He isotopes constraints to the origin of hydrothermal fluids: Application to the fluorite mineralizations of Asturias (N Spain)

Helium isotopes have been measured in fluorite and sulphides in order to obtain conclusive means of assessing the involvement of mantle and crustally derived volatiles in F-Ba deposits from Asturias (N of Spain). Fluorite mineralizations are hosted in Mesozoic (Permotriassic) and Paleozoic age rocks. Mineralization is composed of fluorite, barite, calcite, dolomite, quartz and sulphides, and shares the characteristics of most Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) deposits associated with rifting events related to the opening of the Atlantic Ocean. The 3He/4He values of the Asturias ore fluids (≤ 0,1 Ra) indicate a crustal fluid source and exclude the involvement of a mantle helium component. These values are consistent with the acceptance of the existing basinal model for MVT genesis and sedimentary brines migration, with the lack of igneous activity in the area contemporary with the mineralization, and also consistent with similar helium isotope data recorded in other fluorite deposits in Europe.