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Physicochemical Modeling of Ore Formation at the Gold and Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits of the Northern Urals

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Abstract—

A thermodynamic model of the gold–polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulfide ore-forming system, related to the evolution of a shallow acid volcanic chamber of an island arc (Galkinskoe deposit, Northern Urals) was created. The low W/R ratio (<0.25) obtained via modeling indicates slow filtration of fluid upsection in the sequence. In general, the Cu, Zn, Pb, Ag, and Au concentrations in the fluid decrease monotonically with decreasing temperature within the considered temperature range of 600–200°C due to precipitation of solid phases. With a temperature decrease from 550 to 450°C or less, chalcopyrite (±pyrrhotite), sphalerite, and minor galena crystallize successively. The Zn concentration in fluid with decreasing temperature first increases due to incorporation of zinc from host rocks, and at a temperature of <520°C, increases due to the formation of sphalerite in the system.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to the referee, whose constructive comments made possible to significantly improve the logic and clarity of the material.

Funding

The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project no. 20-17-00184 (development of the software module, verification for different P–T–x conditions, and thermodynamic calculations). Field works and sampling were carried out as a part of the basic topic of the Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences. The geological and genetic interpretation was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project nos. 18-05-70041 and 20-05-00849.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017, Moscow, Russia

    N. N. Akinfiev & I. V. Vikentyev

  2. Russian State University for Geological Prospecting, 117997, Moscow, Russia

    N. N. Akinfiev

Authors
  1. N. N. Akinfiev
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  2. I. V. Vikentyev
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Correspondence to N. N. Akinfiev or I. V. Vikentyev.

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Translated by A. Bobrov

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Akinfiev, N.N., Vikentyev, I.V. Physicochemical Modeling of Ore Formation at the Gold and Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits of the Northern Urals. Geochem. Int. 58, 1437–1442 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016702920130029

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016702920130029

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