A geochronological and geochemical study on the granodiorite porphyry and its implication for the mineralization in the Dayaoshan metallogenic belt,Southeastern China

A systematic study combining U-Pb zircon dating,lithogeochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic analyses was carried out upon the Xinping granodiorite porphyry in the Dayaoshan metallogenic belt to understand its petrogenesis and tectonic significance.LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon dating yielded a 442.7 ± 5.8 Ma age,indicating that the granodiorite porphyry was emplaced during the Llandovery Silurian of the Early Paleozoic.The granodiorite porphyry shares the same geochemical characteristics such as Eu negative anomaly as other syn-tectonic granite plutons in the region,including the granodiorite porphyry in Dawangding and granite porphyries in the Dali Cu-Mo deposit and Longtoushang old deposit,indicating a similar magma evolution process.The Xinping granodiorite porphyry has high contents of SiO_2(67.871.8%) and K_2O(1.78-3.42%) and is metaluminous-peraluminous with A/CNK ratios ranging from 0.97 to 1.06,indicative of high-potassium calc-alkaline to calc-alkaline affinity.It is a I-type granite enriched in large ion lithophile elements Rb,Sr,while depleted in Ba and high field-strength element Nb.Tectonically,a collision between the Yunkai Block from the south and the Guangxi Yunnan-North Vietnam Block from the north during the Early Paleozoic was followed by uplifting of the Dayaoshan terrane.The Xinping granodiorite porphyry was likely emplaced during the collision.Sr-Nd isotopic analyses show that the granodiorite porphyry has initial ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr ratios(I_(sr)) of 0.7080-0.7104,ε_(Nd)(t) range from -0.08 to -4.09,and t_(2DM) between 1.19 and 1.51 Ga,well within the north-east low-value zone of the Cathaysia block,indicating a Paleoproterozoic Cathaysia basement source and an involvement of under plating mantle magma.Field observations,geochronological data,and 3D spatial distribution all lead to the conclusion that the Early Paleozoic Xinping granodiorite porphyry does not have any metallogenic and temporal relationships with the Xinping gold deposit(which has a Jurassic-Early Cretaceous age based on previous studies) but a close metallogenic relation to W-Mo mineralization.     

Zircon U–Pb dating and whole-rock elemental geochemistry of the Shazi anatase deposit in Qinglong,Western Guizhou,SW China

The Shazi deposit is a large-scale anatase deposit in Qinglong, Guizhou Province. Zircon grains from this deposit yielded a zircon U–Pb age of *259 Ma, representing the formation age of the deposit's parent rocks.This age is identical to the eruption age of the Emeishan large igneous province, indicating a synchronous magmatic event. The rare-earth-element patterns of laterite samples were similar to those of the weathered basalt sample, and sub-parallel to those of the Emeishan high-Ti basalts,implying a genetic relationship between the laterite and the basalt. The Chemical Index of Alteration values of laterite ranged from 96 to 98, suggesting a high degree of weathering. SiO_2, MgO, and alkaline metal elements decreased with increasing degree of weathering, while Al_2O_3, Fe_2O_3,and TiO_2 increased. We found the highest TiO_2 in laterite and the lowest in pillow basalts, indicating that Ti migrated from basalt to laterite.Our U–Pb dating and whole-rock elemental geochemistry analyses suggest that the Emeishan basalt is the parent rock of the Shazi anatase ore deposit.Based on our analysis, we propose a metallogenic model to explain the ore-forming process, in which the karst terrain formed by the Emeishan mantle plume and the subsequent basaltic magma eruption were the key factors in the formation the Shazi anatase ore deposit.     

Origin of Baotoudong syenites in North China Craton: Petrological,mineralogical and geochemical evidence

Baotoudong syenite pluton is located to the east of Baotou City, Inner Mongolia, the westernmost part of the Triassic alkaline magmatic belt along the northern margin of the North China Craton(NCC). Zircon U-Pb age, petrological, mineralogical and geochemical data of the pluton were obtained in this paper, to constrain its origin and mantle source characteristics. The pluton is composed of nepheline-clinopyroxene syenite and alkali-feldspar syenite, with zircon U-Pb age of 214.7±1.1 Ma. Diopside(cores)-aegirine-augite(rims), biotite, orthoclase and nepheline are the major minerals. The Baotoudong syenites have high contents of rare earth elements(REE), and are characterized by enrichment in light rare earth elements(LREE) and large ion lithophile elements(LILE; e.g., Rb, Ba, Sr), depletion in heavy rare earth elements(HREE) and high field strength elements(HFSE). They show enriched Sr-Nd isotopic compositions with initial ~87Sr/~86Sr ranging from 0.7061 to 0.7067 and ε_Nd(t) values from –9.0 to –11.2. Mineralogy, petrology and geochemical studies show that the parental magma of the syenites is SiO_2-undersaturated potassic-ultrapotassic, and is characterized by high contents of Ca O, Fe_2O_3, K_2O, Na_2O and fluid compositions(H_2O), and by high temperature and high oxygen fugacity. The syenites were originated from a phlogopite-rich, enriched lithospheric mantle source in garnet-stable area(80 km). The occurrence of the Baotoudong syenites, together with many other ultrapotassic, alkaline complexes of similar ages on the northern margin of the NCC in Late Triassic implies that the lithospheric mantle beneath the northern margin of the NCC was previously metasomatized by melts/fluids from the subducted, altered paleo-Mongolian oceanic crust, and the northern margin of the craton has entered into an extensively extensional regime as a destructive continental margin in Late Triassic.     

Rare earth element and yttrium compositions of the Paleoproterozoic Yuanjiacun BIF in the Lüliang area and their implications for the Great Oxidation Event(GOE)

In China, most Precambrian banded iron formations(BIFs) are situated in the North China Craton. The Yuanjiacun iron deposit, located in the Lüliang area, is arguably the most representative Superior-type BIF. This iron deposit is coherent with the sedimentary rock succession of the Yuanjiacun Formation in the lower Lüliang Group, and was interpreted to be deposited at 2.3–2.1 Ga, based on ages of overlying and underlying volcanic strata. This age overlaps with the time range of the Great Oxidation Event(GOE, 2.4–2.2 Ga). The Yuanjiacun BIF consists mainly of subhedral-xenomorphic magnetite and quartz and rarely other minerals with a lower degree of metamorphism, from greenschist to lower amphibolite facies. The geochemical characteristics of this BIF are similar to those of Superior-type BIFs. Prominent positive La, Y, and Eu anomalies normalized by the Post Archean Australian Shale(PAAS) indicate that the primary chemical precipitate is a result of solutions that represent mixtures of seawater and high-T hydrothermal fluids. The contamination from crustal detritus found is negligible based on low abundances of Al2O3 and TiO2(0.5%) and of trace elements such as Th, Hf, Zr, and Sc(1.5 ppm), as well as the lack of co-variations between Al2O3 and TiO2. In particular, the Yuanjiacun BIF samples do not display significant negative Ce anomalies like those of the Archean iron formations, but rather, the Yuanjiacun BIF samples exhibit prominent positive Ce anomalies, low Y/Ho ratios, and high light to heavy REE((Pr/Yb)SN) ratios, which are essentially consistent with the late Paleoproterozoic(2.0 Ga) BIFs around the world. These characteristics of the Yuanjiacun BIF samples imply that the ancient ocean(2.3–2.1 Ga) was redox-stratified from oxic shallow water to deeper anoxic water. The specific redox conditions of the ancient ocean may be related to the GOE, which gave rise to the oxidation of Ce and Mn in the upper water, and to the presence of a Mn oxide shuttle in the ocean, resulting in varying REE patterns due to the precipitation and dissolution of this Mn oxide shuttle under different redox states. Therefore, the Yuanjiacun BIF appears to have formed near the redoxcline and lower-level reduced marine water.     

Adakitic rocks associated with the Shilu copper–molybdenum deposit in the Yangchun Basin,South China,and their tectonic implications

South China is famous for the extensive magmatism and polymetallic mineralization that took place there in the Mesozoic. Shilu is a large porphyry–skarn Cu–Mo deposit in the Yangchun Basin, South China. The lithology of the Shilu intrusion is granodiorite and quartz diorite, both of which are high-K calc-alkaline series, with high Sr([400 ppm) content along with low Y and Yb contents. Most of the samples have characteristics of adakite except for a few samples that have slightly higher Y and Yb contents, which may be plausibly explained by crustal contamination. Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry zircon U–Pb dating revealed ages between 106.6 ± 1.3 and 103.9 ± 0.5 Ma, with multiple magmatic pulses. Molybdenite Re–Os isochron age of 102.2 ± 2.9 Ma(MSWD = 9.4) was determined, which is identical to the youngest zircon U–Pb age(103.9 ± 0.5 Ma) within error.The Shilu intrusion has high oxygen fugacity as indicated by high zircon Ce~(4+)/Ce~(3+) and Eu_N/Eu_N* ratios. Considering the geochemical characteristics(high Sr, and low Y and Yb contents), high oxygen fugacity, and copper mineralization of the Shilu intrusion, it was most likely formed by partial melting of a subducted young oceanic slab. Whole-rock Sr–Nd isotope-, zircon Hf isotope-, and whole-rock trace element analyses show that Shilu adakitic magmas may have interacted with type II enriched mantle and/or crustal materials during ascent. South China was affected by the Pacific tectonic regime to the east and the Neo-Tethys tectonic regime to the south in the Cretaceous. Based on the Pacific Plate drifting and rotation history, it is hard to explain how the Pacific Plate would have subducted and melted, forming adakitic rocks in the Shilu region. Considering the tectonic history of Southeast Asia and the South China Sea, the Neo-Tethys trench should have been much closer to the South China Block in the Cretaceous, and thus have had a greater impact on the South China Block. Based on the subduction direction, time of subduction,and distance between the Neo-Tethys subduction zone and the Shilu deposit, subduction of the Neo-Tethys ridge is the best mechanism for explaining the Shilu adakitic rocks and Cu–Mo mineralization.     

U–Pb dating and geochemistry of granite porphyry dykes in the Xicha gold–(silver) deposit,southern Jilin Province,China,and their metallogenic significance

We report U–Pb dating of zircon,as well as geochemical and Hf isotope data,in order to constrain the formation time,magma source,and tectonic setting of granite porphyry dykes in the Xicha gold–(silver) district in southern Jilin Province,Northeast China.The zircon grains are euhedral–subhedral,display oscillatory growth zoning and have Th/U ratios varying between 0.11 and 0.78,which together imply a magmatic origin.The dating results indicate the porphyry formed in the Early Cretaceous (122±1 Ma)and it contains SiO_2=70.64–72.31 wt%,Al_2O_(3-)=13.99–14.64 wt%,K_2O+Na_2O=6.96–7.81 wt%K_2O/Na_2O=1.24–2.10,and A/CNK=1.11–1.41.Chemically,the porphyry belongs to a high-K calc-alkaline S-type granite.Chondrite-normalized rare earth elements (REE)patterns show LREE enrichment,light rare earth elements(LREE)/heavy rare earth elements (HREE)=9.93–11.97(La/Yb)_N=11.08–15.16,and d Eu=0.69–0.95.On the trace element spider diagram,large ion lithophile elements such as Rb,Ba,K,Th,and U are enriched,whereas the high field strength elements Ti and P are depleted.The e Hf(t) values of zircon from the granite porphyry vary between-17.1 and-13.2,and their Hf two-stage model ages vary from 2.01 to 2.26 Ga,implying that the magma was derived from partial melting of old lower crust.The granite porphyry dykes and many A-type granites in the region formed at the same time,suggesting an extensiona environment.The combination of the occurrence of strong magmatism,large-scale mineralization,and extensiona tectonics throughout much of Eastern China indicate that the Early Cretaceous was a period of significant lithospheric thinning.The southern Jilin Province,therefore,experienced lithospheric thinning during the Early Cretaceous.     

Zircon U-Pb dating and geochemical study of the Xianggou granite in the Ma'anqiao gold deposit and its relationship with gold mineralization

Single zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating and lithogeochemical studies have been performed on the Xianggou monzonitic granitic porphyry outcropped in the Ma'anqiao gold deposit.A weighted average U-Pb age of 242.0±0.8 Ma for Xianggou monzonitic porphyry has been obtained.This corresponds with the conclusions of previous studies indicating a syn-orogenic age (242±21 Ma) of the Qinling Orogenic Belt,suggesting that the formation of the Xianggou granite should be associated with the collisional event of the North China Plate and the Yangtze Plate in the Indosinian period.The Xianggou granite is characterized by the high silicon and alkali of high K calc-alkaline series granites.It is rich in Al (Al2O3=14.49%-15.61%) and Sr (457.10-630.82 ppm),poor in Y (16 ppm) and HREE (Yb0.45 ppm),and exhibits high ratios of Sr/Y (76.24-97.34) and (La/Yb)N (29.65-46.10),as well as strongly fractionated REE patterns.These geochemical characteristics suggest the Xianggou granite can be classified as C-type adakitic rock.The initial Sr isotope ratios for the Xianggou granite vary from 0.70642 to 0.70668,εNd(t) values from -4.54 to -3.98,and TDM values from 1152 Ma to 1220 Ma.The low εNd(t) and ISr and high TDM values,as well as Na2O/K2O ratios of the Xianggou granite are close to 1 (Na2O/K2O=0.95-1.10),indicating that it is not an I-type adakite formed by partial melting of the subducting oceanic crust,nor adakitic rock formed by melting of the underplated basaltic lower crust,but the product of partial melting of the nonunderplated basaltic thickened lower crust.Zircons from the Xianggou pluton have a homogeneous Hf isotopic composition with negative εHf(t) values (between -9.7 and -5.9,with an average of -6.9),indicating that the rock-forming materials were mostly extracted from the ancient crust,not from the depleted mantle.The Xianggou monzonitic granitic porphyry is rich in LILE and LREE and depleted in HSFE,HREE and Y;the composition of trace element and REE are similar to those of the syn-collisional granites.The geological and geochemical characteristics of the Xianggou granite reveal that it was a product of partial melting of the basaltic rocks from the thickened lower crust,triggered by continental collision,which occurred in the geodynamic background of continental-continental collision and shearing within the crust.The Xianggou granite was intruded in the compressive orogenic environment 242 Ma ago,but the gold mineralization occurred in the transitional environment of compression to extension around 170 Ma ago,lagging behind the intrusive age of the Xianggou granite by about 70 Ma.Meanwhile,the distribution of trace elements and REEs of the Xianggou monzonitic granitic porphyry is distinct from that of ores,suggesting the absence of direct genetic relationship between the Xianggou granite and gold mineralization.In contrast,the relatively high ore-forming elemental content of the Xianggou monzonitic granitic porphyry is due to the rock having experienced Au-bearing hydrothermal alteration.From the view of gold mineralization,considering the intrusive age,structural deformation,as well as alteration of the granite,we can conclude that the Xianggou pluton was a pre-ore-intrusion,whose intrusive age of 242 Ma constrains the lower time limit of gold metallogenesis.Following the intrusive event of the syn-collisional granitic porphyry and the intensively brittle-ductile shear deformation,large-scale fluid activity and gold mineralization took place.     

Late Mesozoic magmatism and tectonic evolution in the Southern margin of the North China Craton

Late Mesozoic granitic magmatism(158–112 Ma) are widespread in the southern margin of the North China Craton(NCC), contemporary with many world-class Mo-Au-Ag-Pb-Zn polymetallic deposits. There are abrupt changes in the elements and isotopic compositions of these granites at about 127 Ma. The early stage(158–128 Ma) granites show slightly or no negative Eu anomalies, large ion lithophile elements enriched and heavy REE depleted(such as Y and Yb), belonging to typical I-type granite. The late stage(126–112 Ma) granites are characterized by A-type and/or highly fractionated I-type granite, with higher contents of SiO2, K2 O, Y, Yb and Rb/Sr ratio and lower contents of Sr, δEu value and Sr/Y ratio than that of the early-stage granites.Moreover, the whole rock Nd and Hf isotopic compositions of the granites younger than 127 Ma show more depleted than those of the older one. The two stages of Late Mesozoic granites were derived from a source region of the ancient basement of the southern margin of the NCC incorporated the mantle material. The late stage(126–112 Ma) granites contain more fractions of mantle material with depleted isotopic composition than the early ones. The granites record evidence for a strong crust-mantle interaction. They formed in an intracontinental extensional setting which was related to lithospheric thinning and asthenospheric upwelling in this region, which was possibly caused by westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate. 127 Ma is an critical period of the transformation of the tectonic regime.     

Geochemical and geochronological studies of the Aketas granite from Fuyun County,Xinjiang: the implications of the petrogenesis and tectonic setting

As the wall rock of the Aketas gold deposit,the Aketas granite is about 45 km away from Fuyun County, Xinjiang Province. The zircon weighted mean U–Pb age of the Aketas granite is 309.0 ± 4.7 Ma, indicating that the Aketas granite was emplaced during the late Carboniferous. The Aketas granite belongs to the High-K calcalkaline series, with Si O2 content from 63.00 to 68.20 %,K2 O content from 3.06 to 4.49 % and Na2 O content from4.14 to 6.02 %. The Alkaline Ratio(AR) of the Aketas granite is high, from 1.89 to 3.47, and is 2.95 on average.The Aketas granite has lowPREE(92.42–122.73 ppm)and highPLREE/PHREE ratios(6.54–11.88). For the trace elements, the Aketas granite is enriched in LILE(Rb,U, Th, K) and incompatible elements, and marked depleted in HFSE(Nb, Ta, P, Ti). The geochemical characteristics of the Aketas granite suggest that it is a typical I-type and volcanic arc granite, and that the crystallization of clinopyroxene and hornblende is notable during the magmatic evolution. In combination with the regional tectonic studies, we propose that the emplacement of the Aketas granite implies the Altai and East Junggar area was still dominated by a subduction system at *309 Ma.     

Episodic crustal growth and reworking at the southeastern margin of the North China Craton: evidence from zircon U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes of Archean tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite gneisses in the Bengbu-Wuhe area

The cratonization history of the North China Craton(NCC) and the nature of tectonothermal events are still highly controversial. Tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite(TTG) gneisses, as the dominant lithological assemblages in Archean metamorphic terranes, can provide significant clues to the magmatic and metamorphic evolution of Precambrian crust. This study presents zircon laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometry U–Pb ages, trace-element, and in-situ LA-MC-ICPMS zircon Hf isotope data for the TTG gneisses from the Bengbu-Wuhe area on the southeastern margin of the NCC.Cathodoluminescence images and trace elements indicated that magmatic zircons display the characteristics of euhedral-subhedral crystals with oscillatory growth zoning structures, high RREE contents, marked Ce positive anomalies, and Pr–Eu negative anomalies. The metamorphic zircons display the spherical-oval crystals with distinct core-rim structures, high and homogeneous luminescent intensity, lower RREE, Nb, Ta, Hf contents,relative flat REE patterns, weak Ce positive anomalies, and Pr-Eu negative anomalies. The Ti–in–zircon geothermometer data indicate that the crystallization temperature of the TTG gneiss ranged from 754 to 868 ℃. Zircon U–Pb ages indicate that the TTG gneisses formed at 2.79–2.77 Ga and 2.50 Ga and underwent metamorphism at 2.57–2.52 Ga. The Hf isotopic data indicate that the magmatic zircons exhibit high, positive eHf(t) values close to those of the coeval depleted mantle, whereas the metamorphic zircons exhibit negative or nil eHf(t) values. This implies that the TTG gneisses were derived from the partial melting of the ～ 2.9–2.6 Ga juvenile crustal sources mixed with ～ 3.0–2.8 Ga ancient crustal materials.Combined with the regional tectonic evolution, we propose that the metamorphic basement at the southeastern margin of the NCC underwent episodic crustal growth at ～ 2.7 and ～ 2.5 Ga and subsequently underwent crustal reworking or re-melting of the ancient crust during the Neoarchean. The Neoarchean TTG gneisses might have been derived from the partial melting of lower crustal materials related to plate subduction.     

Petrogenetic simulation of the Archean trondhjemite from Eastern Hebei,China

It is generally believed that trondhjemitic rock, an important component of TTG rocks, is the anatectic product of mafic rocks. However, in many TTG gneiss terranes, for instance, the granulite facies terrane in Eastern Hebei, trondhjemites occur as small dikes, intrusions or leucosomes in tonalitic gneisses, suggesting their origin of in-situ partial melting. Based on the petrological analysis of a tonalitic gneiss sample from Eastern Hebei, in combination with zircon U-Pb dating, we investigated the petrogenesis of trondhjemite through simulating anatectic reactions and the major and trace element characteristics of the product melt at different pressures(0.7, 1.0 and 2.0 GPa). The results indicate that hornblende dehydration melting in a tonalitic gneiss at 0.9–1.1 GPa and 800–850°C, corresponding to the high-T granulite facies, with melting degrees of 5–10wt.% and a residual assemblage containing 5–10wt.% garnet, can produce felsic melts with a great similarity, for instance of high La/Yb ratios and low Yb contents to the trondhjemitic rocks from Eastern Hebei. However, the modelled melts exhibit relatively higher K2 O, and lower CaO and Mg~# than those in the trondhjemitic dikes and leucosomes from Eastern Hebei, suggesting that the leucosomes may not only contain some residual minerals but also be subjected to the effect of crystal fractionation. The zircon U-Pb dating for the tonalitic and trondhjemitic rocks in the Eastern Hebei yields a protolith age of 2518±12 Ma and a metamorphic age of 2505±19 Ma for the tonalitic gneiss. The latter age is consistent with a crystallization age of 2506±6 Ma for the trondhjemitic rock, confirming a close petrogenetic relation between them.     

Petrogenesis,oxidation state and volatile content of Dongga tonalite in the Gangdese belt,Xizang: Implication for porphyry Cu mineralization

The Gangdese belt in Xizang has experienced both Jurassic subduction and Cenozoic continental collision processes, making it a globally renowned region for magmatic rocks and porphyry copper deposits. Numerous Jurassic intrusions have been identified in the belt. Apart from the quartz diorite porphyry in the large Xietongmen deposit, the Cu mineralization potential of other Jurassic intrusions in this belt remains unclear. This study presents zircon U–Pb dating and trace elements, apatite major ...     

Evidence from pseudomorphous β-quartz phenocryst for decompression of rock-forming and ore-forming processes in Shapinggou porphyry Mo deposit

The Shapinggou porphyry molybdenum(Mo) deposit, located in Jinzhai County, Anhui Province, China, is the largest in the Qinling-Dabie Mo Metallogenic Belt. The intrusive rocks in the Shapinggou Mo ore district formed in the Yanshanian can be divided into two stages based on zircon U-Pb dating and geochemical features. This study focuses on the late stage intrusions(quartz syenite and granite porphyry), which are closely genetically related to molybdenum mineralization. Petrographic observations identified two quartz polymorphs in the quartz syenite and granite porphyry, which were derived from the same magmatic sources and similar evolutionary processes. The quartzes were identified as a xenomorphic β-quartz within quartz syenite, while the quartz phenocrysts within the granite porphyry were pseudomorphous b-quartz, characterized by a hexagonal bipyramid crystallography. The pseudomorphous b-quartz phenocrysts within the granite porphyry were altered from b-quartz through phase transformation. These crystals retained b-quartz pseudomorph. Combined with titanium-inzircon thermometry, quartz phase diagrams, and granitic Q-Ab-Or-H_2O phase diagrams, it is suggested that the quartz syenite and granite porphyry were formed under similar magmatic origins, including similar depths and magmatic crystallization temperatures. However, the β-quartz within quartz syenite indicated that the crystallization pressure was greater than 0.7 GPa, while the original b-quartz within the granite porphyry was formed under pressures between 0.4 and 0.7 GPa. The groundmass of the granite porphyry which formed after the phenocryst indicated a crystallizing pressure below 0.05 GPa. This indicates that the granite porphyry was formed under repetitive and rapid decompression. The decompression was significant as it caused the exsolution of the ore-forming fluids, and boiling and material precipitation during the magmatic-fluid process. The volumetric difference during the phase transformation from b-quartz to β-quartz caused extensive fracturing on the granite porphyry body and the wall rocks. As the main ore-transmitting and ore-depositing structures, these fractures benefit the hydrothermal alteration and stockwork-disseminated mineralization of the porphyry deposit. It is considered that the pseudomorphous β-quartz phenocrysts of the porphyritic body are metallogenic indicators within the porphyry deposits. The pseudomorphous β-quartzes therefore provide evidence for the formation of the porphyry deposit within a decompression tectonic setting.     

Geochronology,geochemistry and Hf isotopes of andesites in the Sandaowanzi gold deposit(Great Xing'an Range,NE China): implications for petrogenesis,tectonic setting,and mineralization

The Sandaowanzi gold deposit is an extremely Au-rich deposit in the Northern Great Hinggan Range in recent years.Zircon U-Pb geochronology,Hf isotope analysis,and the geochemistry of andesites of the Longjiang Formation from the Sandaowanzi gold deposit were used to investigate the origin,magmatic evolution as well as mineralization and tectonic setting of the Early Cretaceous epithermal gold deposits in the northern Great Hinggan Range area.Zircon U-Pb dating reveals an emplacement age of 123.4±0.3 Ma,indicating that the andesites of the Sandaowanzi gold deposit was formed during the Early Cretaceous.The andesites are enriched in light rare earth elements relative to heavy rare earth elements and have weak negative Eu anomalies(δEu=0.76-0.90).The rocks are also enriched in large-ion lithophile elements,such as Rb,Ba,Th,U,and K,and depleted in the high-field-strength elements,such as Nb,Ta,and P.These characteristics are typical of volcanic rocks related to subduction.Igneous zircons from the andesite samples have relatively homogeneous Hf isotope ratios,~(176)Hf/~(177)Hf values of 0.282343-0.282502,εHf(t) values of-12.58 to-6.95,and two-stage model ages(T_(DM2)) of 1743-1431 Ma.The characteristics of the andesites of the Longjiang Formation are consistent with derivation from partial melting of enriched mantle wedge metasomatized by subducted-slab-derived fluids.These rocks formed in an extensional environment associated with the closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean and subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate.Mineralization occurred towards the end of volcanism,and the magmatic activity and mineralization are products of the same geodynamic setting.     

Study of the minerogenetic mechanism and origin of Qinghai nephrite from Golmud,Qinghai, Northwest China

Electronic microprobe analysis showed that all QN samples are mainly composed of tremolite and minor accessory minerals, such as diopside, calcite, serpentinite, and magnetite. According to the cation coefficients, the crystallo-chemistrygenesis illustration demonstrates that all QN deposits are contact metasomatic. Depending on the mole percent of Fe~(2+(3+))/(Mg~(2+)+Fe~(2+(3+)) and the content of Cr, Co, and Ni in all QN samples measured by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy(XRF) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry(ICP-MS), green and azure-green QNs are characterized as serpentinite-related contact metasomatic deposit(S-type), whereas white, green-white, brown, blue-violet, yellow, and viridis QNs are dolomite-related contact metasomatic deposit(D-type). The assemblages and chemical composition of accessory minerals of the eight-color QN samples show evident characteristics, which reveal four possible ore-forming processes. We also measured trace and rare earth elements(REEs) in these samples through ICP-MS to deduce the origin of and the changes in metallogenic conditions. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of D-type QN exhibit moderately negative Eu anomalies with moderate light REE enrichment, flat heavy REE(HREE), and low(50)REE concentrations, similar to dolomitic marble. Green QN samples of S-type show enrichment in HREE and moderately negative Eu anomalies, which is consistent with characteristics of dunite. Whereas azure-green QN samples of S-type exhibit a right-dipping V-type curve with severe depletion in Eu(δEu=0.36–0.47), in accordance with the characteristics of gabbro from Yushigou ophiolite in North Qilian mountains. Furthermore, this finding is consistent with the content of trace elements and the petrographic analysis results. On the basis of several significant differences in the characteristic elements, which may have been affected by the metallogenic environment, we inferred the differences in oxygen fugacity and basicity of mineralization environments in different-colored QNs.     

The geochemical characteristics,geochronology and tectonic significance of the Carboniferous volcanic rocks of the Santanghu area in northeastern Xinjiang,China

The Santanghu area is located on the northeastern margin of the Junggar Basin,northern Xinjiang,Northwest China.The Carboniferous volcanic rocks in this area are widely distributed in Kaokesaiergaishan,Santanghu,Daheishan and Naomaohu districts,which are located to the north of the Kalameili Fault.These rocks,sourced from a cognate magma,consist of basic,intermediate,and acidic lavas,and pyroclastic rock.The basic volcanic rocks are enriched with large-ion lithophile elements(LILE),but are relatively depleted in high field strength elements(HFSE),and have an obvious negative Nb-Ta-Ti anomaly.They were most probably derived from a depleted mantle source,and during their ascent,these magmas were not contaminated by the crustal material as they underwent magma crystallization differentiation.Based on the Carboniferous volcanic assemblage and geochemical data,it is apparent that the early Carboniferous volcanism occurred in a subduction-related tectonic setting.New LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb analyses constrain the age of the andesite within the volcanic rocks as the early Carboniferous(328.9-331.3 Ma).Combined with the regional geological record,comprehensive analysis of the isotope geochronological data indicates that the subduction of the Junggar Ocean predates the early Carboniferous,and that the Santanghu island arc magmatism was induced by the subduction of the Junggar Ocean in the Carboniferous.     

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of Late Ladinian OIB-like basalts from Tabai,Yunnan Province,China

Major and trace elements analysis has been carried out on the Late Ladinian Tabai basalts from Yunnan Province with the aim of studying their petrogenesis. Their SiO2 contents range from 43.63 wt.% to 48.23 wt.%. The basalts belong to the weakly alkaline(average total alkalis Na2 O+K2O=3.59 wt.%), high-Ti(3.21 wt.% to 4.32 wt.%) magma series. The basalts are characterized by OIB-like trace elements patterns, which are enriched in large ion lithosphile elements(LILE) including Rb and Ba, and display negative K, Zr and Hf anomalies as shown on the spider diagrams. The Tabai basalts display light rare-earth elements(LREE) enrichment and are depleted in heavy rare-earth elements(HREE) on the REE pattern. Those dates indicate that the parental magma of the Tabai basalts was derived from low-degree(1%–5%) partial melting of garnet peridotite. The magma underwent olivine fractional crystallization and minor crustal contamination during their ascent. The Tabai basalts were related to a relaxation event which had triggered the Emeishan fossil plume head re-melting in the Middle Triassic.     

Geochemical characteristics of Carboniferous volcanic rocks from the Wulungu-Luliang area,Junggar basin: constraints on magma source and tectonic setting

The Carboniferous volcanic rocks in the Wulungu-Luliang area are mainly andesites of medium- to high-K calc-alkalic series. Volcanic rock samples have relatively high alkali(Na2O + K2 O = 4.7 % to 6.8 %) and low Ti O2contents(0.7 % to 0.9 %), relatively high Mg O(2.5 % to 3.4 %) and Mg#(49.9 % to 67.1 %), high rare earth element(REE) contents, and relatively high K2 O contents(1.7 % to 3.1 %). Chondrite-normalized REE patterns show light REE enrichment((La/Yb)N= 4.15 to 5.19)with weak Eu anomalies(d Eu = 0.75 to 0.92). These samples are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements but relatively depleted in high field strength elements. The trace elements and REE patterns are similar to those of Setouchi and central Ryukyu high-Mg andesites, indicating a highMg andesite source. Relatively high Y contents(16.7 to24.4 ppm), and relatively low Sr/Y ratios(17.2 to 38.8) and Ti O2contents(0.7 % to 0.9 %) exclude the possibility of slab melting. Low Sr/Nd(16.6 to 42.8), Ba/Th(66.4 to266.8), and U/Th(0.2 to 0.3) indicate that the influence of slab-derived fluids is low. The ratios of Ce/Th(4.9–7.3), Ce/Pb(1.8–4.2), Ba/Rb(7.99–22.03), Ba/Th(66.4–266.8), and La/Sm(3.6–4.3) are similar to ratios found in subducting sediment melts. Relatively high ratios of K/Nb(1357–3258),Th/La(0.28–0.42), Zr/Nb(8.8–27.1), and especially Th/Nb(0.48–1.25) suggest that the magma was assimilated and contaminated by upper continental crust. These characteristics, along with the ratios of La/Yb, Sc/Ni, Th/Yb, Ta/Yb,Ce/P2O5, and Zr/Ti O2, demonstrate that the earlier Carboniferous volcanic rocks in the Wulungu-Luliang area were generated in a continental island-arc setting.     

Sm-Nd dating and rare earth element geochemistry of the hydrothermal calcites from Guling carbonate-hosted talc mineralization in the central Guangxi province,South China

Many carbonate-hosted talc mineralization,which are widespread in South China,exclusively developed in Carboniferous dolomitic limestone with many siliceous bands and nodules,and cherts.One of those typical deposits is the Guling talc deposit in Mashan County,central Guangxi province,with a talc reserve of1.51 million tons.Mineral associations in the deposit are sample,mainly including talc and calcite.In this paper,Sm-Nd isotopic system and rare earth elements and yttrium(REE + Y) for the hydrothermal calcite intergrown with talc are used to constrain the age and origin of the talc mineralization.The hydrothermal calcite samples from the deposit display Sm and Nd concentrations ranging from 0.18 to 0.85 and 0.85 to 4.56 ppm,respectively,and variable Sm/Nd ratios of 0.21-0.24.These calcites further yield an Sm-Nd isochron age of 232 ±19 Ma(2a)(MSWD = 0.47) with an concordant initial ~(143)Nd-~(144)Nd ratios of 0.511967 ± 0.000017,which should be interpreted as the mineralization age of the Guling talc deposit.In addition,the calcite samples are enriched in REE with the variable SREE contents ranging from 4.82 to21.50 ppm and display relatively consistent chondritenormalized REE + Y patterns with the LREE enrichment(LREE/HREE=2.00-3.60)and the obvious negative Eu(δEu=0.52-0.68)and Ce(δCe=0.16-0.33)anomalies.The Y/Ho ratios of seven calcites varies from 43.30 to59.34,with a mean value of 49.73.The available mineral associations and REE parameters(i.e.,REE patterns and Y/Ho ratios) of those calcites indicate that the ore-forming fluids of the talc mineralization be probably derived from the meteoric waters,in particular evolved ones in the Karst areas and the ore-forming materials(e.g.,Si and Mg) are likely to be originated from the ore-bearing dolostone in the Yanguan Formation(C_1y) and underlying siliceous rocks in the Liujiang Formation(D_3l).Furthermore,the talc mineralization could take place within a hydrothermal system with relative oxidizing environment and middle temperature,due to the obvious negative Eu and Ce anomalies in the calcites in the Guling deposit.     

Geochronology,petrology,and geochemistry of the Yaojiazhuang ultramafic-syenitic complex from the North China Craton

The Yaojiazhuang ultramafic-syenitic complex is one of the representative Triassic alkaline plutons on the northern margin of the North China Craton(NCC).Based on detailed study of the zircon U-Pb age,petrological,mineralogical,and geochemical data of the complex,the characteristics of the magmas system,the petrogenesis of different rock types,and the nature of the mantle source were discussed to provide new constraints on the origin and tectonic setting of the Triassic alkaline belt.Cumulus ultramafic rocks,clinopyroxene-syenites and syenites are the main rock types of the complex.The zircons from the syenites yielded a U-Pb age of 209 Ma.Diopside-augite,biotite,and sanidine-orthoclase are the major minerals,with subordinate apatite and magnetite.Rocks from the complex are enriched in large ion lithophile elements(LILE)and light rare earth elements(LREE),depleted in high field strength elements(HFSE)and heavy rare earth elements(HREE),and the initial 87Sr/86Sr ranges from 0.7057 to 0.7061 and ε Nd(t)from-9.4 to-11.4.Mineralogy and geochemical data demonstrate that the parent magma of the complex is SiO2-undersaturated ultrapotassic alkaline-peralkaline,and is characterized by high CaO content and fluid compositions(P2O5,CO2,H2O),and by high oxygen fugacity and high temperature.The complex was originated from a phlogopite-clinopyroxenite-rich lithospheric mantle source in the garnet-stable area(> 80 km)that had previously been metasomatized by melts/fluids from altered oceanic crust.The parent magma has been contaminated by little ancient TTG gneisses during magma emplacement.The development of the Yaojiazhuang complex indicates that the northern margin of the NCC has entered into an extensively extensional regime in the Late Triassic.