Dolomite compositions as a guide to epigenetic copper mineralization,Mount Isa Inlier,NW Queensland

Dolomites associated with copper mineralization have higher Fe contents and lower Mn/Fe ratios than their unmineralized equivalents. Over a wide stratigraphic interval and range of original depositional environments, copper-associated dolomite in the Proterozoic Mount Isa Inlier of NW Queensland has Mn/Fe0.11. Vein dolomite has a higher Fe content than its corresponding matrix; nevertheless the Mn/Fe ratio of the matrix is a good guide to the maximum Mn/Fe ratio for a dolomitic vein. Thus the simple determination of the Fe and Mn component in the dolomite of a rock gives information about the possible association with copper mineralization even when the rock itself is completely barren.     

The geochemistry of wall rock alteration in turbidite-hosted gold vein deposits, central Victoria, Australia

Gold deposits hosted in Ordovician to Devonian turbidites in central Victoria, Australia, consist of steeply dipping quartz vein systems hosted mainly by reverse faults. Wall rock alteration of the host metasandstones, metasiltstones and shales (or slates) extends at least 20 m from the veins in the Bendigo-Ballarat zone (BBZ) and 10 m in the Melbourne zone (MZ) deposits. Alteration minerals include carbonates (ankerite, siderite and dolomite) chlorite, seriate, arsenopyrite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite, with less common barite, albite and biotite in the BBZ and carbonates (siderite, ankerite, dolomite and ferromagnesite), sericite, chlorite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, and stibnite with less common chalcostibite in the MZ. SiO₂, Na₂O, MgO and Sr with P₂O₅ commonly decreasing during alteration while CO₂, S, As, Sb, Au, V, Al₂O₃, Ga, K₂O and Rb with Ni and Cr commonly increase. TiO₂, FeO, Fe₂O₃, MnO, Th, U, Nb, La, Ce, and Sc showed little change. Concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb, and Ca are variable.The relatively large decrease of SiO₂ could account for most, if not all, quartz present in the ore veins. The Na₂O and MgO could have crystallized in the veins in the very minor albite and chlorite present. The addition of V in all and Ni and Cr in most deposits probably reflects a source enriched in these elements such as underlying greenstones. The source of both the volatile (S, As, Sb) and lithophile (K₂O and Rb) elements as well as Au is unknown, but they could have been derived from a magmatic source or from the metamorphism of Cambrian greenstones. CO₂, present as carbonate, was derived mainly by the reaction of graphite, originally present in the sediments, with the ore solutions. Al₂O₃, the only other major element after SiO₂, probably increased mainly due to the decrease of the latter.     

河南熊耳山干树金矿成矿作用与围岩蚀变特征

干树金矿是河南熊耳山矿集区内的构造蚀变岩型金矿,矿区的金矿体主要赋存在构造蚀变岩带内,且与多阶段的热液活动密切相关。深源的含金成矿流体沿深大断裂向上运移,在温度、压力控制下,在构造的有利部位与围岩发生交代作用,形成多种围岩蚀变和金矿化。其中,硅化、绢云母化、黄铁绢英岩化、钾化与金矿化关系密切;围岩蚀变具有水平分带和垂直分带特征:从中心向两侧,蚀变依次为黄铁绢英岩化→石英绢云母化→钾化→绢云母化→绿泥石化,金品位呈逐步降低的分布规律;从地表向深部,则出现蚀变为褐铁矿化-高岭土化-硅化-碳酸盐化-绢云母化-钾化-黄铁矿化-黄铁绢云岩化,金品位呈由低转高的变化趋势。     

Magnesite abundance as a guide to gold mineralization associated with ultramafic flows, Timmins area

Altered komatiitic flows of the Tisdale Group locally contain secondary calcite, dolomite or magnesite, where alteration intensity and bulk-rock composition are favourable. Talc is present only in the least carbonatized samples and does not coexist with quartz and magnesite. Magnesite is present only in carbonatized ultramafic komatiitic flows (> 20 wt.% MgO) containing at least 18 wt.% loss on ignition (> 14 wt.% CO₂). Magnesite abundance increases with increasing loss on ignition and ) whole-rock ratio. Altered flows having magnesite to dolomite weight precent ratios exceeding 70 occur in proximity to mineable concentrations of gold and define surface-exploration targets 500 m in diameter.The spatial association of gold with the more magnesian ultramafic komatiitic flows arises in part because of the reactive nature of olivine-rich rocks in the presence of CO₂-bearing aqueous hydrothermal fluids, and possibly because the most magnesian ultramafic flows occur in proximity to an eruptive vent area where the likelihood of rock-fluid interaction is greatest because of the local structural regime.Talc-magnesite—quartz assemblages are present in some ultramafic dykes which cut the older Deloro Group volcanic rocks; the apparent absence of gold in these rocks may be attributed to the higher formation temperature of the talc-bearing, relative to the talc-free, magnesite-quartz assemblages.     

粤北书楼丘矿床围岩蚀变特征与流体成矿作用

文章以粤北长江铀矿田书楼丘矿床矿体外围蚀变岩石为研究对象,系统地将流体水岩作用导致的蚀变划分为4期11种类型.以各类蚀变在水平方向的发育程度、组合变化等为依据,将蚀变岩划分为矿化中心带、矿旁强蚀变带、矿旁弱蚀变带、正常花岗岩4个分带.以各分带蚀变岩石岩相学、矿物学、岩石学以及元素地球化学特征变化为依据,探讨流体作用与铀...     

吉东杜荒岭金矿区围岩蚀变与金矿化关系

杜荒岭金矿赋存于燕山晚期的石英闪长（斑）岩中，严格受近EW向断裂构造带控制。主要蚀变类型有硅化、绢云母化、绿泥石化、黄铁矿化、褐铁矿化、高岭土化和碳酸盐化等。具较明显的蚀变分带，自中心向外可分为黄铁绢英岩、石英娟母云母和青磐岩带。蚀变演化可划分为早成矿期、中成矿期和晚成矿期蚀变。金矿化与蚀变关系密切，尤其与硅化、黄铁矿化和绢英岩化最为密切，为典型的破碎蚀变岩型金矿。     

The application of lithogeochemical and alteration index for copper mineralization in the Sonajil area, NW Iran

The Sonajil intrusive is located about 60 km southeast of Ahar, in Azarbaijan province in northwestern Iran, and is intruded into by andesitic trachytic Eocene pyroclastics and agglomerate. To the center, the stock is hydrothermally altered, that contains sub-economic copper mineralization. The 1,248 cells with 100?×?100 m grid were sampled, and measurement of elements by ICP-MS method and major oxides included by X-ray fluorescence method was performed. After statistical interpretations, geochemical anomalies and indices alteration (sericitization, alkali, Spitz–Darling, chloritization, Hashimoto, Hashiguchi) were calculated, and their map distribution was prepared. Based on these maps and other interpretations of data, our study indicated that despite the anomaly of copper and other elements such as gold, molybdenum, lead, arsenic and antimony of not being quite consistent, almost all of them are within the alteration zones.     

Exploration rock geochemistry for Pinnacles-type mineralization at Broken Hill, N.S.W., Australia

Geochemical responses in weathered and oxidized surface metasedimentary rocks associated with stratiform lead-zinc mineralization at Stirling Hill (6 km west of Broken Hill) are compared with the geochemical responses in fresh drill core from an equivalent lithostratigraphic section with stratiform lead-zinc mineralization at the Pinnacles Mine (8 km south of Stirling Hill). Mineralization is interpreted as being volcanic exhalative and it lies within highly metamorphosed (sillimanite grade) rocks of the Willyama Supergroup.Surface rocks were classified into groups by discriminant analysis using drill core data from the Pinnacles Mine as the initial training set. The behaviour of elements in surface rocks varies with the rock group but Zn, Pb, Mn, Fe, and Co are leached from all surface rocks relative to fresh drill core.Nothwithstanding the leaching effects of weathering, common geochemical responses to mineralization have been identified in drill core and surface rocks. Coincident positive anomalies for Zn/Ba and Fe/(Na × Ba) ratios and negative anomalies for Na/(Mn × Ca) ratios uniquely define mineralization in both weathered surface rocks and in fresh drill core.The results demonstrate that the pattern of geochemical responses to Pinnacles-type stratiform volcanic-exhalative mineralization in surface rocks has survived the intensive weathering regime in the Broken Hill region.     

Cobalt mineralization at Mount Isa,Queensland, Australia,with references to Mount Cobalt

Mineralium Deposita - In North Western Queensland, Australia, there are numerous small cobalt deposits of which Mount Cobalt is the largest. Recent work has shown that cobalt is also a significant...     

Petrology and alteration geochemistry of the epithermal Balya Pb-Zn-Ag deposit,NW Turkey

The 1.5 km-large hydrothermal system of Balya is characterized by three alteration styles which from the outer halo towards the center are: (i) propylitic alteration with the hydrothermal mineral assemblage of calcite-daphnite-albite-epidote-quartz-pyrite; (ii) argillic/phyllic alteration with the hydrothermal mineral assemblage of sericite/muscovite-kaolinite-rutile-quartz ± pyrite; (iii) advanced argillic alteration with the hydrothermal mineral assemblage of alunite-jarosite-kaolinite-quartz-sericite ± pyrite. Hornblende andesite is the protolith of the hydrothermal alteration system. Enrichment in Si, Sb and Rb, and depletion in Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, P, Ba, Sr, and Zn distinguishes the argillic/phyllic and advanced alteration types from propylitic alteration and the unaltered hornblende andesite protolith. REE distribution patterns indicate an essentially immobile behaviour of REEs during the alteration cycle. K-Ar age data for unaltered and hydrothermally altered rocks define a synchronous age of 25.3 ± 1.2 Ma for both igneous and hydrothermal activity.     

The mineralogy and geochemistry of a nickeliferous laterite profile (Greenvale,Queensland, Australia)

A laterite profile on serpentinite at Greenvale, Australia, has been investigated in order to elucidate the formation of the secondary minerals and the trace element behaviour during tropical weathering. Mineralogical and chemical studies indicate that the serpentine alters to montmorillonite, aluminous goethite, and quartz. Chromiferous chlorite, a stable component, becomes concentrated in the weathering profile. No members of the kaolin group or bauxite group were identified, and the alumina occurs chiefly in solid solution with the goethite. In the upper levels of the profile serpentine and mont-morillonite disappear completely, and the amount of alumina substituting in the goethite increases. With increasing depth the Fe₂O₃ and Al₂O₃ content falls, whereas SiO₂ and MgO increase. This is in accordance with the usual trends of lateritic weathering. The trace elements Ni, Co, Mn, Cu and Cr are all concentrated during the weathering process. Evidence suggests that Ni is associated with goethite, and possibly is incorporated in the lattice of this mineral. No appreciable nickel is associated with the manganese minerals. The concentration of Cr takes place mainly through the increase of the stable chromiferous chlorite.

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Ein Lateritprofil des Serpenitis von Greenvale, Australien, wurde hinsichtlich seines Mineral- und Spurengehaltes untersucht. Ausschlaggebend waren die durch die tropische Verwitterung entstandenen Sekundärmineralien. Mineralogische und chemische Untersuchungen lassen erkennen, daß aufgrund der Verwitterung die Serpentingesteine Umwandlungen in Montmorillonit, aluminiumhaltigen Goethit und Quarz zeigen. Minerale der Kaolin- oder Bauxitgruppen ließen sich nicht feststellen, da Aluminiumgehalte in Form fester Lösung im Goethit gebunden wurden; in höher gelegenen Profilen kommen Serpentine und Montmorillonit zum völligen Verschwinden. Mit zunehmender Tiefe nehmen Fe₂O₃- und Al₂O₃-Gehalte ab, während SiO₂ und MgO ansteigen, analog zu Beobachtungen an bekannten lateritischen Verwitterungsprofilen. Im Zuge der Entstehung neuer Verwitterungsmineralien erfahren Elemente wie Nickel, Kobalt, Mangan, Kupfer und Chrom eine partielle Anreicherung. Z. B. wird Nickel in Eisenmineralien gebunden (Goethit), während chromhaltige Chlorite sich als stabil erweisen und sich bei der Verwitterung anreichern.

     

Geochronology of weathering and landscape evolution, Dugald River valley, NW Queensland, Australia

⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar laser incremental heating analyses of individual grains of supergene jarosite, alunite, and cryptomelane from weathering profiles in the Dugald River area, Queensland, Australia, show a strong positive correlation between a sample’s age and its elevation. We analyzed 125 grains extracted from 35 hand specimens collected from weathering profiles at 11 sites located at 3 distinct elevations. The highest elevation profile hosts the oldest supergene minerals, whereas progressively younger samples occur at lower positions in the landscape. The highest elevation sampling sites (three sites), located on top of an elongated mesa (255 to 275 m elevation), yield ages in the 16 to 12 Ma range. Samples from an intermediate elevation site (225 to 230 m elevation) yield ages in the 6 to 4 Ma range. Samples collected at the lowest elevation sites (200 to 220 m elevation) yield ages in the 2.2 to 0.8 Ma interval.Grains of supergene alunite, jarosite, and cryptomelane analyzed from individual single hand specimens yield reproducible results, confirming the suitability of these minerals to ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology. Multiple samples collected from the same site also yield reproducible results, indicating that the ages measured are true precipitation ages for the samples analyzed. Different sites, up to 3 km apart, sampled from weathering profiles at the same elevation again yield reproducible results. The consistency of results confirms that ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology of supergene jarosite, alunite, and cryptomelane yields ages of formation of weathering profiles, providing a reliable numerical basis for differentiating and correlating these profiles.The age versus elevation relationship obtained suggest that the stepped landscapes in the Dugald River area record a progressive downward migration of a relatively flat weathering front. The steps in the landscape result from differential erosion of previously weathered bedrock displaying different susceptibility to weathering and contrasting resistance to erosion. Combined, the age versus elevation relationships measured yield a weathering rate of 3.8 m. Myr⁻¹ (for the past 15 Ma) if a descending subhorizontal weathering front is assumed. The results also permit the calculation of the erosion rate of the more easily weathered and eroded lithologies, assuming an initially flat landscape as proposed in models of episodic landscape development. The average erosion rate for the past 15 Ma is 3.3 m. Myr⁻¹, consistent with erosion rates obtained by cosmogenic isotope studies in the region.     

老挝爬奔金矿围岩蚀变特征及其与金矿化的关系

爬奔金矿位于琅勃拉邦岛弧带中段西侧,矿体赋存于石炭-下二叠统厚层-巨厚层灰岩中,受NW-NNW向断裂构造控制,是少硫化物型中-低温热液矿床。野外调研及室内研究结果表明:爬奔金矿的围岩蚀变以中-低温蚀变矿物组合为特征,主要有硅化、褐铁矿化、菱铁矿化、方解石化,随着岩石蚀变强度的增加,Au与Si、Fe同步增加,而Ca减少。蚀变受断裂构造控制,分带明显,不同的矿化蚀变对应不同的矿石类型。多种蚀变叠加部位是成矿有利地段。“红化”蚀变和“褪色”蚀变是区内独特的围岩蚀变现象,找矿指示作用明显,结合构造、地层、化探异常等其他条件,可作为矿区外围及邻区的找矿标志。     

Iron mobility during synmetamorphic alteration in the Selwyn Range area,NW Queensland: implications for the origin of ironstone-hosted Au-Cu deposits

The Proterozoic metamorphic rocks of the Selwyn Range area in western Queensland contain a variety of styles of Au + Cu deposit including some (e.g. Selwyn mine and Osborne prospect) that are spatially associated with magnetite-rich ironstones. The area is characterized by extensive alkali-(chloride) metasomatism that occurred during the later stages of regional metamorphism. Existing experimental data indicate that hot saline fluids will dissolve and transport iron as they move through temperature/pressure gradients in the vicinity of the amphibolite-greenschist facies transition and predict that circulation cells will move iron and concentrate it in relatively cool, dilute and/or oxidized parts of such systems. New geological mapping coupled with geochemical data from the amphibolite facies zone of the Selwyn Range area suggest such processes occurred on a large scale and that large masses of Fe were mobilized, particularly in association with Na-metasomatism of biotite-bearing metasediments and high Fe-tholeiitic dolerites. Field and textural features of ironstones and other Fe-rich lithologies demonstrate that some of them at least formed by replacement of other rocks during metamorphism and deformation. Mineralization localized within such iron stones must itself be epigenetic.     

Combining fractal analysis of mineral deposit clustering with weights of evidence to evaluate patterns of mineralization: Application to copper deposits of the Mount Isa Inlier, NW Queensland, Australia

The clustering of mineral occurrences and their spatial associations with particular geological features are critical aspects of mineral distributions for exploration and understanding ore genesis. Variations in the degree of clustering of mineral occurrences or geological features can be measured by fractal dimensions, obtained from a shifting box counting method. Spatial associations between mineral occurrences and geological features can be quantified by the weights of evidence (WofE) method using the contrast value, which increases with the strength of the spatial relationship. A new method is proposed to evaluate mineral occurrence distributions by combining the power of fractal analysis of clustering with the WofE approach. The method compares the correlation between the variation in degree of clustering of mineral occurrences and a geological feature in a study area, with the contrast value of the same feature. The possible outcomes can be simplified into four scenarios, depending on whether the correlation in variation of clustering and the contrast are high or low, respectively. Each outcome has specific exploration implications. If either a high correlation in variation of clustering or a high contrast value is obtained, the geological feature can be used for exploration targeting.The integrated fractal and WofE approach is applied to copper occurrences in the Proterozoic Mount Isa Inlier, NW Queensland, Australia, which hosts large numbers of copper deposits (1,869 occurrences), including the world class Mount Isa copper deposit. Variation in clustering of copper occurrences has a positive correlation with variation in clustering of fault bends (R = 0.823), fault intersections (R = 0.862) and mafic rocks (R = 0.885). WofE results indicate that the copper occurrences are spatially associated with fault intersections and bends and with mafic rocks. Analyses were carried out separately for the two major lithostratigraphic sequences in the Inlier, the Eastern and Western Successions. The Western Succession copper occurrences are apparently more clustered than those of the Eastern Succession, which may reflect a lower degree of exploration and/or geological factors. The association of copper occurrences with mafic rocks compared with fault bends and intersections is greater in the Eastern Succession, which may reflect genetic factors. Correlations in the variation of clustering of mineral occurrences and geological features have a linear relationship with the contrast values, and the spatial association between all geological features and copper occurrences constitute high correlation/high contrast cases. The linear relationship suggests that the geological features that control the clustering of the copper occurrences could be the same features that control their localization.     

滇西北休瓦促Mo-W矿区印支晚期和燕山晚期岩浆活动与成矿作用:来自锆石U-Pb年代学和地球化学的证据

本文首次在格咱岛弧休瓦促Mo-W矿区识别出印支晚期似斑状黑云母花岗岩,并确定其结晶年龄为200.93±0.65Ma,同时获得燕山晚期二长花岗岩结晶年龄83.57±0.32Ma;即首次在休瓦促Mo-W矿区内厘定出印支晚期和燕山晚期两期花岗岩浆叠加活动,而Mo-W成矿作用与燕山晚期二长花岗岩具有成因关系。岩石地球化学显示燕山晚期二长花岗岩具有较高的SiO_2和全碱含量及较低的Fe、Mg、Ca和P含量,呈准铝质-弱过铝质;富集Rb、Th、U、Nb、Zr和轻稀土元素,亏损Ba、Sr、P、Eu,具有高分异I型花岗岩特征;其形成于与拉萨-羌塘板块碰撞相关的陆内伸展环境,主要来自中-基性下地壳物质的部分熔融,为Mo-W成矿作用提供了重要的物质基础。相对于二长花岗岩,印支晚期似斑状黑云母花岗岩具有较低的SiO_2、Na_2O+K_2O含量和A/CNK比值,较高的Mg、Ca和P含量;富集Th、U、Rb和轻稀土元素,强烈亏损Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf等高场强元素,为准铝质高钾钙碱性具有岛弧岩浆性质的花岗岩,可能形成于甘孜-理塘洋壳俯冲作用结束后,松潘-甘孜地块和义敦岛弧碰撞后伸展环境,为俯冲期改造后形成的下地壳部分熔融的产物。     

Country‐rock structural fabrics as a guide to pluton emplacement depth: An example from the Hodgkinson Province,northeastern Australia

Country‐rock structures adjacent to plutons of the linear, northwest‐southeast‐trending Mt Alto Supersuite, Hodgkinson Province, northeastern Australia, are variably developed from north to south along the belt. S₃ and S₄ cleavages show close temporal relationships with pluton emplacement and are better and more widely developed around plutons in the north, whereas much weaker cleavages of the same generation are only sporadically developed to the south. Cleavage trend lines anastomose around less elongate plutons to the north but are generally truncated by more elongate plutons to the south. It is proposed that a major crustal dislocation, the Alto Fault Zone, comprises a set of subparallel structures that formed prior to granite intrusion and controlled emplacement of some plutons and their final shapes. The north‐south variation in structural relations is interpreted to reflect a corresponding variation in depth of emplacement from north to south, which resulted when post‐emplacement reactivation of the Alto Fault Zone uplifted and sinistrally displaced the northern end of the supersuite relative to the southern end. Reactivation of the fault zone after granite emplacement is supported by the truncation of some plutons.     

Stable isotope evidence for magmatic fluid input during large-scale Na–Ca alteration in the Cloncurry Fe oxide Cu–Au district, NW Queensland, Australia

Sodic–calcic alteration is common in mineralized hydrothermal systems, yet the relative importance of igneous vs. basinal fluid sources remains controversial. One of the most extensive volumes of sodic–calcic rocks occurs near Cloncurry, NW Queensland, and was formed by overlapping hydrothermal systems that were active synchronously with emplacement of mid‐crustal batholithic granitoids (c. 1.55–1.50 Ga). Altered rocks contain albite–oligoclase, actinolite, diopside, titanite and magnetite. Alteration was localized by: (A) composite veins and breccias containing crystallized magma intimately intergrown with hydrothermal precipitates; (B) intrusions that host setting A veins and breccias; and (C) extensive breccia and vein systems linked to regional fault systems. Isotope analyses of actinolites in settings A and B indicate calculated δ¹⁸O_H2O (+8.2 to +10.6‰) and variably depleted δD_H2O (?130 to ?54‰) compared with typical magmatic fluids, whereas those from setting C typically indicate calculated δ¹⁸O_H2O (+8.0 to +12.8‰) and δD_H2O (?29 to ?99‰). The lowest δD_H2O values are interpreted as representing residual fluids after significant (> 90%) open‐system magmatic degassing. Overall the stable isotope, field, geochronological and geobarometric data suggest that these sodic–calcic alteration systems were formed by the episodic incursion of magmatic fluids that underwent minor isotopic modification as a result of varying degrees of interaction with country rocks.     

新疆东昆仑于沟子地区与铁-稀有多金属成矿有关的碱性花岗岩地球化学、年代学及Hf同位素研究

东昆仑祁漫塔格地区是近年来发现的具有优越多金属成矿条件的地区,区内中-酸性侵入岩广泛发育且与成矿关系密切。于沟子铁-稀有多金属矿床位于祁漫塔格地区西部,矿床主要由产于钾长花岗岩外接触带矽卡岩内的铁-铜(钼)多金属矿化体及产于花岗岩体内部的铌、铷等稀有元素矿化体组成。锆石LA-MC-ICP-MS定年测得钾长花岗岩U-Pb年龄为210.0±0.6Ma,属晚三叠世末期岩浆活动的产物。岩体主要由条纹长石(60%~65%)、斜长石(10%~15%)、石英(20%~22%)、钠闪石(4%~5%)和少量黑云母(1%~2%)等组成,为典型的碱性花岗岩。地球化学特征上,该岩体具有高硅、高钾、准铝、钙碱性特点,富Nb、Zr、Rb、Th、U,贫Ba、Sr、P、Ti等元素,稀土元素总量较高,富集轻稀土,具强烈的负Eu异常(δEu=0.09~0.26),属于A型花岗岩。锆石εHf(t)值为-6.71~2.25,平均为-1.15,二阶段Hf模式年龄(t DM2)为1102~1674Ma,显示在成岩过程中有地幔物质的参与。综合研究认为,于沟子岩体形成于晚三叠世末后造山板内伸展阶段,该碱性花岗岩的确定,标志着东昆仑祁漫塔格地区在晚三叠世末(212~210Ma)已逐步演化为伸展构造背景下的后造山构造阶段。同时矿床的成矿时代、氧同位素及电子探针结果均显示花岗岩与铁-稀有多金属成矿有关,指示出该类型碱性花岗岩具有良好的铁-稀有多金属成矿潜力。