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Petrographic, fluid inclusion and isotopic study of the Dikulushi Cu–Ag deposit, Katanga (D.R.C.): implications for exploration

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Abstract

The Dikulushi Cu–Ag vein-type deposit is located on the Kundelungu Plateau, in the southeastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C.). The Kundelungu Plateau is situated to the north of the Lufilian Arc that hosts the world-class stratiform Cu–Co deposits of the Central African Copperbelt. A combined petrographic, fluid inclusion and stable isotope study revealed that the mineralisation at Dikulushi developed during two spatially and temporally distinct mineralising episodes. An early Cu–Pb–Zn–Fe mineralisation took place during the Lufilian Orogeny in a zone of crosscutting EW- and NE-oriented faults and consists of a sequence of sulphides that precipitated from moderate-temperature, saline H2O–NaCl–CaCl2-rich fluids. These fluids interacted extensively with the country rocks. Sulphur was probably derived from thermochemical reduction of Neoproterozoic seawater sulphate. Undeformed, post-orogenic Cu–Ag mineralisation remobilised the upper part of the Cu–Pb–Zn–Fe mineralisation in an oxidising environment along reactivated and newly formed NE-oriented faults in the eastern part of the deposit. This mineralisation is dominated by massive Ag-rich chalcocite that precipitated from low-temperature H2O–NaCl–KCl fluids, generated by mixing of moderate- and low-saline fluids. The same evolution in mineralisation assemblages and types of mineralising fluids is observed in three other Cu deposits on the Kundelungu Plateau. Therefore, the recognition of two distinct types of (vein-type) mineralisation in the study area has a profound impact on the exploration in the Kundelungu Plateau region. The identification of a Cu–Ag type mineralisation at the surface could imply the presence of a Cu–Pb–Zn–Fe mineralisation at depth.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Mr. Herman Nijs for the careful preparation of the thin sections, the polished sections and the wafers. We also thank Dr. M. Joachimski for measuring the O/C isotopic composition of carbonates. Our gratitude goes to Anvil mining and its dedicated team of (ex-)exploration geologists, Roger Tyler, Ali Aït Kaci, Terry Lemmon and Amanda Boutwood, for their technical and scientific assistance on the field. We greatly appreciate the stimulating comments of two anonymous reviewers, of Hartwig Frimmel from the editorial board and of the editors-in-chief L.D. Meinert and P.J. Williams, which improved the paper. This research is financially supported by research grants G.0585.06 and G.0414.08 of the FWO-Vlaanderen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geodynamics and Geofluids Research Group, KULeuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001, Heverlee, Belgium

    Maarten Haest, Philippe Muchez & Jens Schneider

  2. Department of Geology and Mineralogy, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, 3080, Tervuren, Belgium

    Stijn Dewaele

  3. Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Rankine Avenue, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, East Kilbride, G75 0QF, Scotland, UK

    Adrian J. Boyce

  4. Institute of Isotope Geochemistry and Mineral Resources, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), Clausiusstrasse 25, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Albrecht von Quadt

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  1. Maarten Haest
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Correspondence to Maarten Haest.

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Editorial handling: P. Williams

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Haest, M., Muchez, P., Dewaele, S. et al. Petrographic, fluid inclusion and isotopic study of the Dikulushi Cu–Ag deposit, Katanga (D.R.C.): implications for exploration. Miner Deposita 44, 505–522 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-009-0230-x

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