Ore sources of the base-metal veins at the Dzhimidon deposit, North Ossetia, Russia: Evidence from REE distribution in ores and host rocks

Abstract

REE distribution patterns of the ores and host rocks of the Dzhimidon vein lead-zinc deposit (North Caucasus, Ossetia, Sadon mining district, Russia) have been analyzed to estimate ore sources of hydrothermal deposits. It is established that both types of prevailing rocks of the Sadon Area are involved in the formation of base-metal ores during activation of hydrothermal metasomatic processes in the Jurassic time, the said rocks are Paleozoic granites (the main ore-hosting rocks at the majority of deposits) and Pre- Cambrian schists (specific for only ore-hosting rocks of Dzhimidon deposit).