Resolving the syn-genetic mineralization age of a metamorphosed Archean VHMS deposit using multiple geochronological approaches

IF 2.7 2区地球科学 Q2 GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Precambrian Research Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-14 DOI:10.1016/j.precamres.2025.107968

Cendi D.P. Dana , Steven P. Hollis , Lorenzo Tavazzani , Cyril Chelle-Michou , Stijn Glorie , Yusuke Kuwahara , Kazuhide Mimura , Moei Yano , Junichiro Ohta , David Selby , Yasuhiro Kato , Vanessa Pashley , Megan James , Darryl Podmore

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Abstract

Accurately determining the timing of mineralization is essential for exploring syn-genetic stratiform mineral systems, such as volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposits. This study integrates multiple geochronological techniques to constrain both the age of syn-genetic mineralization and subsequent overprinting magmatic, metamorphic and deformation events at the King VHMS deposit, Western Australia. The timing of syn-genetic mineralization is collectively constrained by consistent ages from U–Pb zircon geochronology of host felsic volcanic rocks (2725 ± 10 Ma), a Re–Os pyrite isochron (2730 ± 26 Ma), and Pb–Pb galena model ages (ca. 2714–2718 Ma). Pyrrhotite, formed via metamorphic desulfidation of pyrite, records a younger Re–Os age of 2652 ± 32 Ma, overlapping with the timing of prograde metamorphism dated by in situ Lu–Hf garnet analysis at 2680 ± 28 Ma. A Re–Os age from massive sulfide ore (2664 ± 23 Ma), reflecting a mixture of pyrite and pyrrhotite, produces a geologically meaningless average due to metamorphic re-equilibration, highlighting limitations of bulk Re–Os dating in high-grade metamorphosed systems. Quartz monzonite intrusions that crosscut the deposit and are associated with the regional M2 metamorphism yielded weighted mean U–Pb zircon ages of ca. 2676–2665 Ma, and are associated with minor molybdenite mineralization (Re–Os ages ca. 2650–2655 Ma). Collectively, these results confirm that the King Zn deposit represents the first phase of VHMS mineralization during the formation of the Kalgoorlie-Kurnalpi Rift (KKR), and significantly predates other VHMS deposits of the Eastern Goldfields. This study also demonstrates that the Re–Os isotopic signature of syn-genetic pyrite can be retained through amphibolite-facies metamorphism, providing a new opportunity to directly date VHMS deposits affected by high-grade metamorphism in Archean cratons globally. In contrast, Re–Os ages of pyrrhotite record prograde metamorphism, offering a potential tool for constraining metal remobilization events.

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用多种地质年代学方法确定变质太古宙VHMS矿床的同成因成矿年龄

准确确定成矿时间对于勘探同成因层状矿物系统（如火山块状硫化物矿床）至关重要。本研究综合了多种地质年代学技术，以限制西澳大利亚King VHMS矿床的同成因成矿年龄以及随后的套印岩浆、变质和变形事件。同成因成矿的时间受寄主长英质火山岩U-Pb锆石年代学（2725±10 Ma）、Re-Os黄铁矿等时线（2730±26 Ma）和Pb-Pb方铅矿模式年龄（约2714-2718 Ma）的一致年龄共同制约。由黄铁矿变质脱硫形成的磁黄铁矿的Re-Os年龄较低，为2652±32 Ma，与原位Lu-Hf石榴石分析确定的前变质时间2680±28 Ma重叠。块状硫化物矿石的Re-Os年龄（2664±23 Ma）反映了黄铁矿和磁黄铁矿的混合物，由于变质再平衡，产生了一个地质上无意义的平均值，突出了在高品位变质体系中大量Re-Os定年的局限性。与区域M2变质作用有关的石英二长岩侵入体的加权平均U-Pb锆石年龄约为2676 ~ 2665 Ma，与少量辉钼矿化有关（Re-Os年龄约为2650 ~ 2655 Ma）。综上所述，King锌矿床代表了Kalgoorlie-Kurnalpi裂谷（KKR）形成期间VHMS成矿的第一阶段，明显早于东部金矿区其他VHMS矿床。研究还表明，角闪岩相变质作用可保留同生黄铁矿的Re-Os同位素特征，为全球太古宙克拉通受高变质作用影响的VHMS矿床的直接定年提供了新的机会。相反，磁黄铁矿的Re-Os年龄记录了变质的进程，为限制金属再活化事件提供了一个潜在的工具。

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来源期刊

Precambrian Research 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

7.20

自引率

28.90%

发文量

325

审稿时长

12 months

期刊介绍： Precambrian Research publishes studies on all aspects of the early stages of the composition, structure and evolution of the Earth and its planetary neighbours. With a focus on process-oriented and comparative studies, it covers, but is not restricted to, subjects such as: (1) Chemical, biological, biochemical and cosmochemical evolution; the origin of life; the evolution of the oceans and atmosphere; the early fossil record; palaeobiology; (2) Geochronology and isotope and elemental geochemistry; (3) Precambrian mineral deposits; (4) Geophysical aspects of the early Earth and Precambrian terrains; (5) Nature, formation and evolution of the Precambrian lithosphere and mantle including magmatic, depositional, metamorphic and tectonic processes. In addition, the editors particularly welcome integrated process-oriented studies that involve a combination of the above fields and comparative studies that demonstrate the effect of Precambrian evolution on Phanerozoic earth system processes. Regional and localised studies of Precambrian phenomena are considered appropriate only when the detail and quality allow illustration of a wider process, or when significant gaps in basic knowledge of a particular area can be filled.