Neves-Corvo
Alentejo, Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal
Volcanogenic massive sulfidesCu-Sn-Zn
- Type
- Cu-Sn volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS)
One of the largest copper deposits in Europe (initial resource of 34 Mt at 8.5 % Cu), unique among VMS deposits for its high-grade tin ores (up to 60 % SnO2). Cassiterite, dated in situ at 363 to 366 Ma (U-Pb), is coeval with the felsic host volcanism. Massive ore sulfur mostly from bacterial reduction of seawater sulfate, with a thermochemical contribution; tin-ore sulfur close to 0 ‰, attributed to magmatic fluids from a hidden granite. Tin ores have εNd(350 Ma) of -6.9 to -9.5 and an initial 87Sr/86Sr of 0.7103: the tin-bearing fluid source is external, magmatic or metamorphic, and distinct from that of the sulfides (Relvas et al., 2001). Indicative coordinates.
δ34S in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : V-CDT
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.22 ± 3.05 ‰ | −0.5 / 12.5 ‰ | 67 | copper-rich stringer (fissural) ore (pyrite, chalcopyrite) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 67 spot analyses, Table 2. | Li et al. (2019), In-situ U-Pb geochronology and sulfur isotopes constrain the metallogen… |
| 2.12 ± 0.58 ‰ | 0.7 / 3.1 ‰ | 25 | fissural stanniferous ore (pyrite) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 25 spot analyses, Table 2. Tight values near 0 ‰: magmatic sulfur. | Li et al. (2019), In-situ U-Pb geochronology and sulfur isotopes constrain the metallogen… |
| −3.88 ± 4.57 ‰ | −12.8 / 7.1 ‰ | 72 | cupriferous massive sulfide ore (pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 72 spot analyses, Table 2. The most negative values come from colloform pyrite. | Li et al. (2019), In-situ U-Pb geochronology and sulfur isotopes constrain the metallogen… |
| −4.96 ± 13.74 ‰ | −32.3 / 17.4 ‰ | 65 | high Cu-Sn massive sulfide ore (pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 65 spot analyses, Table 2. Pyrite from -32.3 to +17.4 ‰: bacterial and thermochemical reduction of seawater sulfate. | Li et al. (2019), In-situ U-Pb geochronology and sulfur isotopes constrain the metallogen… |
| 0.15 ± 0.62 ‰ | −0.9 / 1.5 ‰ | 20 | massive cassiterite ore (pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 20 spot analyses, Table 2. | Li et al. (2019), In-situ U-Pb geochronology and sulfur isotopes constrain the metallogen… |
| 1.67 ± 1.14 ‰ | −0.6 / 4.1 ‰ | 39 | zinc-rich massive sulfide ore (pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 39 spot analyses, Table 2. | Li et al. (2019), In-situ U-Pb geochronology and sulfur isotopes constrain the metallogen… |
| 2.74 ± 0.78 ‰ | 1.7 / 4.5 ‰ | 26 | cupriferous rubané (banded) ore (pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 26 spot analyses, Table 2. The text gives 1.7 to 4.8 ‰ (mean 2.9) for all rubané ores. | Li et al. (2019), In-situ U-Pb geochronology and sulfur isotopes constrain the metallogen… |
| 3.08 ± 0.71 ‰ | 1.7 / 4.8 ‰ | 29 | stanniferous rubané (banded) ore (pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 29 spot analyses, Table 2. | Li et al. (2019), In-situ U-Pb geochronology and sulfur isotopes constrain the metallogen… |
| 6.03 ± 1.93 ‰ | 2.5 / 9.9 ‰ | 25 | barren (pyritic) massive sulfide ore (pyrite, chalcopyrite) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 25 spot analyses, Table 2. | Li et al. (2019), In-situ U-Pb geochronology and sulfur isotopes constrain the metallogen… |
δ124Sn in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : NIST SRM 3161a
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −0.17 ± 1.33 ‰ | −1.11 / 0.77 ‰ | 2 | cassiterite Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 samples, Table 2. Ore age used by the authors: 360 Ma. Strongly contrasting values (0.77 and -1.11 ‰). | Mathur et al. (2025), Global Sn isotope compositions of cassiterite identify the magmatic… |
| 0.97 ‰ | 1 | primary cassiterite One analysis, Appendix A3. Mean δ124/120Sn of 0.30 ‰ (Puratronic). Replicates of a sample averaged. | Marahrens (2021), Tin isotope analysis of tin ore deposits in Europe and Central Asia in … |
87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : NIST SRM 987
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.71031 ± 0.00065 | 8 | tin and copper ores and mineralised volcanic rock (Rb-Sr errorchron) Initial ratio of the errorchron at 347 ± 25 Ma (MSWD = 237), Table 1. Too radiogenic for the host volcanics (below 0.70664) and coeval seawater (0.7075 to 0.7080): external crustal input. | Relvas et al. (2001), Multiple sources for ore-forming fluids in the Neves Corvo VHMS dep… | |
| 0.711313 ± 0.000477 | 0.710881 / 0.711825 | 3 | ore-related siderite Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 1. Negligible Rb: measured ratios close to initial ratios. | Relvas et al. (2001), Multiple sources for ore-forming fluids in the Neves Corvo VHMS dep… |
εNd(t) in ε units (parts per 10,000) Values of the same system
Standard : CHUR
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −9.2 ± 0.5 ε | −9.5 / −8.8 ε | 2 | tin ore (whole rock) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 samples, Table 2. Minus signs printed as "±" in the extracted text. | Relvas et al. (2001), Multiple sources for ore-forming fluids in the Neves Corvo VHMS dep… |
| −6.9 ε | 1 | cassiterite separate One analysis, Table 2. 2-unit offset with the whole rock: no Nd homogenisation. | Relvas et al. (2001), Multiple sources for ore-forming fluids in the Neves Corvo VHMS dep… | |
| −9.2 ± 0.4 ε | −9.4 / −8.9 ε | 2 | Cu-Sn ore (whole rock) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 samples, Table 2. | Relvas et al. (2001), Multiple sources for ore-forming fluids in the Neves Corvo VHMS dep… |
| −5.3 ± 4.8 ε | −9.7 / −0.2 ε | 3 | stockwork copper ore (whole rock) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 2. Mixing between host-volcanic Nd (high εNd) and external crustal Nd (about -9). | Relvas et al. (2001), Multiple sources for ore-forming fluids in the Neves Corvo VHMS dep… |
| −5.5 ε | 1 | mineralised volcanic rock One analysis, Table 2. | Relvas et al. (2001), Multiple sources for ore-forming fluids in the Neves Corvo VHMS dep… |
206Pb/204Pb isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : NIST SRM 981
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28.357 ± 6.347 | 22.391 / 35.026 | 3 | cassiterite from stringer tin ores Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 3. Highly radiogenic present-day lead (uranium in cassiterite), linear array typical of granite-related cassiterites; not the common lead of the deposit (massive sulfides about 18.2 to 18.3). The two values of Marcoux (1998) in the same table are not included. | Relvas et al. (2001), Multiple sources for ore-forming fluids in the Neves Corvo VHMS dep… |
| 18.23 ± 0.01 | 18.219 / 18.247 | 6 | massive pyritic and polymetallic "complex" ore (Neves orebody) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 6 samples, Table 2, drill hole SA 5 (312 to 348 m); the two duplicates (remeasurement of the same solution) are averaged with their analysis. 207Pb/204Pb abnormally high for the belt (more than 15.651): the author invokes a third, old crustal lead source (older than 700 Ma), specific to Neves-Corvo. | Marcoux (1998), Lead isotope systematics of the giant massive sulphide deposits in the Ib… |
| 18.203 ± 0.003 | 18.201 / 18.205 | 2 | fissural copper ore of the stringer zone (Neves orebody) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 samples, Table 2 (drill hole SA 5, 349 and 354 m). The only Neves-Corvo ore with the "normal" lead of the belt: it closes the hydrothermal activity. | Marcoux (1998), Lead isotope systematics of the giant massive sulphide deposits in the Ib… |
| 18.263 ± 0.027 | 18.237 / 18.291 | 3 | Cu-Sn ores (Corvo orebody) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 2 (level 717): one fissural Cu-Sn ore with galena and two massive Cu-Sn-rich ores, the latter two corrected to 351 Ma (measured 18.267 / 15.634 / 38.263 and 18.247 / 15.625 / 38.244). Mixing between the "magmatic" lead of the belt and the radiogenic lead of cassiterite. | Marcoux (1998), Lead isotope systematics of the giant massive sulphide deposits in the Ib… |
| 18.5 / 19.011 | 2 | pure cassiterite (Corvo orebody), measured ratios Range only (no central value) over 2 samples, Table 2 (level 717), measured present-day ratios. Lead-poor (30 and 15.5 ppm) and uranium-bearing cassiterite (μ = 1.6 and 9.6); ratios corrected to 351 Ma of 18.409 / 15.643 / 38.121 and 18.474 / 15.608 / 37.481. The author derives a model age of 401 Ma and an initial 206Pb/204Pb of 18.395, close to the Hercynian cassiterites of Andalusia (about 18.25). These are the same two analyses left out of the Relvas et al. (2001) row. | Marcoux (1998), Lead isotope systematics of the giant massive sulphide deposits in the Ib… | |
| 18.219 ± 0.006 | 18.216 / 18.226 | 3 | Cu-Sn-rich ores (Graça orebody) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 2 (level 804), abundant lead (974 to 3807 ppm) and negligible μ. | Marcoux (1998), Lead isotope systematics of the giant massive sulphide deposits in the Ib… |
207Pb/204Pb isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : NIST SRM 981
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16.32 ± 0.443 | 15.897 / 16.78 | 3 | cassiterite from stringer tin ores Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 3. Highly radiogenic present-day lead (uranium in cassiterite), linear array typical of granite-related cassiterites; not the common lead of the deposit (massive sulfides about 18.2 to 18.3). The two values of Marcoux (1998) in the same table are not included. | Relvas et al. (2001), Multiple sources for ore-forming fluids in the Neves Corvo VHMS dep… |
| 15.656 ± 0.005 | 15.648 / 15.664 | 6 | massive pyritic and polymetallic "complex" ore (Neves orebody) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 6 samples, Table 2, drill hole SA 5 (312 to 348 m); the two duplicates (remeasurement of the same solution) are averaged with their analysis. 207Pb/204Pb abnormally high for the belt (more than 15.651): the author invokes a third, old crustal lead source (older than 700 Ma), specific to Neves-Corvo. | Marcoux (1998), Lead isotope systematics of the giant massive sulphide deposits in the Ib… |
| 15.633 ± 0.003 | 15.631 / 15.635 | 2 | fissural copper ore of the stringer zone (Neves orebody) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 samples, Table 2 (drill hole SA 5, 349 and 354 m). The only Neves-Corvo ore with the "normal" lead of the belt: it closes the hydrothermal activity. | Marcoux (1998), Lead isotope systematics of the giant massive sulphide deposits in the Ib… |
| 15.627 ± 0.006 | 15.623 / 15.634 | 3 | Cu-Sn ores (Corvo orebody) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 2 (level 717): one fissural Cu-Sn ore with galena and two massive Cu-Sn-rich ores, the latter two corrected to 351 Ma (measured 18.267 / 15.634 / 38.263 and 18.247 / 15.625 / 38.244). Mixing between the "magmatic" lead of the belt and the radiogenic lead of cassiterite. | Marcoux (1998), Lead isotope systematics of the giant massive sulphide deposits in the Ib… |
| 15.637 / 15.648 | 2 | pure cassiterite (Corvo orebody), measured ratios Range only (no central value) over 2 samples, Table 2 (level 717), measured present-day ratios. Lead-poor (30 and 15.5 ppm) and uranium-bearing cassiterite (μ = 1.6 and 9.6); ratios corrected to 351 Ma of 18.409 / 15.643 / 38.121 and 18.474 / 15.608 / 37.481. The author derives a model age of 401 Ma and an initial 206Pb/204Pb of 18.395, close to the Hercynian cassiterites of Andalusia (about 18.25). These are the same two analyses left out of the Relvas et al. (2001) row. | Marcoux (1998), Lead isotope systematics of the giant massive sulphide deposits in the Ib… | |
| 15.64 ± 0.001 | 15.639 / 15.641 | 3 | Cu-Sn-rich ores (Graça orebody) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 2 (level 804), abundant lead (974 to 3807 ppm) and negligible μ. | Marcoux (1998), Lead isotope systematics of the giant massive sulphide deposits in the Ib… |
208Pb/204Pb isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : NIST SRM 981
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39.158 ± 0.709 | 38.466 / 39.882 | 3 | cassiterite from stringer tin ores Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 3. Highly radiogenic present-day lead (uranium in cassiterite), linear array typical of granite-related cassiterites; not the common lead of the deposit (massive sulfides about 18.2 to 18.3). The two values of Marcoux (1998) in the same table are not included. | Relvas et al. (2001), Multiple sources for ore-forming fluids in the Neves Corvo VHMS dep… |
| 38.334 ± 0.021 | 38.294 / 38.354 | 6 | massive pyritic and polymetallic "complex" ore (Neves orebody) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 6 samples, Table 2, drill hole SA 5 (312 to 348 m); the two duplicates (remeasurement of the same solution) are averaged with their analysis. 207Pb/204Pb abnormally high for the belt (more than 15.651): the author invokes a third, old crustal lead source (older than 700 Ma), specific to Neves-Corvo. | Marcoux (1998), Lead isotope systematics of the giant massive sulphide deposits in the Ib… |
| 38.258 ± 0.002 | 38.256 / 38.259 | 2 | fissural copper ore of the stringer zone (Neves orebody) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 samples, Table 2 (drill hole SA 5, 349 and 354 m). The only Neves-Corvo ore with the "normal" lead of the belt: it closes the hydrothermal activity. | Marcoux (1998), Lead isotope systematics of the giant massive sulphide deposits in the Ib… |
| 38.244 ± 0.014 | 38.228 / 38.252 | 3 | Cu-Sn ores (Corvo orebody) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 2 (level 717): one fissural Cu-Sn ore with galena and two massive Cu-Sn-rich ores, the latter two corrected to 351 Ma (measured 18.267 / 15.634 / 38.263 and 18.247 / 15.625 / 38.244). Mixing between the "magmatic" lead of the belt and the radiogenic lead of cassiterite. | Marcoux (1998), Lead isotope systematics of the giant massive sulphide deposits in the Ib… |
| 38.271 / 38.369 | 2 | pure cassiterite (Corvo orebody), measured ratios Range only (no central value) over 2 samples, Table 2 (level 717), measured present-day ratios. Lead-poor (30 and 15.5 ppm) and uranium-bearing cassiterite (μ = 1.6 and 9.6); ratios corrected to 351 Ma of 18.409 / 15.643 / 38.121 and 18.474 / 15.608 / 37.481. The author derives a model age of 401 Ma and an initial 206Pb/204Pb of 18.395, close to the Hercynian cassiterites of Andalusia (about 18.25). These are the same two analyses left out of the Relvas et al. (2001) row. | Marcoux (1998), Lead isotope systematics of the giant massive sulphide deposits in the Ib… | |
| 38.277 ± 0.004 | 38.274 / 38.281 | 3 | Cu-Sn-rich ores (Graça orebody) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 samples, Table 2 (level 804), abundant lead (974 to 3807 ppm) and negligible μ. | Marcoux (1998), Lead isotope systematics of the giant massive sulphide deposits in the Ib… |
187Os/188Os isotope ratio, no unit Values of the same system
Standard : Rapport absolu, sans standard de référence
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.49 ± 0.07 | 5 | pyrite from sulfide stockwork ores (Corvo, Graça), initial ratio Initial (187Os/188Os)i ratio from the Re-Os isochron of five pyrites, age of 358 ± 29 Ma (text). Close to Late Devonian seawater (0.59 ± 0.05, Creaser et al., 2002): part of the metal comes from a seawater component. | Munhá et al. (2005), Osmium isotope systematics in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, in Mao and Bi… | |
| 12.3 / 13.1 | pyrite from Corvo cassiterite stockwork ores, present-day ratio Range given in the text; individual values only on the figures. Highly radiogenic, off the sulfide ore isochron. | Munhá et al. (2005), Osmium isotope systematics in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, in Mao and Bi… | ||
| 4.89 / 7.85 | pyrite from Corvo cassiterite stockwork ores, initial ratio Range of initial ratios recalculated by the authors, valid only if the system was not disturbed by Variscan metamorphism. If primary, Corvo tin does not come from the same crustal source as the sulfides, as already suggested by the radiogenic lead and low εNd (Relvas et al., 2001). Sulfide stockworks have initial ratios of 0.451 to 1.08. | Munhá et al. (2005), Osmium isotope systematics in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, in Mao and Bi… |
Deposits of the same type
- Neves-Corvo Portugal
- Aljustrel Portugal
- São Domingos Portugal
- Lousal Portugal
- Tharsis Spain
- La Zarza Spain
- Sotiel Spain
- Iberian Pyrite Belt (representative example) Spain/Portugal
Cite this page
IsoFind Atlas (2026). Neves-Corvo, isotope signatures. https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/neves-corvo-s330/ (accessed 2026-10-13).
@misc{isofind2026nevescorvoisotopesignatures,
title = {Neves-Corvo, isotope signatures},
author = {{IsoFind Atlas}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/neves-corvo-s330/},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13}
}Updated : 2026-10-13