Metabasalts as sources of metals in orogenic gold deposits

Mineralium Deposita

Volumn 50, Issue 3, 2015, Pages 373-390

  Pitcairn, Iain K ^a   Craw, Dave ^b   Teagle, Damon A H ^c  

^a STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITY   (Sweden)

^b UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO   (New Zealand)

^c UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

CONCENTRATION (COMPOSITION); GOLD; GREENSCHIST; METABASALT; MID-OCEAN RIDGE BASALT; MINERAL ALTERATION; ORE DEPOSIT; OROGENY; SOURCE ROCK;

NEW ZEALAND; OTAGO; SOUTH ISLAND;

EID: 85028159104     PISSN: 00264598     EISSN: 14321866     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1007/s00126-014-0547-y     Document Type: Article

References (87)

1. Alt JC (1999) Hydrothermal alteration and mineralisation of the oceanic crust: mineralogy, geochemistry, and processes. Rev Econ Geol 8:133–155
2. Alt JC (2004) Alteration of the upper oceanic crust: mineralogy, chemistry, and processes. In: Davis EE, Elderfield H (eds) Hydrogeology of the oceanic lithosphere. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 497–595
3. Alt, JC, Laverne, C, Vanko, DA, Tartarotti, P, Teagle, DA, Bach, W, Zuleger, E, Erzinger, J, Honnorez, I, Pezard, PA (1996) Hydrothermal alteration of a section of upper oceanic crust in the eastern equatorial Pacific: a synthesis of results from Site 504 (DSDP Legs 69, 70, and 83, and ODP Legs 111, 137, 140, and 148), Proceedings-Ocean Drilling Program Scientific Results. National Science Foundation, 417–434
4. Alt JC, Anderson TF, Bonnell L (1989) The geochemistry of sulfur in a 1.3 km section of hydrothermally altered oceanic crust, DSDP Hole 504B. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 53:1011–1023
5. Alt JC, Shanks WC (2011) Microbial sulfate reduction and the sulfur budget for a complete section of altered oceanic basalts, IODP Hole 1256D (eastern Pacific). Earth Planet Sci Lett 310:73–83
6. Andrews AJ (1979) On the effect of low-temperature seawater–basalt interaction on the distribution of sulfur in oceanic crust, layer 2. Earth Planet Sci Lett 46:68–80
7. Arne, DC, House, E, Lisitsin, V (2008) Lithogeochemical haloes surrounding central Victorian gold deposits: part 1—primary alteration. Gold Undercover Report 4, GeoScience Victoria 58
8. Barker F, Farmer GL, Ayuso RA, Plafker G, Lull JS (1992) The 50 Ma granodiorite of the eastern Gulf of Alaska: melting in an accretionary prism in the forearc. J Geophys Res 97:6757–6778
9. Beaudoin G, Pitre D (2005) Stable isotope geochemistry of the Archean Val-d'Or (Canada) orogenic gold vein field. Mineral Deposita 40:59–75
10. Bishop DG (1972) Progressive metamorphism from prehnite–pumpellyite to greenschist facies in the Dansey Pass area, Otago, New Zealand. Bull Geol Soc Am 83:3177–3198
11. Bishop, DG, Bradshaw, JD, Landis, CA (1985) Provisional terrane map of the South Island, New Zealand. In: Howell, D.G. (Ed) Tectonostratigraphic terranes of the circum-Pacific region. AAPG Circum-Pacific Council for Energy and Mineral Resources Earth Science Series 1:515–521
12. Bierlein FP, Craw D (2008) Petrogenetic character and provenance of metabasalts in the aspiring and Torlesse Terranes, South Island, New Zealand: implications for the gold endowment of the Otago Schist? Chem Geol 260:301–315
13. Bierlein FP, Pisarevsky S (2008) Plume-related oceanic plateaus as a potential source of gold mineralisation. Econ Geol 103:425–430
14. Bradshaw JD (1972) Stratigraphy and structure of the Torlesse Supergroup (Triassic-Jurassic) in the foothills of the southern Alps near Hawarden (S60–61), Canterbury. NZ J Geol Geophys 15:71–87
15. Burrows DR, Wood PC, Spooner ETC (1986) Carbon isotope evidence for a magmatic origin for Archean gold-quartz vein deposits. Nature 321:851–854
16. Coombs DS, Landis CA, Norris RJ, Sinton JM, Borns DJ, Craw D (1976) The Dun Mountain Ophiolite Belt, New Zealand, its tectonic setting, constitution and origin, with special reference to the southern portion. Am J Sci 276:561–603
17. Cooper, AF (1972) Progressive metamorphism of metabasic rocks from the Haast Schist Group of southern New Zealand. J Petrol 13:457–492
18. Cooper AF (1995) Nephrite and metagabbro in the Haast Schist at Muddy Creek, northwest Otago, New Zealand. NZ J Geol Geophys 38:325–332
19. Craw D (1984) Lithological variations in the Otago schist, Mt Aspiring area, northwest Otago, New Zealand. NZ J Geol Geophys 27:151–166
20. Craw D (1992) Fluid evolution, fluid immiscibility and gold deposition during Cretaceous-Recent tectonics and uplift of the Otago-Alpine Schist, New Zealand. Chem Geol 98:221–236
21. Craw D (1998) Structural boundaries and biotite-garnet isograds in the Otago and Alpine Schists, New Zealand. J Met Geol 16:395–402
22. Craw D (2002) Geochemistry of late metamorphic hydrothermal alteration and graphitisation of host rock, Macraes gold mine, Otago Schist, New Zealand. Chem Geol 191:257–275
23. Craw D, Windle SJ, Angus PV (1999) Gold mineralisation without quartz veins in a ductile-brittle shear zone, Macraes Mine, Otago Schist, New Zealand. Mineral Deposita 34:382–394
24. Craw D, Begbie M, MacKenzie D (2006) Structural controls on Tertiary orogenic gold mineralization during initiation of a mountain belt, New Zealand. Mineral Deposita 41:645–659
25. 2O in Juan de Fuca Ridge basaltic glasses. EPSL 90:87–104
26. Fagereng A, Cooper AF (2010a) Petrology of metabasalts from the Chrystalls Beach accretionary mélange—implications for tectonic setting and terrane origin. NZ J Geol Geophys 53:57–70
27. Fagereng A, Cooper AF (2010b) The metamorphic history of rocks buried, accreted, and exhumed in an accretionary prism: an example from the Otago Schist, New Zealand. J Met Geol 28:935–954
28. Field CW, Dymond JR, Heath GR, Corliss JB, Dasch EJ (1976) Sulfur isotope reconnaissance of epigenetic pyrite in ocean floor basalts, leg 34 and elsewhere. In: Yeats RS, Hart SR et al (eds) Init. Repts. DSDP, 34. US Govt, Washington, pp 381–384
29. Gaboury D (2013) Does gold in orogenic deposits come from pyrite in deeply buried carbon-rich sediments? Insights from volatiles in fluid inclusions. Geology 41:1207–1210
30. Glasson MJ, Keays RR (1978) Gold mobilisation during cleavage development in sedimentary rocks from the auriferous slate belt of Central Victoria, Australia: some important boundary conditions. Econ Geol 73:496–511
31. Goldfarb, RJ, Baker, T, Dube, B, Groves, DI, Hart, CJR, Gosselin, P (2005) Distribution, character and genesis of gold deposits in metamorphic terranes: 100th Anniversary Volume of Econ Geol:407–450
32. Govindaraju K (1994) 1994 compilation of working values and descriptions for 383 Geostandards. Geostand Newslett 18:1–158
33. Grapes R, Watanabe T (1992) Metamorphism and uplift of Alpine schist in the Franz Josef-Fox Glacier area of the Southern Alps, New Zealand. J Met Geol 10:171–180
34. 39Ar thermochronologic constrains on deformation, metamorphism and cooling/exhumation of a Mesozoic accretionary wedge, Otago Schist, New Zealand. Tectonophysics 385:181–210
35. Groves DI, Bierlein F (2007) Geodynamic settings of mineral deposit systems. J Geol Soc Lond 164:19–30
36. Hannington, MD, Galley, AG, Herzig, PM, Petersen, S (1998) Comparison of the TAG mound and stockwork complex with Cyprus-type massive sulfide deposits, Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program: Scientific Results, p. 389
37. Henley RW, Norris RJ, Paterson CJ (1976) Multistage ore genesis in the New Zealand geosyncline: a history of post-metamorphic lode emplacement. Mineral Deposita 11:180–196
38. Jenner FE, O’Neill HC, Arculus RJ, Mavrogenes JA (2010) The magnetite crisis in the evolution of arc-related magmas and the initial concentration of Au, Ag, and Cu. J Petrol 51:2445–2464
39. Jenner FE, Arculus RJ, Mavrogenes JA, Dyriw NJ, Nebel O, Hauri EH (2012) Chalcophile element systematics in volcanic glasses from the northwestern Lau Basin. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 13:1–25
40. Jenner FE, O’Neill HC (2012) Analysis of 60 elements in 616 ocean floor basaltic glasses. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 13:Q02005. doi:10.1029/2011GC004009
41. Jowitt SM, Jenkin GRT, Coogan LA, Naden J (2012) Quantifying the release of base metals from source rocks for volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits: effects of protolith composition and alteration mineralogy. J Geochem Explor 118:47–59
42. Jochum KP, Vema SP (1996) Extreme enrichment of Sb, Tl and other trace elements in altered MORB. Chem Geol 130:289–299
43. Korobeynikov, AF, Pertsev, NN (1996) Data report: gold content in the upper crustal rocks from Hole 504B. In Alt, J.C., Kinoshita, H., Stokking, L.B., and Michael, P.J. (Eds.), Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Project Scientific Results Leg 148:453–454
44. Large, RR, Maslennikov, V, Robert, F, Danyushevsky, LV, Chang, Z, (2007) Multistage sedimentary and metamorphic origin of pyrite and gold in the giant Sukhoi Log deposit, Lena gold province, Russia: Econ Geol 1267
45. Large RR, Bull SW, Maslennikov VV (2011) A carbonaceous sedimentary source rock model for Carlin-type and orogenic gold deposits. Econ Geol 106:331–358
46. Massonne HJ, Schreyer W (1987) Phengite geobarometry based on the limiting assemblage with K-feldspar phlogopite and quartz. Cont Min Pet 96:212–224
47. McPherson GJ (1983) The Snow Mountain Volcanic Complex: an on-land seamount in the Franciscan terrain, California. J Geol 91:73–92
48. McKeag SA, Craw D, Norris RJ (1989) Origin and deposition of graphitic schist-hosted metamorphogenic Au–W deposit, Macraes, East Otago, New Zealand. Mineral Deposita 24:124–131
49. Mortensen JK, Craw D, MacKenzie DJ, Gabites JE, Ullrich TE (2010) Age and origin of orogenic gold mineralization in the Otago Schist Belt, South Island, New Zealand: constraints from lead isotope and 40Ar/39Ar dating studies. Econ Geol 105:777–793
50. Meschede M (1986) A method of discriminating between different mid-ocean ridge basalts and continental tholeiites with the Nb–Zr–Y diagram. Chem Geol 56:207–218
51. Mortimer N (1993) Geological map of the Otago schist and adjacent rocks, scale 1–500 000. Lower Hutt: Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, New Zealand
52. Mortimer N (2000) Metamorphic discontinuities in orogenic belts: example of the garnet-biotite-albite zone in the Otago schist New Zealand. Int J Earth Sci 89:295–306
53. Mullen, ED (1983) MnO/TiO2/P2O5: a minor element discriminant for basaltic rocks of oceanic environments and its implications for petrogenesis. Earth Planet Sci Lett 62:53–62
54. Nesbitt BE, St Louis RM, Meuhlenbachs KM (1987) Distribution of gold in altered basalts of DSDP hole 504B. Can J Earth Sci 24:201–209
55. Norris RJ, Koons PO, Cooper AF (1990) The obliquely-convergent plate boundary in the South Island of New Zealand: implications for ancient collision zones. J Struct Geol 12:715–725
56. Palmer, K, Roser, BP, Grapes, RH (1994) XRF analyses of metabasalts and cherts from the Wellington region. ISSN 0111–1337. RSES Geology Board of Studies Publication no. 14. (Analytical Facility Contribution No.16), Victoria University of Wellington
57. Palmer, K, Mortimer, N, Nathan, S, Isaac, MJ, Field, BD, Sircombe, KN, Black, PM, Bush, S, Orr, NW (1995) Chemical and petrographic analyses of some New Zealand Paleozoic-Mesozoic metasedimentary and igneous rocks. IGNS science report 95/16
58. Patten, C, Pitcairn, IK, Teagle, DAH (2014) Behaviour of Au, As, Sb, Se and Te during the hydrothermal alteration of the oceanic crust: a study case from IODP site 1256D. Nordic Winter Meeting, Lund, Sweden, 8–10 January 2014
59. Pearce, JA (1996) A user’s guide to basalt discrimination diagrams. In: Wyman, D.A. (Ed.), Trace element geochemistry of volcanic rocks: applications for massive sulfide exploration. Geol. Assoc Can Short Course Notes 12:79–113
60. Phillips GN, Powell R (2010) Formation of gold deposits: a metamorphic devolatilisation model. J Met Geol 28:689–718
61. Pitcairn, IK (2005) Sources of fluids and metals in orogenic gold deposits: the Otago Schists, New Zealand. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Southampton, UK
62. Pitcairn IK (2011) Background concentrations of gold in different rock types. Appl Earth Sci 120:31–38
63. Pitcairn IK, Teagle DAH, Kerrich R, Craw D, Brewer TS (2005a) The behaviour of nitrogen and nitrogen isotopes during metamorphism and mineralization: evidence from the Otago and Alpine Schists. N Z EPSL 233:229–246
64. Pitcairn IK, Roberts S, Teagle DAH, Craw D (2005b) Detecting hydrothermal graphite deposition during metamorphism and gold mineralization. J Geol Soc Lond 162:429–432
65. Pitcairn IK, Teagle DAH, Craw D, Olivo GR, Kerrich R, Brewer TS (2006a) Sources of metals in orogenic gold deposits: insights from the Otago and Alpine Schists, New Zealand. Econ Geol 101:1525–1546
66. Pitcairn IK, Warwick PE, Milton JA, Teagle DAH (2006b) A method for ultra-low level analysis of gold in rocks. Anal Chem 78:1280–1285
67. Pitcairn IK, Olivo GR, Teagle DAH, Craw D (2010) Sulfide evolution during prograde metamorphism of the Otago and Alpine Schists, New Zealand. Can Min 48:1267–1296
68. Pitcairn IK, Craw D, Teagle DAH (2014) The gold conveyor belt: large-scale gold mobility in an active orogen. Ore Geol Rev 62:129–142
69. Roser BP, Cooper AF (1990) Geochemistry and terrane affiliation of the Haast Schist from the western Southern Alps, New Zealand. NZ J Geol Geophys 33:1–10
70. Rouxel, O (2003) Geochimie isotopique des metaux (Fe, Cu, Sb) et des metalloides (S, Se) dans la Croute Oceanique. PhD thesis, Centre des Recherches Petrographiques et Geochimiques, CNRS, Institute National Polytechnique de Lorraine, 396p
71. Rouxel O, Ludden J, Carignan J, Marin L, Fouquet Y (2002) Natural variations of Se isotopic composition determined by hydride generation multiple collector coupled mass spectrometer. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 66:3191–3199
72. Rouxel O, Ludden J, Fouquet Y (2003) Antimony isotope variations in natural systems and implications for their use as geochemical tracers. Chem Geol 200:25–40
73. Rouxel O, Ono SH, Alt J, Rumble D, Ludden J (2008) Sulfur isotope evidence for microbial sulfate reduction in altered oceanic basalts at ODP Site 801. Earth Planet Sci Lett 268:11–123
74. Seyfried WE, Shanks WC, Bischoff JL (1976) Alteration and vein formation in site 321 basalts. Init Rep DSDP 34:385–392
75. Sutherland R (1996) Transpressional development of the Australia-Pacific boundary through southern South Island, New Zealand: constraints from Miocene-Pliocene sediments, Waiho-1 borehole, South Westland. NZ J Geol Geophys 39:251–264
76. Tatsumi Y, Oguri K, Shimoda G (1999) The behaviour of platinum-group elements during magmatic differentiation in Hawaiian tholeiites. Geochem J 33:237–247
77. Tatsumi Y, Oguri K, Shimoda G, Kogiso T, Barsczus HG (2000) Contrasting behavior of noble-metal elements during magmatic differentiation in basalts from the Cook Islands, Polynesia. Geology 28:131–134
78. Teagle DAH, Norris RJ, Craw D (1990) Structural controls on gold-bearing quartz mineralisation in a duplex thrust system, Hyde-Macraes shear zone, Otago Schist, New Zealand. Econ Geol 85:1711–1719
79. Teagle, DAH, Alt, JC, Umino, S, Miyashita, S, Banerjee, NR, Wilson, DS (2006) Expedition 309/312 Scientists. Superfast Spreading Rate Crust 2 and 3. Proc. IODP, 309/ 312.
80. Thomas HV, Large RR, Bull SW, Maslennikov V, Berry RF, Fraser R, Froud S, Moye R (2011) Pyrite and Pyrrhotite textures and composition in sediments, laminated quartz veins and reefs at Bendigo Gold Mine, Australia: insights into ore genesis. Econ Geol 106:1–31
81. Tomkins AG (2010) Windows of metamorphic sulfur liberation in the crust: implications for gold deposit genesis. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 74:3246–3259
82. Tomkins AG (2013) On the source of orogenic gold. Geology 41:1255–1256
83. Volkova NI, Budanov VI (1999) Geochemical discrimination of metabasalt rocks of the Fan Karategin transitional blueschist/greenschist belt, South Tianshan, Tajikistan: seamount volcanism and accretionary tectonics. Lithos 47:201–216
84. Webber A, Roberts S, Taylor R, Pitcairn IK (2013) Golden plumes: substantial gold enrichment of oceanic crust during ridge-plume interaction. Geology 41:87–90
85. Willman CE, Korsch RJ, Moore DH, Cayley RA, Lisitsin VA, Rawling TJ, Morand VJ, OShea PJ (2010) Crustal-scale fluid pathways and source rocks in the Victorian Gold Province, Australia: insights from deep seismic reflection profiles. Econ Geol 105:895–915
86. Wilson TJ, Hanson RE, Grunow AM (1989) Multistage melange formation within an accretionary complex, Diego Ramirez Islands, southern Chile. Geology 17:11–14
87. Yardley BWD (1982) The early metamorphic history of the Haast Schists and related rocks of New Zealand. Contrib Mineral Petrol 81:317–327