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Hydrothermal alteration and the formation of Fe- oxide and sulphide mineral deposits on North- eastern Utö, eastern Bergslagen, Sweden
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Geological Sciences. (Iain Pitcairn)ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4909-3338
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Geological Sciences. (Iain Pitcairn)ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0847-9258
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Utö is a key reference locality in the Bergslagen mining district, preserving a well-exposed Palaeoproterozoic volcanosedimentary succession associated with stratiform Fe-oxide and polymetallic sulphide mineralisation. Despite its importance for regional ore genetic models, the mineralisation and associated hydrothermal alteration at Utö have not previously been documented using modern field-based and geochemical methods. This study presents new stratigraphic, petrographic, whole-rock geochemical, and sulphur isotope data from northeastern Utö, based on detailed field mapping and drill-core logging of felsic volcanic footwall rocks. The succession records a transition from detrital marine sedimentation to felsic volcaniclastic deposition, followed by volcano-distal ash-siltstone and carbonate sedimentation during waning volcanism in a shallow-marine basin. Stratiform magnetite–hematite and Zn–Pb–Ag sulphide mineralisation occur at the same narrow stratigraphic level within interbedded volcanic ash siltstones and limestones and preserve features consistent with submarine exhalative deposition. Sulphur isotope compositions (δ³⁴S = −8.9 to +7.2 ‰, V-CDT) overlap the range reported for stratiform sulphide deposits elsewhere in Bergslagen and indicate dominantly magmatic sulphur with variable seawater sulphate contribution. Hydrothermal alteration of the felsic volcanic succession is spatially heterogeneous and dominated by potassium enrichment, with locally developed stratabound and structurally controlled magnesium-rich alteration zones now expressed as cordierite due to amphibolite-facies metamorphism. Whole-rock geochemical data indicate depletion of iron and base metals in Mg-altered rocks, whereas K-altered rocks show no systematical metal depletion. Utö represents a small-scale, shallow-marine exhalative system that shares characteristics with exhalative iron oxide and sulphide deposit, as well as carbonate replacement deposits elsewhere in Bergslagen. The study of this deposit and its hydrothermal envelope help to define the range of hydrothermal ore forming systems and their environmental control in Bergslagen.

National Category
Geology
Research subject
Geology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-253622OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-253622DiVA, id: diva2:2047401
Projects
PhD Thesis Robert Dunst 2026
Note

This is a manuscript draft included in the PhD thesis. It is not submitted yet to a journal.

Available from: 2026-03-20 Created: 2026-03-20 Last updated: 2026-04-01
In thesis
1. Hydrothermal alteration in the Bergslagen district, Sweden: Tracing metal mobility during hydrothermal alteration in a Paleoproterozoic metamorphic terrane
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Hydrothermal alteration in the Bergslagen district, Sweden: Tracing metal mobility during hydrothermal alteration in a Paleoproterozoic metamorphic terrane
2026 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Regional hydrothermal alteration can redistribute metals in volcanic and volcano-sedimentary terranes, influencing the formation of ore deposits. This thesis investigates large scale sodium, magnesium and potassium dominated alteration in the Bergslagen ore province, Sweden, using field observations, drill core analyses, mineralogy and whole rock geochemistry. Three case studies, Hällefors, Riddarhyttan and Utö, capture a range of alteration styles, metal endowments and geological contexts. Results show that hydrothermal fluids strongly modified host rocks and mobilised iron (Fe) and light rare earth elements (REE), while base metal depletion was variable and controlled by the original composition of the volcanic rocks. Potassium dominated alteration is spatially associated with mineralisation but shows no systematic metal loss, whereas sodium and magnesium dominated alteration shows metal loss on a regional scale and likely supplied metals to ore forming fluids. These findings demonstrate that regional hydrothermal systems were widespread and geochemically effective. Their metallogenic impact depends on rock composition, fluid chemistry and basin architecture. This work refines models of metal mobilisation in ancient volcanic terranes and provides a framework for assessing the role of regional hydrothermal alteration in ore formation.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Geological Sciences, Stockholm University, 2026. p. 38
Series
Meddelanden från Stockholms universitets institution för geologiska vetenskaper ; 398
National Category
Geology
Research subject
Geology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-253528 (URN)978-91-8107-548-9 (ISBN)978-91-8107-549-6 (ISBN)
Public defence
2026-05-04, William-Olssonsalen, Geovetenskapens hus, Svante Arrhenius Väg 14 and online at: https://stockholmuniversity.zoom.us/j/69845345738, Stockholm, 14:00 (English)
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Supervisors
Available from: 2026-04-09 Created: 2026-03-16 Last updated: 2026-04-01Bibliographically approved

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