The genesis of irish-type Zn-Pb deposits: characterisation and irigin of the prncipal ore fluid

摘要

Fluid inclusion and isotope data from sulphide-bearing veins hosted by Lower Palaeozoic rocks in Ireland indicate that regional flow of mineralizing fluids occurred in the fractured basement underlying the mineralized Carboniferous basins. Halogen and chemical data show that this fluid was ultimately derived from seawater that had circulated deeply within the basement and had equilibrated with the basement rocks. The observed data are best explained by density-driven convection within fault and fracture zones.