Deformation, metamorphism and remobilisation in the Hornkullen polymetallic deposit, western Bergslagen, Sweden

Abstract: The polymetallic Hornkullen deposit is situated in the western part of the Bergslagen ore province, Sweden. It is hosted by an inlier of approximately 1.90-1.88 Ga Svecofennian volcanic and sedimentary metasupracrustal rocks enclosed in a significantly younger, c. 1.8 Ga TIB granitoid (Filipstad granite). Although being mined intermittently for silver during the last 100s of years in addition to been the subject for more recent exploration work, the genesis of this deposit and others in a similar geological position is poorly understood. The hypothesis is that the Hornkullen deposit represents a metamorphically overprinted, syn-volcanic Svecofennian mineralisation. The main ore assemblage comprises magnetite, pyrrhotite, galena, chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite with subordinate pyrite, sphalerite, ilmenite and löllingite. Pb-Fe-Ag-Sb sulphosalts include boulangerite, meneghinite, jamesonite, freibergite-tetrahedrite, pyrargyrite, and stephanite, which mainly occur in trace amounts. Gudmundite and molybdenite are rare accessories. Generally, galena, chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite have accommodated strain in a ductile manner. Locally, this can also be seen in boulangerite, meneghinite and sphalerite. Magnetite, arsenopyrite and pyrite frequently have been deformed in a brittle way. The contrast in competence resulted in the remobilisation of the more ductile minerals into fractures in the more competent minerals. In massive parts, this contrast also resulted in more fragmented clasts of competent minerals within a less competent matrix, similar to “ball ore” texture. Recrystallisation is particularly evident in magnetite and pyrrhotite but also seen in coarser aggregates of ilmenite. Additionally, these minerals and also pyrite and arsenopyrite frequently exhibit euhedral morphology when occurring within less ductile minerals. Inclusions of ore minerals in porphyroblastic garnet are abundant. Geothermobarometry of arsenopyrite and sphalerite suggests temperatures and pressures of 525°C (between 440°C and c. 590°C) and c. 300-400 MPa, consistent with regional Svecokarelian amphibolite facies metamorphism, albeit with some caveats. Fluid inclusion entrapment conditions were determined to c. 440°C (between 400°C and 600°C) and c. 280 MPa. The observed textures are a result of deformation and remobilisation of diverse ore minerals during the Svecokarelian orogeny. Remobilisation was possibly initiated during prograde metamorphism, followed by additional and more extensive modification during retrograde conditions, at least to temperatures below 200°C. Sulphosalt formation is considered to reflect an evolution from prograde through retrograde metamorphism, although most of them formed during the retrograde stage, including the Ag-minerals. No evidence for any additional introduction of elements from later TIB magmatism is present. The combined observations can most easily be reconciled with a metamorphically overprinted syn-volcanic Svecofennian mineralisation.