Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Re-evaluation of lead isotopic data, southern Massif Central, France

  • Published:
Mineralium Deposita Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Three independent Pb isotope homogenizing processes operating on large volumes of rock material during limited intervals in the Phanerozoic have been used to define a unique evolutionary curve for rock and ore lead isotopic compositions of the southern Massif Central, France. The model is

$$\begin{gathered}{\text{ x}}_{\text{t}} = 18.641{\text{ }} - {\text{ 9}}{\text{.56(e}}^{{\text{L1*t}}} - 1{\text{)}} \hfill \\{\text{y}}_{\text{t}} = 15.678{\text{ }} - {\text{ 0}}{\text{.06934(e}}^{{\text{L2*t}}} - 1{\text{)}} \hfill \\{\text{ z}}_{\text{t}} = 38.701{\text{ }} - {\text{ 30}}{\text{.8(e}}^{{\text{L3*t}}} - 1{\text{)}} \hfill \\\end{gathered}$$

where xt, yt and zt are the calculated isotopic ratios (206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb respectively) at time t years ago and L1, L2 and L3 are the decay constants of 238U, 235U and 232Th respectively. The model gives the following ages for averages of the three sets of data used in its generation: age of mineralization for carbonate-hosted lead-zinc ore of Les Malines, ca. 150 Ma; emplacement of the Saint-Guiral-Liron granite, ca. 290 Ma; and an estimated average age of a group of Cambrian syngenetic deposits, ca. 520 Ma. These ages are in close agreement with ages determined by independent methods.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brevart, O., Dupre, B., and Allegre, C.J. (1982) Metallogenic provinces and the remobilization process studied by lead isotopes: lead-zinc ore deposits from the southern Massif Central, France. Economic Geology 77:564–575.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charef, A. (1982) La nature et le role des phases associees a la mineralisation Pb-Zn dans les formations carbonatees et leurs consequences metallogeniques. Etude des inclusions fluides et des isotopes (H, C, O, S, Pb) des gisements des Malines (France), Fedj-el-adoum et Jbel-Hallouf-Sidi Bou Aouane (Tunisie). These d'etat, Nancy, France, 291 p.

  • Chow, T.J., Patterson, C.C. (1962) The occurrence and significance of lead isotopes in pelagic sediments. Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta. 26:263–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Cumming, G.L., and Richards, J.R. (1975) Ore lead isotope ratios in a continuously changing earth. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 28, 155–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Doe, B.R., Zartman, R.E. (1979) Plumbotectonics: Chap. 2. In: Barnes, H.L. (ed.) Geochemistry of hydrothermal ore deposits, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York, pp. 22–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Godwin, C.I., Sinclair, A.J. (1982) Average lead isotope growth curve for shale-hosted lead-zinc deposits, Canadian Cordillera. Economic Geology. 77: 675–690

    Google Scholar 

  • Godwin, C.I., Sinclair, A.J., Ryan, B.J. (1982) Lead isotope models for the genesis of carbonate-hosted Zn-Ba, shale-hosted Ba-Zn-Pb and silver-rich deposits in the northern Canadian Cordillera. Economic Geology 77:82–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Lancelot, J., Sarazin, G., Allegre, C.J. (1971) Compositions isotopiques du plomb et du soufre des galenes liees aux formations sedimentaires. Interpretations geologiques et geophysiques. Mineralogy Petrology 32:315–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Guen, M. (1989) Les mineralisations Pb-Zn du Bathonien dans la region des Malines (gard): cadre geodynamique, caracterisation isotopique (Pb) et implications genetiques. These de Doctorat, Universite des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, 231 pp.

  • Le Guen, M., Lancelot, J.R. (1989) Origine du Pb-Zn des mineralisations du Bathonien sud-cevenol. Apport de la geochimie isotopique comparee du plomb des galenes, de leur encaissant et du socle. B.R.G.M. Chronique de la Recherche Miniere, No. 495, pp. 31–36

  • Le Guen, M., Orgeval, J.J., Lancelot, J.R. (1989) Lead isotope behaviour in a polyphased Pb-Zn ore deposit (The Malines, France). Unpublished manuscript as appendix in Le Guen (1989)

  • Le Guen, M., Orgeval, J.J., Lancelot, J.R. (1988) Composition isotopique du plomb des mineralisations Pb-Zn d'un gite a evolution polyphasee: Les Malines (Gard, France), B.R.G.M., Rapport d'activites, Orleans, France

  • Macquar, J.C., Marini, D., Rouvier, H. (1988) Metallogenie post-triasique dans le district plombo-zincifere des Malines (Gard). In: Johan, Z., Ohnenstetter, D. (eds.) Gisements metalliferes dans leur contexte geologique. Document du B.R.G.M. No. 158, Vol. II, pp. 773–802

  • Macquar, J.C., Rouvier, H., Thibieroz, J. (1990) Les mineralisation Zn, Pb, Fe, Ba, F, peri-cevenoles: cadre structuro-sedimentaire et distribution spatio-temporelle. In: Mobilite et concentration des metaux de base dans les couivertures sedimentaires manifestations, mecanismes, prospection. Document du B. R. G. M., No. 183, 143–155, 1990.

  • Marcoux, E. (1986) Isotopes du plomb et parageneses metalliques, traceurs de l'histoire des gites mineraux. Illustration des concepts de source, d'heritage et de regionalisme dans les gites francais applications en recherche miniere. These de Doctorat d'Etat, Clermont-Ferrand, Document du B. R. G. M., No. 117, 289 p.

  • Michard-Vitrac, A., Albarede, F., Allegre, C.J. (1981) Lead isotopic composition in Hercynian granitic K feldspars constrains continental genesis. Nature 291:460–464

    Google Scholar 

  • Michaud, J.G. (1980) Gisements de plomb-zinc du sud du Massif Central francais (Cevennes-Montagne Noire) et caracteristiques geologiques de leur environnement. Bulletin Centre de Recherche Elf-Aquitaine 3:335–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer, A.R. (1983) The decade of North American geology, 1983, Geological time scale. Geology 11:501–564

    Google Scholar 

  • Routhier, P. (dy1980) Ou sont les metaux pour l'avenir? Les Provinces metallogeniques, essai du metallognenie globale. Memoire du B. R. G. M., No. 105, Fig. 79 h.t, Orleans, France

  • Russell, R.D., Farquhar, R.M. (1960) Lead isotopes in geology. Interscience, New York, 141 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard, S.M.F., Charef, A. (1990) Isotopic studies (H, C, O, S, Pb) on carbonate-shale hosted Pb-Zn deposits. Document du B. R. G. M., No. 183, pp. 37–49

  • Sinclair, A.J. (1963) Oceanic leads and ore genesis, a discussion. Economic Geology 60:1533–1538

    Google Scholar 

  • Stacey, J.S., Kramers, J.D. (1975) Approximation of terrestral lead isotope evolution by two stage model. Earth Planetary Sci Letters 26:207–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Vialette, Y., Sabourdy, G. (1977a) Age et origine de granitoides du Mont Lozere dans le Massif central francais. Compte Rendu Somm. Soc. Geol. France, Fasc. 3:127–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Vialette, Y., Sabourdy, G. (1977b) Age du granite de l'Aigoual dans le massif des Cevennes (France); Compte Rendu Somm. Soc. Geol. France, Fasc. 3:130–132

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, The University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, B. C., Canada

    A. J. Sinclair

  2. Laboratoire de Geologie Appliquée, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 4, Place Jussieu, F-75252, Paris, France

    J. C. Macquar & H. Rouvier

Authors
  1. A. J. Sinclair
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. C. Macquar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Rouvier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sinclair, A.J., Macquar, J.C. & Rouvier, H. Re-evaluation of lead isotopic data, southern Massif Central, France. Mineral. Deposita 28, 122–128 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00196336

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00196336

Keywords

Search

Navigation