Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Secondary quartzites and their relation to gold mineralization at the Svetloe deposit, Ul’ya Trough, Okhotsk-Chukotka volcanic belt

  • Published:
Russian Journal of Pacific Geology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Hydrothermally altered rocks and their relation to gold mineralization at the Svetloe deposit in the Ul’ya Trough, western sector of the Okhotsk-Chukotka volcanic belt, are studied. The rock composition and style of mineralization are typical of acid-sulfate type deposits. The hydrothermally altered rocks of the deposit are medium-temperature secondary quartzites with developed alunite facies. The upper structural level in the massif of secondary quartzites is made up of a sheetlike body 30 km2 in area and up to 300 m thick with gentle (5–10°) periclinal bedding relative to the arcuate axis of the volcanic range. Below the sheet, there are a number of local steep mostly carinate zones and small (a few hundreds of square meters) multilayered trough-shaped structures, the foot of which is located 100–150 m under the secondary quartzite sheet. All structures of the lower level are restricted to the volcanic range pericline, marked by elevated thicknesses of monoquartzites, and have a gradual transition to the sheetlike part of the massif. The massif of secondary quartzites shows symmetrical zoning. The central zone of the sheetlike body is composed of alunite quartzites framed by dickite varieties. Down the section, the latter grade into hydromica and hydromica-montmorillonite argillic rocks. Monoquartzites form axial zones in the structures of the lower level. In the blanketlike part of the deposit, monoquartzites occur as rare thin lenses and interlayers spatially related to local structures of the lower level. Gold mineralization at the deposit associates with porous monoquartzites. Gold precipitated after quartzite formation during infilling of pores and cavities with colloform silica with barite, and hypogene jarosite.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. G. T. Volostnykh, Argillic Alteration and Mineralization (Nedra, Moscow, 1972) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  2. V. G. Gogishvili and D. V. Arevadze, “Temperature Variations during Formation of the Madneuli Deposit (South Georgia) and Esimate of Deep Ore Potential,” in Forecasting of Hidden Mineralization Based on Zoning of Hydrothermal Deposits (AN SSSR, Moscow, 1972), pp. 230–231 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  3. V. A. Grinenko, “Preparation of Sulfur Dioxide for Isotope Analysis,” Neorg. Khimiya, No. 7, 2578–2582 (1962).

  4. I. P. Ivanov, “Thermodynamic Modeling of Mineral Assemblages and Zoning of Secondary Quartzites by the Example of the Al2O3-SiO2-H2O Open System,” Geokhimiya, No. 5, 621–644 (1993).

  5. A. V. Ignat’ev and T. A. Velivetskaya, “Laser Technique of Sample Preparation for Stable Isotope Analysis,” in Proceedings of All-Russia Conference on Mass Spectrometry and its Application, Moscow, Russia, 2005, (Moscow, 2005), pp. 96–97 [in Russian].

  6. A. G. Kolesnikov, I. A. Bryzgalov, T. L. Rasskazova, and N. E. Savva, “Conditions of the Formation of the Emmi Rare-Metal Occurrence, Ul’ya Structural-Metallogenic Zone,“ in K.V. Simakov Readings (Magadan, 2007), pp. 90–91 [in Russian].

  7. Metasomatism and Metasomatic Rocks, Ed. by V. A. Zharikov and V. L. Rusinov (Nauchn. mir, Moscow, 1998) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  8. L. F. Mishin, “The Place of Secondary Quartzites among Hydrothermally Altered Rocks and Their Relations with Metallic Ores,” in Tectonics, Deep Structure, and Geodynamics of East Asia (Khabarovsk, 2001), pp. 239–265 [in Russian].

  9. L. F. Mishin and N. V. Berdnikov, “Nature of Highly-Aluminous Secondary Quartzites: Evidence from Thermobarogeochemical and Oxygen and Hydrogen Isotope Data,” Tikhookean. Geol. 20(5), 123–139 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  10. L. F. Mishin and N. V. Berdnikov, Secondary Quartzites and their Ore Potential (Dal’nauka, Vladivostok, 2003) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  11. L. F. Mishin, “Relationship of Secondary Quartzites of the Gryada Kamenistaya Deposit (Lower Amur) with Ore Mineralization,” Geol. Rudn. Mestorozhd. 47(5), 472–484 (2005) [Geol. Ore Deposits 47, 429–440 (2005)].

    Google Scholar 

  12. L. F. Mishin, V. V. Akinin, and E. L. Mishin, “New Age Data on the Magmatic Rocks from the Western Sector of the Okhotsk-Chukotka Volcanogenic Belt,” Tikhookean. Geol. 27(3), 12–24 (2008) [Russ. J. Pac. Geol. 2, 385–396 (2008)].

    Google Scholar 

  13. L. F. Mishin and N. V. Berdnikov, “Indicator Role of Highly-Aluminous Secondary Quartzites during Search for Ore Deposits,” Rudy Met., No. 3, 14–24 (2010).

  14. N. I. Nakovnik, Secondary Quartzites of USSR and Related Mineral Deposits (Nedra, Moscow, 1964) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  15. O. A. Naumova and E. I. Alysheva, “Hydrothermally Altered Rocks of the Ozernovskoe Gold-Silver Deposit of Kamchatka,” Otechestvennaya Geol., No. 1, 35–43 (1995).

  16. I. D. Petrenko, Gold-Silver Formation of Kamchatka (Izd-vo SPb. kartograf. fabriki VSEGEI, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskii, 1999) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  17. M. Khosseini, V. L. Rusinov, I. B. Baranova, et al., “Alunite in the Tarom Mountains, Northwestern Iran,” Vestn. Mosk. Univ., Ser. 4. 1, 34–40 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  18. H. P. Taylo, Jr., “Oxygen and Hydrogen Isotope Relations in Hydrothermal Mineral Deposits,” in Geochemistry of Hydrothermal Ore Deposits, Ed. by H. L. Barnes (Wiley, New York, 1979; Mir, Moscow, 1982), pp. 236–277 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  19. G. Albino, “Time-pH-fO2 Paths of Hydrothermal Fluids and the Origin of Quartz-Alunite Gold Deposits,” US Geol. Surv. Bull., No. 2081, 33–42 (1994).

  20. D. H. M. Alderton and F. C. Brameld, “Telluride Mineralization at the Svetloe Gold Prospect, Khabarovsk Krai, Eastern Russia,” in Field Workshop of IGCP-486, Izmir, Turkey, 2006, (Izmir, 2006).

  21. A. Arribas, Jr., “Characteristics of High-Sulfidation Epithermal Deposits, and Their Relation to Magmatic Fluid,” Mineral. Ass. Can. Short Course 23, 419–454 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  22. D. R. Cooke and S. F. Simmons, “Characteristics and Genesis of Epithermal Gold Deposits,” Rev. Econ. Geol. 13, 221–244 (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  23. G. J. Corbett and T. M. Leach, Southwest Pacific Rim Gold-Copper Systems: Structure, Alteration, and Mineralization. Workshop Manual, (Bahuio, 1996).

  24. P. Heald, D. O. Hayba, and N. K. Foley, “Comparative Anatomy of Volcanic-Hosted Epithermal Deposits: Acid-Sulfate and Abularia-Sericite Types,” Econ. Geol. 82(1), 1–26 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. J. W. Hedenquist, “Mineralization Associated with Volcanic-Related Hydrothermal Systems in the Circum-Pacific Basin,” in Proceedings of 4th Circum Pacific Energy and Mineral Resources Conference, Singapore, 1986, Ed. by M. K. Horn (Singapore, 1987), pp. 513–524.

  26. J. W. Hedenquist, A. R. Arribas, and E. Gonzalez-Urein, “Exploration for Epithermal Gold Deposits,” Rev. Econ. Geol. 13, 245–277 (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  27. P. B. Larson and H. P. Taylor, Jr., “Solfataric Alteration in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado: Oxygen Isotope Variations in a Boiling Hydrothermal Environment,” Econ. Geol. 28(4), 1019–1036 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. R. O. Rye, Ph. M. Bethke, and M. D. Wasseman, “The Stable Isotope Geochemistry of Acid Sulphate Alterations,” Econ. Geol. 87, 225–226 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. S. M. Savin and S. Epstein, “The Oxygen and Hydrogen Isotope Geochemistry of Minerals,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 34, 43–64 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. R. H. Sillitoe, “Gold Metallogeny of Chile—An Introduction,” Econ. Geol. 86(6), 1187–1205 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. R. H. Sillitoe, “Styles of High-Sulphidation Gold, Silver and Copper Mineralization in the Porphyry and Epithermal Environments,” in Pacrim 99 Congress, Bali, Indonesia, 1999 Ed. by G. Weber (Austral. Inst. Min. Metallurg., Parkville, 1999), pp. 29–44.

    Google Scholar 

  32. R. H. Sillitoe and J. W. Hedenquist, “Linkages Between Volcano-Tectonic Settings, Ore-Fluid Compositions and Epithermal Precious-Metal Deposits,” Giggenbach Volume, Soc. Econ. Geol. Geochem. Soc., Sp. Publ. 10, 1–50 (2003).

    Google Scholar 

  33. R. Stoffregen, “Genesis of Acid-Sulfate Alteration and Au-Cu-Ag Mineralization at Summitville, Colorado,” Econ. Geol. 82, 1575–1591 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. H. P. Taylor, Jr., “The Application of Oxygen and Hydrogen Isotope Studied to Problems of Hydrothermal Alteration and Ore Deposition,” Econ. Geol. 69, 843–883 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kosygin Institute of Tectonics and Geophysics, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Kim Yu Chena 65, Khabarovsk, 680000, Russia

    L. F. Mishin

Authors
  1. L. F. Mishin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. F. Mishin.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © L.F. Mishin, 2011, published in Tikhookeanskaya Geologiya, 2011, Vol. 30, No.4, pp. 32–48.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mishin, L.F. Secondary quartzites and their relation to gold mineralization at the Svetloe deposit, Ul’ya Trough, Okhotsk-Chukotka volcanic belt. Russ. J. of Pac. Geol. 5, 298–312 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1819714011040063

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1819714011040063

Keywords

Search

Navigation