Genesis of the Middle Taurus Carbonate-Hosted Zn-Pb Deposits by Stable Isotope (S34/32) Ratios
Abstract: A number of zinc-lead deposits occur in different aged limestones belonging to the various stratigraphical units of the Middle Taurus Belt.They are mostly epigenetic ores and sometimes formed by limestone replacement. However, some authors also assume that the origin of somedeposits is sedimentary. From west to east, these deposits are Çarıksaraylar (Şarkikaraağaç - İsparta), Karalar (Gazipaşa - Antalya), Göktepe(Ermenek - Konya), Ortakonuş (Anamur - İçel), Tekneli (Çamardı - Niğde), Bolkardağ - Ulukışla - Çiftehan (Niğde) and Yahyalı (Kayseri) ores.Range ofö34S values in sulfide minerals collected from ore deposits vary in the galenas and sphalerites, from 0 -2.7 to +13.9 % and from 0-7.1% to +9.8 respectively. While Göktepe (Ermenek-Konya) deposits show negative values ofhi4S, the other deposits of Middle Taurus have positivehi4S values. The âuS values ofsulfides of the ore deposits fall in a narrow range. These isotopic compositions suggest that the Middle Taurus zinclead deposits have been derived from magmatic-hydrothermal sources possibly having mixed with some other fluids of different origin and influenced by their 34S and 3-S isotopes.