In-situ sulfur isotope and trace element analysis of pyrite from the Xiwang uranium ore deposit in South China: Implication for ore genesis

Autor: Shao-Yong Jiang, Kui-Dong Zhao, Wei Chen, Guo-Qi Liu
Rok vydání: 2018
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Geochemical Exploration. 195:49-65
ISSN: 0375-6742
Popis: The Xiwang uranium ore deposit is one large-scale granite-hosted U deposit in the Xiazhuang U orefield in South China. Uranium orebodies occur as thin veins along the fracture zones within the Maofeng granitic pluton. Pyrite is the main sulfide mineral in the ores. Textural observation suggested that formation of hydrothermal pyrite can be divided into three stages: pre-mineralization stage pyrite (Py I), mineralization stage pyrite (Py II) accompanying with U-minerals, post-mineralization stage pyrite (Py III). In this study, in-situ sulfur isotopic compositions and trace element contents of pyrite from different stages were analyzed by laser ablation (MC-) ICP-MS methods. The δ34S values of Py I vary from −28.5‰ to −12.0‰ with an average value of −18.4‰, Py II from −15.9‰ to −10.2‰ with an average value of −12.5‰ and Py III from −22.3‰ to −14.8‰ with an average value of −19.4‰. The variations of sulfur isotopic compositions of pyrites were caused by the changes of oxygen fugacity of hydrothermal fluids. The hydrothermal fluids at the pre-mineralization stage had relatively higher oxygen fugacity (ƒO2 > 10−34). The decreasing of oxygen fugacity (to 10−36–10−35) at the mineralization stage might promote the precipitation of uraninite. The mineralization was terminated as the increasing of oxygen fugacity of hydrothermal fluids back to 10−35. Pyrite from the Xiwang deposit generally contains high U contents (up to ten thousand ppm) and very low Th contents (mostly
Databáze: OpenAIRE