Trace Element Composition of Sulfides from Kayad Zn-Pb deposit, Ajmer,
Western India: Implications for Ore Mineralization
Abstract
The Proterozoic Kayad Zn-Pb deposit in Ajmer, Rajasthan is located
within the Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt in western India. Mineralization of
sphalerite and galena, commonly associated with chalcopyrite and
pyrrhotite, is hosted primarily by graphitic quartz mica schist (QMS)
and subordinately by calc-silicate, quartzite and pegmatite. In QMS,
both massive ore, evidently formed by remobilization, and laminated ore
are present. Calc-silicate and quartzite contain disseminated sulfides
while pegmatites contain sulfide veins that cause massive
mineralization. Mineral replacement textures such as replacement of
albite and muscovite by K-feldspars and biotite by chlorite suggest that
Fe-Cu sulfides, represented by chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite, formed
during potassic and acidic alteration. Trace element characterization
demonstrates that between co-existing chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite, Ag,
Zn, Sn, In, Cd, Ga are strongly portioned in chalcopyrite whereas Co and
Ni are partitioned in pyrrhotite. High concentration of Ag (up to
~9000 ppm) in chalcopyrite adds to economic potential of
the deposit. Barring the exception of massive ore in QMS, the trace
element compositions of chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite are
host-rock-independent suggesting profound control of the parental
hydrothermal fluid on their composition. In laminated QMS, pegmatite and
quartzite, higher Co, Cd, Mn and In in sphalerite and higher Ag, Sb, Bi,
Se in galena compared to chalcopyrite suggest that these phases
co-crystallized during their formation. In contrast in remobilized
massive ore in QMS, higher Co, Cd and Mn in sphalerite over chalcopyrite
and higher Ga, Sn and In in chalcopyrite over sphalerite and galena
possibly indicate co-crystallization followed by recrystallization.
Furthermore, constant yet distinct Cd:Zn ratios of chalcopyrite and
co-existing sphalerite may indicate involvement of two different fluids.
The observed trace element characteristics can be best explained by
co-crystallization of chalcopyrite and sphalerite by fluid-mixing and
subsequent recrystallization leading to the formation of part of the
massive ore.