Structural analysis, metamorphism, and geochemistry of the Archean granitoids-greenstones of the Sukumaland Greenstone Belt around Geita Hills, Northern Tanzania

Greenstone rocks, which include Banded Iron Formations (BIFs), tuffs, volcanic flows (basalt, andesite and rhyolite), and clastic sedimentary rocks (shale-mudstone, greywacke-sandstone and conglomerate), crop out around Geita Hills and are flanked by granites and granodiorites. BIFs and tuffs occupy larger area than other lithological units, which crop out as patches. Structural analysis indicates that layers of green-stone rocks are folded and display a regional fold axis with an attitude of 320o/40o. Low-grade metamorphic mineral assemblages (actinolite-epidote-chlorite in basalts and muscovite-epidote-chlorite in granitoids) are common in these rocks;this indicates a regional metamorphism at greenschist facies. However, BIFs and basalts are locally metamorphosed to epidote-amphibolite and amphibolite facies. Basalts belong to the tholeiite series whereas granites, diorites and rhyolites belong to the calcalkaline series. Chondrite normalized rare earth element pattern of basalt is flat and plot slightly below the average N-MORB values suggesting the enrichment of the light rare earth elements, which means that mantle magma source was an E-MORB. Granitoids and rhyolites have strong affinities to the continental arc source magma displaying strong enrichments in the LREEs with (La/Sm)N values ranging between 2.53 and 3.95 in rhyolites and between 4.08 and 5.40 in granitoids. The granitoids are classified as the I-type synorogenic metaluminous granites and granodiorites. Geochemical signatures suggest that the Geita Hills basalts erupted at the enriched mid ocean ridge setting of the back arc setting, and the granites, granodiorite and rhyolite formed in a volcanic arc setting particularly the continental arc.

Petrographic and Geochemical Characters of Granites of the Banfora Belt, Burkina Faso (West Africa)

The Banfora’s birimian greenstones belt is located in the western part of Burkina Faso (west Africa). Recent petrographic and lithogeochemical studies have highlighted plutons intruding the metasedimentary and metavolcanic series. These plutonic rocks are composed of leucogranites belonging to the so-called Ferkessedougou’s or Ferké’s batholith, granites, granodiorites, monzodiorites and quartz monzonites. From the lithogeochemical studies, these plutonic rocks have a calc-alkaline and peraluminous character. The rare earth elements spectra of the Ferké’s leucogranites let distinguished two sub-facies. One of the sub-facies is composed of quartz monzonite to granite, while the other is granitic sensu stricto. However, all these plutonic rocks were emplaced in a geodynamic context of subduction followed by collision.

Geochemistry and Petrogenesis of Basic and Ultrabasic Rocks Elogo Complex in Ivindo Archean Block (Congo Craton): Geodynamic Implications

The Elogo complex is a greenstone belt portion located on the Eastern edge of the Archean Congo craton at the junction with the Paleoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic Sembe Ouesso basin. This study was carried out on this complex to determine the context of the placement of basaltic rocks. Metaluminous tholeiitic basalts (basic and ultrabasic), calc-alkaline basalts, andesitic basalts, and peraluminous calc-alkaline dacites represent greenstones. Tholeiitic and calc-alkaline basalts come from deep enriched and depleted mantle sources, including garnet in fusion residues [Al2O3/TiO2 > 16 (16.5 to 35.12) and in some samples between 12.45 to 14.48;CaO/Al2O3 1 (1.04 to 1.35) in ten samples and (Gb/Yb)PM > 1]. The calc-alkaline dacites come from a shallow depleted mantle source [Al2O3/TiO2 > 16;CaO/Al2O3 1]. Tholeiitic and calc-alkaline basalts have a negative Rb, Ba, Ce, and Nb anomaly without negative Ti anomaly, positive Ta, Pb anomalies, and a lack of significant REE [(La/Yb)n = 0.36 to 0.97 and 1 to 2.15;(Ce/Yb)n = 0.27 to 0.96 and 1.04 to 1.72, respectively] fractionation. High Nb/Th (2 to 10) and Nb/U (1.82 to 26) ratios and low La/Ta (5 to 27) ratios are characteristic of divergent margin magmatic sources. Tholeiitic and calc-alkaline basalts correspond to an extensive back-arc basin-type tectonic setting. Calc-alkaline andesitic basalts and dacites show positive Ba, U, Th, K, La, Ce, Pb, and Li anomalies and negative Nb, Ta, and Ti anomalies reflecting crustal contamination and hydrothermal alteration in a compressive tectonic context as a volcanic arc in a subduction regime marking the interruption of the meso-neoarchean Elogo’s opening. Elogo’s opening and closing are probably associated with the emplacement of the greenstone of the meso-neoarchean Gabon Belinga group and the relics of the Mesoarchean greenstones of the Cameroun Ntem complex.

Geochemical Mobility Associated to Gold and Base Metal Occurrences of Mangodara Sector, in Southern Burkina Faso, Banfora Greenstone Belts (West African Craton)

In the Mangodara area within the Banfora greenstone belts (Baoulé-Mossi domain of the West African Craton), our study focused on geochemical assessment of the mobility of major and trace elements. Gold and base metal occurrences are hosted in highly metamorphic felsic (metarhyolite) and intermediate (metadacite and metaandesite) formations. Common mineral assemblages made up of staurolite - kyanite - pyrophyllite are interpreted to represent the metamorphosed equivalent of aluminous hydrothermal alteration. Associated felsic and intermediate volcanic rocks are enriched in Fe2O3, K2O (metaandesite, metarhyolite) and depleted in MgO, Al2O3, CaO, P2O5, Na2O (metarhyolite) and Fe2O3, MgO, CaO (metaandesite). Al2O3 depletion in mineralized kyanite-staurotide bearing metarhyolites suggests corroded minerals. Mineralized metarhyolites show enrichment in Au, Ag, Ba, Bi, Cr, Cu, Eu, La, Mo, Ni, Pb, S, Sc, V and depletion in As Sb Co, Sn, Zn while mineralized metaandesites show enrichment in Au, Ag, As, Mo, S, Sb and depletion in Co, Sn, Zn, Bi, Cr, Cu, Eu, Ni, Pb, Sc. Ba, La, V are immobile in metaandesites. Finally, Ag, As, Sn appear as geochemical vectors for gold exploration in the study area since gold mineralization is characterized by Au + Ba + Cu + Eu + La + Mo + Ni + S association in metarhyolites and Au + S + Sb + As + Ag + Bi in metaandesites.

Fouimba and Goma Mounts Greenstone Belts Litho-Structural Analysis Related to Côte D’Ivoire Birimian Geodynamic Setting and Implying in West-Africa Craton Gold Deposits

Mount Fouimba and Mount Goma (Seguela) greenstone belts petro-structural studies combine remote sensing, geophysics, petrography and structural analysis. In view of establishing mapping details of paleoproterozoic geological formations, geological setting rocks observed are essentially magmatic formations, such as two-mica granite, granodiorites, and porphyritic basalts;and a few metamorphics which are metatonalite, amphibolites and amphibo-lopyroxenites. Remote sensing, such as Landsat 8 OLI satellite imagery and geophysical data, has been combined to show regional NNE-SW shear zone. Tectonic structures and microstructures have enabled to identify two main deformation phases: D1 phase corresponding to compression, and D2 is a transpression phase. Mechanisms responsible for deformations are respectively flattening and transpression. Geological formations derived from mantle origin but contain crustal components, and their tectonic setting occurred during subduction.

数字图书馆系统开源软件的比较分析

本文对三种国外的数字图书馆系统开源软件(Fedora、DSpace、Greenstone)进行了介绍和比较分析,以期深入理解和领悟数字图书馆开源软件的设计理念,为国内从事数字图书馆系统开发和设计的同行提供参考。

A great thermal divergence in the mantle beginning 2.5 Ga:Geochemical constraints from greenstone basalts and komatiites

Greenstone basalts and komatiites provide a means to track both mantle composition and magma generation temperature with time. Four types of mantle are characterized from incompatible element distributions in basalts and komatiites： depleted, hydrated, enriched and mantle from which komatiites are derived. Our most important observation is the recognition for the first time of what we refer to as a Great Thermal Divergence within the mantle beginning near the end of the Archean, which we ascribe to thermal and convective evolution. Prior to 2.5 Ga, depleted and enriched mantle have indistinguishable thermal histories, whereas at 2.5-2.0 Ga a divergence in mantle magma generation temperature begins between these two types of mantle. Major and incompatible element distributions and calculated magma generation temperatures suggest that Archean enriched mantle did not come from mantle plumes, but was part of an undifferentiated or well-mixed mantle similar in composition to calculated primitive mantle. During this time, however, high-temperature mantle plumes from dominantly depleted sources gave rise to komatiites and associated basalts. Recycling of oceanic crust into the deep mantle after the Archean may have contributed to enrichment ofTi, A1, Ca and Na in basalts derived from enriched mantle sources. After 2.5 Ga, increases in Mg# in basalts from depleted mantle and decreases in Fe and Mn reflect some combination of growing depletion and cooling of depleted mantle with time. A delay in cooling of depleted mantle until after the Archean probably reflects a combination of greater radiogenic heat sources in the Archean mantle and the propagation of plate tectonics after 3 Ga.

FRBR的应用与我国目录工作的创新

介绍了FRBR的基本内容,分析了国外在FRBR的应用进展,并对我国如何运用FRBR创新目录工作提出了建议。

用于数字资源长期保存的开源软件比较分析

目前,世界上数字档案馆和数字图书馆项目开展的如火如荼,以实现对不同领域、不同格式数字资源的组织与管理。开源软件常常被用来组织、存贮和检索数字资源。文章在探讨数字资源长期保存评价标准的基础上,通过构建一个测试环境,对现有数字图书馆开源软件(OSS-DL)的信息资源长期保存功能进行对比分析与研究,期望为用户选择开源软件提供参考借鉴。

数字图书馆网络协议评析

论述了当今世界较流行的四种数字图书馆网络协议 ,探讨和分析了它们的异同点。

Neoarchean granite-greenstone belts and related ore mineralization in the North China Craton:An overview

Tectonic processes involving amalgamations of microblocks along zones of ocean closure represented by granite-greenstone belts(GGB) were fundamental in building the Earth's early continents. The crustal growth and cratonization of the North China Craton(NCC) are correlated to the amalgamation of microblocks welded by 2.75-2.6 Ga and ~2.5 Ga GGBs. The lithological assemblages in the GGBs are broadly represented by volcano-sedimentary sequences, subduction-collision related granitoids and bimodal volcanic rocks(basalt and dacite) interlayered with minor komatiites and calc-alkalic volcanic rocks(basalt, andesite and felsic rock). The geochemical features of meta-basalts in the major GGBs of the NCC display affinity with N-MORB, E-MORB, OIB and calc-alkaline basalt, suggesting that the microblocks were separated by oceanic realm. The granitoid rocks display arc signature with enrichment of LILE(K,Rb, Sr, Ba) and LREE, and depletion of HFSE(Nb, Ta, Th, U, Ti) and HREE, and fall in the VAG field. The major mineralization includes Neoarchean BIF-type iron and VMS-type Cu-Zb deposits and these,together with the associated supracrustal rocks possibly formed in back-arc basins or arc-related oceanic slab subduction setting with or without input from mantle plumes. The 2.75-2.60 Ga TTG rocks,komatiites, meta-basalts and metasedimentary rocks in the Yanlingguan GGB are correlated to the upwelling mantle plume with eruption close to the continental margin within an ocean basin. The volcanosedimentary rocks and granitoid rocks in the late Neoarchean GGBs display formation ages of 2.60-2.48 Ga, followed by metamorphism at 2.52-2.47 Ga, corresponding to a typical modern-style subduction-collision system operating at the dawn of Proterozoic. The late Neoarchean komatiite(Dongwufenzi GGB), sanukitoid(Dongwufenzi GGB and Western Shandong GGB), BIF(Zunhua GGB) and VMS deposit(Hongtoushan-Qingyuan-Helong GGB) have closer connection to a combined process of oceanic slab subduction and mantle plume. The Neoarchean cratonization of the NCC appears to have involved two stages of tectonic process along the 2.75-2.6 Ga GGB and ~2.5 Ga GGBs, the former involve plume-arc interaction process, and the latter involving oceanic lithospheric subduction, with or without arcplume interaction.

Origin and Geological Significance of TTG Gneisses from the Maevatanana Greenstone Belt in North-Central Madagascar,and A Comparison with India

The Maevatanana greenstone belt in north-central Madagascar contains widespread exposures of tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite （TTG） gneisses, and is important for its concentrations of various metal deposits （e.g., chromium, niekle, iron, gold）. In this paper we report on the petrography, and major and trace element compositions of the TTG gneisses within the Berere Complex of the Maevatanana area, as well as LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages and Lu-Hf isotopic compositions of zircons from the gneisses. The gneisses consist mainly of granitoid gneiss and biotite （± hornblende） plagiogneiss, and analysis of thin sections provides evidence of crushing, recrystallization, and metasomatism related to dynamic metamorphism. Samples have large variations in their major and trace element contents, with SiO2 = 55.87-68.06 wt%, Al2O3 = 13.9-17.8 wt%, and Na2O/K2O= 0.97-2.13. Geochemically, the granitoid gneisses and biotite plagiogneisses fall on a low-Al trondhjemite to granodiorite trend, while the biotite-hornblende plagiogneisses represent a high-Al tonalite TTG assemblage. Zircon U-Pb dating shows that the Berere Complex TTG gneisses formed at 2.5-2.4 Ga. Most εHf（t） values of zircons from the biotite （q- hornblende） plagiogneisses are positive, while most εHf（t） values from the granitoid gneisses are negative, suggesting a degree of crustal contamination. Two-stage Hf model ages suggest that the age of the protolith of the TTG gneisses was ca. 3.4-2.6 Ga, representing a period of paleocontinent formation in the Mesoarchean. Geothermometries indicate the temperature of metamorphism of the TTG gneisses was 522-612℃. Based on these data, the protolith of the TTG gneisses is inferred to have formed during the development of a Mesoarchean paleocontinent that is now widely exposed as a TTG gneiss belt （mostly lower amphibolite facies） in the Maevatanana area, and which records a geological evolution related to the subduction of an ancient oceanic crust and the collision of microcontinents during the formation of the Rodinia supercontinent. The lithological similarity of Precambrian basement, the close ages of metamorphism within greenstone belts and the comparable distribution of metamorphic grade all show a pronounced Precambrian geology similarity between Madagascar and India, which can provide significative clues in understanding the possible Precambrian Supercontinent tectonics, and also important constraints on the correlation of the two continental fragments.

Metallogenesis of Precambrian gold deposits in the Wutai greenstone belt:Constrains on the tectonic evolution of the North China Craton

The Wutai greenstone belt in central North China Craton(NCC) hosts a number of Precambrian gold deposits and ore occurrences. Based on the host rock association, these can be divided into Banded Iron Formation(BIF), meta-volcano-sedimentary and meta-conglomerate types. The two former types formed during ~2.5-2.3 Ga and the third one at ~1.85 Ga. The characteristics of these Precambrian gold deposits are broadly similar with those of the orogenic gold deposits. Based on available geochronological data, here we reconstruct the major tectonic events and their relationship with gold mineralization in the Wutai-Hengshan-Fuping region during Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic as follows.(1)~2.6-2.5 Ga: widespread intrusion of tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite(TTG) magmas in the Hengshan terrane and Fuping continental arc, formation of the Wutai volcanic arc in the southern margin of Hengshan terrane with granitoids emplacement, and the Hengshan-Wutai intra-oceanic arc accretion to the Fuping arc at the end of Neoarchean.(2) ~ 2.5-2.3 Ga: the subduction of Hengshan arc from north leading to persistent magmatism and orogenic gold mineralization.(3)~2.2-2.1 Ga:extension leading to the formation of graben structure in the Wutai and Fuping region, deposition of the Hutuo and Wanzi Group sediments, formation of placer gold through erosion of the orogenic gold deposits.(4)~2.2-2.0 Ga: widespread magmatism in the Wutai-Hengshan-Fuping region.(5)~1.95-1.8 Ga: regional metamorphism associated with collision of the Western and Eastern Blocks of the NCC and associated orogenic gold deposits. The multiple subduction-accretion-collision history and subsequent deep erosion has significantly affected most of the Precambrian gold deposits in the Wutai greenstone belt.

Paleoarchean bedrock lithologies across the Makhonjwa Mountains of South Africa and Swaziland linked to geochemical,magnetic and tectonic data reveal early plate tectonic genes flanking subduction margins

The Makhonjwa Mountains, traditionally referred to as the Barberton Greenstone Belt, retain an iconic Paleoarchean archive against which numerical models of early earth geodynamics can be tested. We present new geologic and structural maps, geochemical plots, geo- and thermo-chronology, and geophysical data from seven silicic, mafic to ultramafic complexes separated by major shear systems across the southern Makhonjwa Mountains. All reveal signs of modern oceanic back-arc crust and subductionrelated processes. We compare the rates of processes determined from this data and balance these against plate tectonic and plume related models. Robust rates of both horizontal and vertical tectonic processes derived from the Makhonjwa Mountain complexes are similar, well within an order of magnitude, to those encountered across modern oceanic and orogenic terrains flanking Western Pacific-like subduction zones. We conclude that plate tectonics and linked plate-boundary processes were well established by 3.2-3.6 Ga. Our work provides new constraints for modellers with rates of a 'basket' of processes against which to test Paleoarchean geodynamic models over a time period close to the length of the Phanerozoic.

A review of Palaeoarchaean felsic volcanism in the eastern Kaapvaal craton:Linking plutonic and volcanic records

In the Kaapvaal craton of southern Africa, as well as other Archaean cratons worldwide, the progression from dominant tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite(TTG) to granite-monzogranite-syenogranite(GMS)rock types is interpreted to reflect progressive reworking and differentiation of the continental crust.Here we re-evaluate the early Archaean evolution of the Kaapvaal craton and propose a unified view of the plutonic and volcanic records based on elemental and isotopic(Nd, Hf) data and zircon U-Pb ages.We also report new whole-rock major and trace element analyses, zircon U-Pb ages and Hf-in-zircon analyses of igneous clasts from a conglomerate of the 3.2 Ga Moodies Group of the Barberton Greenstone Belt. Many of these clasts are derived from shallow intrusive rocks of granitic composition, which are scarcely represented in outcrop. Despite alteration, the volcanic rocks can be classified based on their trace element contents into two main groups by comparison with plutonic rocks. One group has characteristics resembling TTGs: relatively low and fractionated rare earth element concentrations with no Eu anomaly and relatively low concentrations of high field strength elements(Nb mostly ≤12 ppm). The second group has GMS-like characteristics: less fractionated REE, marked negative Eu anomalies and HFSE-increasing trends with progressing fractionation(Nb ≤ 50 ppm or more, Th up to 30-40 ppm). In addition, igneous clasts of Moodies Group conglomerate have chemical, mineralogical and isotopic characteristics that link them to GMS. New analyses of some of these clasts indicate elevated high field strength elements(Nb up to 20 ppm) and_(εHf)(t)of zircon down to -3.5. These rocks imply the presence of an already differentiated felsic crust at >3.5 Ga, which has Nd and Hf model ages indicating mantle extraction ages extending back to the Eoarchaean. The combined record of plutonic and volcanic rocks of the Kaapvaal craton provides a more complex scenario than previously suggested and indicates that TTG and GMS-like felsic magmas were emplaced broadly coevally in multiple pulses between ~3.5 Ga and 3.2 Ga.

Geochemical systematics of the Mauranipur-Babina greenstone belt,Bundelkhand Craton,Central India:Insights on Neoarchean mantle plume-arc accretion and crustal evolution

The Neoarchean Bundelkhand greenstone sequences at Mauranipur and Babina areas within the Bundelkhand Gneissic Complex preserve a variety of magmatic rocks such as komatiitic basalts, basalts,felsic volcanic rocks and high-Mg andesites belonging to the Baragaon, Raspahari and Koti Formations.The intrusive and extrusive komatiitic basalts are characterized by low SiO_2(39-53 wt.%), high MgO(18-25 wt.%).moderately high Fe_2O_3(7.1-11.6 wt.%), Al_2O_3(4.5-12.0 wt.%), and TiO_2(0.4-1.23 wt.%)with super to subchondritic(Gd/Yb)N ratios indicating garnet control on the melts. The intrusive komatiitic suite of Ti-enriched and Al-depleted type possesses predominant negative Eu and positive Nb, Ti and Y anomalies. The chemical composition of basalts classifies them into three types with varying SiO_2, TiO_2, MgO, Fe_2O_3, Al_2O_3 and CaO. At similar SiO_2 content of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ basalts, the type II basalts show slightly high Al_2O_3 and Fe_2O_3 contents. Significant negative anomalies of Nb, Zr, Hf and Ti, slightly enriched LREE with relatively flat HREE and low ∑REE contents are observed in type Ⅰ and Ⅱ basalts. TypeⅢ basalts show high Zr/Nb ratios(9.8-10.4), TiO_2(1.97-2.04 wt.%), but possess strikingly flat Zr, Hf, Y and Yb and are uncontaminated. Andesites from Agar and Koti have high SiO_2(55-64 wt.%), moderate TiO_2(0.4-0.7 wt.%), slightly low Al_2O_3(7-11.9 wt.%), medium to high MgO(3-8 wt.%) and CaO contents(10-17 wt.%). Anomalously high Cr, Co and Ni contents are observed in the Koti rhyolites. Tholeiitic to calc alkaline affinity of mafic-felsic volcanic rocks and basalt-andesite dacite-rhyolite differentiation indicate a mature arc and thickened crust during the advanced stage of the evolution of Neoarchean Bundelkhand greenstone belt in a convergent tectonic setting where the melts were derived from partial melting of thick basaltic crust metamorphosed to amphibolite-eclogite facies. The trace element systematics suggest the presence of arc-back arc association with varying magnitudes of crust-mantle interaction. La/Sm, La/Ta,Nb/Th, high MgO contents(>20 wt.%), CaO/Al_2O_3 and(Gd/Yb)_N > 1 along with the positive Nb anomalies of the komatiite basalts reflect a mantle plume source for their origin contaminated by subductionmetasomatized mantle lithosphere. The overall geochemical signatures of the ultramafic-mafic and felsic volcanic rocks endorse the Neoarchean plume-arc accretion tectonics in the Bundelkhand greenstone belt.

An integrated ore prospecting model for the Nyasirori gold deposit in Tanzania

The Nyasirori gold deposit,located in the middle-western end of the Musoma-Mara Archean greenstone belt in Tanzania,is a tectonic altered rock type gold deposit controlled by shear tectonic zone.This work conducted high-precision ground magnetic measurements to delineate fault structures and favorable prospecting targets,utilized induced polarization(IP)intermediate gradient to roughly determine the distribution and extension of the tectonic altered zone and gold ore(mineralized)bodies,and further carried out IP sounding and magnetotelluric sounding to locate the tectonic altered zone and gold ore(mineralized)bodies.The anomalous gradient belt of the combination of positive and negative micromagnetic measurements reflects the detail of shallow surface tectonic alteration zone and gold mineralization body.Micromagnetic profile anomalies indicate the spatial location and occurrence of concealed tectonic alteration zone and gold(mineralized)ore bodies.Soil geochemical measurements indicate that the ore-forming element Au correlates well with As and Sb,and As and Sb anomalies have a good indication to gold orebodies.Based on the multi-source geological-geophysical-geochemical information of the Nyasirori gold deposit,this work established an integrated prospecting model and proposed a set of geophysical and geochemical methods for optimizing prospecting targets.

Archaean Greenstone Belts in China

Chinese Achaean greenstone belts are mainly distributed along the northern and southwestern margins of the North China platform. In terms of their geological characteristics, the greenstone belts in China are comparable to those in other countries but at the same time have unique features of their own. In view of their geochemistry, the Chinese greenstone belts may be grouped into three types: the Jiapigou type, Qingyuan type and Xiaoqinling type. The greenstone belts were formed possibly in a rift-type palaeo-tectonic setting, similar to that of the modern island are-continental margin mobile belts.

Nature and source of the ore-forming fluids associated with orogenic gold deposits in the Dharwar Craton

Neoarchean orogenic gold deposits, associated with the greenstone-granite milieus in the Dharwar Craton include(1) the famous Kolar mine and the world class Hutti deposit;(2) small mines at HiraBuddini, Uti, Ajjanahalli, and Guddadarangavanahalli;(3) prospects at Jonnagiri; and(4) old mining camps in the Gadag and Ramagiri-Penakacherla belts. The existing diametric views on the source of ore fluid for formation of these deposits include fluids exsolved from granitic melts and extracted by metamorphic devolatilization of the greenstone sequences. Lode gold mineralization occurs in structurally controlled higher order splays in variety of host rocks such as mafic/felsic greenstones, banded iron formations, volcaniclastic rocks and granitoids. Estimated metamorphic conditions of the greenstones vary from lower greenschist facies to mid-amphibolite facies and mineralizations in all the camps are associated with distinct hydrothermal alterations. Fluid inclusion microthermometric and Raman spectroscopic studies document low salinity aqueous-gaseous(H_2O + CO_2 ± CH_4 + NaCl) ore fluids,which precipitated gold and altered the host rocks in a narrow P-T window of 0.7-2.5 kbar and 215-320℃. While the calculated fluid O-and C-isotopic values are ambiguous, S-isotopic compositions of pyrite-precipitating fluid show distinct craton-scale uniformity in terms of its reduced nature and a suggested crustal sulfur source.Available ages on greenstone metamorphism, granitoid plutonism and mineralization in the Hutti Belt are tantamount, making a geochronology-based resolution of the existing debate on the metamorphic vs.magmatic fluid source impossible. In contrast, tourmaline geochemistry suggests involvement of single fluid in formation of gold mineralization, primarily derived by metamorphic devolatilization of mafic greenstones and interlayered sedimentary rocks, with minor magmatic contributions. Similarly, compositions of scheelite, pyrite and arsenopyrite point toward operation of fault-valves that caused pressure fluctuation-induced fluid phase separation, which acted as the dominant process of gold precipitation,apart from fluid-rock sulfidation reactions. Therefore, results from geochemistry of hydrothermal minerals and those from fluid inclusion microthermometry corroborate in constraining source of ore fluid,nature of gold transport(by Au-bisulfide complex) and mechanism of gold ore formation in the Dharwar Craton.

Characterization of Hydrothermal Alteration Mineralogy and Pathfinder Elements in the Exploration for gold in North Mara mines,Tanzania

A combination of mineralogical and multielement analyses was used to characterize the hydrothermal alteration,pathfinder elements and their distribution within the gold deposits in North Mara mines,the Archean Musoma-Mara greenstone belt,Tanzania. The aim was to evaluate the suitability of alteration mineral assemblages and composition as an effective exploration marker for fingerprinting