Metasomatic magnesite, siderite and ankerite mineralizations within Paleozoic sediments of the Northern Greywacke zone and its metamorphic counterpart in the crystalline “basement” (Upper Austroalpine unit) were investigated with respect to their strontium isotopic composition. The results support a sedimentary (s.l.) model for the magnesites within Visean platform carbonates of the Veitsch nappe and an epigenetic hydrothermal model for the siderites and ankerites in Devonian platform carbonates of the Noric nappe and from Huttenberg. The Fe transporting fluids can be characterized either as magmatogene or, more probably, as metamorphogene. By increasing the stage of recrystallization and/or remobilization due to at least two later metamorphic overprints, Sr in the various ore minerals beame ± enriched in radiogenic 87Sr.

Strontium isotopic evidence for the origin of siderite, ankerite and magnesite mineralizations in the Eastern Alps

Granite-types in the Hohe Tauern (Eastern Alps, Austria) — Some aspects on their correlation to Variscan plate tectonic processes

The two Alpine orogenic phases of the Eastern Alps, in the Cretaceous and in the Tertiary, were both accompanied by the formation of mineral deposits. However, subduction-related magmatic belts as well as the typical “Andean” ore deposits are missing. Therefore, the role of metamorphism in East Alpine metallogeny was tentatively explored for more than 60 y, although for a long time without tangible results. Microthermometric, geochemical and isotopic investigations of fluid inclusions from selected Alpine mineral deposits presented allow a preliminary confirmation of the involvement of metamorphic fluids in their origin. Deposits which were formed immediately after the first, Cretaceous orogeny, were produced at high pressures by fluids of very high salinity and high density, and with an isotopic composition of the water falling into the metamorphic field. These fluids are best understood as products of metamorphic de-volatilization of rocks of the subducted South Pennine domain. In contrast to this, the deposits formed after the second, Tertiary orogeny, originated at relatively low pressures from fluids with an appreciable content of CO2 and of low to moderate salinities. Isotopic compositions of this carbon indicate a deep crustal or even mantle source for CO2, while the water is isotopically more heterogeneous and may have mixed sources, both surficial and metamorphic. Tectonic control of these mineralizations is late-orogenic trans-tensional faulting, which exposed hot metamorphic rocks to fluid convection along brittle structures. These deposits conform best to the model of metamorphogenic metallogenesis by retrograde leaching, although ponded metamorphic fluids and mantle volatiles may also have been involved.

Metamorphism and metallogeny in the Eastern Alps

Vein-type Mo mineralization at Alpeiner Scharte occurs in the Penninic units of the western Tauern Window in the Eastern Alps. Three types of previously undated metagranitoids (central gneisses) are distinguished and preserve intrusive contacts with pre-Alpine metamorphosed supracrustal rocks. The granitic protoliths represent fractionated late to post-orogenic, calc-alkaline, I-type magmas with minor S-type components. The Mo veins are restricted to a biotite and alkali feldspar-rich gneiss variety and occur in E–W trending normally sub-vertical quartz veins with adjacent thin discontinuous garnet- and biotite-rich zones; the latter are interpreted as metamorphosed vein selvages. Prior to this work the age of the intrusive host rocks as well as the age of Mo mineralization were unknown.

Molybdenum mineralization at Alpeiner Scharte, Tyrol (Austria): results of in-situ U–Pb zircon and Re–Os molybdenite dating

The molybdenite deposit of the Alpeinerscharte (Austria) is situated in Variscan greenschist- to amphibolite-facies metamorphosed granodiorites and granites of the western Tauern Window. These granitoids represent strongly fractionated calc-alkaline I-type magmas with minor S-type components and reveal post-orogenic affinities. Molybdenum contents (average 4.3 ppm) are slightly above the general background of average granites. Molybdenite mineralization is restricted to narrow quartz veins and quartz vein selvages which are presently composed of biotite and (almandine-grossular) garnet. These selvages show geochemical features typical of intermediate argillic alteration in a hydrothermal system postdating granite intrusion: instability of plagioclase causes removal of Na, Ba, Sr, Pb and Eu, while K and Ca remain nearly constant. Rare earth elements (apart from Eu) and metals are extremely enriched. Application of Fe-Mg exchange (garnet-biotite) and oxygen isotope (quartz-garnet, quartz-plagioclase) geothermometers to vein selvage mineral assemblages reveals temperatures of the late-Alpine (35–55 Ma) metamorphic overprint (∼540°C, 7–10 kbar). Leucocratic rocks composed of mainly orthoclase and plagioclase are occasionally spatially related to molybdenite-bearing veins; they are interpreted as episyenites formed by hydrothermal alteration of the host granite. This episyenitic alteration is characterized by a mass loss of ca. 30%, relative enrichment of plagioclase components, extreme depletion of Si, and minor depletion of Fe, Zn, Cu and Mo.

The metamorphosed molybdenum vein-type deposit of the Alpeinerscharte, Tyrol (Austria) and its relation to Variscan granitoids

Paleo-metallogenetic sketch maps of the East Alpine area are presented for the Ordovician/Silurian, the Devonian/Lower Carboniferous, and the Upper Carboniferous/Permian. Mineralization and tectonic evolution are then discussed in the frame of a plate tectonic model compatible with recent results in Western Europe. A group of microcontinents originally dispersed in an ocean north of Gondwana, comprising in the investigated area a Bohemian, Penninic and a South/Austro-Alpine microcontinent was sutured after earlier localized orogenies to a Central European continent during the Devonian resulting from a general northward drift from the Cambrian onwards. This was followed by the development of a new destructive plate margin in the South with a northerly dipping subduction zone, enabling the consumption of the Proto-Tethys ocean. Mainland Gondwana then collided with the newly formed continent during the Carboniferous. Contrary to the generally convergent tectonic pattern most mineralizations in the South/Austro-Alpine area appear associated with crustal extension and related volcanism continuing into the Lower Carboniferous. Especially in the Upper Ordovician this conforms well with the concept of a back arc extensional cratonic basin setting. Metal zoning similar to the Andean/Cordilleran situation cannot be observed. Notably different, however, is the orogenic setting of the Penninic area during the Lower Paleozoic, with an economic scheelite-mineralization and associated trace elements reflecting mainly crustal affinities. The Upper Carboniferous calc-alcaline magmatism of the South/Austro-Alpine-Penninic area with its Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag-F mineralisation in the South and anomalous Be-Bi-F-Li-Mo-W-U contents further North displays many features of a back arc magmatic belt. The orogenetic stage is followed in the Upper Carboniferous-Permian by molasse with sandstone type U, graphite (coal) and acidic volcanism giving rise to (Ba-F-) Cu-Pb-Zn-U ores. A renewed tensional regime accompanied by marine transgression during the higher Permian produced evaporite deposits and minor epigenetic mineralization dominated by Fe in the Austro-Alpine area.

W. Pohl

Papers

Metallogenetic evolution of the East Alpine Paleozoic basement