Fluid inclusions and mineral paragenesis in a Mississippi valley-type zinc deposit: evidence for changing composition of mineralizing fluid
A detailed fluid inclusion study was undertaken on samples from the Gordonsville mine in the Central Tennessee zinc district. Fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures and salinity data were collected on several minerals in the paragenetic sequence: sphalerite, calcite, fluorite, and barite. The purpose was to trace the characteristics of the mineralizing fluids through time. This procedure was complicated by the occurrence of minerals, particularly calcite, at different stages in the mineralizing process. Approximately 400 inclusion measurements on the preceding minerals yielded homogenization temperatures of 100/sup 0/ to 145/sup 0/C for early and main stage sphalerite; 85/sup 0/ to 125/sup 0/ for fluorite; 107/sup 0/ to 165/sup 0/C for white calcite; 135/sup 0/ to 200/sup 0/C for barite; and 135/sup 0/ to 200/sup 0/C for late stage, clear to amber calcite. Fluid inclusion measurements on sphalerite indicate stable temperatures and salinities during mineralization. Temperature measurements on fluorite, however, show a slight decrease in temperature while salinities remain relatively constant. Later minerals formed at higher temperatures and progressively lower salinities suggesting the replacement of existing brines with hotter, more dilute water. Because of the constant temperature and salinity values for inclusions in main stage sphalerite, it appears that one fluid, rather than two or more fluids, may have been responsible for sphalerite mineralization.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6862997
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8510489-
- Journal Information:
- Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Journal Name: Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States) Vol. 17; ISSN GAAPB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
580300 -- Mineralogy
Petrology
& Rock Mechanics-- (-1989)
580400* -- Geochemistry-- (-1989)
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BARITE
BARIUM COMPOUNDS
BARIUM SULFATES
BRINES
CALCITE
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM FLUORIDES
CALCIUM HALIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATE MINERALS
CARBONATES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
FEDERAL REGION IV
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
FLUORITE
GEOCHEMISTRY
HALIDE MINERALS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION
INCLUSIONS
MINERALIZATION
MINERALOGY
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARAGENESIS
ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS
SALINITY
SPHALERITE
SULFATE MINERALS
SULFATES
SULFIDE MINERALS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TENNESSEE
USA
ZINC ORES