Stable Isotope Characteristics of Akiri Vein Copper Mineralization, Nasarawa, Nigeria

Abstract

The Akiri vein copper mineralization was investigated for its carbon and oxygen isotopic composition to determine the characteristics of the mineralizing fluid. Carbon and oxygen isotope analyses of Akiri siderite range between δ¹³C values (-1.05 to -1.71‰) and δ¹³O values (-14.94 to -15.18) respectively. δ ¹³C isotopic composition is comparable to values expected for Cretaceous marine carbonates. The 18O depletion in the vein siderite indicates dominant meteoric water sources involved for carbonates precipitation. This significant depletion between the δ¹⁸O compositions of Akiri siderite compared with carbonates from other parts of the
basin probably indicate differential formational temperature or fluid composition.