Chlorite-White Mica Pairs’ Composition as a Micro-Chemical Guide to Fingerprint Massive Sulfide Deposits of the Bathurst Mining Camp, Canada
The compositions of phyllosilicates, with a focus on fluid-mobile elements, were evaluated as a means to fingerprint the Middle Ordovician metamorphosed (greenschist facies) volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits of the Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC), Canada. Ninety-five drill-core samples from six of th...
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doaj-5f36d2b439514113b4d3ee4238024d2c2020-11-25T01:32:50ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2019-02-019212510.3390/min9020125min9020125Chlorite-White Mica Pairs’ Composition as a Micro-Chemical Guide to Fingerprint Massive Sulfide Deposits of the Bathurst Mining Camp, CanadaAzam Soltani Dehnavi0Christopher R. M. McFarlane1David R. Lentz2Sean H. McClenaghan3James A. Walker4Department of Earth Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, CanadaDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, CanadaDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, CanadaDepartment of Geology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, IrelandGeological Surveys Branch, Department of Energy and Resource Development, South Tetagouche, NB E2A 7B8, CanadaThe compositions of phyllosilicates, with a focus on fluid-mobile elements, were evaluated as a means to fingerprint the Middle Ordovician metamorphosed (greenschist facies) volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits of the Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC), Canada. Ninety-five drill-core samples from six of the major deposits of the Bathurst Mining Camp (Brunswick No. 12, Heath Steele B zone, Halfmile Lake Deep zone, Key Anacon East zone, Louvicourt, and Restigouche) were analyzed using electron microprobe and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Typically, phyllosilicates (chlorite, white mica, and to a lesser extent biotite) are ubiquitous phases in the host rocks of the massive sulfide deposits of the BMC. Electron microprobe analysis results show a wide compositional variation in chlorite and white mica. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis was performed to measure fluid-mobile elements, showing that Tl is distinctly enriched in all white mica (up to 719 ppm) relative to chlorite (up to 50.1 ppm). Chlorite hosts Sn (up to 4600 ppm), Hg (up to 7.3 ppm), Sb (up to 35.4 ppm), As (up to 1320 ppm), In (up to 307 ppm), Cd (up to 83.2 ppm), and Se (up to 606 ppm). White mica hosts Sn (up to 1316 ppm), Hg (up to 93 ppm), Sb (up to 1630 ppm), As (up to 14,800 ppm), In (up to 1186 ppm), Cd (up to 98 ppm), and Se (up to 38.8 ppm). Limited LA-ICP-MS analysis on biotite indicates a higher overall concentration of Tl (mean = 14.6 ppm) relative to co-existing white mica (mean = 2.18 ppm). On average, biotite is also more enriched in Hg, Sn, and Ba relative to chlorite and white mica. Laser Ablation ICP-MS profiles of chlorite, white mica, and biotite demonstrate smooth time-dependent variations diagnostic of structural substitution of these elements. Compositional variation of chlorite-white mica pairs presented in the current study shows systematic variations as a function of distance from the mineralized horizons. This highlights the potential to use trace-element signatures in these phyllosilicate pairs to identify proximal (chlorite) and distal (white mica) footprints for volcanogenic massive sulfides exploration.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/9/2/125Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC)biotitechloritefingerprintfluid-mobile elementsLA-ICP-MSmassive sulfide deposit (VMS)phyllosilicatevectoring toolwhite mica |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Azam Soltani Dehnavi Christopher R. M. McFarlane David R. Lentz Sean H. McClenaghan James A. Walker |
spellingShingle |
Azam Soltani Dehnavi Christopher R. M. McFarlane David R. Lentz Sean H. McClenaghan James A. Walker Chlorite-White Mica Pairs’ Composition as a Micro-Chemical Guide to Fingerprint Massive Sulfide Deposits of the Bathurst Mining Camp, Canada Minerals Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC) biotite chlorite fingerprint fluid-mobile elements LA-ICP-MS massive sulfide deposit (VMS) phyllosilicate vectoring tool white mica |
author_facet |
Azam Soltani Dehnavi Christopher R. M. McFarlane David R. Lentz Sean H. McClenaghan James A. Walker |
author_sort |
Azam Soltani Dehnavi |
title |
Chlorite-White Mica Pairs’ Composition as a Micro-Chemical Guide to Fingerprint Massive Sulfide Deposits of the Bathurst Mining Camp, Canada |
title_short |
Chlorite-White Mica Pairs’ Composition as a Micro-Chemical Guide to Fingerprint Massive Sulfide Deposits of the Bathurst Mining Camp, Canada |
title_full |
Chlorite-White Mica Pairs’ Composition as a Micro-Chemical Guide to Fingerprint Massive Sulfide Deposits of the Bathurst Mining Camp, Canada |
title_fullStr |
Chlorite-White Mica Pairs’ Composition as a Micro-Chemical Guide to Fingerprint Massive Sulfide Deposits of the Bathurst Mining Camp, Canada |
title_full_unstemmed |
Chlorite-White Mica Pairs’ Composition as a Micro-Chemical Guide to Fingerprint Massive Sulfide Deposits of the Bathurst Mining Camp, Canada |
title_sort |
chlorite-white mica pairs’ composition as a micro-chemical guide to fingerprint massive sulfide deposits of the bathurst mining camp, canada |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Minerals |
issn |
2075-163X |
publishDate |
2019-02-01 |
description |
The compositions of phyllosilicates, with a focus on fluid-mobile elements, were evaluated as a means to fingerprint the Middle Ordovician metamorphosed (greenschist facies) volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits of the Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC), Canada. Ninety-five drill-core samples from six of the major deposits of the Bathurst Mining Camp (Brunswick No. 12, Heath Steele B zone, Halfmile Lake Deep zone, Key Anacon East zone, Louvicourt, and Restigouche) were analyzed using electron microprobe and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Typically, phyllosilicates (chlorite, white mica, and to a lesser extent biotite) are ubiquitous phases in the host rocks of the massive sulfide deposits of the BMC. Electron microprobe analysis results show a wide compositional variation in chlorite and white mica. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis was performed to measure fluid-mobile elements, showing that Tl is distinctly enriched in all white mica (up to 719 ppm) relative to chlorite (up to 50.1 ppm). Chlorite hosts Sn (up to 4600 ppm), Hg (up to 7.3 ppm), Sb (up to 35.4 ppm), As (up to 1320 ppm), In (up to 307 ppm), Cd (up to 83.2 ppm), and Se (up to 606 ppm). White mica hosts Sn (up to 1316 ppm), Hg (up to 93 ppm), Sb (up to 1630 ppm), As (up to 14,800 ppm), In (up to 1186 ppm), Cd (up to 98 ppm), and Se (up to 38.8 ppm). Limited LA-ICP-MS analysis on biotite indicates a higher overall concentration of Tl (mean = 14.6 ppm) relative to co-existing white mica (mean = 2.18 ppm). On average, biotite is also more enriched in Hg, Sn, and Ba relative to chlorite and white mica. Laser Ablation ICP-MS profiles of chlorite, white mica, and biotite demonstrate smooth time-dependent variations diagnostic of structural substitution of these elements. Compositional variation of chlorite-white mica pairs presented in the current study shows systematic variations as a function of distance from the mineralized horizons. This highlights the potential to use trace-element signatures in these phyllosilicate pairs to identify proximal (chlorite) and distal (white mica) footprints for volcanogenic massive sulfides exploration. |
topic |
Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC) biotite chlorite fingerprint fluid-mobile elements LA-ICP-MS massive sulfide deposit (VMS) phyllosilicate vectoring tool white mica |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/9/2/125 |
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