Sulfur isotopes and origin of some sulfide deposits, New England, Australia

✍ Scribed by H. K. Herbert; J. W. Smith

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1978
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 913 KB
• Volume: 13
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0026-4598
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00202907

✦ Synopsis

The S-isotopic compositions of sulfide deposits from Steinmann, granitoid and felsic volcanic associations have been examined.

Ores of Steinmann association have 8~'S values close to zero per rail (8~S = +0.3 + 3.1%o); it appears they are of mantle origin. Isotopically, ores of granitoid association regularly show a variable enrichment in a~S relative to meteoritic (~4S = -2.7 _+ 3.3%). The composition is in accord with an upper mantle/lower crustal source. Two stratiform accumulations of felsic volcanic association show a narrow spread of 534S values (+0.2%to 2.4%); a mantle origin for the sulfur in these deposits is favored. In contrast, vein, stockwork and cement ores are moderately enriched in 32S relative to meteoritic (8~4S = -4.0 +6.4%).

These ores are polygenetic; sulfur and metals appear to have been leached from local country rocks where volcanogenic and biogenic sulfur predominate.