Geo-tectonic conditions of the formation of Proterozoic large and superlarge ore deposits along northwestern margin of North China Plate

Four large and superlarge copper-multimetal ore deposits hosted in the Mid-Proterozoic Zhartaishan Group along northwestern margin of North China Plate are stratabound hydrothermal sedimentary deposits, and these deposits formed in mid-late stage of the Mid-Proterozoic Langshan-Zhartaishan rifting system. Four necessary conditions are proposed for the formation of these large and superlarge ore deposits: (i) favorable geological background and tectonic environment; (ii) abundant sources of metallogenic material; (iii) favorable sedimentary lithofacies and paleogeographic conditions; (iv) sudden change events during metallogenic processes.     

Synchronous structure control of superlarge ore deposits

The control of synchronous structures on formation of superlarge stratabound ore deposits is immense. Based on studies of ore deposits in South Qiniing, northern Guangdong, Langshan and other areas, three new ideas in comparison with examples of ore control of synchronous structures both in China and abroad are proposed: (i) multiorder ore control of synchronous structures, which means that synchronous structures of different orders display different controls on ore deposits; (ii) synchronous structures in different stages of basin evolution display different controls on basin fluid system and ore-forming system; (iii) synchronous strurture accompanying hydrothermal mineralization as a preexisting weak surface in earth crust often reactivate in later tcctono-thermal event to be a channelway for magma or thermal fluids which superimposed on and reformed preexisting ore beds to form large or superlarge composite ore deposits.     

Sea-level changes and hydrothermal sedimentary mineralization of large-superlarge ore deposits among Sinian to Triassic in South China

Among the Sinian to Triassic strata in South China, the stratiform, quasi-stratiform and lenticular metallic deposits in association with hydrothermal sedimentation mainly occur in the four periods: (1) the Sinian Datangpo interglacial period, (2) the early period of Early Cambrian, (3) the late period of Middle Devonian to early period of Late Devonian,and (4) the late period of Early Permian. The four mineralization periods all happened around the maximum flooding period in the third-order seal-level cycle during the ascending stage in the first-order sea-level cycle. The deep seawater layer, starved and non-compensatory basin, low sedimentary rate, and low energy and anoxic environment during the maximum flooding period are very suitable for the formation and preservation of large to superlarge hydrothermal sedimentary deposits. The maximum flooding period also coincided with the intensified regional tectonism, extensive deep magmatism and hydrothermal sedimentation, which provide, for the formation of large to superlarge hydrothermal sedimentary deposits through the rapid accumulation of hydrothermal sediments, the needed dynamics, ore-forming materials and favorable passway for hydrothermal fluids to enter the basin.     

Sea-level changes and hydrothermal sedimentary mineralization of large-superlarge ore deposits among Sinian to Triassic in South China

Among the Sinian to Triassic strata in South China, the stratiform, quasi-stratiform and lenticular metallic deposits in association with hydrothermal sedimentation mainly occur in the four periods: (1) the Sinian Datangpo interglacial period, (2) the early period of Early Cambrian, (3) the late period of Middle Devonian to early period of Late Devonian, and (4) the late period of Early Permian. The four mineralization periods all happened around the maximum flooding period in the third-order seal-level cycle during the ascending stage in the first-order sea-level cycle. The deep seawater layer, starved and non-compensatory basin, low sedimentary rate, and low energy and anoxic environment during the maximum flooding period are very suitable for the formation and preservation of large to superlarge hydrothermal sedimentary deposits. The maximum flooding period also coincided with the intensified regional tectonism, extensive deep magmatism and hydrothermal sedimentation, which provide, for the formation of large to superlarge hydrothermal sedimentary deposits through the rapid accumulation of hydrothermal sediments, the needed dynamics, ore-forming materials and favorable passway for hydrothermal fluids to enter the basin.     

Metallogenic model of the copper deposit

The copper deposits in the mid-lower reaches of the Changjiang River consist mainly of porphyry, skarn and massive sulphide deposits. According to the geological background, the types of ore deposits and the mineralization, the metallogenic model of the copper deposits is discussed. It is pointed out that the ore-forming hydrothermal fluids came mainly from magmatic water and were related to the intermediate-acid intrusions, and that the formation of skarn arid massive sulphide deposits coincided with the mineralization of porphyry deposits. Project supported by Doctorate Foundation of the State Education Commission of China.     

Crust-mantle interaction and its contribution to the Shizhuyuan superlarge tungsten polymetallic mineralization

The Qianlishan granite, which is closely related to the Shizhuyuan tungsten polymetallic mineralization, is aluminous alkali-type granite. The intimate temporal and spatial association among the basaltic, syenite and granitic rocks in the mining area, and their major and trace elements, and Nd, Pb, Sr, O isotopic compositions indicate that the crustal-mantle interaction probably was an important constraint on, and participated in, the formation of the superlarge ore deposit.     

Metallogenesis of superlarge gold deposits in Jiaodong region and deep processes of subcontinental lithosphere beneath North China Craton in Mesozoic

The study of ore-forming chronology indicates that the superlarge gold deposits in the Jiaodong region were formed in 120±10 Ma. Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions from typical gold deposits suggest that ore-forming materials were derived from the multisources, mantle component was partly involved in mineralization, the deep dynamic processes are the major geological background of large-scale metallogenesis in the Jiaodong region in Mesozoic. The deep processes mainly include the effect of post deep-subduction of continental crust of the central orogen belt and the distant effect of subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate underneath the Eurasian continent. However, lithosphere thinning, crust-mantle interaction, crustal extension and formation of large-type ore-controlling structures would be the comprehensive consequences of the above-mentioned geodynamic processes in the region.     

Metallogenesis of superlarge gold deposits in Jiaodong region and deep processes of subcontinental lithosphere beneath North China Craton in Mesozoic

The study of ore-forming chronology indicates that the superlarge gold deposits in the Jiaodong region were formed in 120±10 Ma. Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions from typical gold deposits suggest that ore-forming materials were derived from the multisources, mantle component was partly involved in mineralization, the deep dynamic processes are the major geological background of large-scale metallogenesis in the Jiaodong region in Mesozoic. The deep pro- cesses mainly include the effect of post deep-subduction of continental crust of the central orogen belt and the distant effect of subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate underneath the Eurasian continent. However, lithosphere thinning, crust-mantle interaction, crustal extension and formation of large-type ore-controlling structures would be the comprehensive consequences of the above- mentioned geodynamic processes in the region.     

Alkali-rich igneous rocks and related Au and Cu large and superlarge deposits in China

The alkali-rich igneous rocks in China occur as fifteen linear distributed belts of each extending several hundreds to several thousands kilometers in length. These include most types of alkali-rich igneous rock categories discovered worldwide. The related Au, Cu large and superlarge deposits or metallogenic focus-areas include Dongping, Guilaizhuang, Yulong, etc. Direct and indirect genetic links have been found between alkali-rich igneous rocks and Au, Cu mineralization. The petrogenesis and metallogenesis of the alkali-rich igneous rocks are mainly controlled by (1) mantle enrichment, (2) strong interaction between mantle and crust, (3) lower contens of sulfur, high and high contents of volatiles, (4) the significant turn of regional tectonic framework from compress to extension and (5) the strong change of regional lithosphere structure.     

Characteristics and dynamic settings of the Central-east Asia multi-energy minerals metallogenetic domain

That more than 82 percent of proved sandstone-type uranium deposits coexist with proved oil-gas or coalfields in the world reflects the fact of coexistence and accumulation of multi-energy minerals including oil, gas, coal and uranium in the same basin. Especially, this phenomenon is most typical in the Central-east Asia energy basins. Across China, Mongolia and some central Asian countries, the giant Central-east Asia metallogenetic domain (CEAMD) stretches more than 6,000 km from Songliao Basin of China in the east to the Caspian Sea in the west. The multi-energy minerals distribution characteristics of the domain include: their spatial distribution is complicated and ordered; the ore-bearing horizon relates closely to the geographical region; the accumulation/mineralization and localization time is the same or close; the occurrence setting and accumulation/mineralization have close correlation; and they have rich provenance for all the minerals. All of these imply that they have close relations between each other under a unified geodynamic background. The exogenetic uranium mineralization process in CEAMD can be divided into five phases using time limits of 100 Ma, (50±2) Ma, 20±(2–4) Ma, 8–5 Ma. The major mineralization periods and their differences in each primary uranium-bearing basin are identical to the oil-gas accumulation and localization periods and phases in the same basin, and are also in response to regional tectonics and controlled in general by the regional geodynamic environment. For industrial application and commercial exploitation, it is suggested that an important period for coexistence, accumulation and localization of oil, gas, coal and uranium and their interaction mainly occur in the late/last and post basin evolution. Through generalized analysis and comparison of accumulation/mineralization environment of the energy basins in CEAMD, the authors propose that the relatively stable regional tectonic background and moderate (weaker) structural deformation probably are necessary for formation, coexistence and preservation of large and medium-scaled sandstone-type uranium ore deposits, oil-gas fields and coalfields, while basins in favor of coexistence and accumulation are those intracratonal, intermediary massif basins and corresponding reformed basins.     

Geological and geochemical character and genesis of the Jinlongshan-Qiuling gold deposits in Qinling orogen: Metallogenic mechanism of the Qinling-pattern Carlin-type gold deposits

The Qinling Carlin-type gold deposit belt is the second largest Carlin-type gold ore concentrated area in the world and occurs in Mesozoic intracontinental collisional orogen, contrasting to the Carlin-type gold deposits in the Basin and Range province in Cenozoic active continental margin of West America. With ore-forming ages focussed at the range of 197.45–129.45 Ma, its metallogenic geodynamic background was the decompression-pyrogenation regime at the transition stage from collisional compression to extension, indicating that gold mineralization synchronized with the Mesozoic continental collision. Geochemical studies discover that ore fluids and materials mainly came from the Hercynian-Indosinian tectonic layer. Mesozoic intracontinental subduction of Hercynian-Indosinian association along the Shuanghe-Gongguan fault led to the formation of Jinlongshan-Qiuling gold deposits. Accordingly, the tectonic metallogenic model is established for Qinling-pattern Carlin-type gold deposits.     

Discovery of the copper deposits with features of the Keweenawan type in the border area of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces

There existed intense Cu anomaly on the northeastern side of the geochemical boundary with NW strike in the border area between the Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. Through field observation, ore bodies of high-grade native coppers have been found. The copper mineralization was constrained by the ancient volcanic vents of Permian basalt eruption and the overlain strata of carbonaceous argillites. Native coppers with flaky, net veined and impregnated occurrences, fine-grained tenorites and massive chalcocites widely occur in volcanic breccias, tuffs, carbonaceous-siliceous argillites and siliceous bitumen rocks with bed thickness of about 15–80 m. Cu contents vary from 0.5% to 20%. The copper mineralization was tightly related to actino-lite-tremolitization, zeolitization and bituminization and involved in extensive reduction environments. Continental flood basalts erupted in mantle plume environments usually have high Cu concentrations (～170 ×10^?6 in the Emeishan basalts), which provided a copper source of mineralization. Thus, metallogenesis of the native copper deposits in the Yunnan-Guizhou border area is tightly associated with intensive crust-mantle and organic-inorganic interactions. The tremolitization and chalcocitization indicate that the metallogenic temperatures are in a range of 400–100°C. The geologic background and characteristics of ore and alteration for the native copper deposits in this area are somewhat similar to those of the Keweenawan native copper deposit in Michigan, USA.     

The low-velocity plume on the southwestern edge of Yangtze Craton and superlarge ore deposits

A map showing the three-dimensional velocity anomaly on the southwestern edge of Yangtze craton is first compiled. Based on the map, it is suggested that there is a low-velocity plume on the edge of Yangtze craton. The low-velocity plume is the effect of mantle plume, plays an important role in controlling the upwelling of asthenosphere, mantle rise and the formation of intracrustal low-velocity lens, and is also the carrier and provider of vast amount of fluids, mineralizers, minerogenetic materials and energy. Therefore, it is concluded that the low-velocity plume is closely related to Mesozoic and Cenozoic superlarge ore deposits in time and space and genesis.     

Metallogenesis of the Ertix gold belt, Xinjiang and its relationship to Central Asia-type orogenesis

The Ertix gold belt is located on the boundary of the Kalatongke arc and the Kelan back-arc basin of D-C1. Most scholars used to interpret the formation and distribution of the gold deposits in the Ertix tectonic belt in terms of the petrogenic and metallogenic models for active continental margins. However, enormous data of isotopic dating and geologic research show that the mineralization was obviously later than the oceanic subduction, whereas exactly simultaneous with the collisional orogenesis during C₂-P, especially at the transition stage from collisional compression to extension. Based on study of metallogenic time, tectonic background, ore geology, ore fluid nature, ore material source, etc., we reveal that all the gold deposits possess the character of orogenic deposits formed in collisional orogenic system, and that their ore-forming materials mainly have derived from the stratigraphic terranes south to individual deposits. Accordingly, the theoretical tectonic model for collisional metallogenesis and petrogenesis is employed to explain the formation of the Ertix gold belt and to determine the gold exploration directions.     

Discovery of the copper deposits with features of the Keweenawan type in the border area of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces

There existed intense Cu anomaly on the northeastern side of the geochemical boundary with NW strike in the border area between the Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. Through field observation, ore bodies of high-grade native coppers have been found. The copper mineralization was constrained by the ancient volcanic vents of Permian basalt eruption and the overlain strata of carbonaceous argillites. Native coppers with flaky, net veined and impregnated occurrences, fine-grained tenorites and massive chalcocites widely occur in volcanic breccias, tuffs, carbonaceous-siliceous argillites and siliceous bitumen rocks with bed thickness of about 15-80 m. Cu contents vary from 0.5% to 20%. The copper mineralization was tightly related to actinolite-tremolitization, zeolitization and bituminization and involved in extensive reduction environments. Continental flood basalts erupted in mantle plume environments usually have high Cu concentrations (～170 ×10-6 in the Emeishan basalts), which provided a copper source of mineralization. Thus, metallogenesis of the native copper deposits in the Yunnan-Guizhou border area is tightly associated with intensive crust-mantle and organic-inorganic interactions. The tremolitization and chalcocitization indicate that the metallogenic temperatures are in a range of 400-100℃. The geologic background and characteristics of ore and alteration for the native copper deposits in this area are somewhat similar to those of the Keweenawan native copper deposit in Michigan, USA.     

广东省大埔县银山里铅锌银矿区成矿地质特征

银山里铅锌银多金属矿区在大地构造上隶属于华南褶皱带,地处东南沿海中生代火山岩浆活动带的南部。矿体主要赋存于下侏罗统海陆交互相碎屑岩与岩浆岩的接触带上。本文从区域成矿地质背景人手,着重研究了地层、构造、岩浆岩与成矿的关系,分析了成矿物质来源,总结了矿化富集规律,提出了找矿标志。作为一个与侵入岩浆活动有关的矿床,本文旨在通过对其成矿地质环境的深入分析,提出矿床的成矿模式,为粤东地区该类矿床的寻找提供理论上的启示。     

Alkali-rich igneous rocks and related Au and Cu large and superlarge deposits in China

The alkali-rich igneous rocks in China occur as fifteen linear distributed belts of each extending several hundreds to several thousands kilometers in length. These include most types of alkali-rich igneous rock categories discovered worldwide. The related Au, Cu large and superlarge deposits or metallogenic focus-areas include Dongping, Guilaizhuang, Yulong, etc. Direct and indirect genetic links have been found between alkali-rich igneous rocks and Au, Cu mineralization. The petrogenesis and metallogenesis of the alkali-rich igneous rocks are mainly controlled by (1) mantle enrichment, (2) strong interaction between mantle and crust, (3) lower contens of sulfur, high f _O2 and high contents of volatiles, (4) the significant turn of regional tectonic framework from compress to extension and (5) the strong change of regional lithosphere structure.     

Bio-reef-chert suite and superlarge ore deposits

The bio-reef-chert suite is an important ore-bearing rock assemblage and one of the metallogenic rock suites of superlarge ore deposits. It is formed as a fixed and ordered suite in space and time, and composed of different rocks formed by different geological processes. It is the product of basin evolution at special stage in a special geological setting. It is also the comprehensive product of normal sedimentary process, biological process in basin, hydrothermal sedimentary process under basin base and magmatic process in the deep lithosphere.     

Relationship between light rare earth deposits and mantle processes in Panxi rift,China

Many light rare earth deposits, such as Maoniuping, Dalucao, Panzhihua deposits, are collectively distributed in Panxi rift of Sichuan Province, China, and closely associated with the aegirine quartz syenite-carbonatite complex. Carbon and oxygen isotope studies demonstrate that the carbonatites in the complex are of typical igneous origin related to mantle processes. Electronic microprobe studies show that the fluid-melt inclusions found in the complex are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE), which suggests that the magma was rich in LREE and could serve as the ore source for the regional LREE mineralization. Both the aegirine quartz syenite-carbonatite complex and the LREE mineralization found therein were derived from the mantle. The rare gas isotope analyses also support that there is a genetic association between the LREE mineralization and mantle processes.     

Relationship between light rare earth deposits and mantle processes in Panxi rift, China

Many light rare earth deposits, such as Maoniuping, Dalucao, Panzhihua deposits, are collectively distributed in Panxi rift of Sichuan Province, China, and closely associated with the aegirine quartz syenite-carbonatite complex. Carbon and oxygen isotope studies demonstrate that the carbonatites in the complex are of typical igneous origin related to mantle processes. Electronic microprobe studies show that the fluid-melt inclusions found in the complex are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE), which suggests that the magma was rich in LREE and could serve as the ore source for the regional LREE mineralization. Both the aegirine quartz syenite-carbonatite complex and the LREE mineralization found therein were derived from the mantle. The rare gas isotope analyses also support that there is a genetic association between the LREE mineralization and mantle processes.