Metals, Volatiles, and Lithostratigraphy of Brothers Submarine Volcano

Abstract

Relatively fresh volcanic rocks have been sampled by a remotely operated vehicle in situ from the NE caldera wall of Brothers submarine volcano, associated with Seafloor Massive Sulfide-SMS deposits. Here, we present the first complete stratigraphic column of the NE caldera wall, comprising at least 12 massive dacitic lava flows, up to 80 m-thick intercalated with multiple volcaniclastic layers associated with tuffaceous sediment layers. Detailed petrographic and geochemical analyses from hand specimen to crystal to silicate melt scale show chemical variability with depth, correlating partly with an increase in pervasive alteration due to volatile degassing. Moreover, while sulfide saturation occurred prior to volatile exsolution—which sequestrated most chalcophile elements as confirmed by the low metal contents of melt inclusions (e.g., Cu ≤ 1.3 μg/g and Au ≤ 7.0 μg/g)—silicate glass records a Cu enrichment and Au loss with differentiation, with interstitial glass accounting for Cu = 4.2 μg/g and Au = 6.6 μg/g and matrix glass for Cu = 6.0 μg/g and Au = 2.8 μg/g, respectively. Our findings suggest multiple sources for metals compensating for the low initial metal contents: (a) from hydrothermal fluids and volatile percolation ensuing interaction with the host rock and thus also replacement and/or dissolution of pre-existing magmatic sulfides, (b) directly from the magma, consistent with metal release during magma degassing of metal- and Cl-, and S- rich volatiles, and (c) from fluid circulation within unusually metal-rich andesitic volcaniclastic layers (Cu = 40 μg/g, Au = 1.5 ng/g, and Pt = 0.99 ng/g). Our results elucidate the capacity of such hybrid mineralizing submarine volcanic systems to effectively scavenge, transport, and concentrate metals.