Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Bitumen Associated with Precipitation of Sulphides in Carbonate-Hosted Vein Mineralization, North Greenland

  • Chapter
Bitumens in Ore Deposits

Part of the book series: Special Publication of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits ((MINERAL DEPOS.,volume 9))

Abstract

Bitumen occurs closely associated with sulphides in carbonate-hosted vein mineralization at Navarana Fjord, northeastern Freuchen Land, central North Greenland.

The bitumen in the vein is strongly degraded (carbonized) and occurs typically as small fragments associated with sphalerite (±galena and pyrite). The bitumen has a very low sulphur content and seems to have lost sulphur compared to any other bitumen from the source rocks in the region. The isotopic compositions of sulphur in bitumen and sulphides from the vein are similar with δ 34S values of about +14‰.

The presence of bitumen in the vein was essential for the sulphide precipitation mechanism. It is suggested that in situ thermal cracking of sulphur-rich organic material added H2S to a metal-bearing fluid, resulting in the precipitation of sulphides. Such a process would probably cause a rapid precipitation of sulphides, thus incorporating bitumen. Furthermore, such a process would not cause any isotopic fractionation of the H2S produced although the bitumen itself would lose sulphur. The thermal cracking and carbonization of the organic material was caused by mixing of hydrocarbons with a hot hydrothermal (200°C) metal-bearing fluid, probably in the vein zone itself or just below in a sandstone succession.

The bitumen in the vein has not been correlated with any of the two known source rocks in the area but the S isotopic data suggest that the vein bitumen is similar to a long-distance migrated bitumen from an unknown source rock.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Anderson GM (1983) Some geochemical aspects of sulfide precipitation in carbonate rocks. In: Kisvarsahyi G, Grant SK, Pratt WP, Koenig JW (eds) Program, International Conference on Mississippi Valley type lead-zinc deposits. University of Missouri, Rolla, pp 61–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnes HL (1983) Ore-depositing reactions in Mississippi Valley-type deposits. In: Kisvarsahyi G, Grant SK, Pratt WP, Koenig JW (eds) Program, International Conference on Mississippi Valley type lead-zinc deposits. University of Missouri, Rolla, pp 77–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Bitumen Associated with Precipitation of Sulphides in Carbonate-Hosted Vein Mineralization 413

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton PB Jr (1967) Possible role of organic matter in the precipitation of the Mississippi Valley ores. In: Brown JS (ed) Genesis of stratiform lead-zinc-barite-fluorite deposits in carbonate rocks. Econ Geol Mon 3: 371–378

    Google Scholar 

  • Christiansen FG (ed) (1989) Petroleum geology of North Greenland. Bull Grinlands Geol Unders 158

    Google Scholar 

  • Christiansen FG, Hansen K (1989) Timing of thermal episodes. In: Christiansen FG (ed) Petroleum geology of North Greenland. Bull Gronlands Geol Unders 158: 73–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Christiansen FG, Nohr-Hansen H (1989) The Silurian shales of central and western North Greenland: evaluation of hydrocarbon source rock potential. Rapp Grottlands Geol Unders 143: 47–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Christiansen FG, Nohr-Hansen H, Nykjær 0 (1987) The Cambrian Henson Gletscher Formation: a mature to postmature hydrocarbon source rock sequence from North Greenland. Rapp Gronlands Geol Unders 133: 141–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Christiansen FG, Buchardt B, Jensenius J, Jepsen HF, NOhr-Hansen H, Thomsen E, Gstfeldt P (1989) Bitumen occurrences. In: Christiansen FG (ed) Petroleum geology of North Greenland. Bull Grdnlands Geol Unders 158: 61–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Connan J (1979) Genetic relation between oil and ore in some Pb-Zn-Ba ore deposits. Spec Publ Geol Soc S Afr 5: 263–274

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis NC, Higgins AK (1987) Cambrian-Lower Silurian stratigraphy in the fold belt and thrust zone between northern Nyeboe Land and JP Koch Fjord, North Greenland. Rapp Gronlands Geol Unders 133: 91–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawes PR (1976) Precambrian to Tertiary of northern Greenland. In: Escher A, Watt SW (eds) Geology of Greenland. Gronlands Geol Unders, Copenhagen, pp 248–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Henriksen N (1987) Systematic geological mapping in 1985 in central and western North Greenland. Rapp GrOnlands Geol Unders 133: 5–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Higgins AK, Soper NJ (1985) Cambrian-Lower Silurian slope and basin stratigraphy between northern Nyeboe Land and western Amundsen Land, North Greenland. Rapp Gronlands Geol Unders 126: 79–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirner AV, Robinson BW (1989) Stable isotope geochemistry of crude oils and of possible source rocks from New Zealand – 2: sulfur. Appl Geochem 4: 121–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jakob H, Hiltmann W (1989) Disperse, feste Erdölbitumina als Maturitäts-Indikatoren im Rahmen der Erdöl/Erdgas-prospektion. Geol Jahrb D89: 3–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Jakobsen UH (1989) Geochemical stream sediment and overburden surveys of a zinc-and bariummineralized area, Freuchen Land, central North Greenland. J Geochem Explor 31:117–134 Jakobsen UH, Ohmoto H. Mineralogical and geochemical studies of a carbonate-hosted zinc and barium vein mineralization in North Greenland (in prep)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jakobsen UH, Steenfelt A (1985) Zinc mineralization at Navarana Fjord, central North Greenland. Rapp GrOnlands Geol Unders 126: 105–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Jakobsen UH, Stendal H (1986) Geochemical exploration in central and western North Greenland. Rapp GrOnlands Geol Unders 133: 113–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensenius J (1987) Fluid inclusion microthermometry and stable isotope studies applied to the diagenesis of sedimentary rocks. Unpubl lic sci Thesis, University of Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiyosu Y (1980) Chemical reduction and sulfur-isotope effects of sulfate by organic matter under hydrothermal conditions. Chem Geol 30: 47–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macqueen RW, Powell TG (1983) Organic geochemistry of the Pine Point lead-zinc ore field and region, Northwest Territories, Canada. Econ Geol 78,1: 1–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohmoto H (1986) Stable isotope geochemistry of ore deposits In: Valley JW, Taylor HP, O’Neil JR (eds) Stable isotopes. Min Soc Am 16:491–559

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohmoto H, Kaiser CJ, Geer KA (1990) Systematics of sulphur isotopes in recent marine sediments and ancient sediment-hosted base metal deposits. In: Herbert HK, Ho SE (eds) Stable isotopes and fluid processes in mineralization. Univ West Aust 23: 70–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Orr WL (1974) Changes in sulfur content and isotopic ratios of sulfur during petroleum maturation – study of Big Horn Basin Paleozoic oils. AAPG Bull 58: 2295–2318

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell TG, Macqueen RW (1984) Precipitation of sulphide ores and organic matter: sulphate reduction reactions at Pine Point, Canada. Science 224: 63–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Skinner BJ (1967) Precipitation of Mississippi Valley type ores: a possible mechanism. In: Brown JS (ed) Genesis of stratiform lead-zinc-barite-fluorite deposits in carbonate rocks. Econ Geol Mon 3: 363–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Spirakis CS (1983) A possible precipitation mechanism for sulfide minerals in Mississippi Valley-type lead-zinc deposits. In: Kisvarsahyi G, Grant SK, Pratt WP, Koenig JW (eds) Program, International Conference on Mississippi Valley type lead-zinc deposits. University of Missouri, Rolla, pp 211–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Steenfelt A (1987) Geochemical trends in central and western North Greenland. Rapp Gronlands Geol Unders 133: 123–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Thode HG (1981) Sulfur isotope ratios in petroleum research and exploration: Williston Basin. AAPG Bull 65: 1527–1537

    Google Scholar 

  • Thode HG, Monster J, Dunford HB (1961) Sulphur isotope geochemistry. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 25: 159–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vredenburgh LD, Cheney ES (1971) Sulphur and carbon isotopic investigation of petroleum, Wind River Basin, Wyoming. AAPG Bull 55,11: 1954–1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Waples DW (1985) Geochemistry in petroleum exploration. Reidel, Boston

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geology, Øster Voldgade 10, Copenhagen K, DK 1350, Denmark

    U. H. Jakobsen

  2. Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, PA, 16802, USA

    H. Ohmoto

Authors
  1. U. H. Jakobsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Ohmoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, The Queen’s University of Belfast, BT7 1NN, Belfast, UK

    John Parnell

  2. University of Mining and Metallurgy, A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059, Krakow, Poland

    Henryk Kucha

  3. CREGU, BP 23, F-54501, Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France

    P. Landais

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1993 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Jakobsen, U.H., Ohmoto, H. (1993). Bitumen Associated with Precipitation of Sulphides in Carbonate-Hosted Vein Mineralization, North Greenland. In: Parnell, J., Kucha, H., Landais, P. (eds) Bitumens in Ore Deposits. Special Publication of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits, vol 9. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-85806-2_21

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-85806-2_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-85808-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-85806-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation