CHLORITE Environment: Volcanogenic massive sulphide

(Mg,Fe+2, Fe+3)gAISi3O-)o(OH)8 Alteration: Chlorite, Quartz-chlorite

Characteristics
Chloritic alteration in outcrop is commonly blue-grey to green in colour except where weathered to form hematite,
creating a red, pmk or 'brown colour, The textural pattern (including massive, patchy and breccia) and the
proportions of chlorite to quartz are influenced by the pre-existing rock and its composition. In deformed areas,
-liAiui'iii^&iturfaVivrii-gigiimUiiy-itciL] ti billing Lli_avagL VJ1 aLl'll Snji'l I Jl .

Hand Specimen: Mg-rich chlorile is pale to very dark blue-grey in colour, whereas Fe-rich chlorite is paJe to very dark
green. Rocks with abundant chlorile are soft, and patches are dark and waxy in appearance.
Thin Section: Chlorite has the platy habit of mica, and is pleochroic (green). Grain sizes are generally small, but may
range up to 200 u.m in rocks of lower greenschisl metamorphic grade. Birefringence is dependent on composition, and
anomalous blues are generally characteristic of Mg-rich chlorite.
Related Minerals
Associated: Ca-Mg-Fe carbonates, epidote, pyrite, Accessory: actinolite, anthophyllite, biotite,
quartz, sericite, talc cordierite, garnet, hematite, K-feldspar,
montmorillonite, rutile, titanite
Discussion
Chlorite is a common hydro thermal alteration mineral in many systems, particularly in peripheral propylitic
alteration (e.g., porphyry and epithcrmal deposits) or retrograde overprinting alteration (e.g., replacement of
hydrotbermal biotite in porphyry deposits). In voicanogenic massive sulphide deposits, chlorite is a diagnostic
mineral commonly concentrated in the footwall zones that also host chalcopyrile-pyrite "stringer" veins. When
present, chlorile and quartz-chlorite alteration typically occupies an innermost alteration zone, and passes outward
into scricile alteration. In addition to mineralogical zoning, the composition of chlorite may vary from Fe-rich
adjacent to massive sulphide mineralization, to Mg-rich on the periphery of mineralized zones. This occurs
particularly in Precambrian deposits, whereas younger deposits may be dominated by Mg-rich chlorite. Mg-rich
chlorite is considered to result from the interaction of cold seawater with hot hydrolhermal fluids.
References
Alien, R.L. 1988, False pyroclastic textures in altered silicic lavas, with implications for volcanic-associated
mineralization: Economic Geology, v. 83, p. 1424-1446. Franklin, J.M., Lydon, J.W. and Sangsler, D.F. 1981,
Volcanic-associated massive sulfide deposits: Economic
Geology, 75th Anniversary Volume, p. 485-627. Santaguida, F., Hannington, M. and Jowelt, C., 1992: An
alteration and sulphur isotope study of the Pilley's Island
massive sulphides, central Newfoundland: Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 92- ID, p. 265-274.

Figures
15.1 OC. Quartz-chlorile-altered, rhyolilic pyroclastic rock, in the footwall chlorile alteration zone of the Hercules
deposit, Tasmania, Australia. Chlorile (dark blue-grey) has replaced sericiie and large fiamme of pumice, whereas the
original matrix has been replaced by quartz-rich quartz-chlorite alteration (pale grey). FOV = 1 m.
15.2 DC. Pseudobreccia texture in the footwall rhyolile lava of the Wilga deposit, Victoria, Australia. The textures reflect
early clilorite-quartz (dark grey), followed by quartz-chlorite or quartz (pale grey). FOV - 65 cm.
15.3 TS (XPL). Massive fine-grained Mg-rich chloritc with minor quartz and pyrite. From the immediate footwall in the
United Verde deposit, Arizona. FOV- 5 m m .
15.4 TS (XPL). Amygdule in altered footwall basalt, Tulsequah Chief massive sulphide deposit, British Columbia. The
amygdule is filled with patchy brown to green chlorite, muscovile, epidote and pyrite. FOV = 1 .25 mm.
Submitted by.-
Rodney L. Alien, Consultant, Volcanic Resources Limited, Stavanger, Norway
Frank Santaguida, Department of Earth Sciences, Carlelon University, Ottawa Ontario
Mark D. Hannington, Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
E. Craig Jowett. Waterloo Centre for Groundwater Research, Ontario ___________________________

42 Atlas of AIteration