Stable Isotope Evidence for Magmatic Fluids in the Pueblo Viejo Epithermal Acid Sulfate Au-Ag Deposit, Dominican Republic

Stable isotope (H, C, O, and S) systematics of the Pueblo Viejo acid sulfate system, the world's largest bulk mineable acid sulfate gold deposit, were investigated to determine the importance of magmatic fluids in hydrothermal systems of this type. Mineralization at Pueblo Viejo is hosted by a maar-diatreme system that cuts sedimentary rocks and spilites of the Late Cretaceous Los Ranchos Formation. The deposit is characterized by two stages of advanced argillic alteration: stage I fluids produced deep alunite + quartz and shallower kaolinitc + quartz, both associated with disseminated pyrite; stage II fluids overprinted stage I and produced deep pyrophyllite + diaspore and an overlying silica cap. An increase in temperature from stage I (250oC) to stage II (250o-300oC) is indicated by mineral stabilities and sulfur isotope thermometry of coexisting sulfide-sulfate pairs. Stage I quartz-alunite-kaolinite-pyrite alteration and associated disseminated Au-Ag mineralization are interpreted to

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