High and Low Temperature Gold Mineralizations in the  Fe–Cu–Zn Sulfide Deposits of Corchia Ophiolite, Northern Italian Apennine

doi:10.3390/min3010082

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Minerals 2013, 3(1), 82-93; doi:10.3390/min3010082

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High and Low Temperature Gold Mineralizations in the Fe–Cu–Zn Sulfide Deposits of Corchia Ophiolite, Northern Italian Apennine

Zaccarini Federica* and Giorgio Garuti

Department of Applied Geosciences and Geophysics, University of Leoben, Peter Tunner Str.5, Leoben A8700, Austria

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 7 September 2012; in revised form: 19 February 2013 / Accepted: 25 February 2013 / Published: 5 March 2013

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Economic Minerals)

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Abstract: Gold has been found in the Cyprus-type volcanogenic massive sulfide ore (VMS) deposits of Corchia ophiolite (Parma province, Italy) in the Cantiere Donnini, Speranza and Pozzo mining sites. At Cantiere Donnini and Speranza, the mineralization occurs at the contact between pillow lava and sedimentary rocks. The Pozzo mineralization is hosted by a serpentinite. Concentrations of gold up to 3070 ppb have been reported for the Cantiere Donnini and up to 6295 ppb in the Pozzo mine. According to the field relationships, gold composition, mineralogical assemblage and sulfur isotope data, we can conclude that two different types of gold mineralization have been recognized in the Corchia ophiolite: (1) formed at low temperature in submarine environment (Cantiere Donnini and Speranza) and (2) formed at high temperature in the oceanic mantle (Pozzo) by segregation of an immiscible sulfide liquid.

Keywords: gold; VMS deposits; Corchia ophiolite; Italy

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MDPI and ACS Style

Federica, Z.; Garuti, G. High and Low Temperature Gold Mineralizations in the Fe–Cu–Zn Sulfide Deposits of Corchia Ophiolite, Northern Italian Apennine. Minerals 2013, 3, 82-93.

AMA Style

Federica Z, Garuti G. High and Low Temperature Gold Mineralizations in the Fe–Cu–Zn Sulfide Deposits of Corchia Ophiolite, Northern Italian Apennine. Minerals. 2013; 3(1):82-93.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Federica, Zaccarini; Garuti, Giorgio. 2013. "High and Low Temperature Gold Mineralizations in the Fe–Cu–Zn Sulfide Deposits of Corchia Ophiolite, Northern Italian Apennine." Minerals 3, no. 1: 82-93.

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