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The mineralogy of the Golden Sunlight gold-silver telluride deposit, Whitehall, Montana, U.S.A.

Mineralogie der Golden Sunlight Gold-Silber-Tellurid-Lagerstätte, Whitehall, Montana

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Summary

The Golden Sunlight gold-silver telluride deposit, hosted primarily within the Mineral Hill breccia pipe (MHBP), is spatially related to a high-level, Late Cretaceous multiple intrusive, alkaline to subalkaline porphyry system. Base metal veins and manganese (rhodochrosite) mineralization occur up to 2km from the MHBP and form part of a regional mineral zonation pattern genetically related to a low-grade porphyry molybdenum system. Proterozoic rocks of the LaHood Formation and the informally named Bull Mountain Group host the MHBP and contain stratabound sulphides/ sulphosalts (up to 50% pyrite with minor to trace amounts of chalcopyrite, tennantite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite, galena, and molybdenite). Four periods of hypogene mineralization occur in the breccia pipe. Stages I and IV constitute ,≈99% of the mineralization; native gold (4–11 wt.% Ag), calaverite, tetradymite, tellurobismuthite, Se-bearing Bi sulphosalts (aikinite, lindströmite, krupkaite, gladite, bismuthinite, and ?benjaminite), tennantite (Zn, Fe, Te, and Bi varieties), coloradoite, melonite, galena (up to 6.7 wt.% Bi and 6.4 wt.% Se), stannite, chalcocite, and the rare mineral buckhornite are included in stage Ib. Minor amounts of base metals are present in stage II. Gold-silver tellurides (krennerite, petzite, sylvanite, and possibly the rare “x-phase”) developed in stage III whereas barite, fluorite, dolomite, magnesite, trace kaolinite, and sericite formed during stage IV. Utilizing the mineral assemblages in stage Ib, calculated values of logf Te2 and logf S2 range from -10.5 to -9.7, and -12.6 to -5.5, respectively.

Ore forming components (e.g., Au, Ag, Te, Cu, Bi, Mo, and much of the S) were likely derived from the Late Cretaceous intrusive system with possible contributions from the Proterozoic host rocks.

Zusammenfassung

Die Golden Sunlight Gold-Silber-Tellurid-Lagerstätte, die hauptsächlich im Brekzienschlot von Mineral Hill (Mineral Hill breccia pipe, MHBP) eingelagert ist, steht räumlich mit einem erzreichen, multi-intrusiven, alkalischen bis sub-alkalischen Porphyritsystem aus der Oberkreide in Beziehung. Erzadern und Mn-Mineralisation (Rhodochrosit) finden sich bis zu 2 km vom MHBP entfernt und sind Bestandteil einer regionalen Vererzung die genetisch zu einem erzarmen Mo-hältigen Porphyritsystem in Beziehung steht. Proterozoische Gesteine aus der LaHood-Formation und der inoffiziell benannten Bull Mountain Group umgeben den MHBP und enthalten schichtgebundene Sulfide und Sulfosalze (bis zu 50% Pyrit mit Neben- bis Spurenmengen von Kupferkies, Tennantit, Pyrrhotin, Zinkblende, Bleiglanz und Molybdänit).[▭

Der Brekzienschlot zeigt vier Phasen hypogener Mineralisation. Stufen I und IV enthalten ≈ 99% der Mineralisation: gediegen Gold (4–11 Gew.% Ag), Calaverit, Tetradymit, Tellurobismuthit, Se-hältige Bi-Sulfosalze (Aikinit, Lindströmit, Krupkait, Gladit, Bismuthinit und ?Benjaminit) Tennantit (Zn-, Fe-, Te- und Bi-Varietäten), Coloradoit, Melonit, Bleiglanz (mit bis zu 6.7 Gew.% Bi und 6.4 Gew.% Se), Zinnstein, Chalcocit, sowie das seltene Mineral Buckhornit treten in Stufe Ib auf. Geringere Mengen von Buntmetallen kommen in Stufe II vor. Gold-Silber-Telluride (Krennerit, Petzit, Sylvanit und möglicherweise die seltene “X-Phase”) sind in Stufe III ausgebildet und in Stufe IV wurden Baryt, Flusspat, Dolomit, Magnesit, Spuren von Kaolin und Serizit gebildet. Unter Verwendung der Mineralassoziationen der Stufe Ib lassen sich Werte von logf Te2 zwischen - 10.5 und - 9.7 und von logf S2 zwischen - 12.6 und - 5.5 errechnen.[▭

Die erzbildenden Komponenten (z.B. Au, Ag, Te, Cu, Bi, Mo und der Grossteil von S) stammen wahrscheinlich vom Intrusivsystem aus der Oberkreide, möglicherweise mit Beiträgen der proterozoischen Umgebung.[/ p]

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Iowa State University, 253 Science I, 50011-3212, Ames, Iowa, USA

    P. G. Spry

  2. Golden Sunlight Mines, Inc., 453 Montana Highway 2 East, 59759, Whitehall, Montana, USA

    F. Foster & J. S. Truckle

  3. 17600 Rocky Mountain Road, 59714, Belgrade, Montana, USA

    T. H. Chadwick (Consultant)

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  1. P. G. Spry
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  2. F. Foster
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  3. J. S. Truckle
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  4. T. H. Chadwick
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Spry, P.G., Foster, F., Truckle, J.S. et al. The mineralogy of the Golden Sunlight gold-silver telluride deposit, Whitehall, Montana, U.S.A.. Mineralogy and Petrology 59, 143–164 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01161857

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