Episodic hydrothermal alteration on Middle Permian carbonate reservoirs and its geological significance in southwestern Sichuan Basin,SW China

To analyze the episodic alteration of Middle Permian carbonate reservoirs by complex hydrothermal fluid in southwestern Sichuan Basin,petrology,geochemistry,fluid inclusion and U-Pb dating researches are conducted.The fractures and vugs of Middle Permian Qixia–Maokou formations are filled with multi-stage medium-coarse saddle dolomites and associated hydrothermal minerals,which indicates that the early limestone/dolomite episodic alteration was caused by the large-scale,high-temperature,deep magnesium-rich brine along flowing channels such as basement faults or associated fractures under the tectonic compression and napping during the Indosinian.The time of magnesium-rich hydrothermal activity was from the Middle Triassic to the Late Triassic.The siliceous and calcite fillings were triggered by hydrothermal alteration in the Middle and Late Yanshanian Movement and Himalayan Movement.Hydrothermal dolomitization is controlled by fault,hydrothermal property,flowing channel and surrounding rock lithology,which occur as equilibrium effect of porosity and permeability.The thick massive grainstone/dolomites were mainly altered by modification such as hydrothermal dolomitization/recrystallization,brecciation and fracture-vugs filling.Early thin-medium packstones were mainly altered by dissolution and infilling of fracturing,bedding dolomitization,dissolution and associated mineral fillings.The dissolved vugs and fractures are the main reservoir space under hydrothermal conditions,and the connection of dissolved vugs and network fractures is favorable for forming high-quality dolomite reservoir.Hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs are developed within a range of 1 km near faults,with a thickness of 30–60 m.Hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs with local connected pore/vugs and fractures have exploration potential.

Influences of Low-Temperature Hydrothermal Fluids on the Re-distributions and Occurrences of Associated Elements in Coal——A Case Study from the Late Permian Coals in the Zhijin Coalfield, Guizhou Province. Southern China

The occurrences of associated elements and their genetic factors in the No. 30 coal seam in the Zhijin Coalfield were studied using instrumental neutron activation analysis, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, and a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray analyzer. And, a microscope photometer system (Leitz MPV-Ⅲ) was used to observe the characteristics of coal petrology. According to the influence degree by the siliceous low-temperature hydrothermal fluids, the organic matter is divided into four types: A, B, C, and D of the hydrothermally-altered organic matter (HAOM). The study shows that the high content of Fe (2.31%) is not from pyrite, but mostly from the siliceous low-temperature hydrothermal fluids. The occurrences of the associated elements in the four organic matter types are different. The contents of Fe, Si, and Al are decreasing, but S and Cu are increasing in the order of the HAOM-A, HAOM-B, HAOM-C, and HAOM-D. The losing rate of sulfur in organic matter is 0.35% and the content of Fe taken from the low-temperature hydrothermal fluids into the organic matter is 0.794% during the siliceous low-temperature hydrothermal fluids invading the coal seam. The above facts indicate that the low-temperature hydrothermal fluids play a crucial role in the re-distributions and occurrences of associated elements in coal.

Activity of Silica-Rich Hydrothermal Fluid and Its Impact on Deep Dolomite Reservoirs in the Sichuan Basin, Southern China

Well-developed dissolution pores occur in the dolomites of the Sinian Dengying Formation, which is an important oil and gas reservoir layer in the Sichuan Basin and adjacent areas in southern China. The pores are often filled with quartz, and some dolomites have been metasomatically altered to siliceous chert. Few studies have documented the characteristics, source or origin of silica-rich fluids and their effects on the dolomite reservoir. The peak homogenisation temperatures （Th） of fluid inclusions in pore-filling quartz are between 150~C and 190~C, with an average of 173.7~C. Gases in the inclusions are mainly composed of CO2, CH4 and N2. Compared with host dolomite, pore-filling quartz and metasomatic chert contain higher amounts of Cr, Co, Mo, W and Fe, with average concentrations of 461.58, 3.99, 5.05, 31.43 and 6666.83 ppm in quartz and 308.98, 0.99, 1.04, 13.81 and 4703.50 ppm in chert, respectively. Strontium levels are lower than that in the host dolomite, with average concentrations in quartz and chert of 4.81 and 11.06 ppm, respectively. Rare earth element compositions in quartz and chert display positive Eu anomalies with a maximum δEu of 5.72. The δDsMow values of hydrogen isotopes in water from quartz inclusions vary from -85.1‰ to -53.1‰ with an average of-64.3‰, whereas the δ18OsMow values range from 7.2‰ to 8.5‰ with an average of 8.2‰. The average 87Sr/86Sr ratios in quartz and chert are 0.711586 and 0.709917, respectively, which are higher than that in the host dolomite. The fluid inclusions, elemental and isotopic compositions demonstrate that the formation of quartz and chert was related to silica-rich hydrothermal fluid and that the fluid was the deep circulation of meteoric water along basement faults. Interactions with silica-rich hydrothermal fluids resulted in densification of dolomite reservoirs in the Dengying Formation through quartz precipitation and siliceous metasomatism. However, it increased the resistance of the host dolomite to compaction, improving the ability to maintain reservoir spaces during deep burial. Evidence for silica-rich hydrothermal activity is common in the Yangtze Platform and Tarim Basin and its influence on deep dolomite reservoirs should be thoroughly considered.

Strontium Isotope Compositions of Hydrothermal Barite from the Yonaguni Ⅳ: Insight into Fluid/Sediment Interaction and Barite Crystallization Condition

Hydrothermal barite is a typical low-temperature mineral formed during the mixing of hydrothermal fluid and seawater.Because of its extremely low solubility,barite behaves as a close system after crystallization and preserves the geochemical fingerprint of hydrothermal fluid.In this study,the elemental contents and Sr isotope compositions of hydrothermal barites from the Yonaguni IV were determined using electron microprobe and LA-MC-ICP-MS respectively.On these bases,the fluid/sediment interaction during the hydrothermal circulation and physicochemical condition of barite crystallization were discussed.Results show that the 87 Sr/86 Sr values of hydrothermal barites from the Yonaguni IV are apparently higher than those of the seawater and associated volcanic rocks,indicating the sufficient interaction between the hydrothermal fluid and overlying sediment.Monomineral Sr abundance shows large variations,reflecting the changes in barite growth rate during the fluid mixing.The mineralization condition in the Yonaguni IV was unstable.During the crystallization of barite,hydrothermal fluid and seawater mixed in varying degrees,with the pro-portions of hydrothermal fluid varied from 36%to 72%.The calculated crystallization temperatures range from 109 to 220℃.Sediment plays a critical role during the mineralization process in the Yonaguni IV and incorporation of sediment component into hydrothermal system was prior to barite crystallization and sulfide mineralization.

Tectonic Dynamic Metallization of Silver-GoldHydrothermal Fluids in Proterozoic GneissTerrene Shear Zones, Suichang, Zhejiang, China

The Suichang mine is the largest silicified vein-type silver-gold mineralization system in Southeast China, whose ore bodies are controlled by shear zones developing in Lower Proterozoic gneiss terrene with initial migmatization, which is covered by Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous volcanic rock system and cut by acidic igneous veins of Jurassic and Cretaceous. The conclusions are as follows: (1) The ore-forming fluid is defined as superhigh tectonic-metamorphic fluid on the base of : 1 (D)-(18O) values 2 fluid inclusions;3 trace elements of pyrite from ores. (2) The shear zone silicified orebod-ies occurred in proterozoic, Jurassic and Cretaceous, which have been transforms in part by ore-bearing comb quartz vein of volcanism.

Influence on lacustrine source rock by hydrothermal fluid： a case study of the Chang 7 oil shale, southern Ordos Basin

Hydrothermal fluid activity during sedimentation of the Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin and the impact of said activity on formation and preservation conditions of source rocks have received little attention. Oil yield, major element, trace element, rare earth element, and total sulfur(TS) data from the oil shale within the Yanchang are here presented and discussed in the context of hydrothermal influence. Oil shale samples returned relatively high total organic carbon(TOC), in the range of 4.69%–25.48%. A high correlation between TS and TOC suggests TS in the oil shale is dominated by organic sulfur and affected by organic matter. The low Al/Si ratio of oil shale samples implies quartz is a major mineralogical component. Si/(Si + Al + Fe) values suggest close proximity of the oil shale to a terrigenous source.d Eu; Fe versus Mn versus(Cu + Co + Ni) 9 10; and Si O2/(K2 O + Na2 O) versus Mn O/Ti O2, Fe/Ti, and(Fe + Mn)/Ti are evidence of hydrothermal fluid activity during oil shale sedimentation, and d U and U/Th of the oil shale indicate reducing conditions. The Sr/Ba of oil shale samples suggests fresh-water deposition. The high correlations of Fe/Ti and(Fe + Mn)/Ti with d U, U/Th, and TS demonstrate that hydrothermal fluid activity promotes reducing conditions. Sr/Ba ratios had low correlation with Fe/Ti and(Fe + Mn)/Ti, implying that hydrothermal fluid activity had little impact on paleosalinity. Fe/Ti,(Fe + Mn)/Ti, d U, U/Th, and Cu + Pb + Zn all exhibitedhigh positive correlation coefficients with TOC in oil shale samples, suggesting that more intense hydrothermal fluid activity improves conditions in favor of formation and preservation of organic matter.

Hydrothermal fluid circulation in anisotropic permeable media associated with discrete fractures

A proper form of the Rayleigh number, containing the geometric mean of the vertical and horizontal permeabilities was obtained. The critical value for the onset of stable convection was found. The results proved analytically and numerically that anisotropy in permeability resists the initiation of hydrothermal convection. The equivalence between homogeneously anisotropic media and multiply fractured media was also investigated. It was confirmed that multiply fractured models are comparable to anisotropic models as long as they have the same averaged horizontal or vertical permeabilities and other physical parameters.

Onset and Stability of Thermally-Driven Fluid Convection in a Vertical Rock Crack and Their Implication for Hydrothermal Ore-Forming Processes

Dynamic equations controlling the thermally-driven fluid convection in a single rock crack are established in the paper . The critical criteria for the onset of convection in such a configuration are found by linear dynamic analysis of the equations and the stability of the convection discussed by nonlinear analysis method . The research demonstrates that the critical Rayleigh number has a magnitude 103. While the Rayleigh number R of real ore-forming fluids exceeds this value , the convection happens , and as R becomes larger , the fluid convection pattern develops from nonequilibrium steady states to double-periodically produced limit cycles and eventually to chaos (turbulences ).The implication of these dynamic analyses for the ore-forming processes of late-magma tic hydrothermal deposits is also discussed in the paper .

A Method for Detection of Trace Concentrations of Underivatized Amino Acid in Hydrothermal Fluids by Ion-Pairing Reversed-Phase UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS

Investigation of amino acids in hydrothermal systems is of prime importance for the understanding of geochemistry and microbiology of hydrothermal vents and plumes, for carbon and metals global cycles, for metabolism of some hydrothermal microorganisms and for the origin of life issue. Extensive theoretical and experimental work on amino acids behaviour in hydrothermal fluids has been done, conversely only few data exist on natural samples. Because each hydrothermal vent is unique, the more data we collect the better we will be able to address each of these questions. Usually amino acids in hydrothermal fluids have been measured by HPLC-FLD. The chromatographic separation was at least 26 min and up to 135 min and the required derivatization step may be time consuming, may use harmful chemicals and may be source of contamination. Alternatively, we describe here a method combining quickness (4.5 min), high resolution (10,000), very low LOD (sub-ppb) and without derivatization. Characterisation and separation of 10 relevant proteinogenic underivatized amino acids was achieved by ion-pairing reversed-phase Ultra-high Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionisation-Quadrupole Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS). Excellent linearity in the response was obtained for all amino acids with correlation coefficients > 0.9921. This method was successfully applied to natural hydrothermal fluid samples from ultramafic-hosted vents of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge region. Results are consistent with the only 2 other studies published on ultramafic-hosted vents and complete the few available data.

A molecular simulation study of Cs-Cl and Cs-F ion pairs in hydrothermal fluids

Magmatic-hydrothermal processes play an important role in the transport, enrichment, and mineralization of cesium. In this study, classical molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the properties of Cs-Cl and Cs-F ion pairs in hydrothermal fluids. The association constants(log_(10)K_(A)(m)) under a wide range of temperature(i.e. 298–1273 K) and fluid density(i.e. 0.1–1.0 g/cm^(3)) were derived from the potential of mean force(PMF) curves. The results indicate that CsCl and Cs-F ion pairs have similar stabilities. This is different from other alkali metal cations(e.g., Li^(+), Na^(+), and K^(+)), which prefer binding with F over Cl. The stabilities of Cs-Cl and Cs-F ion pairs increase with increasing temperature(except for the fluid density ≤ 0.1 g/cm^(3)) or decreasing fluid density, which is similar to other alkali halide ion pairs. Comparisons among the stabilities of CsCl/F and other alkali halide ion pairs indicate that the Li–F ion pair has the highest stability in hydrothermal fluids.

GEOTHERMAL FLUID MINERALIZATION──A NEW HYDROTHERMAL MINERALIZATION MODEL

In hydrothermal mineralization regime, there should be some other models besideS the commonly accepted traditional magmatic and metamorphic hydrothermal ones. The authors suggest a new model named as geothermal nuid mineralization and believe it is an important and distinguishable hydrotherma1 mineralization model. The discussions are focused on several aspects of the new model in its distinguishing features in essential factors of hydrothermal mineralization, essential metallogenic conditions, common metallogenic characteristics, general mineralization process,geotectonic control and metallogenic importance.

Magmatic hydrothermal fluid genesis of zeolite in the Paleogene Kongdian Formation of Zaoyuan oilfield,Bohai Bay Basin,China

Electronic probe,fluid inclusion homogenization temperature,Raman spectroscopy and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were utilized to identify the hydrothermal fluid-rock interactions in the second member of the Paleogene Kongdian Formation of Zaoyuan oilfield in Bohai Bay Basin(Kong 2 Member for short)of Well Z56 to find out the relationship between zeolite and hydrothermal fluid.The experimental results show that:(1)Pyrobitumen coexists with hydrothermal fluid characteristic minerals such as chlorite,barite,chalcopyrite,pyrite,natrolite and analcime in mudstone fractures.(2)The temperatures calculated from laser Raman spectrum of pyrobitumen,from the chlorite geothermometer and from measured homogenization temperature of natrolite inclusions are 324-354℃,124-166℃ and 89-196℃,respectively;although vary widely,all the temperatures are obviously higher than the normal geothermal temperature.(3)The positive Eu anomaly of chlorite and barite,and the similar distribution pattern in rare earth elements between natrolite and basalt indicate they are from magmatic hydrothermal fluid.Moreover,drilling data shows that the Kong 2 Member in Well Z56 has several sets of basalt interlayers,suggesting there was geologic base of magmatic hydrothermal fluid activity.The magmatic hydrothermal fluid-rock interaction may be one of the reasons for the abnormal enrichment of zeolite in Kong 2 Member of the Cangdong Sag.

Geochemistry of hydrothermal gold deposits:A review

Mineral assemblages formed during hydrothermal alteration reflect the geochemical composition of ore-forming fluids. Gold is mainly transported in solution as Au-CI and Au-S complexes. The change of physicochemical conditions such as temperature, pressure, oxygen fugacity, and sulfur fugacity are effective mechanisms for gold precipitation. Gold tends to be concentrated in the vapor phase of fluids at high temperatures and pressures. Au-As and Au-Sb associations are common in gold deposit. Native antimony and/or arsenic -- native gold assemblages may precipitate from hydrothermal fluids with low sulfur fugacity. Hydrothermal fluids forming epithermal gold deposits are Au-saturated in most cases, whereas fluids of Carlin-type are Au-undersaturated. Quasi-steady As-bearing pyrite extracts solid solution Au from hydrothermal fluids through absorption. The capability of As-bearing pyrite to absorb An from under-saturated fluid is the key to the formation of large-scale Carlin-type deposits. With increasing new data, studies on the geochemistry of gold deposits can be used to trace the origin of ore-forming fluids, the source of gold, and the transporting form of Au and other ore-forming elements, such as Si, S, F, Cl, As and Ag.

Major and trace element composition of surface sediments from the Southwest Indian Ridge:evidence for the incorporation of a hydrothermal component

Hydrothermal materials in deep-sea sediments provide a robust tracer to the localized hydrothermal activity at mid-ocean ridges. Major, trace and rare earth element（REE） data for surface sediments collected from the ultraslow spreading Southwest Indian Ridge are presented to examine the existence of hydrothermal component.Biogenic carbonate oozes dominate all the sediment samples, with CaO content varying from 85.5% to 89.9% on a volatile-free basis. The leaching residue of bulk sediments by ~5% HCl is compositionally comparable to the Upper Continental Crust（UCC） in SiO_2, Al_2O_3, CaO, MgO, alkali elements（Rb, Cs） and high field strength elements（Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, Ti）. These detritus-hosted elements are inferred to be prominently derived from the Australian continent by means of eolian dust, while the contribution of local volcaniclastics is insignificant. In addition, the residual fraction shows a clear enrichment in Fe, Mn, and Ba compared with the UCC. Combining the positive Eu anomaly of residual fraction which is opposed to the UCC but the characteristic of hydrothermal fluids and associated precipitates occurred at mid-ocean ridges, the incorporation of localized hydrothermal component can be constrained. REE mixing calculations indicate that more than half REE within the residual fraction（~55%–60%） are derived from a hydrothermal component, which is inferred to be resulted from a diffuse fluid mineralization. The low-temperature diffuse flow may be widely distributed along the slow-ultraslow spreading ridges where crustal faults and fissures abound, and probably have a great mineralization potential.

Discovery of Early Tertiary Hydrothermal Activity and Its Significance in Oil/Gas Geology, Dongpu Depression, Henan Province, China

Data from the super-deep wells (PS10, PS14 and YS1) led to the discovery of widespread metal-bearing hydrothermal fluids (or hot brines ) related to basic magrmas in the Lower Tertiary clastic sequence in the Dongpu Depression. In terms of SEM and EDAX analyses, pore-casting thin asction examination of sandstone, the composition and forming temperature of fluld inclusions, the trace element composition of mudstone and kerogen and organic geochemical analyses, it is demonstrated that the hydrothermal fluids ekisting in the area studied are ejecting fluids, which have a close bearing on diagenesis and edimentation, rather than intrusive veins along the tectonic fractures.The main indicators of hydrothermal activity are: (1 ) abnormal alteration of kerogen, (2)high-temperature alteted mineral assemblage; (3) abnormal distribution of hydrocarbons; (4) specific assemblages and abnormal contents of heavy metals in mudstone and kerogen; (5) specific composition of complex compounds and assemblages of fluid inclusions in sandstone: (6) periodic basaltic magma activity.Results of geological observations and laboratory simuating experiments demonstrated that the hydrothermal fluids have a close bearing on hydrocarbon generation in the Dongpu Depression. Two aspects of the effect of hydrothermal fluids are noticed: hydrothermal hydrocarbon production and strong metal catalysis in oil and gas generation.

Major Factors Controlling Calcite Dissolution in Hydrothermal Karst Systems

To find out major factors controlling the dissolution of calcite in hydrothermal systems, equations describing the relationship between Ca2+ concentration at equilibrium and partial pressure p (CO2) are deduced for different thermodynamic conditions. The calculation results show that the intensity of calcite dissolution increases with the increase of p(CO2), temperatures around 363 K are the most favorable ambient temperature for hydrothermal karst development, and that the volume ratio of CO2 gas over water and the mass fraction of foreign ions also have some efrects on calcite dissolution.

Magmatic-Hydrothermal Superlarge Metallogenic Systems——A Case Study of the Nannihu Ore Field

Located in the Qinling （秦岭） molybdenum metallogenic belt on the southern margin of North China craton, the Nannihu （南泥湖） molybdenum （-tungsten） ore field, consisting of the Nannihu, Sandaozhuang （三道幢）, and Shangfang （上房） deposits, represents a superlarge skarn-porphyry molybdenum （-tungsten） accumulation. Outside the ore field, there are some hydrothermal lead-zinc-silver deposits found in recent years, for example, the Lengshuibeigou （冷水北沟）, Yindonggou （银涧沟）, Yangshuwa （杨树凹）, and Yinhegou （银河沟） deposits. Ore-forming fluid geochemistry indicates that these deposits belong to the same metallogenic system. The hydrothermal solutions were mainly derived from primary magmatic water in the early stage and from the mixture of the primary magmatic water and meteoric water in the later stage, with an obvious decreasing tendency in temperature, salinity and gas-liquid ratio of fluid inclusions. Sulfur and lead isotope data show that the ore-forming substances and related porphyries were mainly derived from the lower crust, and a hidden magmatic chamber is indicated by aeromagnetic anomaly and drill hole data indicate that the Nannihu granite body extends to being larger and larger with depth increasing. The large-scale mineralization was the consequence of lithospheric extension during the late stage of the tectonic regime when the main compressional stress changed from NS-trending to EW-trending.

Mineral Components, Texture, and Forming Conditions of Hydrothermal Chimney on the East Pacific Rise at 9°-10°N

To characterize the hydrothermal processes of East Pacific rise at 9°-10°N, sulfide mineral compositions, textural, and geochemical features of chimney ores were studied using ore microscope,scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction analysis, and electron microprobe techniques. Results show that there are three mineral assemblages for the hydrothermal chimney ores, namely：（i） anhydrite ＋ marcasite ＋ pyrite, （ii） pyrite ＋ sphalerite ＋ chalcopyrite, and （iii） chalcopyrite ＋ bornite ＋ digenite ＋ covellite. Mineral assemblages, zonational features, and geochemical characteristics of the ore minerals indicate that ore fluid temperature changed from low to high then to low with a maximum temperature up to 400 ℃. The chimney is a typical black smoker. The initial structure of the chimney was formed by the precipitation of anhydrites, and later the sulfides began to precipitate in the inner wall.

Double Convective Hydrothermal System beneath Massive Sulfide Orebody in Gacun Deposit,Southwestern China

The Gacun Kuroko-type deposit, Southwestern China, is hosted in rhyolitic rocks associated with the underlying mafic rocks occurred in the - 1000 m deep fault - bounded basin within the intra -arc rifting zone which formed on the Triassic Yidun island - arc. Two vertically separated alteration systems are recognized: one is conformable or semiconformable alteration zone developed in - 150 m thick mafic unit 1-1.5 km below the massive sulfide ore body; the other is discordant alteration pipe directly surrounded around stockwork ore within rhyolitic unit. The lower conformable alteration zone extending for several kilometers along strike is characterized by silicification and epidotization which result in the development of quartz vein and quartz-epidote vein systems in mafic lava flows and replacement of primary minerals and groundmass in spilitized mafic volcanics and dikes by quartz, epidote - group minerals and sodic plagioclase. Sulfides often occur in the vein system and altered mafic volcanics. Quartz solubility relation indicates that silicification is a consequence of interaction of Si- saturated fluids with mafic rocks in a higher temperature system (T>340℃), intensifying by intrusion of mafic dike or high-level acidic magma chamber. The alteration pipe of diameter about 2 km shows a similar mineralogical zoning to Kuroko deposits of Japan. The sequence is quartz + hyalophane; sericite + chlorite + quartz and zeolite-like zones from core to margins of the pipe. The chlorite core only occurs in the root part of the alteration pipe and downwards transfers into epidote - chlorite and epidote - quartz vein swarm extending 500 m downwards. The felsic rocks away from the orebody and alteration pipe took place district-scale alteration, which has typical low-temperature mineral association: illite + albite + quartz + calcite. Whole -rock and quartz δ18O values indicate that district - scale alteration is a result of interaction of seawater with rocks at lower temperature (T<200℃)under water-dominated condition. However, the altered rocks from the pipe show remarkably δ18O enrichment, and bulk -rock δ18O values decreased gradually toward stockwork orebody from 15.1‰-l5. 75‰ in zeolite-like zone and 12. 05‰-14. 2‰ in sericite - quartz zone to 11.3 ‰ - 14. 4‰ in quartz - hyalophane zone. The filled temperatures of fluid inclusions in quartz and sphalerite lie in the ranges of 280 -320 ℃ for quartz - hyalophane zone and 250 ℃ to 297 ℃ for sericite-quartz zone. The estimated δ18O values of hydrothermal fluids are 7. 98‰ and3.2‰, respectively, based on quartz δ18O data in the deposit. The lower conformable alteration is considered to be approximately coeval with the alteration pipe, based on the SiO2 concentration in the fluids, which restrict the main fluid - rock reaction zone to be located in mafic horizon by quartz barometer, and metal element flux calculation and sulfide - epidote vein system developed both in alteration systems. High - salinity fluid inclusions in gangue quartz (>8% eq. NaCl) from stockwork ore and in quartz phenocryst (>40% eq. NaCl) in footwall rhyolite strongly suggest the existence of hot-saline brine to react with mafic complex and leach metal components, which probably originates mainly from magmatic fluid derived from high-level acidic magma chamber. The brine layer located in mafic unit possibly heats and drives the overlying single -pass convective seawater reacting with felsic rocks. The 'density window' may be expected to occur on the interface between seawater and brine layer, when the brine becomes to be gravitationally instability by the turbulent entrainment of seawater during magmatic and/or tectonic activities. The sulfide mineralization and alteration pipe is inter preted as an effect of the 'density window' through which the mixed fluids of brine with seawater adiabatically discharges upwards.

Petrographic Studies on Hydrothermally Altered Conglomerates at Naer Creek, Sichuan Province, China

Based on analysing the wall rock alterations and related rocks which were used as a hint for mineral deposits and as a basis of mechanism research of fluid rock interaction, according to the results of petrographic analysis, the authors of this paper consider that the hydrothermally altered conglomerates have the following features. First, the conglomerates studied can be divided into two groups: Group A consists mainly of the gravels of granite and basalt; Group B is mainly composed of the gravels of basalt, limestone, mudstone and granite. Second, three distinct hydrothermal alterations or diagenesis were distinguished in Group A, that is, pre depositional hydrothermal alteration of the volcanic gravels (saussuritzation chloritization, epidotization chloritization, albitization and sericitization), mechanical diagenesis and post diagenetic hydrothermal alteration (epidote chlorite and prehnite calcite association). Third, the Group B is subjected mainly to pre depositional hydrothermal alteration; the alteration types are the same as of Type A. Last, the origin of the post diagenetic hydrothermal alteration of Group A is presumed to be related to the ascending of thermal water along the Naer Creek fault.