Unravelling the Temporal and Chemical Evolution of a Mineralizing Fluid in Karst-Hosted Deposits: A Record from Goethite in the High Atlas Foreland (Morocco)

Abstract

Timing and duration of ore deposit formation are crucial to understanding the mineralization process. To address this, the geochronological (U-Th)/He method, geochemical and H- and O-isotope compositions of pure goethite formed in the Imini karst-hosted Mn district (High Atlas, Morocco) were examined in detail. Two main generations of cavity-filling and fracture-filling goethite are identified, and both precipitated prior to the massive Mn oxide ore. The δD and δ18O values reveal that the mineralizing fluid of cavity and fracture-filling goethite is meteoric-derived but enriched in 18O due to fluid–rock interactions with the host rock dolostone or mixing with O2-rich surface water resident in an open karst system. The cavity-filling goethite precipitated between 95 to 80 Ma, whereas fracture-filling goethite formed between 80 to 50 Ma. Ore deposition occurred discontinuously during the early Atlas doming associated with one or more early compressional events in the Atlas tectonism. The increase in δD values and depletion in U content result from a change in the mineralizing fluid within the karst system. At about 50 Ma, the fluid is notably enriched in U, Cu and trace metals.