Abstract
This study reports the high-precision silver (Ag) isotopic compositions of the dominant Ag-bearing mineral (galena) in the representative Zhaxikang polymetallic deposit, which experienced a complex ore-forming process that can be divided into two episodes composed of six stages (first episode: Pb–Zn mineralization, stages 1 and 2; second episode: Sb mineralization, stages 3 to 6). The objective of this case study is to investigate the Ag isotopic fractionation mechanisms in a hydrothermal ore-forming system and explore the potential application of Ag isotopes. The earlier-generated stage 2 galena (0.17–6.07‰) has higher δ109AgNIST 978 Ag values with a significantly broader range in comparison to the subsequent stage 3 galena (–3.65 to 2.27‰). The δ109AgNIST 978 Ag values of galena also decrease from deep to shallow along with the trend of orebody V. These temporally and spatially decreasing trends indicate that the second episode of ore-forming fluid overprinted the first episode of mineralization along with the trend of orebodies from deep to shallow within the Zhaxikang orefield. A simple triple-phase separation model captures the temporal and spatial patterning of the data resulting from Ag isotopic fractionation, which is most likely related to the solid–liquid-vapor dynamics of the ore-forming fluid. According to approximate theoretical calculations, there is still great prospecting potential for Ag at depth within the Zhaxikang orefield. In summary, the Ag isotopes have the potential to trace phase changes, monitor ore-forming fluid evolution, constrain ore formation processes, and provide insights into ore exploration.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to two anonymous reviewers, Associated Editor Prof. Ruizhong Hu and Editor-in-Chief Prof. Bernd Lehmann, for their constructive comments and suggestions, which have largely improved this manuscript. We also thank Dr. Linda Godfrey at the Rutgers University and Mr. Matt Gonzalez at the Pennsylvania State University for their assistance in measuring the instruments.
Funding
This study was financially supported by the Major Research Plan (92062219) and Youth Fund (41903040, 41302066) of National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research (2021QZKK0304), the Open Research Project from the State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences (GPMR202109), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2–9-2020–010).
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All authors contributed to the study’s conception and design. Sample collection and treatment, data collection, and isotopic analysis were performed by Da Wang, Youye Zheng, Ryan Mathur, Hongjie Wu, Gangyang Zhang, Yu Miao, and Yujie Li. During the manuscript revision process, Yiwen Lv and Huan Ren contributed to the triple-phase separation model and spatial pattern diagram of Ag isotopes. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Da Wang, Ryan Mathur, and Youye Zheng, and all authors commented on subsequent versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Wang, D., Mathur, R., Zheng, Y. et al. Constraints on ore-forming fluid evolution and guidance for ore exploration in the Zhaxikang Sb–Pb–Zn–Ag deposit in southern Tibet: insights from silver isotope fractionation of galena. Miner Deposita 57, 701–724 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-022-01111-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-022-01111-5