Tuvatu
Western Viti Levu, upper Sabeto (Viti Levu lineament), Fidji
Epithermal depositsAu, Ag (Te)
- Type
- Low-sulfidation epithermal gold-silver telluride, related to an alkalic porphyry
Second gold deposit of Fiji after Emperor, 50 km to its south-west: reserves of about 13 t Au at about 9 g/t. Flat-lying veins, steep faults, shatter zones, stockworks and breccias at the margin of the shoshonitic Navilawa Monzonite (4.9 ± 0.1 Ma, K-Ar), below the Sabeto Volcanics (5.4 ± 0.1 Ma); low-grade porphyry copper at the Kingston prospect, 1.8 km to the north. Four stages: apatite and pyrite (1), porphyry orthoclase, magnetite, phlogopite and pyrite (2), coarse quartz with chlorite (3), epithermal quartz-roscoelite-tellurides, sphalerite, galena and hematite (4). Scherbarth and Spry (2006): moderately saline magmatic fluids at about 250 °C for the tellurides, sulfur from -15.3 to -3.2 ‰ through disproportionation of magmatic SO2 and oxidising fluids, a system shared with Emperor. Indicative coordinates: at the margin of the Navilawa Monzonite (Mindat entry for Navilawa: 17°41′24″ S, 177°35′08″ E), to within 3 km.
δ34S in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : Non précisé dans la publication
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −4.9 ± 0.9 ‰ | −5.8 / −3.2 ‰ | 7 | stage 1 and 2 pyrite (porphyry style) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 7 analyses, -5.8 to -3.2 (98FJ-82 (Tuvatu) -4.7; 98FJ-83 (Tuvatu) -3.2; 98FJ-86 (Tuvatu) -5.7; 98FJ-87 (Tuvatu) -4.4; 99TV-43 (Tuvatu) -5.8; 98FJ-31 (H-lode) -5.2; 98FJ-32 (H-lode) -5.1). Lode in brackets. Magmatic-type sulfur according to the authors (published mean -4.9 ‰). | Scherbarth et Spry (2006), Mineralogical, petrological, stable isotope, and fluid inclusi… |
| −7.4 ± 2.2 ‰ | −11.7 / −4.2 ‰ | 20 | stage 4 pyrite (epithermal) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 20 analyses, -11.7 to -4.2 (00TV-5 (H-lode) -8.6; 00TV-11 (H-lode ?) -10.7; 00TV-35 (Murau 2) -9.0; 00TV-49 (SKL5) -6.3; 00TV-51 (SKL5) -6.5; 00TV-59 (SKL8) -7.2; 98FJ-39 (UR1) -4.5; 99TV-28 (UR1) -5.5; 00TV-72 (UR2) -10.5; 00TV-84 (UR4) -7.5; 00TV-85 (UR4) -11.7; 00TV-93 (UR7) -4.2; 00TV-100 (URW1) -4.9; 00TV-105 (URW2) -5.4; 99TV-15 (URW3) -7.6; 00TV-117 (West1) -7.3; 00TV-118 (West1) -9.3; 00TV-122 (West2) -4.6; 00TV-127 (West4) -8.2; 00TV-134a (Nubunidike) -8.6). Lode in brackets. All 40 stage 4 sulfides: -15.3 to -3.6 ‰, published mean -8.1 ± 2.6 ‰. | Scherbarth et Spry (2006), Mineralogical, petrological, stable isotope, and fluid inclusi… |
| −7.9 ± 2.9 ‰ | −13.1 / −3.6 ‰ | 10 | stage 4 sphalerite Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 10 analyses, -13.1 to -3.6 (00TV-5 (H-lode) -8.7; 00TV-19 (H-lode) -13.1; 00TV-49 (SKL5) -6.5; 00TV-81 (UR1) -6.7; 99TV-11F (UR2) -10.6; 00TV-74 (UR2) -8.4; 00TV-99 (URW1) -7.9; 00TV-107 (URW3) -3.6; 00TV-134 (Nubunidike) -4.1; 00TV-133b (Davui) -9.6). Lode in brackets. All 40 stage 4 sulfides: -15.3 to -3.6 ‰, published mean -8.1 ± 2.6 ‰. Sphalerite-galena isotopic temperature of 244 °C for 00TV-5 (H-lode). | Scherbarth et Spry (2006), Mineralogical, petrological, stable isotope, and fluid inclusi… |
| −8.6 ± 2.1 ‰ | −11.7 / −5.7 ‰ | 6 | stage 4 chalcopyrite Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 6 analyses, -11.7 to -5.7 (00TV-24 (Nasivi) -9.7; 98FJ-52 (UR1) -5.7; 98FJ-55 (UR1) -8.4; 99TV-37b (UR1) -6.8; 99TV-65a (UR2) -11.7; 99TV-17 (URW3) -9.3). Lode in brackets. All 40 stage 4 sulfides: -15.3 to -3.6 ‰, published mean -8.1 ± 2.6 ‰. Galena-chalcopyrite temperature of 108 °C for 99TV-37b (UR1). | Scherbarth et Spry (2006), Mineralogical, petrological, stable isotope, and fluid inclusi… |
| −11.4 ± 2.9 ‰ | −15.3 / −8.2 ‰ | 4 | stage 4 galena Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 4 analyses, -15.3 to -8.2 (00TV-8 (H-lode) -15.3; 00TV-5 (H-lode) -11.4; 99TV-37b (UR1) -10.8; 99TV-26a (UR2) -8.2). Lode in brackets. All 40 stage 4 sulfides: -15.3 to -3.6 ‰, published mean -8.1 ± 2.6 ‰. Pyrite-galena temperature of 330 °C and sphalerite-galena of 244 °C for 00TV-5, galena-chalcopyrite of 108 °C for 99TV-37b. | Scherbarth et Spry (2006), Mineralogical, petrological, stable isotope, and fluid inclusi… |
δ18O in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : V-SMOW
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.2 ± 2 ‰ | 8.4 / 14.2 ‰ | 6 | stage 2 orthoclase (porphyry style) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 6 analyses, +8.4 to +14.2 (5/1595 (Tuvatu, Ashley and Andrew, 1989) +10.7; 5/2765 (Tuvatu area, Ashley and Andrew, 1989) +14.2; MB45 (Tuvatu area, Ashley and Andrew, 1989) +12.4; MB95 (Tuvatu area, Ashley and Andrew, 1989) +11.0; 99TV-39 (H-lode) +10.5; 00TV-10 (H-lode) +8.4). δ18O of water in equilibrium: 5/1595 +6.7; 5/2765 +10.2; MB45 +8.4; MB95 +7.0; 99TV-39 +6.5; 00TV-10 +4.4 ‰. | Scherbarth et Spry (2006), Mineralogical, petrological, stable isotope, and fluid inclusi… |
| 3.7 ± 0.2 ‰ | 3.5 / 3.9 ‰ | 3 | stage 2 magnetite Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 analyses, +3.5 to +3.9 (98FJ-82 (Tuvatu) +3.6; 99TV-42 (Tuvatu) +3.9; 00TV-113 (UR-West) +3.5). δ18O of water in equilibrium: 98FJ-82 +7.0; 99TV-42 +7.3; 00TV-113 +6.9 ‰. | Scherbarth et Spry (2006), Mineralogical, petrological, stable isotope, and fluid inclusi… |
| 6.7 ± 1.5 ‰ | 5.4 / 8.7 ‰ | 6 | stage 2 phlogopite Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 6 analyses, +5.4 to +8.7 (99TV-40a, core (Tuvatu) +6.2; 99TV-40b, rim (Tuvatu) +5.6; 98FJ-82 (Tuvatu) +5.8; 00TV-2 (Tuvatu) +5.4; 5/2765 (Tuvatu area, Ashley and Andrew, 1989) +8.3; 5/2765 (Tuvatu area, Ashley and Andrew, 1989) +8.7). δ18O of water in equilibrium: 99TV-40a, core +7.3; 99TV-40b, rim +6.7; 98FJ-82 +6.9; 00TV-2 +6.5; 5/2765 +9.4; 5/2765 +9.8 ‰. 5/2765 analysed twice. | Scherbarth et Spry (2006), Mineralogical, petrological, stable isotope, and fluid inclusi… |
| 9 ‰ | 1 | stage 3 muscovite Single analysis (5/2765 (Tuvatu area, Ashley and Andrew, 1989)). δ18O of water in equilibrium: 5/2765 +7.5 ‰. | Scherbarth et Spry (2006), Mineralogical, petrological, stable isotope, and fluid inclusi… | |
| 13.8 ± 1 ‰ | 12.8 / 14.7 ‰ | 3 | stage 3 coarse quartz Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 3 analyses, +12.8 to +14.7 (MB75 (Tuvatu area, Ashley and Andrew, 1989) +14.7; 99TV-32 (URW1-URW2) +14.0; 00TV-93 (UR7) +12.8). δ18O of water in equilibrium: MB75 +7.8; 99TV-32 +7.1; 00TV-93 +5.9 ‰. | Scherbarth et Spry (2006), Mineralogical, petrological, stable isotope, and fluid inclusi… |
| 18.2 ± 1.3 ‰ | 16.4 / 20.1 ‰ | 7 | stage 4 quartz (epithermal) Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 7 analyses, +16.4 to +20.1 (00TV-19 (H-lode, fine quartz) +18.9; 99TV-30 (Upper Ridges, fine quartz) +16.4; 5/2765 (Tuvatu area, cavity quartz, Ashley and Andrew, 1989) +18.1; 98FJ-99 (Nasivi, milky quartz) +18.1; 5/2765 (Tuvatu area, colloform quartz, Ashley and Andrew, 1989) +16.7; MB15 (Tuvatu area, colloform quartz, Ashley and Andrew, 1989) +19.0; MB95 (Upper Ridges area, colloform quartz, Ashley and Andrew, 1989) +20.1). δ18O of water in equilibrium: 00TV-19 +10.3; 99TV-30 +7.8; 5/2765 +9.5; 98FJ-99 +9.5; 5/2765 +8.1; MB15 +10.4; MB95 +11.5 ‰. | Scherbarth et Spry (2006), Mineralogical, petrological, stable isotope, and fluid inclusi… |
| 17.8 ± 0.1 ‰ | 17.7 / 17.8 ‰ | 2 | stage 4 chalcedony Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 2 analyses, +17.7 to +17.8 (98FJ-76 (Nasivi SKL) +17.8; 99TV-72 (SKL Flatmake) +17.7). δ18O of water in equilibrium: 98FJ-76 +9.2; 99TV-72 +9.1 ‰. | Scherbarth et Spry (2006), Mineralogical, petrological, stable isotope, and fluid inclusi… |
δD in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : V-SMOW
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −76.8 ± 7.1 ‰ | −83 / −67 ‰ | 4 | stage 2 phlogopite Mean and standard deviation recalculated from 4 analyses, -83.0 to -67.0 (99TV-40a, core (Tuvatu) -76.0; 99TV-40b, rim (Tuvatu) -67.0; 98FJ-82 (Tuvatu) -83.0; 00TV-2 (Tuvatu) -81.0). δD of water in equilibrium at 310 °C: 99TV-40a, core -18.9; 99TV-40b, rim -9.9; 98FJ-82 -25.9; 00TV-2 -23.9 ‰, consistent with arc magmatic water. | Scherbarth et Spry (2006), Mineralogical, petrological, stable isotope, and fluid inclusi… |
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Cite this page
IsoFind Atlas (2026). Tuvatu, isotope signatures. https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/tuvatu/ (accessed 2026-10-22).
@misc{isofind2026tuvatuisotopesignatures,
title = {Tuvatu, isotope signatures},
author = {{IsoFind Atlas}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/tuvatu/},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22}
}Updated : 2026-10-22