The Zn–Pb–Ag-bearing vein deposits of the Deer Trail mine, northeastern Washington, U.S.A., are hosted by Beltian metasediments that have been intruded by the Jurassic–Cretaceous Loon Lake granitoid batholith.Vein infilling took place in three stages: pre-ore, ore, and post-ore. Fluid-inclusion studies revealed homogenization temperatures and salinities of approximately 300 °C and 6.5–8.5 wt. % NaCl equivalent, respectively, for the pre-ore stage; 250–150 °C and 4–7.5 wt. % NaCl equivalent for the ore stage; and less than 150 °C and 3 wt. % NaCl equivlent for the post-ore stage. The calculated δ18O values of the hydrothermal fluids and δD values of fluid inclusion waters were +8 to +11‰ (SMOW) and −128 to −134‰ (SMOW), respectively, for the pre-ore stage; 0 to +10‰ and −89 to −143‰ for the ore stage; and 0 to −5‰ and −139‰ for the post-ore stage. The δ34S(ΣS) of the hydrothermal fluids was approximately +10‰(CDT).The results provide insight into the evolution of a geothermal system dominated by meteoric waters and driven thermally by the cooling batholith. The chemical and isotopic compositions of the veins were influenced by chemical reactions and isotope exchange of the hydrothermal fluids with the Precambrian metasedimentary rocks.
