Timing of the Yuchiling giant porphyry Mo system, and implications for ore genesis

The Yuchiling Mo deposit is a recently discovered giant porphyry system in the East Qinling Mo belt, China. Its apparent causative intrusion, i.e., the Yuchiling granite porphyry, is the youngest intrusion (phase 4) of the Heyu multiphase granite batholith, which was emplaced between 143 and 135 Ma. New robust constraints on the formation of the Yuchiling porphyry Mo system are provided by combined zircon U–Pb, biotite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar, and molybdenite Re–Os dating. Zircon grains from the Mo-mineralized granite porphyry yield weighted ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 134.0?±?1.4 Ma (n?=?19, 2σ error, MSWD?=?0.30). Magmatic biotite from the same sample yield a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of 135.1?±?1.4 Ma (2σ error), and an inverse isochron age of 135.6?±?2.0 Ma (n?=?7, 2σ error, MSWD?=?10.8), which are effectively coincident with the zircon U–Pb age within analytical error. Three pulses of mineralization can be deduced from the molybdenite Re–Os ages, namely: ～141, ～137, and ～134 Ma, which agree well with the zircon U–Pb ages of granitic phases 1, 2, and the Yuchiling porphyry (phase 4), respectively. These well-constrained temporal correlations indicate that Mo mineralization was caused by pulses of granitic magmatism, and that the ore-forming magmatic-hydrothermal activity responsible for the Yuchiling porphyry Mo system lasted about 8 Ma. The Yuchiling Mo deposit represents a unique style of porphyry Mo system formed in a post-collision setting, and associated with F-rich, high-K calc-alkaline intrusions, which differ from convergent margin-associated porphyry Mo deposits.     

湘南尖峰岭岩体锆石U-Pb年龄、地球化学特征及成因

香花岭锡多金属矿田处于南岭西段中_晚侏罗世形成的花山_西山_香花岭_骑田岭NE向的富碱侵入岩带上,是湘南地区矿化类型最为完整的锡矿区。尖峰岭岩体为矿田内主要的成矿母岩之一。为了进一步明确尖峰岭黑云母花岗岩的岩石成因及成岩年龄,笔者对尖峰岭黑云母花岗岩开展了LA_ICP_MS锆石U_Pb测年及岩石地球化学特征分析。锆石LA_ICP_MS U_Pb测年获得206Pb/238U年龄介于(158.6±2.3)Ma~(164.8±4.5)Ma之间,加权平均年龄为(160.7±2.2)Ma(MSWD=0.8),这与香花岭锡多金属矿田的成矿时限(154~161 Ma)相吻合,表明岩体的侵位与区内多金属成矿作用均发生于中_晚侏罗世。尖峰岭岩体的主量、微量元素研究显示,尖峰岭黑云母花岗岩具有富硅、富碱及成矿元素,富LILE及Zr、Ga等部分高场强元素(HFSE),贫Ca、Mg、P、Eu特征,指示尖峰岭黑云母花岗岩属于过铝质A型花岗岩(A2型)。综合研究表明,尖峰岭黑云母花岗岩体与其周缘钨锡多金属矿床在时间、空间及成因上有密切关系。结合区域上已有的同位素年代学数据,香花岭矿区的成岩成矿作用与南岭西段同时代的其他钨锡多金属矿床形成于同一岩石圈伸展的地球动力学背景下。     

An early Palaeozoic double-subduction model for the North Qilian oceanic plate: evidence from zircon SHRIMP dating of granites

The North Qilian Orogenic Belt (NQOB), which consists of ophiolitic mélange and island-arc assemblages containing many granites, blueschists, and eclogites, lies between the Alax and Qilian terranes in northwestern China. The Minleyaogou and Niuxinshan granitoids occur at the northern and southern margins, respectively, in the middle segment of the NQOB. The Minleyaogou pluton is granodiorite in composition, whereas the Niuxinshan pluton consists mainly of red granite with minor grey quartz diorite. Geochemically, the Minleyaogou granite differs from the Niuxinshan granite in that it contains a smaller range in SiO₂, has lower total alkalis, and is more peraluminous. Both granitoids are magnesian but the Niuxinshan granite is alkali-calcic, whereas the Minleyaogou granodiorite is calcic. Both granitoids have similar chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns with light rare earth element enrichment and negative Eu anomalies. They have pronounced negative Ba, Nb, Sr, P, and Ti anomalies indicating that they have an affinity to island-arc or active continental margin magmatism. SHRIMP U–Pb dating of zircons from the granitoids yields a formation age of 477 Ma for the Niuxinshan granite and 463 Ma for the Minleyaogou granodiorite. These ages, combined with the geochemistry and locations of the plutons, suggest that they formed by the double subduction of the North Qilian oceanic plate during early Palaeozoic time. Formation of the Niuxinshan granite may be related to southward subduction under the Qilian terrane at 477 Ma, whereas the Minleyaogou granodiorite was formed by northward subduction at 463 Ma under the Alax terrane.     

LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon dating of the Bozhushan granite in Southeast Yunnan

The LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon dating of eight typical samples from four units of the Bozhushan granite intrusion in southeastern Yunnan Province, constrains the age of acidic magmatic intrusion in this area. Both the oscillatory zoning and chondrite-normalized REE patterns characterized by LREE-depletion and HREE-enrichment with positive Ce anomaly and negative Eu anomaly indicate the magmatic genesis of these zircons. Eight zircon samples from the Bozhushan granite yielded a mean 206 Pb/ 238 U age of (85.58±1.0) Ma (MSWD=4.1) to (88.10±0.66) Ma (MSWD=1.8). These chronology data suggest an accurate isotopic age for the intrusion of the Bozhushan granite, and are different from the published age data of 48 to 111.5 Ma. The geochronology data of the Gejiu, Dulong and Dachang super-large deposits and related Yanshanian granites indicated that there occurred large-scale granitic magmatism and mineralization events in western Nanling region during the Late Cretaceous.     

Geochemistry,Zircon U–Pb Analysis,and Biotite 40Ar/39Ar Geochronology of the Maoling Gold Deposit,Liaodong Rift,NE China

The Maoling gold deposit is located in the southwestern part of the Liaodong rift, NE China, and has estimated reserves of 25 t. In this paper we present the results of an investigation into the geochronology and geodynamic mechanisms of igneous activity and metallogenesis within the Maoling gold deposit. New zircon U–Pb age data, biotite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age data, whole‐rock geochemistry, and Hf isotopic analyses are presented in order to constrain the petrogenesis and mineralization of the deposit. Zircon U–Pb dating of the Wolongquan biotite monzogranite and Maoling biotite granite yielded mean ages of 194.0 ± 1.1 Ma and 196.1 ± 1.1 Ma, respectively. All the granites are characteristically high‐K calc‐alkaline, enriched in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements, and depleted in high field strength elements, which is consistent with the geochemical characteristics of arc‐type magmas. The Hf isotope characteristics indicate that the granites formed by partial melting of early Paleoproterozoic crustal material. In addition, biotite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating indicates that the Maoling gold deposit formed at 188.9 ± 1.2 Ma, implying that the mineralization was related to both the granite intrusions. Taking into account previous data on S–Pb–O–H isotopes and our new age data, the Maoling deposit can be classified as an intrusion‐related gold deposit. Taking into account the geology of the study area and adjacent regions, we propose that the Maoling gold deposit and its associated granitic intrusions formed in a geodynamic setting that was dominated by subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian continent.     

The age of camptonite dikes of the Agardag alkali-basalt complex (western Sangilen): results of Ar/Ar and U/Pb dating

A camptonite dike swarm (Agardag alkali-basalt complex) in the western part of the Sangilen Upland abounds in mantle xenoliths. Mineralogical, petrographic, and petrochemical studies show that the dikes are composed of lamprophyres of two groups, basic and ultrabasic. Ar/Ar dating of amphibole and phlogopite megacrysts gives an intrusion age for the dikes of 443.0 ± 1.3 Ma. ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U dating of zircon from a glomeroporphyritic intergrowth in camptonite from one of the dikes yielded a core age of 489.0 ± 5.4 Ma. This corresponds to the time of formation of the Chzhargalanta granite–leucogranite complex (489.4 ± 2.6 Ma). The ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of the zircon rim is 444.0 ± 7.5 Ma. The ages obtained by Ar/Ar dating of amphibole and biotite megacrysts and by U/Pb dating of the magmatic rim of zircon crystal from the camptonite coincide within the dating error, which indicates that the camptonite dikes formed in the Late Ordovician. These dikes are the oldest-known example of mantle-derived xenoliths in mafic volcanic rocks from an off-craton setting. These are samples of the Upper Ordovician lithospheric mantle.     

Geology and Pb-Pb Geochronology of Paleoproterozoic Volcanic and Granitic Rocks of Pitinga Province,Amazonian Craton,Northern Brazil

Pitinga Province is one of the main tin provinces of the Amazonian craton. The oldest unit in the studied area is the Iricoumé Group, which consists of rhyolites and rhyodacites with a ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb zircon age of 1888 ± 3 Ma. This volcanic sequence is intruded by five A-type granite plutons. The studied portion of the Europa pluton is homogeneous, and composed of a peralkaline alkali-amphibole hypersolvus granite that yielded a ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb zircon age of 1829 ± 1 Ma. The early facies of the Madeira pluton consists of a metaluminous amphibole-biotite syenogranite (rapakivi facies) with a ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb zircon age of 1824 ± 2 Ma. It is intruded by a 1822 ± 1 Ma, mildly peraluminous biotite syenogranite. The later facies of this pluton consist of a porphyritic, hypersolvus, alkali-feldspar granite and an albite granite. Field relationships and an extensive drilling survey indicate that these two facies are sheet-shaped and were emplaced almost simultaneously. The hypersolvus alkali-feldspar granite has a ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb zircon age of 1818 ± 2 Ma. Taking in account its field relationships with the albite granite, a similar age is assumed for the latter.

The albite granite intrudes the biotite granite and rapakivi granite facies of the Madeira pluton, which was emplaced by shallow-level cauldron subsidence. The albite granite is sheet shaped and consists of a magmatic peralkaline cryolite-bearing core facies partially surrounded by an autometa-somatic peraluminous fluorile-bearing border facies. Both albite granite facies are strongly tin-mineralized and display anomalous contents of Nb, Rb, Zr, and REE. A massive body of cryolite and pegmatitic rocks is associated with the albite granite.

The contrast in age between the Iricoume Group and the Europa + Madeira granites demonstrates that the plutons are not subvolcanic intrusions related to the extrusives. The ages of 1824 ± 2 Ma, 1822 ± 2 Ma, and 1818 ± 2 Ma obtained, respectively, for the amphibole + biotite syenogranite, biotite granite, and porphyritic hypersolvus granite of the Madeira pluton are consistent with the emplacement sequence inferred for these facies. These ages indicate that the Madeira pluton was emplaced in a relatively short time. Its facies are a little younger than the peralkaline granite of the Europa pluton, suggesting that the latter is not coeval with the Madeira peralkaline albite granite.     

金滩和白马山印支期花岗岩体LA-ICPMS锆石U-Pb定年及其成岩启示

对江西金滩和湖南白马山印支期花岗岩体高精度的LA-ICPMS锆石U-Pb年代学研究表明:金滩黑云母二长花岗岩体给出了(222.1±1.6)Ma的谐和年龄,属印支中晚期,而不是以往所认为的形成于海西期;白马山印支期的黑云母二长花岗岩和黑云母花岗闪长岩分别给出了(223.3±1.4)Ma、(204.5±2.2)Ma的谐和年龄。融合其他年代学数据,湖南白马山印支期花岗质岩浆可能经历了三期侵入活动:其中第一次侵入在印支早期(240Ma左右),其后又经历了220Ma左右和204Ma的另外两幕侵入活动。结合其他相关研究资料进一步表明220Ma左右华南内陆地区可能存在一次广泛的构造-岩浆活动。     

广西梧州思委银矿区花岗岩的岩石成因：锆石U-Pb测年、岩石地球化学和Hf同位素约束

本文对广西梧州思委银矿区思委岩体中细粒黑云母二长花岗岩进行了系统的锆石U-Pb年代学、岩石地球化学和Hf同位素分析研究,以深入探讨其岩石成因。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年获得了思委岩体黑云母二长花岗岩成岩年龄为165±1Ma。思委岩体黑云母二长花岗岩为一套弱过铝质高钾钙碱性系列花岗岩,富集U、K、Pb等元素,亏损Nb、Ta、P、Ti等元素;球粒陨石标准化REE配分模式为右倾斜配分模式,轻重稀土元素分异强烈,富集轻稀土元素,重稀土元素平坦分布。锆石Hf同位素分析花岗岩锆石ε_(Hf)(t)值分布在-15.9~8.7之间,Hf同位素二阶段模式年龄(t2DM)在652~2255Ma之间,表明岩浆源区既有直接源于亏损地幔分异的新生地壳的迅速重熔,也有不同比例的古老地壳的混合作用。花岗岩成岩可能是受古太平洋板块持续俯冲作用影响,焊接板片开裂形成的岩浆上侵。     

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

Abstract 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 a rapid cooling history from 300°C to 150°C during 200–185 Ma. According to the age data and the geological setting of this area, we conclude that the Dapinggou gold deposit was formed at the early stage of the Early Paleozoic granitic magmatism in northern Altun, and exhumed in the Early Jurassic due to the normal faulting of the Lapeiquan detachment. The Early Paleozoic magmatism may provide heat source and produce geological fluids, which are very important for gold mineralization. Exhumation in the Mesozoic caused the uplift of the deposit towards the ground surface.     

LA-ICPMS Zircon U-Pb Dating for Three Indosinian Granitic Plutons from Central Hunan and Western Guangdong Provinces and Its Petrogenetic Implications

1 Introduction Much attention has been paid to the structure, magmatism and sedimentation associated with the Indosinian Orogeny within the South China Block (SCB) since Deprat (1914) and Fromagat (1932) proposed the term “Indosinian movement” based on two unconformities between pre-Norian and pre-Rhaetian times during the early Triassic in Vietnam. However, this timing has been debated in terms of the Indosinian tectonic evolution within the SCB (Guo et al., 1983; Hsü et al., 1990…     

Geochronology and fluid source constraints of the Songligou gold‐telluride deposit,western Henan Province,China: Analysis of genetic implications

The Songligou gold‐telluride deposit, located in Songxian County, western Henan Province, China, is one of many gold‐telluride deposits in the Xiaoqinling‐Xiong'ershan district. Gold orebodies occur within the Taihua Supergroup and are controlled by the WNW F101 Fault, and the fault was cut across by a granite porphyry dike. Common minerals in gold orebodies include quartz, chlorite, epidote, K‐feldspar, calcite, fluorite, sericite, phlogopite, bastnasite, pyrite, galena, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, tellurides, gold, bismuthinite, magnetite, and hematite, and pyrite is the dominant sulfide. Four mineralization stages are recognized, including pyrite‐quartz stage (I), quartz‐pyrite stage (II), gold‐telluride stage (III), and quartz‐calcite stage (IV). This work reports the Rb–Sr age of gold‐telluride‐bearing pyrite and zircon U–Pb age of granite porphyry, as well as S isotope data of pyrite and galena. The pyrite Rb–Sr isochron age is 126.6 ± 2.3 Ma (MSWD = 1.8), and the average zircon U–Pb age of granite porphyry is 166.8 ± 4.1 Ma (MSWD = 4.9). (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) _i values of pyrite and δ³⁴S values of sulfides vary from 0.7104 to 0.7105 and ?11.84 to 0.28‰, respectively. The obtained Rb–Sr isochron age represents the ore formation age of the Songligou gold‐telluride deposit, which is much younger than the zircon U–Pb age of the granite porphyry. Strontium and S isotopes, together with the presence of bastnaesite, suggest that the ore‐forming fluid was derived from felsic magmas with input of a mantle component and subsequently interacted with the Taihua Supergroup. Tellurium was derived from metasomatized mantle and was related to the subduction of the Shangdan oceanic crust and Izanagi plate beneath the North China Craton (NCC). This deposit is a part of the Early Cretaceous large‐scale gold mineralization in east NCC and formed in an extensional tectonic setting.     

Geology and Geochemistry of the Shizitou Molybdenum Deposit,Jiangxi Province: Implications for Geodynamic Setting and Metallogenesis

The Shizitou molybdenum(Mo) deposit in Yongping, Jiangxi, is an important, recently discovered deposit in the eastern section of the Qin–Hang metallogenic belt. The Mo deposit is located in the outer contact zone between the porphyritic biotite granite and the Neoproterozoic migmatite, and present in the deep central part of the intrusion. Re–Os dating and S and Pb isotopic analysis have been conducted to assess the metallogenesis of the Shizitou Mo deposit. S, Pb and Re isotopes show that the ore–forming materials were derived from the porphyritic biotite granitic magma, which originated from the mixing of mantle and crust. Re–Os dating of molybdenite from the ores gives a model age from 156.9±2.2 to 158.5±2.4 Ma, with a weighted mean age of 158±1 Ma and an isochron age of 158.0±2.5 Ma. Geological and geochemical characteristics of the ore deposit and the related granitoids indicate that the Shizitou deposit is a Climax–type Mo deposit. Based on previous studies of the Qin–Hang metallogenic belt, two metallogenic events are believed to have occurred during 172–145 Ma and 137–132 Ma. These two metallogenic periods are consistent with the timing of two metallogenic peaks during the middle to late Jurassic and the Cretaceous in South China. These events represent responses to the partial back–arc extension associated with the subduction of the Izanagi plate beneath the Eurasian continent and the rapid northeastward movement of the subducting Izanagi plate.     

40Ar/39Ar Dating of Xuebaoding Granite in the Songpan-Garzê Orogenic Belt, Southwest China, and its Geological Significance

<正>Thus far,our understanding of the emplacement of Xuebaoding granite and the occurrence and evolution of the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt has been complicated by differing age spectra results.Therefore,in this study,the ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar and sensitive high resolution ion micro-probe(SHRIMP) U-Pb dating methods were both used and the results compared,particularly with respect to dating data for Pankou and Pukouling granites from Xuebaoding,to establish ages that are close to the real emplacements.The results of SHRIMP U-Pb dating for zircon showed a high amount of U,but a very low value for Th/U.The high U amount,coupled with characteristics of inclusions in zircons,indicates that Xuebaoding granites are not suitable for U-Pb dating.Therefore,muscovite in the same granite samples was selected for ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating.The ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar age spectrum obtained on bulk muscovite from Pukouling granite in the Xuebaoding,gave a plateau age of 200.1±1.2 Ma and an inverse isochron age of 200.6±1.2 Ma.The ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar age spectrum obtained on bulk muscovite from Pankou granite in the Xuebaoding gave another plateau age of 193.4±1.1 Ma and an inverse isochron age of 193.7±1.1 Ma. The ~(40)Ar/~(36)Ar intercept of 277.0±23.4(2σ) was very close to the air ratio,indicating that no apparent excess argon contamination was present.These age dating spectra indicate that both granites were emplaced at 200.6±1.3 Ma and 193.7±1.1 Ma,respectively.Through comparison of both dating methods and their results,we can conclude that it is feasible that the muscovite in the granite bearing high U could be used for ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating without extra Ar.Based on this evidence,as well as the geological characteristics of the Xuebaoding W-Sn-Be deposit and petrology of granites,it can be concluded that the material origin of the Xuebaoding W-Sn-Be deposit might partially originate from the Xuebaoding granite group emplacement at about 200 Ma.Moreover,compared with other granites and deposits distributed in various positions in the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt,the Xuebaoding emplacement ages further show that the main rare metal deposits and granites in peripheral regions occurred earlier than those in the inner Songpan-Garze.Therefore,~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating of Xuebaoding granite will lay a solid foundation for studying the occurrence and evolution of granite and rare earth element deposits in the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt.     

A cold Early Palaeozoic subduction zone in the North Qilian Mountains, NW China: petrological and U-Pb geochronological constraints

The north Qilian high‐pressure (HP)/low‐temperature (LT) metamorphic belt is composed mainly of blueschists, eclogites and greenschist facies rocks. It formed within an Early Palaeozoic accretionary wedge associated with the subduction of the oceanic crust and is considered to be one of the best preserved HP/LT metamorphic belts in China. Here we report new lawsonite‐bearing eclogites and eclogitic rocks enclosed within epidote blueschists in the North Qilian Mountains. Five samples contain unaltered lawsonite coexisting with omphacite and phengite as inclusions in garnet, indicating eclogite facies garnet growth and lawsonite pseudomorphs were observed in garnet from an additional 11 eclogites and eclogitic rocks. Peak pressure conditions estimated from lawsonite omphacite‐phengite‐garnet assemblages were 2.1–2.4 GPa at temperatures of 420–510 °C, in or near the stability field of lawsonite eclogite, and implying formation under an apparent geothermal gradient of 6–8 °C km^?1, consistent with metamorphism in a cold subduction zone. SHRIMP U‐Pb dating of zircon from two lawsonite‐bearing eclogitic metabasites yields ages of 489 ± 7 Ma and 477 ± 16 Ma, respectively. CL images and mineral inclusions in zircon grains indicate that these ages reflect an eclogite facies metamorphism. An age of 502 ± 16 Ma is recorded in igneous cores of zircon grains from one lawsonite pseudomorph‐bearing eclogite, which is in agreement with the formation age of Early Ordovician for some ophiolite sequences in the North Qilian Mountains, and may be associated with a period of oceanic crust formation. The petrological and chronological data demonstrate the existence of a cold Early Palaeozoic subduction zone in the North Qilian Mountains.     

Nature and timing of the Solonker suture of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt: insights from geochronology and geochemistry of basic intrusions in the Xilin Gol Complex,Inner Mongolia,China

The Solonker suture zone of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) records the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The nature and timing of final collision along the Solonker suture has long been controversial, partly because of an incomplete record of isotopic ages and differing interpretations of the geological environments of key tectonic units. The Xilin Gol Complex, consisting of strongly deformed gneisses, schists and amphibolites, is such a key tectonic unit within the CAOB. Lenticular or quasi-lamellar amphibolites are dispersed throughout the complex, intercalated with biotite–plagioclase gneiss. Both rock types experienced amphibolite-facies metamorphism. The protolith of the amphibolite is a basic rock that intruded into the biotite–plagioclase gneiss at 319 ± 4 Ma based on LA-ICPMS zircon U–Pb dating. The basic intrusion was sourced from a modified magma that experienced crystal fractionation and was admixed with slab-derived fluids. The slab-derived fluids, which formed during Early Paleozoic oceanic subduction along the north-dipping Sonidzuoqi–Xilinhot subduction zone, mixed with the magma source and produced subduction-related geochemical signatures superimposed on volcanic arc chemistry. After Early Paleozoic oceanic subduction and arc-continent collision, a transient stage of extension occurred between 313 and 280 Ma in the Sonidzuoqi–Xilinhot area. Deformation and recrystallization during the switch from compression to extension and reheating by the later magmatic intrusions reset the isotope systems of minerals in the Xilin Gol Complex, recorded by a 312.2 ± 1.5 Ma biotite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age from biotite–plagioclase gneiss, a 309 ± 12 Ma zircon intercept age and a 307.5 ± 3.5 Ma hornblende ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age from amphibolites in the complex. There was an arc/forearc-related marine basin at the southern margin of the Xilin Gol Complex during the Permian. The closure of the oceanic basin led to Late Paleozoic–Middle Triassic north-dipping subduction beneath the Xilin Gol Complex and induced the amphibolite-facies metamorphism of the complex. The final suturing of the Solonker zone occurred from 269 to 231 Ma. This latest amphibolite-facies metamorphism with pressures of 0.31–0.39 GPa and temperatures of 620–660 °C was recorded at 263.4 ± 1.4 Ma to the Xilin Gol Complex, as indicated by the hornblende ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age from the amphibolites, as well as several zircon ages of 260 ± 3–231 ± 3 Ma. The Xilin Gol Complex documented the progressive accretion of a single, long-lived subduction system at the southern margin of the south Mongolian microcontinent from the Early Paleozoic (~452 Ma) to Middle Triassic (~231 Ma). The CAOB shows protracted collision prior to final suturing.     

南蒙古地区西南欧玉花岗岩LA-MC-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年及其地质意义

对蒙古国南戈壁省东部的西南欧玉岩体黑云母花岗岩锆石进行了阴极发光照相,结果显示,其具有明显的振荡环带,为典型的岩浆锆石特征。对22颗锆石进行了LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄测定,结果显示,21个测点的~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄介于334±2~335±2Ma之间,年龄加权平均值为335±1Ma,表明西南欧玉岩体形成于早石炭世。     

U–Pb dating of zircon and cassiterite from the Early Cretaceous Jiaojiguan iron-tin polymetallic deposit,implications for magmatism and metallogeny of the Tengchong area,western Yunnan,China

The newly discovered Jiaojiguan deposit, a medium-scale skarn iron-tin polymetallic deposit on the Sino-Burma boundary of Yunnan Province (SW China), is spatially associated with the biotite monzonitic granite. Here, we report new in situ zircon LA-MC-ICP-MS U–Pb ages, trace element and Hf isotope data from the granite, and U–Pb dating ages of cassiterite from the ore bodies. In this study, we obtain a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 124.1 ± 1.4 Ma for the zircon and a ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb-²³⁸U/²⁰⁶Pb intercept age of 123.8 ± 2.2 Ma for the cassiterite. The granite crystallized during the Early Cretaceous, with zircons exhibiting εHf(t) values from ?5.8 to ?0.6 and two-stage Hf model ages (T_DM2) of 1.21–1.54 Ga. The close temporal and spatial links between pluton emplacement and ore-forming events suggest that magmatic-hydrothermal events were the key factors that triggered the genesis of the iron-tin polymetallic deposits in the area. Regional geochronological data show that tin mineralization took place three times during the Cretaceous–Palaeogene in the Tengchong block due to re-melting of the underlying supposed Proterozoic (1.5 ± 0.5 Ga) Sn-rich strata/materials. Compared with those in the Bangong–Nujiang metallogenic belt (BNMB), we propose that the Cretaceous iron-tin polymetallic mineralization events in Tengchong–Baoshan closely resemble those of the Bangong–Nujiang belt in northern Tibet, both of which have experienced similar tectono-magmatic-metallogenic histories since the Mesozoic.     

Geochronology of archean gneisses in the Lake Helen area,Southwestern Big Horn Mountains,Wyoming

The RbSr and UPb methods were used to study gneisses in the $\text{7}\text{1}\text{2}\text{-}\text{minute}$ Lake Helen quadrangle of the Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming. Two episodes of magmatism, deformation and metamorphism occurred during the Archean. Trondhjemitic to tonalitic orthogneisses and amphibolite of the first episode (E-1) are cut by a trondhjemite pluton and a calc-alkaline intrusive series of the second episode (E-2). The E-2 series includes hornblende-biotite quartz diorite, biotite tonalite, biotite granodiorite and biotite granite.A RbSr whole-rock isochron for E-1 gneisses indicates an age of 3007 ± 34 Ma (1 sigma) and an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7001 ± 0.0001. UPb determination on zircon from E-1 gneisses yield a concordia intercept age of 2947 ± 50 Ma. The low initial ratio suggests that the gneisses had no significant crustal history prior to metamorphism, and that the magmas from which they formed had originated from a mafic source.A RbSr whole-rock isochron for E-2 gneisses gives an age of 2801 ± 31 Ma. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr initial ration is 0.7015 ± 0.0002 and precludes the existence of the rocks for more than 150 Ma prior to metamorphism. The E-2 magmas may have originated from melting of E-1 gneisses or from a more mafic source.     

Geological Characteristics of the Furong Tin Orefield, Hunan,~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar Dating of Tin Ores and Related Granite and Its Geodynamic Significance for Rock and Ore Formation

Furong, Hunan, is a large tin orefield discovered in China in recent years, which is mainly of the skarn-greisen-chlorite type. On the basis of the geological characteristics of the orefield, 40Ar-39Ar dating was performed on muscovite from greisen-type tin ore and biotite from related amphibole-biotite granite, which yielded three sets of age data, i.e., a plateau age of 157.5±0.3 Ma and an isochron age of 156.9±3 Ma for amphibole-biotite granite; a plateau age of 156.1±0.4 Ma and an isochron age of 155.7±1.7 Ma for the Sanmen greisen-type tin ore; and a plateau age of 160.1±0.9 Ma and an isochron age of 157.5±1.5 Ma for the Taoxiwo greisen-type tin ore. The three sets of age data coincide well with each other. They not only accurately reflect the timing of rock and ore formation but also indicate close relations between granite and tin deposits. In addition, the plateau ages of all three sets suggest that no subsequent thermal perturbation event occurred after the formation of granite and tin dep