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Thesis

French

ID: <

10670/1.vp25b3

>

Where these data come from
New mineralogical, geochemical and geochronological data from the Tighza-Jbel Aouam polymetallic deposit (Central Morocco). : Contribution to the metallogeny of vein-type base metal deposits in post-collision context.

Abstract

In Morocco, many Pb-Zn-Ag vein-type deposits are hosted in paleozoic series crosscut by variscan granitoids. The spatial association of these veins with the magmatic intrusions has often been interpreted as evidence of a genetic link between the granitoids emplacement and the mineralizing hydrothermal event. However, recent data allow to consider a late-variscan emplacement of these mineralizations. Genetical models must thus be reviewed, as well as the exploration of these base metals strategy. The polymetallic district of Tighza-Jbel Aouam (Central Morocco), were Pb-Zn-Ag vein-type deposits are located around small granitic stocks, has been selected to study the spatial and temporal relationships between granitoids and associated mineralizations. The aims of this work have been: (i) to go further into the mineralizations mineralogy, (ii) to use appropriate geochronological methods to date the mineralizations, (iii) to study the magma-fluids-metals transfers from the deeper areas (mantle, deep crust) to the upper lithosphere, using geochemical tracers. Granitic stocks and dykes of Tighza have been analyzed and dated using U/Pb method on zircons. These rocks belong to a high-K calc-alkaline association and datations show three magmatic and associated hydrothermal events: 320 to 300 Ma, stocks with few dykes emplacement; 300 to 280 Ma, pluton emplacement with associated hydrothermal event and responsible for a hydrothermal metamorphic halo, mineralizing the W-Au ore; (iii) 280 to 240 Ma, NE-SW dykes network emplacement, associated with a Pb-Zn-Ag mineralizing hydrothermal event, characterized by a chlorite-muscovite-calcite alteration of the hosting metasediments. The detailed study of Pb-Zn-Ag veins paragenesis showed the pulsated character of the mineralization precipitations. Four successive paragenesis have been identified: (P1) siderite ± quartz; (P2) calcite ± ankerite + sphalerite + galena ± siderite ± quartz ± chalcedony; (P3) siderite + sphalerite + galena ± quartz ; (P4) quartz + calcite + pyrite. These synchrone paragenese are associated with REE-minerals (monazite, xenotime, synchisite) responsible for the high amount of REE in the gangue carbonates (≃ 700 ppm). Some monazites from a Pb-Zn-Ag vein have been dated at 255 ± 15 Ma using the Th/Pb method. The metals source study (lead isotopes) shows that the Pb of Pb-Zn-Ag mineralizations come from the upper crust leaching. The fluid sources study of Pb-Zn-Ag veins indicates a crustal origin (He, Ar isotopes) strongly buffered by the hosting shales (C, O isotopes). W-Au mineralizing fluids are stemming from a mixing of meteoric and mantellic fluids (He, Ar isotopes). W-Au and Pb-Zn-Ag are thus distinguished mineralizations. The polymetallic district of Tighza-Jbel Aouam is thus characterized by the superposition of several magmatic and hydrothermal events controlled by lithospheric scale leap, leading to the formation of: (i) mesothermal W-Au deposit which can be considered as a porphyry-type mineralization; (ii) epithermal Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization. These magmatic and metallogenic events last over 80 Ma after the end of the varican orogenesis, and characterize the post-collisional context of this orogen, in particular the effects of the thermal balance of the crust during the permo-triassic period and the Atlantic pre-rifting.

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