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Epithermal mineralization of the Tagmout deposit, Eastern Saghro, Morocco: metallogenic characterization and fluid phases

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Abstract

The Tagmout Cu-Ag deposit is located at the Saghro mining district (Eastern Anti-Atlas orogenic belt) and about 110 km east to the city of Ouarzazate. Tagmout deposit is hosted by high-K calc-alkaline magmatic rocks (olivine-gabbronorite to granite). These granitoids show a zoned and polyphased hydrothermal alteration (potassic, phyllic, argilic, and propyllitic) that are typically found in neutral epithermal systems. Cu-Ag mineralization is found either disseminated in the granodiorite and/or quartz-monzodiorite or in veins. These vein swarms are cross-cutting the out-croup igneous plutons and are mainly related to the NW–SE, NNE-SSW and rarely to the ENE-WSW oriented faults. Sulfides are the main ore minerals (chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite, and covellite) and secondary carbonates (malachite and azurite). Silver is expressed as impurity in copper sulfides or as small inclusions of the stromeyerite (CuAgS) mineral. SEM and microprobe data have revealed that copper sulfides are important silver-bearing minerals (up to 3%wt in chalcocite), as well as other trace elements: Pb, Zn, As, and Cd (ca. 600 ppm Cd). In copper sulfides, the main mechanism is atomic substitution: (i) Cu is substituted by Ag and Fe is substituted by Cd in chalcopyrite and bornite; (ii) Cu is substituted by Ag + Pb in chalcocite. Besides, microthermometric data from the mineralizing fluids of Tagmout deposit reveal that two distinct aqueous fluids have played an important role in the ore formation: (i) an early fluid marked by a high temperature (Th = ⁓300 °C) and intermediate (constant) salinity (⁓12% wt eq. NaCl) was identified in quartz (Lqz). This fluid is likely to be linked to Cu, Pb, and Zn sulfide deposition by cooling; (ii) the second hydrothermal fluid is characterized by low temperature (Th ⁓ 200 °C), and high salinity (⁓ 35% wt eq. NaCl) was associated with the Ag-bearing carbonate stage (LCa). This latter fluid is likely to be coeval to the alteration of primary Cu sulfides, by substituting Ag to Cu with some trace elements (namely, Cd and Pb), as well as neoformation of secondary Cu- and Ag-enriched minerals (chalcopyrite II, bornite II, chalcocite, covellite, and stromeyerite). It could be noticed that the composition of those fluids is quite complex: based on the low eutectic temperatures (Te ⁓ -100 °C), we think that there could be salts like CaCl2, MgCl2, LiCl, AgCl, and LiBr. However, Cu-Ag mineralization in the Tagmout deposit is associated with two distinct mineralizing events: (i) an early hydrothermal event linked to Tagmout granodiorites that probably induced early sulfide stage deposition (chalcopyrite I + bornite I + galena II + sphalerite) and (ii) Ag-rich epithermal stage, which is thought to be linked to late Proterozoic volcanic formations. It is likely to be the cause of Ag-rich paragenesis deposition (stromeyerite + Ag-chalcopyrite II + Ag-chalcocite + Ag-covellite). The first stage is similar to disseminated Cu mineralization in the nearby Cu Bou Skour deposit. The second stage is known at regional scale (Imiter, Zgounder, Jbel Laassal, Tizert, Tazlaght…).

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taken from the granodiorite in the Tagmout quarry, (B) and (C) photos showing the stockwork in the granodiorite and in the quartz monzodiorite

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Acknowledgements

A special note of appreciation goes to Professor Yves Moëlo from Materials Institute Jean Rouxel-Sciences, Nante University, France, for having proofread the article.

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The authors did not receive any research fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismaïl University, 11201, Meknes, PB, Morocco

    Moussaid Azizi & Aissa Mohamed

  2. Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Physico-Chemistry of Processing and Material Laboratory, Hassan First University of Settat, Settat, Morocco

    Mezougane Hafid

  3. Department of Geology, Polydisciplinary Faculty, Ibn Zohr University, Ouarzazat, Morocco

    Kharis Abdel-ali

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  1. Moussaid Azizi
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Correspondence to Moussaid Azizi.

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Responsible Editor: Domenico M. Doronzo

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Azizi, M., Mohamed, A., Hafid, M. et al. Epithermal mineralization of the Tagmout deposit, Eastern Saghro, Morocco: metallogenic characterization and fluid phases. Arab J Geosci 15, 290 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-09585-3

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