Insights into Mountain Pass carbonatite formation from in-situ sulfur isotopes and geochemistry of sulfate and sulfide minerals
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
The Mountain Pass carbonatite stock hosts a world-class rare earth element deposit and may be classified as a carbonate-sulfate igneous rock, as it contains on average > 50 volume percent carbonate minerals and 20 to 30 volume percent sulfate minerals. The sulfates range in composition from barite to celestine and locally occur with sparse sulfide minerals. We investigate the origin of sulfur enrichment and the occurrence of sulfur-bearing minerals in the Mountain Pass carbonatite with in-situ sulfur isotope and mineral chemistry. Barite cores with δ34S of 1 to 3‰ do not coexist with sulfides, whereas celestine rims with δ34S of > 3‰ are associated with sulfides with δ34S < -10‰. We propose a model in which sulfur-bearing sediments were subducted during episodes of plate convergence in the Mojave Province that preceded Mountain Pass magmatism. Metasomatism of the overlying mantle by melts derived from the subducted sediments generated an unusually carbon- and sulfur-rich source to yield carbonatite magmas. Sulfur from primary carbonatite magmas and ~ 1 to 7% sulfur from subducted sediment melts yielded a slightly enriched δ34S composition (relative to depleted mantle δ34S of -1‰) for early crystallizing barite. Celestine rims on magmatic barite cores formed at low, hydrothermal temperatures (< 350 °C) based on S isotope thermometry for equilibrium celestine-galena and celestine-pyrite pairs. The sparse sulfides in the carbonatite stock are not in equilibrium with the primary barite cores and therefore do not permit S isotope thermometry estimates of magmatic temperatures. The S/Se ratios of sulfide minerals (> 3,400) typically exceed primitive mantle values (S/Se of 3,340), also consistent with their derivation from hydrothermal fluids. Trace occurrences of sulfide and sulfate minerals in alkaline silicate stocks related to the carbonatite stock have similar δ34S compositions and yield similarly low formation temperatures, suggesting regionally extensive and chemically similar sulfur-bearing hydrothermal fluids that imparted lithologically diverse rocks with a consistent sulfur isotope fingerprint.
Suggested Citation
Benson, E.K., Watts, K., Pribil, M.J., Thompson, J.M., and Lowers, H.A., 2026, Insights into Mountain Pass carbonatite formation from in-situ sulfur isotopes and geochemistry of sulfate and sulfide minerals: Mineralium Deposita, 25 p., https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-026-01438-3.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Insights into Mountain Pass carbonatite formation from in-situ sulfur isotopes and geochemistry of sulfate and sulfide minerals |
| Series title | Mineralium Deposita |
| DOI | 10.1007/s00126-026-01438-3 |
| Edition | Online First |
| Publication Date | March 21, 2026 |
| Year Published | 2026 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Springer Nature |
| Contributing office(s) | Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center |
| Description | 25 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | California, Nevada |
| Other Geospatial | Mountain Pass |