Origin and growth of fissure minerals: fluid-mineral interaction and implications for the (Alpine) metamorphism and ore mineralization

SNF Projects

These projects are aimed at both complementing the existing knowledge on oxygen isotope fractionation and trace element incorporation into minerals formed at geologically "low" temperatures in a natural context of Alpine-type veins and link the interpretation of mineral-mineral fractionations and zonation to the retrograde path of the regional metamorphism as well as the active fluid flow in the upper-crust. The studies focus on late extension veins from the non-metamorphic diagenetic zones of regional metamorphism (for example the Molasse plateau) to the high-grade epizone and mesozone of metamorphism. In contrast to some previous studies, the approach focuses on choosing veins with coexisting minerals such as quartz, albite, chlorite, and orthoclase and to conduct parallel in-situ (ion-probe and laser-ablation) and some bulk analysis of the isotope and trace element compositions of vein and matrix wall rock minerals, as well as their included fluids and crystallographic properties, so as to characterize their conditions of formation within the metamorphic context. The goal is to characterize a possible evolution of the fluid-mineral equilibrium for the crystals and to understand the crystallization mechanisms controlling the conditions of formation. 

Quartz

 

Participants: Eric May, Brice Lacroix (former post-doc), Nicolas Meisser, Benita Putlitz, Torsten Vennemann

 

Typical recent publications
Figueiredo E Silva R. C., Hagemann S., Lobato L. M., Alberto C., Banks D. A., Davidson G.J. Vennemann T., Hergt J. (2013). Hydrothermal fluid processes and evolution of the giant Serra Norte jaspilite-hosted iron ore deposit, Carajas Mineral Province, Brazil. Economic Geology, v. 108, 739-779.
Jourdan A.-L., Vennemann T.W., Mullis, J. Ramseyer K. and Spiers C.J, (2009). Evidence of growth and sector zoning in hydrothermal quartz from Alpine veins. European Journal of Mineralogy, V. 21, p. 219-231.
Jourdan A.-L., Vennemann T.W., Mullis J., and Ramseyer K., 2009. Oxygen Isotope Sector Zoning in Natural Hydrothermal Quartz. Mineral. Mag. 73, 615-632.
Lacroix, B., Charpentier, D., Buatier, M, Vennemann, T., Labaume, P., Adatte, T., Travé, A., and Dubois, M., (2012). Formation of chlorite during thrust fault reactivation. Record of fluid origin and P-T conditions in the Monte Perdido thrust fault (southern Pyrenees). Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, V. 166, p. 1083-1102
Lacroix B., Travé A., Buatier M., Labaume P., Vennemann T., and Dubois M. (2014). Syntectonic fluid-flow along thrust faults: Example of the South-Pyrenean fold-and-thrust belt. Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 49, 84-98.
May E., Vennemann T., and Meisser N. Geochemical study of mineral paragenesis from Alpine-type veins in the western Swiss Alps, 10th Swiss Geoscience Meeting, Bern, 2012.
Rogers A.J., Kolb J., Meyer F.M., and Vennemann T., (2013). Two stages of gold mineralization at Hutti mine, India. Mineralium Deposita, V. 48, 99-114.