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Tectonic development of base-metal and barite-vein deposits associated with the early Mesozoic basins of eastern North America

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Basement Tectonics 8

Part of the book series: Proceedings of the International Conferences on Basement Tectonics ((ICBT,volume 2))

Abstract

Epithermal base-metal and barite-vein deposits are common in and near the margins of rift basins in extensional continental settings, and such veins are structurally, temporally, and almost certainly genetically associated with these rift basins. Approximately 100 vein occurrences of this type occur near early Mesozoic basins of the eastern United States. The veins appear to form as a result of transport of moderate temperature (100–250°C) brines from within the basins and adjacent basement rocks to shallow sites of mineral precipitation. Mineral deposition appears due to cooling, sulfate reduction, wall-rock reaction, and possibly fluid mixing, with the relative importance of these processes varying in different deposits. Saline fluids of appropriate chemistry and temperature to form vein mineralization occur in the deep portions of basins and adjacent basement underlying the basins. Early Mesozoic basins filled with red-bed sediments may be important as recharge areas of saline brines and leachable metals. Pre-existing fractures and faults are important in localizing vein development, and seismic activity may induce the movement of subsurface hydrothermal fluids. Cycling of stress and fluid pressure during faulting can move significant quantities of hot, deep-seated fluids into the upper crust and provides a mechanism for rapid mixing of fluids that may lead to mineral deposition. A period of fluid migration appears to occur late in the history of basin development due to the dynamic and changing stress regime developed during the tectonic transition from continental rifting to sea-floor spreading. Stratabound base-metal deposits that also form by transport of metal-bearing fluids may occur in the vicinity of these vein deposits.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, MS 913, National Center, Reston, Virginia, 22092, USA

    Gilpin R. Robinson Jr.

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  1. Gilpin R. Robinson Jr.
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Earth Sciences and Resources Institute, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Mervin J. Bartholomew

  2. Department of Geology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA

    Donald W. Hyndman

  3. Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA

    David W. Mogk

  4. Department of Geological Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

    Robert Mason

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Robinson, G.R. (1992). Tectonic development of base-metal and barite-vein deposits associated with the early Mesozoic basins of eastern North America. In: Bartholomew, M.J., Hyndman, D.W., Mogk, D.W., Mason, R. (eds) Basement Tectonics 8. Proceedings of the International Conferences on Basement Tectonics, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1614-5_51

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1614-5_51

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