Epidote metasomatic zone in pegmatites from the vicinity of Strashimir Pb-Zn vein deposit, Central Rhodopes: mineralogy, geochemistry and in-situ U/Pb age determination

The epidote-group minerals are the major hydrothermal constituent, along with titanite, chlorite, quartz, and carbonates, developed in pegmatite on the contact with marble in the vicinity of Strashimir Pb-Zn vein deposit, Central Rhodopes. The U-Pb age of titanite (39.7±1.3 Ma) fixes the time of the hydrothermal mineralization. Trace element signatures of epidotes reveal minor REE-amounts, probably due to the concurrent growth of other REE-concentrating minerals (e.g. hydrothermal titanite).

Ore Genesis of the Takatori Tungsten–Quartz Vein Deposit, Japan: Chemical and Isotopic Evidence

The Takatori hypothermal tin–tungsten vein deposit is composed of wolframite-bearing quartz veins with minor cassiterite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, and lithium-bearing muscovite and sericite. Several wolframite rims show replacement textures, which are assumed to form by iron replacement with manganese postdating the wolframite precipitation. Lithium isotope ratios (δ7Li) of Li-bearing muscovite from the Takatori veins range from −3.1‰ to −2.1‰, and such Li-bearing muscovites are proven to occur at the early stage of mineralization. Fine-grained sericite with lower Li content shows relatively higher δ7Li values, and might have precipitated after the main ore forming event. The maximum oxygen isotope equilibrium temperature of quartz–muscovite pairs is 460 °C, and it is inferred that the fluids might be in equilibrium with ilmenite series granitic rocks. Oxygen isotope ratios (δ18O) of the Takatori ore-forming fluid range from +10‰ to +8‰. The δ18O values of the fluid decreased with decreasing temperature probably because the fluid was mixed with surrounding pore water and meteoric water. The formation pressure for the Takatori deposit is calculated to be 160 MPa on the basis of the difference between the pressure-independent oxygen isotope equilibrium temperature and pressure-dependent homogenization fluid inclusions temperature. The ore-formation depth is calculated to be around 6 km. These lines of evidence suggest that a granitic magma beneath the deposit played a crucial role in the Takatori deposit formation.

TAEZHNY EPITHERMAL DEPOSIT OF SILVER ORE (SIKHOTE-ALIN): REGIONAL POSITION, FORMATION CONDITIONS, GEOCHEMISTRY AND MINERAL COMPOSITION

The Taezhny is a silver with gold (Au:Ag = 1:100) vein deposit with a pronounced mineralogical and geochemical selenium specializationof ores. The deposit is located in the eastern part of the Sikhote-Alin orogenic belt, 700 km north of Vladivostok. The regional position of the describable ore-bearing area, similar to the Mexican deposits of the Guanajuato area typical of the Pacific region, is determined by its relationto the Early Cretaceous island-arc terrane with a distinct geochemical enrichment in silver of its folded rock complex. Quartz vein bodies are located in submeridional fracturesfeathering NE-trending sinistral strike slip faults.The near-ore alteration is dominated bysericitization and silicification of host sandstones. The main silver minerals are freibergite, acanthite, and Se-containing pyrargyrite, polybasite, stephanite. Kustelite, electrum, aguilarite, allargentum, and discrasite are much less abundant. The mineralogical and geochemical zoning of ore bodies emphasized by a highly productive Ag-sulfosalt assemblage enriched in Sein the upper part of veins and the poor ores with predominant acanthite at depth is revealed.The veins were formed with the participation of sodium chloride solutions saturated with CO2 and CH4, at the temperature range from 400 to 150° C. The deposition of productive sulfosalt-bearingassemblages occurred with a suddendecrease in pressure under conditions of discharge of magmatic-meteoric fluids in circulation zones in the sandstones under the screen of volcanic rocks overlying the Kema terrane.