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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

GCAGS Transactions

Abstract


Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions
Vol. 38 (1988), Pages 561-568

Gulf Coast Formation Waters as Potential Source Fluids for Cap Rock-Hosted Sulfide Mineralization, Hockley Dome, Texas

William N. Agee, Jr. (1)

ABSTRACT

Iron-sulfides occur with lesser quantities of Zn-, Pb-, and Ag-sulfides within anhydrite and calcite cap rocks at the Hockley salt dome near Houston, Texas. Previous HitMetalNext Hit zonation patterns for Ag, Cd, Pb, and Zn in the anhydrite cap rock were evaluated to determine the nature and evolution of the Previous HitmetalNext Hit reservoir. Gulf Coast formation waters of different ages and host formations were examined as source fluids for cap rock mineralization.

The assay data for the "H" line of drill holes on the southern perimeter of the dome indicate an overall increase of Zn relative to Pb downward in the anhydrite cap rock. Previous HitMetalNext Hit concentrations, expressed as Pb/(Pb + Zn) ratios, exhibit values that commonly range from 0.25 to 0.40 in the upper part of the holes; ratios less than 0.20 and commonly less than 0.10 are typical of the lower sections. Anhydrite cap rocks form by sequential underplating of anhydrite residue as the salt diapir is dissolved. Textural evidence indicates that some of the Previous HitmetalNext Hit sulfides are stratiform deposits that precipitated at the salt/cap rock contact as the anhydrite zone accumulated. Thus, the mental ratio data suggest that the sulfide-precipitating fluid became more Zn-rich during anhydrite cap rock accumulation.

Previous HitMetalNext Hit-bearing brines have been identified in Gulf coast oil wells (Carpenter et al., 1974; Land and Prezbindowski, 1981) and are believed to be the source of the metals in the salt dome cap rock deposits (Kyle and Price, 1986). Brines move updip out of the overpressured deep Gulf of Mexico basin via formational acquifers and major fault systems that serve as vertical pathways. ^dgr34S composition of sulfides at Hockley Dome suggest that brines from deeply buried Mesozoic carbonate formations may have been driven upward along growth faults and/or salt dome margins into the cap rock forming environment (Kyle and Agee, in press). The metalliferous formation waters responsible for cap rock mineralization likely originate from the Lower Cretaceous carbonate reservoirs. The apparent large scale Previous HitmetalNext Hit zonation suggests either variation in the Previous HitmetalNext Hit source and/or evolution of a Previous HitmetalTop reservoir via rock-water interactions.


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