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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Simulation of Early Earth Hydrothermal Chimneys in a Thermal Gradient Environment
Published on: February 27, 2021
Felsic hydrothermal deposit formation by chalcophile metal concentration through mafic recharge and fluid-mediated
Yifei Liu1, Anthony E Williams-Jones2, Zengqian Hou3
1State Key Laboratory of Deep Earth and Mineral Exploration, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China.
Abstract:
Hydrothermal sulfide deposits (e.g., porphyry and skarn) associated with felsic magmatism are major sources of chalcophile metals, including copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), gold (Au), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), silver (Ag), and tin (Sn). However, the source of sulfur and metals remains debated. We report a study of clinopyroxene-hosted sulfide inclusions in mafic enclaves from the Beidashan granitic pluton (Northeast China), associated with a giant Sn-Pb-Zn-Ag-Cu deposit. Evidence shows the following: (i) immiscibility among Cu- and Zn-rich sulfide liquid, a silicate liquid, and an aqueous fluid during mafic magma emplacement in the upper crust; (ii) metal enrichment in FeS [iron(II) sulfide]-dominated melt inclusions (∼2628 parts per million of Cu, ∼233 parts per million of Zn, ∼275 parts per million of Pb, and ∼2.0 parts per million of Sn), reflecting strong partitioning into sulfide melts; and (iii) oxidative dissolution of sulfides by exsolved fluids, enabling metal transfer to the overlying felsic magma. The study demonstrates that metals in felsic-hosted deposits are sourced from subjacent mafic magmas and that mafic-felsic interaction triggered sulfide liquid/aqueous fluid cosaturation, ensuring efficient fluid-mediated chalcophile metal dissolution and transfer.
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