Unconformity-related mineralization and fluid transfers in the northern Aquitaine Basin (France) revealed by fluid inclusions and S-Sr isotopes studies

In sedimentary basins, unconformity between basement and sediments is the ideal site where fluids from different sources can flow and mix, initiating the formation of ore deposits. In western Europe there are numerous F-Pb-Zn-Ba (±Ag, Ge) basin-hosted deposits located near the unconformity between Mesozoic Basins and the Variscan basement as for example the deposits of the Vendée Coast (France) containing fluorite, baryte, pyrite and quartz. Here, microthermometric data on the primary fluid inclusions of these minerals indicate salinity ranging from 1 to 20 wt% eq. NaCl and homogenization temperatures between 100 and 390 °C. We interpret these data as resulting of a fluids circulation in the ore deposit zone, with an early incursion of basin brines expelled by the leaching of Hettangian evaporites buried several tens of kilometers away, followed by an ascent of basement-derived fluids and, finally, a recharge of seawater. In other French deposits, the δ³⁴S isotopes of baryte are also consistent with a source of fluids from buried evaporites. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of baryte demonstrates a crustal source of elements associated with brines-leached base metals and FBa. The process of buried-derived evaporites brines altering the basement along the unconformity is ubiquitous in all unconformity deposits in France.

With our results, we confirm that the basin deposits in the Southeastern Massif Central occur along structures formed during Tethys rifting at around 200 Ma, whereas in the Western part they form at ca. 145 Ma in link with the opening of the Bay of Biscay. This highlights that these basin-hosted deposits are preferentially formed during extensional activity in rifting settings, rather than in compressive settings.