Stable isotope variations in the Quaternary epithermal calcite-fluorite deposit at Monte delle Fate near Cerveteri (Latium, central Italy)

Carbon, oxygen and hydrogen isotope variations have been measured in samples from the epithermal fluorite vein deposit at Monte delle Fate, Latium. The ranges in ?? 13C and ??18O of calcite are -1.3 to 3.4 and 9.5 to 17.3, respectively. ??D values of water extracted from fluid inclusions are -49 to -39 for calcite and -41 to -34 for fluorite. Fluid inclusion filling temperatures (225??-240??C) and salinites (3.75) are nearly the same for both fluorite and sparry calcite. An elongated form of calcite, of minor abundance, precipitated at lower temperatures. The data indicate that (1) the CO2 involved in the mineralization was provided by the local marine limestones, (2) the waters were meteoric in origin and underwent an 18O shift of ??? 10 permil by exchange with marine country rocks, and (3) all geochemical features can be explained by the action of two hydrothermal fluids. Hot brines recently discovered in the Cesano geothermal area, 30 km to the east, have temperatures and some chemical characteristics similar to the hydrothermal fluids at Monte delle Fate. ?? 1980 Springer-Verlag.