Epithermal Mineral Systems

Analysis
Chris Cockburn and Huan Dong
September 11 2015
Outline
Introduction

Dynamic Drivers

Magma Source

Fluids (Origin/Composition/Transport)

Metal deposition

Geological Model

Conclusions
 Epithermal Au deposits
Introduction
Formed above the porphyry environment at crustal
levels within about 1 km of the surface

Genetically related to intermediate to felsic calc-

alkaline magmas in volcano-plutonic arcs above active
subduction zones

Most epithermal deposits are Cretaceous or younger

(Richards,
2009)
 Dynamic drivers in tectonic
setting
A variety of mechanisms
Subduction

Collisional lithospheric thickening

Subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) delamination

Lithospheric extension

(Richards,
2009)
 Subduction
• Subduction---partial
melting of the
hydrated mantle
wedge---arc
magmas---interact
with basaltic
underplating---
melting,
assimilation, storage,
and homogenization
(MASH)---partial
melting of crustal
(Richards, 2009)
rocks
 Post-subduction stress states
Migration of the locus of melting due to changes in the
angle of subduction, subduction reversal or jumping, or
collision that terminates subduction.

Stress states ranging from tension (rifting) to

compression (collison)

(Richards, 2009)
 Post-subduction

(Richards, 2009)

Collision---crustal thickening and delamination of SCLM ---partial melting occur in

lower crustal rocks as hot asthenospheric melts invade
 Examples
The Eocene Çöpler epithermal Au deposit in eastern
central Turkey, which postdates Cretaceous– Paleocene
Neo-Tethyan collision.

The late Miocene Sari Gunay epithermal Au deposit in

northwest Iran, which postdates Paleogene–early Neogene
Neo-Tethyan collision.

(Richards, 2009)
 Post-subduction

Extension---decompression
melting occur in upwelling
asthenosphere---invade to
matasomatized SCLM and
continental crust---partial
melting ----mafic alkaline
magmas---ascend through
extensional structures

(Richards, 2009)
 Examples
The Porgera and Ladolam gold deposits in Papua New
Guinea, Emperor gold deposit in Fiji, and Cripple Creek
gold deposit in Colorado.

All of these systems formed in extensional or

transtensional structural settings after subduction
either ceased or migrated away.

(Richards, 2009)
 Metal source
Subduction magmatism: the arc magmas interacted with
lithosphere

Post-subduction magmatism: Remelting of subduction

modified upper plate lithosphere ---remobilize metals
introduced to magmas

(Richards, 2009)
Source of Fluids
DEPOSIT (Qz +/- Cal +/- Adularia +/- Illite) Qz +alunite +/- pyrophyllite
CHARACTERISTICS (Geothermal or +/-dickite +/- kaolinite
Low Sulphidation) (Magmatic Hydrothermal
High Sulphidation)

Tectontic Setting Volcanic arcs including intra-arc, back-arcs and post collisional rift
setting
Geodynamic drivers Convergence, Subduction
Crustal Depth <1.5km depth
Source of Metals Calc-Alkaline and Alkaline Magnetisim
Metals Au-Ag, Ag-Au, Ag-Pb-Zn Au +/- Ag +/- Cu
Metal bearing minerals Electrum, acanthite, silver sulfo Native gold and electrum,
salts and tellurides, minor galena, with variable Py, Cu-sulfides
sphalerite, galena and (enargite), sulfosalts,
chalcopyrite sphalerite and tellurides

Textures Banded crustiform-colloform Vuggy quartz, vertical veins

 Magmatic (HS) Vs Geothermal
Systems (LS)
Geothermal

• Meteroic Origin
• Neutral PH
• Wall Rock Alteration
• CO2, NaCl, H2S

Magmatic

• Magmatic liquid/Vapor Origin

• Low PH
• Minimal Wall Rock alteration
• H20, CO2, HCl, H2S, SO2
Simmons et al., 2005
We know more about geothermal fluids than magmatic-Hydrothermal fluids
Oxygen and Deuterium isotopes
Stable isotopes
cluster tightly
near the
composition of
volcanic vapors
Lepento (Blue
arrow) well
documented that
Simmons et al., 2005 fluid is mixing is
occuring
Transport of Fluids
Mineralization strongly
influenced by zones of
permeability (lithology or
structure)
Fluids propagate along
faults which are often
steeply dipping (Martha
Hill)
Hydrothermal Breccia can
allow fluids to pass
(Ladolam)
Simmons et al., 2005
Transport of Fluids

Simmons et al., 2005

Two stage model
(Arribas 1995, White 1991)

Stage 1 – Alteration

• Magmatic gasses cause

intensive leaching

• SO2 & HCl

• Development of
advanced argillic
alteration zone

• Creates porosity through

acid-leaching

Simmons et al., 2005

 Two stage model
(Arribas 1995, White 1991)
Stage 2- Transport and
Deposition

B1
• Condensation of high P
magmatic gasses
• Produces acidic, low
salinity mineralizing water
• High Au solubilites
AuHS(aq)

B2
• Magmatic brines transport
AuCl2
• Mixing with shallow
Simmons et al., 2005 meteoric water
Transport of Fluids
Cooke & Simmons, 2000
1. Au and Cu (?) transported
as hydrosulphide
complexes (AuHS) in low
salinity acidic waters

2. Au and Cu are transported

as chloride complexes
-Rh

 AuCl2
 CuCl2

3. Au and Cu transported in
the vapor phase
 AuS (g)
 CuS (g)
 CuCl (g)
Simmons et al., 2005
Deposition of Au
Au transported by chloride
complexes (AuCl2)

Cooling and reduction via

fluid mixing
-Rh

Au transported by
hydrosulphide complexes
(AuHS)

Increasing oxidation or
Boiling

Simmons et al., 2005

Deposition of Au

AuHS + Boiling = Au

AuHS + Wall Rock = Au

AuCl2 + Meteoric Mixing = Au

Geological Model

Cooling
mixing with Boiling/Inc
meteoric reasing
waters oxidation

Chloride Hydrosulphide
complexes complexes

Magmatic vapors
leach country rock
creating porosity

Source of Hydrothermal
fluids
 Minerals and Textures
Gangue minerals (quartz)

• Little variation
• porous and vuggy
• massive and dense

2 cm

Oxidized vuggy residual quartz (Summitville, USA)

High grade ore (Enargite)

• Open space filling

• Replacement
• Veins and breccias
1 cm • Massive enargite

Massive enargite (El Indio, Chile)

Conclusions HS Epithermal
Fluids HS epithermal systems are not as well understood as LS
systems
Two stage process

Au transport
 chloride complexes
 Vapor phase
 hydrosulphide

Boiling (hydrosulphide)

 fluid mixing (chloride)

Wall rock reactions negligible

References
Simmons et al., 2005. Geological Characteristics of Epithermal precious and base
metal deposits. Economic Geology 100th Anniversary volume, pp 485-522

Cooke & Simmons, 2000. Characteristics and Genesis of Epithermal Gold Deposits.
SEG Reviews, Vol(13): 221-244

Jeremy P. Richards, 2009. Postsubduction porphyry Cu-Au and epithermal Au

deposits: Products of remelting of subduction-modified lithosphere. GEOLOGY,
March 2009, 250