Variscan ore formation and metamorphism at the Felbertal scheelite deposit (Austria): constraining tungsten mineralisation from Re–Os dating of molybdenite

The Felbertal scheelite deposit in the Eastern Alps has been regarded as the type locality for stratabound scheelite deposits. It is hosted by a Cambro-Ordovician metavolcanic arc sequence with minor Variscan granitoids (∼ 340 Ma) in the central Tauern Window. Re–Os model ages for molybdenite from the Felbertal tungsten deposit range between ∼ 358 and ∼ 336 Ma and record several pulses of magmatic-hydrothermal-metamorphic molybdenite formation. Molybdenite ages from the K2 orebody, a scheelite-rich quartz mylonite in the Western ore field, indicate that both mineralisation and mylonite are Variscan in age and suggest that the shear zone was active for ∼ 20 million years. Early stage tungsten mineralisation (Scheelite 1) in quartzitic ores in the Eastern ore field, which is free of molybdenite, yielded very low to near blank levels of Re and Os and thus could not be dated. However, molybdenite from scheelite–quartz stringers, previously interpreted as a feeder stockwork to quartzitic scheelite ore of presumed Cambrian age, yielded Variscan Re–Os ages of ∼ 342 and ∼ 337 Ma. Dating of molybdenite contained in scheelite ores thus far provides no indication of a Cambrian component to the tungsten mineralisation. Our data are consistent with a model of either granite intrusion-related ore formation and coeval metamorphic overprint during the Early Carboniferous or, alternatively, molybdenite formation may be exclusively attributed to Variscan metamorphism (see Stein 2006).     

新疆萨惹什克锡矿与萨北碱性A型花岗岩成因关系的年代学制约

新疆东准噶尔地区的萨惹什克锡矿呈脉状产于萨北花岗岩体中。对于这种脉状矿床,成岩和成矿近时性的时间制约是证明矿床与围岩有成因关系的首要证据。萨北岩体由含碱性铁铁矿物的碱性花岗岩组成,全岩地球化学结果显示,碱性花岗岩具高碱、低 Ca,明显富集稀土元素、高场强元素(Zr,Hf,Nb,Ta,Y)和大离子亲石元素(Rb,Th,U),而强烈亏损Sr,Ba,Eu,属于典型的碱性 A 型花岗岩。锡矿脉由占绝对优势的锡石和石英组成,受北东和近东西向的断裂破碎带控制。原有研究证实,形成该锡矿床的成矿流体属于具高温、低盐度和低密度的岩浆水。据此并结合锡矿体的围岩性质,前人认为锡矿床与碱性花岗岩有成因联系。但是,由于分析技术和样品选择上的制约,萨北岩体成岩和萨惹什克锡矿成矿的确切时代一直没有得到合理的解决。本文报道了我们最近获得的碱性花岗岩锆石 LA-ICP-MS U—Pb 和锡矿石辉钼矿 Re-Os 同位素年龄(分别为306±3Ma 和307±11Ma)。上述结果表明,萨北碱性花岗岩和萨惹什克锡矿石属于同期地质事件的产物,从而为两者具有密切成因联系提供了重要的年代学制约。此外,根据碱性花岗岩的ε_(Nd)(t)(≈ 5.0)低于研究区亏损地幔4.5个ε单位,我们认为形成萨北岩体的花岗岩浆不是直接来源于亏损地幔玄武质岩浆结晶分异作用的产物,而更可能是起源于本区年轻洋壳和陆源沉积物的部分熔融。     

Ages of sediment-hosted Himalayan Pb–Zn–Cu–Ag polymetallic deposits in the Lanping basin,China: Re–Os geochronology of molybdenite and Sm–Nd dating of calcite

The Lanping basin is a significant Pb–Zn–Cu–Ag mineralization belt of the Sanjiang Tethyan metallogenic province in China. Over 100 thrust-controlled, sediment-hosted, Himalayan base metal deposits have been discovered in this basin, including the largest sandstone-hosted Pb–Zn deposit in the world (Jinding), and several Cu ± Ag ± Co deposits (Baiyangping, Baiyangchang and Jinman). These deposits, with total reserves of over 16.0 Mt Pb + Zn, 0.6 Mt Cu, and 7000 t Ag, are mainly hosted in Meso-Cenozoic mottled clastic rocks, and strictly controlled by two Cenozoic thrust systems developed in the western and eastern segments of the Lanping basin.To define the metallogenic history of the study area, we dated nine calcite samples associated with copper sulfides from the Jinman Cu deposit by the Sm–Nd method and five molybdenite samples from the Liancheng Cu–Mo deposit by the Re–Os method. The calcite Sm–Nd age for the Jinman deposit (58 ± 5 Ma) and the molybdenite Re–Os age for the Liancheng deposit (48 ± 2 Ma), together with previously published chronological data, demonstrate (1) the Cu–Ag mineralization in the western Lanping basin mainly occurred in three episodes (i.e., ∼56–54, 51–48, and 31–29 Ma), corresponding to the main- and late-collisional stages of the Indo–Asian orogeny; and (2) the Pb–Zn–Ag (±Cu) mineralization in the eastern Lanping basin lacked precise and direct dating, however, the apatite fission track ages of several representative deposits (21 ± 4 Ma to 32 ± 5 Ma) may offer some constraints on the mineralization age.     

浙江青田石平川钼矿控矿条件分析

石平川钼矿由燕山晚期第四次侵入碱性长石花岗岩体提供物源和热动力,火山机构、断裂和西山头组第二岩性段为成矿提供了导矿通道和容矿场所。     

辉钼矿Re-Os同位素定年方法的改进与应用

公认的Re-Os同位素定年代表物辉钼矿,目前已在金属硫化物矿床年代学研究领域获得了广泛的应用。本研究采用浓HNO₃分解辉钼矿样品,大大地简化了Re和Os的化学制备过程,并根据辉钼矿中正常Os含量水平相对放射成因¹⁸⁷Os可以忽略的特点,以正常Os标准为稀释剂,实现了仪器测量过程中Os同位素质量分馏的在线校正,改善了分析数据的质量。该方法经辉钼矿国家标准物质进行验证,获得了满意的Re、Os含量及Re-Os年龄数据,并且在南岭地区与连阳复式岩体相关的姓坪夕卡岩型钼矿床成矿年龄研究中获得了成功应用。在实际应用中,为了获得有意义的能反映真实地质事件的年龄数据,辉钼矿样品不仅要有足够的取样量,而且还要保证粒度细、混合均匀。     

安徽铜陵凤凰山夕卡岩型铜矿床中辉钼矿Re-Os同位素年龄及其地质意义

铜陵矿集区是我国长江中下游Cu-Au-Fe-Mo成矿带中最重要的有色金属基地之一,凤凰山矿床是铜陵矿集区的重要组成部分,为一个典型的夕卡岩型铜矿床。本文利用Re-Os同位素定年方法对凤凰山铜矿床进行了成矿时代测定,获得了辉钼矿的Re-Os同位素模式年龄范围为139.1±2.4～142.0±2.2Ma,等时线年龄为141.1±1.4Ma,与矿区内石英二长闪长岩和花岗闪长岩SHRIMP锆石U-Pb年龄(144.2±2.3Ma)相吻合,也与铜陵地区其他矿田的成矿时代基本一致,可能为岩石圈减薄事件的成矿响应。     

Geochronology and fluid inclusion study of the Yinjiagou porphyry–skarn Mo–Cu–pyrite deposit in the East Qinling orogenic belt,China

The Yinjiagou Mo–Cu–pyrite deposit of Henan Province is located in the Huaxiong block on the southern margin of the North China craton. It differs from other Mo deposits in the East Qingling area because of its large pyrite resource and complex associated elements. The deposit’s mineralization process can be divided into skarn, sulfide, and supergene episodes with five stages, marking formation of magnetite in the skarn episode, quartz–molybdenite, quartz–calcite–pyrite–chalcopyrite–bornite–sphalerite, and calcite–galena–sphalerite in the sulfide episode, and chalcedony–limonite in the supergene episode. Re–Os and ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar dating indicates that both the skarn-type and porphyry-type orebodies of the Yinjiagou deposit formed approximately 143 Ma ago during the Early Cretaceous. Four types of fluid inclusions (FIs) have been distinguished in quartz phenocryst, various quartz veins, and calcite vein. Based on petrographic observations and microthermometric criteria the FIs include liquid-rich, gas-rich, H₂O–CO₂, and daughter mineral-bearing inclusions. The homogenization temperature of FIs in quartz phenocrysts of K-feldspar granite porphyry ranges from 341 °C to >550 °C, and the salinity is 0.4–44.0 wt% NaCl eqv. The homogenization temperature of FIs in quartz–molybdenite veins is 382–416 °C, and the salinity is 3.6–40.8 wt% NaCl eqv. The homogenization temperature of FIs in quartz–calcite–pyrite–chalcopyrite–bornite–sphalerite ranges from 318 °C to 436 °C, and the salinity is 5.6–42.4 wt% NaCl eqv. The homogenization temperature of FIs in quartz–molybdenite stockworks is in a range of 321–411 °C, and the salinity is 6.3–16.4 wt% NaCl eqv. The homogenization temperature of FIs in quartz–sericite–pyrite is in a range of 326–419 °C, and the salinity is 4.7–49.4 wt% NaCl eqv. The ore-forming fluids of the Yinjiagou deposit are mainly high-temperature, high-salinity fluids, generally with affinities to an H₂O–NaCl–KCl ± CO₂ system. The δ¹⁸O_H2O values of ore-forming hydrothermal fluids are 4.0–8.6‰, and the δD_V-SMOW values are between −64‰ and −52‰, indicating that the ore-forming fluids were primarily magmatic. The δ³⁴S_V-CDT values of sulfides range between −0.2‰ and 6.3‰ with a mean of 1.6‰, sharing similar features with deeply sourced sulfur, implying that the sulfur mainly came from the lower crust composed of poorly differentiated igneous materials, but part of the heavy sulfur came from the Guandaokou Group dolostone. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values of sulfides are in the range of 17.331–18.043, 15.444–15.575, and 37.783–38.236, respectively, which is generally consistent with the Pb isotopic signature of the Yinjiagou intrusion, suggesting that the Pb chiefly originated from the felsic–intermediate intrusive rocks in the mine area, with a small amount of lead from strata. The Yinjiagou deposit is a porphyry–skarn deposit formed during the Mesozoic transition of a tectonic regime that is EW-trending to NNE-trending, and the multiepisode boiling of ore-forming fluids was the primary mechanism for mineral deposition.     

Geochemistry,and zircon U–Pb and molybdenite Re–Os geochronology of Jilongshan Cu–Au deposit,southeastern Hubei Province,China

The Jilongshan skarn Cu–Au deposit is located at the Jiurui ore cluster region in the southwestern part of the Middle–Lower Yangtze River valley metallogenic belt. The region is characterized by NW‐, NNW‐ and EW‐trending faults and the mineralization occurs at the contact of lower Triassic carbonate rocks and Jurassic granodiorite porphyry intrusions. The intrusives are characterized by SiO₂, K₂O, and Na₂O concentrations ranging from 61.66 to 67.8 wt.%, 3.29 to 5.65 wt.%, and 2.83 to 3.9 wt.%, respectively. Their A/CNK (A/CNK = n(Al₂O₃)/[n(CaO) + n(Na₂O) + n(K₂O)]) ratio, δEu, and δCe vary from 0.77 to 1.17, 0.86 to 1, and 0.88 to 0.96, respectively. The rocks show enrichment in light rare earth elements ((La/Yb)_N = 7.61–12.94) and large ion lithophile elements (LILE), and depletion in high field strength elements (HFSE), such as Zr, Ti. They also display a peraluminous, high‐K calc‐alkaline signature typical of intrusives associated with skarn and porphyry Cu–Au–Mo polymetallic deposits. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) zircon U–Pb age indicates that the granodiorite porphyry formed at 151.75 ± 0.70 Ma. A few inherited zircons with older ages (677 ± 10 Ma, 848 ± 11 Ma, 2645 ± 38 Ma, and 3411 ± 36 Ma) suggest the existence of an Archaean basement beneath the Middle–Lower Yangtze River region. The temperature of crystallization of the porphyry estimated from zircon thermometer ranges from 744.3 °C to 751.5 °C, and 634.04 °C to 823.8 °C. Molybdenite Re–Os dating shows that the Jilongshan deposit formed at 150.79 ± 0.82 Ma. The metallogeny and magmatism are correlated to mantle–crust interaction, associated with the subduction of the Pacific Plate from the east. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

小秦岭车仓峪钼矿成因研究:辉钼矿Re-Os年龄及黄铁矿微量元素制约

车仓峪钼矿位于小秦岭中生代娘娘山花岗岩体与太华群基底的接触带内,矿体发育在由一组X节理控制的石英脉内。本文对车仓峪钼矿开展了辉钼矿Re-Os定年以及黄铁矿微量元素LA-ICP-MS原位分析工作。所得辉钼矿Re-Os模式年龄为133.8±4.3Ma和132.7±2.2Ma,表明车仓峪钼矿的成矿年龄为早白垩世,与娘娘山岩体的成岩年龄一致。辉钼矿样品的Re含量较低,为83×10-6和86×10-6,指示了成矿物质可能来源于I型花岗岩——娘娘山花岗岩。对与辉钼矿共生的黄铁矿进行LA-ICP-MS微量元素原位分析,发现黄铁矿中Ni含量低(4.5×10-6~76.1×10-6,平均17.4×10-6),表明其来源应该是酸性岩,也就是其围岩娘娘山花岗岩。综合辉钼矿定年以及黄铁矿微量元素分析结果,车仓峪钼矿应该是早白垩世娘娘山花岗岩侵位时,由岩浆冷凝分异出的成矿流体充填和交代围岩形成。同时,小秦岭燕山期Mo矿化并不伴随Au矿化,结合已有资料,从侧面说明燕山期可能并不是小秦岭金的主成矿期。     

Dating the giant Zhuxi W–Cu deposit (Taqian–Fuchun Ore Belt) in South China using molybdenite Re–Os and muscovite Ar–Ar system

The recently discovered Zhuxi W–Cu ore deposit is located within the Taqian–Fuchun Ore Belt in the southeastern edge of the Yangtze Block, South China. Its inferred tungsten resources, based on new exploration data, are more than 280 Mt by 2016. At least three paragenetic stages of skarn formation and ore deposition have been recognized: prograde skarn stage; retrograde stage; and hydrothermal sulfide stage. Secondly, greisenization, marmorization and hornfels formation are also observed. Scheelite and chalcopyrite are the dominant metal minerals in the Zhuxi deposit and their formation was associated with the emplacement of granite stocks and porphyry dykes intruded into the surrounding Carboniferous carbonate sediments (Huanglong and Chuanshan formations) and the Neoproterozoic slate and phyllites. The scheelite was mostly precipitated during the retrograde stage, whereas the chalcopyrite was widely precipitated during the hydrothermal sulfide stage. A muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of about 150 Ma is interpreted as the time of tungsten mineralization and molybdenite Re–Os model ages ranging from 145.9 ± 2.0 Ma to 148.7 ± 2.2 Ma (for the subsequent hydrothermal sulfide stage of activity) as the time of the copper mineralization. Our new molybdenite Re–Os and muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating results, along with previous zircon U–Pb age data, indicate that the hydrothermal activity from the retrograde stage to the last hydrothermal sulfide stage lasted up to 5 Myr, from 150.6 ± 1.5 to 145.9 ± 1 Ma, and is approximately coeval or slightly later than the emplacement of the associated granite porphyry and biotite granite. The new ages reported here confirm that the Zhuxi tungsten deposit represents one of the Mesozoic magmatic–hydrothermal mineralization events that took place in South China in a setting of lithospheric extension during the Late Jurassic (160–150 Ma). It is suggested that mantle material played a role in producing the Zhuxi W–Cu mineralization and associated magmatism.