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Geological and isotope studies of microtonalite-hosted W-Sn mineralization in SE Ireland

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Abstract

A swarm of Caledonian microtonalite sheets is host to W-Sn mineralization in SE Ireland. Many but not all mineralized sheets are within a regional shear zone which, however, does not appear to have been a major control on mineralization. Scheelite and arsenopyrite are the dominant minerals within and adjacent veins in greisened tonalite. No wolframite occurs. The intrusions are affected by two alterations, a pervasive one and another which is spatially associated with veins. Both are associated with high metal values. Veining is confined to microtonalite sheets and was initiated at least partly by hydraulic fracturing of the intrusions. Stable isotope analyses indicate that mineral deposition occurred over narrow time and temperature intervals from a hydrothermal fluid of magmatic origin. Methane is important in fluid inclusions in quartz veins and the low oxygen fugacity of the mineralizing fluid was probably critical in concentrating metals and in suppressing wolframite formation.

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  1. V. Gallagher

    Present address: Department of Geology, University College, Cork, Ireland

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  1. Department of Geology, University College, Dublin, Ireland

    V. Gallagher

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Gallagher, V. Geological and isotope studies of microtonalite-hosted W-Sn mineralization in SE Ireland. Mineral. Deposita 24, 19–28 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00206717

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