Fluid evolution in the Kolar Gold Field: evidence from fluid inclusion studies

Abstract

Gold mineralization in the Kolar schist belt of the Dharwar craton occurs dominantly in the form of a sulfide-poor Au-quartz lode (the Champion lode exposed in the Mysore and other mines) and sulfide-rich auriferous lodes (from the Nundydroog mine). Fluid inclusion microthermometric experiments were conducted on primary inclusions in quartz intimately associated with Au-mineralization. Homogenization studies on aqueous-biphase (L + V), aqueous polyphase (L + V+ halite) and aqueous-carbonic (L_CO2± V_CO2 + L_aq) inclusions from the Champion lode furnish a temperature range of 120 to 420 °C. Freezing of aqueous biphase inclusions and dissolution of halite in the aqueous polyphase inclusions provide salinity of 5 to 50 wt.% NaCl equivalent. Fluid inclusion thermobarometry from the total homogenization of aqueous-carbonic inclusions and from intersecting isochores of coeval pure-carbonic (L_CO2± V_CO2) and pure-aqueous inclusions constrain the P-T path of evolution of the fluid in the Champion lode. Gold precipitation was likely to have been brought about in response to a sharp fall in pressure with attendant unmixing of liquid-CO₂ from the parent H₂O-CO₂ fluid of possible metamorphic origin. This would imply transportation of gold by some pressure-sensitive complex such as the Au-carbonyl. Fluid characteristics are different in the sulfide-rich auriferous lodes, as indicated by the virtual absence of the CO₂-bearing and the halite-bearing inclusions. The fluid evolution path, as evident from the crude positive colinearity of temperature and salinity, is due to mixing of a low (≤200 °C) temperature-low saline (≤7 wt.% NaCl equivalent) fluid with a high temperature (≥400 °C)-high saline (≥50 wt.% NaCl equivalent) fluid. The lack of CO₂ and association of Au with sulfides indicate a different mode of gold transport, as chloride or bisulfide complexing, deposition of which was possibly brought about by fluid mixing.