La Calamine and Moresnet district (Vieille-Montagne)
Eastern Belgium, Kelmis (Liège-Verviers Zn-Pb-Ba district), Belgique
Mississippi Valley TypeZn-Pb
- Type
- Oxidised MVT with non-sulfide ore (willemite, smithsonite)
Vein-type MVT sulfides (Late Jurassic) in folded Palaeozoic carbonates, oxidised to non-sulfide ore. Willemite, the first phase to replace sphalerite, has a debated hydrothermal or supergene origin; smithsonite and hemimorphite are supergene. Smithsonite is lighter than the willemite it replaces. Collection samples (La Calamine, Moresnet and Fossey mines). Indicative coordinates.
δ66Zn in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : JMC 3-0749L
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.34 ‰ | 1 | galena (Moresnet mine) One analysis (RN5011, 2 SD 0.19 ‰), Table 1. The only sulfide analysed in this district. | Mondillo et al. (2018), A global assessment of Zn isotope fractionation in secondary Zn m… | |
| 1.23 ± 0.22 ‰ | 0.98 / 1.39 ‰ | 3 | willemite (Moresnet, Fossey, La Calamine) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 1. Heaviest values of the study, reproduced by the Rayleigh model (α = 1.0015) for the first precipitates. | Mondillo et al. (2018), A global assessment of Zn isotope fractionation in secondary Zn m… |
| 0.65 ± 0.29 ‰ | 0.44 / 0.85 ‰ | 2 | smithsonite (Fossey, La Calamine) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 samples, Table 1. Each smithsonite is 0.54 to 0.87 ‰ lighter than the willemite of the same sample. | Mondillo et al. (2018), A global assessment of Zn isotope fractionation in secondary Zn m… |
δ18O in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : V-SMOW
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.9 ± 0.3 ‰ | 11.7 / 12.2 ‰ | 3 | willemite (Altenberg, Vieille-Montagne) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 specimens, Table 3. Duplicates averaged per specimen before computation. Supposedly supergene, but formed according to the authors from low-temperature hydrothermal fluids. | Mondillo et al. (2020), New insights into the genesis of willemite (Zn2SiO4) from zinc no… |
| 28.41 ± 0.72 ‰ | 27.4 / 30.6 ‰ | 14 | supergene smithsonite (Moresnet, La Calamine, Fossey) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 14 samples, Table 4. RN2008b, repeated in the table, counted once. Single-phase fluid inclusions: formation below 70 °C; homogeneous δ18O, meteoric waters at constant temperature. | Coppola et al. (2008), The calamine nonsulfide Zn-Pb deposits of Belgium: petrographical,… |
| 30.2 ‰ | 1 | Fe-rich smithsonite (monheimite) from Fossey One analysis, Table 4. | Coppola et al. (2008), The calamine nonsulfide Zn-Pb deposits of Belgium: petrographical,… | |
| 25.42 ± 0.41 ‰ | 24.7 / 25.7 ‰ | 5 | oxidation-zone calcite associated with smithsonite Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 5 samples, Table 4. Moresnet (1) and La Calamine (4). | Coppola et al. (2008), The calamine nonsulfide Zn-Pb deposits of Belgium: petrographical,… |
| 17.95 ± 2.19 ‰ | 16.4 / 19.5 ‰ | 2 | black host dolomite (Tournaisian, La Calamine) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 samples, Table 4. | Coppola et al. (2008), The calamine nonsulfide Zn-Pb deposits of Belgium: petrographical,… |
δ13C in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : V-PDB
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −8.78 ± 2.7 ‰ | −11.6 / −1.5 ‰ | 14 | supergene smithsonite (Moresnet, La Calamine, Fossey) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 14 samples, Table 4. RN2008b, repeated in the table, counted once. Single-phase fluid inclusions: formation below 70 °C; homogeneous δ18O, meteoric waters at constant temperature. | Coppola et al. (2008), The calamine nonsulfide Zn-Pb deposits of Belgium: petrographical,… |
| −7.6 ‰ | 1 | Fe-rich smithsonite (monheimite) from Fossey One analysis, Table 4. | Coppola et al. (2008), The calamine nonsulfide Zn-Pb deposits of Belgium: petrographical,… | |
| −7.38 ± 1.75 ‰ | −10.4 / −6.1 ‰ | 5 | oxidation-zone calcite associated with smithsonite Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 5 samples, Table 4. Moresnet (1) and La Calamine (4). | Coppola et al. (2008), The calamine nonsulfide Zn-Pb deposits of Belgium: petrographical,… |
| 2.8 ‰ | 2.8 / 2.8 ‰ | 2 | black host dolomite (Tournaisian, La Calamine) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 samples, Table 4. | Coppola et al. (2008), The calamine nonsulfide Zn-Pb deposits of Belgium: petrographical,… |
Deposits of the same type
- Welkenraedt Belgique
- Theux Belgique
- Angleur Belgique
- Le Bleymard France
- Saint-Félix-de-Pallières France
- Durfort France
- Trèves France
- La Gardie France
Cite this page
IsoFind Atlas (2026). La Calamine and Moresnet district (Vieille-Montagne), isotope signatures. https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/district-de-la-calamine-et-moresnet-vieille-montagne/ (accessed 2026-10-13).
@misc{isofind2026lacalamineandmoresnetdistrict,
title = {La Calamine and Moresnet district (Vieille-Montagne), isotope signatures},
author = {{IsoFind Atlas}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/district-de-la-calamine-et-moresnet-vieille-montagne/},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13}
}Updated : 2026-10-13