Résumé
The Imiter silver mine is a world-class deposit located in the Easternpart of the Anti-Atlas (Morocco). The deposit is hosted by Cryogenianblack shales and Ediacaran volcanics, and unconformablyoverlain byPaleozoic sedimentary rocks. The paragenetic sequence for the ganguemineral is composedby amacroscopically white quartz (Qz1) associatedwith the deposition of galena and scarce silver mineralsas matrixof hydraulic breccias, followed by a grey quartz (Qz2) associated withthe main silver deposition event and a first generation of scarcedolomite(Dol1). A third episode is characterized by massive pink dolomite precipitation(Dol2) with minor quartz (Qz3) and base metals. Finally, asurficial event affects the mineralisation and is responsible for a secondaryore enrichment.Microthermometry study coupled with Raman analyses reveals thatfluid inclusions are CaCl2-dominated. The general trend is a decreaseof temperature from Qz1 (250°C) to Dol1 (80°C) then Dol 2 (probablybelow 70°C) depositions. Fluid salinity increases from Qz1 (6.3 to 19.0wt % NaCleq) to Dol1 (27.2 % wt NaCleq), and decreases with the precipitationof Dol2 associated with quartz 3 (15 %wt NaCleq). The 18Oisotopic composition of fluids in equilibrium with quartz and dolomitesuggestsamagmatic,metamorphic and/or basinal origin for the fluid atthe origin of Qz1, and that meteoric / surficial basinal brinesmay be atthe origin of Dol2.The proposed model to explain the ore forming processes in Imiter is amixing of Ca-brines, probably providing chloride complexes, with a hotNaCl fluid of lower salinity, leading to the precipitation of silver.Theresults favour the important role of calcic brines, whose origin remainsmatter to debate in such a giant depositand for whom age of emplacementis strongly discussed.