Fluid evolution and AuCu genesis along a shear zone:a regional fluid inclusion study of shear zone-hosted alteration and gold and copper mineralization in the Kautokeino greenstone belt, Finnmark, Norway

Gold and copper mineralization of Early Proterozoic age occur along shear zones cutting metamorphosed sedimentary and volcanic rocks, within the Kautokeino greenstone belt, Finnmark, northern Norway. A fluid inclusion study of quartz veins at the Bidjovagge Au-Cu mine, Ucca-vuovdas, Masi River and O...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Geochemical Exploration
Main Authors: Ettner, David C., Bjørlykke, Arne, Andersen, Tom
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 1993
Subjects:
Online Access:https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/2a4dfabd-584d-4d9f-bd18-c6593f2c1f99
https://doi.org/10.1016/0375-6742(93)90047-P
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0027789759&partnerID=8YFLogxK
Description
Summary:Gold and copper mineralization of Early Proterozoic age occur along shear zones cutting metamorphosed sedimentary and volcanic rocks, within the Kautokeino greenstone belt, Finnmark, northern Norway. A fluid inclusion study of quartz veins at the Bidjovagge Au-Cu mine, Ucca-vuovdas, Masi River and Object 43, and of pegmatitic quartz at Dælljadas, has been conducted in order to model fluid evolution along the shear zone at different crustal levels. Fluid inclusions associated with the pegmatitic intrusions in amphibolite facies metamorphic rocks are composed of a low to moderately saline H 2 O + CO 2 solution. Within the upper to middle greenschist facies, fluid inclusions contain immiscible highly saline H 2 O and CO 2 . At low greenschist facies, fluid inclusions contain immiscible highly saline H 2 O and N 2 . The highly saline H 2 O + CO 2 fluids were at temperatures between 250 and 400°C and resulted in the albitization, carbonatization and scapolitization of the wall rocks along the shear zones. High temperatures, high salinities, and high f{hook}O 2 of the fluid resulted in transport of gold and base metals as chloride complexes. Mineralization, such as at the Bidjovagge Au-Cu mine, formed within the ductile to brittle transition in the shear zone as a result of phase separation and reaction of the mineralizing fluids with graphitic schist. Reduced solubility of metal chloride complexes resulted from the phase separation of CO 2 from H 2 O-rich fluids which increased pH, and from interaction with graphitic schist that drastically reduced the oxygen fugacity of the fluid. Reaction with the graphitic schist also resulted in oxidation of the schist, and addition of CH 4 and higher hydrocarbons to the fluid. A metal zonation exists, with copper occurring at each crustal level examined and gold restricted to the brittle-ductile transition. The tendency of gold to be precipitated predominantly in the brittle-ductile transition may reflect the dependence of gold transport on temperature and pressure. Methane in ...