| publication name | Microchemistry and stable isotope systematics of gold mineralization in a gabbro–diorite complex, SE Egypt |
|---|---|
| Authors | Basem Zoheir |
| year | 2012 |
| keywords | |
| journal | |
| volume | Not Available |
| issue | Not Available |
| pages | Not Available |
| publisher | Not Available |
| Local/International | International |
| Paper Link | Not Available |
| Full paper | download |
| Supplementary materials | Not Available |
Abstract
Electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA) and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) data of ore minerals from the Um Eleiga deposit (SE Egypt) suggest that primary Au was sequestered within Ni–pyrrhotite and Co–Ni–Fe sulfarsenide, while refined, free-milling gold grains (~93 wt.% Au) are associated with late pyrite, or occur along micro-fractures in quartz veins. A magmatic source of gold is most likely, yet endowment by circulating metasomatic fluid was crucial for Au concentration. Sulfur stable isotope values (δ34S) of sulfide minerals disseminated in the quartz veins (pyrite: −0.5 to 1.5‰, chalcopyrite: −0.3 to 0.6‰, and sphalerite: −0.1 to−0.4‰), indicate a generally light sulfur source. Similarly, measured δ13C of vein calcite (−3.1 to −1.8, n=9) and calculated fluid δ13CCO2 values (−0.6 to 0.6‰, for the temperature range 350–375 °C of associated hydrothermal chlorite) cluster around 0‰, consistent with a magmatic source for carbon. Oxygen isotope data for vein calcite (10.3–13‰, n=9) and quartz (11.7–14.3‰, n=10) indicate average fluid δ18OH2O values of 7.4 and 7.8‰, respectively, which implicate fluids similar to those in intrusion-related systems.