Precise Re-Os molybdenite ages for the Endako porphyry molybdenum deposit and the Nithi Mountain occurrence, British Columbia, Canada, yield new information on the timing of molybdenite deposition. Three episodes of mineralization are indicated: (1) similar to 154 Ma, (2) similar to 148 to 146 Ma, and (3) similar to 145 Ma. Re-Os dates agree well with new U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar data from granitoids of the Nithi phase (155.2 +/- 1.5 Ma), the Endako phase (148.4 +/- 1.5 Ma), and a preore dike (147.4 +/- 0.6 Ma), and the Casey phase (145.1 +/- 0.2. Ma), plus hydrothermal biotite (144.5 +/- 0.75 Ma; Villeneuve et al.,2001). The excellent correlation between die Re-Os dates from molybdenite and the ages of granitoids from the area indicates a direct genetic relationship between these plutons and molybdenite mineralization. These Re-Os data also provide further insight into the systematics and robustness of Re-Os in molybdenite. The Endako molybdenum deposit is tl-le product of two episodes of mineralization, both associated with moderate-salinity (5-15 wt % NaCl equiv) and high-temperature (similar to 440 degreesC) fluids; a third low-temperature (190 degrees -300 degreesC) hydrothermal event is associated with Eocene faulting (Selby et al., 2000). The clear distinction between two of the Re-Os molybdenite dates in the deposit and the close agreement of these dates to the ages of granitoid intrusions suggest that the Re-Os system in molybdenite is not reset by high-temperature (similar to 440 degreesC), moderate-salinity hydrothermal fluids. In contrast, magmatic biotite in a similar to 147 Ma preore dike has a (40)/Ar/39Ar age of similar to 145 Ma, identical to the age of the hydrothermal biotite, indicating that similar to 440 degreesC fluids reset the Ar-Ar system in biotite. Hence, we interpret that the Re-Os isotope system in molybdenite is resistant to resetting by high-temperature fluids (similar to 440 degreesC), in contrast to the 40Ar/39Ar system in biotite. The Re-Os system in molybdenite is also unaffected by postore hydrothermal fluids. These data show that molybdenite can provide critical information in understanding sulfide mineral deposition in ore systems, which is not recorded by other isotopic systems in alteration minerals. Precise Re-Os molybdenite ages for the Endako porphyry molybdenum deposit and the Nithi Mountain occurrence, British Columbia, Canada, yield new information on the timing of molybdenite deposition. Three episodes of mineralization are indicated: (1) similar to 154 Ma, (2) similar to 148 to 146 Ma, and (3) similar to 145 Ma. Re-Os dates agree well with new U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar data from granitoids of the Nithi phase (155.2 +/- 1.5 Ma), the Endako phase (148.4 +/- 1.5 Ma), and a preore dike (147.4 +/- 0.6 Ma), and the Casey phase (145.1 +/- 0.2. Ma), plus hydrothermal biotite (144.5 +/- 0.75 Ma; Villeneuve et al.,2001). The excellent correlation between die Re-Os dates from molybdenite and the ages of granitoids from the area indicates a direct genetic relationship between these plutons and molybdenite mineralization. These Re-Os data also provide further insight into the systematics and robustness of Re-Os in molybdenite. The Endako molybdenum deposit is tl-le product of two episodes of mineralization, both associated with moderate-salinity (5-15 wt % NaCl equiv) and high-temperature (similar to 440 degreesC) fluids; a third low-temperature (190 degrees -300 degreesC) hydrothermal event is associated with Eocene faulting (Selby et al., 2000). The clear distinction between two of the Re-Os molybdenite dates in the deposit and the close agreement of these dates to the ages of granitoid intrusions suggest that the Re-Os system in molybdenite is not reset by high-temperature (similar to 440 degreesC), moderate-salinity hydrothermal fluids. In contrast, magmatic biotite in a similar to 147 Ma preore dike has a (40)/Ar/39Ar age of similar to 145 Ma, identical to the age of the hydrothermal biotite, indicating that similar to 440 degreesC fluids reset the Ar-Ar system in biotite. Hence, we interpret that the Re-Os isotope system in molybdenite is resistant to resetting by high-temperature fluids (similar to 440 degreesC), in contrast to the 40Ar/39Ar system in biotite. The Re-Os system in molybdenite is also unaffected by postore hydrothermal fluids. These data show that molybdenite can provide critical information in understanding sulfide mineral deposition in ore systems, which is not recorded by other isotopic systems in alteration minerals.
