Effects of temperature, sulfur, and oxygen fugacity on the composition of sphalerite from submarine hydrothermal vents

Keith M, Haase K, Schwarz-Schampera U, Klemd R, Petersen S, Bach W (2014)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2014

Journal

Geology Geological Society of America

Publisher: Geological Society of America

Book Volume: 42

Pages Range: 699-702

DOI: 10.1130/G35655.1

Abstract

Experimental studies have shown that temperature, pressure, sulfur fugacity (fS2), and oxygen fugacity (fO2) influence the Fe content of sphalerite. We present compositional in situ data on sphalerite from submarine volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) ores of hydrothermal vents from different plate tectonic settings and with variable host-rock compositions. Sphalerite from sediment-hosted vents has systematically higher S contents and Fe/Zn ratios than those of the sediment-starved vents, reflecting an influence of fS2 and fO2 on Fe partitioning between fluid and sphalerite. The Fe/Zn ratios of sphalerite from sediment-starved vent systems apparently increase systematically with the fluid temperatures of the corresponding vents. We conclude that the composition of sphalerite can be used to (1) distinguish between sediment-hosted and sediment-starved hydrothermal processes, and (2) estimate minimum fluid temperatures of sphalerite precipitation from inactive sediment-starved hydrothermal vent sites and fossil VHMS deposits. © 2014 Geological Society of America.

Authors with CRIS profile

Manuel Keith Lehrstuhl für Endogene Geodynamik Karsten Haase Lehrstuhl für Endogene Geodynamik Reiner Klemd Professur für Geochemie von Lagerstätten

Related research project(s)

Trace element analysis in pyrite Sept. 1, 2012 - Sept. 30, 2013

Involved external institutions

Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR) DE Germany (DE) GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel DE Germany (DE) Universität Bremen DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Keith, M., Haase, K., Schwarz-Schampera, U., Klemd, R., Petersen, S., & Bach, W. (2014). Effects of temperature, sulfur, and oxygen fugacity on the composition of sphalerite from submarine hydrothermal vents. Geology, 42, 699-702. https://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G35655.1

MLA:

Keith, Manuel, et al. "Effects of temperature, sulfur, and oxygen fugacity on the composition of sphalerite from submarine hydrothermal vents." Geology 42 (2014): 699-702.

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