Abstract The modelling of the Mandoos 1 massive sulphide deposit revealed an orebody of ca. 8 million tonnes with an average grade of 1.72 wt% Cu. The spatial distribution of Cu and Zn concentrations suggests that the ores are relatively homogenous in composition and were not significantly affected by metal zoning refinement processes. The massive sulphide lens is mainly composed of iron sulphide rich (pyrite ± marcasite) breccias, cemented by silica ± phyllosilicates ± laumontite, having chalcopyrite (commonly altered to Cu-rich phases) and sphalerite as accessory minerals. The ores preserve large number of primary textures (colloform and framboidal) and also tubeworms (polychetae). The observed large amount of trace elements in the majority of mineral phases are consistent with the poor thermal reworking of the ores, also compatible with the monotonous and low diverse mineral assemblage. This Cu-rich VMS deposit is characterised by secondary Cu enrichment, developed during an oxidising event, which might also be synchronous of jaspers formation. When these sulphide ores were not covered, a seafloor weathering produced sequences of umbers and ochres with variable thickness, where massive sulphide breccias are oxidised and impregnated with silica in a more cold and oxidising environment, although these can also be formed by direct precipitation of metals within the water column, derived from exhalative discharges and deposited in such conditions. The REE normalised patterns of sulphide ores are consistent with a mixture of seawater and vent fluids (derived from basalt leaching – SW:B). The relative REE enrichments displayed by the ore samples can be simulated by a ratio of seawater (SW) and basalt (B) scattered between 0.85:0.15 and 0.99:0.01 for less altered basalts, while for altered basalts (B’) the values range from 0.50:0.50 to 0.95:0.05. The same is observed in sulphide-mineralised jaspers, while the REE in umbers and ochres derives entirely from seawater. Present-day vent-fluids REE magnitudes (TAG an EPR) are simulated with SW:B and SW:B’ interactions between 0.999:0.001 and 0.9999:0.0001. Nevertheless the pattern displayed by modern vent fluids, characterised by an evident Eu positive anomaly and positive LREE and HREE fractionation, is not completely reproduced by the performed simulation. Evidence of magmatic contributions to the hydrothermal mineralising fluid is supported by overall enrichments in Cd, W, Sn, Te and In; these contributions may also explain some other observed compositional differences. Key-words: Sumail Ophiolite, Oman, massive sulphide, ore mineralogy, whole rock geochemistry.

Abstract The modelling of the Mandoos 1 massive sulphide deposit revealed an orebody of ca. 8 million tonnes with an average grade of 1.72 wt% Cu. The spatial distribution of Cu and Zn concentrations suggests that the ores are relatively homogenous in composition and were not significantly affected...