Origin and characteristics of the gold-bearing quartz carbonate veins in Şirindere area, Aydın (Western Turkiye): Implication for fluid inclusion data

Fluid inclusion analyses were performed on the gold-bearing quartz carbonate veins in order to pinpoint the source of the gold-bearing fluids and the temperature of the mineralizing systems to better comprehend the genesis of the gold mineralization at the Şirindere area (Aydın, Western Turkiye). The Şirindere area is geologically a part of the Menderes Massif metamorphic complex. It is made up of Neoproterozoic-Paleozoic mica schists of Selimiye Formation and metagranite/gneiss which are is overlain by Permo-Carboniferous phyllite, marble, and quartzite of Göktepe Formation and Mesozoic marbles of Milas Marble. The gold-bearing quartz carbonate veins are hosted in the mica schists of Selimiye Formation occurred within the fault and shear zone trended N-S having locally boudinage forms parallel to the direction of foliation of the mica schist. Wall-rock alterations are mainly silicification and sericitization with carbonatization and subordinate amount of the chloritization. The ore minerals in the auriferous quartz veins include pyrite and hematite with free native gold which has Au contents up to 7.4 ppm. According to fluid inclusion data from the gold-bearing quartz carbonate vein, the Şirindere gold mineralization formed from aqueous-carbonic ore fluids having a metamorphic source. These fluids are characterized by low CO₂ content having low to medium salinity (0.88-23.89 wt.% NaCl equivalent) formed at temperatures ranging from 178.7 to 322.5°C with an average of 277.3°C. Therefore, the gold-forming processes in the Şirindere area are nearly identical to those in mesozonal orogenic gold deposits.

 

Keywords: Fluid inclusion data, gold-bearing quartz carbonate vein, Menderes Massif, Şirindere(Aydın,Turkiye)