Abstract
The results of geochronological, petrological–mineralogical, and isotope-geochemical studies of the Tanadon gold deposit in the Greater Caucasus (Republic of North Ossetia–Alania) have made it possible to determine the age of ore veins and identify ore matter sources of sulfide mineralization. The Tanadon deposit is localized in Paleozoic synmetamorphic granitic rocks at the southern margin of the epi-Hercynian Scythian Plate, which is included in the tectonic zone of the Main Caucasus Range. The orebodies are represented by quartz veins varying in thickness and containing complex sulfide mineralization (pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, galena, sphalerite, stannite, cobaltite, and bismuthinite). Arsenopyrite is the main repository of invisible gold. Mineralogical data provide evidence for hydrothermal ore formation, which proceeded at least in two stages, giving rise to earlier pyrite + arsenopyrite and later galena + sphalerite + chalcopyrite mineral assemblages. The Tanadon deposit is a zone of intense young magmatic activity. Neointrusions widespread therein are related to the Early Pliocene Tsana Complex (trachyandesitic dikes, ~4.7 Ma in age) and to the Late Pliocene–Early Pleistocene Tepli Complex (dacitic necks, ~1.4 Ma). According to K–Ar dating of sericite from ore-bearing veins, the Tanadon deposit formed synchronously with Early Pliocene dikes of the Tsana Complex. The total duration of the hydrothermal process likely did not exceed hundreds of thousands of years. As follows from Pb-isotope-geochemical data, hydrothermal processes coeval with Early Pliocene magmatic activity, as well as geological relationships between ore-bearing veins and trachyandesitic dikes, show that the sulfide mineralization of the Tanadon deposit is genetically related to the intrusive Tsana Complex. The main source of ore components is represented by hydrothermal solutions produced in an Early Pliocene melt spot localized beneath the considered part of Greater Caucasus. In the adjacent territory of Georgia, a number of ore objects similar in structure and mineral composition to the Tanadon deposit are also genetically and spatially related to the intrusions of the Tsana Complex. Therefore, the Tsana Complex should be regarded as productive and the areas occupied by Early Pliocene intrusive bodies as promising for Au-bearing arsenopyrite and base-metal mineralization.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Belyankin, D.S., Eremeev, V.P., and Petrov, V.P., New data about neointrusions in the basin of the Urukh River (Central Caucasus), Tr. Inst. Geol. Nauk Akad Nauk SSSR, Petrograf. Ser., 1938, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 1–21.
Bogovin, V.D., Khetagurov, G.V., Dolgov, G.A., et al., Obobshchenie geologicheskikh materialov po Digorskomu rudnomy raionu pa 1971–1972. Geologicheskii otchet Cevero-Osetinskoi KGRE (The Summary of Geological Data for Digora Ore District for 1971–1972. Geological Report of the North-Ossetia KGRE) Ordzhonikidze, 1973.
Borsuk, A.M., Mezozoiskie i kainozoiskie magmaticheskie formatsii Bol’shogo Kavkaza (Mesozoic and Cenozoic magmatic formations of the Greater Caucasus) Moscow: Nauka, 1979.
Chernyshev, I.V., Chugaev, A.V., and Shatagin, K.N., High-precision Pb isotope analysis by multicollector-icpmass-spectrometry using 205Tl/203Tl normalization: optimization and calibration of the method for the studies of Pb isotope variations, Geochem. Int., 2007, vol. 45, no. 11, pp. 1065–1076.
Ershov, A.D., Ore productivity of Zemo Racha and Svaneti, Sov. Geologiya, 1940, no. 8, pp. 24–37.
Gazeev, V.M., Gurbanov, A.G., Goltsman, Yu.V., et al., Fiagdon effusive-sill complex (Republic of North Ossetia–Alania, Russia): geochemistry, geodynamic setting and problems of ore productivity, Vestn. Vladikavkaz. Nauchn. Ts., 2014, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 21–34.
Goff, F. and Janik, C.J., Gas geochemistry of the Valles Caldera region, New Mexico and comparisons with gases at Yellowstone, Long Valley and other geothermal systems, J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 2002, vol. 116, pp. 299–323.
Grekov, I.I., Lavrishchev, V.A., and Enna, N.L., The stages of orogenesis and synorogenic mineralization in the Northern Caucasus, Regional. Geol. Metallogen., 2008, no. 35, pp. 105–112.
Kekelia, S.A., Kekelia, M.A., Kuloshvili, S.I., et al., Gold deposits and occurrences of the Greater Caucasus, Georgia Republic: their genesis and prospecting criteria, Ore Geol. Rev., 2008, vol. 34, pp. 369–386.
Kilias, S.P., Naden, J., Cheliotis, I., et al., Epithermal gold mineralisation in the active Aegean Volcanic Arc: the Profitis Ilias deposit, Milos island, Greece, Mineral. Deposita, 2001, vol. 36, pp. 32–44.
Konstantinov, M.M., Laypanov, Kh.Kh., Danil’chenko, V.A., et al., Geological structure and perspectives of Tanadon Au-arsenopyrite deposit, Geol. Razved. Nedr, 2005, nos. 2–3, pp. 2–10.
Le Bas, M.J., Le Maitre, R.W., Streckeisen, A., Zanettin, B., A chemical classification of volcanic rocks based on the total alkali–silica diagram, J. Petrol., 1986, vol. 27, pp. 745–750.
Lebedev, V.A. Chernyshev, I.V., Bubnov, S.N., and Medvedeva, E.S., Chronology of magmatic activity of the Elbrus volcano (Greater Caucasus): evidence from K-Ar isotope dating of lavas, Dokl. Earth Sci., 2005, vol. 405A, no. 9, pp. 1321–1326.
Lebedev, V.A., Chernyshev, I.V., Chugaev, A.V., et al., Geochronology of eruptions and parental magma sources of Elbrus Volcano, the Greater Caucasus: K-Ar and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope data, Geochem. Int., 2010, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 41–67.
Lebedev, V.A., Dudauri, O.Z., Togonidze, M.G., and Goltsman, Yu.V., The age of young intrusions of Tsana complex (Greater Caucasus) and isotope-geochemical evidence for their origin from hybrid magmas, Petrology, 2016a, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 315–335.
Lebedev, V.A., Chugaev, A.V., Vashkidze, G.T., and Parfenov, A.V., Formation stages and ore matter sources of the Devdoraki copper deposit, Kazbek volcanic center, the Greater Caucasus, Geol. Ore Deposits, 2016b, vol. 58, no. 6, pp. 465–484.
Lebedev, V.A., Dudauri, O.Z., and Goltsman, Yu.V., Early Pleistocene magmatism in the central part of the Greater Caucasus, Dokl. Earth Sci., 2017, vol. 477, no. 1, pp. 1265–1269.
Lebedev, V.A., Parfenov, A.V., Vashakidze, G.T., et al., Chronology of magmatic activity and petrologic-mineralogical characteristics of lavas of Kazbek Quaternary volcano, Greater Caucasus, Petrology, 2018, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 1–28.
Ol’khovsky, T.P. and Tibilov, S.M., Sostavlenie spetsializirovannoi geological osnovy masshtaba 1: 50000 dlya prognozno-metallogenicheskoi karty Gornoi Osetii. Otchet SOGGP “Sevosgeolgorazvedka” (The Compilation of Special Geological Framework on a Scale of 1: 50000 for Forecasting–Metallurgical Map of Gornaya Ossetia. Report of SOGGP “Sevosgeolgorazvedka”), Vladikavkaz, 1998.
Pis’menny, A.N., Tereshchenko, V.V., Perfiliev, V.A., et al., Gosudarstvennaya geologicheskaya karta RF, masshtaba 1: 200000. Izdanie vtoroe. Seriya Kavkazskaya. List K-38-VIII, XIV (Sovetskoe). Ob’yasnitel’naya zapiska) (State Geological Map of the Russian Federation on a Scale 1: 200000. Second Edition. Caucasus Series. Sheet K-38-VIII, XIV (Sovetskoe), St. Petersburg: VSEGEI. 2002.
Rae A.J., Cooke D.R., Phillips D. et al. Spatial and temporal relationships between hydrothermal alteration assemblages at the Palinpinon geothermal field, Philippines-implications for porphyry and epithermal ore deposits, Volcanic, Geothermal and Ore-Forming Fluids: Rulers and Witnesses of Processes within the Earth, Simmons, S.F. and Graham, I.J., Eds., Soc. Econ. Geol., Spec. Publ., 2003, vol. 10, pp. 223–246.
Somin, M.L., The major features of structure of pre-Alpine basement in the Greater Caucasus, Bol’shoi Kavkaz v Al’piiskuyu epokhu (Greater Caucasus in the Alpine Epoch), Leonov, Yu.G., Moscow: GEOS, 2007, pp. 15–3.
Steiger, R.H. and Jager, E., Subcomission on geochronology: convention on the use of decay constants in geo-and cosmochronology, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 1977, no. 36, pp. 359–362.
Stimac, J.A., Goff, F., and Wohletz, K., Thermal modeling of the Clear Lake magmatic–hydrothermal system, California, USA. Geothermics, 2001, vol. 30, pp. 349–390.
Togonidze, M.G. and Dudauri, O.Z., Pliocene volcanic center on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus (Zemo Racha), Tr. Inst. Geol. Respubliki Gruzii, Nov. Ser., 2008, vol. 124, pp. 232–237.
Watanabe, Y., Takagi, T., Kaneko, N., and Suzuki, Y., Mineral and hydrocarbon resources, in The Geology of Japan, Moreno T., Walles S., Kojima T., and Gibbons W., Eds., Geol. Soc. London, 2016, pp. 431–455.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Original Russian Text © V.A. Lebedev, A.V. Chugaev, A.V. Parfenov, 2018, published in Geologiya Rudnykh Mestorozhdenii, 2018, Vol. 60, No. 4, pp. 371–391.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lebedev, V.A., Chugaev, A.V. & Parfenov, A.V. Age and Ore Matter Sources of Au-Sulfide Mineralization of the Tanadon Deposit, Republic of North Ossetia–Alania, Greater Caucasus. Geol. Ore Deposits 60, 328–346 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1075701518030042
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1075701518030042