The Serra Pelada Au - Pd - Pt Deposit (Carajás, Amazon Craton, Brazil) Geology, Minralogy, and Hydrothermal Geochemistry of Ore Formation
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Research Collection Doctoral Thesis The Serra Pelada Au - Pd - Pt Deposit (Carajás, Amazon Craton, Brazil) Geology, Minralogy, and Hydrothermal Geochemistry of Ore Formation Author(s): Berni, Gabriel V. Publication Date: 2014 Permanent Link: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-a-010278913 Rights / License: In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted This page was generated automatically upon download from the ETH Zurich Research Collection. For more information please consult the Terms of use. ETH Library DISS. ETH NO. 21929 THE SERRA PELADA Au - Pd - Pt DEPOSIT (CARAJÁS, AMAZON CRATON, BRAZIL): GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY, AND HYDROTHERMAL GEOCHEMISTRY OF ORE FORMATION A thesis submitted to attain the degree of DOCTOR OF SCIENCES of ETH ZURICH (Dr.sc. ETH Zurich) presented by GABRIEL VALENTIM BERNI Master in Geology Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Born on November 26.11.1982 Citizen of Brazil accepted on the recommendation of Prof. Dr. Christoph A. Heinrich Prof. Dr. Bernd Lehmann Dr. Victor J. Wall 2014 Declaration of originality I hereby confirm that I am the sole author of the written work here enclosed and that I have compiled it in my own words. Parts excepted are corrections of form and content by the supervisor. Title of Work: THE SERRA PELADA Au - Pd - Pt DEPOSIT (CARAJÁS, AMAZON CRATON, BRAZIL): GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY, AND HYDROTHERMAL GEOCHEMISTRY OF ORE FORMATION Authored by: Name: First name: BERNI GABRIEL VALENTIM With my signature I confirm that have committed none of the forms of plagiarism described in the ‘Citation etiquette’ information sheet. *I have documented all methods, data and processes truthfully. *I have not manipulated any data. *I have mentioned all persons who were significant facilitators of the work. *I am aware that the work may be screened electronically for plagiarism. Copyright PhD Thesis, Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zürich The author hereby agrees that after 31. July 2014 the PhD thesis may be copied and used for private and personal scholarly use. However, this is to emphasize that the making of multiple copies of the thesis or the use of the thesis for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited. When making use of the results found in this thesis, the normal scholarly methods of citation are to be followed. Confidentiality moratorium This PhD thesis is a collaboration work between Colossus Minerals Inc. and ETH Zurich. The thesis is presently available for reading to teaching staff of the Department Earth Sciences but has to be treated confidentially. After the confidentiality period of 31. July 2014, this PhD thesis may be published. GABRIEL V. BERNI PROF. DR. C.A HEINRICH TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................................. vii ZUSAMMENFASSUNG ............................................................................................................................. ix CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 – PREFACE ......................................................................................................................................................................................1 1.2 – AIMS OF RESEARCH ...................................................................................................................................................................2 1.3 – THESIS ORGANIZATION ...........................................................................................................................................................2 1.4 – NOBLE METALS IN BLACK ROCKS: HYDROTHERMAL CONSTRAINTS AND GENETIC MODELS FOR UNUSUAL SEDIMENTARY PGE DEPOSITS ..........................................................................................................................................................3 1.4.1 – Transport of Pd, Pt and Au in hydrothermal fluids................................................................................................................3 1.4.2 – Genetic Models for some unconventional Pt and Pd deposits ...................................................................................................4 CHAPTER II - THE SERRA PELADA Au - Pd - Pt DEPOSIT, CARAJÁS, BRAZIL: GEOCHEMISTRY, MINERALOGY AND ZONING OF HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION .......................................................... 9 2.1 – ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................................................................................9 2.2 – INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.3 – REGIONAL SETTING ............................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.4 – GEOLOGY OF THE SERRA PELADA Au - Pd - Pt DEPOSIT ............................................................................................... 13 2.4.1 – Stratigraphy ........................................................................................................................................................................ 13 2.4.2 – Structural setting ................................................................................................................................................................. 18 2.5 – ANALYTICAL METHODS AND SAMPLE MATERIAL ............................................................................................................ 19 2.6 – HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION AND MINERALIZATION ................................................................................................ 20 2.6.1 – Distal alteration types ......................................................................................................................................................... 20 2.6.2 – Hydrothermal alteration of the mineralized zones................................................................................................................. 23 2.7 – GEOCHEMISTRY OF HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION ....................................................................................................... 26 2.7.1 – Bulk-rock geochemistry ........................................................................................................................................................ 26 2.7.2 – Au-Pt-Pd distribution within major alteration types ............................................................................................................ 28 2.8 – DISCUSSION .............................................................................................................................................................................. 32 2.8.1 – Late Cretaceous bonanza style upgrading at Serra Pelada ................................................................................................... 32 2.8.2 – Timing of hydrothermal Au - Pd - Pt mineralization with respect to regional deformation history ........................................ 33 2.8.3 – Hydrothermal alteration and mineralization at Serra Pelada: variant of an unconformity-related U deposits ....................... 34 2.9 – ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FOR THE CHAPTER .......................................................................................................................... 35 CHAPTER III - ORE MINERALOGY OF THE SERRA PELADA Au - Pd - Pt DEPOSIT AND IMPLICATIONS FOR ORE FORMING PROCESSES ........................................................................................................... 37 3.1 – ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................................................. 37 3.2 – INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................................... 38 3.3 – GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND MINERALIZATION OF THE SERRA PELADA Au - Pd - Pt DEPOSIT ............................. 38 3.4 – ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES AND SAMPLE MATERIAL ...................................................................................................... 40 3.5 – ORE PETROGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................................................... 41 3.5.1 – Carbon-rich argillic ore ............................................................................................................................................................. 41 3.5.2 – Kaolinite-rich argillic ore ........................................................................................................................................................... 43 v TABLE OF CONTENTS 3.6 – MINERAL ASSEMBLAGES ........................................................................................................................................................ 45 3.7 – COMPOSITION OF ORE AND ACCESSORY MINERALS........................................................................................................ 46 3.7.1 – Copper and silver sulfide and selenide minerals ..................................................................................................................... 46