First report on zircon U-Pb age (125.9 Ma) of the quartz monzonite from the Pandian skarn iron deposit in the Luxi area,Eastern China

1.Objective Skarn iron ore deposit is the principal source of highgrade iron reserves in China,contributing about 11% of the national iron reserves and about 60% of the high-grade iron reserves.Therefore,the study of typical skarn iron ore deposits will provide a better understanding of the formation and exploration of high-grade iron deposits in China.The Luxi area is one of the most representative and important skarn iron ore fields in China.     

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.     

包裹体研究与石碌铁矿成因的探讨

Shilu iron deposit is one of the highly economically important rich iron deposits in China. Based upon the research results on its ore composition and fluid inclusions, it can be reasonably explained that the genesis of this iron deposit is such that marine voleanic sediments there suffered later regional metmnorphism and hydrothermal reformation. The temperature of regional metamorphism ranges from 465 to 536℃,while that of hydrothermal reformation from 344 to 396℃. The latter seems to be related to the migmatization of Zhan Xian stock near Shilu iron deposit, Due to the hydrothermal reformation, the ore-forming materials were mobilized and transfered from the marine sedimentary rocks, subsequently redepositing and concentrating as a rich iron deposit in the present site.     

Occurrence of the Iron–rich Melt in the Heijianshan Iron Deposit, Eastern Tianshan, NW China: Insights into the Origin of Volcanic Rock–hosted Iron Deposits

Long-standing controversy persists over the presence and role of iron–rich melts in the formation of volcanic rock-hosted iron deposits. Conjugate iron–rich and silica–rich melt inclusions observed in thin-sections are considered as direct evidence for the presence of iron-rich melt, yet unequivocal outcrop-scale evidence of iron-rich melts are still lacking in volcanic rock-hosted iron deposits. Submarine volcanic rock-hosted iron deposits, which are mainly distributed in the western and eastern Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, are important resources of iron ores in China, but it remains unclear whether iron-rich melts have played a role in the mineralization of such iron ores. In this study, we observed abundant iron-rich agglomerates in the brecciated andesite lava of the Heijianshan submarine volcanic rock–hosted iron deposit, Eastern Tianshan, China. The iron-rich agglomerates occur as irregular and angular masses filling fractures of the host brecciated andesite lava. They show concentric potassic alteration with silicification or epidotization rims, indicative of their formation after the wall rocks. The iron-rich agglomerates have porphyritic and hyalopilitic textures, and locally display chilled margins in the contact zone with the host rocks. These features cannot be explained by hydrothermal replacement of wall rocks(brecciated andesite lava) which is free of vesicle and amygdale, rather they indicate direct crystallization of the iron-rich agglomerates from iron-rich melts. We propose that the iron-rich agglomerates were formed by open-space filling of volatile-rich iron-rich melt in fractures of the brecciated andesite lava. The iron-rich agglomerates are compositionally similar to the wall-rock brecciated andesite lava, but have much larger variation. Based on mineral assemblages, the iron-rich agglomerates are subdivided into five types, i.e., albite-magnetite type, albite-K-feldsparmagnetite type, K-feldspar–magnetite type, epidote-magnetite type and quartz-magnetite type, representing that products formed at different stages during the evolution of a magmatic-hydrothermal system. The albite-magnetite type represents the earliest crystallization product from a residual ironrich melt; the albite-K-feldspar-magnetite and K-feldspar-magnetite types show features of magmatichydrothermal transition, whereas the epidote-magnetite and quartz-magnetite types represent products of hydrothermal alteration. The occurrence of iron-rich agglomerates provides macroscopic evidence for the presence of iron-rich melts in the mineralization of the Heijianshan iron deposit. It also indicates that iron mineralization of submarine volcanic rock-hosted iron deposits is genetically related to hydrothermal fluids derived from iron-rich melts.     

The Coexisting Clinopyroxene-Garnet Acidometer and Acidity Facies of Skarn Deposits

On the basis of geological studies of skarn deposits in China and by using thermodynamic models of thesolid solution, the coexisting clinopyroxene-garnet pair in skarn deposits has been analysed and a coexistingclinopyroxene-garnet acidometer developed. They can be used to estimate the medium condition under whichthe skarn was formed. The research on the acidity for the formation of various metallic skarn deposits in Chinasuggests that skarns endowed with dissimilar types of mineralization and occurring in diverse environments dif-fer in the acidity conditions for their formation and in the trend of acidity variation of ore-bearing fluid. This,coupled with the study of oxygen fugacity of coexisting minerals, makes it possible to establish the oxygenfugacity-acidity facies of skarn deposits, which reflect the close genetic relationship between the metallizationand the formation of skarn.     

Mineral Deposit Model of Cu–Fe–Au Skarn System in the Edongnan Region, Eastern China

Cu and Fe skarns are the world’s most abundant and largest skarn type deposits, especially in China, and Au-rich skarn deposits have received much attention in the past two decades and yet there are few papers focused on schematic mineral deposit models of Cu–Fe–Au skarn systems. Three types of Au-rich deposits are recognized in the Edongnan region, Middle–Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt: ~140 Ma Cu–Au and Au–Cu skarn deposits and distal Au–Tl deposits; 137–148 Ma Cu–Fe; and 130–133 Ma Fe skarn deposits. The Cu–Fe skarn deposits have a greater contribution of mantle components than the Fe skarn deposits, and the hydrothermal fluids responsible for formation of the Fe skarn deposits involved a greater contribution from evaporitic sedimentary rocks compared to Cu–Fe skarn deposits. The carbonate-hosted Au–Tl deposits in the Edongnan region are interpreted as distal products of Cu–Au skarn mineralization. A new schematic mineral deposit model of the Cu–Fe–Au skarn system is proposed to illustrate the relationship between the Cu–Fe–Au skarn mineralization, the evaporitic sedimentary rocks, and distal Au–Tl deposits. This model has important implications for the exploration for carbonate–hosted Au–Tl deposits in the more distal parts of Cu–Au skarn systems, and Fe skarn deposits with the occurrence of gypsum-bearing host sedimentary rocks in the MLYRB, and possibly elsewhere.     

Thermodynamic Modelling of Ore-Forming Mechanism of the Changkeng Gold-Silver Deposits in Guangdong Province

The Changkeng gold-silver deposits consist of a sediment-hosted, disseminated gold deposit and a replacement-type silver deposit. The mineralizations of gold and silver are zoned and closely related to the silicification of carbonate and clastic rocks, so that siliceous ores dominate in the deposit. The mineralizing temperature ranges mainly from 300 to 170℃, and K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Cl- are the major ions in the ore-forming fluid. Calculations of distribution of metal complexes show that gold is mainly transported by hydrosulphide complexes, but chloride complexes of silver, iron, lead, and zinc, which are transformed into hydroxyl and hydrosulphide complexes under neutral to weak-alkaline circumstances in the late stage, predominate in the ore-forming solutions. Water-rock interaction is confirmed to be the effective mechanism for the formation of silver ores by computer modelling of reaction of hydrothermal solution with carbonate rocks. The solubility analyses demonstrate that the precipitation     

Structural Control of the Etouchang-Type Stratabound Iron Deposit in Central Yunnan

The etouchang-typeiron deposit is a typical stratabound deposit in the northern part of central Yunnan. The discussion centres on the controlling effect of the generation and development of the structural system in the orefield on the formation of this type of deposit and establish a time-space ore-control model so as to get a better understanding of the mechanism for its formation.During the formation and enrichment of the Etouchang-type iron deposit, the structures performed a dual control function on the generation and distribution and also on the reformation and enrichment of the source bed. The Etouchang-type iron deposit is a typical example for the stratabound deposits of which the formation and distribution are controlled by the generation and development of structural systems.During the embryonic period of the longitudinal structural system shortly after the Dongchuan movement, a N-S rift valley-type trough appeared between the Lüzhijiang fault zone and the Luoci-Yimen fault zone. It was along the marginal areas of the trough that the iron-rich clay and sand of dominant terrigenous origin were accumulated, constituting the source bed of iron.During the Jinning movement, the basement had been finally formed and the longitudinal structural system took shape. During the Chengjiang movement, the longitudinal structural system was strengthened and the central Yunnan xi-type structure appeared, which controlled the activities of the Na-rich magma and thermal fluids, and the consequent reformation of the source bed, themigration and enrichment of iron substance and the formation of economic deposits. The LuociYimen fault zone controlled the distribution of the iron orefield while the lateral structures(e. g., the Etouchang compounding shear structure) controlled the occurrence of the deposit.The reformation and enricbment of the Etouchang-type iron deposits were concomitant with the formation of an ore-controlling structure. The scale and grade of the orebodies were strictly controlled by the structural pattern, and the orebodies occurred in the shear structures and were enriched in the tensional portion of a compressive structure.     

Contrast in Fluid M etallogeny between the Tianmashan Au-S Deposit and the Datuanshan Cu Deposit in Tongling, Anhui Province

A comprehensive contrast of ore-forming geological background and ore-forming fluid features, especially fluid ore-forming processes, has been performed between the Tianmashan and the Datuanshan ore deposits in Tongling, Anhui Province. The major reasons for the formation of the stratabound skarn Au-S ore deposit in Tianmashan and the stratabound skarn Cu ore deposit in Datuanshan are analyzed in accordance with this contrast. The magmatic pluton in Tianmashan is rich in Au and poor in Cu, but that in Datuanshan is rich in Cu and Au. The wallrock strata in Tianmashan contain Au-bearing pyrite layers with some organic substance but those in Datuanshan contain no such layers. Moreover, the ore-forming fluids in Tianmashan are dominantly magmatic ones at the oxide and sulfide stages, but those with high content of Cu in Datuanshan are mainly groundwater fluids. In addition, differences in compositional evolution and physicochemical condition variation of the ore-forming fluids result in gradual dispersion     

根据鞍本地区包裹体研究试论弓长岭磁铁富矿的成因

Gongchangling high-grade magnetite ores,which constitute one of the major rich from deposits in China,occur in the BIF .of the Anshan-Group in Precambrian metamorphic rocks.But its origin has long been a controversial problem,although most researchers are in favour of the eoncept that it is genetically related to hydrothermal process connected with migmatite.On the basis of field observation,this problem has been dealt with in this paper in the light of fluid inclusion studies.The results show that hydrothermal activity,was widespread in this region,which can be divided into two stages.The late stage hydrothermal activity was intensively developed around rich iron dposits.The formation temperature of the late stage hydrbthermal fluids is in the range of 487- 505℃,and they are slightly alkaline with a salinity of 13.2-28.1 wt%,consisting mainly of Na^ ,Ca^ ,Cl^-,So4^-,etc.As revetled by temperature measurements,the formation temperatures of fluid inclusions are quite uniform from,place to place within the vast areas in this region,and the comparason of these temperatures between rich ores and migmatite and wall rocks indieates that the late hydrothermal fluids are of metamorphie origin.The authors suggest that the rich magnetite ores in the Gongchangling Range seem to be the result of the reworking process(alteration)by metamorphie hydrothermal fluids in response to regional metamorphism on some sedimentary ore deposits that were originally relatively rich in iron.     

我国主要内生铁矿碱交代机理探讨

Alkali-metasomatism and/or alkali-metasomatites are commonly recognized in different types of endogenic iron deposit,especially in the contact-metasomatic and porphyrite types in China.Alkali-metasomatites occur at the bottom of the mineralized alteration zone,in the marginal facies of the metallogenetic magmatic masses adiacent to iron ore bodies.They are approximately consistent with the attitudes of the ore bodies.As a result of alkali-metasomatism,great changes have taken place in the source rocks,producing distinet alteration zones with the color becoming lighter and lighter upwards and outwards.The alkali-metesomatic solntion is a kind of pneumato-hydrothermal solution rich in Cl,Si and alkalis.Its main components are alkalis and volatiles(dominantly H2O and Cl).The alkalis are closely related to magmatie source and its subsequent differentiation,while H2O is derived mainly from meteoric waters absorbed by the magma and Cl mainly from magma-mesitized gypsum-salt strata(including ground brines).In essence,alkali-metasomatism is the continuation of magmatic evolution and also an auto-metamorphism within the metallogenetic masses,i.e.,a complex ion-exchange reaction under certain physico-chemical conditions.The whole process of alkali-metasomatism can generally be divided into the Na^ -,Ca^2 -and Na^ -replacement stages.In the Ca^2 -replacement stage iron was largely separated from the source rocks.Alkali-metasomatism and the formation of iron ore deposits are two different forms of expression with respect to the same magmatic process,and both are controlled by and genetically related to magmatism,as is indicated by the facts that some of the oreforming materials are products of the de-iron process during alkali-metasomatism and that alkalis and volatiles have played an active role in the formation of iron and differential fusion of silicate melt.     

Mineralization and Evolution of the Early Proterozoic Copper Deposits in the Zhongtiao Mountains

In the Zhongtiao Mountains, all of the most significant copper deposits occur in the early Proterozoic mobile belt. They are the meta-sedimentary copper deposit in meta-pelite semi-pelite formation and the meta-volcanic porphyry copper deposit in meta-potassic volcano-sedimentary formation, belonging respectively to the lower and middle-upper Jiang-xian Group(2, 500--2, 300 Ma); and the meta-sedimentary-remoulded copper deposit in metacarbonate-black shale formation of the Zhongtiao Group(2, 300--1, 830 Ma). The Zhongtiao Movement(about 1, 800 Ma B. P.) had caused regional metamorphism and hydrothermal action added to the early Proterozoic mobile belt, thus reformedthe original ore deposits of different genetic types to give similar hydrothermal and geochemical characters. However, primary features of the ore deposits as controlled by the original sedimentary or volcano-sedimentary formation are basically unaltered.     

Experimental Study on Gold Dissolution from Hosting Minerals of the Hadamengou Gold Deposit and the Implications

The Hadamengou gold deposit is located in western part of the northern margin of the North China craton. It is a hydrothermal deposit related to alkaline magmatism. Dissolution of Au, Fe from pyrite and iron oxide （including magnetite and hematite） individual minerals in the three main types of ore shows： in iron oxides （magnetite and hematite）, Au and Fe were dissolved simultaneously and their solubilities are positively correlated, which means Au is mainly chemical-bonded （lattice gold） and/or colloidal-adsorbed in iron oxides; while in pyrite, on the contrary, Au dissolution obviously lags behind Fe and the solubility of Au shows negative relationship with that of Fe, which indicates Au is mainly hosted as grains of elemental gold （or native gold） within pyrite. Previous studies revealed that the Hadamengou gold deposit is characterized by intensive K-feldspathization and holds high content of iron oxides occasionally replaced by sulfides, which was caused by oxidizing K-enriched alkaline fluids under a stretching geodynamic setting. These geological features, together with the high Au-content in iron oxides, comparable with that of the Olympic Dam deposit in South Australia, suggest that this deposit is the first example of iron oxide-type gold deposits in China.     

云南滇滩大平地铁矿床某些地球化学特征的初步研究

Reorted in the present paper are some preliminary results of the studies on the petrochemistry and mineral compositions of various skarn zones in the Dapingdi iron deposit,the chemical compositions of iron ore and magnetite,and trace elements,sulfur isotopic compositions and F contents of skarns and iron ore.On the hasis of these data the authors have discussed the possibie relations between skarnization and the formation of iron ore.Moreover,the principal factors controlling skarnization and related mineralization are also discussed.It is suggested that skarnization and related mineralization are mainly controlled by the chemical composition,temperature,and pH and Eh of ore solutions.Pressure can only play a little role although it should be taken into consideration.     

Newly Discovered Native Gold and Bismuth in the Cihai Iron-Cobalt Deposit, Eastern Tianshan, Northwest China

The Cihai iron-cobalt deposit is located in the southern part of the eastern Tianshan ironpolymetallic metallogenic belt. Anomalous native gold and bismuth have been newly identified in Cinan mining section of the Cihai deposit. Ore formation in the deposit can be divided into three stages based on geological and petrographical observations:(I) skarn, with the main mineral assemblage being garnet-pyroxene-magnetite;(II) retrograde alteration, forming the main iron ores and including massive magnetite, native gold, native bismuth, and cobalt-bearing minerals, with the main mineral assemblage being ilvaite-magnetite-native gold-native bismuth; and(III) quartz-calcitesulfide assemblage that contains quartz, calcite, pyrrhotite, cobaltite, and safflorite. Native gold mainly coexists with native bismuth, and they are paragenetically related. The temperature of initial skarn formation was higher than 340℃, and then subsequently decreased to ~312℃ and ~266℃. The temperature of the hydrothermal fluid during the iron ore depositional event was higher than the melting point of native bismuth(271℃), and native bismuth melt scavenged gold in the hydrothermal fluid, forming a Bi-Au melt. As the temperature decreased, the Bi-Au melt was decomposed into native gold and native bismuth. The native gold and native bismuth identified during this study can provide a scientific basis for prospecting and exploration for both gold- and bismuth-bearing deposits in the Cihai mining area. The gold mineralization in Cihai is a part of the Early Permian Cu-Ni-Au-Fe polymetallic ore-forming event, and its discovery has implications for the resource potential of other iron skarn deposits in the eastern Tianshan.     

Genetic Types, Spatiotemporal Distribution of Ore Deposits and Sources of Ore-forming Materials in the Xuancheng Area, Anhui Province

In recent years, several large and medium-sized ore deposits have been discovered in the shallow cover of Xuancheng, Anhui Province, indicating that this area has a productive metallogenic geological background and may be a potential prospecting region. Based on systematic investigation, the geological and mineralization characteristics of porphyry Cu-Au deposits and skarn Cu-Mo-W deposits in this region have been summarized. Zircon U-Pb dating (LA-ICP-MS) of the Chating quartz-diorite porphyry and the Kunshan biotite pyroxene diorite yield concordia ages of 145.5 ± 2.1 Ma and 131.8 ± 2.1 Ma, respectively. Meanwhile, the Re-Os dating analyses for molybdenite from the Shizishan and Magushan skarn Cu-Mo deposits yielded 133.81 ± 0.86 Ma and 143.8 ± 1.4 Ma ages, respectively. When viewed in conjunction with previous studies, it is suggested that twostage (the early stage of 145–135 Ma and the late stage of 134–125 Ma) magmatism may have occurred during the Mesozoic in Xuancheng region. Early stage intrusive rocks are distributed along both sides of the Jiangnan deep fault (JDF).The intrusive rocks to the north of the JDF are mainly quartz-diorite porphyry and granodiorite (porphyry) rocks, related to porphyry Cu-Au deposits and skarn-type Cu-Mo-W deposits. These deposits belong to the first stage of the porphyry-skarn copper gold metallogenic belt of the Middle-Lower Yangtze Metallogenic Belt (MLYB), associated with the high potassium calc-alkaline intermediate-acid intrusions. The magmatic and ore-forming materials are mainly derived from the enriched lithospheric mantle. South of the JDF, the Magushan granodiorite is a representative intrusive rock of the first stage I-type granite, which hosts the Magushan Cu-Mo skarn deposit, similar to the W-Mo-Cu skarn deposits in the Eastern Segment of the Jiangnan Uplift Metallogenic Belt (ESJUB). The magmatic and metallogenic materials mainly came from the Neoproterozoic basement, with the possible participation of a small amount of mantle components. The late stage magmatism was dominated by volcanic rocks with a small amount of intrusive rocks, which were consistent with the limited volcanic-intrusive activities in the second stage of the MLYB. The H-O stable isotopes of ore deposits in the region indicate that the ore-forming hydrothermal fluids of the porphyry and skarn deposits were mostly of magmatic water for the ore-forming stage, the percentage of meteoric water obviously increasing during the late ore-forming stage. The ore-forming materials of the deposits are mainly from the deep magma with a few sedimentary wall rocks, according to the stable carbon isotopes of the carbonates in the ore deposits. Additionally, according to previous research, the molybdenite from the MLYB has a higher Re content than that of the ESJUB. The higher content of Re in the molybdenite from the Shizishan deposit is identical to that of MLYB rather than ESJUB, whereas Re characteristics in molybdenite of Magushan deposit are similar to that of ESJUB. The differences in Re characteristics indicate the different deep processes and ore-forming material sources (mainly mantle composition for the former and crustal materials for the latter) of these ore deposits on opposite sides of the JDF.     

Geological Characteristics and Zircon U‐Pb Dating of Volcanic Rocks from the Beizhan Iron Deposit in Western Tianshan Mountains,Xinjiang, NW China

The Beizhan large iron deposit located in the east part of the Awulale metallogenic belt in the western Tianshan Mountains is hosted in the Unit 2 of the Dahalajunshan Formation as lens, veinlets and stratoid, and both of the hanging wall and footwall are quartz-monzonite; the dip is to the north with thick and high-grade ore bodies downwards. Ore minerals are mainly magnetite with minor sulfides, such as pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite. Skarnization is widespread around the ore bodies, and garnet, diopside, wollastonite, actinolite, epidote, uralite, tourmaline sericite and calcite are ubiquitous as gangues. Radiating outwards from the center of the ore body the deposit can be classified into skarn, calcite, serpentinite and marble zones. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating of the rhyolite and dacite from the Dahalajunshan Formation indicates that they were formed at 301.3±0.8 Ma and 303.7±0.9 Ma, respectively, which might have been related to the continental arc magmatism during the late stage of subduction in the western Tianshan Mountains. Iron formation is genetically related with volcanic eruption during this interval. The Dahalajunshan Formation and the quartz-monzonite intrusion jointly control the distribution of ore bodies. Both ore textures and wall rock alteration indicate that the Beizhan iron deposit is probably skarn type.     

安徽罗河铁矿的硫同位素温度及意义

The Luohe iron deposit is a volcano-pneumato-hydatogenetic metasomatic deposit of late Mesozoic age. In addition to magnetite, this ore deposit contains abundant pyrite and anhydrite. The temperatures of mineralization and alteration may he estimated from sulfur isotopic fractionation between the coexisting anhydrite and pyrite. The fact that the estimated temperatures from the weakly altered zone using the sulfate-pyrite equation of H. Ohmoto and R. O. Rye (1979) coincide with those estimated by other means (e.g. fluid inclusion), but the opposite holds true with those from the strongly altered zone indicates the establishment of isotopic equilibrium between anhydrite and pyrite in the weakly altered zone.However,assuming δ^34SAub=δ^34SSO2 and δ^34Spy=δ^34SH2S and using the SO2-H2S equation,the isotopic temperatures from the strongly altered zone are reported to be coineident with the data from fluid inclusions and one formation on.So the authors consider that there was established an equilibrium between SO2 and H2S in hydrothermal fluids during strong alteration,and the mechanisms of formation of anhydrite and pyrite in the two altered zones are probably different.     

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.     

Evolution of the magmatic–hydrothermal system and formation of the giant Zhuxi W–Cu deposit in South China

The Zhuxi deposit is a recently discovered W–Cu deposit located in the Jiangnan porphyry–skarn W belt in South China. The deposit has a resource of 3.44 million tonnes of WO3, making it the largest on Earth,however its origin and the evolution of its magmatic–hydrothermal system remain unclear, largely because alteration–mineralization types in this giant deposit have been less well-studied, apart from a study of the calcic skarn orebodies. The different types of mineralization can be classified into magnesian skarn, calcic skarn, and scheelite–quartz–muscovite(SQM) vein types. Field investigations and mineralogical analyses show that the magnesian skarn hosted by dolomitic limestone is characterized by garnet of the grossular–pyralspite(pyrope, almandine, and spessartine) series, diopside, serpentine,and Mg-rich chlorite. The calcic skarn hosted by limestone is characterized by garnet of the grossular–andradite series, hedenbergite, wollastonite, epidote, and Fe-rich chlorite. The SQM veins host highgrade W–Cu mineralization and have overprinted the magnesian and calcic skarn orebodies. Scheelite is intergrown with hydrous silicates in the retrograde skarn, or occurs with quartz, chalcopyrite, sulfide minerals, fluorite, and muscovite in the SQM veins.Fluid inclusion investigations of the gangue and ore minerals revealed the evolution of the ore-forming fluids, which involved:(1) melt and coexisting high–moderate-salinity, high-temperature, high-pressure(>450 ℃and >1.68 kbar), methane-bearing aqueous fluids that were trapped in prograde skarn minerals;(2) moderate–low-salinity, moderate-temperature, moderate-pressure(~210–300 ℃and ~0.64 kbar),methane-rich aqueous fluids that formed the retrograde skarn-type W orebodies;(3) low-salinity,moderate–low-temperature, moderate-pressure(~150–240 ℃and ~0.56 kbar), methane-rich aqueous fluids that formed the quartz–sulfide Cu(–W) orebodies in skarn;(4) moderate–low-salinity,moderate-temperature, low-pressure(~150–250 ℃and ~0.34 kbar) alkanes-dominated aqueous fluids in the SQM vein stage, which led to the formation of high-grade W–Cu orebodies. The S–Pb isotopic compositions of the sulfides suggest that the ore-forming materials were mainly derived from magma generated by crustal anatexis, with minor addition of a mantle component. The H–O isotopic compositions of quartz and scheelite indicate that the ore-forming fluids originated mainly from magmatic water with later addition of meteoric water. The C–O isotopic compositions of calcite indicate that the ore-forming fluid was originally derived from granitic magma, and then mixed with reduced fluid exsolved from local carbonate strata. Depressurization and resultant fluid boiling were key to precipitation of W in the retrograde skarn stage. Mixing of residual fluid with meteoric water led to a decrease in fluid salinity and Cu(–W) mineralization in the quartz–sulfide stage in skarn. The high-grade W–Cu mineralization in the SQM veins formed by multiple mechanisms, including fracturing, and fluid immiscibility, boiling, and mixing.