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VARIATIONS OF SULFUR ISOTOPES, TRACE ELEMENT COMPOSITIONS, AND CATHODOLUMINESCENCE OF MISSISSIPPI VALLEY-TYPE Pb-Zn ORES FROM THE DRAU RANGE, EASTERN ALPS (SLOVENIA-AUSTRIA): IMPLICATIONS FOR ORE DEPOSITION ON A REGIONAL VERSUS MICROSCALE

Joachim Kuhlemann

Institut and Museum für Geologie und Paläontologie,Universität Tübingen,Sigwartstrasse 10, D-72076 Tübingen,Germany

Torsten Vennemann

Institute for Mineralogy, Petrography and Geochemistry,Universität Tübingen, Wilhelmstrasse 56, D-72074 Tübingen,Germany

Uro Herlec

Geological and Montanistical Institute, Akereva 20, SLO-61000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Stefan Zeeh and Thilo Bechstädt

Geological-Paläontogical Institute, INF 234, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany

Corresponding author: email,kuhlemann{at}uni-tuebingen.de

The sulfur isotope composition of sulfide ore minerals of the Drau Range varies considerably, down to centimeter-scale variations, both on a regional and a local scale. Broadly scattering ³⁴S values, ranging between +2 and –25 per mil with a mean around –17 per mil, are probably related to both local bacteriogenic and thermal reduction of Late Triassic marine sulfate. The ³⁴S is typically more depleted in ore deposited in subtidal carbonate rocks than in the economic Zn and Pb ore, preferably deposited within intratidal carbonate host rock. The ³⁴S/³²S ratio increases on the order of FeS₂ < PbS < ZnS, which reflects disequilibrium and low-temperature formation. The strong depletion of ³⁴S in botryoidal sphalerite, ranging between –24 and –32 per mil, appears to be correlated with the crystal mode (wurtzite-sphalerite fibers) and the enrichment of the trace elements Fe, As, Tl, and Ge. Sphalerite generations of specific cathodoluminescense, color, and closely related trace element composition are correlated district-wide. A decrease of the trace elements Fe, As, Tl, and Ge in the sphalerite generations is coeval with a minor depletion of ³⁴S in the range of –3 and –12 per mil for ³⁴S values in several hand specimens. Variations in ³⁴S values and trace element zonation on a regional to local scale indicates mixing of local sulfur sources with a regional metal-rich brine. However, distinct peaks in some ore deposits and more positive ³⁴S values of between –5 and –10 per mil are also compatible with derivation of the sulfur from basement rocks. The enrichment of the trace element Cu in orange-luminescing sphalerite negatively correlated with Fe, As, Tl, and Ge and, therefore, strongly suggests leaching of copper from Late Permian to Early Triassic continental red beds. Frequent evaporites in this stratigraphic section might have supplied sulfur of relatively heavy isotopic composition to the brine. Hence, some sulfur may also have been transported with a metal-rich brine.

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