Sulfur redox reactions: Hydrocarbons,native sulfur,Mississippi Valley-type deposits,and sulfuric acid karst in the Delaware Basin,New Mexico and Texas

Hydrocarbons, native sulfur, Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits, and sulfuric acid karst in the Delaware Basin, southeastern New Mexico, and west Texas, USA, are all genetically related through a series of sulfur redox reactions. The relationship began with hydrocarbons in the basin that reacted with sulfate ions from evaporite rock to produce isotopically light ( ³⁴S = -22 to -12) H₂S and bioepigenetic limestone (castiles). This light H₂S was then oxidized at the redox interface to produce economic native sulfur deposits ( ³⁴S = -15 to +9) in the castiles, paleokarst, and along graben-boundary faults. This isotopically light H₂S also migrated from the basin into its margins to accumulate in structural (anticlinal) and stratigraphic (Yates siltstone) traps, where it formed MVT deposits within the zone of reduction ( ³⁴S = -15 to +7). Later in time, in th zone of oxidation, this H₂S reacted with oxygenated water to produce sulfuric acid, which dissolved the caves (e.g., Carlsbad Cavern and Lechuguilla Cave, Guadalupe Mountains). Massive gypsum blocks on the floors of the caves ( ³⁴S = -25 to +4) were formed as a result of this reaction. The H₂S also produced istopically light cave sulfur ( ³⁴S = -24 to -15), which is now slowly oxidizing to gypsum in the presence of vadose drip water.     

Origin of Ore-Forming Fluids of Mississippi Valley-Type （MVT） Pb-Zn Deposits in Kangdian Area, China

Analyses of fluid-inclusion leachates from ore deposits show that Na/Br ratios are within the range of 75 - 358 and Cl/Br 67 - 394, respectively, and this variation trend coincides with the seawater evaporation trajectory on the basis of the Na/Br and Cl/Br ratios. The average Cl/Br and Na/Br ratios of mineralizing fluids are 185 and 173 respectively, which are very close to the ratios ( 120 and 233 ) of the residual evaporated seawater past the point of halite precipitation. It is suggested that the original mineralizing brine was derived from highly evapo-rated seawater with a high salinity. However, the inclusion fluids have absolute Na values of 69.9—2606.2 mmol kg^-1 and Cl values of 106.7 — 1995.5 mmol kg^-1. Most of the values are much less than those of seawater: Na, 485 mmol kg^-1 and Cl, 566 mmol kg^-1 , respectively; the salinity measured from fluid inclusions of the deposits ranges from 2.47 wt% to 15.78 wt% NaCl equiv. The mineralizing brine has been diluted. The δ ^18O and δD values of ore-forming fluids vary from -8.21‰ to 9.51‰ and from -40.3‰ to -94.3‰, respectively. The δD values of meteoric water in this region varied from - 80‰ to - 100‰ during the Jurassic. This evidenced that the ore-forming fluids are the mixture of seawater and meteoric water. Highly evaporated seawater was responsible for leaching and extracting Pb, Zn and Fe, and mixed with and diluted by descending meteoric water, which resulted in the formation of ores.     

Fluorite deposits in China: Geological features,metallogenic regularity,and research progress

Fluorite is one of the important mineral raw materials in the industry. In China, it is mainly distributed in the provinces and regions such as Hunan, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Inner Mongolia, Fujian, and Henan provinces, boasting huge reserves and large numbers of deposits. However, most of the fluorite deposits are on a small or medium scale. The main fluorite deposits in China were studied in this paper. Their geological features and metallogenic regularity were summarized and compared. Meanwhile, based on their main genetic factors including metallogenic fluid sources and main metallogenic geological processes, they were divided into two groups, namely meso-epithermal deposits and magmatic-hydrothermal deposits. Furthermore, based on the prospecting achievements and research progress obtained in fluorite deposits in recent years, prospecting potential predictions were made for the metallogenic prospect areas and major prospecting areas of fluorite in China. This aims to provide a theoretical basis and direction for future fluorite prospecting in China.     

川、滇、黔交界地区密西西比河谷型铅锌矿床与美国同类矿床的对比

我国川、滇、黔交接地区和美国中部地区的密西西比河谷型铅锌矿床的共同特征是：1）含矿岩系都位于一套红色碎屑岩石之上。它们不但为矿床的形成提供了成矿金属，而且由于渗透率较大而为成矿流体的大规模侧向流动提供了通道。2）矿床的形成时间都与造山作用的时间相一致。造山作用所引起的挤压应力，或由于造山带的隆起所引起的盆山间的重力梯度为含矿流体的大规模侧向流动提供了动力，促进了成矿作用的发生。3）矿床的含矿岩系大多含有蒸发岩。蒸发岩的存在为成矿流体的形成提供了矿化剂，或为矿质的沉淀提供了硫。     

川滇黔地区MVT铅锌矿床分布、特征及成因

位于扬子地台西南缘的川滇黔铅锌多金属成矿区是中国重要的铅、锌、银、锗生产基地,目前在该成矿区已经发现大、中、小型铅锌矿床和矿点400多处。经过对比研究,这些矿床的赋矿围岩为震旦系一二叠系碳酸盐岩,矿体明显受控于断裂构造,并伴随有强烈的白云岩化和方解石化,以低温、低盐度为特征,成矿时代可能为中生代,成矿物质主要来自地层本身。它们为受热对流循环流体经过成矿物质萃取、搬运和卸载而成矿,是大陆边缘造山带东侧伸展带中的产物,属于比较典型的密西西比河谷型铅锌矿床。     

Geochemical constraints on the origin of the Kicking Horse and Monarch Mississippi Valley-type lead-zinc ore deposits, southeast British Columbia, Canada

Two Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) ore deposits, Kicking Horse and Monarch, have been studied with the aim of comparing the ores at the two localities and to characterize the origin of the mineralizing fluids and the ore formation process(es). Both deposits are hosted by the Middle Cambrian Cathedral Formation carbonate host rocks, Kicking Horse on the north and Monarch on the south flank of the Kicking Horse valley near Field (SE British Columbia). The ore bodies are situated at the transition of (western) basinal to (eastern) shallow-water strata of the paleo-Pacific passive margin succession in the Cordilleran Foreland Province of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. Both deposits are related spatially to normal faults. In both localities, the ore minerals are dominated by pyrite, sphalerite, and galena. Dolomite, minor quartz, and calcite are also present in close association with the ores. The salinity (21–30 wt% NaCl eq.) and homogenization temperatures (63–182°C) measured in fluid inclusions in carbonate, quartz, and sphalerite lie within the typical range of MVT fluid conditions. The good stoichiometry (50–53 mol% CaCO₃), low δ¹⁸O values (−21 to −14‰ Vienna Peedee belemnite) and relatively high homogenization temperatures (>95°C) of the dolomite suggest the dolomites were formed under burial diagenesis. The ore-forming fluids probably interacted with siliciclastic units, based on elevated Li contents and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, which are highest in the dolomite type after the main ore stage. We propose that the ores formed from the mixing of a downward-infiltrating, sulfur-bearing halite-dissolution fluid with an upward-migrating, metal-rich evaporated seawater fluid, which had already undergone minor mixing with a dilute fluid.     

Geologic, Fluid Inclusion and Stable Isotope Constraints on Mechanisms of Ore Deposition at the Datuanshan Copper Deposit, Middle–Lower Yangtze Valley, Eastern China

The Datuanshan deposit is one of the largest and most representative stratabound copper deposits in the Tongling area,the largest ore district in the Middle-Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt.The location of the orebodies is controlled by the interlayer-slipping faults between the Triassic and Permian strata,and all the orebodies are distributed in stratiform shape around the Mesozoic quartz monzodiorite dikes.Based on field evidence and petrographic observations,four mineralization stages in the Datuanshan deposit have been identified:the skarn,early quartz-sulfide,late quartzsulfide and carbonate stages.Chalcopytite is the main copper mineral and mainly formed at the late quartz-sulfide stage.Fluid inclusions at different stages were studied for petrography,microthermometry,laser Raman spectrometry and stable isotopes.Four types of fluid inclusions,including three-phase fluid inclusions(type 1),liquid-rich fluid inclusions(type 2),vapour-rich fluid inclusions(type 3) and pure vapour fluid inclusions(type 4),were observed.The minerals from the skarn,early and late quartz-sulfide stages contain all fluid inclusion types,but only type 2 fluid inclusions were observed at the carbonate stage.Petrographic observations suggest that most of the inclusions studied in this paper are likely primary.The coexistence of different types of fluid inclusions with contrasting homogenization characteristics(to the liquid and vapour phase,respectively) and similar homogenization temperatures(the modes are 440-480℃,380-400℃ and 280-320℃ for the skarn,early and late quartz-sulfide stages,respectively) in the first three stages,strongly suggests that three episodes of fluid boiling occurred during these stages,which is supported by the hydrogen isotope data.Laser Raman spectra identified CH_4 at the skarn and early quartz-sulfide stages.Combined with other geological features,the early ore-forming fluids were inferred to be under a relatively reduced environment.The CO_2 component has been identified at the late quartz-sulfide and carbonate stages,indicating that the late ore-forming fluids were under a relatively oxidized environment,probably as a result of inflow of and mixing with meteoric water.In addition,microthermometric results of fluid inclusions and H-O isotope data mdicate that the ore forming fluids were dominated by magmatic water in the early stages(skarn and early quartz-sulfide stages) and mixed with meteoric water in the late stages(late quartz-sulfide and carbonate stages).The evidence listed above suggests that the chalcopyrite deposition in the Datuanshan deposit probably resulted from the combination of multiepisode fluid boiling and mixing of magmatic and meteoric water.     

胶东主要金矿类型流体包裹体特征对比及其对成矿环境差异的指示——以纱岭、旧店和辽上金矿床为例

胶东是中国最重要的金矿集区, 破碎带蚀变岩型、石英脉型和黄铁矿碳酸盐脉型金矿是区内的主要矿化类型, 前人对不同矿化类型成矿条件的差异性尚缺乏深入研究。对胶东3种矿化类型的代表性金矿床流体包裹体研究发现: 不同矿化类型金矿床主成矿期的流体包裹体具有相似的岩相学特征, 均发育H2O-CO2(Ⅱ-g型)、富CO2(ⅢCO2型)和水溶液包裹体(Ⅰ-l型和Ⅱ-l型)4种流体包裹体, 均属于CO2-H2O-NaCl±CH4体系。不同矿化类型的流体特征也有差异, 黄铁矿碳酸盐脉型金矿的流体包裹体以盐度和均一温度较高明显区别于其他矿化类型, 石英脉型金矿流体包裹体以直径较大、三相包裹体占比略高, 区别于破碎带蚀变岩型金矿。破碎带蚀变岩型和石英脉型金矿成矿流体整体属于中—低温、中—低盐度、低密度流体, 黄铁矿碳酸盐脉型金矿成矿流体属于中—高温、中—低盐度、低密度流体。对纱岭金矿床-1000~-2000 m海拔高程范围矿体中的流体包裹体研究表明, 在垂深2000 m深度范围内, 成矿流体除盐度有不明显的降低趋势外, 其他特征高度一致, 说明不同深度成矿流体具有一致的性质和物理化学条件。不同矿化类型和不同深度金矿成矿流体特征的总体一致性和部分差异性指示, 胶东金矿是在统一的成矿构造-流体背景下, 不同的局部环境中短时间集中爆发成矿的。     

Mineralizing fluids of the shallow epithermal Au–Ag deposits of the El Barqueño district, Jalisco, Mexico

La composición de elementos trazas y de isótopos de las secuencias magmáticas del terciario inferior en dos localidades de la Sierra Madre Occidental al norte de México, muestran una variación que manifiesta la composición y la edad del basamento por el cual fueron eyectadas. La corteza subyaciente en San Buenaventura corresponde a la parte asociada al basamento Norte Americano, en cambio en El Divisadero, la corteza subyaciente correspondería a los terranos alocthonos acrecionados durante el Mesozoico.En estas localidades las rocas volcánicas aparecen fuertemente diferenciadas, variando en su composición de basáltica a riolítica (SiO₂=50–76%). Las secuencias erupcionadas en los terranos de acreción presentan la más baja dispersión en su cociente isotópico, con un cociente mínimo inicial de Sr (>0.7044, corregido por la edad), y máximo de Nd (<0.5126) y de Pb (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb 18.9).Los cocientes isotópicos correspondientes a la serie continental presentan una dispersión variable y una distribución fuera de la serie de los terranos hacia la composición más típica de la corteza antigua (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr 0.710 y ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd 0.5123). Las rocas volcánicas de la zona continental, muestran valores relativamente altos en elementos incompatibles en comparación con las rocas de los terranos acrecionados (Ce/Yb=25–45 vs. 13–33, respectivamente), y al mismo tiempo están empobrecidos en algunos elementos incompatibles como U y Rb (p.e. Th/U=3.8–7.5 vs. 2.5–4.0, respectivamente), lo cual indica una posición estratigráfica superior, con cocientes de ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, y Th/U más altos, y ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd más bajos.Los resultados tienen implicaciones sobre la composición original y la petrogénesis de las rocas volcánicas. Los cocientes isotópicos de los dos lugares revelan una composición que se sitúa entre las rocas de composición máfica de la Sierra Madre Occidental y los xenolithos intermediarios y félsicos característicos del norte de México o del sud-oeste de los Estados Unidos de América. La relación entre los cocientes isotópicos de las secuencias y la edad del basamento, así como el hecho de que la totalidad de los resultados obtenidos presenten una disposición bien definida, demuestran la fuerte contribución de la corteza en la química de los magmas silicatados. En la serie continental los cocientes de isótopos covarían con los cocientes de Th/Pb y U/Pb, aproximándose a la composición observada en los xenolithos intermediarios y en las rocas de composicion félsica. Esto indica claramente que no se trata de una fusión anatéxica de la corteza inferior, sino más bien de una interacción del magma basáltico del manto y la corteza. La contribución de la corteza es del orden de 20–70%. La estrecha variación del cociente isotópico en la zona de la secuencia de terranos acrecionados refleja la interacción del magma basáltico con una corteza relativamente joven, cuya composición isotópica es similar a los magmas derivados del manto. Los altos cocientes de Th/U y de Th/Rb indican que la contaminación de la corteza tiene lugar en su parte inferior. Además, los cocientes menos radiogénicos de ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb y ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb en la serie continental indican que el empobrecimiento de elementos fuertemente incompatibles en la corteza inferior corresponde a un rasgo antiguo. Los cambios seculares de los cocientes isotópicos de la sección estratigráfica indica que la contribución de la corteza superior aumenta con el tiempo, predominando al principio una corteza inferior máfica y, más tarde, una corteza intermediaria de rocas félsicas. Analizando rocas volcánicas externas a las dos secciones fuertemente muestreadas, las diferencias obtenidas en su composición isotópica de las rocas volcánicas, los terranos acrecionados y el basamento antiguo permiten deducir la localización del límite corteza continental-corteza oceánica.

P-T-X conditions of hydrothermal fluids and precipitation mechanism of stibnite-gold mineralization at the Wiluna lode-gold deposits,Western Australia: conventional and infrared microthermometric constraints

The Wiluna lode-gold deposits are located in the Archean Wiluna greenstone belt, in the northern sector of the Norseman-Wiluna belt in the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia. They are hosted in subgreenschist facies meta-basalts, and controlled by the Wiluna strike-slip fault system and associated shear veins and breccias. The 13 individual lode-gold deposits have produced around 115 t Au from 1901 to 1946 and 1986 to today. Historically, they also produced 38.3 t As and 3.5 t Sb. Gold formed in two stages: stage 1 gold-pyrite-arsenopyrite is finely disseminated in the wallrock and breccia fragments, whereas stage 2 gold-stibnite is located in massive shear veins and breccia matrix, as fracture-fill and in banded-colloform textured veins. Stibnite-gold orebodies only occur in some of the deposits (e.g., Moonlight and northern part of the West Lode) and also display a restricted vertical extent, being preserved only in the uppermost 200 m of stibnite-bearing lodes.Petrographic, conventional, and infrared microthermometric and laser-Raman analysis on stibnite-bearing quartz veins and breccias reveal that the antimony- and gold-rich hydrothermal fluid was of mixed H₂O-NaCl-CO₂±CH₄ type. Microthermometric measurements reveal maximum homogenization temperatures of 340 °C (average 290±25 °C), and a wide range of salinities between 0.2 and 23 eq. wt% NaCl. Aqueous-carbonic fluid inclusions contain variable X_CO2+CH4 (0.03 to 0.82), with the carbonic phase containing a maximum X_CH4 of 0.21.Combined petrographic and microthermometric evidence suggests that the fluid inclusion properties reflect fluid immiscibility of a low-salinity, medium X_CO2+CH4, homogeneous parent fluid at about 290 °C and pressures between 700 and 1,700 bar. Fluid immiscibility was triggered by cyclic pressure release during fault-zone movement. The decompression (adiabatic cooling) of the hydrothermal fluids shifted the ore fluid to lower temperatures, significantly reduced the degree of stibnite undersaturation, and caused stibnite to precipitate. The deposition of stibnite reduced the ore-fluid H₂S concentration, thereby destabilized gold bisulfide complexes in solution, and caused gold precipitation locally. This mechanism explains the intimate spatial association of stibnite and gold in quartz veins and breccias in the stibnite-gold orebodies at Wiluna.Editorial handling: B. Lehmann     

广东凡口MVT铅锌矿床成矿年代——来自辉绿岩锆石SHRIMP定年证据

广东凡口铅锌矿床是我国超大型铅锌矿床之一,已探明铅锌金属含量已达千万吨.矿床赋存于华南泥盆系海进序列中上部的白云质碳酸盐岩中,矿体呈不规则状受断裂构造控制,具有密西西比河谷型(MVT)矿床特点.矿区发育辉绿岩脉,多呈NWW向,部分呈NNW向,靠近矿体的辉绿岩全部粘土化和碳酸盐化.辉绿岩穿切硫铁铅锌矿,同时辉绿岩中也含有浸染状铅锌矿细脉,显示辉绿岩形成于成矿作用的晚期,成矿作用持续时间长,辉绿岩就位时间短,就位后成矿作用仍在继续,因此,辉绿岩就位年龄可基本代表成矿作用年代.辉绿岩中锆石SHRIMP年龄主要集中于2213～957Ma、341～216Ma、138～127Ma、122～90Ma 4个区间,前二组代表捕获围岩的锆石.通过凡口矿床地质特点、区域地质演化以及与区域内铀矿、辉绿岩年龄数据的比较,122～90Ma组代表了凡口辉绿岩的侵位时代,相当于早白垩世晚期,显示铅锌矿化形成于华南板内拉张构造环境,与该时期发育大规模红层盆地相对应.由此建立区域(凡口式)铅锌矿化模型:白垩纪始,随着五夷山的隆起,阻断了太平洋暖湿气流的西进,华南地区开始了红层盆地发育阶段,铅锌矿主要分布于这些红层盆地周边地区;来自红层盆地的盆地卤水与来自生烃层的富硫的还原性卤水混合,形成铅锌矿床.     

Tracing element sources of hydrothermal mineral deposits: REE and Y distribution and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes in fluorite from MVT deposits in the Pennine Orefield,England

Fluorite from Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) deposits in the South Pennine Orefield, England, displays significantly different distributions of rare earths and yttrium (REY) compared to fluorite from similar MVT deposits in the North Pennine Orefield. Samples from the South Pennine Orefield display negative Ce and positive Gd and Y anomalies but lack any Eu anomaly, indicating that the REY were mobilized from relatively pure marine sedimentary carbonates. In marked contrast, fluorite from the North Pennine Orefield lacks any Ce and Gd anomalies but shows a pronounced positive Eu anomaly, suggesting that the REY were provided by different source rock(s), that the mineralizing hydrothermal fluid had experienced higher temperatures prior to fluorite precipitation, and that it was derived from deeper crustal levels in the north compared to the south. The isotopic composition of Sr in Blue John fluorite from the South Pennine Orefield suggests that Sr was mobilized from Lower Carboniferous (Tournaisian) limestones, whereas Pb isotopes suggest that in contrast to REY and Sr, Pb was derived from aluminosilicate rocks. Neither Nd nor Sr or Pb isotopes can be used to radiometrically date the formation of Blue John fluorite. All isotope systems studied indicate that the limestone host rock of this fluorite mineralization did not contribute to the trace element budget of the hydrothermal fluid. Our results show that different solutes in a natural water (hydrothermal fluid, groundwater, etc.) may be derived from different sources, and that the study of a small set of elements or isotope ratios may not provide full insight into the genesis or history of a mineralization or a hydrothermal fluid. Our data provide evidence for the uncoupling of Sr, Nd and Pb during fluid-rock interaction and fluid migration, and show that the use of plots such as ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr vs. _Nd. to learn about mixing relationships (as is commonly done in igneous geochemistry) is unreliable when applied to natural waters and their precipitates.Editorial handling: B. Lehmann     

新疆火烧云超大型非硫化物铅锌矿床:发生表生氧化的密西西比河谷型矿床

火烧云矿床是我国新发现具有超大型规模的非硫化物铅锌矿床,成因倍受关注.矿床主要由菱锌矿和白铅矿组成,形成块状及少量纹层状和角砾状矿石,构成了层状矿体.赋矿围岩为中侏罗统含沉积石膏的台地相碳酸盐岩,为密西西比河谷型矿床的典型赋矿围岩,而非喷流沉积型矿床的赋矿围岩.矿石中普遍出现被白铅矿交代的方铅矿残留,表明原生矿化为硫化物.方铅矿δ34SV-CDT值为-34‰^-18‰,显示还原硫的来源与细菌还原作用作用有关,这在MVT矿床中较为常见,而在与岩浆作用有关的铅锌矿床中少见.同时,矿床也不具有与岩浆有关的热液矿化和蚀变特征,故矿床的原生硫化物矿化应为MVT型.通过菱锌矿和白铅矿的O同位素组成,计算出形成这两种矿物的流体具有低温、低δ18O值的大气降水的特征,结合白铅矿交代方铅矿的这一现象,表明目前观察到的由菱锌矿和白铅矿构成铅锌矿体系是在表生作用下直接交代原生硫化物矿体形成.     

Diagenetic history and porosity evolution of Upper Carboniferous sandstones from the Spring Valley #1 well, Maritimes Basin, Canada–implications for reservoir development

Eighty-two core samples were collected from the Spring Valley #1 well which penetrates the Upper Carboniferous strata in the Late Devonian–Early Permian Maritimes Basin. The strata consist of alternating sandstones and mudstones deposited in a continental environment. The objective of this study is to characterize the relationship of sandstone porosity with depth, and to investigate the diagenetic processes related to the porosity evolution. Porosity values estimated from point counting range from 0% to 27.8%, but are mostly between 5% and 20%. Except samples that are significantly cemented by calcite, porosity values clearly decrease with depth. Two phases of calcite cement were distinguished based on Cathodoluminescence, with the early phase being largely dissolved and preserved as minor relicts in the later phase. Feldspar dissolution was extensive and contributed significantly to the development of secondary porosity. Quartz cementation was widespread and increased with depth. Fluid inclusions recorded in calcite and quartz cements indicate that interstitial fluids in the upper part of the stratigraphic column were dominated by waters with salinity lower than that of seawater, the middle part was first dominated by low-salinity waters, then invaded by brines, and the lower part was dominated by brines. Homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions generally increase with depth and suggest a paleogeothermal gradient of 25 °C/km, which is broadly consistent with that indicated by vitrinite reflectance data. An erosion of 1.1–2.4 (mean 1.75) km of strata is inferred to have taken place above the stratigraphic column. δ¹⁸O values of calcite cements (mainly from the late phase) decrease with depth, implying increasing temperatures of formation, as also suggested by fluid-inclusion data. δ¹³C values of calcite cements range from −13.4‰ to −5.7‰, suggesting that organic matter was an important carbon source for calcite cements. A comparison of the porosity data with a theoretical compaction curve indicates that the upper and middle parts of the stratigraphic column show higher-than-normal porosity values, which are related to significant calcite and feldspar dissolution. Meteoric incursion and carboxylic acids generated from organic maturation were probably responsible for the abundant dissolution events.     

卡林型-类卡林型金矿床勘查与研究回顾及展望

20世纪60年代美国西部发现超大型卡林金矿及1000余千米的成矿带,引起世界各国重视,70年代卡林金矿找矿理论传入中国,经历了找矿实践和初步研究的认识时期,中国陕西与贵州同时发现卡林型金矿线索;80年代中后期中国找矿有重大突破,勘查确定了包含40多例大、中型卡林型-类卡林型金矿床,分布于环扬子地台的“西北金三角”和“西南金三角”,典型矿床研究取得较大进展;90年代找矿勘探又上一新台阶,除继续发现一批矿床外,成功勘查出数例特大型该类矿床,对矿床成因、成矿机理、矿床类型与成矿动力学进行综合性研究;跨入新世纪仍有金矿床的不断发现,显示出中国西北、西南地区寻找卡林型-类卡林型金矿床的巨大潜力和良好前景。     

Sediment hosted lead–zinc deposits of the Neoproterozoic Bambuí Group and correlative sequences, São Francisco Craton, Brazil: A review and a possible metallogenic evolution model

The Proterozoic sediment-hosted Zn–(Pb) sulfide and non-sulfide deposits of the São Francisco Craton, Brazil, are partially syn-diagenetic and epigenetic and were probably formed during extensional events. The majority of the deposits occur within shallow water dolomites. The Pb isotopic data of sulfides are relatively homogeneous for individual deposits and plot above the upper crust evolution curve of the Plumbotectonic model. Some of the deposits are characterized by highly radiogenic lead (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ≥ 21) originating from the highly radioactive crust of the São Francisco Craton. Pb and S isotopic data suggest the sources of metal and sulfur for the deposits to be the basement rocks and seawater sulfates in the sediments, respectively. The relatively high temperatures of formation (100 to 250 °C) and moderate salinity (3% to 20% NaCl equiv.) of the primary fluid inclusions in the sphalerite crystals suggest the participation of basinal mineralizing fluids in ore formation. The steep paleo-geothermal gradient generated by the radioactively enriched basement rocks probably assisted in heating up the circulating mineralizing fluids.     

Brine pool deposition for the Zn–Pb–Cu massive sulphide deposits of the Bathurst mining camp, New Brunswick, Canada. I. Comparisons with the Iberian pyrite belt

The Ordovician Zn–Pb–Cu massive sulphide ore deposits of the Bathurst mining camp share many features with those of the Devonian/Carboniferous Iberian pyrite belt, particularly the tendency to large size (tonnage and metal content); shape, as far as can be determined after allowing for deformation; metal content, particularly Fe/Cu, Pb/Zn and Sn; mineral assemblages (pyrite + arsenopyrite ± pyrrhotite and lack or rarity of sulphates); sulphide textures (particularly framboidal pyrite); lack of chimney structures and rubble mounds; irregular metal or mineral zoning; and the low degree of zone refining compared to Hokuroku ores. The major differences between the provinces are the lack of vent complexes and the presence of Sn–Cu ores in the Iberian pyrite belt. There are also similarities in the geological setting of the two camps: both lie within continental terranes undergoing arc-continent and continent–continent collision, and in each case massive sulphide mineralisation followed ophiolite obduction; the ore deposits are associated with bimodal volcanic rocks derived from MORB and continental crust and marine shales; and mineralisation was locally accompanied or followed by deposition of iron formations.Fluid inclusion data from veins in stockworks from at least six of the Iberian massive sulphide deposits point to sulphide deposition having taken place in basins containing mostly spent saline, ore-forming fluids (brine pools), and it is suggested that most of the major features of the Bathurst deposits can be explained by similar processes. The proposed model is largely independent of ocean sulphate and O₂ content, whereas low values of each are requisites for the current, spreading-plume model of sulphide deposition in the Bathurst camp.     

Discovery of lacustrine shale deposits in the Yanshan Orogenic Belt,China:Implications for hydrocarbon exploration

The mechanism of formation of lacustrine deposits within stable orogenic belts and their potential for shale oil and gas exploration are frontier themes of challenge in the fields of sedimentology and petro-leum exploration.Orogenic belts witness strong tectonic activities and normally cannot host stable lacus-trine basins and deep shale formations.Therefore,basins in orogenic belts are considered to have no potential to form shale hydrocarbon reservoirs.Here we investigate the Luanping Basin located in the Yanshan orogenic belt where previous studies regarded rivers and fan deltas as the major main Mesozoic deposits.Based on detailed field exploration and scientific drilling,we report the finding of a large number of lacustrine shale continental deep-water deposits in the Mesozoic strata.Our finding of the occurrence of active shale oil and gas also in this basin also subvert the previous perceptions.We report SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age that define the bottom boundary of the target interval as 127.6±1.7 Ma belonging to the early Cretaceous strata.Tectonics and climate are considered to be the main factors that controlled the deep-water sedimentation during this period.The drill cores revealed evidence of shale gas and the TOC of shale is 0.33％-3.60％,with an average value of 1.39％and Ro is 0.84％-1.21％,with an average value of 1.002％.The brittleness index of shale is between 52.7％and 100％.After vertical well fracturing,the daily gas production is more than 1000 m3.Our findings show that the basin has consid-erable potential for shale oil and gas.The geological resources of the shale gas in the Xiguayuan Fm.are estimated as 1110.12 × 108 m3,with shale oil geological resources of 3340.152×104t.Our findings indi-cate that the Yanshan orogenic belt has potential exploration prospect.This work not only redefines the Luanping Basin as a rift deep-water Mesozoic Lake Basin,but also rules out the previous notion that the basin is dominated by shallow water sediments.The discovery of shale oil and gas also provides an important reference for subsequent petroleum exploration and development in this basin.Our study shows that shale oil and gas reservoirs can be found in the lacustrine basins of orogenic belts which were strongly influenced by volcanism.These results have significant implications for the sedimentology and oil exploration in the Qinling and Xingmeng Orogenic Belts of China,as well as those in other terranes of the world including the New England Orogenic Belt in Australia.     

Geologic, fluid inclusion and isotopic characteristics of the Jinding Zn–Pb deposit, western Yunnan, South China: A review

With a reserve of  200 Mt ore grading 6.08% Zn and 1.29% Pb (i.e., a metal reserve of  15 Mt) hosted in Cretaceous and Tertiary terrestrial rocks, the Jinding deposit is the largest Zn–Pb deposit in China, and also the youngest sediment-hosted super giant Zn–Pb deposit in the world. The deposit mainly occurs in the Jinding dome structure as tabular orebodies within breccia-bearing sandstones of the Palaeocene Yunlong Formation (autochthonous) and in the overlying sandstones of the Early Cretaceous Jingxing Formation (allochthonous). The deposit is not stratiform and no exhalative sedimentary rocks have been observed. The occurrence of the orebodies, presence of hangingwall alteration, and replacement and open-space filling textures all indicate an epigenetic origin. Formation of the Jinding Zn–Pb deposit is related to a period of major continental crust movement during the collision of the Indian and Eurasian Plates. The westward thrusts and dome structure were successively developed in the Palaeocene sedimentary rocks in the ore district, and Zn–Pb mineralisation appears to have taken place in the early stage of the doming processes.The study of fluid inclusions in sphalerite and associated gangue minerals (quartz, celestine, calcite and gypsum) shows that homogenisation temperatures ranged from 54 to 309 °C and cluster around 110 to 150 °C, with salinities of 1.6 to 18.0 wt.% NaCl equiv. Inert gas isotope studies from inclusions in ore- and gangue-minerals reveal 2.0 to 15.6% mantle He, 53% mantle Ne and a considerable amount of mantle Xe in the ore-forming fluids. The Pb-isotope composition of ores shows that the metal is mainly of mantle origin, mixed with a lesser amount of crustal lead. The widely variable and negative δ³⁴S values of Jinding sulphides suggest that thermo-chemical or bacterial sulphate reduction produced reduced sulphur for deposition of the Zn–Pb sulphides. The mixing of a mantle-sourced fluid enriched in metals and CO₂ with reduced sulphide-bearing saline formation water in a structural–lithologic trap may have been the key mechanism for the formation of the Jinding deposit.The Jinding deposit differs from known major types of sediment-hosted Zn–Pb deposits in the world, including sandstone-type (SST), Mississippi Valley type (MVT) and sedimentary-exhalative (SEDEX). Although the fine-grained ore texture and high Zn/Pb ratios are similar to those in SEDEX deposits, the Jinding deposit lacks any exhalative sedimentary rocks. Like MVT deposits, Jinding is characterised by simple mineralogy, epigenetic features and involvement of basinal brines in mineralisation, but its host rocks are mainly sandstones and breccia-bearing sandstones. The Jinding deposit is also different from SST deposits with its high Zn/Pb ratios, among other characteristics. Most importantly, the Jinding deposit was formed in an intracontinental terrestrial basin with an active tectonic history in relation to plate collision, and mantle-sourced fluids and metals played a major role in ore formation, which is not the case for SEDEX, MVT, and SST. We propose that Jinding represents a new type of sediment-hosted Zn–Pb deposit, named the ‘Jinding type’.