Abstract
The Ruwai skarn deposit is the largest polymetallic skarn deposit in Borneo and is located in the Schwaner Mountains. The skarns and massive orebodies are hosted in marble of the Jurassic Ketapang Complex, which was intruded by Cretaceous Sukadana granitoids. The prograde-stage garnet and retrograde-stage titanite yielded U-Pb ages of 97.0 ± 1.8 to 94.2 ± 10.3 Ma and 96.0 ± 2.9 to 95.0 ± 2.0 Ma, respectively. These ages are similar to Re-Os ages obtained on sulfides (96.0 ± 2.3 Ma) and magnetite (99.3 ± 3.6 Ma). The U-Pb zircon ages reveal that magmatism at Ruwai occurred in three phases, including the Early Cretaceous (ca. 145.7 and 106.7–105.7 Ma; andesite-dacite), Late Cretaceous (ca. 99.7–97.1 Ma; diorite-granodiorite), and late Miocene (ca. 10.94–9.51 Ma; diorite-dolerite). Based on geochemical and stable isotopic data (C-O-S) the Ruwai skarn ores are interpreted to have formed from oxidized fluids at ca. 160 to 670°C. The ore-forming fluids and metals were mostly magmatic in origin but with significant crustal input. Ruwai skarn mineralization occurred in the Late Cretaceous, associated with Paleo-Pacific subduction beneath Sundaland after the Southwest Borneo accretion. Ruwai is the first occurrence of Cretaceous mineralization recognized in the Central Borneo metallogenic belt.
Introduction
The island of Borneo has a significant proven metal endowment (e.g., Harahap et al., 2013; van Leeuwen, 2018), as well as largely underexplored regions covered by extensive tropical rainforest and swamp. Borneo hosts a number of important ore deposits along the Central Borneo metallogenic belt, including the giant Kelian epithermal Au deposit and the significant ore fields of Bau (epithermal/sediment-hosted Au), Buduk (Cu-Au skarn), Ruwai (Fe-Zn-Pb-Ag ± Cu skarn), Mt. Muro (epithermal Au-Ag), Seruyung (epithermal Au), and Mamut (porphyry Cu-Au) (Fig. 1e; Harahap et al., 2013; van Leeuwen, 2018). Among these, the Buduk Cu-Au and Ruwai Fe-Zn-Pb-Ag deposits are the only economically viable skarns. The discovery of the Ruwai skarn deposit dates back to 1918 by a Dutch investigation program, which was followed by Renison Goldfields Consolidated Ltd. (1987–1991), PT Tebolai Seng Perdana (1992–1996), and Scorpion Schwaner Mineral, Inc. (1996–1997). Since 2005, the Ruwai skarn deposit has been mined for Fe-Zn-Pb-Ag by PT Kapuas Prima Coal, Tbk. A recent estimation by Mining One Pty Ltd. indicates a total resource of 14.43 Mt at 4.94% Zn, 3.28% Pb, and 108.11 g/t Ag (S. Hutchin, unpub. report, 2018), making it one of the largest Pb-Zn skarn deposits in Indonesia. Despite its large resource and long history of exploration, studies of the geochronology and geochemical characteristics of this deposit are lacking.
The identification of the intrusions responsible for skarn mineralization in Borneo remains speculative; there are two possible candidates: (1) Oligo-Miocene intrusions associated with the Sintang Suite (e.g., Gunter, 2011) and (2) Cretaceous intrusions associated with the Sukadana granitoid (e.g., D. Cooke and P. Kitto, unpub. report, 1997). Although some previous studies suggested that the Cretaceous Sukadana granitoid is synmineralization (e.g., Idrus et al., 2011; Setijadji et al., 2011; Simbolon et al., 2019), this has not been confirmed previously by direct geochronological results.
In this study, we present new zircon U-Pb-Hf isotope and whole-rock geochemical data of the multiphase volcanic and plutonic rocks at Ruwai, U-Pb analyses of garnet and titanite, and Re-Os analyses of sulfides and magnetite. These data constrain the mineralization age and identify the causative intrusion(s) associated with skarn mineralization at Ruwai. In addition, we present elemental and isotopic data to constrain the genesis of Ruwai and evaluate the implications for exploration in the Central Borneo metallogenic belt.
Geologic Background
Tectono-metallogeny of Borneo
The Paleozoic-Mesozoic basement in Borneo is unconformably overlain by a Cenozoic sedimentary basin (Hall and Nichols, 2002; Breitfeld et al., 2017; Fig. 1e). During the Paleozoic, Borneo was possibly still part of the Gondwana supercontinent (e.g., van Bemmelen, 1949; Metcalfe, 2013). The oldest Paleozoic unit recorded in Borneo is a schist from the Embuoi Complex in the northwest of the island, which yielded zircon U-Pb ages of 462.4 ± 2.6 to 453.3 ± 1.9 Ma (Zhu et al., 2022). Borneo then experienced prolonged tectonic events and related magmatic activity throughout the Mesozoic, the products of which are mostly preserved in the Schwaner Mountains. During the Triassic, arc-related magmatic activity resulted from the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate under the eastern Sundaland margin (Breitfeld et al., 2017; Hennig et al., 2017; Fig. 1a). Multiple Triassic magmatic events are represented by various formations, including the granitoids of the Embuoi Complex (K-Ar ages ca. 320 ± 3–201 ± 2 Ma; Williams et al., 1988), Jagoi granodiorite (U-Pb ages ca. 217 ± 1–208 ± 1 Ma; Breitfeld et al., 2017) and metatonalite in the northwestern Schwaner Mountains (U-Pb age 233 ± 3 Ma; Setiawan et al., 2013). Jurassic magmatism only occurred in the southern Schwaner Mountains (i.e., Belaban granite, ca. 186.7 ± 2.3–153.5 ± 3.5 Ma; Mentembah granite, 151.2 ± 1.2 Ma) as a consequence of the continuing Paleo-Pacific subduction during separation of the Southwest Borneo block from Gondwana (Davies et al., 2014; Hennig et al., 2017; Breitfeld et al., 2020). The Middle-Late Jurassic was characterized by the formation of a carbonate platform, the Ketapang Complex, which rapidly subsided during the Early Cretaceous (Morley, 1998; Basir and Uyop, 1999; Hennig et al., 2017). This complex consists of fossiliferous limestone in its lower part and clastic units (including siltstone-sandstone, crystal-lithic tuff, and graphite-bearing shale) in its upper part (Simbolon et al., 2019, and references therein). Limited palynologic analyses on the Ketapang Complex yielded Jurassic and Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) ages (Haile, 1973; De Keyser and Rustandi, 1993), whereas recent U-Pb detrital zircon dating from the sandstone unit suggested that the maximum depositional age is Late Cretaceous (Campanian), around 78.0 ± 0.8 Ma (Li et al., 2021). No pre-Cretaceous-age mineral deposits have been documented within the Central Borneo metallogenic belt, although Coggon et al. (2010) reported that platinum group mineralization in Meratus Mountains, an accretionary complex in easternmost Borneo, has an Early Jurassic age based on Pt-Os dating (197.8 ± 8.1 Ma).
The Cretaceous was the most active magmatic period in the region, producing granitoids that crop out in the northern and southern Schwaner Mountains (e.g., Sepauk tonalite, ca. 118.6 ± 1.1–111.8 ± 1.1 Ma; Laur granite, ca. 101.5 ± 0.6–96.8 ± 0.6 Ma; Sukadana granite, ca. 84.7 ± 1.3–78.4 ± 0.5 Ma; Bretifeld et al., 2020), some of which have been metamorphosed (i.e., Pinoh Metamorphic Group, ca. 131.3 ± 1.0–110.1 ± 0.7 Ma; Bretifeld et al., 2020). This magmatic activity resulted from subduction of the Paleo-Pacific margin immediately after the accretion of the Southwest Borneo block to Sundaland in the Early Cretaceous (Hall, 2012; Breitfeld et al., 2017; Hennig et al., 2017). Late Cretaceous postcollisional magmatism followed the collision between the East Java and West Sulawesi blocks and ended the Mesozoic magmatic cycle (Davies et al., 2014; Hennig et al., 2017). Currently only one mineral deposit in the Central Borneo metallogenic belt, the Lamandau Fe-Cu deposit, is reported to have a Cretaceous age (U-Pb zircon ages of intrusions ca. 82.1 ± 1.7–78.7 ± 2.3 Ma; Li et al., 2015), although this age has not been confirmed by direct dating of the mineralization.
Tectonic activity during the Cenozoic was accompanied by subduction-related volcanism and basin formation, which was mainly controlled by the 35° counterclockwise rotation of Borneo (e.g., Hall and Nichols, 2002; Hall, 2012; Advokaat et al., 2018). Previous studies suggested that the Borneo block became a part of Sundaland during the middle Eocene (Hall et al., 2008; Advokaat et al., 2018). Paleogene magmatism, which started during the Eocene, was characterized by subduction-related calc-alkaline volcanism associated with the formation of the South China Sea and SE-directed subduction in the Rajang accretionary complex (Soeria-Atmadja et al., 1999; Fig. 1). Currently only two epithermal gold prospects, Long Bigung (K-Ar age: 40.6 ± 4.4 Ma) and Long Pahagai (K-Ar age: 48.6 ± 1.0 Ma), are known to be associated with Eocene magmatism (Baharuddin, 2011). Neogene magmatism, while still associated with subduction, changed from high-K calc-alkaline during the Mio-Pliocene, to tholeiitic Plio-Pleistocene within-plate basalt (Soeria-Atmadja et al., 1999). Among the Neogene magmatism products, the Sintang Suite has an important role, as most epithermal gold deposits in the Central Borneo metallogenic belt have close spatial and temporal associations with this suite (e.g., Muyup, Masuparia, Kelian, etc.; Thompson et al., 1994; Davies et al., 2008; Baharuddin, 2011). The Sintang Suite was dated by K-Ar at ca. 30.4 ± 0.9 to 23.0 ± 0.7 Ma (Melawi basin) and 17.9 ± 0.2 to 16.4 ± 0.1 Ma (Ketungau basin) in Northwest Kalimantan (Williams and Harahap, 1987) and more recently by U-Pb to ca. 21.1 ± 0.2 to 18.6 ± 0.2 Ma in West Sarawak (Breitfeld et al., 2019). Comprehensive geochronological study on the Kelian deposit demonstrated that the epithermal gold mineralization (K-Ar ages on sericite: 20.8 ± 0.5–20.6 ± 0.2 Ma; adularia: 20.2 ± 0.3 Ma; van Leuween et al., 1990; Abidin, 1996) has a close relationship with emplacement of the Sintang Suite (U-Pb ages of andesite: 19.70 ± 0.06 Ma; quartz-phyric rhyolite: 19.8 ± 0.1 Ma; quartz-feldspar-phyric rhyolite: 19.5 ± 0.1 Ma; Setiabudi, 2001; Davies, 2002; Davies et al., 2008). The Mamut porphyry Cu-Au deposit (K-Ar age: 6.98 ± 0.30 Ma) is the youngest known mineral deposit found in Borneo (Imai, 2000).
Geology of the Ruwai skarn deposit
The oldest formation found at Ruwai belongs to the Matan Complex (also known as Kuayan Formation; Hermanto et al., 1994), which is attributed to be Upper Triassic-Middle Cretaceous and comprises mainly hornfelsed felsic volcanic rocks (including crystal-lithic tuff) and siltstone interbeds. The Matan Complex crops out mainly in the Southwest Gossan and Karim zones, where it was intruded by the Sukadana granite and then by the Sintang intermediate-mafic intrusions (J.M.R. Ayson, unpub. report, 1997; D. Cooke and P. Kitto, unpub. report, 1997; Idrus et al., 2011; Dana et al., 2019; Simbolon et al., 2019; Widyastanto et al., 2019). Most of the sedimentary units at Ruwai belong to the Jurassic Ketapang Complex, which is the most common and thickest unit in the Ruwai area. It can be generally subdivided into two main packages, with pelitic rocks overlain by carbonate units. The pelitic unit consists of siltstone, sandstone, and carbonaceous shale, while the carbonate unit consists of limestone and marl (Dana et al., 2019; Simbolon et al., 2019). In the Ruwai area, these lithologies have undergone contact metamorphism during granitoid emplacement, resulting in hornfels and marble. The Ketapang Complex is unconformably overlain by the Cretaceous bimodal Kerabai Volcanics (K-Ar age: 74.8 ± 0.7–65.6 ± 1.1 Ma; De Keyser and Rustandi, 1993; Fig. 2c). Mineralogical and geochemical evidence shows that these intrusions are classified as I-type and magnetite-series granitoids (Widyastanto et al., 2019; Dana et al., 2022a). The main intrusions, mostly found in the Gojo and Southwest Gossan zones, consist of granodiorite, monzonite, and quartz diorite. The more mafic intrusions include several types of diorite (quartz diorite, diorite, diorite porphyry, and microdiorite) and dolerite. Apart from dolerite dikes and younger diorite that intruded all other lithological units/suites, including the orebodies, there is no field evidence of crosscutting relationships between the quartz diorite, monzonite, or granodiorite.
The Ruwai skarn deposit consists of four mineralized zones (Fig. 2): (1) Gojo, (2) Karim, (3) Central Gossan, and (4) Southwest Gossan. Based on their mineralogy and metal zoning, Gojo-Karim can be considered as the proximal zone, while Central Gossan and Southwest Gossan are the distal zones (J.M.R. Ayson, unpub. report, 1997; D. Cooke and P. Kitto, unpub. report, 1997; Simbolon et al., 2019). These zones are distributed along a NE-SW–trending thrust fault, which acted as the main structural control for mineralization (Idrus et al., 2011; Setijadji et al., 2011; Simbolon et al., 2019). In the Central Gossan zone, the thrust fault is manifested as a mineralized fault breccia. Near-surface exposures of each orebody have mostly been affected by supergene argillic alteration, which caused pervasive replacement by swelling clays and moderate-intense oxidation. Below the weathered part, chlorite-calcite-epidote (propylitic alteration) is common, and secondary K-feldspar and biotite (potassic alteration) has altered the volcanic rocks locally.
The prograde skarn mineral assemblage at Ruwai is dominated by garnet, diopside, and wollastonite (Fig. 3). Accessory minerals include the rare earth element (REE)- and high field strength element (HFSE)-bearing minerals, zircon, thorite, monazite, and cerite (App. Fig. A1). These typically fine grained (0.5–20 μm) phases have euhedral (prismatic) shapes and can be found either as inclusions of single crystals or clusters within garnet. Retrograde phase minerals consist of epidote, amphibole, and phyllosilicate group minerals (Fig. 4). Epidote group minerals, the most common retrograde phases, consist of epidote sensu stricto and allanite. Other abundant retrograde minerals include phyllosilicates, among which the most abundant is chlorite, in addition to corrensite (interstratified chlorite and smectite), stilpnomelane, and illite. In the amphibole group minerals, ferroactionolite and manganese actinolite are most common. Calcite, quartz, titanite, rutile, and apatite are other retrograde phases, with some calcite, quartz, and apatite also associated with the prograde phase. Retrograde titanite and rutile are typically associated with epidote.
At Ruwai, the orebodies can be subdivided into three main groups based on mineralogical assemblages, including massive magnetite, massive sulfides, and massive pyrrhotite (Fig. 5). Magnetite mineralization is commonly found in Gojo-Karim and is mostly associated with garnet skarn. The magnetite bodies vary in thickness (1–15 m), with grades up to 1.0 m at 53.8% Fe and 0.02% Cu (PT Kapuas Prima Coal, Tbk., unpub. data, 2020). Massive sulfide mineralization extends from the western part of Karim to the southwestern part of the Southwest Gossan zones. It is characterized by sphalerite and galena and minor amounts of pyrrhotite and pyrite and is the main source of Zn-Pb-Ag ore, with average grades of 14.6% Zn, 6.4% Pb, 0.5% Cu, and 360.8 g/t Ag in 1.0 m of massive sulfide (PT Kapuas Prima Coal, Tbk., unpub. data, 2020). The last type of mineralization, massive pyrrhotite, is only found in the Central Gossan and Southwest Gossan zones. It is characterized by abundant pyrrhotite with fine-grained disseminated sphalerite and trace amounts of chalcopyrite. The average grades are typically 0.05% Pb, 5% Zn, and 15 g/t Ag in 1.0 m, and it is a secondary lead-zinc source (Simbolon et al., 2019).
In Ruwai, the ore minerals generally can be divided into four groups: (1) sulfides, (2) oxides, (3) arsenides, and (4) Bi-Ag bearing minerals. The sulfide group consists of pyrite, sphalerite, galena, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, and marcasite (Fig. 6). Pyrite has commonly been partially to completely replaced by galena, pyrrhotite, or magnetite. Pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite commonly occur as exsolution phases within sphalerite. The oxide group consists of magnetite, hematite, and ilmenite. Hematite has typically replaced magnetite (Fig. 6b), and both are mostly found in massive magnetite bodies, although some minor disseminated magnetite occurs in the surrounding wall rocks. In contrast, ilmenite was only identified in trace amounts in massive pyrrhotite. The arsenide group consists of arsenopyrite, cobaltite, and glaucodot. Minor arsenopyrite occurs in association with other sulfides. Cobaltite and glaucodot typically occur in solid solution with arsenopyrite. The Bi-Ag–bearing minerals consist of at least nine different species including tetrahedrite, native bismuth, cosalite, tsumoite, bismuthinite, joseite, Bi-Te-S, Bi-Te-Ag, and Bi-Ag-S (Dana et al., 2022b). The Bi-bearing minerals typically occur as inclusions in galena or pyrite, although fine disseminated grains have also been observed. Tsumoite was identified as rare infill between pyrite grains and associated with magnetite mineralization.
The skarn and orebodies are typically found along the contact of the intrusion with siltstone and marble and are controlled by a NW-trending anticline (Fig. 7). The endoskarn mostly occurs around Gojo and Karim in the form of massive garnet-epidote-magnetite with some relict igneous textures preserved (Simbolon et al., 2019). Toward the distal zone (Central and Southwest Gossan zones), the intrusions mostly occur as a smaller dike in which endoskarn is not well developed, although some partial replacement by garnet-epidote has occurred. Exoskarn is not continuous along the contact between marble and intrusions at Ruwai because of to the composition of the marble, which locally contains abundant siliciclastic impurities, presumably a marl/calcareous siliciclastic protolith (Idrus et al., 2011; Setijadji et al., 2011).
Structures in the ore field have been revealed by ground magnetic and very low frequency (VLF) geophysical surveys and include mainly NE-NNE–trending, NW- or SE-dipping faults and crosscutting NNW-trending dextral strike-slip faults (locally WSW-trending in the Ruwai ore zone). The NE-NNE–trending faults are related spatially and temporally to skarn mineralization (pre-/syn-ore), whereas the NNW- and WSW-trending ones may have formed post-ore and dissected and/or transposed the orebody into four ore zones (Idrus et al., 2011; Simbolon et al., 2019). A prominent NNE-trending, steeply SE-dipping, and sinistral fault (300- to 350-m displacement) located between the Ruwai and Southwest Gossan zones terminates the mineralization to the west (D. Cooke and P. Kitto, unpub. report, 1997; Simbolon et al., 2019).
Samples and Analytical Methods
Petrography (optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry; SEM-EDS)
A total of 60 samples consisting of skarn, massive ores, intrusions, and marble collected from drill core and outcrop were prepared as thin and polished sections for mineralogical characterization. Petrographic observations were performed on a Nikon Eclipse LV100N POL polarizing microscope. Several representative polished rock mounts were prepared for the advanced mineral identification and characterization system (AMICS) at the Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania. The analysis used a tungsten source FEI MLA650 scanning electron microscope equipped with a Bruker Quantax Esprit EDS system and two XFlash 5030 SDD detectors with 133-eV energy resolution. Analytical conditions include 20-kV accelerating voltage and 7-nA beam current, which yielded ~600,000 cps total EDS X-ray intensity and 30% dead time on quartz. Automated mineral identification was done with the Bruker AMICS software package (version 3.0.0.249) and the following setting: block sample mode, particle measurement mode, 1,024- × 1,024-pixel single-frame resolution, 1.536-mm single-frame field of view (equiv 1.5- × 1.5-μm pixel size), 16-μs backscattered electron (BSE) imaging pixel dwell time, 2% frame intersect, 5-ms EDS acquisition time, 3-μm EDS minimum segment size, 95 segmentation gray-level factor, 70 segmentation area factor, 50% classification reliability factor. A representative area of 3 × 3 frames (total nine frames) on each sample was mapped.
Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA)
Electron probe microanalysis was carried out on garnet and titanite selected for geochronological and trace element analysis, as well as on pyroxene, chlorite, and epidote. Garnet, epidote, and titanite analysis was performed using a JEOL JXA-8230 SuperProbe at Akita University, whereas pyroxene and chlorite analysis was performed using a JEOL JXA-8900R electron probe microanalyzer at RWTH Aachen University. The analytical conditions were set as follows: voltage 15 kV, beam current 20 nA, beam size 5 μm, and peak-background measurement time 20 and 10 s; the X-ray used was Kα for all elements. Several natural minerals were used as standards, including quartz (Si), periclase (Mg), hematite (Fe), wollastonite (Ca), orthoclase (K), corundum (Al), albite (Na), rhodonite (Mn), pyrophanite (Ti), and eskolaite (Cr). The lower detection limits are below 0.02 wt %. The raw results were processed using ZAF correction. Iron speciation (Fe2+ and Fe3+) was computed following the procedure of Droop (1987).
Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)
Zircon analysis: Fifteen intrusions and volcanic rocks were prepared for whole-rock geochemical and zircon U-Pb-Hf isotope analyses. Zircons were separated by conventional density and magnetic separation techniques. After imaging with optical microscopy and cathodoluminescence (CL), the zircons were U-Pb dated at the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (GIGCAS). The analyses were performed on a RESOlution S-155 laser ablation system coupled with an Agilent 7900 ICP-mass spectrometer, using a 29-μm spot size. The analytical conditions include repetition rate of 5 Hz and laser fluence of 4 J cm–2. Each analysis consisted of a 20- to 30-s background signal acquisition (laser off), followed by a 50-s sample data acquisition (laser on). Helium was used as the carrier gas (0.8 L min–1), with NIST 610 glass used for element quantification and Si (69.7 ± 0.5 wt %) as the analyte of known concentration (internal standard). The primary 91500 zircon (Wiedenbeck et al., 1995) and secondary Plesovice zircon (Sláma et al., 2008) reference materials were analyzed between every five unknowns, and our Plesovice zircon analyses yielded a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 342.1 ± 1.1 Ma (mean square of weighted deviates [MSWD] = 0.66, n = 181) consistent (<3% error) with the recommended value (isotope dilution-thermal ionization mass spectrometry [ID-TIMS]: 337.13 ± 0.37 Ma; Sláma et al., 2008). Offline selection, background and analyte signal integration, quantitative calibration, and time-drift correction were performed with the ICPMSDataCal v.10.1 software (Lin et al., 2016). Only zircon spots with (nearly) concordant ages (<15% discordance) were used for the age calculation, and the data were plotted on Wetherill concordia plots using IsoplotR v.4.2 (Vermeesch, 2018). The weighted mean 206Pb/238U age is reported to represent the crystallization age.
Zircon Hf-isotope analyses (details of results are provided in App. Table A1) were performed at GIGCAS on a RESOlution M-50 193-nm laser ablation system coupled with a Thermo Scientific Neptune Plus multicollector (MC)-ICP-mass spectrometer. The spot analysis was done on or near the U-Pb spot in the same age domain (with no inherited core or growth rim shown in CL images), with 4-J cm–2 energy density, 6-Hz repetition rate, 45-μm spot size, and helium carrier gas (0.8 L min–1). Each spot analysis consisted of 400 cycles (integration time = 0.131 s/cycle), comprising 28 s of gas blank background measurement (laser off) and 30 s of sample signal collection (laser on). The zircon standard Penglai (Li et al., 2010) was analyzed twice every hour to check the reliability of the method, and its results were within ±1.5 εHf unit error of the recommended values (Li et al., 2010). Plesovice zircon was analyzed as unknown for quality control. The 180Hf gas blank was below 0.2 mv, with 173Yb and 175Lu used to correct the isobaric interference of 176Yb and 176Lu on 176Hf. Natural 176Yb/173Yb (0.79381) and 176Lu/175Lu (0.02656) ratios were used in the correction (Segal et al., 2003). The mass bias factor of Yb was calculated from the measured 173Yb/171Yb and the natural ratio (1.13268), while those of Lu and Yb are assumed to be the same. The 176Hf/177Hf mass bias was normalized to 179Hf/177Hf (0.7325) with an exponential law. All the uncertainties reported in absolute values for both U-Pb and Hf data and detailed instrumentation, and for the final age calculation (weighted mean 206Pb/238U age) the uncertainty was reported as 2σ without | with σsys. Analytical procedures and data processing protocols followed those described by Xu et al. (2019, and references therein).
Garnet and titanite analysis: Three types of garnet and two types of titanite from five representative samples of garnet-epidote skarn were selected for in situ geochronological and geochemical analysis. They were analyzed by LA-ICP-MS at the Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, using a RESOlution S-155 (ASI/Applied Spectra) 193-nm ArF excimer laser ablation system attached to an Element XR (Thermo) sector-field ICP-mass spectrometer. A total of 244 points for garnet and 130 points for titanite were selected for U-Pb dating and simultaneous trace element analysis. For garnet analysis, the same garnet type from different samples is combined for age calculation. The laser beam diameters were set at 51 μm for garnet and 29 μm for titanite. The laser fluence and repetition rate for garnet were set at 2 J/cm2 and 5 Hz, whereas for titanite they were set at 2 J/cm2 and 4 Hz. The trace element compositions of the garnet were calibrated against the GSD-1G standard reference, using Si as the internal standard, whereas Mali grandite (Seman et al., 2017) was used as primary reference material for U-Pb dating. Accuracy was assured by analyzing the following as unknowns: Jaco Lake (Seman et al., 2017; 35 ± 2 Ma, 206Pb/238U age) and QC04 (Deng et al., 2017; 130 ± 1 Ma, 206Pb/238U age), with the results from this study for QC04 being weighted average of 206Pb/238U age = 129.5 ± 3 Ma (2s, MSWD = 0.68, n = 40). The trace elements of titanite were calibrated against the NIST-610 standard, using Ca as the internal standard, whereas MKED1 titanite (Spandler et al., 2016) was used as primary reference material for U-Pb dating. Accuracy of titanite ages was assured by analyzing the following as unknowns: 94-35 (51.5 ± 0.7 Ma) and BLS (same locality as BLR-1; 1049.9 ± 1.3 Ma; Aleinikoff et al., 2007), Otter West (147.9 ± 1.2 Ma; Butler et al., 2002), and Ecstall West (91.5 ± 1.0 Ma; Butler et al., 2002) with the result of this study for Otter West being a Tera-Wasserburg intercept age of 150.5 ± 5.5 Ma (MSWD = 2, n = 7). All data are available in Appendix Tables A2 and A3, including metadata tables with all relevant parameters after Horstwood et al. (2016). All the uncertainties are reported as absolute values both for garnet and titanite.
Data reduction was completed using Iolite 4.0 software (Paton et al., 2011; Petrus and Kamber, 2012). Common Pb corrections were not applied due to the heterogeneous distribution and high variability of common Pb. Garnet and titanite U-Pb ages were determined using linear regressions on Tera-Wasserburg concordia plots constructed using IsoplotR v.4.2 (Vermeesch, 2018), and the lower intercept is reported to represent the crystallization age. For trace element quantification, Iolite 4.0 was used with Si (18.7% for garnet) and Ca (19.25 wt % for titanite) as the known element (internal standard) for the same integration intervals used for dating. All geochemical data visualization including those obtained from EPMA analysis were constructed using ioGAS software.
Re-Os analysis
In this study, both sulfides (i.e., pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite) and magnetite were used. About 4 g of each mineral were manually separated and crushed using an agate mortar and pestle. Sulfides and magnetite were collected from both massive and disseminated ore samples. For Re-Os isotope measurements, this study employed MC-ICP-MS combined with the sparging introduction method that introduced vaporized OsO4 into the instrument by bubbling Ar sample gas in the sample solution (Hassler et al., 2000; Schoenberg et al., 2000; Norman et al., 2002; Nozaki et al., 2012; Kimura et al., 2014). This method achieved high sample throughput and low blanks. However, it was important to ensure that the sample matrix and Os and Re in the sample were perfectly oxidized for accurate analysis by MC-ICP-MS with the sparging method. Re-Os analysis of sulfides requires more oxidants than other oxide-dominated geologic materials (e.g., pelagic sediment) because a large amount of oxidant is consumed in the oxidative decomposition of sulfides. Therefore, we added HClO4 to inverse aqua regia (Gao et al., 2019; Ohta et al., 2022). Our analytical method followed those previously reported (Kimura et al., 2014; Ohta et al., 2022) with some modification for use of HClO4. The powdered sample was dried at 40°C for at least 24 h before weighing. Approximately 0.4 g of powdered sample was weighed and spiked with 185Re and 190Os in a thick-walled Carius tube (Shirey and Walker, 1995). Then 1 mL HCl, 1 mL HClO4, and 3 mL HNO3 (Ohta et al., 2022) were added, in this order. The Carius tube was sealed and then heated in an oven at 220°C for 24 h. After cooling, the solution was transferred to a 15-mL centrifuge tube and centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 5 min. The supernatant was filtered and diluted with Milli-Q water to bring the total volume to 15 mL. The Os isotope ratios were measured with MC-ICP-MS (Neptune Plus; Thermo Fisher Scientific) at Ocean Resources Research Center for Next Generation (ORCeNG) of Chiba Institute of Technology (CIT) combined with sparging sample introduction. The instrumental mass bias was corrected by normalizing with 192Os/188Os = 3.08271 (Luck and Allègre, 1983) based on the exponential law. Measurements of sphalerite and magnetite samples, which contained relatively high concentration of Os, were performed by multiple Faraday cup detectors, and those of chalcopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, which contained low concentration of Os, and procedural blank sample were performed by multiple ion-counting detectors (Ohta et al., 2022). Os concentrations were determined by the isotope dilution method and corrected for Os in the blank sample, which was 0.033 ± 0.003 pg with a 187Os/188Os ratio of 0.345 ± 0.005 (1 standard error [S.E.]).
After the Os measurements were completed, the solutions were heated to remove remaining Os. Rhenium in the sample solutions was purified by two-step chromatography with Muromac AG1-X8 anion exchange resin (Morgan et al., 1991; Kato et al., 2005) and then dissolved in 1 mL 3% HNO3 solution. Finally, 15 μL 10 ng/g Ir standard solution was added for the correction of mass bias effect (Ohta et al., 2022). For Re isotope analysis, the Re-bearing solution was introduced into the glass ICP torch through a self-aspirating PFA nebulizer and a glass spray chamber. The instrumental mass bias effect was corrected by external correction method using 193Ir/191Ir ratio with empirical calibration of mass bias coefficient of 187Re/185Re (Ohta et al., 2022). Concentrations of Re were determined by isotope dilution and corrected for Re in the blank samples, the average of which was 1.66 ± 0.02 pg (1 S.E.). The Re-Os ages were determined using linear regressions (model 3: maximum likelihood with overdispersion) constructed using IsoplotR v.4.2 (Vermeesch, 2018).
Whole-rock geochemical analysis
In this study, both Cretaceous (n = 7) and Miocene (n = 4) samples of intrusions were selected for geochemical analysis at the Bureau Veritas Laboratory in Vancouver, Canada. The rock samples were crushed and pulverized to 200 mesh, and powdered samples were digested by Li borate fusion (details of results and detection limits are provided in App. Table A4). Concentrations of 10 major element oxides and 56 trace elements (including REEs) were measured with ICP-atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) and ICP-MS, respectively. The ioGAS-REFLEX program (version 7.4.2) was used for data analysis and visualization.
Stable isotopic analysis
Sulfur isotope data were obtained from sulfides (pyrite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and pyrrhotite) and one sulfate (chalcanthite) sample. A total of 13 sulfide samples were sent to the Laboratory of Geochemistry and Mineral Resources, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany, for in situ S isotope analyses. The analyses were done using an IRMS Isoprime with EA Eurovector instrument. Three calibration standards were used including silver sulfide of IAEA-S-1 and IAEA-S-3 as well as barium sulfate of NBS-127. Additional sulfur isotope analyses from 18 samples were conducted by conventional procedures at Akita University, Japan. About 20 mg of sulfides (n = 17) and 300 mg of sulfate (n = 1) were separated by handpicking. Sulfide minerals were prepared with the procedure of Yanagisawa and Sakai (1983). In the case of chalcanthite, the preparation was similar to the procedure for anhydrite/gypsum including dilution with HCl and then addition of BaCl2. The sulfur isotope compositions were measured using a Thermo Fisher Scientific Delta V Advantage isotope ratio monitoring mass spectrometer. Three standards were used including barium sulfate of IAEA-SO-5, IAEA-SO-6, and NBS-127 for calibration. All results were reported with respect to Vienna-Canyon Diablo Troilite (V-CDT) with the accuracy for sulfide of ±0.2‰ and for sulfate of ±0.4‰.
A total of 15 calcite samples including those from marble host rock and prograde and retrograde skarn were prepared for C-O isotope analysis. Carbon and oxygen isotopes were measured in manually separated samples of calcite (about 20 mg). The isotopes were analyzed at GNS Isotope Laboratory, New Zealand, with the GVI IsoPrime carbonate preparation system at a reaction temperature of 25°C for 24 h and run via dual inlet on the IsoPrime mass spectrometer. All results are reported with respect to Vienna-Pee Dee Belemnite (V-PDB), normalized to internal standards GNS Marble with reported values of 2.04‰ for δ13C and –6.40‰ for δ18O. The external precision for these measurements is better than 0.1‰ for δ13C and 0.2‰ for δ18O.
Chemical Composition of Skarn Minerals
Garnet
At least three texturally and chemically different garnets were observed (Fig. 8): (1) type I—isotropic andradite (Ad41–98Gr0–48, where Ad = andradite and Gr = grossular), (2) type II—anisotropic andradite-grossular (Ad60–96Gr0–33), and (3) type III—isotropic grossular (Ad8–30Gr62–86). Details of chemical compositions are provided in Appendix Tables A2 and A5. Type I garnets are characterized by andradite-rich cores (Ad71–98Gr0–21) and more grossular-rich rims (Ad41–70Gr18–48). Type II garnets are birefringent and characterized by oscillatory compositional zoning toward the rim. Generally, the cores of type II garnets have similar compositions to the rims of type I garnets (Ad51–76Gr20–42). The transition to the rim is marked by the occurrence of a distinct, narrow andradite-rich band that is compositionally similar to the core of type I garnets (Ad90–92Gr1–3). Type III garnets are characterized by relatively homogeneous grossular-rich compositions (core: Ad10–24Gr68–82; rim: Ad8–30Gr62–86) from cores to rims, although BSE images indicate the occurrence of a fine zoning pattern that was not resolved by our chemical traverses.
In terms of trace element contents, the total REE and HFSE contents vary between types of garnet, with type III garnets having the highest and type I having the lowest total REEs and HFSEs (Fig. 9). In C1 chondrite-normalized plots (Fig. 10), the cores of type I garnets are enriched in light (L)REEs over heavy (H)REEs and have strong positive Eu anomalies, whereas the rims are typically depleted in LREEs compared to HREEs and have negative Eu anomalies. Similar to the rims of type I, the cores of type II are also depleted in LREEs with negative Eu anomalies, and the HREE patterns are relatively flat. In andradite bands of type II garnets, the REE patterns are similar to those of the cores of type I. The rims of type I show strongly depleted LREEs and more enriched HREE patterns without any significant Eu anomalies. Strong LREE depletions were also observed in type III garnets. Type III garnets also have relatively flat HREE patterns and lack Eu anomalies. Overall, the Eu anomalies are negatively correlated with total HREEs but are positively correlated with Fe/Al ratios.
Pyroxene
Diopside was the only pyroxene observed in this study. Detailed chemical compositions are provided in Appendix Table A6. Although most pyroxene at Ruwai has been replaced by actinolite and/or chlorite because of retrograde alteration, some perfectly zoned pyroxene was observed locally (Fig. 11a-d). Generally, the pyroxene cores are characterized by higher Mg/Fe and lower Mn, Ti, Al, and Na than the rims (Fig. 11a-d).
Titanite
In this study we observed two types of titanite (Fig. 4f-h): (1) type I titanite is associated with Pb-Zn mineralization and (2) type II titanite is associated with Fe mineralization. Type II has lower MgO and higher Fe2O3 contents than type I (App. Table A3). The two titanite types have similar total HFSE and REE contents, although in C1 chondrite-normalized plots (Fig. 10d-e), they have different REE patterns. Type I titanite is characterized by LREE depletion, relatively flat HREE patterns with slight depletion from Er to Lu, and strong Eu anomalies. In comparison, type II titanite is characterized by depleted LREEs with flat HREE patterns and minor or no Eu anomalies.
Epidote
Two types of epidote group mineral have been identified at Ruwai, including allanite and epidote sensu stricto. Only epidote sensu stricto was chemically analyzed by EPMA (App. Table A7), and it can be divided compositionally into two types: (1) Al epidote, which has been irregularly over-grown by (2) Fe epidote (Figs. 11f, 12d). The Al epidote is mostly associated with Pb-Zn (galena-sphalerite) mineralization, whereas Fe epidote is associated with Fe (magnetite) mineralization.
Chlorite
Based on the classification of Zane and Weiss (1998), chlorite in this study can be divided into Fe chlorite (chamosite: avg FeO = 36.4 wt %, avg MgO = 3.0 wt %) and Mg chlorite (clinochlore: avg FeO = 21.0 wt %, avg MgO = 16 wt %; Fig. 12c). Chamosite is typically associated with massive sulfide mineralization, whereas clinochlore is associated with magnetite mineralization. Details of chemical compositions are provided in Appendix Table A8.
U-Pb Geochronology
U-Pb zircon ages and Hf isotopes
In this study, the 15 dated samples fall into several age groups, i.e., pre-Cretaceous, Early Cretaceous, Late Cretaceous, and late Miocene. The results are plotted in Figure 13 with all uncertainties reported at the 2σ level. Details of the isotopic ratios are provided in Appendix Table A9. In this study, the zircon Th/U ratio of all samples ranges from 0.13 to 3.61 with one zircon having anomalously high Th/U up to 8.44 (avg 1.20, n = 301).
Pre-Cretaceous basement: The oldest sample from Ruwai is the hornfels metavolcanic rock of the Matan Complex (CKL-12). The 10 zircons analyzed are medium to fine grained (20–80 μm long), are mostly subhedral-anhedral with rounded corroded margins, and display oscillatory or sector zoning in CL images (Fig. 14). The zircons are predominantly Siluro-Devonian (422.0–378.7 Ma; = –1.9 to 6.3) and yielded a weighted average 206Pb/238U age of 403.3 ± 6.7 | 13.8 Ma (n = 9, MSWD = 2.2). As shown below, Siluro-Devonian zircons are present in many of the Cretaceous and Miocene igneous samples from the ore field.
Early Cretaceous (ca. 144.6 and 107.6–106.2 Ma): The second oldest sample is an Early Cretaceous mineralized andesite (CKL-2). The zircons (n = 20) cluster around a Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous age (150.6–141.3 Ma, = 5–11.7, n = 8) and Siluro-Devonian age (424.0–392.1 Ma, = –0.5 to 7.1, n = 9), with weighted average 206Pb/238U ages of 144.4 ± 2.7 | 5.1 Ma (MSWD = 0.7) and 411.8 ± 6.8 | 14.1 Ma (MSWD = 1.4), respectively. These ages likely reflect the andesite emplacement and crustal inheritance, respectively. Two Kerabai Volcanics samples, including a crystal-lithic andesitic tuff (CKL-7) and a dacite porphyry (CKL-8), yielded Early Cretaceous ages. Despite their different size (20–100 μm) and morphology (euhedral prismatic/tabular to subhedral; Fig. 14), all the zircons have similar Albian ages: CKL-7 has ages of 106.7 to 102.5 Ma (weighted avg 206Pb/238U age of 106.2 ± 0.6 | 3.3 Ma, n = 50, MSWD = 0.7), and = –2.0 to 8.6, and CKL-8 has ages of 112.5 to 105.1 Ma (weighted avg age 107.8 ± 1.2 | 3.5 Ma, n = 20, MSWD = 0.4), with = 2.4 to 6.3. These are interpreted as the andesite crystallization ages.
Late Cretaceous (ca. 99.8–97.0 Ma): A total of five samples belong to this group, including two granodiorites (CKL-4 and CKL-9), one monzonite (CKL-10), one quartz diorite (CKL-6), and one altered acid volcanic rock (CKL-13). Zircon grains from the granitoid samples (granodiorite, monzonite, and quartz diorite) are predominantly latest Early Cretaceous-Late Cretaceous (App. Table A9). Zircons of these ages are commonly coarse grained (many >100 μm) and display well-developed, occasionally multiphase oscillatory zoning (Fig. 14). The quartz diorite (CKL-6) has weighted average 206Pb/238U age of 100.0 ± 1.0 | 3.2 Ma (n = 20, MSWD = 1.1), and = 4.9 to 10.3. The granodiorite samples have weighted average 206Pb/238U ages of 99.3 ± 1.1 | 3.2 Ma (n = 22, MSWD = 0.7, = 4.1 to 10.9; CKL-9) and 96.9 ± 1.1 | 3.1 Ma (n = 21, MSWD = 0.6, = 4.1 to 9.9; CKL-4), which are interpreted as magmatic ages; neither sample has inherited zircons. The monzonite sample has a weighted average 206Pb/238U age of 98.8 ± 1.2 | 3.2 Ma (n = 17, MSWD = 1.0, = –2.8 to 11.0; CKL-10), interpreted as the magmatic age, and two xenocrystic zircons (155.3 and 1687.4 Ma). The altered dacite porphyry sample yielded similar weighted average 206Pb/238U ages to the granitoid samples, i.e., CKL-13: 98.7 ± 1.0 | 31. Ma, n = 19, MSWD = 0.6, = 5.2 to 10.8, with one inherited zircon (152.0 Ma).
Late Miocene (ca. 11.09–9.21 Ma): The youngest magmatism at Ruwai is represented by five dioritic dike samples: CKL-1 (11.08 ± 0.64 | 0.72 Ma, n = 1), CKL-3 (10.43 ± 1.16 | 1.20 Ma, n = 1; = 3.9), CKL-11 (9.21 ± 1.01 | 1.05 Ma, n = 1), CKL-15 (9.87 ± 0.17 | 0.34 Ma, n = 9; MSWD = 0.7), and CKL-5 (9.44 ± 0.36 | 0.46 Ma, n = 2, MSWD = 0.8), as well as one dolerite dike (CKL-14) that cut the orebody and Ketapang Complex limestone wall rocks in the Southwest Gossan open pit (9.66 ± 0.64 | 0.70 Ma, n = 1, = 0.6). The abundance of Cretaceous and Devonian zircons in these Miocene dikes reflects wall-rock contamination from the Kerabai Volcanics, Matan Complex, and syn-ore intrusions. Miocene zircons found in these samples have similar features, including fine to medium grain size, bright CL, and oscillatory zoning patterns (Fig. 14). Most of the Miocene zircons show varying degrees of corrosion; only a few are euhedral and prismatic. The inherited zircons, especially the Paleozoic-Precambrian ones, are characterized by dull CL (Fig. 14).
U-Pb garnet ages
Uranium-lead garnet ages were measured from each garnet type (types I–III; Fig. 15a-c; Table 1). The uncertainty (2σ without | with σsys) in age estimates is in the range of 1.8 to 4% relative for type I and type II garnet, while for type III it is about 10%. On a Tera-Wasserburg concordia plot (Fig. 15), type I garnet yields a lower intercept U-Pb age of 97.0 ± 1.2 | 1.8 Ma (MSWD = 1.1, n = 117), and type II garnet yields a lower intercept U-Pb age at 95.0 ± 3.6 | 3.9 Ma (MSWD = 0.43, n = 77). Type III overlaps in age with type I and type II garnet with a lower intercept U-Pb age of 94.2 ± 10.2 | 10.3 Ma (MSWD = 0.33, n = 36; Fig. 15; Table 1).
U-Pb titanite ages
Uranium-lead titanite ages were measured from type I and type II titanite (Table 1; Fig. 15d, e). The uncertainty at the 2σ level without and including σsys in age estimates is less than 3% relative for both types of titanite. Type I titanite yielded a lower intercept U-Pb age of 96.0 ± 2.2 | 2.9 Ma (MSWD = 2.4, n = 24). Type II titanite has an overlapping age with a lower intercept U-Pb age of 95.0 ± 0.8 | 2.0 Ma (MSWD = 1.7, n = 106).
Re-Os Geochronology
Re-Os sulfide ages
Chalcopyrite has the highest Re concentration of the analyzed samples, whereas the lowest Re-Os concentration was in pyrrhotite (Table 2). The 187Re/188Os values have a wide range from 425 to 61,000, whereas the 187Os/188Os values are mostly low and in the range of 2.02 to 7.61, except for two samples of chalcopyrite (20.80) and pyrite (97.6). The 187Osradiogenic from these two samples comprises 73.7 and 92.9% of the total Os, respectively. Radiogenic Os concentrations higher than 90% and high 187Re/188Os values are diagnostic features of low-level highly radiogenic sulfides (Stein et al., 2000). A maximum likelihood with overdispersion regression (Vermeesch, 2018) of sulfides yields an isochron age of 96.1 ± 2.4 | 2.5 Ma (187Os/188Os-dispersion = 0.320 +0.176/–0.094) with an initial 187Os/188Os of 1.34 ± 0.19. This age is also consistent with the single model age obtained from that low-level highly radiogenic sulfide, which is 95.0 ± 1.5 Ma. Note that the uncertainties for Re-Os analysis are reported in two standard errors, while uncertainties for the isochron are reported in the 95% confidence interval.
Re-Os magnetite ages
Magnetite grains from four samples were dated by Re-Os, and the results are shown in Table 2. Rhenium concentrations in magnetite range from 0.193 to 44.268 ppb, whereas the Os range from 22.83 to 149.27 ppt. The 187Re/188Os values have a wide variation from 7.0 to 3,237.2, whereas the 187Os/188Os values range from 1.09 to 6.53. A maximum likelihood with overdispersion regression (Vermeesch, 2018) on these magnetites yielded an isochron age of 99.3 ± 3.6 | 3.7 Ma (187Os/188Os-dispersion= 0.082 +0.123/–0.038) with an initial 187Os/188Os of 1.07 ± 0.13.
Whole-Rock Geochemistry
The chemical composition and age of the intrusions at Ruwai were compared with data from previous studies (e.g., Widyastanto et al., 2019; Dana et al., 2022a) in the immobile element-based Zr/Ti versus Nb/Y plot (Pearce, 1996; Fig. 16a). Both Cretaceous and Miocene samples from the current study have compositions similar to those of samples described by previous studies (e.g., Widyastanto et al., 2019; Dana et al., 2022a; App. Table A1) with felsic-intermediate samples mainly plotting in the andesite (diorite) and trachyandesite (monzonite) fields, with the exception of one sample that falls into the rhyolite-dacite (granite-granodiorite) field. The mafic sample has a basaltic (gabbro-dolerite) composition, consistent with mafic samples from previous studies. The samples are largely calc-alkaline metaluminous, although a few are peraluminous. The intrusions have low Sr/Y (<40) but high Y (>14.1 ppm) and plot in the normal arc (nonadakitic) volcanic field (Hansen et al., 2002; Fig. 16b, c). On the chondrite-normalized REE plot (McDonough and Sun, 1995; Fig. 16e), most samples (regardless of the age or lithology) have similar elevated LREE/HREE enrichment patterns with negative Eu anomalies. When normalized to the primitive mantle (Sun and McDonough, 1989; Fig. 16f), most samples are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs, e.g., K, Rb, and U) and LREEs and have variable degree of depletion of HFSEs (e.g., Hf and Y) and HREEs. The rocks have distinct negative Ba and Nb anomalies (in relationship to Th and U) and positive anomalies in U-Th and Pb (relative to K).
Stable Isotopes
Sulfur isotopes
The sulfur isotope data for sulfides from Ruwai have a wide range of δ34SV-CDT, from –1.9 to 18.5‰ (Fig. 17; Table 3). The sulfur isotope values of proximal samples are typically lower than distal samples. For instance, pyrite from the proximal area has a δ34SV-CDT range of –0.3 to 3.7‰, whereas from the distal part δ34SV-CDT is 4.4 to 18.5‰. Similarly, proximal chalcopyrite has δ34SV-CDT values of –1.9 to 0.4‰, which increase to 3.4‰ in the distal position. In addition, galena and sphalerite have δ34SV-CDT values of 1.2 to 2.9‰ and –0.5 to 2.2‰, respectively, from proximal mineralization, and 2.9 to 3.8‰ and 3.6 to 4.5‰ in the distal part. Distal chalcanthite sample has a δ34SV-CDT value of 3.2‰.
Carbon-oxygen isotopes
Calcite carbon and oxygen isotopes were analyzed from marble and from prograde- and retrograde-stage skarn. The carbon and oxygen isotope values decrease gradually from the marble to the retrograde skarn (Fig. 17; Table 4). The δ13CPDB for marble is –0.7 to 1.4‰ (avg 0.4‰), whereas the values from prograde and retrograde calcite are –1.6 to –1.3‰ (avg –1.5‰) and –6.1 to –3.5‰ (avg –5.1‰), respectively. The average δ18OPDB for marble is –19.0‰ (ranging from –21.3 to –16.2‰), whereas the values from prograde and retrograde stages are –20.9 (–21.8 to –20.2‰) and 21.63‰ (–22.1 to –20.9‰), respectively. The oxygen isotope composition of hydrothermal fluids in equilibrium with calcite (δ18Ofluid) was calculated based on the equation for calcite water of O’Neill and Taylor (1967) assuming temperatures of 511° and 297°C for prograde and retrograde stages, respectively, as inferred from garnet-pyroxene thermometry and chlorite thermometry. The calculated δ18Ofluid in the prograde stage ranges from 7.3 to 9.0‰ and from 3.0 to 4.2‰ in the retrograde stage.
Discussion
Mineralization age and regional metallogenic implications
Determining the age of the mineralization is important for understanding the tectonic setting for ore formation at Ruwai and to potentially guide future exploration (Chelle-Michou et al., 2017; Fu et al., 2018; Waffron et al., 2018; Burisch et al., 2019). Previous workers have considered mineralization in the Central Borneo metallogenic belt to be associated with Cenozoic magmatism (e.g., Garwin, 1997; Setijadji et al., 2010; van Leeuwen, 2018). Our results show that Cretaceous mineralization is also present in the belt, as was first noted at the Late Cretaceous Lamandau Fe-Cu deposit (Fig. 18; Li et al., 2015). At Ruwai, garnet, titanite, magnetite, and sulfides yielded Late Cretaceous ages (ca. 99.3–94.2 Ma; Figs. 15, 19), which is consistent with our U-Pb zircon ages of associated intrusive bodies. Magmatism at Ruwai generally can be divided into three phases: (1) Early Cretaceous (pre-ore), (2) Late Cretaceous (syn-ore), and (3) Miocene (post-ore; Figs. 13, 18). Although broadly similar, the three magmatic phases have some geochemical and isotopic differences. Syn-ore intrusions have relatively low total LILEs (avg 750 ppm), HFSEs (avg 238 ppm), and REEs (avg 131 ppm) contents compared to pre-ore (LILEs: avg 1,263 ppm; HFSEs: avg 296 ppm; REEs: avg 161 ppm) and post-ore (LILEs: avg 1,105 ppm; HFSEs: avg 249 ppm; REEs: avg 200 ppm). The εHf isotopic compositions are mostly positive and decrease from pre- to post-ore stages (Fig. 20a, b), consistent with melting of crustal material (which was derived from the depleted mantle) during the Mesoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic. Minor zircon grains with either low ɛHf values or Neo- to Mesoproterozoic age indicate reworking of older crust, possibly of Paleoproterozoic and Neoarchean age. Three prograde garnet types yielded U-Pb ages of 97.0 ± 1.8, 95.0 ± 3.9, and 94.2 ± 10.3 Ma, respectively. These ages overlap with the U-Pb ages of retrograde-stage titanite, i.e., 96.0 ± 2.9 and 95.0 ± 2.0 Ma. Rhenium-Os ages of the retrograde-stage sulfides and magnetite are 96.0 ± 2.3 and 99.3 ± 3.6 Ma, respectively.
Cretaceous magmatism at Ruwai was likely associated with Paleo-Pacific subduction after the accretion of the Southwest Borneo block to Sundaland (e.g., Davies et al., 2014; Hennig et al., 2017). Miocene magmatism was associated with the subduction of the South China Sea plate, followed by the collision of the Luconia block with Sundaland (Soeria-Atmadja et al., 1999). The chemical compositions of Cretaceous and Miocene magmatic rocks at Ruwai are consistent with a volcanic-arc origin (Fig. 16d). Early Cretaceous magmatism produced the andesitic-dacitic Kerabai Volcanics, whereas Miocene magmatism was dominated by the dioritic Sintang Suite. Late Cretaceous magmatism evolved to more felsic (i.e., quartz diorite, monzonite, and granodiorite) with time, with the more evolved magma associated with skarn mineralization at Ruwai. Although the regional geologic map attributes the granitoids around Ruwai to the Sukadana granite (Margono et al., 1995), Breitfeld et al. (2020) showed that this granitoid is younger (ca. 80 Ma) than the granitoids at Ruwai, as also shown in our results (ca. 99.7–97.1 Ma). Breitfeld at al. (2020) also demonstrated that the Sukadana granitoids were associated with within-plate magmatism, whereas mineralization at Ruwai is subduction related (Fig. 16d). We therefore propose that the granitoids at Ruwai represent an older suite of Sukadana granitoids that formed at the end of subduction, before the start of within-plate magmatism, as proposed by Breitfeld et al. (2020).
Physicochemical conditions of skarn mineralization at Ruwai
Prograde and retrograde temperature: Temperatures are constrained by mineral and sulfur isotope geothermometry (Table 5). The temperature of the prograde stage (401°–673° ± 66°C, avg 511°C) was estimated based on the garnet-clinopyroxene geothermometer of Powell (1985). These temperatures are consistent with other prograde stages (Meinert, 1992; Meinert et al., 2005). On average, the temperature estimates decrease from type I to type III garnet (type I: 406°–673°C; type II: 401°–646°C; type III: 414°–543°C). The temperatures of the retrograde stage have been estimated using the chlorite thermometer of Hillier and Velde (1991) and are around 195° to 377° ± 56°C (avg 297°C). These temperature ranges are consistent with the results from a previous fluid inclusion study that suggested retrograde temperatures of 190° to 260°C (Idrus et al., 2011). Although slightly lower than those obtained from chlorite geothermometry (195°–377°C) and fluid inclusion microthermometry (190°–260°C; Idrus et al., 2011), the temperature from pyrite-chalcopyrite pairs (162°–217° ± 40°C) is similar to the late retrograde-stage temperature and likely indicative of the true equilibration temperature. The temperatures from galena-pyrrhotite pairs (410°–460° ± 25°C) are consistent with the temperature estimated from arsenopyrite geothermometry (428°–493°C; Dana et al., 2022b). The results from pyrite-sphalerite pairs (264°–349° ± 55°C), are consistent with those results, although they slightly higher than those obtained from the pyrite-chalcopyrite pair in the same sample.
Redox evolution: Early formed garnets have high andradite contents and strong positive Eu anomalies, whereas Eu anomalies are negative or absent, and andradite contents are lower in later garnet (Fig. 9), consistent with decreasing with time in the prograde stage (Jamtveit et al., 1993; Crowe et al., 2001; Smith et al., 2004). Narrow andradite bands, which have positive Eu anomalies in type II garnet (Fig. 8b), however, suggest a transient increase of from the early to prograde stage within an overall decreasing trend. The mode of occurrence, as well as the chemical composition, of titanite in this study indicates a hydrothermal origin (e.g., REE content, Fe/Al), and it can be used to monitor the redox conditions in the hydrothermal fluids (Horie et al., 2008; Song et al., 2019). At Ruwai, a strong negative Eu anomaly characterizes type I titanite, whereas type II titanite mostly lacks this negative Eu anomaly (Fig. 10d, e), implying that oxidized conditions prevailed during the retrograde stage. This is consistent with the retrograde overgrowth of Al epidote by Fe epidote (Fig. 11e, f) and the replacement of pyrite by magnetite (Fig. 6f) and of magnetite by hematite (Fig. 6b). The extensive formation of pyrrhotite after pyrite (Fig. 6c, f) suggests that the sulfidation state decreased in the retrograde stage.
Source of ore-forming fluids and metals
Source of sulfur: Lead-zinc skarn deposits tend to have wide ranges of δ34S values (Fig. 17), suggesting that the sulfur is likely derived from various sources (e.g., Palinkas et al., 2013; Gao et al., 2020). Sulfur in skarn deposits commences from a magmatic source, with a component of sedimentary-derived sulfur acquired in distal zones (e.g., Megaw et al., 1988; Meinert et al., 2005). At Ruwai, proximal disseminated sulfide ores have lower δ34S (–1.9 to 3.4‰), whereas distal massive ores have higher δ34S values (2.9–18.6‰). Sphalerite, galena, and pyrite in the disseminated ores have lower δ34S (sphalerite: –0.5 to 2.2‰; galena: 1.2–2.6‰; pyrite: –0.3 to 3.4‰) than those from massive ores (sphalerite: 3.6–4.5‰; galena: 2.9–3.8‰; pyrite: 4.4–18.5‰). This increase in δ34S values from proximal to distal zones could indicate mixing of two sulfur sources or transition from oxidizing to reducing conditions (Wilson et al., 2007). Alternatively, a contribution of seawater-derived sulfate from marble host rock could explain the elevated δ34S values (Choi et al., 2018; Zhong et al., 2018).
Source of carbon and oxygen: Magmatic hydrothermal fluids play an important role in the skarn formation, particularly during the prograde stage (Einaudi et al., 2003; Meinert et al., 2005). Meteoric water can play a significant role during the retrograde stage (Meinert et al., 2003; Baker et al., 2004). Generally, hydrothermal calcite from Fe and Pb-Zn skarns has a wider δ13C range with more negative values compared to other skarn types (e.g., Demir and Disli, 2020; Im et al., 2020). Lead-zinc skarns typically have wider δ18O ranges than other skarn types, both in the carbonate host rock and in the hydrothermal calcite (e.g., Shimazaki and Kusakabe, 1990; Vazquez et al., 1998; Jansson et al., 2021). At Ruwai, the δ13C and δ18O values of calcite decrease from the marble host rock to the skarn (Fig. 17). The δ13C and δ18O values in the prograde stage are similar to those from the marble host rock (Fig. 17), clearly suggesting that both carbon and oxygen in the prograde calcite were derived from calcite of the marble through carbonate dissolution and/or incomplete replacement.
Source of metals: Calculated initial 187Os/188Os values from sulfides (1.34 ± 0.19; n = 15) and magnetite (1.07 ± 0.13; n = 4; Table 2) consistently show much higher values than the mantle (0.11–0.15; Shirey and Walker, 1998), indicating significant contribution of ore-forming metals from the crust (Peucker-Ehrenbrink and Jahn, 2001). Granitoid intrusions around the Schwaner mountains, where the deposit is located, are interpreted to have formed by partial melting of the mantle wedge with some input of crustal material or recycled sediments based on multiple isotopic signatures (Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf-O; Breitfeld et al., 2020; Wang et al., 2022a, b). At Ruwai, zircon Hf isotope compositions (Table 1; Fig. 20) imply that the causative intrusions have a juvenile mantle origin with minor crustal inheritance (Fig. 20a, b). The dominantly crustal initial Os isotope signature of sulfides and magnetite (Table 2; Fig 19) from Ruwai suggests that the ore-forming fluids substantially reacted with a high Re and/or Os unit, possibly the Kuayan Formation or Ketapang Complex, before depositing ore minerals.
Conclusions
The Ruwai skarn deposit formed in the Late Cretaceous (ca. 99.3–94.2 Ma) during the emplacement of Sukadana granite, as subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate under Sundaland ceased. Magmatism at Ruwai occurred in three phases: Early Cretaceous (ca. 145.7–105.7 Ma; pre-ore), Late Cretaceous (ca. 99.7–97.1 Ma; syn-ore), and Miocene (ca. 10.94–9.51 Ma; post-ore). The Ruwai skarn deposit formed from oxidized and weakly acidic to near-neutral pH hydrothermal fluids of magmatic origin together with a meteoric water fluid component during the retrograde stage.
Our geochronological data also confirmed that the Cretaceous suites within the Central Borneo metallogenic belt are fertile for mineralization, which further opens the opportunity to explore other Mesozoic suites. Yet, more geochronological studies are necessary to confirm the age of gold and base metal mineralization in other deposits across the Central Borneo metallogenic belt.
Acknowledgments
This research was part of an M.Sc. study by the first author that was funded by Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship 2019/2022; the first author is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Edinburgh, supported by a National Environment Research Council (NERC) Doctoral Training Partnership grant (NE/S007407/1). The Re-Os analysis was financially supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI grants JP20J22038 to M. Ishida, 20K22333 to M. Yano, 19K14817 and 21K14011 to J. Ohta, and 20H05658 to Y. Kato. The whole-rock geochemical and zircon U-Pb-Hf analyses were funded by the international collaborative Borneo Gold Deposit Project (Universiti Brunei Darussalam; UBD) awarded to C.K. Lai. We would like to thank Jochen Kolb of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology for his technical assistance to the third coauthor with in situ sulfur isotope analysis. Special thanks go to Franz Meyer and Roman Klinghardt of RWTH Aachen University and Renaldi Suhendra of Akita University for the assistance during EPMA analysis. We also extend our gratitude to Hinako Sato and Pearlyn Manalo of Akita University for the support during additional sulfur isotope analyses. The authors would like also to acknowledge the management and geologists of PT Kapuas Prima Coal, Tbk., for permission to access the site, support during field work, and financial support for sample shipment from Indonesia to Japan. Constructive comments from the reviewers, Stephanie Mrozek and Jay Thompson, as well as from the associate editor, David Cooke, are greatly appreciated.
Cendi D.P. Dana is currently a full-time Ph.D. student at the School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, establishing geochemical vectors to aid the discovery of metamorphosed volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits, particularly in Archean terranes. He earned his M.Sc. degree in earth resource science at Akita University, Japan, where he elucidated the base metal mineralization in the Central Borneo metallogenic belt. He also holds a B.Eng. degree in geological engineering from Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, where he investigated the geology of epithermal gold-base metal deposits in Western Java. Prior his master’s study, he worked at PT Kapuas Prima Coal, Tbk., as a brownfield exploration geologist looking for skarn deposits within the Schwaner Mountains, Central Borneo. He also joined a summer internship program with Japan Gold Corp. during his master’s study for a soil sampling campaign associated with the Ikutahara epithermal gold project at Hokkaido.