Metal source and fluid–rock interaction in the Archean BIF-hosted Lamego gold mineralization: Microthermometric and LA-ICP-MS analyses of fluid inclusions in quartz veins, Rio das Velhas greenstone belt, Brazil

The Lamego orogenic gold deposit (440,742oz gold measured reserves and 2.4milliont measured resources, with an average grade of 5.71g/t Au and a cut-off grade of 2.15g/t Au; AngloGold Ashanti Córrego do Sítio Mineração S/A (AGA) personal communication, 2014) is located in the 5km-long trend that includes the world-class Cuiabá deposit. It is hosted in the Neoarchean metavolcano–sedimentary rocks of the Rio das Velhas greenstone belt, Quadrilátero Ferrífero, Brazil. Mineralization is associated mainly with metachert–banded iron formation (BIF) and carbonaceous phyllites in the reclined Lamego fold, in which the Cabeça de Pedra orebody represents the hinge zone. Mineralization is concentrated in silicification zones and their quartz veins, as well as in sulfide minerals, product of BIF sulfidation. Hydrothermal alteration varies according to host rock, with abundant sulfide–carbonate in BIF, and sericite–chlorite in carbonaceous phyllite. Quartz vein classification according to structural relationships and host rocks identified three vein systems. The V1 system, mainly composed of smoky quartz (Qtz I) and pyrite, is extensional, crosscuts the bedding plane S0 of BIF, and is parallel to the fold axis. The V2 system, of the same composition, is represented by veins that are parallel to the S1–2 foliation and S0. This system is also characterized by silicification zones in the BIF–carbonaceous phyllite contact that has its maximum expression in the hinge zone of folds. The V3 system has milky quartz (Qtz II) veins, which result from the recrystallization of smoky quartz, located mainly in shear zones and faults; these veins form structures en echelon and vein arrays. The most common ore minerals are pyrite, As-pyrite and arsenopyrite. Fluid inclusion-FI trapped in all quartz veins present composition in the H2O–CO2±CH4–NaCl system. Fluid evolution can be interpreted in two stages: i) aqueous–carbonic fluid trapped in Qtz I, of low salinity (~2% equiv. wt.% NaCl), and ii) carbonic–aqueous fluid, of moderate salinity (average 9eq.wt.% NaCl) hosted in Qtz II. Both stages are characterized by decrepitation temperatures in the range of 200 to >300°C, and suggest a fluid of metamorphic origin. Applying an arsenopyrite geothermometer, the calculated formation temperature for the Cabeça de Pedra orebody is 300 to 375°C. The vertical intersection of the isochors allows a minimum pressure calculation of 2.6kbar. The composition of individual FIs of this orebody, obtained by LA-ICP-MS analyses, compared with results of FIs for the Carvoaria Velha deposit, Córrego do Sítio lineament, highlights a standard composition typical of metamorphic fluids with Na>K>Ca>Mg, which increase or decrease in concentration as a function of salinity in both deposits. Trace elements vary according to fluid–rock reactions, and are directly related to the host rock composition. The comparison of data sets of the two deposits shows that the Cabeça de Pedra FIs have a higher enrichment in Zn, while Cu, As and Sb are richer in Carvoaria Velha, suggesting influence of the host rock geochemistry. The suggested mechanisms for gold precipitation at the Cabeça de Pedra orebody, Lamego gold deposit are: i) hydrolysis of the carbonaceous matter of phyllite and BIF, affecting fO2, destabilizing sulfur complexes and enhancing gold precipitation; ii) replacement of BIF iron carbonates by sulfides; and iii) continuous pressure changes that lead to silica precipitation and free gold. Other than playing the long-recognized role of the carbonaceous phyllites as a fluid barrier, the data highlight their importance as a source of metals.