Zircon U-Pb-Hf Isotopic Systematics and Geochemistry of the Granites in the Wurinitu Molybdenum Deposit, Inner Mongolia, China: Implications for Tectonic Setting and Genetic Type of Mineralization

The Wurinitu Mo deposit is one of the newly found molybdenum deposits in the southwestern part of the late Paleozoic–Mesozoic Erenhot–Dong-Ujimqin metallogenic belt(S-EDMB),Inner Mongolia,China. In the present study,the mineralization age of the Wurinitu deposit is constrained to 137.3 ± 1.3 to 131.9 ± 1.5 Ma based on a combination of the laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry(LA–ICP–MS) zircon U–Pb dating of the mineralization related fine-grained monzonitic granite and the post-mineralization granite porphyry. The results of zircon Lu–Hf isotopes,combined with the geochemical characteristics of the granites in the S-EDMB,suggest that the Wurinitu Mo deposit was formed in an extensional environment in relation to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate in late Mesozoic. The Wurinitu deposit shares similarities with the classical Climaxtype porphyry molybdenum deposits in tectonic setting,mineral assemblages,and metal zonation.     

Isotopic Chronological Study of the Huangsha‐Tieshanlong Quartz Vein‐ Type Tungsten Deposit and Timescale of Molybdenum Mineralization in Southern Jiangxi Province,China

The Huangsha-Tieshanlong quartz-vein tungsten polymetallic ore deposit, located in the northern Pangushan-Tieshanlong tungsten ore field in eastern Ganxian-Yudu prospecting areas of the Yushan metallogenic belt, is a well-known tungsten deposit in southern Jiangxi province, China. SHRIMP-determined dating of zircons from the Tieshanlong granite yields ages of 168.1±2.1 Ma (n=11, MSWD=1.3). Rhenium and osmium isotopic dating of molybdenite from the Huangsha quartz-vein tungsten deposit determined by ICP-MS yields a weighted average ages of 153±3 Ma and model ages of 150.2±2.1 Ma – 155.4±2.3 Ma. The age of the Huangsha tungsten deposit is 10 to 15 Ma later than the Tieshanlong granite, which shows that there might have been another early Late Jurassic magmatic activity between 150 and 160 Ma, a process which is closely related with tungsten mineralization in this area. The Tieshanlong granite, the Huangsha tungsten deposit and the Pangushan-Tieshanlong ore field were all formed around 150–170 Ma, belonging to products of a Mesozoic second large-scale mineralization. According to the collected molybdenite Re-Os dating results in southern Jiangxi province, the timescale of the associated molybdenum mineralization is 2–6 Ma in the tungsten deposit and the timescale of independent molybdenum mineralization is 1–4 Ma, implying the complexity of tungsten mineralization. Times of molybdenum mineralization are mainly concentrated in the Yanshanian, which includes three stages of 133~135 Ma, 150–162 Ma, and 166–170 Ma, respectively. The 150–162 Ma-stage is in accordance with ages of large-scale W-Sn mineralization, which is mainly molybdenum mineralization characterized by associated molybdenum mineralization with development of an even greater-intensity independent molybdenum mineralization. Independent molybdenum mineralization occurred before and after large-scale W-Sn mineralization, which indicates that favorable prospecting period for molybdenum may be in Cretaceous and early late Jurassic.     

Emplacement Ages and Petrogenesis of the Molybdenum–bearing Granites in the Jinduicheng Area of East Qinling, China: Constraints from Zircon U–Pb Ages and Hf Isotopes

The Mesozoic porphyry assemblage in the Jinduicheng area is a special molybdenum area in China, the Mo deposits, including the Jinduicheng, Balipo, Shijiawan, Huanglongpu, are distributed. The emplacement age and geochemical features of the granites in the Jinduicheng area can provide essential information for the exploration and development of the porphyry molybdenum deposit. In this study, we report LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb age and zircon Hf isotopic compositions of granite porphyries from the Jinduicheng area, and provide insights on the petrogensis and source characteristics of the granites. The results show that the zircon U–Pb ages of the Jinduicheng granite porphyry (143±1 Ma) and the Balipo granite (154±1 Ma), agree well with the Re–Os ages of molybdenite in the Jinduicheng molybdenum polymetallic deposit (139±3 Ma) and the Balipo molybdenum polymetallic deposit (156±2 Ma), indicating that the emplacement of granite porphyries occurred between Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous. Zircons granite from the Jinduicheng area give the εHf(t) values mainly ranging from ?10 to ?16, and ?20 to ?24, respectively, corresponding to two–stage model ages (tDM2: mainly focused on 1.86–2.0 Ga, and 2.2–2.6 Ga, respectively) of zircons of the granite from the Jinduicheng values. The ore–forming materials are mainly derived from crust, with minor mantle substances. Zircons of the granite from the Balipo area give εHf(t) values ranging from ?18 to ?20, ?28 to ?38, and ?42 to ?44, respectively, corresponding to two–stage model ages (tDM2: mainly focused on 1.88–3.0 Ga, and 3.2–3.90 Ga, respectively). the εHf(t) values of the Jinduicheng porphyry more than that of the Balipo porphyry, and two–stage model ages (tDM2) less than that of the Balipo porphyry, shows that he source of the porphyries originated from ancient lower crustal materials in the Jinduicheng area, and mixed younger components, more younger components contributed for the source of the Jinduicheng porphyry.     

Hydrothermal Zircon Geochronology in the Shangxu Gold Deposit and its Implication for the Early Cretaceous Orogenic Gold Mineralization in the Middle Bangonghu–Nujiang Suture Zone

As a typical orogenic gold deposit in Tibet, Shangxu gold deposit is located at the Bangong Lake–Nujiang River Metallogenic Belt in the south of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. In this paper, zircon U-Pb dating, trace elements and Hf isotopic analysis were performed on Au-bearing quartz veins in the Shangxu gold deposit. Zircons from Au-bearing quartz veins can be divided into three types: detrital, magmatic, and hydrothermal zircons. There are two age peaks in detrital zircons: ca. 1700 Ma and ca. 2400 Ma. There are two groups of concordant ages including 157 ± 4 Ma(MSWD = 0.69) and 120 ± 1 Ma(MSWD = 0.19) in magmatic zircons, in which εH f(t) value of ca. 120 Ma from the magmatic zircons range from +8.24 to +12.9. An age of 119 ± 2 Ma(MSWD = 0.42) was yielded from hydrothermal zircons, and their εH f(t) values vary between +15.7 and +16.4. According to sericite Ar-Ar age, this paper suggests that an age of 119 ± 2 Ma from hydrothermal zircons represent the formation age of the Shangxu gold Deposit, and its mineralization should be related to the collision between Lhasa Block and Qiangtang Block. The metallogenic age is basically the same as the diagenetic age of Mugagangri granite, and εH f(t) value of hydrothermal zircon is significantly higher than that of the contemporaneous magmatic zircon, which indicates that there is a genetic relationship between the gold mineralization and the deep crust-mantle magmatism.     

Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Plutonism in the Northern Part of the Precambrian North China Craton: SHRIMP Zircon U–Pb Dating of Diorites and Granites from the Yunmengshan Geopark, Beijing

The Yunmengshan Geopark in northern Beijing is located within the Yanshan range. It contains the Yunmengshan batholith, which is dominated by two plutons: the Yunmengshan gneissic granite and the Shicheng gneissic diorite. Four samples of the Yunmengshan gneissic granite give SHRIMP zircon U–Pb ages from 145 to 141 Ma, whereas four samples of the Shicheng gneissic diorite have ages from 159 Ma to 151 Ma. Dikes that cut the Yunmengshan diorite record SHRIMP zircon U–Pb age of 162±2 and 156±4 Ma. The cumulative plots of zircons from the diorites show a peak age of 155 Ma, without inherited zircon cores, and the peak age of 142 Ma for granite is interpreted as the emplacement age of the Yunmengshan granitic pluton, whose igneous zircons contain inherited zircon cores. The data presented here show that there were two pulses of magmatism: early diorites, followed c13 Ma later by true granites, which incorporated material from an older continental crust.     

~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb Zircon Dating of the Huangtuling Hypersthene-Garnet-Biotite Gneiss from the Dabie Mountains, Luotian County, Hubei Province, China: New Evidence for Early Precambrian Evolution

The Huangtuling hypersthene-garnet-biotite gneiss at Luotian County, Hubei Provine, is a typicalgranulite-facies rock of the Dabie Group Complex in the Dabie orogenic belt. Investigations on the morphology andoccurrence of zircons and their internal structures shown in the thin sections lead to the recognition of three types ofzircons, which are in good agreement with the types identified on the basis of morphology, colour and external fea-tures from the related zircon concentrates. The observation of zircons in the rock reveals that part of type 1 zirconsshow signs of a double-layered structure. The interval part existed in the protolith prior to the granulite-facies meta-morphism. Type 2, the prismatic zircons which mainly occur in garnet and hypersthene are metamorphic minerals ofthe granulite-facies metamorphism. Type 3, the round multifaceted zircons in felsic minerals and biotite, are proba-bly attributed to a later geological event related to migmatization. The ~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb zircon dating by direct evaporationon (thermal evaporation ion mass spectrometer) yields ages ranging from 2814 Ma to 1992 Ma. The age discrepancyamong these different zircon types is conspicuous. The yellow-brown(type 1) zircons give ages of 2814±29 Ma to2527±6 Ma, the prismatic euhedral zircons (type 2), 2456±7 Ma to 2254±4 Ma, and the round multifaceted zircons(type 3), 1992±10 Ma. The results are geologically interpreted in consideration of the complicated behaviours of zir-cons during Precambrian geological evolution of the Dabie area. (1) If the protolith of the gneiss is a sedimentaryrock, then type 1 zircons are clastic ones and the ages 2814±29 Ma and 2811±27 Ma may reflect the minimum age ofthe rocks of its source region. also the first geological event in the area. Sedimentation of the protolith occurred be-tween 2814 Ma and 2527 Ma, probably close to 2814 Ma. If the protolith is a volcanic rock, then the formation age ofthe supracrustal rocks of the Dabie Group Complex is around 2814 Ma. The age 2456±7 Ma reflects the time whenthe granulite-facies metamorphism took place. The later migmatization event is dated at aboat 1992±10 Ma, and isprobably the latest early Precambrian event in the area. The present work provides geochronological evidence for the existence of the Dabie Archaean craton, whichhad probably experienced 3 or 4 geological events during its early Precambrian evolution.     

Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Granite Xenolith within the Lamprophyre at the Zhenyuan Gold Deposit (Yunnan Province, SW China)

The xenoliths in host rocks of hydrothermal gold deposits can generally provide much geochemical information of the deep rocks, which may have an implication for the sources of ore-forming materials. Geochronology and geochemical characteristics are reported for a granite xenolith, which is enclosed by the lamprophyre in the Zhenyuan gold deposit (Yunnan Province, SW China). This granite xenolith mainly consists of K-feldspar, quartz, and plagioclase with trace amounts of magnetite, titanite, apatite, zircon, and sulfides. Zircons from the granite xenolith yield a weighted average U-Pb age of 281.1 ± 1.3 Ma (MSWD = 2.1), which could represent the crystallization age of this granite xenolith. The Ti-in-zircon geothermometer and the Mn concentration in apatite calculate that this granite xenolith formed at 685 ± 43°C with the logfO2 values ranging from NNO + 3.7 to NNO + 6.4. The zircons in the granite xenolith have a restricted range of positive εHf(t) values ranging from +9.4 to +10.8, and the corresponding Hf TDM2 model ages range from 588 to 678 Ma. The zircon U-Pb age and the Hf isotopic compositions indicate this granite xenolith within the lamprophyre is mainly derived from partial melting of juvenile crustal rocks before the completed closure of the Ailaoshan Ocean. The pyrites in the granite xenolith have higher Bi concentrations, and lower As, Sb, and Tl concentrations than the gold-bearing pyrites of the ores in the Zhenyuan gold deposit. The low Au concentrations of the pyrites together with the ore-forming age of the Zhenyuan gold deposit (Oligocene) indicate the granite xenolith may have limited contribution to the gold mineralization of the Zhenyuan gold deposit.     

Early Paleozoic Magmatism and Gold Mineralization in the Northern Altun, NW China

This paper discusses the relationships between granitic magmatism and gold mineralization and the exhumation history of the Dapinggou gold deposit in northern Altun, NW China based on the geochronological data, including zircon U-Pb ages, Rb-Sr isochron age and 40Ar-39Ar dating and MDD modeling data. The main granitic magmatism age in this area is attained from the ID TIMS U-Pb geochronology of zircons from the Kuoshibulak granite, the biggest granite in the northern Altun area, which gives a concordant age of 443±5 Ma in the Late Ordovician. Zircon ID TIMS U-Pb geochronology of the West Dapinggou biotite granite west of the Dapinggou gold deposit gives concordant ages around 485±10 Ma, representing the early stage of Ordovician magmatism. The Rb-Sr isochron age (487±21 Ma) of 6 quartz inclusion samples from quartz veins in this gold deposit is very close to that of the West Dapinggou granite. MDD modeling of step heating 40Ar-39Ar data of K-feldspar from the same West Dapinggou biotite granite gives     

SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb and Molybdenite Re-Os Datings of the Superlarge Donggou Porphyry Molybdenum Deposit in the East Qinling, China,and Its Geological Implications

Located in the eastern part of the East Qinling molybdenum belt, the Donggou deposit is a superlarge porphyry molybdenum deposit discovered in recent years. The authors performed highly precise dating of the mineralized porphyry and ores in the Donggou molybdenum deposit. A SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating of the Donggou aluminous A-type granite-porphyry gave a rock-forming age of 112±1 Ma, and the ICP-MS Re-Os analyses of molybdenite from the molybdenum deposit yielded ReOs model ages ranging from 116.5±1.7 to 115.5±1.7 Ma for the deposit. The ages obtained by the two methods are quite close, suggesting that the rocks and ores formed approximately at the same time. The Donggou molybdenum deposit formed at least 20 Ma later than the Jinduicheng, Nannihu, Shangfanggou and Leimengou porphyry molybdenum deposits in the same molybdenum belt, implying that these deposits were formed in different tectonic settings.     

Diagenetic and Mineralization Age of the Hehuaping Tin-polymetallic Orefield, Hunan Province

The Hehuaping tin deposit is a large deposit found in recent years during geological surveys. The discovered tin deposit includes not only rock-alteration type deposits in fault zones, but also deposits developed in interstratified rupture zones between Devonian carbonate rocks (Qiziqiao Formation) and sandstone (Tiaomajian Formation). The finding of tin deposits of the latter type has greatly enriched tin-mineralization types in the famous Nanling polymetallic metallogenetic region and may provide us with a new potential orientation for prospecting of tin deposits in the region. It is commonly believed that the forming of the tin deposits in the Nanling region should be related to the Yanshanian instead of Indosinian granitic magmatism. Systematical zircon U-Pb SHRIMP dating in this paper shows that tin mineralizations have endured at least two stages. The early stage should be related to the intrusion of the main body of the Wangxianling granite, which was emplaced during the Indosinian period with a diagenetic and mineralized age of 224.0±1.9 Ma (MSWD=0.54), and the late stage should be related to the intrusion of Yanshanian granitic porphyry that took place after 142±3 Ma (MSWD=0.5).     

内蒙古乌拉特后旗查干花钼矿床地质特征及Re-Os测年

查干花钼矿是近年来在内蒙古西部中蒙边境地区新发现的一个具大型规模隐伏矿床,区内辉钼矿化呈浸染状、团块状、细脉状分布于中细粒二长花岗岩与古元古界宝音图群地层北东接触带部位,具斑岩型矿床特点.本文在对矿区矿化和蚀变特征初步研究的基础上,开展了辉钼矿Re-Os测年,获得模式年龄为(239.3±3.3)～(242.6±3.6)...     

内蒙古丰镇市泉子沟斑岩钼矿床成岩成矿年代学及其地质意义

泉子沟斑岩钼矿床位于内蒙古丰镇市,地处华北克拉通北缘内蒙古台隆凉城断隆内。矿区出露一套燕山期花岗质杂岩体——红娘山杂岩体,主要由中粗粒花岗岩、似斑状花岗岩和石英斑岩组成,钼矿体主要赋存于似斑状花岗岩中。文章在详细的野外地质调查基础上,对泉子沟矿床的成岩成矿时代进行了详细研究,并探讨了地质意义。5件辉钼矿样品的Re-Os模式年龄介于(158.8±2.2)Ma~(161.5±2.2)Ma之间,其加权平均值为(159.8±1.0)Ma(MSWD=0.92),等时线年龄为(161.7±3.1)Ma(MSWD=1.40)。红娘山杂岩体LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄分别为:中粗粒花岗岩结晶年龄为(173±1)Ma(MSWD=0.88),似斑状花岗岩侵位年龄为(162±1)Ma(MSWD=0.40),石英斑岩结晶年龄为(160±2)Ma(MSWD=1.90)。辉钼矿Re-Os和锆石U-Pb定年结果表明,泉子沟钼矿床形成于晚侏罗世早期,成矿与似斑状花岗岩关系密切。泉子沟钼矿床的辉钼矿w(Re)介于16.49×10~(-6)~32.87×10~(-6),暗示成矿物质主要来自下地壳。     

Two Periods of Skarn Mineralization in the Baizhangyan W–Mo Deposit,Southern Anhui Province,Southeast China: Evidence from Zircon U–Pb and Molybdenite Re–Os and Sulfur Isotope Data

The recently discovered Baizhangyan skarn‐porphyry type W–Mo deposit in southern Anhui Province in SE China occurs near the Middle–Lower Yangtze Valley polymetallic metallogenic belt. The deposit is closely temporally‐spatially associated with the Mesozoic Qingyang granitic complex composed of g ranodiorite, monzonitic g ranite, and alkaline g ranite. Orebodies of the deposit occur as horizons, veins, and lenses within the limestones of Sinian Lantian Formation contacting with buried fine‐grained granite, and diorite dykes. There are two types of W mineralization: major skarn W–Mo mineralization and minor granite‐hosted disseminated Mo mineralization. Among skarn mineralization, mineral assemblages and cross‐cutting relationships within both skarn ores and intrusions reveal two distinct periods of mineralization, i.e. the first W–Au period related to the intrusion of diorite dykes, and the subsequent W–Mo period related to the intrusion of the fine‐grained granite. In this paper, we report new zircon U–Pb and molybdenite Re–Os ages with the aim of constraining the relationships among the monzonitic granite, fine‐grained granite, diorite dykes, and W mineralization. Zircons of the monzonitic granite, the fine‐grained granite, and diorite dykes yield weighted mean U–Pb ages of 129.0 ± 1.2 Ma, 135.34 ± 0.92 Ma and 145.3 ± 1.7 Ma, respectively. Ten molybdenite Re–Os age determinations yield an isochron age of 136.9 ± 4.5 Ma and a weighted mean age of 135.0 ± 1.2 Ma. The molybdenites have δ³⁴S values of 3.6‰–6.6‰ and their Re contents ranging from 7.23 ppm to 15.23 ppm. A second group of two molybdenite samples yield ages of 143.8 ± 2.1 and 146.3 ± 2.0 Ma, containing Re concentrations of 50.5–50.9 ppm, and with δ³⁴S values of 1.6‰–4.8‰. The molybdenites from these two distinct groups of samples contain moderate concentrations of Re (7.23–50.48 ppm), suggesting that metals within the deposit have a mixed crust–mantle provenance. Field observation and new age and isotope data obtained in this study indicate that the first diorite dyke‐related skarn W–Au mineralization took place in the Early Cretaceous peaking at 143.0–146.3 Ma, and was associated with a mixed crust–mantle system. The second fine‐grained granite‐related skarn W–Mo mineralization took place a little later at 135.0–136.9 Ma, and was crust‐dominated. The fine‐grained granite was not formed by fractionation of the Qingyang monzonitic granite. This finding suggests that the first period of skarn W–Au mineralization in the Baizhangyan deposit resulted from interaction between basaltic magmas derived from the upper lithospheric mantle and crustal material at 143.0–146.3 and the subsequent period of W–Mo mineralization derived from the crust at 135.0–136.9 Ma.     

小兴安岭霍吉河钼矿床成岩成矿年代学及其地质意义

霍吉河钼矿是小兴安岭地区于近年发现的大型斑岩型钼矿床。本文在对矿化特征分析的基础上,采用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb技术对霍吉河成矿花岗质杂岩测年,获得中细粒花岗闪长岩和斑状花岗岩成岩年龄分别为181.0±1.9 Ma(n=15, MSWD=4.7) 和193.6±1.4 Ma(n=25, MSWD=2.3)。通过辉钼矿Re-Os同位素分析,获得等值线年龄176.3±5.1 Ma(n=5, MSWD=1.3)和加权平均年龄为181.2±1.8 Ma (n=5, MSWD=1.3)。两种方法获得的年龄大致相近,表明成岩与成矿于同一系统形成,成岩大致始于193.6±1.4 Ma,成矿于岩浆期后181.2±1.8 Ma。霍吉河钼矿成岩成矿年龄与乌奴格吐山铜钼矿、兰家沟钼矿和杨家杖子钼矿等矿床辉钼矿Re-Os同位素年龄相近,表明中国东北地区广泛存在早侏罗世岩浆成矿作用。微量元素和同位素显示,霍吉河花岗闪长岩和斑状花岗岩属A型花岗岩,形成于地壳挤压向拉伸转换的构造环境,成矿物质主要来自岩浆。     

U–Pb and Re–Os Ages of the Huaheitan Molybdenum Deposit,NW China

The Huaheitan molybdenum deposit in the Beishan area of northwest China consists of quartz‐sulfide veins. Orebodies occur in the contact zone of the Huaniushan granite. LA‐ICPMS U–Pb zircon dating constrains the crystallization of the granite at 225.6 ± 2.2 Ma (2σ, MSWD = 4.5). Re–Os dating of five molybdenite samples yield model ages ranging from 223.2 ± 3.5 Ma to 228.6 ± 3.4 Ma, with an average of 225.2 ± 2.4 Ma. The U–Pb and Re–Os ages are identical within the error, suggesting that the granite and related Huaheitan molybdenum deposit formed in the Late Triassic. Our new data, combined with published geochronological results from the other molybdenum deposits in this region, imply that intensive magmatism and Mo mineralization occurred during 240 Ma to 220 Ma throughout the Beishan area.     

内蒙古乌拉特后旗查干德尔斯钼矿床地质特征及Re-Os测年

查干德尔斯钼矿床是近年来在内蒙古西部中蒙边境地区新发现的一个具大型规模的隐伏矿床,辉钼矿化呈浸染状、团块状、细脉状分布在中细粒二长花岗岩中,具斑岩型矿床的特点.笔者在矿区成矿岩体、矿化和蚀变特征等初步研究的基础上,进行了辉钼矿Re-Os测年,获得模式年龄为(240.3±3.9)～(244.2±3.5)Ma,等时线年龄为...     

内蒙古苏尼特左旗乌兰德勒钼铜多金属矿床辉钼矿铼-锇同位素定年及其地质特征

中蒙边境内蒙古苏尼特左旗乌兰德勒钼铜多金属矿床是内蒙古二连—东乌旗成矿带上近几年国土资源地质大调查工作过程中新发现的一个规模较大的矿床,包括赋存于上部细粒石英闪长岩、中粗粒花岗闪长岩中细脉浸染状矿体和赋存于隐伏的细粒二长花岗岩中的浸染状矿体,属典型的斑岩型钼矿床。文章通过采集WZK1钻孔211.2～214m细脉浸染状矿石的辉钼矿纯样,获得辉钼矿的等时线年龄为(134.1±3.3)Ma,并对比了矿区细粒二长花岗岩的锆石SHRIMP年龄(131.4±1.6)Ma,两者基本一致,表明矿床的形成主要与隐伏的燕山期细粒二长花岗岩有着密切关系。测定的辉钼矿铼-锇同位素年龄能够精确代表该矿床的成矿时间,表明在乌兰德勒区域找矿工作中,需要密切关注燕山期构造-岩浆活动的相关成矿作用。     

Two periods of mineralization in Xiaoxinancha Au–Cu deposit,NE China: evidences from the geology and geochronology

The Xiaoxinancha Au–Cu deposit is located at the eastern segment of the Tianshan–Xingmeng orogenic belt in northeast China. The deposit includes porphyry Au–Cu orebodies, veined Au–Cu orebodies and veined Mo mineralizations. All of them occur within the diorite intrusion. The Late Permian diorite, Late Triassic granodiorite, Early Cretaceous granite and granite porphyry are developed in the ore area. The studies on geological features show that the porphyry Au–Cu mineralization is related to the Late Permian diorite intrusion. New geochronologic data for the Xiaoxinancha porphyry Au–Cu deposit yield Permian crystallization zircon U–Pb age of 257 ± 3 Ma for the diorite that hosts the Au–Cu mineralization. Six molybdenite samples from quartz + molybdenite veins imposed on the porphyry Au–Cu orebodies yield an isochron age of 110.3 ± 1.5 Ma. The ages of the molybdenites coeval to zircon ages of the granite within the errors suggest that the Mo mineralization was genetically related to the Early Cretaceous granite intrusion. The formation of the diorite and the related Au–Cu mineralization were caused by the partial melting of the subduction slab during the Late Palaeozoic palaeo‐Asia Ocean tectonic stage. The Re contents and Re–Os isotopic data indicate that the crustal resource is dominated for the Mo mineralization during the Cretaceous extensional setting caused by the roll‐back of the palaeo‐Pacific plate. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.