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Mineral-chemical studies of metamorphosed hydrothermal alteration in the Kristineberg volcanogenic massive sulfide district, Sweden

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Abstract.

The massive sulfide deposits of the Kristineberg area, Sweden, occur within a 2- to 3-km-thick succession of felsic volcaniclastic rocks belonging to the Skellefte Group. The volcanic pile is intruded by a synvolcanic Jorn-type granitoid (Viterliden intrusive complex) and is overlain by a thick sequence of metasedimentary rocks (Vargfors Group). Mineralization occurs at two main stratigraphic levels, at the base of the felsic volcanic succession and at the contact with the metasedimentary rocks of the Vargfors Group. The Kristineberg Cu–Zn mine is the largest deposit (approximately 21 Mt) and occurs at the base of the volcanic pile, close to the contact with the Viterliden intrusive complex. Four smaller deposits (Ravliden, Ravlidmyran, Horntrask and Nyliden) occur along the upper ore horizon. These deposits are thought to be related to a late intrusive phase of the Viterliden complex which cuts the altered volcanic rocks at the Kristineberg deposit. Within an area of about 50 km2 surrounding the Kristineberg deposit, felsic volcanic rocks between the two ore horizons are affected by extensive albite-destructive alteration (sodium depletion) and development of chlorite and muscovite (strong co-enrichment in magnesium and potassium). The Kristineberg deposit is enveloped by a large and partly transposed quartz–chlorite alteration zone, approximately 2 km in diameter, and a distal but coherent pyrite–quartz–muscovite alteration zone extending as far as 4 km from the deposit. Chlorite(±talc) in the mine area is notably magnesium-rich and contains anomalous F, Ba, Zn and Mn. High fluorine is also present in coexisting muscovite and phlogopite. The magnesium-rich chlorite alteration contrasts sharply with the iron enrichment observed in many other felsic, volcanic-hosted Precambrian massive sulfide deposits. This may indicate fixation of iron by large amounts of pyrite in the section or entrainment of large amounts of seawater in the hydrothermal upflow zones. Kyanite is developed locally in the chlorite-rich pipe at Kristineberg in response to regional thermal metamorphism of highly aluminous alteration in the immediate foot-wall rocks. Spectacular, andalusite-bearing quartz–muscovite schists and quartz–biotite–cordierite schists also occur where the altered felsic volcanic rocks are intruded by the late Revsund granite. However, similar metamorphic mineral growth is not observed where the volcanic rocks at the contact are less altered. Deposits near the top of the felsic volcanic succession are characterized by magnesium-rich chlorite alteration in the foot wall and proximal calc-silicate assemblages (dolomite, calcite, tremolite, ±garnet, ±margarite) where the host sedimentary rocks are carbonate-rich. In general, the calc-silicate alteration is restricted to the immediate hanging wall and zones lateral to the deposits and does not represent a regionally extensive exploration target. The two main ore horizons in the Kristineberg area are not linked by any obvious discordant structures or alteration zones. However, mineral-chemical studies highlight several possible fluid flow pathways leading from the Kristineberg deposit to the Ravliden ore horizon, more than 2 km upsection. Overprinting regional metamorphic minerals have inherited the hydrothermal signature of the ore-related alteration. Electronic Supplementary Material is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00126-002-0299-y. On that page (frame on the left side), a link takes you directly to the supplementary material.

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Acknowledgements.

This study was funded by the Canadian Mining Industry Research Organization (CAMIRO Project 94E07 on the Use of Regional-Scale Alteration Zones and Subvolcanic Intrusions in the Exploration for Volcanic-Associated Massive Sulphide Deposits). Boliden AB is thanked for their encouragement and support during this project. We especially thank Wiking Andersson, Benny Mattsson, Rolf Jonsson, Roger Nordin, Sven-Åke Svenson, Mats Willdén, Bertil Sandström, Annika Wasström, Erik Lundstam, Pia Fagerstrom, Hans Åreback and Rodney Allen for their help during fieldwork. This project was made possible through the considerable efforts of the staff at the Boliden core facility and the SGU core library at Malå. An earlier version of this paper was substantially improved by helpful comments from R. Springer, D.F. Sangster, and R.J. Goldfarb. This is GSC Contribution No. 2001179.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa, K1A 0E8, Canada

    Mark D. Hannington, Alan G. Galley & Bruce Taylor

  2. Mineralogical Consultant, 15 Scotia Place, Ottawa, K1S 0W2, Canada

    Ingrid M. Kjarsgaard

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  1. Mark D. Hannington
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  2. Ingrid M. Kjarsgaard
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Correspondence to Mark D. Hannington.

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Editorial handling: R.J. Goldfarb

Electronic Supplementary Material is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00126-002-0299-y. On that page (frame on the left side), a link takes you directly to the supplementary material.

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Hannington, M.D., Kjarsgaard, I.M., Galley, A.G. et al. Mineral-chemical studies of metamorphosed hydrothermal alteration in the Kristineberg volcanogenic massive sulfide district, Sweden. Miner Deposita 38, 423–442 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-002-0299-y

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