delta S-34 of lower Carboniferous anhydrite, Cumbria and its implications for barite mineralization in northern Pennines

Recent hydrocarbon exploration in the Solway Basin has revealed the existence of Lower Carboniferous paralic sediments which contain numerous discrete anhydrite beds. Anhydrite S isotope ratios from the Easton-1 Well are compared with new isotopic data from barite mineralization that occurs along the faulted southern margin of the Northumberland-Solway Basin and published data from the Northern Pennine orefield. Similarities between the delta(34)S of anhydrite and barites from major mines at Haydon Bridge and the Alston district of the Northern Pennine orefield supports a Lower Carboniferous marine sulphate source for mineralization at these sites. identification of extensive evaporite deposits in the Solway Basin resolves several longstanding problems associated with mineralization in the Northern Pennines including the source of barite sulphate and the origin of hypersaline mineralizing fluids.