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Direct evidence of fluid mixing in the formation of stratabound Pb–Zn–Ba–F mineralisation in the Alston Block, North Pennine Orefield (England)

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Abstract

The North Pennine Orefield Alston Block has produced approximately 4 Mt Pb, 0.3 Mt Zn, 2.1 Mt fluorite, 1.5 Mt barite, 1 Mt witherite, plus a substantial amount of iron ore and copper ore from predominantly vein-hosted mineralisation in Carboniferous limestones. However, a significant proportion of this production (ca. 20%) came from stratabound deposits. Though much is known about the vein mineralisation, the relationship between the veins and the stratabound mineralisation is not well-understood. New petrographic, isotopic and fluid inclusion data derived from samples of stratabound mineralisation allow us to present a unified model that addresses the genesis of both the vein and stratabound styles of mineralisation. The mineralisation can be considered in terms of three episodes:

  1. 1.

    Dolomitisation and ankeritisation Limestones in the vicinity of the stratabound mineralisation were pervasively dolomitised/ankeritised, and developed vuggy porosity in the presence of a high-salinity brine consistent with fluids derived from adjacent mud and shale-filled basins.

  2. 2.

    Main stage fluorite–quartz–sulphide mineralisation Metasomatism of limestone was accompanied by brecciation, dissolution and hydrothermal karstification with modification of the existing pore system. The open space was filled with fluorite, galena, sphalerite, quartz and barite, formed in response to mixing of low-salinity sodic groundwater with high-salinity calcic brine with elevated metal contents (particularly Fe up to 7,000 ppm) relative to “normal” high total dissolved solids sedimentary brines.

  3. 3.

    Late-stage barite mineralisation paragenetically appears to represent either the waning stages or the distal portions of the main hydrothermal circulation system under cooler conditions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank numerous colleagues who have provided valuable technical support throughout this study. David Banks and Linda Berry, University of Leeds, are thanked for assistance given to TJS during the laser ablation fluid inclusion microchemical analyses. We also wish to thank the reviewers Volker Leuders and Bernd Lehman for constructive reviews, which helped clarify the focus of this paper. Publication for JEB, JN, AB, JAM and BY is by permission of the Directory, British Geological Survey, NERC.

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Author notes

  1. Brian Young

    Present address: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Durham, Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. British Geological Survey, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Nicker Hill, Keyworth, NG12 5GG, Nottingham, UK

    Jon E. Bouch, Jonathan Naden, John A. McKervey & Antony J. Benham

  2. School of Earth Sciences, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, Leeds, UK

    Thomas J. Shepherd

  3. British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, EH9 3LA, Edinburgh, UK

    Brian Young

  4. Natural Environment Research Council Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Nicker Hill, Keyworth, NG12 5GG, Nottingham, UK

    Hilary J. Sloane

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  1. Jon E. Bouch
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  2. Jonathan Naden
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  3. Thomas J. Shepherd
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  4. John A. McKervey
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Correspondence to Jon E. Bouch.

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Editorial handling: B. Lehmann

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Bouch, J.E., Naden, J., Shepherd, T.J. et al. Direct evidence of fluid mixing in the formation of stratabound Pb–Zn–Ba–F mineralisation in the Alston Block, North Pennine Orefield (England). Miner Deposita 41, 821–835 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-006-0093-3

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