Mineralogical, sulphur, and lead isotopic study of the Lemarchant Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag-Au-VMS deposit: implications for precious-metal enrichment processes in the VMS environment

The Lemarchant deposit is a Cambrian volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit located in the Central Mobile Belt of the Newfoundland Appalachians. Unlike other polymetallic VMS deposits in the bimodal felsic Tally Pond group, Lemarchant is enriched in precious metals. The deposit is composed of contrasting styles of sulphide mineralization, and formed in three discrete stages: Stage 1: barite-rich, low-temperature (<250oC) VMS mineralization; Stage 2: 150 to 250oC intermediate- to high-sulphidation epithermal-style mineralization; and Stage 3: polymetallic, high-temperature (>300oC) VMS mineralization. Sulphur isotopes suggest that S is derived from three sources: thermochemically reduced seawater sulphate, leached igneous basement rock, and magmatic SO2. Lead isotopes indicate that Pb is primarily derived from evolved crustal material, with some input from juvenile volcanic rock (i.e. arc-rift). Precious metals associated with epithermal-style mineralization are consistent with a magmatic contribution to the hydrothermal fluid. Precious metals were precipitated from intermittently boiled fluids, at relatively shallow (<1500 m) water depth.