Sulfur isotope systematics of granitoids from the Yilgarn Craton sheds new light on the fluid reservoirs of Neoarchean orogenic gold deposits

The identification of the fluid reservoirs of Neoarchean orogenic gold deposits is crucial for understanding the sulfur cycle through the lithosphere and improving exploration strategies to spark new discoveries. Recently, the analysis of Mass-Independent Fractionated Sulfur (MIF-S) isotope signatures of sulfides from gold-bearing assemblages has revealed that (i) at least some of the sulfur in the mineralizing fluids had previously interacted with the Archean oxygen-free atmosphere, and (ii) such fluids were commonly sourced from homogeneous reservoirs at depth. However, the nature and spatial distribution of such reservoirs has so far remained elusive as the lithological and compositional variation of the deep Archean lithosphere remains poorly constrained.