Hydrothermal alteration of granitoids associated with little Dungarvon tin deposit, New Brunswick

Abstract

The occurrence of cassiterite at the southern end of the Dungarvon Granite is a product of late stage hydrothermal activity. The alteration of the granitoids and country rocks has been studied using thin sections and the x - ray diffractometer. Five alteration products have been recognized: chloritization of biotite , sericitization of plagioclase, illitization of feldspar, carbonitization and epidotization . Use of the alteration products for exploration is limited as alteration is apparent mainly at the microscopic level.