Analysis of tectonic settings of global superlarge porphyry copper deposits

About three quarters of superlarge porphyry copper deposits throughout the world occur along the eastern Pacific basin rim, most of which were formed during the Mesozoic-Cenozoic. Porphyry copper deposits often occur in the upper parts of a subduction zone and in a within-plate orogenic belt. Some porphyry copper deposits are inconsistent with plate subduction with respect to their formation time, and most of them in the world are associated with tensional environment. Metallogenic porphyries originated from the mantle, and the involvement of the lower-crust or oceanic crust materials have played an important role. Based on the geochemical characteristics and tectonic settings of the ore-bearing porphyries in the Gandise and Yulong metallogenic zones, it is proposed that delamination may be the important mechanism of formation of porphyry copper deposits.     

Porphyry copper and tin-bearing porphyries a discussion of genetic models

The paper briefly describes the characteristics of the Chilean porphyry copper deposits, emphasizing the volcanic characteristics observed in the youngest ore bodies. Mention is made of the polymetallic ore bodies that are associated with rhyolitic porphyries intruding Jurassic sedimentary formations in the north of Chile, and the similarities and differences between the Chilean porphyry coppers and the Bolivian tin-bearing porphyries are pointed out.The models proposed by Sillitoe (1972), Brousse and Oyarzún (1971), and Mitchell and Garson (1972), are discussed and a new model is proposed agreeing with that of Mitchell and Garson for the genesis of the tin-bearing porphyries (the transportation of Sn as volatile halogenide by F liberated in the Benioff zone), but suggesting different generating mechanism for the porphyry coppers and polymetallic deposits related with porphyries. This mechanism, as a part of the global tectonic model, is based on the separation at depth of hydrogen sulphide from pyrite and water introduced with the upper layers of the lithospheric plate. The ascending migration of H₂S to high levels in the crust would be responsible for the porphyry copper mineralization by segregating sulphides of Fe, Cu, Mo and other sulphophile metals contained in the calc-alkaline magmas, brines, or sedimentary-volcanic formations intruded by the porphyries. The excess of H₂S would give rise to the formation of sulphur deposits normally present in the volcanic belt situated along the same line but at a higher level than those of the emplacement of porphyry coppers.The generation of copper and tin-bearing porphyries would be a consequence of the upward migration of volatile substances from different depths in the subduction zone, which explain its different emplacement with regards to the continental margins.     

The relation between ore-deposit formation and subduction: Mass balance considerations

Abstract Mass balance calculations indicate that the potential supply of metals resulting from subduction of oceanic crust and sediment far exceeds that required for mineralization in island ares. Subduction of oceanic crust is more important than that of sediment in supplying these metals and the subduction of manganese nodules makes only a negligible contribution. The nature and extent of mineralization in island ares therefore depend on the nature, geometry and rate of subduction. In the Pacific, two types of subduction system occur: the high-stress (Chilean) type, characterized by shallow subduction and the formation of porphyry copper deposits in andesitic ares, and the low-stress (Mariana) type, characterized by deep subduction and the formation of Kuroko deposits in the back-arc basin, and porphyry copper and epithermal gold deposits in the island are. Kuroko deposits are analogous to the epithermal deposits but are formed from saline hydrothermal fluids under much higher hydrostatic pressure.     

新疆巴里坤红石滩铜矿床石英闪长斑岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

本文对新疆巴里坤红石滩铜矿区出露的石英闪长斑岩进行LA-ICP MS锆石U-Pb年龄测定,结果表明红石滩石英闪长斑岩形成年龄为403.1±3.8 Ma,形成时代为早泥盆世.此外,测得的两个锆石U-Pb同位素年龄为895 Ma左右,表明研究区可能存在早元古代基底.红石滩石英闪长斑岩体与铜矿关系密切,是寻找斑岩型铜多金属矿的有利场所,为今后在该区寻找同类型铜矿提供重要依据.     

斑岩铜矿与陆相火山活动

斑岩铜矿主要产于聚合板块的上盘 ,是岛弧和活动大陆边缘花岗岩质岩浆 -热液系统 (其中包括火山作用 )演化的产物 ,从斑岩铜矿带与近同期陆相火山岩的关系来看 ,可以归纳为 2种 :一种是斑岩铜矿床或矿田内有同期或稍早期的陆相火山活动 ,例如江西银山、内蒙古乌努格吐山和安徽沙溪等 ;另一种是斑岩铜矿床或矿田内缺少同期陆相火山活动 ,仅见到浅成 -超浅成侵入活动 ,例如江西德兴和西藏玉龙等。斑岩铜矿与陆相火山岩有关的矿床之间具有一定的联系 ,例如有时二者晚期都常发育浊沸石化和硅化 ,常与金等矿化伴生 ,以及常伴随爆破角砾岩和火山口陷落等。环太平洋带、古特提斯带和中亚 -蒙古带为世界斑岩铜矿最发育 ,地质工作最为活跃的地区。中国北部相当于中亚 -蒙古带的一部分 ,东部相当于环太平洋带的一部分 ,西南部相当于特提斯带的一部分 ,集中了许多聚合板块 ,随着洋盆的消减和陆 -陆碰撞的造山作用具有很长的构造 -岩浆 -热液活动的历史(其中包括陆相和海陆交互相火山活动 ) ,故找寻评价斑岩铜矿很有前景。文中重点讨论了东天山、德兴和冈底斯地区同时代的陆相火山活动与斑岩铜矿的关系 ,通过这一讨论 ,为斑岩铜矿的找寻与评价提供了依     

Re-Os age for molybdenite from the Gangdese porphyry copper belt on Tibetan plateau: Implication for geody- namic setting and duration of the Cu mineralization

It is recognized that there are at least two sorts of significant environments for porphyry copper deposits, i.e. magmatic arcs and collisional orogens[14]. The deposits in the former environments are exampled by the circle-Pacific porphyry copper belt, such as An-dean-type deposits, which mainly formed in the period of the Andean tectonic cycle characterized by trans- pressional and transtensional movements along the arc-parallel strike-slip fault zone in the Late Eo-cene-Early Oligocene[5…     

Ridge subduction and porphyry copper-gold mineralization:An overview

Many large porphyry Cu-Au deposits are connected to adakitic rocks known to be closely associated with ridge subduction. For example, there are several subducting ridges along the east Pacific margin, e.g., in Chile, Peru, and South America, most of which are associated with large porphyry Cu-Au deposits. In contrast, there are much fewer ridge subductions on the west Pacific margin and porphyry Cu-Au deposits are much less there, both in terms of tonnage and the number of deposits. Given that Cu and Au are...     

Metallogenic model of the copper deposit

The copper deposits in the mid-lower reaches of the Changjiang River consist mainly of porphyry, skarn and massive sulphide deposits. According to the geological background, the types of ore deposits and the mineralization, the metallogenic model of the copper deposits is discussed. It is pointed out that the ore-forming hydrothermal fluids came mainly from magmatic water and were related to the intermediate-acid intrusions, and that the formation of skarn arid massive sulphide deposits coincided with the mineralization of porphyry deposits. Project supported by Doctorate Foundation of the State Education Commission of China.     

Relationships between mineralization and silicic volcanism in the Central Andes

Studies of late Tertiary silicic volcanic centres in the Western and Eastern Cordilleras of the Central Andes show that three volcanic environments are appropriate sites for mineralization: (1) ring-fracture extrusions post-dating large calderas; (2) similar extrusions within ignimbrite shields; and (3) isolated, small silicic volcanoes. Subvolcanic tin mineralization in the Eastern Cordillera is located in silicic stocks and associated breccias of Miocene age. The Cerro Rico stock, Potosi, Bolivia, contains tin and silver mineralization and has an intrusion age apparently millions of years younger than that of the associated Kari Kari caldera. Similar age relationships between mineralization and caldera formation have been described from the San Juan province, Colorado. The vein deposits of Chocaya, southern Bolivia, were emplaced in the lower part of an ignimbrite shield, a type of volcanic edifice as yet unrecognized in comparable areas of silicic volcanism. The El Salvador porphyry copper deposit, Chile, is related to silicic stocks which may have been intruded along a caldera ring fracture. Cerro Bonete, Chile, provides a modern example of the volcanic superstructure which may have overlain isolated mineralized stocks and breccia pipes such as that of Salvadora at Llallagua, Bolivia.Existing models for the genesis of porphyry copper deposits suggest that they formed in granodioritic stocks located in the infrastructure of andesitic stratovolcanoes. Sites of porphyry-type subvolcanic tin mineralization in the Eastern Cordillera of Bolivia are distinguished by the absence of such andesitic structures. The surface expression of a typical subvolcanic porphyry tin deposit was probably an extrusive dome of quartz latite porphyry, sometimes related to a larger caldera structure. Evidence from the El Salvador porphyry copper deposit in the Eocene magmatic belt in Chile suggests that it too may be more closely related to a silicic volcanic structure than to an andesitic stratovolcano.The dome of La Soufriere, Guadeloupe is proposed as a modern analog for the surface expression of subvolcanic mineralization processes, the phreatic eruptions there suggesting the formation of hydrothermal breccia bodies in depth. Occurrence of mineralized porphyries, millions of years after caldera formation, does not necessarily indicate that intrusions and mineralization are not genetically related to the sub-caldera pluton, but may be a consequence of the long thermal histories (1–10 million years) of the lowermost parts of large plutons. Caldera formation can only inhibit mineralization by dispersal of ore metals when these are of magmatic origin, and ignimbrites should not be taken as being unlikely to be associated with porphyry mineralization. Whether ore metals are of wall rock or magmatic origin, the key to understanding the relationships between silicic volcanism and mineralization lies in the fractionation of trace elements within large zoned magma chambers during their igneous history, and their subsequent hydrothermal migration. Small, highly mineralized intrusions formed late in a caldera cycle (such as the Cerro Rico) may be due to the introduction of fresh supplies of mafic magma into the lower parts of the main pluton.     

Mineral potential mapping in Central Iran using fuzzy ordered weighted averaging method

The aim of this work is to introduce the application of the fuzzy ordered weighted averaging method as a straightforward knowledge‐driven approach to explore porphyry copper deposits in an airborne prospect. In this paper, the proposed method is applied to airborne geophysical (potassium radiometry, magnetometry, and frequency‐domain electromagnetic) data, geological layers (fault and host rock zones), and various extracted alteration layers from remote sensing images. The central Iranian volcanic–sedimentary belt in Kerman province of Iran that is located within the Urumieh–Dokhtar (Sahand–Bazman) magmatic arc is chosen for this study. This region has high potential of mineral occurrences, especially porphyry copper, containing some active world‐class copper mines such as Sarcheshmeh. Two evidential layers, including the downward continued map and the analytic signal of such filtered magnetic data, are generated to be used as geophysical plausible traces of porphyry copper occurrences. The low values of the resistivity layer acquired from airborne frequency‐domain electromagnetic data are also used as an electrical criterion in this study. Four remote sensing evidential layers, including argillic, phyllic, propylitic, and hydroxyl alterations, are extracted from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer images in order to map the altered areas associated with porphyry copper deposits. The Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus images are used to map iron oxide layer. Since potassium alteration is the mainstay of copper alteration, the airborne potassium radiometry data are used. Here, the fuzzy ordered weighted averaging method uses a wide range of decision strategies in order to generate numerous mineral potential/prospectivity maps. The final mineral potential map based upon desired geo‐data set indicates adequately matching of high‐potential zones with previous working mines and copper deposits.     

Metallogenesis within continental collision zones: Comparisons of modern collisional orogens

Modern collisional orogens represent the natural laboratory for the study of metallogeny in continental collision zones. The Pyrenees, Alps, Zagros and Himalaya are all associated with Neo-Tethyan subduction and represent the youngest collisional orogens on Earth. Here, we compare these four orogens in terms of their composition, architecture, tectonic evolution, and metallogenic systems. The four orogens can be divided into simple and composite types. Simple orogens are represented by the Pyrenees and the Alps, and are characterized by narrow linear shapes in plain view and symmetric structures in cross-section, are free of arc magmatism, and are associated with the Mississippi Valley Valley-type Pb-Zn and orogenic gold deposits. The mineral deposits that form in these simple collisional orogens are generally related to processes that occur in the middle and upper crust. In contrast, composite orogens, as exemplified by the Zagros-Iranian and Himalayan-Tibetan Plateaus, are associated with broad orogenic plateaus in plain view and asymmetrical structures in cross-section, record extensive arc magmatism in continental margins, and are associated with a variety of deposit types including carbonatite-related rare earth element (REE), porphyry Cu-Mo, orogenic Au, Mississippi Valley type Pb-Zn, and detachment-fault-related polymetallic deposits. Although the subduction of Neo-Tethys oceanic crust occurred before the creation of simple collisional orogens in the Pyrenees and the Alps, these areas do not show the record of continental arc magmatism. In contrast, the composite collisional orogens are associated with the development of huge continental margin arcs prior to continental subduction, and the subduction was followed by reactivation of the subduction-modified arc lithospheric material, generating the ore-forming systems in these regions.     

Mineralization episode of porphyry copper deposits in the Jinshajiang-Red River mineralization belt: Re-Os dating

Re-Os isotopic dating for the molybdenites from the porphyry copper deposits of the Jinshajiang-Red River mineralization belt in Yunnan Province yields isochron ages of 33.9±1.1 Ma for the Machangqing deposit and 34.4±0.5 Ma for the Tongchang deposit. This result shows that both the Machangqing and the Tongchang porphyry Cu-Mo deposits from two different ore-fields formed simultaneously. This new data and the published Re-Os model ages of molybdenite (35.4 Ma, 35.9 Ma, 36.2 Ma) of the Yulong porphyry copper deposit in Tibet, which is located in the same Jinshajiang-Red River mineralization belt as the Machangqing deposit and the Tongchang deposit, suggest that these three Cenozoic porphyry copper deposits in the Jinshajiang-Red River mineralization belt were contemporary for their mineralization episode. That is to say, even their present locality is far away and nearly iso-distantly distributed, these three porphyry Cu(Mo) deposits belong to the same mineralization episode at the end of Eocene.     

北武夷梨子坑火山盆地流纹斑岩与铅锌矿的成因关系

摘要：梨子坑火山盆地位于北武夷中生代月凤山-梨子坑火山岩带东段,已知铅锌（铜、银）矿体或矿化呈细脉-浸染型、脉状,产于流纹斑岩脉的内外接触带及其外侧围岩中,发育钾化、绿泥石化、硅化、绿帘石化等围岩蚀变。地球化学特征显示流纹斑岩为钙碱性系列,岩石具有高SiO2、富碱、高K2O、高钙铁、低镁、K2O／Na2O值偏高的特点,为强过铝质岩石。w（∑REE）值为76．28×10^-6～222．54×10＆-6（∑LREE／∑HREE）比值较大,为4．08-12．30,属于轻稀土元素富集型。成矿流纹斑岩形成于1372=2．1Ma（SHRIMP锆石U—Pb法）～138．8±1．4Ma（LA-MC—ICPMS锆石U—Pb法）,属早白垩世。铅锌矿属于次火山斑岩脉型铅锌（银铜）成矿系列,划分为次火山斑岩脉型和次火山热液破碎带型两种矿床成因类型。     

基于多元信息约束的隐伏矽卡岩型铁矿床的定位——以云南北衙金矿区红泥塘矿段为例

矽卡岩型矿床是云南北衙金多金属矿区的一种主要矿床类型,受岩体、构造及层位等控制,其有利找矿空间为中酸性岩体与碳酸盐岩的接触带.以岩石物性为纽带,实现目标地质体与地球物理场的转换,提取有效信息.接触带中低电阻率、岩体的低密度性、铁矿的高磁性和高极化率等都是矽卡型铁矿床的特有地球物理属性.通过地质地球物理等多元信息的层层约束,解析不同级次的成矿要素问题,实现对隐伏矽卡岩型铁矿床的定位,建立地球物理勘探模式,并在矿区外围开展方法有效性的验证,取得了良好的勘探效果,提出一套适应于北衙地区及类似成矿地质背景下的隐伏矽卡岩型铁矿床定位预测方法.     

Alkali-rich porphyry and its relation with intraplate deformation of north part of Jinsha River belt in western Yunnan, China

A suite of alkali-rich porphyry with 26. 5–37. 6Ma occur along the Jinsha River suture zone in west Yunnan. They are characterized by LREE-rich distribution patterns and no Eu anomaly. These porphyries have formed in post-collisional environment; (⁸⁷Sr/^8bSr) of porphyries, amphibolite xenolithes and associated basalts are 0.707 3, 0.706 5-0.707 l and0.705 8-0.706 5, E_Nd(T) are -3.4-6.3, -2.1-7.4 and -3.3 respectively. Pb isotope compositions of these rocks also show a little difference. The evidence shows that the porphyry could be derived from partial melting of the “crust-mantle mixed layer”. The relation between Cenozoic magmatism and intraplate deformation since Paleogene has been discussed. Project supported by the Nat~onal Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 49472102 and 49232030).     

Geodynamics of decratonization and related magmatism and mineralization in the North China Craton

The North China Craton(NCC) experienced strong destruction(i.e., decratonization) during the Mesozoic, which triggered intensive magmatism, tectonism and thermal events and formed large-scale gold and other metal deposits in the eastern part of the craton. However, how the decratonization controls the formation and distribution of large-scale of gold and other metal deposits is not very clear. Based on a large number of published data and new results, this paper systematically summarizes all the data for the rock assemblages, chronology, geochemistry and petrogenesis of Mesozoic magmatic rocks, as well as for the mineralizing ages of gold and other metal deposits and the evolution of the Mesozoic basins in the eastern NCC. The results are used to restore the extensional rates of Mesozoic to Cenozoic basins and the strike-slip distance of the Tanlu Fault, to ascertain the location of the Paleo-Pacific plate subduction zones during the Mesozoic to Cenozoic, and to reconstruct the temporal and spatial distribution of Mesozoic gold and other metal deposits and magmatic rocks in the eastern NCC. It is obtained that the magmatism and mineralization in the eastern NCC westward migrate from east to west during the Early to Middle Jurassic, but they eastward migrate from west to east during the Early Cretaceous. The metallogenesis of these deposits is genetically related to magmatism, and the magmas provided some ore-forming materials and fluids for the generation of metal deposits. The geodynamic mechanism of decratonization and related magmatism and mineralization is proposed, i.e., the westward low-angle subduction of the Paleo-Pacific slab beneath the NCC formed continental magmatic arc with plenty of porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits in the Jurassic, similar to the Andean continental arc in South America. The mantle wedge was metasomatized by the fluids/melts derived from the subducting slab, laying a material foundation for hydrothermal mineralization in the Early Cretaceous. While the rollback of the subducting slab with gradually increasing subduction angle and the retreat of the subduction zones during the Early Cretaceous induced strong destruction of the craton and the formation of extensive magmatic rocks and large-scale gold and other metal deposits.     

Tectonic setting of porphyry Cu–Au, Mo and related mineralization associated with contrasted Neogene magmatism in the Western Sulawesi Arc

The Neogene Western Sulawesi Arc, from the south going northwards, can be divided into three magmatic provinces of K alkaline–shoshonitic (AK-SH), high-K calc-alkaline (KCA), and low-K–normal calc-alkaline (TH-CA) affinity, referred to, respectively, as South, Central and North Sulawesi. The origin of this magmatism in terms of subduction and collision processes is contentious. Four widely spaced Cu–Au porphyry, and one Mo porphyry district(s) occur along the Western Sulawesi Arc, with the North Sulawesi province being the most mineralized. This porphyry mineralization is part of a regional belt that extends north into the Philippines and possibly south to the Sunda Arc. In western Sulawesi, common features that define the porphyry belt are obscure because the porphyry districts cannot be simply related, either in terms of their magmatic affinity, nature of basement, or tectonic setting. Nevertheless, it can be suggested that the generation of porphyry Mo systems requires involvement of continental crust in terms of magma source, while Au-rich porphyry systems are independent of the nature of the crust, and are derived from a mantle source.     

新疆西天山乌孙山地区石英正长斑岩形成时代及其地质意义

新疆西天山乌孙山地区科库萨依系列石英正长斑岩呈岩瘤状、岩脉状产出,侵入于早石炭世大哈拉军山组地层中。其LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为314.4±3.7 Ma（MSWD=0.51）,属石炭世晚期,为本区岩浆活动及构造环境探讨提供年代学依据。     

淮北地区矽卡岩型铁铜矿床控矿条件分析与成矿模式

淮北地区位于安徽省北部,是重要金属成矿区之一。地质构造单元归属华北陆块,其矽卡岩型矿床的控矿条件和成矿模式既与华北地区邯邢式接触交代型铁矿床相似而又有区别。邯邢式铁矿主要围岩地层为奥陶系,矿石成分简单,以磁铁矿为主。淮北地区部分矿床具有这一特征,而另一部分矿床的特征与此有较大差异：围岩地层为寒武系,矿石成分复杂,以铁铜矿为主,并含有金、钼等其它有益元素,岩体分叉侵入,多层成矿,矿体产于燕山中期石英二长闪长玢岩与寒武系中上统内接触带及正接触带,镁质矽卡岩较发育,含铜矽卡岩可见于外接触带。为了与邯邢式铁矿区别,称其为前常式铁铜矿。本区矽卡岩型矿床的赋矿层位为中上寒武统一下奥陶统。其中,寒武系铁矿比例43．39％、铜矿比例92．67％、金矿比例100％,奥陶系铁矿比例56．61％、铜矿比例7．33％。本文在介绍地质背景的基础上、较系统地分析了控矿条件和成矿模式,提出了岩浆侵入活动中心（或活动带）与寒武系接触带为重点找矿方向的观点,并明确指出远离侵入中心（带）的岩床,其成矿性差。文中还介绍了覆盖区识别岩浆侵入活动中心（或活动带）的方法。     

Relations between A-type granites and copper mineralization as exemplified by the Machangqing Cu deposit

This paper deals with the relations between the Machangqing rockbody which corresponds to the A-type granites and porphyry copper mineralization in terms of petrochemistry, trace element geochemistry, fluid inclusion geochemistry and isotope geochemistry. The results show that the Machangqing porphyry copper deposit was formed from the fluid predominated by mag-matic fluid. This kind of ore-forming fluid was just differentiated from the magma responsible for the A-type granites. Therefore, as viewed from whether they contain water or not, the A-type granites can, at least, be divided into two types: water-bearing and water-free. The water-bearing A-type granites can serve as the host of porphyry copper deposits under certain geological conditions.