Abstract The Nautanen deformation zone in the Gällivare area of northern Sweden is a highly Cu-mineralized, magnetite-rich, large-scale shear zone with a long-lived (~100 m.y.) deformation, hydrothermal alteration, and mineralization history. This composite structure hosts the Aitik porphyry Cu-Au-Ag ± Mo deposit and several Cu-Au ± Fe ± Ag ± Mo occurrences assigned to the iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposit class. The Nautanen deformation zone was a locus for polyphase deformation and intermittent metasomatic-hydrothermal activity that overprinted middle Orosirian (ca. 1.90–1.88 Ga) continental arc-related volcanic-plutonic rocks. The deformation zone is characterized by intense shearing fabrics that form a series of subvertical to moderately W-dipping, NNW-SSE–trending, first-order shear zones with oblique reverse kinematics and related NNE-SSW–oriented second-order shear zones that control hydrothermal alteration patterns and Cu-Au mineralization. Hydrothermal alteration in the study area formed during several phases. Volcanic-volcaniclastic rocks to the east and west of the Nautanen deformation zone display low to moderately intense, pervasive to selectively pervasive (i.e., patchy zones or bands, disseminations) sericite ± feldspar, amphibole + biotite + magnetite ± tourmaline, and K-feldspar + hematite alteration. Both the amphibole + biotite and K-feldspar + hematite associations occur adjacent to NNW- and NE-oriented deformation zones and are locally associated with minor sulfide. Within the deformation zone, a moderate to intense biotite + amphibole + garnet + magnetite + tourmaline + sericite alteration assemblage is typically associated with chalcopyrite + pyrrhotite + pyrite and forms linear and subparallel, mainly NNW-oriented seams, bands, and zones that locally appear to overprint possibly earlier scapolite + sericite ± feldspar alteration. Late-stage epidote ± quartz ± feldspar alteration (retrograde saussuritization) forms selectively pervasive zones and epidote veinlets across the area and is partly related to brittle faulting. A magnetite-amphibole-biotite–rich, penetrative S1 foliation records shortening during early Svecokarelian-related deformation (D1) and can be related to ca. 1.88 to 1.87 Ga arc accretion processes and basin inversion that overlaps with regional peak metamorphism to near mid-amphibolite facies conditions and a potential initial Cu mineralization event. Folding and repeated shearing along the Nautanen deformation zone can be assigned to a second, late-Svecokarelian deformation event (D2 stage, ca. 1.82–1.79 Ga) taking place at a higher crustal level. This D2 deformation phase is related to late-stage accretionary processes active during a transition to a stage of postorogenic collapse, and it was accompanied by abundant, syntectonic intrusions. D2-related magmatism produced high-temperature and low-pressure conditions and represents a regional magmatic-hydrothermal event that controlled the recrystallization/remobilization of magnetite, biotite, and amphibole. Associated shear zone reactivation during D2 favors the utilization of the Nautanen deformation zone as a fluid conduit, which preferentially controlled the siting and formation of epigenetic Cu-Au mineralization with distinctive IOCG characteristics within second-order shear zones.
This study investigates for the first time melt inclusions (MI) that are found within fundamental minerals of subvolcanic rocks in Torud-Ahmad Abad magmatic belt. The Torud-Ahmad Abad magmatic belt is situated in south-southeast of Shahrood and belongs to the northern part of central Iran structural zone. Melt inclusions represent liquids that were trapped along growth zones (primary) or healed fractures of mineral phases, which crystallized from the silicate liquid as it cooled. Based on SEM analysis of these melt inclusions, their compositions are dacite, andesite and basaltic andesite. Thus, with the use of melt inclusions in the volcanic rocks of Torud-Ahmad Abad magmatic belt, we attempt to show the compositional evolution and origin of magma. The effective factors on magma evolution are magma mixing, fractional crystallization and crustal contamination.
Molybdenite in the Aitik deposit and its southern extension was studied through mineralogical/chemical analysis and laboratory flotation tests. It is demonstrated that molybdenite varies considerably in grain size, ranging from coarse (>20 μm) to very fine (<2 μm) and occurs predominantly as single grains in the groundmass of the rocks, as grain aggregates, and intergrown with chalcopyrite and pyrite. The dominating molybdenite-bearing rocks are the mica schists, the quartz-monzodiorite, and the Salmijärvi biotite-amphibole gneiss, the latter containing mostly medium-coarsegrained molybdenite. Later geological features, such as garnet-magnetite-anhydrite-K feldspar alteration and pegmatite dikes appear to be responsible for a significant part of the distribution pattern of molybdenite. Molybdenite grains contain up to 1587 ppm Re, with an average of 211 ± 10 ppm in Aitik molybdenite and 452 ± 33 ppm in Salmijärvi molybdenite. The higher Re concentrations are found in molybdenite associated with sericite- and quartz-amphibole-magnetite altered rocks, whereas low Re values occur in rocks in which potassic alteration is prominent. Molybdenite recovery is influenced by the mineralogy of the host rock and the alteration grade; hence both of these factors will have an impact on potential recoveries. The recovery of molybdenite was lower from flotation feeds with significant amounts of Mg-bearing clay-micas.
Waste rock can contain high concentrations of deleterious trace elements, which upon oxidation can be released, having a significant impact on water quality. Therefore, knowledge about their occurrence and overall mobility is crucial to ensure suitable environmental protection measures. Sulfide-rich waste rock was characterized and quantified using automated mineralogy (QEMSCAN). Selected pyrite grains were analyzed for trace element occurrence using LA-ICP-MS before, during, and after leaching the waste rock in 10 L small-scale test cells for two years to assess trace element occurrence and mobility. Sequential extraction was used to estimate elemental sequestration during the experiment. The high abundance of pyrite (66%) and scarcity of buffering minerals resulted in low pH (<1.3) leachate with high concentrations of trace elements such as As (21 mg/L), Cu (20 mg/L), Hg (13 µg/L, Pb (856 µg/L), Sb (967 µg/L), Tl (317 µg/L ), and Zn (23 mg/L) in solution with limited retention in secondary minerals, primarily due to these elements’ association with pyrite either as inclusions or impurities showing an average abundance of 193 ppm As, 15 ppm Cu, 13 ppm Hg, 20 ppm Pb, 24 ppm Sb, 26 ppm Tl, and 74 ppm Zn in the waste rock. The occurrence of Cu and Zn as inclusions associated with the pyrite led to their extensive mobilization of 79% and 72%, respectively, despite their low abundance in the waste rock. Provided the overall leachability of S (11%) and limited formation of secondary minerals, the average oxidation rate suggests depletion of the pyrite within approximately 18 years. In conclusion, this study shows the importance of detailed mineralogical investigations and early preventive measures of waste rock to ensure sustainable mine waste and water management.
The Gallivare area was fi rst recognised for its iron deposits in the 18th century. When the railway from Lulea was built 1888 to exploit the large iron resources this initiated extensive exploration activities for other deposits in the surrounding areas. In 1898 copper ore was discovered at Nautanen and within a few years a number of Cu-mineralizations had been found northeast and east of Gallivare. The Nautanen Copper Ore company was founded in 1900 and mining started 1902, but lasted only until 1907 (Geijer 1918a). Some other small Cu mines (Likavaara, Ferrum) were active during the same period in the Nautanen area, and a prospector was working a small gold mine (Fridhem). The Aitik deposit was discovered in 1932 by drilling on geophysical targets in an area where a rich ore boulder and a mineralised outcrop had been found. Further drilling was performed 1960‐1965, which delineated a low grade but large Cu-ore suitable for large-scale open pit mining (Malmqvist & Parasnis 1972, Zweifel 1976). Mining started in 1968 with an annual production of 2 Mt, which has successively increased to c. 18 Mt in 1999. Most of the Cu-deposits in the Gallivare area are hosted by volcaniclastic sediments varying in composition from arenites to pelites. These sediments are intruded by synorogenic diorites and late to postorogenic granites and pegmatites. The ore deposits occur within, or close to, a major shear zone running in a northwestern direction through the volcaniclastic belt (Fig. 2). The shear zone is more than one km wide and it consists of several steeply dipping sub-parallel branches of high strain. Extensive alterations are developed along the shear zone, including K-feldspar alteration, scapolitization, sericitization and tourmalinization. Deposits within areas of high strain are mostly disseminated (e.g. Aitik, Nautanen), while deposits in other areas are mainly of vein type (e.g. Ferrum, Fridhem).
Abstract Zircon ion probe (secondary-ion mass spectrometry or SIMS) data from a set of intrusive rocks emplaced in the vicinity of major ore bodies, as well as from large igneous intrusions in the Gällivare area, gave the following results: (1) the Dundret ultramafic–mafic layered complex (1883±5 Ma), the Aitik granite (1883±5 Ma), the Nautanen diorite (1870±12 Ma), the Vassaravaara ultramafic–mafic layered complex (1798±4 Ma), the Aitik dolerite (1813±9 Ma), the Bergmästergruvan and Sikträsk syenites (1795±4 Ma and 1801±3 Ma, respectively) and the Naalojärvi granite (1782±5 Ma). These data broadly fall within the ranges 1.89–1.87 Ga (early Svecofennian) and 1.80–1.78 Ga (late Svecofennian), but geochronologically allow further subdivision into pulses at 1885–1880, 1875–1870, 1800 and 1780 Ma. During these events, large layered ultramafic–mafic and felsic plutonic rocks were generated with distinct overlap in time suggesting coeval felsic–mafic magmatism. Results also indicate the presence of inherited c. 1.87 Ga zircon crystals in the plutonic rocks at 1.78 Ga, supporting reworking of the previous crust. These data indicate the importance of mantle-derived mafic underplating in the process of crustal magma generation in the region. The c. 1.88 Ga event that generated ultramafic–mafic layered complexes is tentatively suggested to have played an important role in the formation of the Aitik Cu–Au porphyry system. The later event at c. 1.80 Ga, generating voluminous mafic–felsic units, is suggested to be coupled to the regional iron-oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) overprint.
The Aitik Cu–Au–Ag deposit in the Gällivare area in northern Sweden is Sweden's largest sulphide mine with an annual production of 35 Mt of ore, and the biggest open pit operation in northern Europe. It is proposed in the present study that the Aitik deposit represents a Palaeoproterozoic, strongly metamorphosed porphyry copper deposit that was affected ca. 100 Ma later by a regional IOCG-type hydrothermal event. Consequently, the Aitik deposit might represent a mixed ore system where an early copper mineralisation of porphyry type has been overprinted by later regional IOCG mineralisation. Several attempts have previously been made to genetically classify the Aitik Cu–Au–Ag deposit as a distinct ore type. New geochemical, petrographic, structural, and fluid inclusion results combined with published data have provided the opportunity to present new ideas on the genesis and evolution of the Aitik Cu–Au–Ag deposit. The emplacement of a ca. 1.9 Ga quartz monzodiorite that host the ore at Aitik was related to subduction processes and volcanic arc formation, and synchronous with quartz vein stockwork formation and porphyry copper mineralisation. Highly saline aqueous (38 wt.% NaCl) fluid inclusions in the stockwork veins suggest entrapment at 300 °C and a pressure of nearly 3 kbar, a high pressure for a typical porphyry copper ore, but consistent with conditions at associated deep root zones of intrusion-related magmatic–hydrothermal systems. The highly saline fluid formed disseminated and vein-type ore of mainly chalcopyrite and pyrite within comagmatic volcaniclastic rocks, and caused potassic alteration (biotite, microcline) of the host rocks. The early porphyry copper mineralising event was followed, and largely overprinted, by CO2 and aqueous medium- to high-salinity (16–57 wt.% salts) fluids related to a ca. 1.8 Ga tectonic and metamorphic event (peak conditions 500–600 °C and 4–5 kbar). Extensive deformation of rocks and redistribution of metals occurred. Magnetite enrichment locally found within late veins, and late amphibole–scapolite and K feldspar alterations within the deposit, are some of the features at Aitik implying that aqueous fluids responsible for IOCG-mineralisation (200–500 °C and ~ 1 kbar) and extensive Na–Ca alteration in the region during the 1.8 Ga tectonic event also affected the Aitik rocks, possibly leading to addition of copper ± gold.
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