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Sm–Nd dating of fluorite from the worldclass Montroc fluorite deposit, southern Massif Central, France

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Abstract

A three-point Sm–Nd isotope isochron on fluorite from the very large Montroc fluorite vein deposit (southern Massif Central, France) defines an age of 111±13 Ma. Initial εNd of −8.6 and initial 87Sr/86Sr of ~0.71245 suggest an upper crustal source of the hydrothermal system, in agreement with earlier work on fluid inclusions which indicated a basinal brine origin. The mid-Cretaceous age of ~111 Ma suggests the Albian/Aptian transition as the most likely period for large-scale fluid circulation during a regional extensional tectonic event, related to the opening of the North Atlantic ocean.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the SOGEREM mining company for allowing this study to be undertaken. We thank Professor Bernd Lehmann for constructive review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR5563 CNRS, Laboratoire des Mécanismes et Transferts en Géologie (LMTG), Université Paul Sabatier, 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400, Toulouse, France

    Marguerite Munoz & Pierre Courjault-Radé

  2. US Geological Survey, MS 963, Federal Center, 25046, Denver, CO, 80225, USA

    Wayne R. Premo

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  1. Marguerite Munoz
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  2. Wayne R. Premo
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  3. Pierre Courjault-Radé
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Correspondence to Marguerite Munoz.

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Editorial handling: B. Lehmann

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Munoz, M., Premo, W.R. & Courjault-Radé, P. Sm–Nd dating of fluorite from the worldclass Montroc fluorite deposit, southern Massif Central, France. Miner Deposita 39, 970–975 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-004-0453-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-004-0453-9

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