CHARACTERIZING HYDROTHERMAL FLUID FLOW OF POST-VARISCAN ORE DEPOSITS IN NEBIDA, SW SARDINIA

The geological evolution of Sardinia is characterized by numerous magmatic and hydrothermal mineralizing events, ranging in age from the sedimentation of the Cambrian Middle carbonate platform to Miocene Alpidic tectonic and magmatic activity. Earlier studies have pinpointed the types of ore bodies hosted and phases of fluid flow within the Lower Cambrian platform carbonates. However, few studies have focused on the mechanisms of hydrothermal fluid flow and possible sources of metallic cations, which is the goal of this research. Samples from the Pitzu Luas mine were collected from the main ore vein and surrounding host rock in a gradational sequence to best represent the interactions between the platform carbonates and mineralizing fluids. Analytical methods such as XRF major and trace elements analysis and SEM analysis are utilized to determine evidence of mineralogical alterations of surrounding host rock that offers insight into ore precipitating hydrothermal fluids and attempt to characterize fluid flow throughout the area.