Unravelling the Temporal and Chemical Evolution of a Mineralizing Fluid in Karst-Hosted Deposits: A Record from Goethite in the High Atlas Foreland (Morocco)

Timing and duration of ore deposit formation are crucial to understanding the mineralization process. To address this, geochronological (U-Th)/He method, geochemical H- O-isotope compositions pure goethite formed in Imini karst-hosted Mn district (High Atlas, Morocco) were examined detail. Two main generations cavity-filling fracture-filling identified, both precipitated prior massive oxide ore. The δD δ18O values reveal that mineralizing fluid cavity is meteoric-derived but enriched 18O due fluid–rock interactions with host rock dolostone or mixing O2-rich surface water resident an open karst system. between 95 80 Ma, whereas 50 Ma. Ore deposition occurred discontinuously during early Atlas doming associated one more compressional events tectonism. increase depletion U content result from a change within At about notably U, Cu trace metals.