Dashuigou Tellurium Deposit in Sichuan Province, China: S, C, O, and H Isotope Data and Their Implications on Hydrothermal Mineralization

Abstract

Abstract: Dashuigou, a unique tellurium‐dominated deposit over the world, is located in the western margin of the Yangtze cra‐ton in southwestern China. It is characterized by high‐grade tellurium accompanied by bismuth, gold, silver, and sulfur, and occurs in the area of less than one km 2 . The mineralization is divided into three stages, i.e. (1) tellurium‐bearing pyrrhotite–pyrite stage, (2) tetradymite stage, and (3) auriferous quartz veins stage. Tellurium mineralization coexisting with bismuth, silver, selenium, and gold predominantly develops in the stage 2, while the stage 1 is enriched only in sulfur and iron, and the stage 3 is very weakly mineralized with gold. The δ 34 S values of sulfides in the ore of the deposit vary in a narrow range of –3.1 ‐ +2.8 per mil with –3.1 ‐ +2.8 per mil for the stage 1 and –0.5 ‐ +2.1 for the stage 2, showing the isotopic characteristics of mantle derived sulfur. The δ 13 C values of vein dolomites vary from –5.3 to –7.2 per mil, with –5.3 ‐ –6.6 per mil for the stage 1 and –5.3 ‐ –7.2 per mil for the stage 2, which are significantly different from those of surrounding Triassic marble with δ 13 C values of –0.3 ‐ +2.8 per mil, and show characteristics of mantle derived carbon. The δ 18 O values of vein dolomites range from +10.2 to +13.1 per mil, which are higher than those of carbonatite, but lower than those of the marble. Their corresponding δ 18 O water values are +0.6 ‐ +3.9 per mil, with +2.7 ‐ +3.8 per mil for the stage 1 and +0.6 ‐ +3.9 per mil for the stage 2. The data implies that these vein carbonates were formed by the mixing fluids of magmatic or mantle source with meteoric or formation water. The δ 18 O values of ore‐forming fluids responsible for the formation of vein quartz are estimated to be +3.2 to +6.8, the δD values of inclusion fluids of the quartz are measured to be –54 to –82 per mil. All those stable isotopic data suggest the involvement of the fluids from mantle and/or mantle‐derived magmas through fault system in the forming process of the Dashuigou tellurium deposit.