Volcanic features of IOCG mineralization in Kildyam volcanic complex of Central Yakutia (Russia)

This contribution presents the evidence for volcanic geology and associated magnetite-hematite and other mineralization from volatile-rich lavas and related gas-phases. Recently discovered the Yakut iron belt is approximately 120 km long and 10 km wide. The Zone contains 1 large and about 4 smaller high-grade ore deposits in the upper Jurassic sediments. The existence of ore with volcanic features demonstrates that ore magmas reach surface in Kildyam Volcanic Complex. Occurrence of rapid-growth textures, vesicular ore lava and pyroclastic ore demonstrate emplacement of ore magmas at or near the surface and confirm that this deposit is volcanic. Kildyam ore occur as massive, sub-horizontal, tabular bodies, as crosscutting feeder dikes and as stratified, fragmental magnetite-lavas material. Effusive iron-oxide liquids reach surface via feeder dikes and sub-parallel swarms of fissures and voids. Main ore product, expelled from fissure, is a magnetite-rich pyroclastic material deposited on Kildyam andesitic lavas. Heavy magnetite lava characterized by textures: (a) subrounded fragments of altered volcanic rocks in a magnetite matrix; (b) upward transition from dense to highly vesicular magnetite lava; (c) pyroclastic ore dominated by lapilli-sized material discordant above ore lava with sheeted structure; (d) magnetite lava with well-developed sheeted structure due to laminar flow; (e) scoriaceous magnetite lava from the flow top; (f) stratification in a lenses of pyroclastic ore within the magnetite lava flow. The final magnetite ore bodies formed from iron oxide magma that intruded local volcanic sequence and in places erupted at surface. Volcanic breccia and iron-oxide mineralization from Kildyam succession contain (a) oxides: hematite, magnetite, Ti-magnetite; phenocrysts of ilmenite, rutile, pseudorutile, and ilmenorutile (Ti,Nb,Fe+++)O₂; (b) sulfides: argentite, chalcopyrite, bartonite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, tetrahedrite, troilite; (c) alloys: Au, Au– Ag–Cu–Fe, Cu, Cu–Zn, Fe, Fe–Al–Cu. Ni–Fe–Cu–Sn. Iron native and as sulfides with copper, enriched from the liquid sulfide droplets; copper, led, silver and gold precipitated from high-temperature late magmatic fluids. The study presents evidence for growth of magnetite from iron-oxide-rich liquids and of magnetite, hematite and other minerals from volatile-rich magmas and related gas-phases. Occurrence of diverse gold, silver, copper and lead minerals in magnetite lavas led to preserve IOCG (Iron Oxide Copper Gold) mineralization. Based on the research carried out so far, it is generally accepted that Kildyam group has potential to become a new world-class size IOCG deposit at 30 km near Yakutsk.

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