Journal of African Earth Snences, Vol. 31, No.

2, pp 433-449, 2000
Pergamon D 2000 Elsevw Science Ltd
All rights reserved. Printed I” Great Brltam
Pll:SO899-5382(00)00098-l 0699.5362/00 S- see front matter

Origin of Pan-African mesothermal gold mineralisation

at Bin Yauri, Nigeria

I. GARBA*
Department of Geology, Ahmadu Belle University, Zaria, Nigeria

ABSTRACT-In the Bin Yauri area, mesothermal Au-sulphide-quartz-carbonate veins and

associated hydrothermal alteration appear to have accompanied late tectonic brittle faulting
which cut across the contact zone of a Pan-African granodiorite batholith intruding phyllites.
Fluids of magmatic origin were initially suspected to be responsible for the Au mineralisation,
due to proximity to the intrusion. However, studies of fluid inclusions, rare earth elements
and tourmaline chemistry tend to suggest mineralising fluids of metamorphic origin. The
present study involves the use of large ion lithophile elements (K, Rb, Ba, Sr) and stable
isotopes (S, C, 0) in further constraining the origin of the Au mineralisation. It is found that
the hydrothermal alteration (and Au mineralisation) is characterised by a systematic co-
enrichment of K, Rb and Ba and inter-element ratios (K/Rb, KIBa, Ba/Rb, Rb/Sr) characteristic
of average (metasedimentary) crustal rocks. These are distinctly unlike the K-Rb-Ba-Sr
fractionation patterns associated with magmatic-related mineralisation. Similarly, stable isotope
evidence, where 6% = 1.5-9.4% and 613C = -7 -t 0.7!?60, are more consistent with crustal
sources of S and C, respectively, while 6180 = 13 + 1.4% is within the isotopic range for
metamorphic water. The study, therefore, has shown that the direct involvement of magmatic
fluids can be ruled out as a source of the Au mineralisation at Bin Yauri, despite the close
association with a granodiorite batholith. The fluids involved were probably generated along
a regional (transcurrent) fault system and subsequently focused into the metasedimentary
country rocks via the late tectonic fault zone. @ 2000 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights
reserved.

RESUME-Dans la region de Bin Yauri, des filons mesothermaux a Au-sulfures-quartz-

carbonates et les roches resultant de I’alteration hydrothermale associee, ont accompagne la
tectonique cassante tardive qui recoupe la zone de contact d’un batholite granodioritique
pan-africain intrudant des phyllites. Les fluides d’origine magmatique ont et6 initialement
consider% comme les vecteurs de la mineralisation aurifere, etant donne la proximite de
I’intrusion. Cependant, I’btude des inclusions fluides, des terres rares et de la chimie de la
tourmaline a suggere que les fluides mineralisateurs Btaient d’origine metamorphique. Cette
etude inclut I’utilisation des elements lithophiles a grands rayons ioniques (K, Rb, Ba et Sr) et
des isotopes stables (S, C et 0) pour mieux contraindre I’origine de la mineralisation aurifere.
II s’avere que I’alteration hydrothermale (ainsi que la mineralisation aurifere) est caracterisee
par un enrichissement associe systematique en K, Rb et Ba ainsi que des rapports KIRb, K/
Ba, Ba/Rb et Rb/Sr caracteristique de la moyenne des roches crustales metasedimentaires.
Ceci est different des fractionnements K-Rb-Ba-Sr associes aux mineralisations liees aux
magmas. De meme, les valeurs en isotopes stables tels que s3%i = 1.5-9.4%0 et
613C = -7 k 0.7% sont en accord avec une origine crustale de S et de C alors que la valeur de
6180 = 13 f 1.4% se situe dans les valeurs des eaux metamorphiques. Cette etude demontre
done que les fluides magmatiques peuvent etre ecartes comme source de la mineralisation

l garbari@abu.edu.ng

Journal of African Earth Sciences 433

 I. GARBA

aurifere de Bin Yauri, malgre I’association spatiale avec un batholite granodioritique. Les
fluides associes a la mineralisation trouvent probablement leur origine dans le systeme regional
de failles transcurrentes et se sont concentres ensuite dans les roches metasedimentaires a la
faveur de la zone de farlle tardive. @ 2000 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.

(Recetved 2917197: revised version received 1813199: accepted 20/5/99)

INTRODUCTION
There are many areas of Au occurrence in Nigeria Congo Cratons. This vast terrane consists of
concentrated in the Neoproterozoic schist belts. The reactivated older crust in which ArchBan (ca 2700
schist belts are made up of many rock units, such Ma) and Palaeoproterozoic (ca 2000 Ma) isotopic ages
as gneisses, schists, phyllites, quartzites, banded have been recorded (Grant, 1970; Grant et al., 1972;
iron formations (BIF), amphibolites and granitoids. Oversby, 1975). The Pan-African event (6001t 150
These are rocks that have suffered the effects of, Ma) was the latest reactivation that affected the whole
or are products of, the latest tecto-metamorphic re- region (Turner, 1983; Fitches et al., 1985; Wright et a/. ,
activation that affected the whole region, the Pan- 1985). The terrane is, therefore, referred to as the Pan-
African event (600 + 150 Ma). Gold mineralisation African Shield (also as Pan-African Province, Togo-
has been reported to be hosted by faults and shear Benin-Nigeria Shield or The Dahomeyan). The Pan-
zones cutting a wide variety of rock units of the schist African event imposed a generally north-south foliation
belts. Earlier studies of Nigerian Au mineralisation and cleavage trend in rocks and brought about the
tended to link the genesis of individual occurrences emplacement of granitiods in the region (Turner, 1983;
to the origin of the host rocks. For example, the origin Fitches et al., 1985).
of deposits hosted by gneisses, schists and am- The Pan-African Shield in Nigeria is usually divided
phrbolites have been ascribed to regional meta- into three lithostratigraphical units:
morphism (e.g. Woakes and Bafor, 1984; Garba, i) The basement gneisses and migmatites, with
1985; Akande et al., 1988) In line with the meta- supracrustal relics yielding in many places Archaean
morphic model proposed by Boyle (1979). Similarly, a and PalEoproterozoic ages. Metamorphism is gen-
magmatic origin was proposed for the Bin Yauri Au erally in the amphibolite-facies grade.
mineralisation because of its proximity to a granitoid IV The schist belts, are mainly north-northeast-
(Garba, 1988). trending belts of low- to medium-grade deformed
The source of Au-mineralising fluids in the Archeean supracrustal assemblages. They are considered to be
and younger terranes is controversial, and various Late Proterozoic cover with metamorphic grade
sources have been proposed. They range from mainly within greenschist-facies in northwestern
mantle-lower crust degassing (e.g. Cameron, 1989), Nrgeria (Wright et al., 1985).
metamorphic dewatering (e.g. Kerrich and Fryer, 1979; iii) The Pan-African granitoids (older granites) are
Groves et a/., 1987; Eisenlohr et a/., 1989; Simpson et mainly syn- to late tectonic intrusions of granites,
a/., 1989; Powell eta/., 1991), to magmatic activity (e.g. granodiorites, diorites, some gabbros, syenites and
Burrows et a/., 1986; Burrows and Spooner, 1987). charnockites. They range in size from small subcircular
Recent studies of fluid inclusions, rare earth ele- stocks to large batholithic bodies emplaced into both
ments and tourmaline chemistry in the Bin Yauri Au basement gneisses and supracrustal rocks during or
mineralisation (Garba, 1992a, 1992b; Garba and just after the main phase of Pan-African deformation
Akande, 1992; Garba, 1996) suggest mineralising (Fitches et al., 1985; Wright et al., 1985). Some
fluids of metamorphic origin that were generated from, contacts with the host rocks show narrow thermal
or equilibrated with, crustal metasedimentary rocks, aureoles (Fitches et al., 1985). Many of the granitoid
The present study employs the systematics of large- plutons give ages in the range 750-450 Ma (van
ion lithophile elements (K, Rb, Ba, Sr) and stable ISO- Breemen et a/., 1977; Ogezi, 1977; Holt, 1982).
topes (+S, 13C , ‘*O) to further characterise and con- In the Anka area of northwestern Nigeria (Fig. I),
strain the mineralising process and its possible origin. unmetamorphosed volcanic and hypabyssal rocks (mainly
dacites and rhyolites) overlie and intrude the basement
gneisses, supracrustal and granitic rocks. Their K-Ar
SYNOPSIS OF REGIONAL GEOLOGY AND isotopic data indicate a late Pan-African age of about
TECTONICS 500 Ma, narrowly post-dating the Pan-African
The Bin Yauri area is in northwestern Nigeria (Fig. deformation and plutonism (McCurry and Wright, 1977).
I), which is part of the Neoproterozoic to Early The dominant tectonic fabric in northwestern Nigeria
Phanerozoic terrane separating the West African and is a steeply dipping north-south phyllitic to slaty

434 Journal of Afman Earth Sciences

 Origin of Pan-African mesothermalgold mineralisation at Bin Yauri, Nigeria

Mesozoic-Recent
Gold Mineralization
Sediments

Pan-African Granitoids Pan-African Volcanics

Dahomeyan Basement Schist Belts

El
- Major and Minor Faults

Figure 1. Regionalgeological setting of the Bin Yauriarea within the Pan-African terrane of northwestern
Nigeria. AF: Anka Fault.

Journal of African Earth Sciences 435

 I. GARBA
cleavage, which is mainly axial planar to tight isoclinal
folds (McCurry, 1976; Ajibade, 1980). Two major
regional (wrench) faults trending in the north-
northeast-south-southwest direction have been
established in Nigeria. These are strike-slip faults with
dextral sense of displacement and are also associated
with locally developed (subsidiary) conjugate sinistral
faults and were probably developed during the Pan-
African event. Many ultramafic, mafic and felsic rocks
lie within or very close to the regional faults, as do
many sites of Au mineralisation. These regional faults
are considered to be deep lineaments and possible
Pan-African crustal sutures (Wright, 1976; McCurry
and Wright, 1977; Ajibade and Wright, 1989).
A collision-type orogeny has been suggested (Turner,
1983; Wright era/., 1985) involving the Pan-African
Shield and the West African Craton, in which a
subduction zone dipped eastward beneath the Pan-
African Province. Deformation and metamorphism
followed the continental collision, and major crustal
mobility in the region had virtually ceased by 500-
450 Ma, when regional uplift and cooling of Pan-
African granitoids prevailed (Fitches et al., 1985).
There is, however, increasing evidence that the Pan-
African of West Africa (Togo-Benin-Nigeria Shield) is
a mosaic of crustal blocks, including both island-arcs
and older continental fragments. The observed dextral
sense of shearing along regional north-northeast-
south-southwest fracture system in northwestern
Nigeria is consistent with the movement pattern
required by the Pan-African crustal shortening (Wright
eta/., 1985; Ajibade and Wright, 1989). This has led
Ajibade and Wright (1989) to propose that the Pan-
African collision was probably between ‘mosaic’
island-arcs, sedimentary basins and continental
fragments, rather than between the West African
Craton and the Pan-African Shield as a single entity,
as previously supposed.
GEOLOGY, PETROGRAPHY AND AU
MINERALISATION OF THE BIN YAURI AREA
The Bin Yauri area comprises of phyllites of the Zuru
schist belt intruded by a granodiorite batholith (Fig. 1)
which also formed a narrow thermal aureole (made
of hornfels) around the intrusion. The phyllites are
metapelitic and have intercalations of tourmalinites.
The granodiorite batholith (about 13 km long and 8
km across) has numerous dykes and apophyses of
rhyodacite, occurring as a late phase within the
intrusion. A later brittle fault zone ( - 300 m wide)
cut the granodiorite-metasediments contact in a
north-northwest direction. The fault zone consists of
numerous subparallel faults cutting across, and often
436 Journal of African Earth Sciences
displacing, structures and other minor bodies in both
the granodiorite, the hornfels and the phyllite (Fig. 2).
The fault zone is shown in aerial photographs as a
northwest-trending lineament traceable to the regional
Anka Fault (Fig. 1). Gold-mineralising fluids have
permeated the fault zone, depositing Au-sulphide-
quartz-carbonate veins in the hornfels and quartz-
carbonate (Au-barren) veins in the phyllites. It also
caused hydrothermal alteration of the affected parts
of the hornfels and the granodiorite.
Petrography
Ph yllites
The phyllites are characterised by a well-developed
cleavage, which defines foliation. In thin section,
they display a banded fabric where a quartzitic
domain, which contains aggregates of quartz, albite,
microcline, epidote and calcite are enveloped by
often anastomosing micaceous laminae made up
of essentially sericite (phengite) and chlorite. Opaque
minerals, magnetite, hematite and rutile are often
disseminated in the phyllite fabric. The pelitic
mineral assemblage in the phyllite (sericite, chlorite,
quartz, albite, epidote and calcite) is typical of the
lower part of the greenschist-facies metamorphic
grade.
The effect of brittle faulting in the phyllites (e.g.
location of sample P8, Fig. 2) is such that fault
lines are oblique to S, foliation and often detaching
(displacing) isoclinal fold limbs in a sinistral manner.
In thin section, such phyllites have more-developed
micaceous laminae, which are more crenulated and
contain more calcite and disseminated magnetite.
Tourrnalinites
The tourmalinites, are dark banded tourmaline-quartz
rocks with tourmaline making up about 40-80% of
the bulk mineralogy. They are strata bound units
conformable with the phyllites.
Granodiorite
The granodiorite is generally coarseI\, porphyritic and
contains minor bodies and enclaves and rafts of older
basic rocks and phyllite. In thin section, the grano-
diorite is composed of large phenocrysts of microcline
perthites and plagioclase (oligoclase) in a groundmass
of interlocking quartz, plagioclase, biotite and horn-
blende. Accessory minerals include sphene, alanite,
zircon, magnetite and apatite.
Rh yodacite
The rhyodacite is a fine-grained porphyry consisting
of quartz, orthoclase and microcline phenocrysts
in a groundmass of plagioclase, microcline and
biotite.
 10. SO' N

+++++
+++++
+++++
P3
0

+++++
+ ++++ P2
l

l P7
t

),llll,
,+
~19~H20+
“1,/u,,+

LIa- -
1
+
+
+
+
+
++++++
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
N
+++f +++
r+r+r+++++++++ ++++

*+ ++ + + +
+ + + +I
,+ + +Q’+ ++ ++ +++ + ++
-+ + ++ ++++ + i

f+ +++++++++++++++I
’ + ++++++-f
1 + ++ + + + +
+ +.+ + + + +
,\\ + +G+’
++ + ++-to‘3
+ +
l P6

,100m P4
0
I
Gold-bearing veins Faults 1 Foliations ,.;?$
* Hornfels
// I!3

cl
+ Gtanodiorite 0 Phyllites l Surface sample locations

X Borehole sample locations Hi. Pl.Gl. Rl Samples

Figure 2. The geological setting of the Bin Yauri Au mineralisation. The locations of samples used in this study are also
shown.
 I. GARBA

In the southwestern contact with the metasedi- muscovite (sericite) and chlorite are important. Barite,
ments, the granodiorite (Fig. 2) has suffered brittle apatite and monazite are also minor phases in the Au
deformation and incipient hydrothermal alteration. The veins.
texture of the hydrothermally altered granodiorite in Adjoining the Au veins, the host (proximal) hornfels
the fault zone is rather porphyroclastic, and the clast and part of the granodiorite have been hydrothermally
grain size is less than the size of the precursor altered, which is considered to be due to reactions
phenocrysts. Microcline, quartz and biotite are all caused by mineralising fluids permeating the wall
crushed and fractured and occur in a matrix of rocks within the fault zone. Within about 3 m from
completely sericitised and epidotised plagioclase. the vein contacts in both the foot and hanging walls
Small-scale fractures, which are in-filled by car- (proximal hornfels), the sericitic fabric of the (distal)
bonates, epidote, sericite and some pyrite, are hornfels is overprinted along discrete zones (a few
numerous. millimetres to a few centimetres wide) by a secondary
mineral assemblage comprising intergrowth of
Horn fels tourmaline, chlorite, pyrite and carbonates (breun-
The hornfels are fine- to medium-grained dark grey to nerite, ferroan dolomite). Minor phases in this
light grey rocks. Grain size increases, rock colour be- assemblage include chalcopyrite, magnetite, apatite
comes darker and the texture becomes more gran- and barite.
ulose towards the granodiorite contact, where the The widespread occurrence of tourmaline in the Bin
coarse, hard, unfoliated and dark grey variety of the Yauri area has been discussed and assessed in
hornfels is predominant. Relic slaty cleavage, in many relation to the Au mineralisation (Garba, 1996).
places within the hornfels, especially in outer fringes Similarly, the occurrence of carbonates in the Au veins
of the aureole, suggests a pelitic precursor and is, and their wall rocks implies CO,-rich hydrothermal
therefore, considered to be contact-metamorphic fluids. Carbon dioxide has been found to be a
derivatives of the surrounding phyllites. The bulk significant component of the mineralising fluids (Garba
mineralogy is a rather homogenous sericite-quartz and Akande, 1992). Mineralisation temperature is in
assemblage with disseminated magnetite and chlorite. the range of 350-37O’C (mesothermal), estimated
Other significant phases include epidote, albite and from S isotope fractionation and chlorite geothermo-
calcite. Minor minerals in the hornfels include metry (Garba, 1992b). The brittle nature (competency
hematite, pyrite, apatite, rutile and barite. contrast) coupled with high Fe content are believed
It is rather surprising that there is a total absence to be the more favoured physico-chemical conditions
of any high temperature minerals in the Bin Yauri required for the preferential deposition of the Au
hornfels. This is either an indicator of contact- mineralisation in the hornfels (Garba, 1992b).
metamorphic temperature in the lower greenschist-
facies grade (300-425°C) or a post-metamorphic
retrogression of the high-grade minerals following LARGE ION LITHOPHILE ELEMENT SYSTEMATICS
uplift and erosion. Extensive retrogression due to high (K, Rb, Ba, Sr)
fluid flux in the fault zone is not considered because Samples and analytical techniques
even the hornfels outside the fault zone are devoid of Rock samples of the granodiorite, rhyodacite, phyllite,
any high temperature minerals. hornfels and their hydrothermally altered varieties are
used in this study. The samples were obtained from
Gold Mineralisation surface outcrops and drill cores, some of the locations
Gold-sulphide-quartz-carbonate veins are hosted only of which are shown in Fig. 2. Potassium, Ba and Sr
by the hornfels and conform to the direction of the were determined from whole rock sample powders
fault zone and foliation (Fig. 2). They have sharp vein- using the inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission
wall rock contacts, vugs, cavities and comb struc- spectrometry (ICP-AES) technique, following a routine
tures, indicating fracture healing. These veins range procedure used in the Department of Geology,
from a few centimetres to -500 cm in thickness Imperial College, London. Rubidium was determined
and are steeply dipping, generally at 80°E. Some of from the same samples prepared for the ICP-AES
the larger veins are often cut by late quartz veins analyses, but by the atomic absorption spectro-
which are barren of Au. photometry (AAS) technique, after mixing them with
Gold (native) occurs as inclusions in chalcopyrite, a Cs buffer solution (CsNO, + 2N HNO,).
galena, bismuth telluride or free in quartz. Other ore
minerals are pyrite, sphalerite, magnetite and rutile. K, Rb, Ba and Sr distribution patterns
The gangue is predominantly quartz, but locally The concentrations and inter-element ratios of the
carbonates (ferroan dolomite, ankerite), tourmaline, large ion lithophile elements (LILE) K, Rb, Ba and Sr in

438 Journal of A fncan Earth Soences

 Origin of Pan-African mesothermalgold mineralisation at Bin Yauri, Nigeria

the rock units associated with the Bin Yauri Au and Rb relative to its precursor phyilite, and Ba seems
mineralisation are presented in Table 1. Averages of not to have been affected (Figs 4 and 5). The
the elements and element ratios in all the rock units hydrothermal alteration has brought about a significant
are also presented in the table. Inter-element variation depletion of K, Rb and Ba from the granodiorite (in the
diagrams are presented in two groups, i.e. the fault zone) and a complementary co-enrichment of
batholith suite (granodiorite and rhyodacite) and the the K, Rb and Ba in the proximal hornfels. Generally,
metasedimentary units (phyllites and hornfels), Rb/Sr plots (Figs 3 and 4) show a high scatter,
together with their hydrothermally altered varieties signifying that Sr is not systematically co-enriched or
(Figs 3 and 4). Also plotted are the variations of depleted with K, Rb and Ba.
averages of the rock units (Fig. 5) for an easy
understanding of the scale and pattern of fractionation
and enrichment/depletion. DISCUSSION
In the batholith suite, there appears to be an The concentrations and fractionation patterns of
enrichment of Rb and depletion of Ba in the late LILE in potassic alteration domains of vein Au miner-
rhyodacite phase, when compared to the main alisation can be used as tracers of the source of K
granodiorite body. Potassium has not been signi- and Au (Kerrich and Fryer, 1988; Kerrich, 1989c).
ficantly affected in this apparently late magmatic A typical late magmatic fractionation of LILE is
fraction (Figs 3 and 5). In the metasedimentary units reflected in the batholith suite of Bin Yauri. There
(phyllites and hornfels), the hornfels is enriched in K is a consistent concentration of Rb relative to K

46 I ’ I ’ I ’ I ’ I 650
1650. r I
44 - I570
42 - 1490
r-
40 -
K
38 -
(.io%pm) 36 _ Ba(PP ml
I250
t

Iif
850 109 I I I I .
149 169 129 149 169 189 209
109 129
Rb (PP~) Rb (ppm)

209 1 c 1 ’ I ’ 1 ’
199 -x (d)

189 -
179 _

169 - x
Rb(ppm)
159 - +
+ + +
149 -
+ +%
139 -

129 - d

II9 -
@a3
261 1 ’ ’ ’ . ’ ’
109 I I I I I I I *
850 1010 1170 1330 I490 1650 500 620 740 860 980 II00
B~(PP~) Sr(wm)
+-Granodlorste x-Rhyodaclte @-Altered
Granodwr~lr

Figure 3. K-Rb-Ba-Sr variation diagrams for rocks of the granodiorite suite (granodiorite, hydrothermally altered granodiorite
and rh yodacitel.

Journal of African Earth Sciences 439

 I. GARBA

46

K
. dppm Ba
Hydrothermally al+ered -
hornfels (pranmall

22 Phyllitel and hornbir ,d,r+a,,

19

16
50 90 130 170 210 250 130 170 210 25C
Rb (ppm) Rb (ppm)

46 I 1 ’ I 9 , 8 , 8 250 I ’ I 1 I ’ I 1
43 (b)
230 - (d) -

210 -

190 -

170 -
Rb (ppm) 0
IS0 t-

Phylliter and hornfels

loo 500 900 1300 1700 2100

240 320
Ba (ppm)
Sr lppm)
o- Phyllftes 0 --Horntels

Figure 4. K-Rb-Ba-Sr variation diagrams for the metasediments (phyllltes and hornfelsl.

and a depletion of Ba and Sr in the late stage dif- ratios (Table 2) and are unlike the ratios associated
ferentiate (rhyodacite), when compared to the host with late magmatic crystallisation. It is obvious that much
(parent) granodiorite. This has led to increasing K/ of the K-Rb-Ba enrichment in the hornfels (both distal
Ba and Rb/Sr ratios and decreasing K/Rb and Ba/Rb and proximal) is attributable to the Au-mineralising fluids
ratios (Tables 1 and 2) as a result of progressive and can be accounted for by the equivalent depletion
fractional crystallisation. of a the granodiorite (Fig. 5). This is apparently the
The transition from phyllite to hornfels (distal) as a reason for the widespread occurrence of barite in the
result of contact metamorphism/metasomatism (or hornfels. Evidence of fluid oxidation during the Au
maybe, the post-metamorphic retrogression of the mineralisation and hydrothermal alteration exists
hornfels?) appears to have been accompanied by only (Garba and Akande, 1992) which must have aided
a slight enrichment of K, Rb, Ba and Sr but decreasing the formation of the barite.
ratios of K/Rb and Ba/Rb and increasing ratios of K/ It is also apparent that the K-Rb-Ba signatures of
Ba and Rb/Sr (Table 1). the mineralising fluids involved in the wall rock
The LILE pattern due to hydrothermal alteration alteration are not indicative of fluids of late stage
during Au mineralisation can be appreciated by magmatic crystallisation. This is because mineral
considering the inter-element ratios and trends in the deposits with a dominantly magmatrc source of
proximal hornfels. There is a K-Rb-Ba co-enrichment mineralising fluids display lithophile element trends
relative to the precursor phyllites and distal hornfels, between K, Rb, Ba and Sr that are of systematically
and a generally good linear correlation: K/Rb (r= 0.97); diminished K/Rb and Ba/Rb ratios with complementary
K/Ba (f=O.70); Ba/Rb (r=0.80). The K/Rb, K/Ba and enhanced K/Ba and Rb/Sr ratios (Kerrich, 1989a,
Ba/Rb ratios appear to approximate average crustal 1989b, 1989~; Kerrich and Fryer, 1988). Such

440 Journal of African Earth Sciences

 Origin of Pan-African mesothermalgold mineralisation at Bin Yaw, Nigeria

40

45

1
42

39

36
PPm)
33 due

30

27
1400
24
1320
21
I240
18 L
230 270 II60
Rb (ppm) i%(PPrn)
1080

1000

48 I , 5 ( I , I , I 920

45 - W-
Me-stage Mqna 840
cryrtalllzatmn
42 -
760
39 -

70 II0 I50 190 230 270

Rb(ppm)

I8 I I I I I 4 I I
600 760 920 IO80 1240 1400
Ba ( ppm)

+-Granodiont.? X-Rhyodaate @-Altered Granodlortic

0 -PhyUates l -ttornfels __ Enrlchmmt/depletoan
trends

Figure 5. Plots of the averages of K-Rb-Ba concentrations for the rock types used in this study. These show the enrichment/
depletion trends involved in the transition between precursor and resultant rocks (see Tables 1 and 2 for the data used]. (a)
K/Rb enrichment/depletion trends. I: Rb enrichment during late magmatic crystallisation of rhyodacite; 2: K and Rb depletion
due to hydrothermal alteration of the granodiorite; 3: K and Rb enrichment as a result of contact metamorphic conversion of
phyllites to hornfels (distal); and 4: K and Ba enrichment (due to the hydrothermal alteration of distal hornfels) in the vicinity
of Au veins (proximal hornfelsl. (bJ K/Rb enrichment/depletion trends. 1: Ba depletion during late magmatic crystallisation of
rhyodacite; 2: K and Ba depletion due to hydrothermal alteration of the granodiorite; 3: K enrichment as a result of contact
metamorphic conversion of phyllites to hornfels (distal) and; 4: K and Ba enrichment idue to the hydrothermal alteration of
distal hornfels) in the vicinity of Au veins (proximal hornfelsl. fc) Ba/Rb enrichment/depletion trends. 1: Rb enrichment and Ba
depletion during late magmatic crystallisation of rhyodacite; 2: Rb and Ba depletion due to hydrothermal alteration of the
granodiorite; 3: Rb enrichment as a result of contact metamorphic conversion of phyllites to hornfels (distal); and 4: Rb and
Ba enrichment (due to the hydrothermal alteration of distal hornfels) in the vicinrty of Au veins (proximal hornfelsl.

patterns are noticeable in Cu- and MO-porphyry element ratios that indicate possible equilibration
deposits, Sn-W greisens and certain pegmatites (e.g. with the average crust. Average crustal ratios are
Armbrust et a/., 1977) and resulted from hydro- (Table 2): K/Rb = 285; K/Ba = 36; BalRb = 7.8; Rbl
thermal alteration by a Rb-enriched aqueous phase of Sr =0.123 (Holland, 1978; McLennan, 1985). K-
the magma. This is also the pattern characterising metasomatism is a characteristic feature of many
the lithophile element fractionation between the Bin magmatic-related ore deposits and of alteration
Yauri granodiorite and its late stage differentiate (the domains of Archaean Au-AS vein deposits (Boyle,
rhyodacite). 1979; Kerrich and Fyfe, 1981; Kerrich and Watson,
The enrichment of K in the hydrothermally altered 1984). Similar compliance of inter-lithophile element
(proximal) hornfels implies K-metasomatism by ratios in potassic alteration domains of Au deposits
mineralising fluids and is characterised by inter- with values characteristic of ‘average’ crust has

Journal of African Earth Sciences 44 1

 1. GARBA

Table 1. Large ion lithophile element (LILE) geochemical data for the rocks associated
with the Bin Yauri Au mineralisation

Gl G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 G7 G8 G9

(corn)
K 39266 39100 39266 39266 37025 39764 39017 38519 3993

Rb 144 145 144 147 158 153 154 154 148

Ba 1383 1376 1382 1378 1212 1393 1554 1285 1416

Sr 990 1014 1010 1003 882 1002 1052 609 789

(rattos)

K/Rb 273 270 273 267 234 260 253 250 270

K/Ba 28 28 28 28 30 29 25 30 28

BaiRb 10 9 10 9 a 9 10 a 10

RbiSr 0.15 0 14 0 14 0.15 0.18 0.15 0 15 0.25 0.19 J

GlO” Gil” G12’ I31 R2

(wm)

K 28225 28474 34617 39183 4125

Rb 116 115 131 173 202

Ba 895 900 1123 1173 916

Sr 913 939 788 566 536

htlos)
KlRb
243 248 264 226 204

KiBa 31 32 31 33 45

BalRb a a 9 7 5

Fib/Q 0 13 0.12 0.17 0.31 0.38

Pl P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 Pa

loom)

K 16935 17433 19093 i 7848 20173 18927 23327 24987

Rb 63 62 80 72 a2 66 a5 95

Ba 619 590 633 594 657 619 739 665

Sr 152 158 113 119 170 142 121 99

(rattos)

K/Fib 269 281 239 248 246 287 274 263

KiBa 27 30 30 30 31 31 32 38

Ba/Rb 10 10 a a a 9 9 7

Rb/Sr 0.41 0.39 0.71 0.61 0.48 0.46 0.70 0 96

Hl H2 H3 H4 H5 H6 H7 Ha H9

(Dam)

K 24489 24240 24074 25486 24987 20754 27644 17516 23244

Rb 103 104 102 104 108 a5 123 65 102

Ba 597 762 627 635 698 474 700 645 618

Sr 109 141 128 119 140 116 98 335 120

bmos)

KiRb 238 233 236 245 231 244 225 269 228

K/Ba 41 32 38 40 36 44 39 27 38

Ba/Rb 6 7 6 6 6 6 6 10 6

RbiSr 0.94 0 74 0.80 0.87 0.77 0.73 1.26 0.19 0.85

442 Journal of African Earth Sciences

 Origin of Pan-African mesothermalgold mineralisation at Bin Yaw, Nigeria

Table 1. continued

HlO Hll H12 HI3 HI4 HI5 H16 H17 H19'

born)

K 17599 21418 23327 28059 25236 24738 28557 17599 33621

Rb 77 90 96 110 99 100 116 71 133

Ba 520 689 815 768 688 718 753 538 998

Sr 227 223 479 91 90 214 115 189 103

(ratm)

KlRb 229 238 243 255 255 247 246 248 253

K/Ba 34 31 29 37 37 34 38 33 34

Ba/Rb 7 8 8 7 7 7 6 8 7

RblSr 0.34 0.40 0.20 1.21 1.10 0.47 1.01 0.38 1.29

H19" H20' H21' H22' H23* H24' H25* H26* H27*

(mm)

K 33040 36443 32210 35032 34783 34534 34700 31629 30134

Rb 139 160 130 139 139 134 133 130 119

Ba 1259 1270 811 740 800 803 769 908 893

Sr 280 248 190 187 109 111 106 148 126

(rams)

KlRb 238 228 248 252 250 258 261 243 253

K/&l 26 29 40 47 43 43 45 35 34

BalRb 9 8 6 5 6 6 6 7 7

Rb/Sr 0.50 0.65 0.68 0.74 1.28 1.21 1.25 0.88 0.94

IGI LG’I IRI IPl [HI IH'I

loom)
K 39017 30439 40221 19840 23489 33813
Rb 150 121 188 76 97 136

6.3 1375 973 1045 640 661 925

Sr 928 880 551 134 173 161

(rams)

K/Rb 261 252 215 263 242 248

K/h 28 31 39 31 36 38
Ba/Rb 9 8 6 9 7 7

Rb/Sr 0.17 0.14 0.34 0.59 072 0.94

G: Granodiorite; G l : hydrothermally altered granodionte; R: rhyodacite; P: phyllltes; H:

hornfels (dlstal); H”: hydrothermally altered hornfels (proximal); [Gl, [G”], [RI, [PI, [HI,
[H”]: averages of llthophlle element concentrations and ratios in granodiorite, rhyodacite,
phyllites, hornfels, and their hydrothermally altered varieties.

been taken to imply K, Rb and Ba partitioning into STABLE ISOTOPES (34S, 13C, “0)
hydrothermal fluids in approximately the same Samples and analytical techniques
ratios as in the source rocks (Kerrich, 1989a, The S isotope composition was determined from
1989b, 1989c; Kerrich and Fryer, 1988), rather pyrite, chalcopyrite and galena in the Au veins and
than due to magmatic processes. The lithophile also from pyrite in the hydrothermally altered hornfels.
elements have been found to be highly correlated Carbon and 0 isotope compositions were determined
in almost all of the Au deposits in the Abitibi Belt, from whole rock sample powders of hydrothermally
Canada (Kerrich and Fryer, 19881, where deposits altered (proximal) hornfels containing breunnerite-
are variously hosted by ultramafic, mafic and felsic ferroan dolomite and also, for comparison, from
volcanic rocks, granitoids and elastic or chemical unaltered precursors (phyllites and distal hornfels)
sediments. containing calcite.

Journal of African Earth Sciences 443

 I. GARBA

Table 2. Summary of inter-lithophile element ratios in Bin Yauri rocks

KlRb K/Ba 8alRb RblSr

Granodionte suite
Granodlorite (n = 9) 234-273 25-30 8-10 0.14-0.25
(261) (28) (9) (0.17)

Altered granodiorite (n = 3) 243-264 31-32 8-9 0.12-0.17

(252) (31) (8) (0.14)

Rhyodacite (n = 2) 204-226 33-45 5-7 0.31-0.38

(215) (39) (6) (0.34)

Phyllites (n = 8) 239-287 27-38 7-10 0.39-0.96

(263) (31) (9) (0.59)

Hornfels
Unaltered (Distal) (n = 17) 225-269 27-44 6-10 0.20-l .26
(242) (36) (7) (0.72)

Altered (Proximal) (n = IO) 228-261 26-47 5-9 0.50-l .29

(248) (38) (7) (0.94)

Alteration domalns of Archaean

greenstone belt lode-gold deposits
(Kerrich, 1989) 220-400 30-85 (10) erratic

Average crust (Holland, 1978; Taylor

and McLennan, 1985) (285) (36) (7.8) (0.12)

Average ratios are shown in parentheses

The sulphide minerals were separated from the Sulphur Isotope P4S)
rocks and ground to powder, while the whole rock The 634S of the sulphide minerals is shown in Table
powder used for ICP-AES and AAS analyses were 3, while the distribution of the isotope composition
used for the C and 0 isotope determination. The is plotted in Fig. 6a. The sulphide minerals have
isotope analyses were carried out at the NERC 634S values between 1.5 and 9.4%o (CDT) with a
Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, British Geological mean of 4.7%0 (n = 12). The 634S of the sulphide
Survey, Keyworth, UK. The analytical procedure minerals may also be expressed as:
follow the standard methods for preparation of SO, pyrite = 6.8 + 2.6%0 (n = 6)
(Robinson and Kusakabe, 1975), and for the chalcopyrite = 4.8 * 0.3%0 (n = 3)
preparation of CO, (McCrea, 1950). The isotope galena = 2.1 -+ 0.5%0 (n = 3)
measurements were made on a V6 SIRA 10 mass
spectrometer. The overall analytical precision for Carbon (13C) and oxygen V*O) isotopes
634S 613C and 6180 is + 0 . I%o . The principles of application of C isotope data to
Thk S isotope composition is expressed in %Orelative hydrothermal mineral deposits are similar to those
to the Canon Diablo Triolite (CDT) standard, i.e.: of S. The C and 0 isotope composition of car-
bonates may also potentially act as tracers for the
source of CO, in the mineralising fluids. The results
of ten 613C and 6180 isotopic analyses of carbonates
The C isotope composition of a sample is similarly In precursor phyllites and (distal) hornfels and the
reported as 613C relative to the 13C/12C ratio of the hydrothermally altered (proximal) hornfels of the
Chicago Peebee Belemnite (PDB) standard, while the Bin Yauri Au mineralisatlon are shown in Table 4
0 isotope composition is expressed as 6180 relative and plotted in Fig. 6b.
to the ‘e0/‘60 ratio of Standard Mean Ocean Water The calcite-bearing wall rocks show a much wider
(SMOW). range of 613C and 6180 values (-7 +- 2 and 16.6

444 Journal of African Earth Sciences

 Origin of Pan-African mesothermalgold mineralisation at Bin Yauri, Nigeria

Table 3. Sulphur isotope composition of sulphide minerals in the vein and altered wall
rocks of the Bin Yauri Au mineralisation

Sample 634S~~~ (%o) Description of sample

1 4.1 Pyrite in Au veins

2 9.4 Pyrite in Au veins
3 4.3 Pyrite in altered (proximal) hornfels
4 7.2 Pyrite in altered (proximal) hornfels
5 4.6 Pyrite in altered (proximal) hornfels
6 6.2 Pyrite in altered (proximal) hornfels
7 4.5 Chalcopyrite in Au veins
8 5.1 Chalcopyrite in Au veins
9 4.7 Chalcopyrite in Au veins
10 2.6 Galena in Au veins
11 1.5 Galena in Au veins
12 2.3 Galena in Au veins

+ 6.2%0, respectively) than the samples containing to be more consistent with a crustal (sedimentary)
breunnerite-ferroan dolomite (-7 f 0.7 and 13 f 1.4%0, S source.
respectively). Generally, there is a good correlation The 613C of igneous C are commonly around -5%0,
between the 613C and al80 values in the samples whereas sedimentary marine carbonates are close
(Fig. 6~). The C-O isotope composition of the samples to O%O and organic C is usually isotopically more
containing hydrothermal carbonate is more homo- negative than igneous C (Ohmoto and Rye, 1979).
geneous and consistent than that containing calcite. The 613C of juvenile C, therefore, are restricted to a
narrow range of -5 f 2%0 (Rye and Rye, 1974; Ohmoto
and Rye, 19791, and this is taken to represent 613C
DISCUSSION of C in magmas formed by partial melting of average
The 634S data have been used to constrain physico- mantle rocks. However, Burrows and Spooner (1987)
chemical conditions of mineralisation at Bin Yauri have shown that a magmatic C source can have 613C
(Garba, 1992b). Therefore, the emphasis here is on around -3.3 f 1.3360. The average 613C for sedimentary
the source characteristics of the 6j4S as a tracer of and metamorphic rocks is calculated to be ap-
the origin of the Au mineralisation. proximately -5.5%0, and that of crustal rocks does
The important sources of S in mineral deposits are: not differ by more than f 1.5%0 from that of the
i) deep-seated sources (mantle and homogenised average sedimentary and metamorphic rocks (Ohmoto
crust); and Rye, 1979; Hoefs, 1987). Hoefs (I 987) quotes a
ii) local country rocks; and value of -7%0 for the mean crustal C.
G) sea water or marine evaporites (Rye and Ohmoto, The 613C in phyllites and hornfels from Bin Yauri
1974). (-7 f 2%) expectedly reflect the average crustal C.
If the S was sourced from the mantle, the 634S of Similarly, and in a narrower range, the hydrothermal
sulphides should be near O%o, as almost all C signature associated with the Au mineralisation
Cordilleran hydrothermal ore deposits of magmatic (-7 f 0.7%0) also corresponds to the mean crustal
association exhibit 634S near 0% (Jensen, 1967). sources.
Magmatic S usually has 634S of l-2%0 relative to The small range of V’O values of the hydrothermal
CDT and often produces sulphide minerals with 634S carbonates, and the good correlation with 613C, make
near those values (Rye and Ohmoto, 1974). Holser the 6’*0 data a reliable indicator of fluid source. Taylor
and Kaplan (1966) suggested 634S of 10 + 5%0 for (1967, 1979) made some generalisations on the 6180
average S-type granitic rocks and 6&2.3%0 for values of various waters in nature:
average crustal rocks. However, Ohmoto and Rye i) magmatic waters (7.5-9.0%0);
(1979) show that, in general, values near O%O are iii metamorphic waters (commonly 1 O-l 4%);
considered to be indicative of an igneous S source, $9 hydrothermal waters (similar to magmatic waters
whereas more positive values are likely to reflect or radically different);
a sedimentary source. The positive values of 634S iv) ocean water f-0.5-0.5%0); and
of the Bin Yauri Au mineralisation are considered v) meteoric and surface waters (-10 to -4%0).

Journal of African Earth Snences 445

 I. GARBA

F&fre 6. ~~stn~ution patrem of 2;% (sulphjdesJ, 6 j3C and 6 W fear-bonatesl assac&ited with
the Bin Yauri Au miineralisatfon. faJ E *S dis-tributton in sulphide minerals. fbl 6 TX and S 93
djstr.~bot~o~ in carbonate mineral species. Icl 6 W/8 W correlation.

446 Journal of African Earth Sciences

 Origin of Pan-African mesothermalgold mineralisation at Bin Yauri, Nigeria

Table 4. Carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of (whole rock1 carbonates associated with
the Bin Yauri mineralisation

Sample 613cPDE (%O) 6’80SMOW (%O) Description of sample

1 -6.0 17.6 Phyllite (calcite)

2 -9.3 10.4 Phyllite (calcite)
3 -5.2 22.0 Phyllite (calcite)
4 -4.8 22.8 Distal Hornfels (calcite)
5 -7.7 15.8 Distal Hornfels (calcite)
6 -7.3 12.4 Altered Proximal Hornfels (breunnerite,
ferroan dolomite)
7 -6.7 14.7 - ditto -
8 -7.7 11.8 - ditto -
9 -6.4 13.9 - ditto -
10 -7.7 13.1 - ditto -

The 6180 of meteoric water can be problematic, granitoid intrusion. Instead, a reservoir confined to
because heated meteoric water can undergo iso- elastic metasedimentary rocks is implicated, and
topic exchange and thus increase its value, which the mineralising fluids generated by metamorphic
can be similar to the values associated with hydrothermal processes. Such fluids were gen-
magmatic-metamorphic waters (Taylor, 1967; erated through a large-scale metamorphic process,
Craw and Chamberlain, 1996). Apparently, the 6180 probably along an active, transcurrent Anka Fault
of the hydrothermal carbonates at Bin Yauri (13 system during the waning stages of the Pan-African
k 1.4%0) bracketed the metamorphic water range and event (ca 500 Ma) and subsequently focused into
are markedly different from the 6180 associated with the depositional site via subsidiary faults (Garba,
magmatic or normal meteoric waters. 1992b; Garba and Akande, 1992). This has al-
lowed for extensive re-equilibration (of mineral-
ising fluids) with, or ‘sampling’, the average (sedi-
CONCLUSIONS mentary) crustal rock composition. There is inc-
Brittle faulting and synchronous Au mineralisation and reasing evidence that hydrothermal reservoirs that
hydrothermal alteration at Bin Yauri clearly post-dated are involved in Au mineralisation appear to have
(and overprinted) regional metamorphism, granodiorite been generated by a late tectonic hydrothermal
batholith emplacement and its associated contact (metamorphic) process in the root zones of terrane-
metamorphism, all of which belong to the main phase boundary structures (Kerrich, 1989a, 1989b,
of the Pan-African event. 1989~; Kerrich and Wyman, 1990; Wyman and
The study of LILE systematics has shown K-Rb- Kerrich, 1988).
Ba-Sr enrichment/depletion patterns that are unlike
those observed in magmatic-related deposits, and
inter-element ratios are similar to those chara- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
cteristic of ‘average’ crust. 634S values of sulphides The geochemical analyses were carried out at
of 1.5-9.4%0 (mean =4.7%0) are typical of most Imperial College, London, UK. Many thanks to Prof.
Archaean and Phanerozoic mesothermal Au deposits D.L. Buchanan, Dr M. Ramsay, Mr P. Watkins, Mr
and are indicative of a remobilised sedimentary S A. Doyle and Mr B. Cole for guidance and as-
source (Groves and Foster, 1990; Nesbitt, 1990). sistance. The author is especially indebted to Dr B.
Similarly, the 613C values of hydrothermal car- Spiro who assisted with the isotopic analyses at
bonates (-7 f 0.7%0) reflect mean crustal carbon the NERC Laboratory, British Geological Survey,
sources, while the 6’*0 of carbonates (13 f 1.4%) Keyworth, UK. Finally the author wishes to thank
bracketed the isotopic range for metamorphic Dr F. Tollon of Universite Paul Sabatier Toulouse
water. III, France, for making constructive criticisms and
The direct involvement of magmatic fluids can, offering suggestions towards reconstruction of an
therefore, be ruled out as a source of Au mineral- earlier version of the manuscript.
isation at Bin Yauri, despite the proximity to a Editorial handling - R. Black and E. Ike

Journal of African Earth Sciences 447

 1. GARBA

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