Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Isotope studies on the Rosebery, Mount Farrell and Mount Lyell ores, Tasmania

  • Published:
Mineralium Deposita Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Preliminary studies have been made on the distributions of oxygen and sulphur isotopes in the Rosebery, Mount Farrell, and Mount Lyell ores. These ores lie in Cambrian geosynclinal volcanic rocks in West Tasmania. At each locality the sulphur of the sulphide minerals has a distinctive degree of enrichment in δ34S in relation to sulphur in meteorites and a narrow range of δ34S values. The dominant ore at Mount Lyell (mainly pyrite-chalcopyrite) has an average δ34S value of +7.0‰, the main lode at Rosebery (pyrite-sphalerite-galenachalcopyrite) averages +10.9‰, and the Mount Farrell ore (galena-sphalerite) averages +14.1‰. The degree of enrichment does not appear to be related to local, near-surface geological factors. Other ores of geosynclinal volcanic type with similar mineralogy also show narrow ranges in δ34S and varying enrichments in 34S. Barite from a concordant sulphide-barite-carbonate lode at Rosebery has an average δ34S of +38.1‰ and an average δ18O of +10.7‰. Barite from veins at Mount Lyell has an average δ34S of +25.3‰ and an average δ18O of +10.6‰.

Abstract

Die Verteilung von Sauerstoff- und Schwefel-Isotopen in den Erzkörpern von Rosebery, Mount Farrell und Mount Lyell wurde untersucht. Die Erzkörper sind in kambrische, geosynklinale vulkanische Gesteine Westtasmaniens eingebettet. An jeder dieser Lagerstätten zeigt der Schwefel der Sulfiderze einen charakteristischen Anreicherungsgrad an δ34S im Verhältnis zum Meteoritenschwefel und einen eng begrenzten Bereich der δ34S-Werte. Die Erze des Mount Lyell-Lagers (hauptsächlich Pyrit-Chalkopyrit) zeigen überwiegend einen δ34S-Durchschnittswert von +7.0‰, das Hauptlager von Rosebery (Pyrit-Sphalerit-Galenit-Chalkopyrit) +10.9‰, und des Mount Farrell-Erz (Galenit-Sphalerit) +14.1‰. Der Anreicherungsgrad scheint nicht mit den lokalen geologischen Faktoren verbunden zu sein. Auch andere Erzkörper geosynklinaler vulkanischer Art von ähnlicher mineralogischer Struktur zeigen eng begrenzte δ34S-Werte und 34S-Anreicherungsvariationen. Der Baryt des konkordant aufgebauten Sulfid-Baryt-Carbonat-Lagers bei Rosebery hat einen δ34S-Durchschnitt von +38.1‰ und einen δ18O-Durchschnitt von +10.7‰. Der Baryt aus den Erzgängen von Mount Lyell ist durch einen δ34S-Durchschnitt von +25.3‰ und einen δ18O-Durchschnitt von +10.6‰ charakterisiert.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anger, G.: Schwefelisotopen-Untersuchungen in norwegischen und deutschen Schwefelkies-Lagerstätten. Ber. Geol. Ges. Deut. Demokrat. Rep. Gesamtgebiet Geol. Wiss. 9, 543–549 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, H. Neilson, H. Puchelt, and W. Ricke: Sulphur isotopes in the Rammelsberg ore deposit (Germany). Econ. Geol. 61, 511–536 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brathwaite, R. L.: The structure of the rosebery ore deposit. Symposium on Geology of West Tasmania, Hobart, Nov. 1967.

  • Buschendorf, Fr., H. Nielson, H. Puchelt, and W. Ricke: Schwefel-Isotopen-Untersuchungen am Pyrit-Sphalerit-Baryt-Lager Meggen/Lenne (Deutschland) und an verschiedenen Devon-Evaporiten. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 27, 501–523 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig, H.: Isotopic composition and origin of the Red Sea and Salton Sea geothermal brines. Science 154, 1544–1548 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • DeChow, E.: Geology, sulphur isotopes and the origin of the Heath Steele ore deposits, New Brunswick, N. B., Canada. Econ. Geol. 55, 539–556 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Field, C. W.: Sulfur isotope abundance data, Bingham district, Utah. Econ. Geol. 61, 850–871 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Groves, D. I., and M. Solomon: Fluid inclusion studies on quartz and fluorite from Mount Bischoff, Tasmania. Inst. Mining Met. (London) 78, B1–11 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, G., V. M. Cottle, P. B. Rosenhain, R. R. McGhie, and J. G. Druett: Lead-zinc ore deposits of Read-Rosebery. 8th Commonwealth Mining Met. Congr. 1, 485–489 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemley, J. J., and W. R. Jones: Chemical aspects of hydrothermal alteration with emphasis on hydrogen metasomatism. Econ. Geol. 59, 538–560 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Holser, W. T., and I. R. Kaplan: Isotope geochemistry of sedimentary sulfates. Chem. Geol. 1, 93–135 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulston, J. R., and B. W. Shilton: Sulphur isotopic variations in nature, Part 4-Measurement of sulphur isotopic ratio by mass spectrometry. New Zealand J. Sci. 1, 91–102 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, M. L.: Sulfur isotopes and hydrothermal mineral deposits. Econ. Geol. 54, 374–394 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • --, and N. Nakai: Sulfur isotope meteorite standards, results and recommendations. Proc. N. S. F. Symposium, Yale University, April, 30–35 (1962).

  • Klevstov, P. V., and G. G. Lemmlein: Pressure corrections for the homogenisation temperatures of aqueous NaCl solutions. Dokl. Akad. Nauk. SSSR. 128, 1250–1253 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd, R. M.: Oxygen-18 composition of oceanic sulfate. Science 156, 1228–1231 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Loftus-Hills, G., M. Solomon, and R. J. Hall: The structure of the bedded rocks west of Rosebery, Tasmania. J. Geol. Soc. Australia 14, 333–338 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Markham, N. L.: Some genetic aspects of the Mt. Lyell mineralization. Mineral. Deposita 3, 199–221 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • McDougall, I., and P. J. Leggo: Isotope age determinations on granitic rocks from Tasmania. J. Geol. Soc. Australia 12, 295–332 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mizutani, Y., and T. A. Rafter: Oxygen isotopic composition of sulphates—Part 4. Bacterial fractionation of oxygen isotopes in the reduction of sulphate and in the oxidation of sulphur. New Zealand J. Sci. 12, 60–68 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen, H.: Schwefelisotope in Marinen Kreislauf und das 34S der Früheren Meere. Geol. Rundschau 55, 160–172 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Neil, J. R., and R. N. Clayton: Oxygen isotope geothermometry in Isotopic and Cosmic Chemistry, pp. 157–168. Amsterdam: Elsevier 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rafter, T. A.: Oxygen isotopic composition of sulphates — Part 1. A method for the extraction of oxygen and its quantitative conversion to carbon dioxide for isotopic measurements. New Zealand J. Sci. 10, 493–510 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, S. H. Wilson, and B. W. Shilton: Sulphur isotopic variations in nature. Part 5. Sulphur isotopic variations in New Zealand geothermal bore waters. New Zealand J. Sci. 1, 102–126 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and Y. Mizutani: Oxygen isotopic composition of sulphates — Part 2. Preliminary results on oxygen isotopic variations in sulphates and the relationship to their environment and to their 34S values. New Zealand J. Sci. 10, 816–840 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • --, and M. Solomon: Sulphur isotope and oxygen isotope studies of Tasmanian ore deposits. Symposium on Geology of West Tasmania, Hobart Nov., 1967.

  • Rye, R. O.: The carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in isotopic composition of the hydrothermal fluids responsible for the lead-zinc deposits at Providencia, Zacatecas, Mexico. Econ. Geol. 61, 1399–1427 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakai, H.: Isotopic properties of sulfur compounds in hydrothermal processes. Geochem. J. 2, 29–49 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, M.: The spilite-keratophyre association of West Tasmania and the ore deposits at Mt. Lyell, Rosebery and Hercules. Unpubl. Ph. D. thesis, Univ. of Tasmania (1964).

  • — Geology and mineralization of Tasmania. 8th Commonwealth Mining Met. Congr. 1, 464–477 (1965a).

    Google Scholar 

  • — Lead-silver-zinc ore deposits at Mt. Farrell. 8th Commonwealth Mining Met. Congr. 1, 490 (1965b).

    Google Scholar 

  • -- The copper-clay deposits at Mount Lyell, Tasmania. Proc. Australasian Inst. Mining Met. (in press).

  • — Fossil gossans (?) at Mt. Lyell, Tasmania. Econ. Geol. 62, 757–772 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and R. G. Elms: Copper ore deposits of Mt. Lyell. 8th Commonwealth Mining Met. Congr. 1, 478–484 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, P. J., and M. L. Jensen: Sulphur isotopic fractionation in nature with particular reference to Mt. Isa, Queensland. 8th Commonwealth Mining Met. Congr. 6, 1275–1286 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanton, R. L., and T. A. Rafter: The isotopic composition of sulphur in some stratiform leadzinc sulphide ores. Mineral. Deposita 1, 16–29 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • — Sulphur isotope ratios in co-existing galena and sphalerite from Broken Hill, New South Wales. Econ. Geol. 62, 1088–1091 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiner, A., and T. A. Rafter: Sulfur isotopes in pyrite, pyrrhotite, alunite and anhydrite from steam wells in the Taupo volcanic zone, New Zealand. Econ Geol. 61, 1115–1129 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tatsumi, T.: Sulphur isotopic fractionation between co-existing sulphide minerals from some Japanese ore deposits. Econ. Geol. 60, 1645–1659 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, H. P., Jr.: Oxygen isotope studies of hydrothermal mineral deposits in Geochemistry of Hydrothermal Ore Deposits, ed. H. L. Barnes, pp. 109–142, New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, J. Frechen, and E. T. Degens: Oxygen and carbon isotope studies of carbonatites from Laacher See district, West Germany and the Alnö district, Sweden. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 31, 407–430 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tupper, W. M.: Sulfur isotopes and the origin of the sulfide deposits of the Bathurst-Newcastle area of northern New Brunswick. Econ. Geol. 55, 1676–1707 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wade, M. L., and M. Solomon: Geology of the Mount Lyell mines, Tasmania. Econ. Geol. 53, 367–416 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia

    M. Solomon

  2. Institute of Nuclear Sciences, DSIR, Lower Hutt, New Zealand

    T. A. Rafter

  3. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, U.S.A.

    M. L. Jensen

Authors
  1. M. Solomon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. A. Rafter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. L. Jensen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Solomon, M., Rafter, T.A. & Jensen, M.L. Isotope studies on the Rosebery, Mount Farrell and Mount Lyell ores, Tasmania. Mineral. Deposita 4, 172–199 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00208051

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00208051

Keywords

Search

Navigation