Hypozonal gold mineralization in shear zone-hosted deposits driven by fault valve action and fluid mixing: the Nalunaq deposit, Greenland

• Main Authors: Smith, Martin, Banks, David, Ray, Santanu, Bowers, Francis
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Geological Society of London 2021
• Subjects: Geology; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; Greenland; Nalunaq
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5635812; https://geolsoc.figshare.com/collections/Hypozonal_gold_mineralization_in_shear_zone-hosted_deposits_driven_by_fault_valve_action_and_fluid_mixing_the_Nalunaq_deposit_Greenland/5635812

The Nalunaq deposit, Greenland, is a hypozonal, shear zone-hosted, Au deposit. The shear zone has previously been interpreted to have undergone four stages of deformation, accompanied by fluid flow, and vein formation. Coupled with previous trapping T estimates, fluid inclusion data are consistent with trapping of fluids with salinities between 28 and 45 wt% NaCl eq., from 300–475°C during D 2 and D 3 , with pressure varying between c . 800 and 100 MPa. The range reflects pressure cycling during seismic slip-related depressurization events. D 4 fluids were lower salinity and trapped from 200–300°C, at c . 50–200 MPa during late-stage normal faulting. The variation in major element chemistry is consistent with ingress of hypersaline, granitoid equilibrated fluids into the shear zone system and mixing with fluids that had reacted with the host metamorphic rocks. D 4 stage fluids represent ingress of meteoric fluids into the system. Gold contents in inclusion fluids range from c . 300–10mg kg –1 . These data are consistent with the high P – T solubility of Au as AuHS(H 2 S) 3 0 complexes, and Au deposition by decompression and cooling. The high salinities also suggest Au transport as chloride complexes may have been possible. Gold distribution was modified by the release of chemically bound or nanoscale Au during sulfide oxidation at the D 4 stage