A Devonian auriferous hot spring system, Rhynie, Scotland

Rice, C.M. et al. (1995) A Devonian auriferous hot spring system, Rhynie, Scotland. Journal of the Geological Society, 152(2), pp. 229-250. (doi: 10.1144/gsjgs.152.2.0229)

Abstract

The Early Devonian Rhynie hot spring system is the oldest known and is of the low sulphidation type. It extends for at least 1.5 km along a major fault zone defining the western margin of an outlier of fluvial and lacustrine sediments, plant-bearing sinters and andesitic lavas. The age of sedimentation and hydrothermal activity has been determined by palynological (Pragian) and radio-metric (396 ± 12 Ma) techniques. The outlier is a half graben with a complex stepped western margin.

The Devonian rocks show intense hydrothermal alteration along the fault zone. The main alteration minerals are quartz, K-feldspar, calcite, hematite and illitic and chloritic clays. Multiple chert veining and brecciation are widely developed, and geyserite and vent material are also present. Pyrite occurs in veins and all alteration facies. Sinters and altered rocks contain high concentrations of Au, As, Sb, Hg, W and Mo. Gold occurs in arsenian pyrite and as sub-micron particles in oxidized rocks.

The fluid(s) responsible for most hydrothermal alteration were near neutral with low sulphur and oxygen activities and dominated by meteoric water. However, incursions of high temperature (300–440°C) magmatic fluids occurred with δD–65‰ and δ18O around +8.5‰. δ34S (pyrite) and initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (vein calcite) lie mainly within the ranges +3.4‰ to +8.5‰ and 0.71138 to 0.71402 respectively. These data indicate that late Proterozoic Dalradian metasediments are a likely source for S and Sr but other sources are possible. δ13C values for caliche and vein calcite imply derivation of carbon from non-organic sources.

The Rhynie cherts were deposited from a low salinity fluid of probable meteoric origin (δ18Ochert+ 13.1‰ to +16.5‰) which had interacted with the basement rocks and sediments (high Xe/Ar, Br/Cl and I/Cl ratios). Plant-bearing chert yielded an 40Ar/39Ar ratio (292.1± 0.6) significantly less than that of modem air and may be the first valid determination of a sample of ancient atmosphere.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Boyce, Professor Adrian and Fallick, Professor Anthony
• Authors: Rice, C.M., Ashcroft, W.A., Batten, D.J., Boyce, A.J., Caulfield, J.B.D., Fallick, A.E., Hole, M.J., Jones, E., Pearson, M. J., Rogers, G., Saxton, J.M., Stuart, F.M., Trewin, N.H., and Turner, G.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Journal of the Geological Society
• Publisher: Geological Society Publishing House
• ISSN: 0016-7649
• ISSN (Online): 2041-479X