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Stable isotope systematics of skarn-hosted REE-silicate - magnetite mineralisations in central Bergslagen, Sweden

The metasupracrustal-hosted, often polymetallic REE-Fe-deposits of Bastnäs-type are found along the “REE-line” in the Palaeoproterozoic Bergslagen ore province, south central Sweden. They essentially comprise REE silicate-bearing magnetite skarn mineralisations with variable contents of other metals. Even though these deposits have been important for mining and research for centuries, their origin still remains unclear. In this study, samples from 10 different deposits along the REE-line have been charactarised as to mineralogy, petrography and bulk geochemistry, in addition to their isotope systematics. Mineral separates of magnetite and, when present, co-existing quartz or carbonates have been analysed for their oxygen and (for carbonates) carbon isotope compositions, in order to put constraints on the sources for metals and fluids in these deposits. Magnetites have δ18O-values of -1.79 to 1.12 ‰, while quartzes lie between 7.19 and 8.28 ‰. Carbonates have δ18O-values between 5.77 and 7.15 ‰ and δ13C-values between -5.35 and -3.32 ‰. Thermometric calculations based on mineral pairs (magnetite-quartz, magnetite-calcite/dolomite), combined with available fluid inclusion data, indicate formation of primary magnetite assemblages between c. 650 to 400 °C. At these temperatures, magnetites from some of the deposits would have been in equilibrium with a magmatic fluid (δ18O = 6-8 ‰), while magnetites from other deposits would have been in equilibrium with fluids of lower δ18O (4-6 ‰). Oxygen and carbon isotope trends in carbonates can be explained by interaction between original host carbonates and a fluid of magmatic composition. The combined results indicate that the Bastnäs-type magnetite-REE mineralisations were deposited from an originally magmatic fluid at relatively high temperatures. At local scale, variable modification of the fluid isotopic composition can be explained by mixing with seawater-dominated fluids.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-220862
Date January 2014
CreatorsSahlström, Fredrik
PublisherUppsala universitet, Institutionen för geovetenskaper
Source SetsDiVA Archive at Upsalla University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeStudent thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text
Formatapplication/pdf
Rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
RelationExamensarbete vid Institutionen för geovetenskaper, 1650-6553 ; 279

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