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Source of metals in ultramafic-hosted VMS deposits: insight from the Troodos ophiolite and ODP Hole 735B

Volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits associated with mafic-ultramafic rocks show strong structural control and are located at or in the vicinity of low angle detachment faults such as oceanic core complexes (OCC) in mid-ocean ridge environments. These ultramafic VMS deposits are variably enriched in precious (Au-Ag) critical (Co) and the base metals Cu, Zn, and Ni but the source of the metals remains poorly known. The Troodos ophiolite, Cyprus, and the ODP Hole 735B on the Atlantis Bank are investigated to better characterize the source of metals and the deposit genesis. The ODP Hole 735B recovers gabbroic rocks down to 1508 meters below seafloor (mbsf) and shows evidence for high temperature hydrothermal alteration in the upper 250 mbsf. There the rocks are significantly depleted in Cu and S and primary magmatic sulfides are absent, implying efficient metal mobilization. Similarly, the Troodos ophiolite shows evidences for relics of OCC with seafloor-related high temperature hydrothermal alteration and associated massive sulfide mineralizations. Within the western Limassol Forest complex in the Troodos ophiolite, the Dhierna main shear zone separates serpentinized ultramafic rocks from sheeted dykes. Here, massive sulfide mineralizations enriched in As, Au, Co, Cu and Ni are observed and are characterized by pyrrhotite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, cubanite and cobaltite. Additionally concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ni and Co in the peridotites decrease with increasing serpentinization towards the detachment fault also implying metal mobilization during hydrothermal alteration along the detachment fault.

Details

Author
Clifford Patten1, Malte Junge2, Alexandre Peillod1
Institutionen
1KIT, Germany; 2Mineralogical State Collection Munich
Veranstaltung
GeoKarlsruhe 2021
Datum
2021
DOI
10.48380/dggv-4j1q-1t26
Geolocation
Cyprus