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Origins of metamorphic lode gold deposits: Implications of stable isotope data from the central Rocky Mountains, Canada

Der Ursprung metamorphogener Gold-Ganglagerstätten: Bedeutung stabiler Isotopendaten aus den zentralen Rocky Mountains, Kanada

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Summary

The stable isotope geochemistry of native gold-bearing quartz veins contained within low-grade metasedimentary strata in the central Canadian Rocky Mountains, British Columbia is examined. The data augment previous geological and geochemical studies.

Vein pyrite δ34S values cluster between + 14.2 and + 16.3‰ (CDT). Coeval galenas exhibit δ34S values between + 11.4 and 13.3‰. Pyrite-galena geothermometry reveals a mean temperature of mineralization of 300 ± 43°C. Comparison of δ34S values for the vein pyrites, with values for pyrite porphyroblasts in country rocks suggests that vein sulfur was probably derived from the host rocks.

δ18O(SMOW) values of host quartzites and pelites cluster between + 12.0 and + 13.5‰, and + 9.5 and + 10.5‰, respectively. Auriferous vein quartz exhibits Δ18O values between + 13.0 and + 15.0‰. Veins were likely deposited from fluids undergoing post-peak metamorphic cooling.

Vein inclusion fluids exhibit Δ values between −105 and −124‰ (SMOW). Combined O-H-isotope data are most compatible with a source fluid involving chemically- and isotopically-evolved meteoric waters.

The critical role of H-isotope data in the evaluation of source fluids for such mesothermal gold lodes is stressed. The paucity of H-isotope data pertaining to the study of lode gold deposits in similar low-grade metasedimentary domains suggests that the involvement of meteoric waters may at times be overlooked.

Zusammenfassung

Die vorliegende Arbeit befaßt sich mit der Untersuchung der Geochemie stabiler Isotope goldführender Quarzgänge in schwach metamorphen Sedimenten der zentralen Rocky Mountains in Britisch Kolumbien, Kanada. Die Resultate ergänzen früher publizierte geologische und geochemische Daten.

Die δ34S-Werte von Gang-Pyrit liegen zwischen + 14.2 und + 16.3‰ (CDT); gleichzeitig gebildeter Bleiglanz hat δ34S-Werte von + 11.4 bis + 13.3‰. Die Isotopengeothermo metrie des Pyrits und Bleiglanzes ergibt eine mittlere Mineralisationstemperatur von 300°C + 43° für diese beiden Minerale. Vergleiche der 8345-Werte des Gang-Pyrits mit denen von Pyrit-Porphyroblasten des Nebengesteins lassen für die Gang-Pyrite eine Herkunft des Schwefels aus dem Nebengestein als wahrscheinlich erscheinen.

Die Δ18O-Werte von Quarziten und Peliten, die als Nebengesteine auftreten, streuen von + 12.0‰ bis + 13.5‰ (SMOW), beziehungweise von +9.5 bis + 10.5‰ Quarz goldführender Gänge hat δ18O-Werte, die zwischen + 13.0‰ und + 15.0‰ (SMOW) liegen. Er wurde als Gangfüllung wahrscheinlich bei sinkenden Temperaturen aus post metamorphen wäßrigen Lösungen abgesetzt.

Flüssigkeitseinschlüsse von Gangmineralien zeigen δD-Werte von -105 bis -124‰ (SMOW). Die H-O-Isotope sind deshalb ein Hinweis dafür, daß als mineralisierende Lösungen isotopisch veränderte meteorische Wässer in Betracht zu ziehen sind. Bei der Deutung der Herkunft der mineralisierenden wäßrigen Lösungen von mesothermalen Goldgängen muß die Kenntnis der H-Isotope als kritisch betrachtet werden. Die Seltenheit mit der H-Isotopendaten dieses Lagerstättentyps in der Literatur diskutiert werden, dürfte ein wesentlicher Grund dafür sein, daß die Rolle meteorischer Wässer bei der Genese mesothermaler, in Metasedimenten liegender Goldgänge, vielfach übersehen wurde.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geology Department, University of Alberta, T6G 2E3, Edmonton, Canada

    R. P. Shaw & R. D. Morton

  2. Physics Department, University of Alberta, T6G 2J1, Edmonton, Canada

    J. Gray

  3. Physics Department, University of Calgary, T2N 1N4, Calgary, Canada

    H. R. Krouse

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  1. R. P. Shaw
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  2. R. D. Morton
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Shaw, R.P., Morton, R.D., Gray, J. et al. Origins of metamorphic lode gold deposits: Implications of stable isotope data from the central Rocky Mountains, Canada. Mineralogy and Petrology 43, 193–209 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01166891

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