SUBMILLIMETER SCALE VARIATION OF THE OXYGEN ISOTOPE COMPOSITION OF GOLD-BEARING QUARTZ VEIN AT THE HISHIKARI DEPOSIT, JAPAN

Low-sulfidation style ore deposits, the major source of Au, Ag, and Hg, are formed from neutral-pH, reduced hydrothermal solutions close to equilibrium with their host rocks. The waters are low-salinity (〈1 wt % NaCl equiv.) but relatively gas rich (1-2 wt % $CO_2$), and are largely meteoric water. However, the contribution of magmatic components to the epithermal system, its temporal importance, and its relation to the source of ore metals are largely controversial. (omitted)