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Textures, trace element compositions, and sulfur isotopes of pyrite from the Honghai volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit: Implications for ore genesis and mineral exploration

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Abstract

In this paper, we present textures, trace element compositions, and sulfur isotope data for pyrite from the Honghai volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit to place new constraints on the source and evolution of the ore-forming fluids and provide insights into the ore genesis with implications for future exploration. The Honghai deposit consists of upper lenticular ores comprising massive sulfides that are underlain by stockwork and disseminated sulfides. The textural and isotopic characteristics of the synsedimentary framboidal pyrite (Syn-Py) indicate its formation by biogenetic processes. Coarse-grained pyrite generations (M-Py1, M-Py2, and M-Py3) from the massive sulfides have high Au, Ag, Cu, Zn, Pb, Sb, and Tl concentrations and low Co, Se, Te, Ti, and Sn concentrations, indicating that they precipitated from metal-rich, low- to intermediate-temperature, oxidizing fluids. The high Te, Ti, and Sn concentrations and high Co/Ni ratios in the massive pyrite (M-Py4) associated with magnetite in the massive sulfide lenses, as well as the high Ti, V, Cr, and Ni concentrations and low Al, Mn, and Zn concentrations in the magnetite, suggest that the coexisting M-Py4 and magnetite precipitated under oxidizing and high-temperature (300°C to 500°C) conditions. In contrast, pyrite grains from the underlying stockwork and veins (V-Py1, V-Py2, and V-Py3) are characterized by low Au, Ag, Cu, Zn, Pb, Sb, and Tl concentrations coupled with high Co, Se, Te, and Ti concentrations and high Co/Ni ratios, which are interpreted in terms of reducing and high-temperature ore-forming fluids. The large variations in δ 34S values from −6.4‰ to +29.9‰ suggest that the ore-forming fluids were derived from magmatic source that were significantly modified by seawater. The spatial variations of trace element assemblages of pyrite from different levels of the main massive orebodies can be used as an indicator for mineral exploration of Cu-Zn ores in the Honghai deposit. Although no significant difference in δ 34S values is observed between the upper massive sulfide lenses and lower stockwork/vein zone, the spiky δ 34S pattern noted in the massive pyrite can be used as a marker for the main massive orebodies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Fengfeng WANG for his cooperation that made the fieldwork possible during the active operation of the Honghai deposit. We also thank Yang WANG and Yan ZHANG, who guided us safely and enthusiastically through the mine. We acknowledge Zhihui DAI and Xue ZHANG for their help during laser ablation ICP-MS analyses. Special thanks to Abulimiti AIBAI for his assistance during the experiment. Most importantly, we thank the responsible editor and reviewers for their careful reviews and critical and thorough comments. This research was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2018YFC0604006), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41572077), and the Geological Survey Project of China (Grant No. 1212011140056).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou, 234000, China

    Zhiyuan Sun

  2. Beijing Institute of Geology for Mineral Resources Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100012, China

    Zhiyuan Sun

  3. Key Laboratory of Western China’s Mineral Resources and Geological Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Earth Science and Resources, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710054, China

    Xiaohua Deng

  4. Centre for Exploration Targeting, School of Earth and Environment, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6008, Australia

    Franco Pirajno

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  1. Zhiyuan Sun
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  2. Xiaohua Deng
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  3. Franco Pirajno
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Correspondence to Xiaohua Deng.

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Sun, Z., Deng, X. & Pirajno, F. Textures, trace element compositions, and sulfur isotopes of pyrite from the Honghai volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit: Implications for ore genesis and mineral exploration. Sci. China Earth Sci. 66, 738–764 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-021-1017-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-021-1017-8

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