The role of bittern brines and fluid mixing in the genesis of Navan Zn-Pb deposit, Ireland

摘要

The Navan deposit, located near the northern margin of the Irish Midlands Basin, is the largest operating carbonate-hosted zinc deposit in Europe. Detailed paragenetic studies utilising cathodoluminescence and geochemical analysis of individual cement generations are being used to constrain the hydrothermal evolution of the ore-forming system. In particular, the authors have focused on identifying the mechanism whereby sulphide, produced from bacterially reduced seawater sulphate, was transported to sites of mineralization.