Two-Generation of Sphalerite from Pb-Zn Mineralization of Riasi Inlier, Jammu and Kashmir, India: Evidences from Sulphur Isotopes

Pankaj K. Srivastava, Ishya Devi

Department of Geology, University of Jammu, Jammu, India.

DOI: 10.4236/ijg.2015.65040                

Abstract

Precambrian carbonate sequence of Riasi Inlier hosts epigenetic lead-zinc mineralization in the form of pockets, lenses and veins. The mineralization is having variable Pb:Zn ratio and shows lithological preferences. The sphalerite rich pockets are concentrated within the dolostone of older Trikuta Formation while galena rich mineralization occurs in form of veins, lenses and pockets hosted within siliceous varieties of dolostone and quartzite belonging to younger Khairikot Formation. Sulphur isotope geochemistry is reported in the present paper for the sphalerire and galena from the area for first time. Overall δ³⁴S of sulphides varies from (+9.67‰ to +34.42‰). Sphalerite ores hosted within older Trikuta Formation and younger Khairikot Formation, however, show different δ³⁴S values. It ranged from +9.67‰ to +10.59‰ for the sphalarite hosted in Trikuta Formation and from +18.38‰ to +34.42‰ for sphalerite hosted within Khairikot Formation. Sulphur isotopic data and ore petrographic data suggest that there is two-generation of sphalerite present in the area.

Keywords

Sulphur Isotopes, Pb-Zn Deposit, Carbonates, Riasi Inlier, Sirban Group

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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