The origin of lead and sulphur in Tulare ore field, Lece magmatic complex, SE Serbia

Abstract

Lece magmatic complex in SE Serbia, part of the Serbo-Macedonian Metallogenic Province, is one of the most promising zones for lead, zinc and precious metals for the country. This complex was formed as a result of the post-collisional magmatic activity that lasted from Oligocene to Miocene. This study brings new lead and sulphur isotope data with an aim to constrain the origin of mineralizing fluids and to estimate the temperature of their formation. Galena from the Bakrenjača locality shows high 207Pb/204Pb values implying that the lead was dominantly derived from the upper continental crustal geochemical reservoir which was probably recycled within the mantle and erupted during Tertiary post-collisional magmatism. Sulfur isotope composition of galena, sphalerite and pyrite show overlapping δ34S values in the range between 0 and 3‰ indicating a mantle origin of sulphur. Sulfur isotopes were also used to estimate the temperature under which the minerals were deposited forming a complex of veins. The calculated temperature is around 350°C. Since this temperature is too high for epithermal deposits, it is probable that the associated minerals weren’t deposited in isotopic equilibrium and other methods should be conducted for more precise temperature evaluation. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 176016]

Keywords

• Lead and sulphur isotopes
• Lece-Chalkidiki zone
• Tulare
• Bakrenjača