Bacteria were responsible for the magnitude of the world-class hydrothermal base metal sulfide orebody at Navan Ireland

Fallick, A.E., Ashton, J.H., Boyce, A.J. , Ellam, R.M. and Russell, M.J. (2001) Bacteria were responsible for the magnitude of the world-class hydrothermal base metal sulfide orebody at Navan Ireland. Economic Geology and the Bulletin of the Society of Economic Geologists, 96(4), pp. 885-890.

Abstract

We report sulfur and lead isotope analyses of mine concentrates from Navan, the largest zinc deposit in Ireland. These samples, each representing up to a million tonnes of ore, show very limited isotopic variation, with mean delta S-34 = -13.6 +/- 2 per mil (n = 20), and galena concentrate mean Pb-206/Pb-264 = 18.19 +/- 0.03 (n = 7). Calculations suggest greater than or equal to 90 percent of the Navan sulfides were derived through bacteriogenic reduction of Mississipian seawater sulfate, whereas metals were acquired from a local, orogenic crustal source beneath the ore-body. Enhanced bacterial activity was fundamental to ore deposition at Navan: no bacteria, no giant ore deposit.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ellam, Professor Rob and Boyce, Professor Adrian and Russell, Prof Michael and Fallick, Professor Anthony
• Authors: Fallick, A.E., Ashton, J.H., Boyce, A.J., Ellam, R.M., and Russell, M.J.
• Subjects: Q Science > QE Geology
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Economic Geology and the Bulletin of the Society of Economic Geologists
• ISSN: 0361-0128