Formation of giant iron oxide-copper-gold deposits by superimposed, episodic hydrothermal pulses

I. Del Real; M. Reich; A.C. Simon; A. Deditius; F. Barra; M.A. Rodriguez-Mustafa; J.F.H. Thompson; M.P. Roberts

doi:10.1038/s43247-021-00265-w

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Formation of giant iron oxide-copper-gold deposits by superimposed, episodic hydrothermal pulses

Journal article

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Formation of giant iron oxide-copper-gold deposits by superimposed, episodic hydrothermal pulses

I. Del Real, M. Reich, A.C. Simon, A. Deditius, F. Barra, M.A. Rodriguez-Mustafa, J.F.H. Thompson and M.P. Roberts

Communications Earth & Environment, Vol.2(1), Art.192

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00265-w

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Abstract

Iron oxide-copper-gold deposits are a globally important source of copper, gold and critical commodities. However, they possess a range of characteristics related to a variety of tectono-magmatic settings that make development of a general genetic model challenging. Here we investigate micro-textural and compositional variations in actinolite, to constrain the thermal evolution of the Candelaria iron oxide-copper-gold deposit in Chile. We identify at least two mineralization stages comprising an early 675–800 °C iron oxide-apatite type mineralization overprinted by a later copper-rich fluid at around 550–700 °C. We propose that these distinct stages were caused by episodic pulses of injection of magmatic-hydrothermal fluids from crystallizing magmas at depth. We suggest that the mineralisation stages we identify were the result of temperature gradients attributable to changes in the magmatic source, rather than variations in formation depth, and that actinolite chemistry can be used as a proxy for formation temperature in iron oxide-copper-gold systems.

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Title: Formation of giant iron oxide-copper-gold deposits by superimposed, episodic hydrothermal pulses
Authors/Creators: I. Del Real (Author/Creator) - University of Chile
M. Reich (Author/Creator) - University of Chile
A.C. Simon (Author/Creator) - University of Michigan
A. Deditius (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
F. Barra (Author/Creator) - University of Chile
M.A. Rodriguez-Mustafa (Author/Creator) - University of Michigan
J.F.H. Thompson (Author/Creator) - Photonics Electronics Technology Research Association
M.P. Roberts (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
Publication Details: Communications Earth & Environment, Vol.2(1), Art.192
Publisher: Springer Nature
Identifiers: 991005545529307891
Copyright: © 2021 The Authors.
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry and Physics
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 8 Earth Sciences; 8.8 Geochemistry, Geophysics & Geology; 8.8.1 Geochemical Petrogenesis
Web Of Science research areas: Environmental Sciences; Geosciences, Multidisciplinary; Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
ESI research areas: Geosciences