Alkaline fluids in a volcanic-hydrothermal system : Savo, Solomon Islands

Smith, D.J.; Jenkin, G.R.T.; Naden, J.; Petterson, M.G.; Taylor, H.; Darling, W.G.; Boyce, A.J.; Toba, T.

Smith, D.J.; Jenkin, G.R.T.; Naden, J.; Petterson, M.G.; Taylor, H.; Darling, W.G.; Boyce, A.J.; Toba, T.. 2007 Alkaline fluids in a volcanic-hydrothermal system : Savo, Solomon Islands. In: Andrew, C.J., (ed.) Digging deeper : proceedings of the ninth biennial Meeting of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits, Dublin, Ireland 20th-23rd August 2007. Dublin, Ireland, Irish Association for Economic Geology, 663-666.

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Abstract

Savo volcano, Solomon Islands, is host to an active hydrothermal system that is potentially analogous to high sulfidation epithermal Au deposits. Chemical and stable isotope data from fluids discharged at the surface indicate a relatively shallow condensate layer fed by magmatic volatiles including SO2. Acidic condensates are buffered to high pH by wall rock reaction, leading to the precipitation of unusual carbonate-silica sinters at the surface, in an environment where low pH fluids and associated products would be expected.

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