Scientific article
English

Fluid-driven auto-oxidation in magmas associated with porphyry Cu-Au deposits

Published inEarth and planetary science letters, vol. 671, p. 1-8; 119667
Publication date2025-12
Abstract

The exsolution of chlorine-rich fluids plays a key role in porphyry Cu-Au deposits (PCDs) formation by transferring metals from the melt to the fluid, either directly or via breakdown of pre-existing magmatic sulfides. However, the relative roles of these two mechanisms of metal transfer to the magmatic-hydrothermal fluid remain unclear. In this study, amphibole composition is employed as a proxy to reconstruct magmatic evolution and fluid exsolution conditions favorable to the formation of PCDs. Our results show that magmatic Cl and Cu contents, Mg#, and fO2 values inferred from amphiboles exhibit coupled variations during magma evolution. We interpret these correlations to be due to Cl-rich fluid exsolution from a deep-seated PCD system which triggers an increase in fO2 and the destabilization of previously formed sulfides in the middle to upper crust. This mechanism may be a key factor for the formation of Cu-rich PCDs that tend to be deeper and more oxidized than Au-rich PCDs. Our findings highlight amphibole composition as a potential indicator of magmatic-hydrothermal mineralization.

Keywords
  • Fluid-driven auto-oxidation
  • Cl-rich fluid exsolution
  • Porphyry Cu-Au deposit
  • Amphibole
Funding
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China [42172078]
Citation (ISO format)
WANG, Shiwei et al. Fluid-driven auto-oxidation in magmas associated with porphyry Cu-Au deposits. In: Earth and planetary science letters, 2025, vol. 671, p. 1–8. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119667
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
accessLevelRestricted
Identifiers
Journal ISSN0012-821X
23views
0downloads

Technical informations

Creation16/10/2025 07:04:39
First validation24/10/2025 07:08:11
Update24/10/2025 07:08:11
Status update24/10/2025 07:08:11
Last indexation24/10/2025 07:08:12
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack