云南腾冲大松坡锡矿成矿年代学研究:锆石 LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄和锡石LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄证据

大松坡锡矿床是三江特提斯成矿域腾冲-梁河锡-钨多金属矿带内的典型锡矿床之一,与古永岩基有密切的成生联系.本文利用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年手段对大松坡锡矿床小龙河含锡黑云母花岗岩和二长花岗岩进行制约,两件黑云母花岗岩样品分析结果分别为70.3±3.2Ma和75.3±4.2Ma,一件二长花岗岩样品结果为71.5±2.1Ma,代表了岩浆结晶年龄.LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb方法直接对锡石进行年龄测试在国内外研究报道尚少,本文首次对该矿床云英岩型锡矿石中锡石进行定年尝试,结果为75.5±2.6Ma,与岩体年龄在误差范围内一致.小龙河锡矿床含锡岩体与古永岩基年龄一致,表明该含锡岩体可能是古永岩基的一部分.大松坡锡矿床的成矿年龄与含锡岩体年龄一致,表明二者同时形成,共系新特提斯洋俯冲构造背景的产物.     

A precise U–Pb age on cassiterite from the Xianghualing tin-polymetallic deposit (Hunan,South China)

We report the first precise U–Pb isotope data on cassiterite from the large Xianghualing tin-polymetallic deposit in the central Nanling district, South China. The results show that four separates from sample XF-51 have a relatively narrow range of ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U apparent ages, varying from 152 to 157 Ma, and the three ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U apparent ages yield a weighted average value of 156 ± 4 Ma (MSWD = 0.32). Separates from two other cassiterite samples do not have sufficient radiogenic Pb to generate a reliable ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age. Seven separates from the above three cassiterite samples define a well-constrained ²³⁸U–²⁰⁶Pb isochron corresponding to an age of 157 ± 6 Ma (MSWD = 34). A comparison of the U–Pb cassiterite ages with published Ar–Ar dates on muscovite from this deposit and K–Ar age data on biotite from the pluton genetically related to the tin mineralization in this area demonstrates that the U–Pb isotope system of cassiterite is a potential geochronometer. Combined with the Ar–Ar dates of muscovite from this deposit, we can constrain the absolute age of tin-polymetallic mineralization in Xianghualing at 154–157 Ma. The dates obtained in this study, consistent with the published geochronological results from other important deposits in this region, reveal that the large-scale tungsten–tin mineralization in the central Nanling region was predominantly emplaced during 150–161 Ma.     

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.     

新疆东准噶尔贝勒库都克锡矿带锡成矿的40Ar-39Ar年龄

位于新疆东准噶尔的贝勒库都克锡矿带是我国北方地区首次发现具独立锡矿床的锡成矿带。该成矿带自东向西发育萨惹什克、贝勒库都克、干梁子、卡姆斯特4个独立锡矿床。它们在主要矿石类型、脉石矿物组成上表现为两类。萨惹什克锡矿属于石英型,占优势的脉石矿物是石英,其次有长石,而白云母很不发育。其它3个锡矿则以云英岩型为特征,主要脉石矿物是石英和长石,次要矿物有白云母。本文报道了我们对发育白云母的卡姆斯特、干梁子、贝勒库都克锡矿床开展矿石⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar同位素定年的结果。3件与锡石平衡共生的白云母有很平坦的年龄谱,其⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar-³⁹Ar/³⁶Ar正等时线年龄与各自的坪年龄很一致,年龄值范围是305~315Ma。这些结果和我们已报道的萨惹什克锡矿的Re-Os等时线年龄一起,确定了全部4个锡矿床的成矿年龄,并证实它们构成一个锡成矿带。此外,锡矿石与花岗岩围岩年龄的一致性表明了研究区锡成矿与花岗岩浆作用间很可能存在成因关系。     

^40Ar-^39Ar Isotopic Dating of the Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic Orefield in Southern Hunan, China and Its Geological Implications

The Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic orefield in Hunan Province, southern China, is a large-size tin orefield. Although numerous studies have been undertaken on this orefield, its genesis, mineralization age, and tectonic setting are still controversial, mainly because of the lack of reliable geochronological data on tin mineralization. The 40Ar/39Ar stepwise heating dating method was first employed on muscovite from different deposits in this orefield. The muscovite sample from the Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic deposit defines a plateau age of 154.4±1.1 Ma and an isochron age of 151.9±3.0 Ma; muscovite from the Xianghuapu W-polymetallic deposit yields a plateau age of 161.3±1.1 Ma and an isochron age of 160.0±3.2 Ma; muscovite from the Jianfengling greisen-type Sn-polymetallic deposit gives a plateau age of 158.7±1.2 Ma and an isochron age of 160.3±3.2 Ma. The tungsten-tin mineralization ages in the Xianghualing area are therefore restricted within 150-160 Ma. The tungsten -tin mineralization in Xianghualing occurred at the same time as the regional tin-tungsten mineralization including the Furong tin orefield, Shizhuyuan tungsten-tin polymetallic deposit and Yaogangxian tungsten-polymetallic deposit. Thus, the large-scale tungsten-tin metallogenesis in South China occurring at 160-150 Ma. probably is closely related to asthenospheric upwelling and crust-mantle interaction under a geodynamic setting of crustal extension and lithosphere thinning during the transformation of tectonic regimes during the Mid-Late Jurassic.     

40Ar/39Ar Ages of the Da Lien Granite Related to the Nui Phao W Mineralization in Northern Vietnam

⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating was conducted on the Da Lien granite related to greisen‐skarn type polymetallic (W‐CaF₂‐Cu‐Bi‐Au) mineralization in Nui Phao, northern part of Vietnam in the South China Plate. Biotite and muscovite separates from the biotite‐muscovite granite and greisenized granite indicate four plateau ages: 82.2 ± 0.4 Ma, 82.8 ± 0.3 Ma, 81.5 ± 0.3 Ma and 82.5 ± 0.4 Ma. The plateau ages were not significantly influenced by excess ⁴⁰Ar in dated minerals or by loss of radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar due to hydrothermal activities. The results indicate that solidification of granite related to the polymetallic mineralization occurred in the Late Cretaceous between 82.8 Ma and 81.5 Ma.     

Formation Age and Evolution Time Span of the Koktokay No. 3 Pegmatite,Altai, NW China: Evidence from U–Pb Zircon and 40Ar–39Ar Muscovite Ages

The Koktokay No. 3 pegmatite is the largest Li–Be–Nb–Ta–Cs pegmatitic rare‐metal deposit of the Chinese Altai orogenic belt, and is famous for its concentric ring zonation pattern (nine internal zones). However, the formation age and evolution time span have been controversial. Here, we present the results of LA‐ICP–MS zircon U–Pb dating and muscovite ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar dating. Four groups of zircon U–Pb ages (～210 Ma, ～193–198 Ma, ～186–187 Ma and ～172 Ma) for Zones II, V, VI, VII, and VIII, and a weighed mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 965 ± 11 Ma for Zone IV are identified. Also, Zones II, IV, and VI have muscovite ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar plateau ages of 179.7 ± 1.1 Ma, 182.1 ± 1.0 Ma, and 181.8 ± 1.1 Ma, respectively. Considering previous U–Pb age studies (Zones I, V, and VII), the ages of emplacement, Li mineralization peak, hydrothermal stage of the No. 3 pegmatite are in ranges of 193–198 Ma, 184–187 Ma and 172–175 Ma, with weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb–²³⁸U ages of 194.8 ± 2.3 Ma, 186.6 ± 1.3 Ma and 173.1 ± 3.9 Ma, respectively. The No. 3 pegmatite formed in the early Jurassic. The results of xenocrysts suggest that there is another pegmatite forming event of around 210 Ma in the mining district and the old zircon U–Pb ages imply that Neoproterozoic crustal rocks pertain to sources of the No. 3 pegmatite. Including the previous muscovite ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar age studies (Zones I and V), a cooling age range of 177–182 Ma is considered as the time of hydrothermal stage and end of formation. The evolution process of the No. 3 pegmatite lasted 16 Ma. Therein, the magmatic stage continued for 9–11 Myr and the magmatic–hydrothermal transition and hydrothermal stages were sustained at 5–7 Ma. These time spans are long because of huge scale, cupola shape, large formation depth, and complex internal zoning patterns and formation processes. Considering some pegmatite dikes in the Chinese Altai, there is an early Jurassic pegmatite forming event.     

滇西松山锡矿锡石LA-SF-ICP-MS U-Pb年代学及其对区域锡成矿作用的指示

松山锡矿位于滇西临沧花岗岩基的西北侧。矿体主要赋存于临沧黑云母二长花岗岩与松山组绢云石英片岩接触带矽卡岩以及花岗岩和围岩的裂隙中。由于缺乏精确的成矿年代学数据,在一定程度上限制了对矿床成因的认识,并制约了进一步的找矿勘查工作。本文首次利用LA-SF-ICP-MS微区原位U-Pb同位素测年技术对松山锡矿床矽卡岩型和电气石石英脉型矿石中的锡石矿物开展了 U-Pb年代学研究获得2件锡石样品的~(207) Pb/~(206)Pb-~(238) U/~(206) Pb谐和年龄分别为76.6±1.5Ma和79.6±3.6Ma,说明松山锡矿锡的成矿作用主要发生在晚白垩世,与临沧花岗岩主体侵位时间(三叠纪)明显不同。结合地质特征和前人年代学研究成果本文认为该地区存在明显的晚白垩世锡的成矿事件,研究区下一步的找矿工作应围绕岩体与围岩接触带,以及岩体和围岩中的断裂展开。     

Precise molybdenite Re–Os and mica Ar–Ar dating of the Mesozoic Yaogangxian tungsten deposit, central Nanling district, South China

The Yaogangxian deposit in the central Nanling region, South China consists of vein-type ore bodies hosted in Cambrian to Jurassic strata and Mesozoic granitic intrusions. Wolframite and molybdenite are the dominant ore minerals intergrown with gangue minerals of quartz, feldspar, phlogopite, and muscovite. We have carried out molybdenite Re–Os and phlogopite and muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating to better understand the timing and genesis of mineralization. Re–Os dating of eight molybdenite samples yielded model ages ranging from 152.0±3.5 to 161.1±4.5 Ma, with an average of 156.0 Ma. The Re–Os analyses give a well-defined ¹⁸⁷Re/¹⁸⁷Os isochron with an age of 154.9±2.6 Ma (MSWD=2.4). Hydrothermal phlogopite and muscovite display extremely flat ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age spectra. Phlogopite yields a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of 153.0±1.1 Ma, whereas muscovite yields a plateau age of 155.1±1.1 Ma. Both ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages are in good agreement with the Re–Os ages, placing the timing of tungsten mineralization at about 154 Ma. This age is consistent with the field relationships. Our new data, when combined with published geochronological results from other major deposits in this region, suggest that large scale W–Sn mineralization occurred throughout the central Nanling region in the Late Jurassic.     

In situ LA-MC-ICP-MS and ID-TIMS U–Pb geochronology of cassiterite in the giant Furong tin deposit, Hunan Province, South China: New constraints on the timing of tin–polymetallic mineralization

The Furong deposit, located in southern Hunan Province, China, is a newly-discovered giant tin deposit spatially associated with the A-type Qitianling granite. The petrogenetic link between the giant Furong tin deposit and the Qitianling granite batholith remains controversial because of the lack of precise dating for the tin–polymetallic mineralization. Here we report for the first time in-situ U–Pb data on cassiterite obtained by LA-MC-ICP-MS and the results are compared to ID-TIMS data. The in-situ LA-MC-ICP-MS analyses of the cassiterites provide a reliable age constraint for tin–polymetallic mineralization in the Furong deposit, yielding an isochron age of 159.9 ± 1.9 Ma (at 95% confidence level, MSWD = 18), which is indistinguishable from the ID-TIMS ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U weighted mean age of 158.2 ± 0.4 Ma. The in situ U–Pb ages corroborate the Ar–Ar dates published for the Furong tin deposit, which indicate that the mineralization is coeval with the emplacement of the Qitianling granite batholith. These results provide further evidence of a close temporal link between the pluton's emplacement and tin mineralization in the Furong area. The data obtained clearly demonstrate that in-situ LA-MC-ICP-MS U–Pb dating of cassiterite is a robust geochronometer for direct dating of tin–polymetallic mineralization.     

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.     

Magmatic‐Hydrothermal Mineralization Sequence in Xinlu Ore Field,Guangxi, South China: Constraints from Zircon U‐Pb,Molybdenite Re‐Os,and Muscovite Ar‐Ar Dating

The Xinlu Sn‐polymetallic ore field is located in the western Nanling Polymetallic Belt in northeastern Guangxi, South China, where a number of typical skarn‐, hydrothermal vein‐type tin deposits have developed. There are two types of Sn deposits: skarn‐type and sulfide‐quartz vein‐type. The tin mineralizations mainly occur on the south side of the Guposhan granitic complex pluton and within its outer contact zone. To constrain the Sn mineralization age and further understand its genetic links to the Guposhan granitic complex, a series of geochronological works has been conducted at the Liuheao deposit of the ore field using high‐precision zircon SHRIMP U‐Pb, molybdenite Re‐Os, and muscovite Ar‐Ar dating methods. The results show that the biotite‐monzogranite, which is part of the Xinlu intrusive unit of the Guposhan complex pluton, has a SHRIMP U‐Pb zircon age of 161.0 ± 1.5 Ma. The skarn‐type ore has a ⁴⁰Ar‐³⁹Ar muscovite plateau age of 160 ± 2 Ma (same as its isochron age), and the sulfide‐quartz vein‐type ore yields an Re‐Os molybdenite isochron age of 154.4 ± 3.5 Ma. The magmatic‐hydrothermal geochronological sequence demonstrated that the hydrothermal mineralization took place immediately following the emplacement of the monzogranite, with the skarn metasomatic mineralization stage predating the sulfide mineralization stage. Geochronologically, we have compared this ore field with 26 typical Sn deposits distributed along the Nanling Polymetallic Belt, leading to the suggestion of the magmatic‐metallogenic processes in the Xinlu ore field (ca. 161–154 Ma) as a component of the Early Yanshanian large‐scale Sn‐polymetallic mineralization event (peaked at 160–150 Ma) in the Nanling Range of South China. Petrogenesis of Sn‐producing granite and Sn‐polymetallic mineralization were probably caused by crust–mantle interaction as a result of significant lithospheric extension and thinning in South China in the Late Jurassic.     

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.     

云南个旧锡铜多金属矿区云母~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar年龄及其地质意义

云南个旧是全球最大的锡铜多金属矿区,主要成矿作用是与燕山期花岗岩密切相关的岩浆-热液体系。矿区内铜矿的主要矿床类型为变玄武岩型层状铜矿和接触带型铜矿。赋存于花岗岩体的凹陷部位,接触带型铜矿体和氧化型矿体的精确年龄尚未有报道。以老厂矿田内与铜矿体同期的等粒花岗岩脉中的黑云母和与氧化矿同时形成的白云母作为研究对象,利用常规~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar同位素定年方法,获得了黑云母和白云母的~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar坪年龄分别为82.47±0.49Ma和76.17±0.42Ma,相应的正等时线年龄为82.38±0.48Ma和76.07±0.66Ma,反等时线年龄为82.38±0.49Ma和76.07±0.73Ma。结合野外地质接触关系和矿区内其他年代学结果认为,黑云母的~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar年龄82.38±0.48Ma可以代表接触带型铜矿体的形成年龄,也揭示了新山花岗岩体形成后的快速冷却作用过程;白云母的~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar年龄76.07±0.73Ma指示了氧化型矿体的形成年龄,也记录了矿区内与甲介山同期的南北向断裂的晚期活动时限。该年龄与个旧锡铜多金属矿床的成矿时代一致。     

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.     

40Ar/39Ar ages of detrital white mica from Upper Austroalpine units in the Eastern Alps, Austria: Evidence for Cadomian and contrasting Variscan sources

Five detrital white mica concentrates from very low-grade, metaclastic sequences within pre-Variscan basement and post-Variscan cover units of the Upper Austroalpine Nappe Complex (Eastern Alps) have been dated with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar incremental heating techniques to constrain the age of tectonothermal events in their respective source areas. Two samples from early Palaeozoic sandstone exposed within the same Alpine nappe record slightly discordant age spectra. The maximum age recorded in one is 562.2±0.7?Ma, whereas the other yielded a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of 607.3±0.3?Ma. These results indicate a source area affected by Cadomian tectonothermal activity. Three detrital muscovite concentrates from post-Variscan, Late Carboniferous and Permian cover sequences exposed within three different Alpine nappes yielded ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of 359.6?±?1.1?Ma, 310.5±1.2?Ma, and 303.3±0.2?Ma. The contrasting detrital white mica ages are interpreted to reflect different source areas. Detrital muscovite from a post-Variscan Carboniferous molasse-type sequence and from a Permian Verrucano-type sequence record ages which indicate “late” Variscan (e.g. 330–300?Ma) metamorphic sources. By contrast, detrital white mica from another Permian Verrucano-type sequence suggests a source area affected by “early” Variscan (e.g. 400–360?Ma) metamorphism. These results help clarify palinspastic relationships and tectonic correlations between pre-Late Carboniferous metamorphic basement sequences and Carboniferous to Permian cover sequences.     

Geochronological and geochemical constraints on the Cuonadong leucogranite,eastern Himalaya

First comprehensive investigations of the Cuonadong leucogranite exposed in North Himalayan gneiss dome of southern Tibet are presented in this study. The SIMS U–Pb ages of oscillatory zircon rims scatter in a wide range from 34.1 to 16.0 Ma, and the Cuonadong leucogranite probably emplaced at 16.0 Ma. High-precision ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating on a muscovite sample yields an essentially flat age spectrum with consistent plateau and isochron ages, indicating that the Cuonadong leucogranite cooled below 450 °C at 14 Ma. Based on the youngest zircon U–Pb age and muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age, the Cuonadong leucogranite experienced rapid cooling with a rate of 119 °C/Myr from 16 to 14 Ma. The geochronological data of this undeformed leucogranite also suggest that the ductile extension of the South Tibetan Detachment System in the eastern Himalaya ceased by ca. 14 Ma. Furthermore, the initial Sr–Nd isotopic compositions and Nd model ages demonstrate that the leucogranite was derived from metapelitic source within the Greater Himalayan Crystalline Complex. The distinct Ba depletion with high Rb/Sr ratios and negative Eu anomalies make it clear that the leucogranite melts were generated by breakdown of muscovite under fluid-absent conditions.     

Direct dating of folding events by 40Ar/39Ar analysis of synkinematic muscovite from flexural-slip planes

Timing of folding is usually dated indirectly, with limited isotopic dating studies reported in the literature. The present study investigated the timing of intracontinental, multi-stage folding in Upper Proterozoic sandstone, limestone, and marble near Beijing, North China, and adjacent regions. Detailed field investigations with microstructural, backscattered electron (BSE) images and electron microprobe analyses indicate that authigenic muscovite and sericite crystallized parallel to stretching lineations/striations or along thin flexural-slip surfaces, both developed during the complex deformation history of the study area, involving repeated compressional, extensional and strike-slip episodes. Muscovite/sericite separates from interlayer-slip surfaces along the limbs and from dilatant sites in the hinges of folded sandstones yield muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of ∼158–159 Ma, whereas those from folded marble and limestone samples yield ages of 156 ± 1 Ma. Muscovite from thin flexural-slip planes on fold limbs and hinges yields ages within analytical error of ∼155–165 Ma. Further muscovite samples collected from extensionally folded limestone and strike-slip drag folds yield younger ages of 128–125 Ma with well-defined plateaus. To assess the potential influence of the detrital mica component of the host rock on the age data, two additional muscovite samples were investigated, one from a folded upper Proterozoic–Cambrian sandstone outside the Western Hills of Beijing and one from a folded sandstone sampled 20 cm from folding-related slip planes. Muscovite separates from these samples yield significantly older ages of 575 ± 2 Ma and 587 ± 2 Ma, suggesting that the timing of folding can be directly determined using the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method. This approach enables the identification and dating of distinct deformation events that occur during multi-stage regional folding. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating can be used to constrain the timing of muscovite and sericite growth at moderate to low temperatures (<400 °C) during folding, yielding well-defined plateau ages and thereby the age of deformation in the upper crust.     

The performance of the Noblesse multi-collector noble gas mass spectrometer for <Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar geochronology

Noblesse multi-collector noble gas mass spectrometer is specially designed for multi-collection of Ar isotopes with different beam sizes, especially for small ion beams, precisely, and hence is perfectly suitable for ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology. We have analyzed widely used sanidine, muscovite, and biotite standards with recommended ages of ~ 1.2–133 Ma, with the aim to assess the reliability of Noblesse for ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating. An ESI MIR10 30W CO₂ laser was used for total fusion or incremental heating samples. Extracted gases were routinely purified by four SAES NP10 getters (one at ~ 400 °C and others at room temperature). A GP50 getter and a metal cold finger cooled by liquid N (? 196 °C) were also attached for additional purification if necessary. The Ar isotopes were then measured by Noblesse using Faraday or multiplier according to the signal intensities. Over a period of 1.5 months 337 air calibrations produced a weighted mean ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar of 296.50 ± 0.08 (2σ, MSWD = 4.77). Fish Canyon sanidine is used to calculate J-values, which show good linear relationship with position in irradiation. The age of four mineral standards (Alder Creek sanidine, Brione muscovite, Yabachi sanidine, and Fangshan biotite) are within error of the accepted ages. Five Alder Creek sanidine aliquots yielded an age range of 1.174–1.181 ± 0.013 Ma (2σ) which broadly overlaps the established age of the standard and the uncertainty approaches those of the foremost Ar/Ar laboratories in the world. The weighted mean ages of four Brione muscovite aliquots (18.75 ± 0.16 Ma, 2σ), five Yabachi sanidine aliquots (29.50 ± 0.19 Ma, 2σ), and three Fangshan biotite aliquots (133.0 ± 0.76 Ma, 2σ) are consistent with the recommended values of these standards, and the uncertainties are typical of modern Ar/Ar laboratories world-wide.     

Timing and Processes of Ore Formation in the Qingchengzi Polymetallic Orefield, Northeast China: Evidence from 40Ar/39Ar Geochronology

The Qingchengzi orefield is a large polymetallic ore concentration area in the Liaodong peninsula,northeastern China,that includes twelve Pb-Zn deposits and five Au-Ag deposits along its periphery.The ore-forming age remains much disputed,which prevents the identification of the relationship between the mineralization and the associated magmatism.In this paper,we quantitatively present the feasibility of making ore mineral ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating and report reliable ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar ages of lamprophyre groundmass,K-feldspar and sphalerite from the Zhenzigou deposit.Direct and indirect methods are applied to constrain the timing of mineralization,which plays a vital role in discussing the contribution of multistage magmatism to ore formation.The low-potassium sphalerite yielded an inverse isochron age of 232.8±41.5 Ma,which features a relatively large uncertainty.Two lamprophyre groundmasses got reliable inverse isochron ages of 193.2±1.3 Ma and 152.3±1.5 Ma,respectively.K-feldspar yielded a precise inverse isochron age of 134.9±0.9 Ma.These four ages indicate that the mineralization is closely associated with Mesozoic magmatism.Consequently,regarding the cooling age of the earliest Mesozoic Shuangdinggou intrusion(224.2±1.2 Ma)as the initial time of mineralization,we can further constrain the age of the sphalerite to 224–191 Ma.These new and existing geochronological data,combined with the interaction cutting or symbiotic relationship between the lamprophyre veins and ore veins,suggest that the Pb-Zn-Au-Ag mineralization in the Qingchengzi orefield mainly occurred during three periods:the late Triassic(ca.224–193 Ma),the late Jurassic(ca.167–152 Ma)and the early Cretaceous(ca.138–134 Ma).This polymetallic deposits are shown to have been formed during multiple events coinciding with periods of the Mesozoic magmatic activity.In contrast,the Proterozoic magmatism and submarine exhalative and hydrothermal sedimentation in the Liaolaomo paleorift served mainly to transport and concentrate the ore-forming substances at the Liaohe Group with no associated Pb-Zn-Au-Ag mineralization.