.2 to 1.9 wt% NaCl equiv. compared with those of the type‐A veins. The depth range of ore formation is estimated to be a shallow depth of less than 0.2 km based on fluid inclusion microthermometry. Fluid boiling is evident during the type‐A quartz vein stage, and fluid cooling and mixing in the later type‐B quartz vein stage. Precipitation of pyrite in the ore zone occurred as four recognized types: arsenic‐rich pyrite‐1, 2, 3 in the type‐A quartz veins and pyrite‐4 in the type‐B quartz veins. A positive relation between Au and As contents of pyrites suggests that the gold is present together with arsenic in the structure of pyrites of the type‐A quartz veins as solid solution in addition to as nanoparticle inclusions. The high Co and Ni contents of pyrites of both the type‐A and the type‐B quartz veins, with no evidence of CO2 in the system indicate that the ore‐forming fluids were epizonal magmatic‐hydrothermal fluids rather than metamorphic fluid. The hydrothermal fluids of the Tagun‐Khin‐Dan deposit were driven by faulting to form the mudstone‐hosted epithermal gold mineralization and related to continuing northwards movement of the Indian Plate that initiated the displacement on the strike‐slip Sagaing Fault.

Diagenetic and epigenetic origins for Cu‐Ag mineralization in the Khoemacau Zone 5 deposit, Kalahari Copperbelt, northwestern Botswana

AbstractIn the Kalahari Copperbelt, the mechanism of regional scale Cu‐Ag mineralization has remained intensely debated between early diagenesis and a single pass during a regional deformation event. At the Zone 5 Cu‐Ag deposit in northwestern Botswana, the orebody is hosted preferentially by chemically reduced metasedimentary rocks that overly oxidized, hematite‐bearing arkosic sandstone. An early diagenetic mineralizing event has been identified which is characterized by fine‐grained stratiform pyrite, including recrystallized framboidal pyrite, intergrown with diagenetic mineral assemblages in the host‐rock. Diagenetic pyrite is in textural equilibrium with chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, and (Fe‐Co‐Ni) sulfarsenide. These minerals were subsequently overprinted by a more intense, multi‐stage, structurally‐controlled hydrothermal Cu‐Ag mineralization event related to the Damaran orogeny (~600–480 Ma). The hydrothermal Cu‐Ag mineralization was deposited from hot (~236–265°C), high salinity (19–24.6 wt% NaCl equiv.) hydrothermal ore fluids. Petrographic results reveal an apparent overlap in trace metal associations (Cu, Fe, As, Zn, Pb, Ni, Co) between the two mineralizing events, which can be explained by remobilization of precursor sulfides. The major Ag‐carriers in the ore are chalcocite, covellite, and bornite. The δ34S values of diagenetic pyrite range from −35.8 to +11.4‰, whereas those of hydrothermal epigenetic sulfides, including pyrite, range from −28.0 to +3.0‰. We propose that the hydrothermal sulfides had acquired some bacterially‐reduced sulfur from earlier‐formed minerals. The δ18O and δ13C values of quartz and calcite associated with the hydrothermal mineralization are typical of Neoproterozoic sediment‐hosted Cu‐Ag deposits. However, the δ18O isotopic values of the calcite gangue are anomalously depleted, which is likely due to recrystallization under metamorphic conditions. Our studies at Zone 5 indicate that the Zone 5 Cu‐Ag deposit is the result of a multi‐stage mineralization history that includes both diagenetic and epigenetic events (punctuated by &gt;400 m.y.) facilitated by a strong litho‐structural control.

Fluid Inclusion Study of Epithermal Quartz Veins from the Kyaukmyet Prospect, Monywa Copper-Gold Ore Field, Central Myanmar

The Kyaukmyet prospect is located near the main ore bodies of the Kyisintaung and Sabetaung high-sulfidation Cu-Au deposits, Monywa copper-gold ore field, central Myanmar. Lithologic units in the research area are of mainly rhyolite lava, lapilli tuff and silicified sandstone, mudstone and siltstone units of Magyigon Formation which hosted to be polymetallic mineralization. Our field study recorded that epithermal quartz veins are hosted largely in rhyolite lava and lapilli tuff units. Those quartz veins show crustiform, banded (colloform), lattice bladed texture and comb quartz. The main objectives of the present research in which fluid inclusion studies were considered to conduct the nature, characteristics and hydrothermal fluids evolution from the epithermal quartz veins. In this research, there are three main types of fluid inclusions are classified according to their phase relationship (1) two-phase liquid-rich inclusions, (2) the coexisting liquid-rich and vapor-rich inclusions, and (3) only vapor-rich inclusions. Microthermometric measurements of fluid inclusions yielded homogenization temperatures (Th) of 148–282 °C and final ice-melting temperature (Tm) of -0.2°C to -1.4°C . The value of (Tm) are equal to the salinities reaching up 0.35 to 2.07 wt % NaCl equiv. respectively. Estimation formation temperature of the quartz veins provide 190°C and 210°C and paleo-depth of formation are estimated to be between 130m and 210m. Petrography of fluid inclusion and microthermometric data suggest that fluid boiling as well as mixing processes were likely to be happened during the hydrothermal fluid evolution at the Kyaukmyet prospect. According to the characteristics of many parameters including petrography of fluid inclusion, microthermometric data, paleo-depth, evidence of quartz vein textures and types of hydrothermal alteration from the Kyaukmyet prospect allows to interpret these data to be the low-sulfidation epithermal system.

Geochemical and fluid evidences for fluorine-rich magmatic-hydrothermal origin of the giant Chalukou Mo deposit in the northeast China

The Chalukou deposit is a world-class porphyry Mo deposit in the Great Hingan Range, northeast China. Fluorites were analyzed by scanning electron microscope-cathodoluminescence (SEM-CL), microthermometry, and laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to characterize the composition and temperature of mineralizing fluids. There are four types of veins in Chalukou deposit that can be categorised as A vein (quartz–fluorite–magnetite–K-feldspar vein), B vein (quartz–fluorite–molybdenite vein), D vein (quartz–fluorite–sphalerite–galena–pyrite vein) and post-mineralization vein. The CL images of fluorites are characterized by heterogeneous texture in A vein, but homogeneous texture in B and D veins. Fluorites in A vein have total rare earth elements (REE) contents of 10–4963 ppm and temperatures of 370–410 °C, which show similar geochemical features with ore-bearing porphyry. In contrast, fluorites in B and D veins exhibit total REE contents of 4.6–41.3 ppm and temperatures between 257 and 300 °C, showing the decreasing trends of total REE contents and temperatures from early to late stage. Fluid inclusions of four types of veins are composed of one-phase, two-phase and daughter mineral-bearing multiphase with decreasing trend of temperatures from 450 °C to 120 °C and salinities from 53.0% to 0.7 wt% NaCl equiv. during the evolution. It is proposed that high-fluorine fugacity has a considerable influence on metal solubility and migration in the early stage of the Chalukou deposit. Temperature decreasing and fluid mixing may be the key factors of metal precipitation during the Mo mineralization stage, but the effect of fluorine is not obvious.

Genesis of the Aobaotu Pb–Zn deposit in the southern Great Xing'an Range, NE China: Constraints from geochronology and C–H–O–S–Pb isotopic and fluid inclusion studies

The Aobaotu Pb–Zn deposit (470,700 t; 1.51% Pb, 2.30% Zn) in the southern Great Xing'an Range, northeastern China, is hosted by the Late Jurassic volcanic tuff and structurally controlled by a near‐east–west‐trending fault. Three stages of mineralization were identified, namely, stage I of quartz ± pyrite veins, stage II of quartz–polymetallic sulphide veins, and stage III of late quartz–calcite veins. The quartz and calcite that formed in the three stages were selected for fluid inclusion and C–H–O isotope analyses. The results show that the ore‐forming fluid of the deposit belongs to the H2O–CO2–NaCl system at a medium temperature (concentrated at 220–300°C) and in low salinity (0.7–12.1 wt% NaCl equiv). The δ13C values of the calcite and ankerite are in the range of −8.4 to −4.8‰, indicating that as a source of deep magma. The δDV‐SMOW and values of quartz range from −108 to −88‰ and 4.55 to 5.85‰, respectively, indicating that the initial fluid of the Aobaotu deposit was a mixture of residual magmatic and meteoric water. Sulphur isotope analysis of the sulphide minerals, that is, sphalerite, galena, pyrite, and chalcopyrite, yield δ34S value in a range of 1.44–4.94‰, indicating that sulphur is mainly derived from magma. In addition, the Pb isotopic composition of the sulphides indicates that the ore‐forming material has a mixed crust–mantle source. Zircon U–Pb dating suggests that the formation of the Aobaotu deposit is genetically related to the granodiorite porphyry (130.3 ± 0.9 Ma). The combined geochronology and isotopic evidence suggest that the Aobaotu deposit is a magmatic‐hydrothermal vein‐type Pb–Zn deposit, opposite to a volcanic Pb–Zn deposit as suggested before. The Aobaotu deposit formed in an extensional tectonic setting caused by the rollback of the Palaeo‐Pacific Plate.

Distribution of hypogene alteration and fluid evolution in the Los Humeros Geothermal Field (Puebla, Mexico): Multiple sourced fluids, interrelations, and processes in a superhot system

The Los Humeros Geothermal Field (LHGF) is one of the highest producing geothermal areas in Mexico. This paper aims essentially to determine high-resolution patterns of distribution of hypogene alteration assemblages and the distribution of temperatures in space and time of geothermal fluids in the LHGF. The zoning of hypogene alteration assemblages in the LHGF consists of (1) shallow advanced argillic alteration assemblages that grade into (2) argillic and (3) zeolitic assemblages with depth, followed by (4) low-temperature and (5) high-temperature propylitic, and (6) deep high-temperature high-silica advanced argillic alteration assemblages. The distribution of deep advanced argillic alteration assemblages is associated with the occurrence of acidic supercritical fluids prior to their deep boiling. Capping these, high-temperature propylitic assemblages are associated with the occurrence of subcritic brines (barely exceeding 13 wt% NaCl equiv.) that stemmed from magmatic supercritic fluids (upon degassing and/or conductive cooling) and that were diluted by deeply circulated and thermally equilibrated meteoric water. Conductively cooled subcritic fluids, which eventually kept being diluted on their way to the surface, would be likely associated with the generation of shallow low-temperature propylitic assemblages. Relatively fresh meteoric water might have been increasingly relevant in such dilution as upwelling fluids neared the surface. Shallow boiling occurred mostly between high- and medium-temperature propylitic zones, and generated acidic vapors that eventually condensated in the phreatic water table and, in part, in the argillic alteration zone. Shallow hypogene advanced argillic (and argillic) alteration consisting of kaolinite, platy alunite, native sulfur and the newly found cuprocopiapite occurred in steam-heated grounds. Fluid inclusion and present-day geothermal fluid data allow to introduce relative time as a variable in the characterization of hydrothermal fluids in the LHGF. These sets of temperature data allow to independently determine patterns of temperature distribution as isotherms. Concave shapes in isotherms are interpreted to spearhead preferential passageways for hydrothermal fluids. Some areas (for instance, in the southern part of the LHGF) record relatively stable passageways through time, but these may significantly shift their positions in other areas. Stable passageways, apparently undisturbed by geothermal exploitation, may identify robust portions of the system that ensure a long-lasting exploitation. They also correspond to sound inputs of high-salinity and hot magmatic fluids, which may be sandwiched between cooler low-salinity fluids, dominantly meteoric in origin, and collectively make a case for convection (and partial mixing). Also, we determined that “older” inclusion fluids are ∼50 °C higher than “younger” fluids from geothermal wells, but such decrease can be compatible with the cooling down of the system due to geothermal exploitation. Therefore, such differences in temperature do not necessarily reflect an actual cooling in the system.

Origin and Characteristics of the Shwetagun Deposit, Modi Taung-Nankwe Gold District and the Kunzeik and Zibyaung Deposits, Kyaikhto Gold District in Mergui Belt, Myanmar: Implications for Fluid Source and Orogenic Gold Mineralization

The Mergui Belt of Myanmar is endowed with several important orogenic gold deposits, which have economic significance and exploration potential. The present research is focused on two gold districts, Modi Taung-Nankwe and Kyaikhto in the Mergui Belt comparing their geological setting, ore and alteration mineralogy, fluid inclusion characteristics, and ore-forming processes. Both of the gold districts show similarities in nature and characteristics of gold-bearing quartz veins occurring as sheeted veins, massive veins, stockworks to spider veinlets. These gold deposits are mainly hosted by the mudstone, slaty mudstone, greywacke sandstone, slate, and slaty phyllite of Mergui Group (dominantly of Carboniferous age). The gold-bearing quartz veins generally trend from NNE to N-S, whereas some veins strike NW-SE in all deposits. The gold-bearing quartz veins are mainly occurred within the faults and shear zones throughout the two gold districts. Wall-rock alterations at Shwetagun are mainly silicification, chloritization, and sericitization, whereas in Kyaikhto, silicification, carbonation, as well as chloritization, and sericitization are common. At Shwetagun, the gold occurred as electrum grains in fractures within the veins and sulfides. In Kyaikhto, the quartz-carbonate-sulfide and quartz-sulfide veins appeared to have formed from multiple episodes of gold formation categorizing mainly as free native gold grains in fractures within the veins or invisible native gold and electrum within sulfides. At Shwetagun, the ore minerals in the auriferous quartz veins include pyrite, galena, and sphalerite, with a lesser amount of electrum, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, chlorite, and sericite. In Kyaikhto, the common mineralogy associated with gold mineralization is pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, marcasite, magnetite, hematite, ankerite, calcite, chlorite, epidote, albite, and sericite. At Shwetagun, the mineralization occurred at a varying temperature from 250 to 335°C, with a salinity range from 0.2 to 4.6 wt% NaCl equivalent. The Kyaikhto gold district was formed from aqueous–carbonic ore fluids of temperatures between 242 and 376°C, low to medium salinity (&amp;lt;11.8 wt% NaCl equivalent), and low CO2 content. The ore-forming processes of the Shwetagun deposit in the Modi Taung-Nankwe gold district and the Kyaikhto gold district are remarkably comparable to those of the mesozonal orogenic gold systems.

The Formation of Magmatic-Hydrothermal Features in Sn-Mineralized and Barren Tasmanian Intrusions, Southeast Australia: Insights from Quartz Textures, Trace Elements, and Microthermometry

Abstract Tasmania is the most important tin province in Australia, having been endowed with &amp;gt;0.65 Mt Sn. Some granitic intrusions in western Tasmania have distinctive tourmaline- and quartz-rich magmatic-hydrothermal features, whether they are mineralized (e.g., Heemskirk Granite) or barren (Pieman Heads Granite). The Devonian Heemskirk and Pieman Heads plutons crop out on the western coast of Tasmania and are characterized by similar mineralogical and geochemical compositions and ages. The magmatic-hydrothermal textural features include tourmaline patches, tourmaline orbicules, and tourmaline-muscovite veins, as well as miarolitic cavities and quartz-fluorite-sulfide veins in the Heemskirk Granite. Cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging, laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, and microthermometric analyses of quartz have revealed the physicochemical evolution of the magmatic-hydrothermal fluids from which these tourmaline- and quartz-bearing assemblages precipitated. High Ti quartz (20–28 ppm) in tourmaline patches, orbicules, and cavities typically have homogeneous CL-bright intensity, whereas CL-dark fractures have cut and/or offset the CL-bright and -gray domains that characterize low Ti quartz (3.4–8.5 ppm) from the tourmaline veins. The earliest fluid inclusion assemblages in the quartz-tourmaline orbicules and cavities have a salinity range from 3 to 14 wt % NaCl equiv with intermediate density and were probably trapped at lithostatic pressures of 1.57 ± 0.2 kbar and temperatures of 550° to 570°C, suggesting a depth of 5.9 ± 0.8 km. Prolonged depressurization and cooling may have led to the evolution of a brine (~39 wt % NaCl equiv salinity) from the primary magmatic liquid, which formed halite-bearing hypersaline inclusions in the tourmaline orbicules. Continuous pressure decrease explains the intense brittle failure and fluid migration outward from the apical portions of the pluton, where magmatic fluids partially mixed with and were cooled by external meteoric water. These mechanisms triggered the formation of tourmaline-muscovite-quartz veins and local cassiterite-bearing greisens from a moderate-salinity fluid (~12 wt % NaCl equiv) at temperatures of ~300°C and hydrostatic pressures of 120 bars. Retrograde dissolution textures evident from CL-bright quartz cores surrounded by oscillatory growth zones with gray CL response characterize the low Ti (&amp;lt;1 ppm) and high Al (500–1,000 ppm) quartz from the fluorite-sulfide veins that precipitated from a low-salinity (5.7 wt % NaCl equiv) acidic fluid at temperatures of 200° ± 25°C and hydrostatic pressures of &amp;lt;50 bars. High Sb concentrations (up to 80 ppm) in quartz may be an indicator of low-temperature base metal mineralization related to granitic intrusions. Abundant fluid percolation, protracted fractional crystallization, and high tin concentrations in exsolved hydrothermal fluids may explain why the Heemskirk Granite is well endowed in Sn and base metal deposits, whereas the Pieman Heads Granite is barren.

Fluid Evolution and Ore Genesis of the Juyuan Tungsten Deposit, Beishan, NW China

The newly discovered Juyuan tungsten deposit is hosted in Triassic granite in the Beishan Orogen, NW China. The tungsten mineralization occurred as quartz veins, and the main ore minerals included wolframite and scheelite. The age, origin, and tectonic setting of the Juyuan tungsten deposit, however, remain poorly understood. According to the mineralogical assemblages and crosscutting relationships, three hydrothermal stages can be identified, i.e., the early stage of quartz veins with scheelite and wolframite, the intermediate stage of quartz veinlets with sulfides, and the late stage of carbonate-quartz veinlets with tungsten being mainly introduced in the early stage. Quartz formed in the two earlier stages contained four compositional types of fluid inclusions, i.e., pure CO2, CO2-H2O, daughter mineral-bearing, and NaCl-H2O, but the late-stage quartz only contained the NaCl-H2O inclusions. The inclusions in quartz formed in the early, intermediate, and late stages had total homogenization temperatures of 230–344 °C, 241−295 °C, and 184−234 °C, respectively, with salinities no higher than 7.2 wt.% NaCl equiv (equivalent). Trapping pressures estimated from the CO2-H2O inclusions were 33−256 MPa and 36−214 MPa in the early and intermediate stages, corresponding to mineralization depths of 3–8 km. Fluid boiling and mixing caused rapid precipitation of wolframite, scheelite, and sulfides. Through boiling and inflow of meteoric water, the ore-forming fluid system evolved from CO2-rich to CO2-poor in composition and from magmatic to meteoric, as indicated by decreasing δ18Owater values from early to late stages. The sulfur and lead isotope compositions in the intermediate-stage suggest that the Triassic granite was a significant source of ore metals. The biotite 40Ar/39Ar age from the W-bearing quartz shows that the Juyuan tungsten system was formed at 240.0 ± 1.0 Ma, coeval with the emplacement of granitic rocks at the deposit. Integrating the data obtained from the studies including regional geology, ore geology, biotite Ar-Ar geochronology, fluid inclusion, and C-H-O-S-Pb isotope geochemistry, we conclude that the Juyuan tungsten deposit was a quartz-vein type system that originated from the emplacement of the granites, which was induced by collision between the Tarim and Kazakhstan–Ili plates. A comparison of the characteristics of tungsten mineralization in East Tianshan and Beishan suggests that the Triassic tungsten metallogenic belt in East Tianshan extends to the Beishan orogenic belt and that the west of the orogenic belt also has potential for the discovery of further quartz-vein-type tungsten deposits.

Rare earth elements geochemistry, O and S isotopic compositions, and microthermometric data of barite from the Kuh–Ghalagheh deposit, Markazi Province, Iran

The Kuh–Ghalagheh barite deposit is located 43 km southwest of the city of Mahallat in Markazi Province, Iran. The barite mineralization occurs as a stratabound, lenticular massive orebody in siliciclastic rocks of Eocene age. Barite is accompanied by calcite, Fe- and Mn-oxides, quartz, and minor malachite. The concentration of total REEs (∑REE) is very low in barite, ranging from 0.38 to 6.26 ppm. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns show enrichment of LREE relative to HREE, and dominantly negative La, Gd, and Ce anomalies. The δ18O and δ34S isotopic values of the barite samples fall within narrow ranges of +4.0 to +5.6‰ and +26.2 to +27.8‰, respectively, which do not match those of contemporaneous seawater (Eocene). This suggests that isotopically modified seawater sulfate is the source of oxygen and sulfur in barite. Three types of aqueous, aqueous–carbonic, and carbonic fluid inclusions were found in barite, suggesting that two immiscible fluids (aqueous and carbonic) were involved in the deposition of barite. Salinity values in the aqueous fluid inclusions ranged from 1.57 to 13.40 wt% NaCl equivalent. The aqueous–carbonic inclusions have salinity values ranging from 9.43 to 16.84 wt% NaCl equivalent. The salinity ranges of the aqueous and aqueous–carbonic inclusions show that two fluids have mixed, one with moderate salinity (>15 wt% NaCl equivalent) from basinal origin and a second with low salinity (<5 wt% NaCl equivalent) from seawater. The broad homogenization temperature ranges of 130–258 °C for aqueous and 118–290 °C for aqueous–carbonic inclusions do not represent the actual temperatures of the trapped fluids, but were generated by thermal re-equilibration of the inclusions due to deep burial of barite. The available data are consistent with a cold seeps model for barite formation in the Kuh–Ghalagheh deposit. The entry of Ba-rich basinal brines into the sedimentary basin resulted in the reaction of Ba with seawater sulfate, and the deposition of barite in siliciclastic sediments.

Genesis of ferromanganese deposits from the Central Anatolian province, Yozgat-Aşağı Eğerci village, Turkey: Geochemical properties and fluid inclusions

Eğerci village is located 16 km southwest of Yerköy (Yozgat) area which has a ferromanganese deposit that formed at the contact between basalt and limestone and shows that a banded stockwork structure occurs occasionally within the limestone. The mineralization consists of pyrolusite, goethite, and ramsdellite, together with a lesser quantity of magnetite. Gangue minerals are determined as calcite and quartz. REE data from the mineral samples demonstrate a range from 2.70 - 63.70 ppm and the average value is 28.00. These results permit a comparison to be made with mineralization in hydrothermal deposits. Moreover, mineral samples show a positive Eu anomaly 0.88-48.10 ppm (ave. 9.94 ppm). The Ce anomaly values vary between 0.02 and 0.88 ppm (ave. 0.58 ppm). It is possible that the mineralization may be affected by the mixing of seawater and hydrothermal fluids. The value of the positive Eu anomaly is evidence of modern oceanic hydrothermal manganese deposits. Insight of previous fluid inclusion, studies can be easily inferred that mineralization can occur at three different stages. The temperature of the first stage ranged from 338 oC to 428 oC and other stages vary from 269 oC - 317 oC and 143 oC - 236 oC, respectively. As a comparison, calculated salinity is higher in Type I fluid inclusions (1.9-14.7 wt.% NaCl equiv.) than Type II and III fluid inclusions (1.9-5.1 wt.%NaCl (equiv.) It is possible that the mineralization was formed by the mixing of magmatic and meteoric waters.

Evidence of gas plume model in porphyry copper deposits based on anatomy, fluid inclusions and H-O isotopes: Insight from Kahang deposit, Iran

The Kahang deposit (100 Mt at 0.6% Cu) is one of the important porphyry copper deposits in the central part of Urumieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Arc (UDMA), Iran. The mineralization occurs as chalcopyrite and molybdenite in quartz and anhydrite -bearing veinlets or breccias and is closely associated with sericitic and phyllic alterations. Through comprehensive studies of the deposit's anatomy, some previously overlooked evidence raised new questions about the ore-forming process in the Kahang deposit. The coexistence of sulfate and sulfide minerals as veinlets and breccias, pore space breccias, could not be justified solely based on a previously introduced concept (i.e., mixing high temperature-high salinity magmatic water with low temperature-low salinity meteoric water). Fluid inclusions were examined in quartz veinlets of the A1, A2, and B types, anhydrite veinlets, and sphalerite of the L type veinlets. There are three types of fluid inclusions: liquid-rich (L-type), vapor-rich (V-type), and hypersaline (H-type). According to microthermometry of fluid inclusions, the fluids associated with anhydrite veinlets have relatively high temperatures (390–495 °C, mean = 455 °C) and low salinities (12.8–20.9 wt% NaCl equiv.) On the contrary, temperatures below 400 °C justified the coexistence of sulfate and sulfide minerals. The low solubility of anhydrite in high-temperature waters, on the other hand, demonstrates the gas–solid reaction of SO2 (g) and plagioclase at such temperatures, as evidenced by fluid inclusions. Additionally, the fluid inclusions in quartz veinlets generated temperatures (290 to >600 °C) higher than those in the majority of other porphyry copper deposits. H-O isotopes indicated that magmatic fluids dominated, and meteoric waters played an insignificant role. These findings and observations supported the formation of the Kahang porphyry copper deposit as a result of a gas plume and the reactions of gas species with plagioclase to form anhydrite and sulfide minerals, as well as the formation of sericitic alteration in the host rock as a novel scenario.