Abstract
Archaean gold-quartz vein/shear zone systems constitute one of the most important types of gold ore deposit; however, their origin is controversial. Here we discuss newly obtained δ13C(PDB) values for carbonate associated with the second largest such system in the world (Hollinger–McIntyre, Superior Province, Canada), together with values for fourteen other Au-mineralized locations in the Timmins area1 and for the largest such system in the world (Golden Mile, Western Australia2). All of the data are statistically identical to the δ13C values, reported here, of proven magmatic carbonate recently found with Au- and W-enriched MoS2 mineralization in the Mink Lake sodic granodiorite stock, northwest Ontario. The δ13C values appear to exclude greenschist–amphibolite facies metamorphic processes, a widely accepted genetic alternative3–6, and granulite facies processes7,8. We conclude that currently available carbon isotope data suggest that the H2O–CO2 fluid which deposited this type of Archaean Au mineralization was magmatically derived.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fyon, A. J., Crocket, J. H. & Schwarcz, H. P. Ont. geol. Surv. open File Rep. No. 5464 (1983).
Golding, S. D. & Wilson, A. F. Econ. Geol. 78, 438–450 (1983).
Kerrich, R. & Fyfe, W. S. Chem. Geol. 33, 265–294 (1981).
Fyfe, W. S. & Kerrich, R. in Gold '82: The Geology, Geochemistry and Genesis of Gold Deposits (ed. Foster, R. P.) 99–127 (Balkema, Rotterdam, 1984).
Groves, D. I. et al. in Gold '82: The Geology, Geochemistry and Genesis of Gold Deposits (ed. Foster, R. P.) 689–712 (Balkema, Rotterdam, 1984).
Phillips, G. N. Econ. Geol. Res. Unit Inf. Circ. No. 175 (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 1985).
Colvine, A. C. et al. Ont. geol. Sun. open File Rep. No. 5524 (1984),
Fyon, A. J., Schwarcz, H. P. & Crocket, J. H. Geol. Ass. Can. Progm Abstr. 9, 65 (1984).
Bertoni, C. H. Bull. Can. Inst. Min. Metall. 76, 62–69 (1983).
Pamour Porcupine Mines Ltd Annual Reports 1982–1984 (Noranda Group, Toronto, 1983–1985).
Allen, C. C. & Folinsbee, R. E. Econ. Geol. 39, 340–348 (1944).
Ferguson, S. E. Ont. Dep. Mines geol. Rep. 58 (1968).
Wood, P. C. Misc. Pap. Ont. geol. Surv. 116, 188–190 (1983).
Davies, J. F., Whitehead, R. E. S., Cameron, R. A. & Duff, D. in Geology of Canadian Gold Deposits (eds Hodder, R. W. & Petruk, W.) 130–143 (Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Montreal, 1982).
Fyon, A. J. & Crocket, J. H. in Geology of Canadian Gold Deposits (eds Hodder, R. W. & Petruk, W.) 113–129 (Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Montreal, 1982).
Hodgson, C. J. & MacGeehan, P. J. in Geology of Canadian Gold Deposits (eds Hodder, R. W. & Petruk, W.) 211–229 (Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Montreal, 1982).
Spooner, E. T. C., Wood, P. C., Burrows, D. R., Thomas, A. V. & Noble, S. R. Misc. Pap. Ont. geol. Surv. 127, 229–246 (1985).
Fyon, A. J., Schwarcz, H. P., Crocket, J. H. & Knyf, M. Misc. Pap. Ont. geol. Surv. 103, 59–64 (1982).
Siegel, S. Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1956).
Till, R. Statistical Methods for the Earth Scientist (Macmillan, London, 1974).
Burrows, D. R. thesis, Univ. Toronto (1984).
Burrows, D. R. & Spooner, E. T. C. (submitted).
Burrows, D. R. & Spooner, E. T. C. Geol. Ass. Can. Prog. Abstr. 9, 49 (1984).
Macdonald, A. J. thesis, Univ. Toronto (1983).
Thomas, A. V. thesis, Univ. Toronto (1985).
Burrows, D. R. & Spooner, E. T. C. Geol. Ass. Can. Prog. Abstr. 9, 50 (1984).
Sheppard, S. M. F. & Schwarcz, H. P. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 20, 161–198 (1970).
Spooner, E. T. C., Beckinsale, R. D., Fyfe, W. S. & Smewing, J. D. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 47, 41–62 (1974).
Broughton, D. W. & Gibson, I. L. Geol. Ass. Can. Prog. Abstr. 9, 49 (1984).
Schoell, M. & Wellmer, F.-W. Nature 290, 696–699 (1981).
Hoefs, J. & Touret, J. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 52, 165–174 (1975).
Touret, J. L. R. in Short Course in Fluid Inclusions: Applications to Petrology (eds Hollister, L. S. & Crawford, M. L.) 182–208 (Mineralogical Association of Canada, Toronto, 1981).
Rudnick, R. L., Ashwal, L. D. & Henry, D. J. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 87, 399–406 (1984).
Wood, P. C. et al. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Prog. 16, 700 (1984).
Lambert, I. B., Phillips, G. N. & Groves, D. I. in Gold '82: The Geology, Geochemistry and Genesis of Gold Deposits (ed. Foster, R. P.) 373–387 (Balkema, Rotterdam, 1984).
Skoog, D. A. & West, D. M. Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, 1962).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Burrows, D., Wood, P. & Spooner, E. Carbon isotope evidence for a magmatic origin for Archaean gold-quartz vein ore deposits. Nature 321, 851–854 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/321851a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/321851a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Multi-source and multi-stage metal mobilization during the tectonic evolution of the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt, Finland: implications for the formation of orogenic Au deposits
Mineralium Deposita (2023)
-
Geology, fluid inclusion and H–O–C isotope geochemistry of the Doranasai gold deposit, Chinese Altai: implications for ore genesis
International Journal of Earth Sciences (2022)
-
Fluid and metal sources in the Fäboliden hypozonal orogenic gold deposit, Sweden
Mineralium Deposita (2021)
-
Deposit-scale structural architecture of the Sigma-Lamaque gold deposit, Canada—insights from a newly proposed 3D method for assessing structural controls from drill hole data
Mineralium Deposita (2020)
-
The Roc Blanc orogenic Pb-Zn-Ag-Au deposit (Morocco): a product of metamorphic dehydration and CO2 devolatilization during exhumation of the Variscan Jebilet massif
Mineralium Deposita (2019)