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Origin of Zn-Pb-Sb-Au mineralization adjacent to the Paleoproterozoic Boliden Au-rich VMS deposit, Sweden: evidence from petrographic and oxygen isotope characteristics

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Abstract

Adjacent to the world-class Boliden deposit, fine- to coarse-grained Zn-Pb-Sb-Au-rich sulfide-sulfosalt-bearing horizons occur within the base of a metasedimentary succession that has previously been regarded to stratigraphically overlie the Skellefte Volcanics and Boliden deposit. The metasedimentary succession comprises interbedded mudstone and normal-graded crystal-rich volcanic sandstone-siltstone units, interpreted to be low-density turbidity currents in a subaqueous environment below wave base. The sharp contact between the mineralized intervals and volcanic sandstone is concordant to the bedding planes and compaction foliation. Above and below the mineralization, the wall rocks contain well-preserved plagioclase crystals, partly enclosed by a weak alteration composed of bedding-parallel metamorphic biotite±sericite minerals. These observations are consistent with burial (or tectonic) compaction and diagenetic alteration that was overprinted by metamorphic biotite. The occurrence of biotite in the wall rocks and homogenization recrystallization of the sulfide-sulfosalt assemblage in the mineralized intervals are consistent with peak metamorphic conditions (~ 350–450 °C, < 4 kbars) in the Boliden area. However, preservation of plagioclase and water-rock interaction under rock-dominant conditions suggest that high δ18O values (+ 10.7 to + 13.5‰) acquired during diagenesis were unchanged by the metamorphic overprint. The δ18O values yield low temperatures (< 150 °C), which indicate pre-metamorphic conditions. These data suggest that the Zn-Pb-Sb-Au-rich intervals formed as pre-metamorphic distal syn-volcanic exhalative mineralization during sedimentation of the Vargfors group metasedimentary rocks. This implies that massive sulfide formation continued even during Vargfors group time and, therefore, there is still potential for discovery of gold-rich base-metal ores in this part of the Skellefte field stratigraphy.

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Acknowledgements

A research fellowship from the Akita University New Frontier Leaders for Rare-Metals and Resources program (Leading Program) to the first author is deeply appreciated. Management and staff of the Boliden company are sincerely thanked for access to the drill cores and permission to publish the results. Our gratitude goes to Prof. Emeritus O. Matsubaya for his assistance during the oxygen isotope analyses. Dr. Mercier-Langevin of the Geological Survey of Canada is greatly acknowledged for his comments that improved the initial draft. Sincere thanks to the Associate Editor and an anonymous reviewer for detailed and constructive comments that significantly improved the manuscript.

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  1. Graduate School of International Resource Sciences, Akita University, 1-1 Tegata-gakuen machi, Akita, 010-8502, Japan

    Kofi Adomako-Ansah & Daizo Ishiyama

  2. Boliden Mineral, Exploration Department, 776 98, Garpenberg, Sweden

    Rodney Allen

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  1. Kofi Adomako-Ansah
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  2. Daizo Ishiyama
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Correspondence to Kofi Adomako-Ansah.

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Adomako-Ansah, K., Ishiyama, D. & Allen, R. Origin of Zn-Pb-Sb-Au mineralization adjacent to the Paleoproterozoic Boliden Au-rich VMS deposit, Sweden: evidence from petrographic and oxygen isotope characteristics. Miner Deposita 53, 683–700 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-017-0765-1

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