Host rocks and tectonics

Besshi-type deposits in Sanbagawa metamorphic terrain occur in the Minawa Formation which is composed of basic schist. Sometimes, they are associated with quartz schists. Probably, quartz has been originally formed from hydrothermal solution like siliceous ore in Kuroko deposits. Original rocks of basic schists are basaltic lava and hyaloclastics. Detailed geochemical investigation on the basic schists in the Sanbagawa 

Mariko and Kato (1994) analyzed 171 samples and 43 samples from the Shimokawa area for major elements and minor elements, respectively, and indicated that the 

Shinozuka et al. (1999) analyzed the host volcanic and intrusive rocks in the Minamidani mine district in the Maizuru tectonic Belt and found that these rocks formed in an island arc back-arc system near Laurasia during late Paleozoic. Probably the Yanahara deposits, one of the representative Hitachi subtype deposits, were formed in an island arc back-arc system as same as the Minamidani. Sato and Kase (1996) thought that the Hitachi-subtype deposits formed in back-arc rift or continental rift (Table 2.21). 

It is thought that submarine hydrothermal alteration of basalt took place in the Besshi-subtype mineralization area in Sanbagawa. However, no study on the hydrothermal alteration of basalt (basic schist) has been carried out and it is clearly necessary. The contact metamorphosed rocks and sulfide ores caused by Tertiary granitic intrusion are found in deeper part of the Besshi mine and Makimine mine (Tatsumi, 1952 Kase, 1972). 

The basic rocks in the Shimokawa area are metamorphosed up to green schist to amphibolite facies which are considered to be due to submarine hydrothermal activity (Miyake, 1988 Mariko, 1984 Mariko and Kato, 1994). 

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