Stable isotope and mineralogical investigation of the genesis of amethyst geodes in the Los Catalanes gemological district, Uruguay, southernmost Paraná volcanic province

Abstract

Stable isotopes (C,O,S) and mineralogical studies of the world-class amethyst-geode deposits of the Los Catalanes gemological district,Uruguay,constrain processes operative during mineral deposition. The mineralized basaltic andesites from the Cretaceous Paraná volcanic province are intensely altered to zeolites(clinoptilolite)and clay minerals.Variations in the δ18O values of silica minerals in geodes(chalcedony,quartz,and amethyst)are much larger and the values generally somewhat lower(21.2-31.5‰) in the Uruguayan deposits than in the Ametista do Sul area of southern Brazil. The range of δ34S values (-15.0 to -0.3‰)of altered basaltic rocks requires (in addition to sulfur of magmatic origin) the involvement of 34S-depleted sedimentary sulfur from bacterial sulfate reduction. The results delimit the mineralizing processes to a post-eruption environment characterized by low temperature and strong interaction of the lava flows with meteoric water. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.