Re-Os Geochronology of Molybdenite from Yuanzhuding Porphyry Cu-Mo Deposit in South China

The Yuanzhuding porphyry Cu-Mo deposit, discovered in 2008, is located within the southern segment of the Chenzhou-Huaiji fault belt, South China. The deposit is hosted within the Upper Cambrian neritic facies sandstone and shale formation that is the strata of the axis and wings of within the Yuanzhuding anticline. Both of the porphyry and exo-contact zone contain Cu-Mo mineralization. Economic orebodies occur mainly in the exo-contact zone around the porphyry. We dated 11 molybdenite samples obtained from two borehole cores of the deposit, using the Re-Os method. Analyses of eight molybdenite samples from borehole ZK12-112 yield a Re-Os isochron age of 157.3 ± 4.3 Ma (2σ), and analyses of 11 samples from boreholes ZK12-112 and ZK16-104 yield a Re-Os isochron age of 155.6 ± 3.4 Ma (2σ). These isochron ages are within the error of the Re-Os model ages, demonstrating that the age results are reliable and that the Yuanzhuding porphyry Cu-Mo deposit formed during the late Middle Jurassic. The formation age of the Yuanzhuding Cu-Mo deposit is similar to the age of intermediate-acid rocks and W-Sn polymetallic deposits along the Chenzhou-Huaiji fault belt. This concordance suggests the same geodynamic process to the igneous activity and related mineralization, raising the potentiality of the porphyry Cu-Mo mineralization in the belt.     

西藏多不杂斑岩铜金矿床地质与蚀变

[摘 要]西藏多不杂斑岩铜金矿是近年来新发现的一个矿床,位于班公湖-怒江成矿带西段。多不杂矿床内发育三期花岗闪长斑岩,侵入到侏罗系曲色组变砂岩中,北东向断层是多不杂矿床的主要控岩断层。多不杂矿床由内向外发育钾化、绢英岩化、青磐岩化,钾化主要发育于第一期花岗闪长斑岩出露区域,绢英岩化环绕钾化带发育,并叠加在钾化带之上,青磐岩化在矿床西侧的玄武安山岩和南侧的火山角砾岩中呈团块状发育。多不杂矿床的的铜矿化以黄铜矿矿化为主,金矿化与铜矿化密切共生。黄铜矿化主要发育于第一期花岗闪长斑岩及其与变砂岩接触带内,第一期花岗闪长斑岩为多不杂矿床的成矿斑岩。     

青海省兴海县赛什塘铜矿的斑岩型矿化特征及其找矿前景

青海省兴海县赛什塘铜矿床中局部具斑岩型矿化的特征,该矿区中酸性侵入岩发育并具明显的多期次和多类型.该类铜矿化发生于中-酸性岩浆侵入活动末期的闪长玢岩、花岗闪长斑岩、斜长花岗斑岩、石英斑岩、爆破角砾岩中,围岩蚀变强烈且具分带性.加强对蚀变闪长玢岩、花岗闪长斑岩、斜长花岗斑岩、石英斑岩、爆破角砾岩发育地段的找矿工作,有望实现本区找矿新突破.     

新疆西天山达巴特铜矿床地质特征和成矿时代研究

本文通过对西天山地区比较典型的达巴特斑岩铜钼矿床矿石中辉钼矿Re-Os的直接定年研究,结合区域地质演化和其他年代学资料,探讨了西天山赛里木和博罗科努地区斑岩铜多金属成矿带的成矿地球动力学背景和成矿机制。结果显示达巴特矿床中辉钼矿Re-Os年龄为301±20Ma,表明成矿作用发生于晚石炭世。矿床形成于别珍套—科古琴石炭纪岛弧带,成岩成矿与石炭纪巴音沟洋壳向南的俯冲作用密切相关,可能的成矿机制是由于洋壳向南对赛里木隆起带陆壳基底的俯冲,岛弧基底断裂系向北逆冲,导致一系列与斑岩矿床有关的中酸性岩浆活动,区域深大断裂为岩浆的上侵提供了条件。     

安徽铜陵桂花冲斑岩铜矿围岩蚀变与矿化作用

桂花冲铜矿为安徽铜陵地区新发现的斑岩型铜矿,斑岩体为准铝质高钾钙碱性的花岗闪长斑岩。围岩蚀变与矿化作用是斑岩型矿床成矿过程研究的一项重要内容,对蚀变带岩石开展元素地球化学成分的迁移研究,是分析热液交代蚀变过程的基础。桂花冲铜矿区内围岩蚀变作用比较强烈,蚀变类型主要有钾化、绢云母化、硅化、绿泥石化和碳酸盐化等。蚀变分带比较明显,由内向外依次为钾化带、绢英岩化带和青磐岩化带,矿体主要产于绢英岩化带内。矿化蚀变自早至晚划分为钾长石、石英-绢云母、石英多金属硫化物和碳酸盐4个阶段。蚀变带物质组分迁移结果表明,在蚀变过程中,岩石的主量元素除TiO₂、MnO、MgO外,其他元素迁移量发生了明显改变;微量元素除Sr和Cu外,迁移量变化较小,稀土元素在矿化强的部位亏损,在矿化弱的地带富集。岩体及蚀变带岩石稀土元素球粒陨石标准化配分模式一致,说明岩体与蚀变岩石经历了相同来源流体的交代蚀变,是岩浆流体连续作用的结果。     

西范坪铜矿成矿作用初步研究——兼论还原硫对斑岩铜矿成矿的制约

对西范坪斑岩铜矿的蚀变作用、流体包裹体特征等进行了研究,指出该矿床是由两期岩浆流体叠加作用所形成的.第一期热液作用形成了磁铁矿化和黑云母化,并形成了无矿石英脉;第二期热液形成了阳起石化;早晚两期热液的混合引起了钾长石化及强烈的矿化.由于第二期流体的叠加,将还原硫(H2S)带到浅部,并与第一期富铜的高盐度流体相混合,从而形成铜硫化物的沉淀.第二期富含还原硫流体的加入,是西范坪斑岩铜矿床形成的重要控制因素之一.     

Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Mamupu Cu-Au Polymetallic Deposit, Eastern Tibet: Implications for Eocene Cu Metallogenesis in the Yulong Porphyry Copper Belt

The Mamupu skarn-type Cu-Au polymetallic deposit represents the first discovery of a medium deposit in the southern Yulong porphyry copper belt (YPCB), eastern Tibet. The Cu-Au mineralization mainly occurs as chalcopyrite in breccia, within the plate-like carbonate interlayer, being closely related to chloritization (e.g., chlorite, magnetite and epidote) and skarnization (e.g., diopside, tremolite and garnet). The ore-related quartz syenite porphyry (QSP) and granodiorite porphyry (GP) were emplaced at 40.1 ± 0.2 Ma and 39.9 ± 0.3 Ma, respectively. The QSP of Mamupu is an alkaline-rich intrusion, relatively enriched in LREE, LILE, depleted in HFSE, with no significant negative Eu and Ce anomalies, slightly high (87Sr/86Sr)i, low εNd(t), uniform (206Pb/204Pb)i and εHf(t) values, which indicates that the porphyry magma may be caused by both the mixing of metasomatized EM II enriched mantle and thickened juvenile lower crust. The QSP in the Mamupu deposit shares a similar genesis of petrology to other ore-related porphyries within the YPCB. High oxygen fugacity and water content of the magmas are essential for the formation of porphyry and skarn Cu deposits. The QSP has similar high magmatic oxidation states and water content to the Yulong deposit, which indicates that the Mamupu has a high prospecting potential. Differences in the geological characteristics and scale of mineralization between the Mamupu and other YPCB deposits may be due to the different emplacement depths of ore-related intrusions, as well as differences in the surrounding rocks.     

Hydrothermal Alteration and Mineralization of Middle Jurassic Dexing Porphyry Cu-Mo Deposit, Southeast China

The Dexing deposit is located in a NE‐trending magmatic belt along the southeastern margin of the Yangtze Craton. It is the largest porphyry copper deposit in China, consisting of three porphyry copper orebodies of Zhushahong, Tongchang and Fujiawu from northwest to southeast. It contains 1168 Mt of ores with 0.5% Cu and 0.01% Mo. The Dexing deposit is hosted by Middle Jurassic granodiorite porphyries and pelitic schist of Proterozoic age. The Tongchang granodiorite porphyry has a medium K cal‐alkaline series, with medium K₂O content (1.94–2.07 wt%), and low K₂O/(Na₂O + K₂O) (0.33–0.84) ratios. They have high large‐ion lithophile elements, high light rare‐earth elements, and low high‐field‐strength elements. The hydrothermal alteration at Tongchang is divided into four alteration mineral assemblages and related vein systems. They are early K‐feldspar alteration and A vein; transitional (chlorite + illite) alteration and B vein; late phyllic (quartz + muscovite) alteration and D vein; and latest carbonate, sulfate and oxide alteration and hematite veins. Primary fluid inclusions in quartz from phyllic alteration assemblage include liquid‐rich (type 1), vapor‐rich (type 2) and halite‐bearing ones (type 3). These provide trapping pressures of 20–400 ´ 10⁵ Pa of fluids responsible for the formation of D veins. Igneous biotite from least altered granochiorite porphyry and hydrothermal muscovite in mineralized granodiorite porphyry possess δ¹⁸O and δD values of 4.6‰ and ?87‰ for biotite and 7.1–8.9‰, ?71 to ?73‰ for muscovite. Stable isotopic composition of the hydrothermal water suggests a magmatic origin. The carbon and oxygen isotope for hydrothermal calcite are ?4.8 to ?6.2‰ and 6.8–18.8‰, respectively. The δ³⁴S of pyrite in quartz vein ranges from ?0.1 to 3‰, whereas δ³⁴S for chalcopyrite in calcite veins ranges from 4 to 5‰. These are similar to the results of previous studies, and suggest a magmatic origin for sulfur. Results from alteration assemblages and vein system observation, as well as geochemical, fluid inclusion, stable isotope studies indicate that the involvement of hydrothermal fluids exsolved from a crystallizing melt are responsible for the formation of Tongchang porphyry Cu‐Mo orebodies in Dexing porphyry deposit.     

青海省卡而却卡斑岩型铜矿地质特征及找矿意义

卡而却卡铜多金属矿床是近年在东昆仑成矿带西段发现的大型铜多金属矿床,前期在以矽卡岩型找矿的过程中,发现了斑岩矿化信息,近年来,斑岩成矿的事实渐趋清晰,通过对晚三叠世斑岩体的分布及深部断面的剖析,显示斑岩体为一复式小岩株。含矿的花岗闪长斑岩及相关的石英闪长岩岩石化学及地球化学特征具有埃达克质岩的特点,表明成矿构造环境与东昆仑中—晚三叠世底侵岩浆作用有关,具有较好的找矿前景,为东昆仑成矿带寻找斑岩型矿床指明了方向。     

Re-Os Dating of the Pulang Porphyry Copper Deposit in Zhongdian,NW Yunnan, and Its Geological Significance

The Pulang porphyry copper deposit is located in the Zhongdian island arc belt, NW Yunnan, in the central part of the Sanjiang area, SW China, belonging to the southern segment of the Yidun island arc belt on the western margin of the Yangtze Platform. In the Yidun island arc, there occur well-known "Gacun-style" massive sulfide deposits in the northern segment and plenty of porphyry copper deposits in the southern segment, of which the Pulang porphyry copper deposit is one of the representatives. Like the Yulong porphyry copper deposit, this porphyry copper deposit is also one of the most important porphyry copper deposits in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. But it is different from other porphyry copper deposits in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (e.g. those in the Gangdise porphyry copper belt and Yulong porphyry copper belt) in that it formed in the Indosinian period, while others in the Himalayan period. Because of its particularity among the porphyry copper deposits of China, this porphyry copp     

西藏多不杂斑岩铜(金)矿床磁铁矿元素地球化学特征及其对成矿过程的指示

多不杂铜(金)矿床是西藏多龙矿集区重要的斑岩型铜矿床之一。详细的岩心编录和岩相学研究显示,多不杂铜(金)矿床发育4类磁铁矿:磁铁矿-1(Mt₁)反射色呈灰白色,它形粒状,部分颗粒包含在黑云母内部;磁铁矿-2(Mt₂)反射色呈粉棕色,半自形-它形粒状,边缘被赤铁矿交代,颗粒内部见少量黄铜矿;磁铁矿-3(Mt₃)反射色呈粉棕色,自形-半自形,粒度小,表面平整,主要产于角岩化蚀变内;磁铁矿-4(Mt₄)反射色呈深灰色,颗粒间隙被黄铁矿、黄铜矿交代。Mt₁、Mt₂属岩浆磁铁矿或岩浆-热液磁铁矿的过渡类型;Mt₃、Mt₄属岩浆-热液磁铁矿的过渡类型。Mt₁、Mt₂、Mt₄磁铁矿形成温度大致在300～500℃,Mt₃形成温度明显低于其他三类磁铁矿,大致在200～500℃。4类磁铁矿具有明显的地球化学差异,其中Mt₁具...     

四川稻城竹鸡顶铜矿地质特征及成矿特点

竹鸡顶斑岩型铜矿位于西南三江成矿带内,热液蚀变以青磐岩化、泥化为特征。区内现已圈出1个矿带和2个矿化带,并有幅频激电异常、土壤铜异常与之套合。该区具有较好的找矿前景。     

The Miduk porphyry Cu deposit,Kerman, Iran: A geochemical analysis of the potassic zone including halogen element systematics related to Cu mineralization processes

Miduk hypogene and supergene porphyry Cu–Mo mineralization occurs within the Miocene porphyritic quartz–diorite and host Eocene plagioclase–hornblende phyric andesitic pyroclastic and flow sequence. Both the host rocks were extensively altered by hydrothermal fluids to dominantly potassic, phyllic, and argillic with interstitial to distal propylitic types.     

西藏驱龙超大型斑岩铜矿床成矿流体对成矿的控制

驱龙斑岩铜矿是冈底斯成矿带新发现的规模最大的超大型矿床, 形成于中新世.原生流体包裹体有5种类型, 主成矿阶段均一温度集中于240~650℃之间, 盐度变化于0.18%~52.04%之间, 明显分为高盐度高密度、低盐度低密度2类.可见含子矿物、液相、气相等包裹体共存现象, 且均一温度相近, 盐度相差很大, 表明成矿流体经历了沸腾过程; 氢氧同位素及单矿物微量稀土元素研究表明, 成矿物质主要来源于斑岩岩浆体系, 而成矿流体主要来源于岩浆水、天然热卤水有关的混合水, 且天然热卤水占优势, 属NaCl (F) -KCl (F) -C₂H₆-HCO₃-CaSO₄型流体.成矿流体总体显示出高温、高盐度、高矿化度、高氧逸度的还原性酸性流体特征, 并且富集Na+、K+、F-、Cl-、SO₄2-、CO₂等成分, 以富F-为特征(F-/Cl- > 1, 平均为5.66), 这种特殊性质的流体特别有利于Fe2+、Cu2+等元素的迁移, 并最终在岩浆期后热液期富集成矿, 它是形成驱龙超大型斑岩铜矿床的必要条件; 流体减压沸腾及不同性质流体混合作用是促使金属离子沉淀富集的主要机制.对该矿床成矿深度(0.5~2km) 进行了探讨, 可作为该矿床勘查评价的依据.      

Geology and Hydrothermal Alteration of the Duobuza Gold‐Rich Porphyry Copper District in the Bangongco Metallogenetic Belt,Northwestern Tibet

The Duobuza gold‐rich porphyry copper district is located in the Bangongco metallogenetic belt in the Bangongco‐Nujiang suture zone south of the Qiangtang terrane. Two main gold‐rich porphyry copper deposits (Duobuza and Bolong) and an occurrence (135 Line) were discovered in the district. The porphyry‐type mineralization is associated with three Early Cretaceous ore‐bearing granodiorite porphyries at Duobuza, 135 Line and Bolong, and is hosted by volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Middle Jurassic Yanshiping Formation and intermediate‐acidic volcanic rocks of the Early Cretaceous Meiriqie Group. Simultaneous emplacement and isometric distribution of three ore‐forming porphyries is explained as multi‐centered mineralization generated from the same magma chamber. Intense hydrothermal alteration occurs in the porphyries and at the contact zone with wall rocks. Four main hypogene alteration zones are distinguished at Duobuza. Early‐stage alteration is dominated by potassic alteration with extensive secondary biotite, K‐feldspar and magnetite. The alteration zone includes dense magnetite and quartz‐magnetite veinlets, in which Cu‐Fe‐bearing sulfides are present. Propylitic alteration occurs in the host basic volcanic rocks. Extensive chloritization‐silicification with quartz‐chalcopyrite or quartz‐molybdenite veinlets superimposes on the potassic alteration. Final‐stage argillic alteration overlaps on all the earlier alteration. This alteration stage is characterized by destruction of feldspar to form illite, dickite and kaolinite, with accompanying veinlets of quartz + chalcopyrite + pyrite and quartz + pyrite assemblages. Cu coexists with Au, which indicates their simultaneous precipitation. Mass balance calculations show that ore‐forming elements are strongly enriched during the above‐mentioned three alteration stages.     

青海赛什塘铜矿床辉钼矿Re-Os年代学及硫同位素地球化学研究

赛什塘铜矿位于东昆仑多金属成矿带最东端的鄂拉山地区,是青海省重要的矽卡岩型铜矿床之一。本文首次对矽卡岩中的辉钼矿进行了Re-Os定年研究,结合最新获得的不同类型矿石中硫化物硫同位素数据,讨论了成矿时代、矿床成因及成矿动力学背景。结果表明,5件辉钼矿Re-Os等时线年龄为224.5±1.8Ma(MSWD=0.15),加权平均年龄为223.4±1.5Ma(MSWD=0.65),指示成矿作用发生于晚三叠世;14件硫化物硫同位素δ34SV-CDT值介于-4.6‰~1‰,平均-1.73‰,显示硫主要来源于深源岩浆。赛什塘铜矿床的成矿作用与晚三叠世岩浆活动密切相关,结合矿床地质特征认为其属于典型的矽卡岩型矿床。综合东昆仑带内铜多金属矿床已有年代学资料及区域构造的演化特征,认为鄂拉山地区与东昆仑西段祁漫塔格地区的铜多金属矿床形成于相似的地球动力学背景下,赛什塘铜矿床的形成与古特提斯构造的演化过程中兴海小洋盆闭合后产生的后碰撞背景有关。     

基于红外光谱技术研究云南普朗斑岩铜矿的蚀变和矿化特征

近年来红外光谱技术作为一种绿色、快速、无损、精确探测矿物的技术手段而倍受关注,针对斑岩型矿床蚀变矿物高度叠加、蚀变分带界线不明显、细粒蚀变矿物多、黏土蚀变矿物多等特征,该技术在蚀变矿物识别和勘探信息解读等方面优势突出。本文应用红外光谱技术对云南普朗斑岩铜矿区钻孔ZK1801岩心进行矿物识别和蚀变分带划分的研究,识别出钾硅酸盐化带、绿帘石-绿泥石化带、绿泥石-伊利石化带、石英-伊利石化带和泥化带。研究表明:普朗铜矿整个钻孔的蚀变矿物主要有石英、钾长石、绢云母、绿泥石、绿帘石、高岭石、蒙脱石、伊利石等;根据矿化特征,发现铜矿体广泛赋存在钾硅酸盐化带和绿帘石-绿泥石化带中,与矿化关系密切的蚀变矿物"石英+钾长石+绢云母"和"绿帘石+绿泥石",可以作为普朗矿床勘查的标型蚀变矿物组合;研究区广泛发育的绢云母Al—OH波长随钻孔深度增加而逐渐从2210～2205nm减小到2202～2198nm, Al—OH波长2210～2205nm(长波绢云母)与矿化关系密切,可以作为普朗矿床勘查的指示信息。     

西藏冈底斯成矿带驱龙铜矿Re—Os年龄及成矿学意义

驱龙铜矿位于冈底斯成矿带东部冈底斯花岗岩基内,为典型的斑岩型铜矿床。选择辉钼矿Re-Os同位素法对该矿床进行成矿年龄精确测定,6个辉钼矿Re-Os模式年龄范围为15.99～16.74 Ma,变化较小,不超过1 Ma。6个样品拟和的~(187)Re-~(187)Os等时线年龄为16.41±0.48 Ma(2σ误差,MSWD=1.5),与模式年龄一致。驱龙铜矿的成矿年龄与冈底斯带区域上已有的斑岩铜矿成矿年龄(14 Ma±)相吻合。目前的年龄数据结果显示冈底斯带斑岩铜矿的成矿时间主要集中在16～14 Ma之间,成矿时限不到2 Ma,具有爆发成矿特征。斑岩成矿发生在区域上钾质熔岩喷发和东西向伸展活动时期。含矿斑岩特点及其与钾质熔岩和南北向张性构造系统的时空依附关系,说明冈底斯带斑岩成矿受西藏碰撞造山带演化过程中深部构造岩浆活动的制约。冈底斯斑岩型矿床的爆发成矿具有深层次的动力学背景。     

云南普朗斑岩型铜多金属矿床气液隐爆角砾岩的发现及其找矿意义

云南普朗铜多金属矿是格咱岛弧内一个典型的斑岩型矿床,尽管前人对该矿床开展了若干研究,但对于该矿床是否存在叠加成矿作用仍存在争议。研究团队在普朗典型矿床调研过程中,在普朗I号探矿平硐中首次发现了气液隐爆角砾岩。详细的岩相学及矿相学研究表明,隐爆角砾岩角砾为含矿石英二长斑岩,胶结物为细粒石英,且细粒石英中含有黄铜矿连晶。根据气液隐爆角砾岩产出位置及特征推断,隐爆作用系石英二长斑岩就位之后的岩浆活动引起,并伴随成矿作用发生。普朗斑岩型铜多金属矿成矿作用由卡尼阶与诺利阶两个成矿阶段构成,其中铜成矿作用跨越了卡尼阶和诺利阶,而钼成矿始于诺利阶。综合分析指出,普朗矿区深部具有斑岩型钼(铜)多金属矿的找矿潜力。     

Origin of the Newly Discovered Zhunuo Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Deposit in the Western Part of the Gangdese Porphyry Copper Belt in the Southern Tibetan Plateau, SW China

The newly discovered Zhunuo porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposit is located in the western part of the Gangdese porphyry copper belt in southern Tibet, SW China. The granitoid plutons in the Zhunuo region are composed of quartz diorite porphyry, diorite porphyry, granodiorite porphyry, biotite monzogranite and quartz porphyry. The quartz diorite porphyry yielded zircon U-Pb ages of 51.9±0.7 Ma(Eocene) using LA-ICP-MS, whereas the diorite porphyry, granodiorite porphyry, biotite monzogranite and quartz porphyry yielded ages ranging from 16.2±0.2 to 14.0±0.2 Ma(Miocene). CuMo-Au mineralization is mainly hosted in the Miocene granodiorite porphyry. Samples from all granitoid plutons have geochemical compositions consistent with high-K calc-alkaline series magmatism. The samples display highly fractionated light rare-earth element(REE) distributions and heavy REE distributions with weakly negative Eu anomalies on chondrite-normalized REE patterns. The trace element distributions exhibit positive anomalies for large-ion lithophile elements(Rb, K, U, Th and Pb) and negative anomalies for high-field-strength elements(Nb and Ti) relative to primitive mantlenormalized values. The Eocene quartz diorite porphyry yielded εNd(t) values ranging from-3.6 to-5.2,(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)i values in the range 0.7046–0.7063 and initial radiogenic Pb isotopic compositions with ranges of 18.599–18.657 ~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb, 15.642–15.673 ~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb and 38.956–39.199 ~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb. In contrast, the Miocene granitoid plutons yielded ε_(Nd)(t) values ranging from-6.1 to-7.3 and(87Sr/86Sr)i values in the range 0.7071–0.7078 with similar Pb isotopic compositions to the Eocene quart diorite. The Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions of the rocks are consistent with formation from magma containing a component of remelted ancient crust. Zircon grains from the Eocene quartz diorite have ε_(Hf)(t) values ranging from-5.2 to +0.9 and two-stage Hf model ages ranging from 1.07 to 1.46 Ga, while zircon grains from the Miocene granitoid plutons have ε_(Hf)(t) values from-9.9 to +4.2 and two-stage Hf model ages ranging from 1.05–1.73 Ga, indicating that the ancient crustal component likely derives from Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic basement. This source is distinct from that of most porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits in the eastern part of the Gangdese porphyry copper belt, which likely originated from juvenile crust. We therefore consider melting of ancient crustal basement to have contributed significantly to the formation Miocene porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits in the western part of the Gangdese porphyry copper belt.