Kiruna-Type Iron Oxide-Apatite (IOA) and Iron Oxide Copper-Gold (IOCG) Deposits Form by a Combination of Igneous and Magmatic-Hydrothermal Processes: Evidence from the Chilean Iron Belt

• Main Authors: Simon, A.C., Knipping, J., Reich, M., Barra, F., Deditius, A.P., Bilenker, L., Childress, T.
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Kiruna
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5382/SP.21.06; https://www.seg2018.org/; https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/esploro/outputs/conferencePaper/Kiruna-Type-Iron-Oxide-Apatite-IOA-and-Iron/991005542955507891; https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/view/delivery/61MUN_INST/12135892160007891/13137072590007891

Iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) and Kiruna-type iron oxide-apatite (IOA) deposits are commonly spatially and temporally associated with one another, and with coeval magmatism. Here, we use trace element concentrations in magnetite and pyrite, Fe and O stable isotope abundances of magnetite and hematite, H isotopes of magnetite and actinolite, and Re-Os systematics of magnetite from the Los Colorados Kiruna-type IOA deposit in the Chilean iron belt to develop a new genetic model that explains IOCG and IOA deposits as a continuum produced by a combination of igneous and magmatic-hydrothermal processes. The concentrations of [Al + Mn] and [Ti + V] are highest in magnetite cores and decrease systematically from core to rim, consistent with growth of magnetite cores from a silicate melt, and rims from a cooling magmatic-hydrothermal fluid. Almost all bulk δ 18 O values in magnetite are within the range of 0 to 5‰, and bulk δ 56 Fe for magnetite are within the range 0 to 0.8‰ of Fe isotopes, both of which indicate a magmatic source for O and Fe. The values of δ 18 O and δD for actinolite, which is paragenetically equivalent to magnetite, are, respectively, 6.46 ± 0.56 and-59.3 ± 1.7‰, indicative of a mantle source. Pyrite grains consistently yield Co/Ni ratios that exceed unity, and imply precipitation of pyrite from an ore fluid evolved from an intermediate to mafic magma. The calculated initial 187 Os/ 188 Os ratio (Osi) for magnetite from Los Colorados is 1.2, overlapping Osi values for Chilean porphyry-Cu deposits, and consistent with an origin from juvenile magma. Together, the data are consistent with a geologic model wherein (1) magnetite microlites crystallize as a near-liquidus phase from an intermediate to mafic silicate melt; (2) magnetite microlites serve as nucleation sites for fluid bubbles and promote volatile saturation of the melt; (3) the volatile phase coalesces and encapsulates magnetite microlites to form a magnetite-fluid suspension; (4) the suspension scavenges Fe, Cu, Au, S, Cl, P, and rare earth ...