Jaroslav Lexa

Neogene-Quaternary Volcanic forms in the Carpathian-Pannonian Region: a review

Neogene to Quaternary volcanic/magmatic activity in the Carpathian-Pannonian Region (CPR) occurred between 21 and 0.1 Ma with a distinct migration in time from west to east. It shows a diverse compositional variation in response to a complex interplay of subduction with rollback, back-arc extension, collision, slab break-off, delamination, strike-slip tectonics and microplate rotations, as well as in response to further evolution of magmas in the crustal environment by processes of differentiation, crustal contamination, anatexis and magma mixing. Since most of the primary volcanic forms have been affected by erosion, especially in areas of post-volcanic uplift, based on the level of erosion we distinguish: (1) areas eroded to the basement level, where paleovolcanic reconstruction is not possible; (2) deeply eroded volcanic forms with secondary morphology and possible paleovolcanic reconstruction; (3) eroded volcanic forms with remnants of original morphology preserved; and (4) the least eroded volcanic forms with original morphology quite well preserved. The large variety of volcanic forms present in the area can be grouped in a) monogenetic volcanoes and b) polygenetic volcanoes and their subsurface/intrusive counterparts that belong to various rock series found in the CPR such as calc-alkaline magmatic rock-types (felsic, intermediate and mafic varieties) and alkalic types including K-alkalic, shoshonitic, ultrapotassic and Na-alkalic. The following volcanic/subvolcanic forms have been identified: (i) domes, shield volcanoes, effusive cones, pyroclastic cones, stratovolcanoes and calderas with associated intrusive bodies for intermediate and basic calclkaline volcanism; (ii) domes, calderas and ignimbrite/ash-flow fields for felsic calc-alkaline volcanism and (iii) dome flows, shield volcanoes, maars, tuffcone/tuff-rings, scoria-cones with or without related lava flow/field and their erosional or subsurface forms (necks/ plugs, dykes, shallow intrusions, diatreme, lava lake) for various types of K- and Na-alkalic and ultra-potassic magmatism. Finally, we provide a summary of the eruptive history and distribution of volcanic forms in the CPR using several sub-region schemes.

Magmatic salt melt and vapor: Extreme fluids forming porphyry gold deposits in shallow subvolcanic settings

The recently discovered Biely Vrch deposit in the Western Carpathian magmatic arc is the most extreme example of a porphyry gold deposit, being practically free of copper, molybdenum or any other sulfide minerals. Microanalytical data on fluid inclusions in quartz veinlets, including a characteristic type of banded veinlets, show that this deposit formed from nearly anhydrous Fe-K-Na-Cl salt melts containing ∼10 ppm Au, coexisting with hydrous vapor of very low density. This exceptional fluid evolution required an Fe-rich dioritic source magma that was emplaced at shallow subvolcanic depth (<3.5 km), directly exsolving a hypersaline liquid and magmatic vapor at high temperature (∼850 °C). During ascent to the level of the porphyry intrusion (0.5–1 km), fluid expansion at high temperature but low pressure led to halite precipitation and further water loss to the vapor, generating an increasingly Fe-K-rich salt melt that transported high concentrations of Au but negligible Cu into the fractured porphyry stock. The low sulfur fugacity resulting from fluid expansion suppressed precipitation of sulfide, explaining the gold-only enrichment in this globally recurring but rare type of gold ore.

K-Ar and Rb-Sr geochronology and evolution of the Štiavnica Stratovolcano (Central Slovakia)

Abstract The Štiavnica Stratovolcano in Central Slovakia is the largest volcano in the Neogene to Quaternary Carpathian volcanic arc. A large caldera, an extensive subvolcanic intrusive complex and a resurgent horst with late stage rhyolite volcanites are the most characteristic features. The results of new K-Ar and Rb-Sr isotope dating using more sophisticated methodical approaches have changed our view on the timing of volcanic and intrusive activity. K-Ar dating of groundmass fractions combined with Rb-Sr isochron dating in the cases of possible rejuvenation has provided highly reliable results. The lifespan of the stratovolcano is apparently shorter than assumed earlier. Evolution of the stratovolcano took place in five stages during the Early Badenian to beginning of Early Pannonian time: (1) construction of the extensive andesite stratovolcano during the interval 15.0-13.5 Ma; (2) denudation of the volcano concluded with the initial subsidence of a caldera and the contemporaneous emplacement of a subvolcanic intrusive complex of diorite, granodiorite, granodiorite porphyries and quartz-diorite porphyries during the interval 13.5-12.9 Ma; (3) subsidence of the caldera and its filling by differentiated andesites during the interval 13.1-12.7 Ma - volcanic activity overlapping with the emplacement of the youngest intrusions; (4) renewed explosive and effusive activity of less differentiated andesites during the interval 12.7-12.2 Ma; (5) uplift of the resurgent horst in the central part of the caldera accompanied by rhyolite volcanic/intrusive activity during the interval 12.2-11.4 Ma. Extensive epithermal mineralization was contemporaneous with the uplift of the resurgent horst and rhyolite volcanic activity and continued till 10.7 Ma

Hydrothermal fluids in epithermal and porphyry Au deposits in the Central Slovakia Volcanic Field

Abstract The Neogene Central Slovakia Volcanic Field in the Carpathian arc contains various Au deposits, hosted by central zones of large andesite stratovolcanoes. Fluids involved in mineralization have been studied at three different types of deposit, mostly by fluid inclusion and stable isotope techniques. The Rozália mine in the Štiavnica stratovolcano hosts intermediate sulphidation-style Au–Ag epithermal mineralization in subhorizontal veins related to hydrothermal activity during an early stage of caldera collapse. Associated fluids of low salinity underwent extensive boiling at 280–330 °C on transition from suprahydrostatic towards hydrodynamic conditions at shallow depths (c. 550 m) from fluids of mixed magmatic and meteoric origin. The Kremnica ore field hosts a large system of low sulphidation-style Au–Ag veins contemporaneous with rhyolite magmatism and situated on resurgent horst faults. Fluids were of low salinity, predominantly of meteoric origin, and showed gradual decrease in temperature along the system (c. 270–140 °C) related to a decrease in erosion level from c. 500 to c. 50 m. The Biely Vrch Au-porphyry deposit in the Javorie stratovolcano is associated with quartz stockwork in diorite porphyry intrusion. The major type of ore-bearing fluid was high temperature magmatic vapour (720–<380 °C) accompanied by Fe-rich salt melt. Gold precipitated in a high-temperature but low-pressure subvolcanic environment. Supplementary material: Stable isotope data and fluid inclusion microthermometric data are available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18752.