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Fluid Inclusions and Raman Spectroscopy of Anglesite from Uchich Sulphide Mineralization, Himachal Himalaya, India: Implication for the Alteration of Ores during Exhumation Along the Thrust

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Abstract

This study focuses on the Uchich mineral occurrence, which is also known as a silver mine in Himachal Himalaya, India. The mineralization occurs in quartz veins along the Chail thrust with quartzite forming the foot wall and low to medium grade metamorphics constituting the hanging wall. The fluid inclusion study and micro Raman spectroscopy are carried out on anglesite in order to investigate the evolution of fluid during the formation and deformation of anglesite. Two types of fluid inclusions are found in anglesite, type A1 monophase aqueous inclusions, type A2 biphase inclusions with variable composition identified either as H2O + NaCl or H2O + H2S ± CO2 ± CH4 ± N2 ± SO2 inclusions. It is attributed that fluid involved in anglesite precipitation in Uchich assemblage was not a simple water solution, but a complex fluid with saline water and gases like H2S, CO2, N2, CH4, and SO2. The fluid-rich conditions and strong acidic nature of the evolved fluid likely promoted the anglesite formation along the Chail/Kulu thrust. An attempt has been made to use the micro Raman spectroscopy of anglesite for understanding the pressure, which has also been assessed using fluid inclusion information. The Raman spectroscopy study of this anglesite suggests a formation pressure of about 2 to 3 kbar. However, the available fluid inclusion evidence a lower pressure for anglesite. Pressure assessment through fluid inclusion is <1 kbar at 200°C and <1.7 kbar at 300°C. Typical features of fluid inclusions in anglesite point to their deformation in the internal overpressure conditions, reflecting sustained exhumation of the ore body after the anglesite formation.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to the Director Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) for providing facilities for this work. We thank the editor, Dr. Olga Yu. Plotinskaya, and two anonymous reviewers for helpful and constructive reviews. SR acknowledges the Senior Research Fellowship from WIHG.

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  1. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 248001, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

    S. Rana & R. Sharma

  2. Department of Geology, Kumaun University, 263001, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India

    S. Kumar

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Rana, S., Sharma, R. & Kumar, S. Fluid Inclusions and Raman Spectroscopy of Anglesite from Uchich Sulphide Mineralization, Himachal Himalaya, India: Implication for the Alteration of Ores during Exhumation Along the Thrust. Geol. Ore Deposits 63, 515–527 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1075701521060052

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