Abstract
The geological, petrological, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the Hutti high-grade gold reference material representing the composite sample of sheared gold-sulphide bearing smoky-grey quartz vein hosted in felsic volcanics (Middle Reef) and hydrothermal altered wall rocks are investigated in the present work. Petrological studies on these rocks reveal the presence of deformed quartz ribbons, plagioclase, chlorite, biotite, stipnomelane, actinolite and abundant native gold, arsenopyrite, pyrite and minor scheelite, monazite and xenotime. The major, trace and REE geochemistry of the host barren rhyolites are interpreted as low Yb adakitic variety which show high Ba, Cr, V and Ni concentrations. REE patterns of the gold-sulphide bearing quartz reef is characterized by a pronounced positive Eu anomaly, LREE depletion and nearly flat HREE with a low total REE which indicate possible contribution from deep-seated fluids to the ore-forming process. These patterns also suggest a source which is enriched in Eu and depleted in LREE either due to crystal fractionation or the formation of scheelite. The associated hydrothermally altered wall rocks from proximal zone, exhibit flat REE patterns coupled with high concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cr, V, Sc and Ni indicating their derivation from secondary epigenetic fluids responsible for metasomatic alteration. The abundant barren schistose amphibolites from distal zone represent enriched type of island arc basalts (IAB). The trace, REE-HFSE data on the rhyolite (adakite) and IAB of Middle Reef in the Hutti schist belt substantiates the inference that Archaean subduction processes in an island arc/convergent margin setting are responsible for adakitic magmatism.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anand, R. (2012) Evolution of the Eastern Dharwar Craton from the perspective of new isotope data from the Hutti greenstone granite terrene. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.79, pp.541–542.
Anglin, C.D., Franklin, J.M., Johanson, I.R., Bell, K. and Hoffman, E. (1987) Geochemistry of Scheelite associated with Archaean Gold deposits: Implication for their direct age determination. Geol. Surv. Can., Paper No.87-IA, pp.591–596.
Balaram, V. and Rao, T.G. (2003) “Rapid Determination of REE’s and Other Trace Elements in Geological Samples by Microwave Acid Digestion and ICP-MS”. Atomic Spectroscopy, v.24 (6), November/December, p.206–212.
Balaram, V., Patil. M.L., Agarwal. A. K., Subba Rao. D. V., Charan. S. N., Satyanarayanan. M., Ramavati Mathur., Kapilavastu. K., Sarma. D.S., Sankara Gowda. M., Ramesh. S.L., Sangurmath. P., Anjaiah. K.V., Dasaram. B., Saxena. R.K. and Zahida Begum (2006) Preparation and certification of high-grade gold geochemical reference material. Accred. Qual. Assur., v.11, p.329–335.
Drummond, M.S. and Defant, M.J. (1990) A model for trondhjemite-tonalite-dacite genesis and crustal growth via slab melting: Archaean to modern comparisons. Jour. Geophys. Res., v.95, pp.21503–21521.
Drummond, M.S., Defant, M.J. and Kepezhinskas, P.K. (1996) Petrogenesis of slab-derived trondjhemite-tonalite-dacite/ adakitic magmas. Trans. Royal Soc. Edinberg. Earth Sci., v.87, pp.205–215.
Goldfarb, R.J., Groves, D.I. and Gradoll, S. (2001) Orogenic gold and geologic time: a global synthesis. Ore Geol. Rev., v.18, pp.1–75.
Groves, D.I., Candie, K.C., Goldfarb, R.J., Hronsky, J.M.A. and Vielreicher, R.M. (2005) Secular changes in global tectonic processes and their influence on the temporal distribution of gold bearing mineral deposits. Econ. Geol. v.100, pp.203–224.
Kerrich, R., Goldfarb, R.J. and Richards, J. (2005) Metallogenic provinces in an evolving geodynamic framework. Econ. Geol., 100th Anniversary volume, pp.203–224
Kolb, J., Rogers, A. and Meyer, M.F. (2005). Relative timing of deformation and two age gold mineralization at the Hutti mine, Dharwar Craton, India. Mineral. Deposita, v.40, pp.156–174.
Krishna, A.K. and Govil, P.K. (2008) Assessment of heavy metal contamination in soils around Manali industrial area, Chennai, Southern India. Environ. Geol., v.54 (7), pp.1465–1472
Manikyamba, C., Kerrich, R., Khanna, T.C., Satyanarayanan, M. and Keshav Krishna, A. (2009) Enriched and depleted arc basalts with Mg-andesites and adakites: A potential paired arcback- arc of the 2.6 Ga Hutti greenstone terrane, India. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta., v.73, pp.1711–1736.
Manikyanba, C., Naqvi, S.M., Subba Rao, D.V., Mohan, M.R., Khann, T.C., Rao, T.G. and Reddy, G.L.N. (2005) Boninites from the Neoarchean Gadwal greenstone belt, eastern Dharwar craton, India: implications for Archean subduction processes. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v.230, pp.65–83.
Martin, H. (1999) Adakitic magmas: Modern analogues of Archaean granitoids. Lithos, v.146, pp.411–429.
Martin, H., Smithies, R.H., Rapp, R., Moyen, J.F. and Champion, D. (2005) An overview of adakites tonalite-trondjhemitegranodiorite (TTG) and Sanikitoid relationships and some implications for crustal evolution. Lithos, v.79, pp.1–24.
Menon, A.G., Venkatasubramanian, V.S., Vasudev, V.N. and Anantha Iyer, G.V. (1981) Sulphur isotope abundance variations in sulphides of the Dharwar Cration-part III: Hutti. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.22, pp.448–450.
Mishra, M. and Rajamani, V. (1999) Significance of the Archaean bimodal volcanics from the Ramagiri schist belt in the formation of eastern Dharwar craton. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.54, pp.563–583.
Munker, C, Worner, G., Yogodzinski, G. and Churikova, T. (2004) Behaviour of high field strength elements in subduction zones: constraints from Kamchatka–Aleutian arc lavas. Earth Planet Sci. Lett., v.224, pp.275–293.
Naqvi, S.M., Sarma, D.S., Sawkar, R.H., Rammohan, M. and Rana Pratop, J.G. (2008) Role of adakitic magmatisim and subduction in Gold endowment of Dharwar Neoarchaean greenstone belts, India. Jour.Geol.Soc.India, v.71, pp.875–888.
Pal, N. and Mishra, B. (2002) Alteration geochemistry and fluid inclusion characteristics of the greenstone hosted gold deposit of Hutti, Eastern Dharwar Craton, India. Mineral. Deposita, v.37, pp.722–736.
Patil, M.L. (2001) Evolutionary phases of exploration leading to the development of Hutti and Chitradurga Group of Gold mines in the Archaean greenstone belts of Karnataka,, India. Geol. Surv. India Spec. Publ. No.58, pp.293–314.
Radhakrishna, B.P. (1996) Mineral Resources of India. Geological Society of India, Bangalore, pp.471.
Radhakrishna, B.P. and Vaidyanadhan, R. (1997) (second edition revised and enlarged) Geology of Karnataka. Geological Society of India, Bangalore, 354p.
Ramesh, S.L., Raju, P.V.S, Anjaiah, K.V., Mathur, R., Rao, T.G., Dasaram, B., Charan, S.N., Rao, D.V.S., Sarma, D.S., Mohan, M.R. and Balaram, V. (2001) Determination of gold in rocks, ores and other geological materials by atomic absorption techniques. Atomic Spectrosc., v.22(1), pp.263–269.
Sarma, D.S., Mc Naughton, N.J., Fletcher, I.R., Groves, D.J., Ram Mohan, M. and Balaram, V. (2008a) Timing of gold mineralization in the Hutti Gold Deposit, Dharwar Craton, South India. Econ. Geol., v.103, pp.1715–1727.
Sarma, D.S., Muhling, J., Ram Mohan, M. and Mc Naughton, N. (2008b) Occurrence of hydrothermal phosphate minerals in the Gold mineralized zones at Hutti Gold Deposit, Karnataka, South India. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.71, pp.223–228.
Sun, S.S. and Mcdonough, W.F. (1989) Chemical and isotopic systematics of oceanic basalts: implications for mantle composition and processes. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ., v.42, pp.313–345.
Ugarkar, A.G. (1998) Implications of retrograde metamorphism for gold mineralization in the greenstone belts of Northern Dharwar Craton, Karnataka, India. Gondwana Res., v.1 (2), pp.215–219.
Ugarkar, A.G., Solankar, S.N. and Vasudev, V.N. (2013) Geology and Geochemistry of Archaean felsic metavolcanic rocks of the Eastern Part of the Kolar Greenstone belt, Dharwar Craton, India: Implications for their petrogenesis and geodynamic setting. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.81, pp192–202.
Uspenskii, E.L., Novgorodova, M.L. and Mineeva, R.A. (1989). Europium anomaly in scheelite from Gold deposits. Dokl. Acad. Nauk SSSR, v.304 (6), pp.1455–1459.
Vasudev, V.N. and Naganna, C. (1973) Mineragraphy of goldquartz-sulphide reefs of Hutti gold Mines, Raichur district, Mysore State. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.14, pp378–383.
Vasudev, V.N. (1996) A greenstone belt development model for the origin and genesis of Archaean lode gold deposits of the Dharwar Craton. Geological Society of India Annual Convention (MANGALORE-96), October,16-18, Mangalore University, pp.2. Extended Abstract.
Vasudev, V.N, Chadwick, B, Nutman, A.P. and Hegde, G.V. (2000) Rapid development of the late-Archaean Hutti Schist belt, northern Karnataka: Implications of new field data and SHRIMP U/Pb Zircon ages. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.55, pp.529–540.
Vasudev, V.N. and Chadwick, B. (2008) Lithology and Structure of the Auriferous Hutti Schist Belt, Northern Karnataka: Implications for Neoarchaean Oblique Convergence in the Dharwar Craton, South India. Jour. Geol. Soc. India. v.71, pp.239–256.
Vinokurov, S., Kovalenker, V.A., Saforov, Y.U.G. and Kerzin, A.L. (1999) REE in quartz from epithermal Gold deposits: Distribution and genetic implications. Geochemistry International, v.37(2), pp.145–152.
Vinokurov, S. (1995) Geochemical significance of Europium anomaly in the minerals of ore deposits. Geochem. Int., v.32 (12), pp.113–140.
Vinokurov, S. (1996) Europium anomalies in mineral deposits and their geochemical significance. Dokl. Ross. Acad. Nauk SSSR, v.346 (6), pp.792–795.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Subba Rao, D.V., Balaram, V., Sangurmath, P. et al. Major, trace and REE characteristics of the high grade gold geochemical reference material from Middle Reef, Hutti gold mines, Karnataka. J Geol Soc India 85, 313–321 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-015-0220-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-015-0220-9