Age of Berh Hairhan Formation of Mongolia dated by conodonts

Conodont Caudicriodus angustus angustus(Steward et al.,1956)and Caudicriodus angustus cauda(Wang et al.,2005)were found from a big limestone lens of the Berh Hairhan Formation in the place of W 150 km to Ulaanbaatar City.The discovery indicates that the Berh Haihan Formation should be assigned to Middle Devonian Eifelian Stage.This conodont fauna was from a shallow cooler water facies in the relatively high latitude.     

Comparisons among the Oortsog,Dulaan, and Nomgon mafic-ultramafic intrusions in central Mongolia and Ni-Cu deposits in NW China: implications for economic Ni-Cu-PGE ore exploration in central Mongolia

Although there are many mafic-ultramafic intrusions in the western and central regions of Mongolia, Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), no economic-grade Ni-Cu deposits have yet been discovered. To understand the economic Ni-Cu deposit potential of the intrusions in central Mongolia, the parental magma affinity and sulfide saturation of the Oortsog, Dulaan, and Nomgon Ni-Cu mineralized mafic-ultramafic intrusions are studied. These three intrusions are predominantly gabbroic in composition, while the Oortsog and Dulaan intrusions also contain small proportions of peridotites. The parental magmas of the Oortsog and Dulaan intrusions are tholeiitic, as indicated by their Cr-spinel and clinopyroxene compositions, whereas the parental magma of the Nomgon intrusions is likely calc-alkaline. The compositions of Cr-spinel and clinopyroxene, combined with the presence of significant Nb-Ta depletions, indicate that these rocks were most likely derived from modified mantle sources. Both the Oortsog and Nomgon intrusions form two clusters in terms of their olivine composition, suggesting that multiple magma surges were involved during their emplacement. The relatively low Fo values and Ni contents in olivine from the three intrusions compared to those from Ni-Cu deposits in NW China, as well as those in the Voisey’s Bay deposit in Canada, indicate that the three intrusions were crystallized from relatively evolved magmas. The Cu/Zr ratios of rocks of the Oortsog, Dulaan, and Nomgon intrusions are higher than 1, suggesting that these rocks contain cumulus sulfide. This, coupled with the presence of rounded sulfide inclusions in olivine of the Oortsog and Dulaan intrusions, suggests that sulfide saturation occurred before or during olivine crystallization. The distribution patterns of platinum group elements (PGEs) of the Dulaan and Oortsog intrusions record slight Rh, Pt, and Pd (PPGE) enrichment relative to Os, Ir, and Rh (IPGE). Furthermore, the Ni/Cu ratios of sulfide-bearing rocks from the Oortsog intrusion vary from 1.8 to 3.8, which are consistent with those of the Ni-Cu sulfide deposits in NW China. In contrast, the Ni/Cu ratios of sulfide-bearing rocks from the Nomgon intrusion are extremely low (0.03 to 0.07). This, together with the significant enrichment in PPGE relative to IPGE, suggests that these sulfides of the Nomgon intrusion were segregated from a magma that was extremely enriched in Cu and PPGE but depleted in Ni and IPGE. The characteristics of the chalcophile elements in these intrusions are attributed to the fact that the derivation of the Nomgon magma was significantly different from that of the Dulaan and Oortsog parental magmas. Overall, although the parental magmas of the intrusions in central Mongolia are more evolved than those in NW China, they are comparable in terms of the sizes of their intrusions, constituent minerals, and mineral chemistry. These similarities suggest that the intrusions in central Mongolia have economic Ni-Cu sulfide potential. Furthermore, intrusions similar to the Nomgon intrusion may feature PGE mineralization potential.     

Upper Silurian and Devonian pelagic deep-water radiolarian chert from the Khangai–Khentei belt of Central Mongolia: Evidence for Middle Paleozoic subduction–accretion activity in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

Recent mapping projects undertaken in Central Mongolia have revealed the widespread occurrence of radiolarian chert within a Paleozoic accretionary complex. We present the results of the first detailed tectonostratigraphic and radiolarian biostratigraphic investigations of the Gorkhi Formation in the Khangai–Khentei belt of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.The Gorkhi Formation consists of sandstone shale, alternating sandstone and shale of turbidite affinity and chert with small amounts of siliceous shale, basalt, limestone, and clast-bearing mudstone. Radiolarian chert that is completely devoid of terrigenous clastic material is commonly associated with underlying basalt (sedimentary contact) and with conformably overlying siliceous shale and turbidite deposits. The tectonic stacking of basalt–chert and chert–turbidite successions is the most remarkable structural feature of the formation.The recovery of moderately well-preserved radiolarians and conodonts from red chert led to the recognition of four radiolarian assemblages that have a combined age range from the latest Silurian (Pridolian) to the Late Devonian (Frasnian). No age control exists for the siliceous shale, shale, and sandstone, although they are considered to be latest Devonian or slightly younger on the basis of stratigraphic relationships with underlying chert.The Gorkhi Formation has previously been interpreted as a thick sedimentary basin deposit overlying an unexposed Archean–Neoproterozoic basement; however, the stratigraphy within individual tectonic slices clearly corresponds to that of an ocean plate stratigraphy of an accretionary complex generated by the trenchward movement of an oceanic plate. From the lowermost to uppermost units, the stratigraphy comprises ocean floor basalt, pelagic deep-water radiolarian chert, hemipelagic siliceous shale, and terrigenous turbidite deposits. The biostratigraphic data obtained in the present study provide corroborating evidence for the existence of an extensive deep-water ocean that enabled the continuous sedimentation of pelagic chert over a period of nearly 50 million years. These data, together with structural data characterized by tectonic repetition of the stratigraphy, indicate that these rocks formed as an accretionary wedge along an active continental margin, possibly that of the Angara Craton. The mid-oceanic chert was probably deposited in the Northern Hemisphere portion of the Paleo–Pacific Ocean that faced the Angara Craton and the North China–Tarim blocks. Thus, we propose that subduction–accretion processes along the Paleo–Pacific rim played an important role in the accretionary growth of the active continental margin of the Angara Craton, directly influencing the evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.     

Late Ordovician and Early Devonian conodonts from Onoo Tolgoi area of Mongolia

Conodont samples were collected from three localities in the Onoo Tolgoi area,Mongolia, and many conodonts have been found. Conodonts from the Onoo Tolgoi Formation (M288-M294) lack index fossils; its age could be Late Silurian. Samples from the Hutul us hudag Formation (M295-M299) contain Ozarkodina pandora alpha Morph. (P element), clearly indicating that this formation is Early Devonian late Lochkovian in age. Samples collected from so-called Silurian Onoo Tolgoi Formation at other localities(M300-M303) yield many Ordovician conodonts, including Icriodella baotaensis, Icriodella cf.baotaensis, Eoplacognathus jianyeensis, Eoplacognathus protoramosus; Baltoniodus alobatus; and ?Ambalodus triangularis; the age is Late Ordovician,more precisely, early-middle Late Ordovician.     

Age of Berh Hairhan Formation of Mongolia dated by conodonts

Conodont Caudicriodus angustus angustus(Steward et al.,1956) and Caudicriodus angustus cauda(Wang et al.,2005) were found from a big limestone lens of the Berh Hairhan Formation in the place of W 150 km to Ulaanbaatar City.The discovery indicates that the Berh Haihan Formation should be assigned to Middle Devonian Eifelian Stage.This conodont fauna was from a shallow cooler water facies in the relatively high latitude.     

Late Ordovician and Early Devonian conodonts from Onoo Tolgoi area of Mongolia

Conodont samples were collected from three localities in the Onoo Tolgoi area, Mongolia, and many conodonts have been found. Conodonts from the Onoo Tolgoi Formation （M288-M294） lack index fossils; its age could be Late Silurian. Samples from the Hutul us hudag Formation （M295-M299） contain Ozarkodina pandora alpha Morph. （ P element）, clearly indicating that this formation is Early Devonian late Lochkovian in age. Samples collected from so-called Silurian Onoo Tolgoi Formation at other localities （M300-M303） yield many Ordovician conodonts, including Icriodella baotaensis, Icriodella cf. baotaensis, Eoplacognathus fianyeen- sis, Eoplacognathus protoramosus ; Baltoniodus alobatus ; and ？ Ambalodus triangularis ; the age is Late Ordovician, more precisely, early-middle Late Ordovician.