Composition of Volatile Components in Mineral-Hosted Fluid Inclusions at Hydrothermal Deposits. Water–Rock–Gas Systems in Ore-Forming Processes

Abstract

The paper presents data on the average analyzed concentrations of volatile components (CO₂, CH₄ and other hydrocarbons, N₂, and H₂S) in natural fluids producing hydrothermal Au, Sn, W, Mo, Cu, Pb, and Zn mineral deposits. Characteristics of the gas regime at these deposits are determined. Thermodynamic simulations are carried out to model how compounds with volatile components are formed when water interacts with silicic and mafic rocks within wide P–T ranges. The speciation of volatile components determined by direct analysis is in good agreement with numerical simulations of water–rock systems (for silicic and mafic rocks). More reduced species with volatile components are formed in mafic rocks.