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Evolution of a Carboniferous carbonate-hosted sphalerite breccia deposit, Isle of Man

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Abstract

A newly discovered, extensive sphalerite-bearing breccia (~7.5 wt.% Zn) is hosted in dolomitised Carboniferous limestones overlying Ordovician–Silurian metasedimentary rocks on the Isle of Man. Although base metal sulphide deposits have been mined historically on the island, they are nearly all quartz vein deposits in the metamorphic basement. This study investigates the origin of the unusual sphalerite breccia and its relationship to basement-hosted deposits, through a combination of petrographic, cathodoluminescence, fluid inclusion, stable isotope and hydrogeologic modelling techniques. Breccia mineralisation comprises four stages, marked by episodes of structural deformation and abrupt changes in fluid temperature and chemistry. In stage I, high-temperature (T h > 300°C), high-salinity (20–45 wt.% equiv. NaCl) fluid of likely basement origin deposited a discontinuous quartz vein. This vein was subsequently dismembered during a major brecciation event. Stages II–IV are dominated by open-space filling sphalerite, quartz and dolomite, respectively. Fluid inclusions in these minerals record temperatures of ~105–180°C and salinities of ~15–20 wt.% equiv. NaCl. The δ34S values of sphalerite (6.5–6.9‰ Vienna-Canyon Diablo troilite) are nearly identical to those of ore sulphides from mines in the Lower Palaeozoic metamorphic rocks. The δ18O values for quartz and dolomite indicate two main fluid sources in the breccia’s hydrothermal system, local Carboniferous-hosted brines (~0.5–6.0‰ Vienna standard mean ocean water) and basement-involved fluids (~5.5–11.5‰). Ore sulphide deposition in the breccia is compatible with the introduction and cooling of a hot, basement-derived fluid that interacted with local sedimentary brines.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Chris Persellin for his assistance with CL microscopy. We are grateful to Juan Watterson for stimulating discussions of Manx geology and loan of his copy of Mackay and Schnellmann’s (1963) report on Manx ore deposits. A constructive review by Julian Menuge significantly improved the clarity of this contribution. Bill and Morag McIntosh of Roylin House, Port St. Mary are thanked for their hospitality during our several field seasons on the island. Support for this project was from the Midas Ore Research Fund of the Department of Geological Sciences, University of Missouri.

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  1. Justin M. Beasley

    Present address: , CH2M Hill, 8501 West Higgins Rd. Suite 300, Chicago, IL, 60631, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Kevin L. Shelton, Justin M. Beasley & Martin S. Appold

  2. Boone Pickens School of Geology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74074, USA

    Jay M. Gregg

  3. Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3GP, UK

    Stephen F. Crowley

  4. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 3QL, UK

    James P. Hendry

  5. School of Geological Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Ian D. Somerville

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Correspondence to Kevin L. Shelton.

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Shelton, K.L., Beasley, J.M., Gregg, J.M. et al. Evolution of a Carboniferous carbonate-hosted sphalerite breccia deposit, Isle of Man. Miner Deposita 46, 859–880 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-011-0358-3

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