The flux of gold and related metals through a volcanic arc, Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand

Abstract

Research Article| December 01, 2007 The flux of gold and related metals through a volcanic arc, Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand Stuart F. Simmons; Stuart F. Simmons 1School of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kevin L. Brown Kevin L. Brown 2GEOKEM, P.O. Box 95-210, Swanson, Waitakere 0653, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Stuart F. Simmons 1School of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand Kevin L. Brown 2GEOKEM, P.O. Box 95-210, Swanson, Waitakere 0653, New Zealand Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 25 Apr 2007 Revision Received: 25 Jul 2007 Accepted: 27 Jul 2007 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 The Geological Society of America, Inc. Geology (2007) 35 (12): 1099–1102. https://doi.org/10.1130/G24022A.1 Article history Received: 25 Apr 2007 Revision Received: 25 Jul 2007 Accepted: 27 Jul 2007 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Stuart F. Simmons, Kevin L. Brown; The flux of gold and related metals through a volcanic arc, Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. Geology 2007;; 35 (12): 1099–1102. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G24022A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract We determined the concentrations of gold, silver, arsenic, antimony, and mercury in deep hydrothermal solutions (∼1 km depth, 200 to >300 °C) from six geothermal systems and calculated their fluxes for a 250-km-long segment of volcanic arc in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. The three orders of variation in the concentrations (<0.1–23 ppb Au; 2.7–2400 ppb Ag) and fluxes of precious metals across the arc indicate that the supply of metals in deep hydrothermal solutions is influenced by the intrusion of andesitic and basaltic magmas, which also govern the convective heat transfer and flux of metals. Two of the geothermal systems, Rotokawa and Mokai, have the highest hydrothermal fluxes of gold and/or silver known, and can supply enough metal in ∼50,000 yr or less to match the inventories of the largest hydrothermal ore deposits in the world; although, so far, no ore mineralization has been found in these systems. If the huge amounts of hydrothermal precious metals (minimum values range 80–163 kg Au/yr and 6800–13,850 kg Ag/yr) that flow through the Taupo Volcanic Zone are representative of all arcs throughout time, then focused fluid flow and efficient metal deposition are the most important processes governing the formation of gold and silver ore deposits. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.