Plumbotectonics of Moroccan ore deposits

The synthesis of 240 lead isotopes analyzes, measured on Moroccan ore deposits of Ediacarian to Neogene ages located in all geotectonic domains of Morocco allows a global reflection on the metallogeny of Morocco. The isotopic compositions vary widely, from 17.738 (Bou Skour) to 18.905 (Draa Sfar) for the 206Pb/204Pb ratio, and from 15.521 to 15.706 for the 207Pb/204Pb ratio. The source of lead in the studied deposits is located in the upper continental crust, except for those in the Anti-Atlas (Bou Skour, Imiter, etc.) and some in the High Atlas (Azegour) with a clear mantellic contribution. Isotopic variations noted at the scale of a district result either from the presence of several superimposed hydrothermal events calling upon different local sources as at Tighza, or from a single event disturbed by the segmentation of a volcanosedimentary basin, as for the Jebilet and Guemassa ore deposits. At the scale of the deposit (Draa Sfar, Bou Skour), isotopic variations result from the superposition of several hydrothermal events each with their own lead and associated metals. Overall, we can distinguish three generations of lead incorporated successively into the Moroccan geological base by magmatism and / or hydrothermalism, characterized by their 206Pb/204Pb ratios: 17.74-17.90 (Ediacarian), 18.10-18.40 (Hercynian) and 18.75-18.90 (Alpine). Ediacarian lead is present in the Anti-Atlas, and very locally in the meseta (Bouznika), and feeds in part on the mafic magmatism of Gondwana. Hercynian lead is the most represented and displays a definitive rupture in the source of metals, which is now exclusively crustal. It invades all Moroccan areas, including the Anti-Atlas, where it re-mobilizes and mixes with the Ediacaran lead. Alpine lead, more discreet, marks out the large scarf going from Agadir to Nador which traces on the surface the mantle plume of the Canaries and accompanies a Neogene magmatism which may also have acted as a simple engine remobilizing Hercynian lead, in particular to form MVT deposits from Touissit. The Hercynian and Alpine lead influxes are partly responsible for resetting the mineralizations, as at Bou Azzer or Imiter. In the Sawkins’s model, lead isotopic results support successive remobilisations of lead stored in primary and secondary tanks, as well as inheritance phenomena. Finally, the good transfer of the isotopic signature of lead from deposits to surface gossans shows that the isotopic geochemistry of lead is a useful tool for mineral exploration in Morocco.

Geochemical significance and Formation of Suçatı Pb-Zn Deposits – Eastern Taurides

<p><strong>Geochemical significance and Formation of  Suçatı Pb-Zn Deposits – Eastern Taurides</strong></p><p>Hatice Nur Bayram<sup>(1)*</sup>, Ali Erdem Bakkalbaşı <sup>(1)*</sup>, Mustafa Kumral<sup>(1)</sup>, Ali Tuğcan Ünlüer<sup>(1)</sup></p><p><sup>(1)</sup>Istanbul Technical University, Department of Geological Engineering, Istanbul/Turkey</p><p>(*E-mail: [email protected])</p><p> </p><p>The Middle Tauride Orogenic Belt is a productive enviroment in terms of Pb-Zn ore deposits, mostly associated with Permian aged dolomitized, shallow marine platform type carbonate rocks. There have been many studies on the origin of the ore deposits in the region, there are two important approaches that stand out for the formation of the ore deposits: the first theory is hydrothermal deposits with magmatic origin, and the other theory is Missisippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits related with the carbonate rocks commonly found in the region. Field studies at the Suçatı (Kayseri – Yahyalı, Central Anatolia, Turkey, East of Aladağlar extension of the Taurides) ore district in the Aladağ geologic unit indicate that the deposits in the region are associated with Paleo-Tethys limestones, fossiliferous limestones and dolomitic limestones. Mineralization is related to Lower Permian aged carbonate rocks include primary mineralization ore minerals as galena, sphalerite, smithsonite and goethite and as a product of hydrothermal activity, calcite mineral filled within fractures and cracks represents gangue minerals. As a result of geochemical analysis of the samples collected from the ore zones, PbO values range between 25.93% - 0.012%, ZnO values range between 51.01% - 0.042%, Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> values range between 42.81% - 10.21%. In conclusion hydrothermal activities closely related with compressional and extentional tectonic regimes took place in multiphase mineralization.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Pb-Zn Deposits, MVT, Taurides, Yahyalı</p>

Correction: González-Partida, E.; Camprubí, A.; Carrillo-Chávez, A.; Díaz-Carreño, E.H.; González-Ruiz, L.E.; Farfán-Panamá, J.L.; Cienfuegos-Alvarado, E.; Morales-Puente, P.; Vázquez-Ramírez, J.T. Giant Fluorite Mineralization in Central Mexico by Means of Exceptionally Low Salinity Fluids: An Unusual Style among MVT Deposits. Minerals 2019, 9, 35

The authors make the following corrections to this paper [...]

Prediction of Mississippi-Valley type ore fluid metal concentrations from solid solution metal concentrations in ore-stage minerals

Mississippi-Valley-type (MVT) deposits have some of the greatest enrichments of Pb, Zn, Ba, and F in the Earth's crust. Fundamental to understanding how these elements were transported and precipitated to form MVT deposits is knowledge of their concentrations in the ore fluids. Recent research aimed at determining the concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Ba in the ore fluids that formed the MVT deposits of the U.S. midcontinent, the type examples for the MVT deposit class, has focused on using LA-ICPMS to analyze fluid inclusions. This research has shown U.S. mid-continent MVT ore fluids to have Ba concentrations on the order of 10's of ppm. However, LA-ICP-MS results for Pb and Zn concentrations are equivocal due to interferences from Zn and Pb in the host mineral matrix and uncertainties about whether the measured Pb and Zn signals represent aqueous solute or "accidentals", i.e. Pb or Zn solid particulates entrained within the fluid inclusions. In light of these limitations, this study sought to determine metal concentrations in MVT ore fluids instead by calculating them theoretically based on their solid solution concentrations in the ore-stage minerals calcite and galena. Using experimental partition coefficients from Rimstidt et al. (1998) at ore stage temperatures and measured compositions of ore-stage calcite from the Illinois-Kentucky and Central Tennessee MVT districts, concentrations of Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, Sr, Ba, and Pb in the ore fluid were predicted. The predicted ore fluid concentrations of Mg and Mn, which form carbonate minerals (magnesite and rhodochrosite) with the calcite structure, were in good agreement with available fluid inclusion data for these elements. Thus, the predicted ore fluid concentrations of Zn and Fe, which also form carbonate minerals (smithsonite and siderite) with the calcite structure, 10s of ppm Zn and 1s to 10s of ppm Fe in Illinois-Kentucky and a maximum of 10s of ppm Zn and 1s to 10s of ppm Fe in Central Tennessee , are likely to be accurate. These Zn concentrations are typical of modern sedimentary brines and high enough to allow efficient Zn ore formation. In contrast, the predicted ore fluid concentrations of Sr and Ba, which form carbonate minerals (strontianite and witherite) with the aragonite structure, were in poor agreement with available fluid inclusion data for these elements. Thus, the predicted 1s of ppm ore fluid concentration of Pb, which also forms a carbonate mineral (cerussite) with the aragonite structure, is unlikely to be accurate. Using predicted thermodynamic data (Sverjensky, 1985) for ZnS with the galena structure, a thermodynamic distribution coefficient for Zn between aqueous solution and solid solution in galena was calculated. This distribution coefficient was used in combination with Zn concentrations measured in solid solution in galena from the Central Missouri, Central Tennessee, Illinois-Kentucky, Northern Arkansas, Tri-State, and Southeast Missouri MVT districts to predict Zn/Pb ratios for the ore fluids. The Zn/Pb ratios do not agree with the ore Zn/Pb ratios of the districts and appear to be an artifact of the temperature used in the calculations. Therefore the predicted ore fluid Zn/Pb ratios are unlikely to be correct.