Ore Genesis for Stratiform Ore Bodies of the Dongfengnanshan Copper Polymetallic Deposit in the Yanbian Area, NE China：Constraints from LA-ICP-MS in situ Trace Elements and Sulfide S–Pb Isotopes

The Dongfengnanshan Cu polymetallic deposit is one representative deposit of the Tianbaoshan ore district in the Yanbian area, northeast(NE) China. There occur two types of ore bodies in this deposit, the stratiform ore bodies and veintype ones, controlled by the Early Permian strata and the Late Hercynian diorite intrusion, respectively. Due to the ambiguous genetic type of the stratiform ore bodies, there has been controversy on the relationship between them and veintype ore bodies. To determine the genetic type of stratiform ore bodies, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(LA-ICP-MS) in situ trace elements and S–Pb isotope analysis have been carried on the sulfides in the stratiform ore bodies. Compared with that in skarn, Mississippi Valley-type(MVT), and epithermal deposits, sphalerite samples in the stratiform ore bodies of the Dongfengnanshan deposit are significantly enriched in Fe, Mn, and In, while depleted in Ga, Ge, and Cd, which is similar to the sphalerite in volcanic-associated massive sulfide(VMS) deposits. Co/Ni ratio of pyrrhotites in the stratiform ore bodies is similar to that in VMS-type deposits. The concentrations of Zn and Cd of chalcopyrites are similar to those of recrystallized VMS-type deposits. These characteristics also reflect the intermediate ore-forming temperature of the stratiform ore bodies in this deposit. Sulfur isotope compositions of sulfides are similar to those of VMS-type deposits, reflecting that sulfur originated from the Permian Miaoling Formation. Lead isotope compositions indicate mixed-source for lead. Moreover, the comparison of the Dongfengnanshan stratiform ore bodies with some VMStype deposits in China and abroad, on the trace elements and S–Pb isotope characteristics of the sulfides reveals that the stratiform ore bodies of the Dongfengnanshan deposit belong to the VMS-type, and have closely genetic relationship with the early Permian marine volcanic sedimentary rocks.     

Major and Trace Elements of Magnetite from the Qimantag Metallogenic Belt: Insights into Evolution of Ore–forming Fluids

Magnetite, as a genetic indicator of ores, has been studied in various deposits in the world. In this paper, we present textural and compositional data of magnetite from the Qimantag metallogenic belt of the Kunlun Orogenic Belt in China, to provide a better understanding of the formation mechanism and genesis of the metallogenic belt and to shed light on analytical protocols for the in situ chemical analysis of magnetite. Magnetite samples from various occurrences, including the ore–related granitoid pluton, mineralised endoskarn and vein–type iron ores hosted in marine carbonate intruded by the pluton, were examined using scanning electron microscopy and analysed for major and trace elements using electron microprobe and laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. The field and microscope observation reveals that early–stage magnetite from the Hutouya and Kendekeke deposits occurs as massive or banded assemblages, whereas late–stage magnetite is disseminated or scattered in the ores. Early–stage magnetite contains high contents of Ti, V, Ga, Al and low in Mg and Mn. In contrast, late–stage magnetite is high in Mg, Mn and low in Ti, V, Ga, Al. Most magnetite grains from the Qimantag metallogenic belt deposits except the Kendekeke deposit plot in the " Skarn " field in the Ca+Al+Mn vs Ti+V diagram, far from typical magmatic Fe deposits such as the Damiao and Panzhihua deposits. According to the(Mg O+Mn O)–Ti O2–Al2O3 diagram, magnetite grains from the Kaerqueka and Galingge deposits and the No.7 ore body of the Hutouya deposit show typical characteristics of skarn magnetite, whereas magnetite grains from the Kendekeke deposit and the No.2 ore body of the Hutouya deposit show continuous elemental variation from magmatic type to skarn type. This compositional contrast indicates that chemical composition of magnetite is largely controlled by the compositions of magmatic fluids and host rocks of the ores that have reacted with the fluids. Moreover, a combination of petrography and magnetite geochemistry indicates that the formation of those ore deposits in the Qimantag metallogenic belt involved a magmatic–hydrothermal process.     

Geological Characteristics of Copper Mineralization,Jiujiang—Ruichang Area,Jiangxi Province,China

The Jiujiang-Ruichang area in northwestern Jiangxi extends along the western part of the minerogenic belt of the middle-lower Yangtze Valley in a terrain of sediments ranging from Ordovician to Triassic in age with NEE-folda,and NW-compressive,NNW-tensile and NEE-compressive-shearing faults as the major structures .Igneous rocks are mostly intermediate-acid epizonal intrusive bodies.Typical copper mineralizations in this area include the skarn-type and stratiform Cu-bearing pyrite-type deposits at Wushan and the porphyry and breccia-pipe type copper-molybdenum deposits at Chengmenshan.Silurian strata,with a great thickness and an average copper content of 51 ppm,are considered to be the source bed of copper mineralization,as is evidenced,among other things,by the presence of an envelope which is notably impoverished in Cu aroud most of the deposits.Magmatic rocks which intruded into the Silurian strata often have relatively high alkali contents and K2O/Na2O ratios ,with extensive potash alteration.Magmatic rocks in the area are of co-melting type or mixed type.The magma assimilated a large quanity of country rocks while ascending.They are characterized by high REE contents,absence of Eu anomalies and high LREE/HREE ratios.Ancient lead and strontium isotopes were detected in feldspar megaphenocrysts from the granodiorite porphyry.Hydrothermal convective circulation systems of magmatic water of magmatic water and supergenic water was extensively developed in the magmatic and country rocks,in which copper,potassium and other ore-forming components were extracted from the country rocks and concentrated through heating,boiling and evaporating.When the ore-forming fluids found their way into the skarn zone or the unconformity between the Wutong Formation and the Huanglong Formation,ore precipitation would have occurred as a result of changing media,If the concentration of KCl exceeded 9%,copper and other ore-forming components might have been deposited in magmatic rocks,forming the porphyry-type ore deposits.     

Relationship Between Pb-Zn and Au-Ag Mineralization of Kengdenongshe Polymetallic Deposit in Eastern Segment of the Eastern KunlunEI北大核心CSCD

The Kengdenongshe deposit is a newly discovered large Au-Ag-Pb-Zn polymetallic deposit in the eastern Kunlun metallogenic belt, and the genetic relationship between Pb-Zn-rich ore bodies and Au-rich ore bodies in this deposit is controversial. Therefore, comparative studies of mineralization, alteration, and fluid inclusions in the two types of ore bodies were carried out with the statistical analysis of the correlation among ore-forming elements of Au, Ag, Pb and Zn. The results show that, from north to south, the mineralization changes gradually from Pb-Zn-rich to Au-rich with the wall-rock alteration from silicification-epidotization to baritization-marbleization-silicification. In addition, the structures of Pb-Zn-rich ores indicate a hydrothermal sedimentary origin with the late hydrothermal superposition, while those of Au-rich ores show features of hydrothermal origin. Besides, based on the study of fluid inclusions in this mining area, the ore-forming fluid of Pb-Zn-rich ores is low temperature (focus on 150-170°C) and low-medium salinity (1.74%-10.24% NaCleqv), while that of Au-rich ores displays low-medium temperature (manily 130-250°C) with low-medium salinity (0.35%-10.24% NaCleqv). Pb-Zn and Au-Ag show positive correlation (correlation coefficient r>0.25), but Au is poorly correlated with Pb and Zn (correlation coefficient r<0.15). However, to due to the late stage hydrothermal superimposition, Au is rather well correlated with Pb in high grade ores. In summary, there may exist two epochs of mineralization in the Kengdenongshe polymetallic deposit. The early one is Pb-Zn mineralization stage with characteristics of hydrothermal sedimentary origin, and the ore-forming fluid may be derived from the mixture of magmatic water and seawater. While the later one is Au mineralization stage, having characteristics of hydrothermal origin with subsequent hydrothermal superimpositions, and the ore-forming fluid is mainly derived from magmatic water that mixed with meteoric water. © 2018, Science Press. All right reserved.     

Hydrothermal Mineralization on the Mesoproterozoic Passive Continental Margins of China： A Case Study of the Langshan-Zha＇ertaishan Belt, Inner Mongolia, China

Most ore-forming characteristics of the Langshan-Zha‘ertaishan hydrothermal exhalation belt, which consists of the Dongshengmiao, Huogeqi, Tanyaokou and Jiashengpan large-superlarge Zn-Pb-Cu-Fe sulfide deposits, are most similar to those of Mesoproterozoic SEDEX-type provinces of the world. The characteristics include: (1) All deposits of this type in the belt occur in third-order fault-basins in the Langshan-Zha‘ertaishan aulacogen along the northern margin of the North China Platform; (2) these deposits with all their orebodies hosted in the Mesoproterozoic impure dolomite-marble and carbonaceous phyllite (or schists) have an apparent stratabound nature; ores display laminated and banded structures, showing clear depositional features; (3) there is some evidence of syn-sedimentary faulting, which to a certain extent accounts for the temporal and spatial distribution and the size of the orebodies in all deposits and the formation of intrabed conglomerates and breccias; (4) they show lateral and vertical zonation of sulfides; (5) The Cu/(Pb Zn Cu) ratio of the large and thick Pb Zn Cu orebodies gradually decreases from bottom to top; and (6) barite is interbedded with pyrites and sometimes with sphalerite. However, some characteristics such as the Co/Ni radio of the pyrites, the volcanism, for example, of the Langshan-Zha‘ertalshan metallogenic belt, are different from those of the typical SEDEX deposits of the world. The meta-basic volcanic rock in Huogeqi, the sodic bimodal volcanic rocks in the Dongshengmiao and potassic bimodal-volcanic rocks with blastoporphyfitic and blasto-glomeroporphyritic texture as well as blasto-amygdaloidal structure in the Tanyaokou deposits have been discovered in the only ore-bearing second formation of the Langshan Group in the past 10 years. The metallogeny of some deposits hosted in the Langshan Group is closely related to syn-sedimentary volcanism based on the following facts: most of the lead isotopes in sphalerite, galena, pyrite, pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite plot on both sides of the line for the mantle or between the lines for the mantle and lower crust in the lead isotope composition diagram; cobalt content of some pyrites samples is much higher than the nickel content (Co/Ni= 11.91-12.19). Some volcanic blocks and debris have been picked out from some pyritic and pyrrhotitic ores. All Zn-Pb-Cu-Fe sulfide orebodies in these deposits occur in the strata overlying metamorphic volcanic rocks in the only ore-bearing second formation. In the Jiashengpan deposit that lacks syn-sedimentary volcanic rocks in the host succession only Pb and Zn ores occur without Cu ore, but in the Dongshengmiao, Tanyaokou and Huogeqi deposits with syn-sedimentary volcanic rocks in the host succession Cu ores occur. This indicates a relatively higher ore-forming temperature. The process of synsedimentary volcanic eruption directly supplied some ore-forming elements, and resulted in secular geothermal anomaly favorable for the circulation of a submarine convective hydrothermal system, which accounts for the precipitation of deep mineralizing fluids exhaling into anoxidic basins along the syn-sedimentary fault system in the Langshan-Zha‘ertai rift. The Dongshengmiao, Tanyaokou, and Huogeqi deposits hosted in the Langshan Group appear to be a transitional type of mineral deposit between SEDEX and VMS-types but with a bias towards SEDEX, while the Jiashengpan deposit hosted in the Zha‘ertai Group is of a characteristic SEDEX type. This evidence, together with other new discoveries of Mesoproterozoic volcanic rocks and the features of lithogeny and metallogeny of the Bayun Obo deposit in the neighborhood emphasize the diversity, complexity and uniqueness of the Mesoproterozoic Langshan-Zha‘ertal-Bayun Obo ore belt.     

The occurrence of gold in pyrite from the Liulincha gold ore belt, western Hunan Province, China

In this study,an electron microprobe analyzer(EMPA) was used to map the spatial distribution and the occurrence of invisible gold in pyrite from the Liulincha gold ore belt.EPMA data show that gold mainly occurs as submicroscopic-microscopic inclusions.From the contrast of the major guide elements of pyrite from the Liulincha gold ore belt and those from four hydrothermal-type gold deposits in the Jiaodong region,we can see the pyrites were formed in two stages:the pyrite from wall rock is mainly sedimentogenic,with simple structure;and the pyrite from ore body experienced early sedimentary process to late hydrothermal activity,the pyrite is regular in crystal form and exhibits fractured structure.     

Study on the element geochemical charactersitics of the Shazi large-sized anatase ore deposit in Qinglong,Guizhou Province

The Shazi anatase ore deposit in Qinglong, Guizhou Province, is a large-sized anatase deposit that has been recently explored. The characteristics of major oxides in the ore are similar to those of modem laterite weath- ering crust and laterite in the laterite-type gold deposits in the western part of Guizhou Province. Studies on the REE characteristics of basalts and anatase ores in the study region showed that both of them do have extremely strong affinities. There are two groups of trace elements in the ores, i.e., Au-Ag-As-Sb-Hg-Tl association and Sc-TiO2-Cu-Fe-Mn association, reflecting that the formation of anatase ore is related to the formation of siliceous claystone at the early stage of eruption of the Emeishan basaltic magma. The siliceous claystones are the major country rocks for the formation of laterite-type gold ores and anatase ores. In the region anatase ores are rich in Sc and the basalts enriched in Fe, Mn, Ti and Sc are the material source of metallogenesis.     

超基性岩矿物化学特征与成矿关系讨论

The most productive chromite ore deposits are formed by crystallizing from chromite-ore magmas under definite physico-chemical conditions. The formation of chromite ore is controlled mainly by the degree of differentiation of ultrabasic magma. How to diagnose uitrabasic magmatie differentiation is key to the understanding of the mechanism of formation of chromite ore. It is considered that chromite ore is derived from ulttabasic rocks. The rock-forming minerals include olivine, pyroxene and spinel. The minerals are well homomorphous minerals. The contents of major chemical elements in these minerals show little variation. On the contrary in those ultrubasie rocks which show no association with chromite ore deposits the contents of the elements vary over a wide range. Abundant data available.indicate that chromite ore deposits arc derived from chrore.ire-ore magmas resulting from the transport and accumulation of chromic elements. Since the transport and accumulation of chromic elements follows the statistical law,we must study the mechanism of formation of ehromite ore from the statistical point of view. If chromite ore is formed from spinel under the action of gravitation o.r other dynamic actions, we must elucidate the mechanism of formation of chromite ore from the dynamic viewpoint.     

Lead Isotope Studies of Massive Surphur-Iron-Gold Deposits in the Tongling Area, Anhui Province

Pb isotope ratios and their variation have been measured and explained on ores of massive S-Fe-Au depos-its hosted in the Middle-Upper Carboniferous, on feldspars from diorite bodies closely related tomineralization and on whole rocks from ore-hosting strata (carbonate rocks) in the Tongling area, Anhui Prov-ince. Through a comparison of Pb isotope features of these geological bodies, it has been suggested that oresubstances of the deposits were derived from ore-hosting strata. In the meanwhile, the measurement of ore Pbisotopes of different mineralization types of the same deposit indicates that different mineralization types havedistinct Pb isotope characteristics, showing the potentiality of the Pb isotopic method used in mineral explora-tion.     

Application of Lead Isotopes to Geochemical Exploration of Gold Deposits in Baoban , Hainan Province, China

Lead isotopes have been widely applied in geochemical exploration and evaluation of ore deposits, as well as in ascertaining the age of mineralization and the source of ore fluids.Long-term practice showed that the method of lead isotope targeting is somewhat efficient for macroscopic evaluation of forecasting areas, but not powerful enough for for ecasting concealed orebodies. As the contents of U and the variation of U/Pb ratio sharply decrease with depth in the lithosphere, U-Th-Pb isotopic differentiation must have occurred during the crust-mantle e-volution. Lead isotopic ratios show a wide variation range, varying in the front of mineralizationand shallow-derived ores, but maintaining very stable in the major orebody and being usuallyclose to the average isotopic composition of the crust and mantle of the continent block fromwhich the ores were derived. Therefore, the lead isotopic composition can serve as a measure for identifying the position of mineralization. The lead isotope geochemistry was applied to the ex-ploration and evaluation of the Baoban gold deposits of Hainan Province, China. The an alyticalresults of ore veins and adjacent rocks showed that there is a correlation between the lead isotopedata and the position of orebody. Based on the experience from the Baoban gold deposits and other ore deposits in Yunnan Province, an exploration principle has been established, that is,positive anomalies of lead isotope eigenvectors for prospecting deep-seated orebodies and nega-tive anomalies of eigenvectors for enlarging lateral exploration surrounding the known deposit.The ore beds in the Erjia and Beiniu mining districts should be as signed to the deep part of the orebody and those in the Tuwaishan mining district should be the shallow part, so ore beds cor-responding to those in the Erjia and Beiniu mining districts may be found in the Tuwaishan min-ing district.     

On the Yangtze—type Copper Deposits and Their Polygentic Origin

The so-called“Yangtze-type”copper deposits include:（1）Cu-bearing massive pyrite bed ,(2)Cu-bearing skarn and magnetite-type ore deposits,with replacement Cu-vein-type deposits near the metasomatic zone,and (3)mineralized intrusive bodies and breccia pipes ,some of which are known as porphyry copper ores(e.g.Chengmenshan).This type of ore deposits is a typical example to verify the polygenesis of inost of the deposits in China,as has been promoted by Prof.Tu Guangchi in view of the polycyclic development of the geological history in China.This paper is con-cemed with one sub-type of such deposits.     

The Geology and Geochemistry of Porphyrite Iron Deposits in the Nanjing_Wuhu Area,Southeast China

For the iron deposits occurring in andesitic volcaic rocks of the Lower Yangtze Area.the genetic model for porphyrite iron deposits was proposed by chinese geologists more than ten years ago on the basis of their detailed studies in the Nanjing-Wuhu Basin.It comprises a set of deposits of different genetic types ranging from late magmatic segregation ,ore-magma injection,pneumato-hydatogenetic replacing and hydrothermal filling as well as sedimentary origin.The deposits are closely connected with the gabbro-diorite porphyrite subvolcanic intrusive bodies both in space and in genesis.Miner4alization and wall-rock alteration are consistent with the history of the magmatic evolution.Geochemical studies on trace elements and S,O,Sr isotopes have proved that the porphyrite iron deposits are of magmatic origin,The proposed model may be applied to iron ores associated with andesitic volcanites,for example,in Chile,Mexico,Pakistan,Turkey,etc.     

Anomaly Models of Spatial Structures for Copper-Molybdenum Ore Deposits and their Application

This paper discusses the enrichment and depletion regularities for porphyry copper-molybdenum ore deposits in different regions and varied deposit genetic types in the same area, taking three porphyry copper-molybdenum ore deposits (i.e., the Chengmenshan in Jiangxi, Wunugetushan in Inner Mongolia, Baishantang in Gansu) and two copper deposits in Gansu Province (the Huitongshan skarn deposit and Gongpoquan composite deposit) as case studies. The results show that porphyry Cu-Mo deposits or skarn copper deposits include both enrichment of the ore-forming elements and associated elements, and depletion of some lithophile dispersed elements, rare earth elements (REE) and some major elements. And the depleted elements vary with deposits, having generality and their own features. On a deposit scale, the positive anomalies of enriched elements and negative anomalies of depleted elements follow in a sequence to comprise regular anomaly models of spatial structures. The exploration in the Tongchang deposit in Jiangxi and Huitongshan deposit in Gansu suggests that anomaly models play a key role in the identification of mineral occurrences and deposits compared to one single enriched element anomaly. And the anomaly models exert a critical effect on the optimization of prospecting targets and their potential evaluation.     

Late Mesozoic Ore‐forming Events in the Ningwu Ore District,Middle‐Lower Yangtze River Polymetallic Ore Belt,East China: Evidence from Zircon U‐Pb Geochronology and Hf Isotopic Compositions of the Granodioritic Stocks

Late Mesozoic volcanic-subvolcanic rocks and related iron deposits, known as porphyry iron deposits in China, are widespread in the Ningwu ore district (Cretaceous basin) of the middle–lower Yangtze River polymetallic ore belt, East China. Two types of Late Mesozoic magmatic rocks are exposed: one is dioritic rocks closely related to iron mineralization as the hosted rock, and the other one is granodioritic (-granitic) rocks that cut the ore bodies. To understand the age of the iron mineralization and the ore-forming event, detailed zircon U-Pb dating and Hf isotope measurement were performed on granodioritic stocks in the Washan, Gaocun-Nanshan, Dongshan and Heshangqiao iron deposits in the basin. Four emplacement and crystallization (typically for zircons) ages of granodioritic rocks were measured as 126.1±0.5 Ma, 126.8±0.5 Ma, 127.3±0.5 Ma and 126.3±0.4 Ma, respectively in these four deposits, with the LA-MC-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb method. Based on the above results combined with previous dating, it is inferred that the iron deposits in the Ningwu Cretaceous basin occurred in a very short period of 131–127 Ma. In situ zircon Hf compositions of εHf(t) of the granodiorite are mainly from ?3 to ?8 and their corresponding 176Hf/177Hf ratio are from 0.28245 to 0.28265, indicating similar characteristics of dioritic rocks in the basin. We infer that granodioritic rocks occurring in the Ningwu ore district have an original relationship with dioritic rocks. These new results provide significant evidence for further study of this ore district so as to understand the ore-forming event in the study area.     

Comparative Study of Gacun and Youre Silver–Lead–Zinc–Copper Deposits in Sichuan, SW China, and their Mineralization Significance

The large Gacun silver–lead–zinc–copper deposit in Sichuan Province is one of the largest volcanogenic massive sulfide(VMS) deposits in China. The deposit consists of western and central ore bodies, which form a vein–stockwork mineralization system corresponding to hydrothermal channels, and eastern ore bodies, which form an exhalative chemical sedimentary system derived from a brine pool in a submarine basin. The Youre lead–zinc deposit, which is currently under exploration and lies adjacent to the southern part of the Gacun deposit, is characterized by intense silicification and vein–stockwork structures and consists of massive silicified rhyolitic volcanics, banded rhyolitic tuff, and phyllitic sericite tuff. From a comparison of their ore-bearing horizons, the Gacun and Youre deposits have a continuous and stable hanging wall(calcareous slate and overlying andesite) and foot wall(rhyolite–dacite breccia and agglomerate), and the lithologic sequence includes lower intermediate to felsic rocks and upper felsic rocks. Thus, the Youre deposit, which comprises relatively thinly layered low–grade ore, is regarded as forming a southward extension of the Gacun deposit. A further comparison of the structures of the ore-bearing belts between the two deposits suggests that the Youre ore bodies are similar to the western ore bodies of the Gacun deposit. Moreover, the characteristics of fluid inclusions and stable isotopes in the Youre deposit are also similar to those of the western ore bodies of the Gacun deposit. Genetic models of the deposits are proposed for the Gacun–Youre ore district, and massive concealed ore bodies may occcur in the Youre deposit at depths that are similar to those of the eastern ore bodies of the Gacun deposit.     

REE characteristics of microfine disseminated gold ores in Danzhai, Guizhou

Described in this paper are the fundamental characteristics of mineralization of gold ores in the Sandu-Danzhai Hg-Sb-Au ore belt of Guizhou Province,Through systematic sampling of the industrial orebody and alteration zone,the total amount of the rare-earth elements,that of the light rare-earth elements,Eu depletion and other parameters are clarified.There have been distinguished two types of REE distribution patterns:the“Clay type“and the “quartz type“ .High-grade orebodies are closely related with silicification,illitization and pyritization.The seven-component diagram of the REEs of even numbers in the periodic table(Bal-asov,1966)is capable of distinguishing ore-bearing from ore-barren deposits.     

Geochemical Characteristics and Zonation of Primary Halos of Pulang Porphyry Copper Deposit,Northwestern Yunnan Province,Southwestern China

The Pulang (普朗) porphyry copper deposit, located in the southern segment of the Yidun-Zhongdian (义敦-为中甸) island arc ore-forming belt of the Tethys-Himalaya ore-forming domain, is a recently discovered large copper deposit. Compared with the composition of granodiorite in China, the porphyry rocks in this area are enriched in W, Mo, Cu, Au, As, Sb, F, V, and Na2O (K1≥1.2). Compared with the composition of fresh porphyry rocks in this district, the mineralized rocks are enriched in Cn, Au, Ag, Mo, Pb, Zn, W, As, Sb, and K2O (K≥1.2). Some elements show clear anomalies, such as Zn, Ag, Cu, Au, W, and Mo, and can be regarded as pathfinders for prospecting new ore bodies in depth. It has been inferred from factor analysis that the Pulang porphyry copper deposit may have undergone the multiple stages of alteration and mineralization: (a) Cu-Au mineralization; (b) W-Mo mineralization; and (c) silicification and potassic metasomatism in the whole ore-forming process. A detailed zonation sequence of indicator elements is obtained using the variability index of indicator elements as follows: Zn→Ag→Cu→Au→W→Mo. According to this zonation, an index such as (Ag×Zn) D/(Mo×W) D can be constructed and regarded as a significant criterion for predicting the Cu potential at a particular depth.     

Mineralization and Ore-controlling Implications of Low-angle Faults

Low-angle faults include those occurring in thrust-nappe structures in a compressive setting and the detachment of metamorphic core complexes in an extensional setting. All low-angle faults have their own particularities. The low-angle fault plays an important role in controlling over some endogenetic metallic ore deposits. Based on studies of the Xiaoban gold deposit, Xinzhou gold deposit, and Longfengchang polymetallic ore deposit, and comparisons with other mines, the authors conclude the ore-controlling implications of low-angle faults as follows. (1) Because of high temperature and high pressure, as well as strong ductile deformation, the internal energy of the elements rises in the large-scale deep ductile low-angle faults, which causes the elements to activate and differentiate from the source rocks, forming ore-bearing hydrothermal solution, and bring mineralization to happen. (2) When rising from depths and flowing along the low-angle faults, the ore-bearing hydrothermal solution will alter and     

Geochemical studies on REE and trace elements from several Cu-Au deposits along the lower Yangtze metallogenic valley, central-southern Anhui Province

The Yangtze Valley was one of the most important metallogenic regions during the Jurassic-Cretaceous period in East China, where more than 200 polymetallic Cu-Fe-Au, Mo, Zn, Pb, Ag deposits have been found. Trace elements were chemically analyzed and the relevant data were collected from literature for the Yanshanian (Mesozoic) igneous rocks which have close relationship with Cu-Au mineralization. Copper mineralization in the lower Yangtze Valley can be divided into three major types: skarn type, porphyry type and volcanic type. The porphyry type is of rare occurrence, such as the Shaxi porphyry copper deposit in the northern part of the lower Yangtze metallogenic valley. This paper focuses on the REE and trace element geochemistry of several Cu-Au deposits along the lower part of Yangtze metallogenic valley in Anhui. The results showed that there are differences in REE distribution for these four types of Cu-Au mineralization, which confine the sources of REE and trace elements as well as other mantle and transitional compatible elements. The results of both REE and trace element geochemical studies showed that these elements with different characteristics have different origins, probably representing different sources of Cu-Au deposits in the deep crust and upper mantle environments. The 40Ar/39Ar dating of one biotite sample gave an age of 131 Ma with a high level of confidence, which represents the age of formation of the Shaxi porphyrite intrusive with porphrytic Cu-Au mineralization, which is consistent with that of the majority of the adjacent acid intrusives with mass Cu-Au mineralization along the Yangtze metallogenic belt in the Yanshanian period (Mesozoic). This is the first attempt to use the high precision method to date the Shaxi porphyrite intrusive.