Fluid source and thermal history of an epithermal vein deposit, Owen Lake, central British Columbia: evidence from bitumen and fluid inclusions

Fluid source and thermal history are determined for the barite and bitumen-bearing, early Eocene (ca. 50 Ma) polymetallic, epithermal veins of the Owen Lake deposit, central British Columbia, Canada. Carbon isotopic values for the bitumen are highly negative (δ13 C ca −29%) indicating a probable terrigenous source, which may be 1 no older than Late Cretaceous or, 2 Eocene plant-fossil-bearing units stratigraphically above the Owen Lake deposit. Heat generated by suspected magmatic activity resulted in downflow of meteoric water and upflow of hydrothermal water, mixing at the site of deposition.