Mineralogical and geochemical investigation of seafloor massive sulfides from Panarea Platform (Aeolian Arc, Tyrrhenian Sea)

Panarea seafloor hydrothermal system is associated with a range of mafic to felsic volcanic rocks. The hydrothermal system is active at present and discharges magmatic–hydrothermal fluids and precipitates massive sulfides. The sulfides exhibit multi-stage deposition, evident in the alternation of several mineral generations that follow a general temporal precipitation sequence: marcasite → alunite → opal. Sr–Nd–Pb isotope data indicate that most of the metals in the sulfides are derived predominantly from the Panarea volcanic rocks with some contribution from ambient seawater and/or local sediments. A remarkable feature of these sulfides is their chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REEN) distribution pattern with a pronounced negative Eu anomaly, which has not been observed previously. Our study demonstrates that this REEN pattern reflects the REE fractionation during sulfide deposition. The ionic radius mismatch between Eu2 + (the main form of Eu in reduced, high-temperature hydrothermal fluids) and the only possible site for REE substitution in the marcasite, that of Fe2 +, suggests a crystallographic control on the REEN pattern. Apparently, marcasite precipitation can generate a sulfide deposit with a negative Eu anomaly due to discrimination against Eu2 + relative to REE3 + in the Fe2 + crystallographic site.

► Panarea seafloor massive sulfide has REEN pattern with a negative Eu anomaly.
► REEN is crystallographically controlled: Fe2 + and REE3 + discriminate against Eu2 +.
► This deposit differs from its counterparts: it has alunite instead of anhydrite.