Chronology of the Tungsten Deposits in Southern Jiangxi Province,and Episodes and Zonation of the Regional W‐Sn Mineralization – Evidence from High‐precision Zircon U‐Pb,Molybdenite Re‐Os and Muscovite Ar‐Ar Ages

Previous studies have obtained some petrogenetic and metallogenic chronological data with SHRIMP (sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe) zircon U-Pb, zircon LA-ICPMS (laser-ablation–inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy) U-Pb, molybdenite Re-Os isochron and muscovite Ar-Ar methods in southern Jiangxi Province and its adjacent areas. Based on these, the purpose of this paper is to study the petrogenetic and metallogenic ages and their time gap for different genetic types of W-Sn deposits, and thus to research their numerous episodes, zonal arrangement and their geodynamic background. The result shows that the large-scale W-Sn mineralization in southern Jiangxi Province occurred in the middle to late Jurassic (170–150 Ma), the skarn W-Sn-polymetallic deposits formed much earlier (170–161 Ma), and all of the wolframite – quartz vein type, greisen type, altered granite type and fractured zone type tungsten deposits formed in the late Jurassic (160–150 Ma). In one ore field or ore district, greisen type tungsten deposits formed earlier than quartz vein type ones hosted in the endo- or exo-contact zone; and quartz vein type hosted in the endocontact zone formed earlier than that of exocontact zone. There is no significant time difference between tungsten-tin mineralization and its intimately associated parent granite emplacement (1–6 Ma). They all formed in the same rock-forming and ore-forming system and under the same geodynamic setting. Regionally, rock-forming and ore-forming processes of the W-Sn deposits in the Nanling region (include southern Jiangxi Province, southern Hunan Province, northern Guangdong Province and eastern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region) exhibit numerous episodes. The mineralization in the Nanling region mainly occurred at (240–210) Ma, (170–150) Ma and (130–90) Ma. The tungsten-tin deposits in this region are centered by the largest scale in southern Jiangxi Province and southern Hunan Province, and become small in the east, west, south and north directions. This displays a zonal arrangement and temporal and spatial distribution regularity. Integrated with the latest research results, it is concluded that the W-Sn mineralization in southern Jiangxi Province and its adjacent areas corresponds to the second large-scale mineralization in South China. The Indosinian W-Sn mineralization formed under the extensional tectonic regime between collisional compressional stages, while the Yanshanian large-scale petrogenetic and metallogenic processes occurred in the Jurassic intraplate extensional geodynamic setting of lithosphere extension.     

Geochronology of the Xihuashan Tungsten Deposit in Southeastern China: Constraints from Re–Os and U–Pb Dating

Xihuashan tungsten deposit is one of the earliest explored tungsten deposits in southeastern China. It is a vein type deposit genetically associated with the Xihuashan granite pluton. Here we report new dating and zircon geochemistry results. Re–Os isotopic dating for molybdenite intergrowth with wolframite in the oldest generation of the Xihuashan pluton yielded an isochron age of 157.0 ± 2.5 Ma (2σ). Zircon U–Pb laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) dating shows that the pluton crystallized at 155.7 ± 2.2 Ma (2σ). This age is similar to the molybdenite Re–Os age for the ore deposit within error. This, together with published data, suggests that the major W(Mo)‐Sn mineralization occurred between 160–150 Ma in southeastern China. These deposits constitute a major part of the magmatic‐metallogenic belt of eastern Nanlin. The lower Re content in molybdenite of the Xihuashan tungsten deposit shows crustal origin for the ore‐forming material. The limited direct contributions from the subducting slab for the tungsten mineralization in the Nanling region suggest a change of the style of the paleo‐Pacific plate beneath southeastern China.     

赣南西华山成矿花岗岩锆石U-Pb年代学和Hf同位素特征及其地质意义北大核心CSCD

赣南西华山钨矿是与侏罗纪花岗岩有关的大型石英脉型矿床,也是我国南岭成矿带赣南地区典型的钨矿床。本文选取西华山钨矿成矿花岗岩进行了锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年、微量元素和Hf同位素分析,旨在揭示花岗岩的形成时间并推断岩石成因及其对成矿的指示。锆石U-Pb测年结果表明,西华山中粒黑云母花岗岩锆石206 Pb/238 U加权平均年龄为154.8±6.0 Ma。锆石形态、激光拉曼和地球化学特征表明,该花岗岩受到岩浆热液的影响。锆石的176 Yb/177 Hf和176 Lu/177 Hf比值较高,表明源岩浆有强烈的流体出溶作用。西华山黑云母花岗岩的εHf(t)变化范围较小,呈明显负值(-12.8~-10.8),且集中在华夏地块古老基底范畴内,指示其形成于古老地壳物质的部分熔融。     

Geochronology of the Limu W–Sn–Nb–Ta‐Bearing Granite Pluton in South China

Limu W–Sn–Nb–Ta mining district is located in the Nanling Range W–Sn poly‐metallic mineralization belt in south China. The district includes a number of Sn–Nb–Ta and W–Sn ore occurrences; all of them are spatially associated with granite stocks of a largely‐unexposed pluton, the Limu granitic pluton. A granite sample collected from the Sn–Nb–Ta‐bearing Jinzhuyuan granite stock yields a zircon SHRIMP U–Pb age of 218.3 ± 2.4 Ma, a muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of 212.4 ± 1.4 Ma, and a muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar isochron age of 213.2 ± 2.2 Ma. Another granite sample collected from the W–Sn‐bearing Sangehuangniu granite stock yields a zircon SHRIMP U–Pb age of 214 ± 5 Ma. The geochronological data provide new constraints on the age of the Limu granite pluton and the timing of the associated W–Sn–Nb–Ta mineralization—at least it sets a reasonable upper age limit for the mineralization of the W–Sn–Nb–Ta ores. The reported ages suggest an active Late Triassic granitic magmatism in Limu area which is part of a regional magmatic event near the end of the Indosinian orogeny in south China.     

Geochemistry,U–Pb Geochronology and Hf Isotope Studies of the Daheishan Porphyry Mo Deposit in Heilongjiang Province,NE China

The Daheishan porphyry Mo deposit was recently discovered in the northern segment of the Great Xing'an Range, NE China. Three main types of granitoids are identified in this deposit: granodiorite, fine‐grained granite, and porphyritic granite. The orebodies are dominantly hosted within the granodiorite and in the contact zone between the granodiorite and tuff or hornfels, while no mineralization has been found in the fine‐grained granite or the porphyritic granite. We present in situ LA‐ICP‐MS zircon U‐Pb dates for the granodiorite, fine‐grained granite, and porphyritic granite, which yielded 146.9 ± 1.1 Ma (2σ), 146.6 ± 1.7 Ma (2σ), and 149.7 ± 4.2 Ma (2σ), respectively. Their ε_Hf(t) values range from 3.9 to 12.2, associated with young crustal model ages (T_DM2) ranging from 524 Ma to 849 Ma, indicating that their parental magmas may have been generated by partial melting of the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian crustal components. The formation of the Daheishan deposit was genetically related to the subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate.     

大兴安岭南段海流特高分异花岗岩锆石U-Pb年代学、地球化学及成矿意义

大兴安岭南段在晚侏罗世-早白垩世期间集中爆发有多期岩浆活动,深入讨论花岗岩岩石成因及岩浆演化过程对该地区中生代地球动力学背景及成矿作用研究具有重要意义。本文报道了海流特中粒二长花岗岩、细粒二长花岗岩、花岗伟晶岩的锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb年龄和全岩地球化学数据。海流特中粒二长花岗岩、细粒二长花岗岩、花岗伟晶岩的锆石²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U加权平均年龄分别为142.0±0.7 Ma、141.2±1.1 Ma、139.7±2.4 Ma,属早白垩世。样品主量元素表现为高硅、富碱,A/CNK值为1.01～1.18,平均1.09,属弱过铝质。微量元素富集Rb、Th、K等大离子亲石元素(LILE),亏损Ba、Sr、P、Ti等高场强元素(HFSE),Eu负异常明显(δEu=0.012～0.040),Zr+Nb+Ce+Y值介于38.25×10^-6～258.2×10^-6之间,小于350×10^-6,锆石饱和温度为723～778℃,未见原生白云母及碱性暗色矿物。岩浆演化过程中经历了斜长石、钾长石等...     

Isotopic Chronological Study of the Huangsha‐Tieshanlong Quartz Vein‐ Type Tungsten Deposit and Timescale of Molybdenum Mineralization in Southern Jiangxi Province,China

The Huangsha-Tieshanlong quartz-vein tungsten polymetallic ore deposit, located in the northern Pangushan-Tieshanlong tungsten ore field in eastern Ganxian-Yudu prospecting areas of the Yushan metallogenic belt, is a well-known tungsten deposit in southern Jiangxi province, China. SHRIMP-determined dating of zircons from the Tieshanlong granite yields ages of 168.1±2.1 Ma (n=11, MSWD=1.3). Rhenium and osmium isotopic dating of molybdenite from the Huangsha quartz-vein tungsten deposit determined by ICP-MS yields a weighted average ages of 153±3 Ma and model ages of 150.2±2.1 Ma – 155.4±2.3 Ma. The age of the Huangsha tungsten deposit is 10 to 15 Ma later than the Tieshanlong granite, which shows that there might have been another early Late Jurassic magmatic activity between 150 and 160 Ma, a process which is closely related with tungsten mineralization in this area. The Tieshanlong granite, the Huangsha tungsten deposit and the Pangushan-Tieshanlong ore field were all formed around 150–170 Ma, belonging to products of a Mesozoic second large-scale mineralization. According to the collected molybdenite Re-Os dating results in southern Jiangxi province, the timescale of the associated molybdenum mineralization is 2–6 Ma in the tungsten deposit and the timescale of independent molybdenum mineralization is 1–4 Ma, implying the complexity of tungsten mineralization. Times of molybdenum mineralization are mainly concentrated in the Yanshanian, which includes three stages of 133~135 Ma, 150–162 Ma, and 166–170 Ma, respectively. The 150–162 Ma-stage is in accordance with ages of large-scale W-Sn mineralization, which is mainly molybdenum mineralization characterized by associated molybdenum mineralization with development of an even greater-intensity independent molybdenum mineralization. Independent molybdenum mineralization occurred before and after large-scale W-Sn mineralization, which indicates that favorable prospecting period for molybdenum may be in Cretaceous and early late Jurassic.     

Re–Os Geochronology of Molybdenite from Yinyan Porphyry Sn Deposit in South China

The Yinyan Sn deposit, one of the three typical porphyry Sn deposits in China, is located in the western Guangdong province of the Cathaysia Block. Rhenium and osmium isotopes of molybdenites from the Yinyan deposit were first used to constrain the age of mineralization. Rhenium concentrations in molybdenite samples range from 0.13 to 1.3 µg g^?1, indicating a crustal source for the ore‐forming materials. The Re–Os dating yield model ages ranging from 78.1 to 79.52 Ma, with an average of 78.65 ± 0.98 Ma, and give an isochron age of 78.8 ± 2.6 Ma. Evidently, isochron age is consistent with model ages in the error within the allowable range, so we can constrain the precise age of Yinyan Sn deposit at the Late Cretaceous. Based on the geological history and spatial‐temporal distribution of the Sn deposits, it is proposed that the formation of Sn deposits in the Cathaysia Block were related to lithospheric extension that are associated with a change in the polarity of the subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate from oblique subduction to parallel the eastern margin of the Eurasian Plate after 135 Ma.     

赣南盘古山钨矿床锆石U-Pb和辉钼矿Re-Os年龄及其意义

盘古山钨矿是一个历史悠久、闻名国内外的大型矿床,为了厘定其岩浆活动及成矿作用时代,进而认识成岩与成矿关系、岩体内带与外带矿化关系及成岩成矿动力学背景,本研究采用LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb和ICP-MS辉钼矿Re-Os分析法分别对南岭2000 m科学钻探(SP-NLSD-2)所揭露的隐伏花岗岩体及其内带矿化石英脉进行了年龄测定。结果表明,隐伏花岗岩体形成于(161.7±1.6)Ma,内带矿化石英脉年龄为(155.3±2.8)Ma,均形成于中—晚侏罗世。盘古山钨矿床花岗岩浆活动与成矿作用的时代在误差范围内基本一致,矿化发育于岩体内外接触带,在空间上关系密切,并表现出花岗岩体→长石石英脉→石英脉的渐变演化关系,结合前人研究成果表明,矿化石英脉是花岗岩浆分异演化晚期的产物。岩体内带石英脉与外带石英脉的形成年龄吻合较好,形成于同一成矿作用。盘古山钨矿床及其隐伏花岗岩体均形成于165~150 Ma华南岩石圈伸展-岩体侵位-大规模成矿的动力学环境。     

He–Ar Isotope Composition of Pyrite and Wolframite in the Tieshanlong Tungsten Deposit,Jiangxi, China: Implications for Fluid Evolution

The Tieshanlong tungsten‐polymetallic deposit is a large wolframite deposit of quartz vein type located in southern Jiangxi, South China. It is genetically related to a high‐K S‐type granite. Seven pyrite and two wolframite samples, selected for He and Ar isotope analyses, yielded ³He/⁴He values of 0.04–0.98 Ra, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios of 293.5–368.0, and ³⁸Ar/³⁶Ar ratios of 0.176–0.193. These data indicate that the ore‐forming fluids associated with the deposit did not result from a simple mixing of the crustal‐ and mantle‐derived end‐member fluids, but that primeval meteoric fluids were also involved in the generation of the associated granitic magma by partial melting of crustal metasedimentary rocks. Further investigations show that only minimal He from the mantle was added during generation of the associated granitic magma. It is postulated that boiling and second mixing with “new” meteoric fluids took place during migration of magmatic‐hydrothermal fluids into wall‐rock fractures, resulting in a drastic decrease of their metal transport capacity, which triggered the tungsten‐polymetallic mineralization.     

Geochemistry of A-type granites in the Huangshaping polymetallic deposit (South Hunan,China): Implications for granite evolution and associated mineralization

The Huangshaping granites in Hunan Province, South China were investigated for their geochemical characteristics. Three types of granites have been petrographically identified: quartz porphyry, granophyre, and granite porphyry. Whole rock geochemistry suggests that the Huangshaping granites, especially the granite porphyry, exhibit typical A-type granite characteristics with their enrichment in Si, Rb, U, Th, and Nb and significant depletion in Ba, Sr, Ti, Eu, and P. Based on the Al, Y and Zr contents as well as the REE patterns of the rocks investigated, the quartz porphyry and the granophyre are classified as A₁ type alkaline granites whereas the granite porphyry is considered as A₂ type aluminous granite. Whole rock and quartz/feldspar O isotope data yields a wide range of δ¹⁸O_SMOW values (11.09–26.32‰). The granites are characterized by high radiogenic Pb isotopic composition. The present-day whole rock Pb isotopic ratios are ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.706–19.155, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.616–15.711 and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.734–39.296. Combining the O–Pb isotope compositions with major, trace and REE geochemistry and regional geology characteristics, the Huangshaping granites were determined to resemble within-plate granites that were mainly derived from a felsic infracrustal source related to continental extension. The magma source of the quartz porphyry and the granophyre may have been generated from deeper depths, and then ascended rapidly with limited water content and low oxygen fugacity, which contributed to Cu, Pb and Zn mineralization. On the other hand, the magma that generated the granite porphyry may have ascended relatively slower and experienced pronounced crystal fractionation, upper-crustal basement rock contamination (assimilation) and wall–rock interaction, producing the Sn- and W-rich granite porphyry. This study reveals the crustal extension process and associated magmatic–metallogenic activities during 180–150 Ma in South Hunan.     

Re–Os and U–Pb Geochronology of Porphyry and Skarn Types Copper Deposits in Jilin Province,NE China

Jilin Province in NE China lies on the eastern edge of the Xing–Meng Orogenic Belt. Mineral exploration in this area has resulted in the discovery of numerous large, medium, and small sized Cu, Mo, Au, and Co deposits. To better understand the formation and distribution of both the porphyry and skarn types Cu deposits of the region, we examined the geological characteristics of the deposits and applied zircon U–Pb and molybdenite Re–Os isotope dating to constrain the age of the mineralization. The Binghugou Cu deposit yields a zircon U–Pb age for quartz diorite of 128.1 ± 1.6 Ma; the Chang'anpu Cu deposit yields a zircon U–Pb age for granite porphyry of 117.0 ± 1.4 Ma; the Ermi Cu deposit yields a zircon U–Pb age for granite porphyry of 96.8 ± 1.1 Ma; the Tongshan Cu deposit yields molybdenite Re–Os model ages of 128.7 to 130.2 Ma, an isochron age of 129.0 ± 1.6 Ma, and a weighted mean model age of 129.2 ± 0.7 Ma; and the Tianhexing Cu deposit yields molybdenite Re–Os model ages of 113.9 to 115.2 Ma, an isochron age of 114.7 ± 1.2 Ma, and a weighted mean model age of 114.7 ± 0.7 Ma. The new ages, combined with existing geochronology data, show that intense porphyry and skarn types Cu mineralization was coeval with Cretaceous magmatism. The geotectonic processes responsible for the genesis of the Cu mineralization were probably related to lithospheric thinning. By analyzing the accumulated molybdenite Re–Os, zircon U–Pb, and Ar–Ar ages for NE China, it is concluded that the Cu deposits formed during multiple events coinciding with periods of magmatic activity. We have identified five phases of mineralization: early Paleozoic (~476 Ma), late Paleozoic (286.5–273.6 Ma), early Mesozoic (~228.7 Ma), Jurassic (194.8–137.1 Ma), and Cretaceous (131.2–96.8 Ma). Although Cu deposits formed during each phase, most of the Cu mineralization occurred during the Cretaceous.     

Ar–Ar Ages of Hydrothermal Muscovite and Igneous Biotite at the Guposhan–Huashan District,Northeast Guangxi,South China: Implications for Mesozoic W–Sn Mineralization

The Guposhan–Huashan district is an important W–Sn–Sb–Zn–(Cu) metallogenic area in South China. It is located in the middle‐west segment of the Nanling Range. Granitoids in the Guposhan–Huashan district possess certain properties of A‐type or I‐type granites. The W–Sn–Sb–Zn mineralization in the district is closely associated with magma emplacement. Two igneous biotite and seven hydrothermal muscovite samples from skarn, veins and greisenization ores were analyzed by Ar–Ar methods. Two igneous biotite samples from fine‐grained quartz monzodiorite and fine‐grained biotite granite show plateau ages of 168.7 ± 1.9 Ma and 165.0 ± 1.1 Ma, respectively. Seven hydrothermal muscovite samples from ores yield plateau ages as two groups: 165 Ma to 160 Ma and 104 Ma to 100 Ma. These data suggest that the emplacement of fine‐grained granitoids in this district is coeval with the main phase magma emplacement, different from previous studies. The W–Sn–Sb–Zn mineralization took place in two stages, i.e. the Middle–Late Jurassic and early Cretaceous. W–Sn mineralization in the Guposhan–Huashan district is closely related to the magmatism, which was strongly influenced by underplating of asthenospheric mantle along trans‐lithospheric deep faults and related fractures.     

Geochemistry,and zircon U–Pb and molybdenite Re–Os geochronology of Jilongshan Cu–Au deposit,southeastern Hubei Province,China

The Jilongshan skarn Cu–Au deposit is located at the Jiurui ore cluster region in the southwestern part of the Middle–Lower Yangtze River valley metallogenic belt. The region is characterized by NW‐, NNW‐ and EW‐trending faults and the mineralization occurs at the contact of lower Triassic carbonate rocks and Jurassic granodiorite porphyry intrusions. The intrusives are characterized by SiO₂, K₂O, and Na₂O concentrations ranging from 61.66 to 67.8 wt.%, 3.29 to 5.65 wt.%, and 2.83 to 3.9 wt.%, respectively. Their A/CNK (A/CNK = n(Al₂O₃)/[n(CaO) + n(Na₂O) + n(K₂O)]) ratio, δEu, and δCe vary from 0.77 to 1.17, 0.86 to 1, and 0.88 to 0.96, respectively. The rocks show enrichment in light rare earth elements ((La/Yb)_N = 7.61–12.94) and large ion lithophile elements (LILE), and depletion in high field strength elements (HFSE), such as Zr, Ti. They also display a peraluminous, high‐K calc‐alkaline signature typical of intrusives associated with skarn and porphyry Cu–Au–Mo polymetallic deposits. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) zircon U–Pb age indicates that the granodiorite porphyry formed at 151.75 ± 0.70 Ma. A few inherited zircons with older ages (677 ± 10 Ma, 848 ± 11 Ma, 2645 ± 38 Ma, and 3411 ± 36 Ma) suggest the existence of an Archaean basement beneath the Middle–Lower Yangtze River region. The temperature of crystallization of the porphyry estimated from zircon thermometer ranges from 744.3 °C to 751.5 °C, and 634.04 °C to 823.8 °C. Molybdenite Re–Os dating shows that the Jilongshan deposit formed at 150.79 ± 0.82 Ma. The metallogeny and magmatism are correlated to mantle–crust interaction, associated with the subduction of the Pacific Plate from the east. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Zircon U–Pb,Molybdenite Re–Os and K‐feldspar 40Ar/39Ar Dating of the Bolong Porphyry Cu–Au Deposit,Tibet, China

The Bolong porphyry Cu–Au deposit is a newly discovered deposit in the central Tibetan Plateau, and is ranked as the second largest copper deposit discovered to date in the Bangong‐Nujiang metallogenic belt in China. Three granodiorite porphyry phases occur within the Bolong porphyry Cu–Au deposit. Phyllic alteration is widespread on the surface of the deposit, and potassic alteration occurs at depth, associated with granodiorite porphyries. The copper and gold mineralization is clearly related to the potassic and phyllic alteration. Multiple chronometers were applied to constrain the timing of magmatic–hydrothermal activity at the Bolong deposit. Zircon U–Pb geochronology reveals that the granodiorite porphyry phases were emplaced at ca. 120 Ma. Re–Os data of four molybdenite samples from quartz–molybednite veinlets yielded an isochron age of 119.4 ± 1.3 Ma. The plateau age of hydrothermal K‐feldspar from the potassic alteration zone, analyzed by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating, is 118.3 ± 0.6 Ma, with a similar reverse isochron age of 118.5 ± 0.7 Ma. Therefore, the magmatic–hydrothermal activity occurred at ca. 120–118 Ma, which is similar in age to the neighboring Duobuza porphyry copper deposit. The period of 120–118 Ma is therefore important for the development of porphyry Cu–Au mineralization in the central Tibetan Plateau, and these porphyry deposits were formed during the final stages of the northward subduction of the Neo‐Tethys Ocean.     

Fluid Inclusions,C–H–O–S Isotope and Geochronology of the Bujinhei Pb–Zn Deposit in the Southern Great Xing'an Range of Northeast China: Implication for Ore Genesis

The Bujinhei Pb–Zn deposit is located in the southern Great Xing'an Range metallogenic belt. It is a representative medium‐ to high‐temperature hydrothermal vein type deposit controlled by fractures, and orebodies hosted in the Permian Shoushangou Formation. The hydrothermal mineralization is classified into three stages: pyrite ± arsenopyrite–quartz (Stage 1), polymetallic sulfide–quartz (Stage 2), and polymetallic sulfide–calcite (Stage 3). Fluid inclusion petrography, laser Raman analyses and microthermometry indicate that the liquid‐rich aqueous inclusions (L) and vapor‐rich CO₂ ± CH₄–H₂O inclusions (C) occur in the Stage 1 and as medium‐ to high‐ temperature and low‐ to medium‐salinity NaCl–H₂O–CO₂–CH₄ hydrothermal fluids. The liquid‐rich (L) and rare vapor‐rich CO₂ ± CH₄–H₂O inclusions (C) occur in the Stage 2 with medium‐temperature and low‐salinity NaCl–H₂O ± CO₂ ± CH₄ hydrothermal fluids. The exclusively liquid‐rich (L) fluid inclusions are observed in the Stage 3, and the hydrothermal fluid belongs to medium‐temperature and low‐salinity NaCl–H₂O hydrothermal fluids. The results of hydrogen and oxygen isotope analyses indicate that ore‐forming fluids were initially derived from the magmatic water and mixed with local meteoric water in the late stage (δ¹⁸O_H2O‐SMOW = 6.0 to 2.2‰, δD_SMOW = ?103 to ?134‰). The carbon isotope compositions (?18.4‰ to ?26.5‰) indicate that the carbon in the fluid was derived from the surrounding strata. The sulfur isotope compositions (5.7 to 15.2‰) indicate that the ore sulfur was also primarily derived from the strata. The ore vein No. 1 occurs in fractures and approximately parallel to the rhyolite porphyry; orebodies have a close spatial and temporal relationship with the rhyolite porphyry. The rhyolite porphyry yielded a crystallization age of 122.9  ± 2.4 Ma, indicating that the Bujinhei deposit may be related to the Early Cretaceous magmatic event. Geochemical analyses reveal that the Bujinhei rhyolite porphyry is high in K₂O and peraluminous, and derived from an acidic liquid as a result of strong interaction with hydrothermal fluid during the late magmatic stage; it is similar to A2‐type granites, and formed in a backarc extensional environment. These results indicate that the Bujinhei Pb–Zn deposit was a vein type system that formed in Early Cretaceous and influenced by the Paleo‐Pacific tectonic system. Bujinhei deposit is a representative hydrothermal vein type deposit on the genetic types, and occurs on the western slope of the southern Great Xing'an Range. The ore‐forming fluids were medium‐ to high‐temperature and low‐to medium‐salinity NaCl–H₂O–CO₂–CH₄ hydrothermal fluids, which became medium‐temperature and low‐salinity NaCl–H₂O hydrothermal fluids in later stages, and came from magmatic water and mixed with meteoric water, whereas the ore‐forming materials were mainly derived from the surrounding strata. The LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb dating indicates that the Bujinhei deposit formed at the period of late Early Cretaceous, potentially in a backarc extensional environment influenced by the Paleo‐Pacific tectonic system.     

Zircon U–Pb geochronology of gneissic rocks in the Yunkai massif and its implications on the Caledonian event in the South China Block

This paper presents new zircon U–Pb data and interpretations for the gneissic rocks in the Yunkai massif in order to constrain the timing and evolution of the Caledonian tectonothermal event in the South China Block (SCB). Magmatic and inherited zircons from the orthogneiss in the region, previously thought to be of Precambrian origin, yielded ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U apparent ages of 421–441 Ma and 513–1343 Ma, respectively. Also a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 236.0 ± 3.1 Ma was obtained, interpreted as the metamorphic resetting age during the Indosinian tectonic event. Our analyses show that the paragneiss in the region, previously regarded as Proterozoic sedimentary rocks, contains detrital zircons of the Archaean to Paleozoic origin, of which the youngest zircons yielded the U–Pb age of  423 Ma. These data indicate that (1) the Proterozoic and Archaean components may exist beneath the Yunkai massif; (2) most of the metaigneous rocks are actually the Caledonian anatectic granites possibly overprinted by Indosinian ( 236 Ma) reactivation; (3) some paragneiss might have originally deposited during the Devonian time; and (4) a subsequently rapid uplifting took place after the emplacement of the Caledonian granites, revealed by the observation that the Devonian clastic strata uncomfortably overlie the Caledonian granites. In combination with other geochronological data and geological observations throughout the SCB, we propose that the Caledonian tectonothermal event around Silurian ( 450–400 Ma) might be a result from an intracontinental collision between the Yangtze and Cathaysian blocks in response to the subduction/collision between the North China block and SCB.     

Petrogenesis of the Xihuashan Granite in Southern Jiangxi Province,South China: Constraints from Zircon U-Pb Geochronology,Geochemistry and Nd Isotopes

Mesozoic granitic intrusions are widely distributed in the Nanling region,South China.Yanshanian granites are closely connected with the formation of tungsten deposits.The Xihuashan granite is a typica...     

Coupled garnet Lu–Hf and monazite U–Pb geochronology constrain early convergent margin dynamics in the Ross orogen,Antarctica

The Ross orogen of Antarctica is an extensive (>3000 km‐long) belt of deformed and metamorphosed sedimentary rocks and granitoid batholiths, which formed during convergence and subduction of palaeo‐Pacific lithosphere beneath East Gondwana in the Neoproterozoic–early Palaeozoic. Despite its prominent role in Gondwanan convergent tectonics, and a well‐established magmatic record, relatively little is known about the metamorphic rocks in the Ross orogen. A combination of garnet Lu–Hf and monazite U–Pb (measured by laser‐ablation split‐stream ICP‐MS) geochronology reveals a protracted metamorphic history of metapelites and garnet amphibolites from a major segment of the orogen. Additionally, direct dating of a common rock‐forming mineral (garnet) and accessory mineral (monazite) allows us to test assumptions that are commonly used when linking accessory mineral geochronology to rock‐forming mineral reactions. Petrography, mineral zoning, thermobarometry and pseudosection modelling reveal a Barrovian‐style prograde path, reaching temperatures of ~610–680 °C. Despite near‐complete diffusional resetting of garnet major element zoning, the garnet retains strong rare earth element zoning and preserves Lu–Hf dates that range from c. 616–572 Ma. Conversely, monazite in the rocks was extensively recrystallized, with concordant dates that span from c. 610–500 Ma, and retain only vestigial cores. Monazite cores yield dates that overlap with the garnet Lu–Hf dates and typically have low‐Y and heavy rare earth element (HREE) concentrations, corroborating interpretations of low‐Y and low‐HREE monazite domains as records of synchronous garnet growth. However, ratios of REE concentrations in garnet and monazite do not consistently match previously reported partition coefficients for the REE between these two minerals. High‐Y monazite inclusions within pristine, crack‐free garnet yield U–Pb dates significantly younger than the Lu–Hf dates for the same samples, indicating recrystallization of monazite within garnet. The recrystallization of high‐Y and high‐HREE monazite domains over >50 Ma likely records either punctuated thermal pulses or prolonged residence at relatively high temperatures (up to ~610–680 °C) driving monazite recrystallization. One c. 616 Ma garnet Lu–Hf date and several c. 610–600 Ma monazite U–Pb dates are tentatively interpreted as records of the onset of tectonism metamorphism in the Ross orogeny, with a more robust constraint from the other Lu–Hf dates (c. 588–572 Ma) and numerous c. 590–570 Ma monazite U–Pb dates. The data are consistent with a tectonic model that involves shortening and thickening prior to widespread magmatism in the vicinity of the study area. The early tectonic history of the Ross orogen, recorded in metamorphic rocks, was broadly synchronous with Gondwana‐wide collisional Pan‐African orogenies.     

Internal structures and U–Pb ages of zircons from a tuff layer in the Meishucunian formation, Yunnan Province, South China

The Precambrian/Cambrian (PC/C) boundary is one of the most important intervals for the evolution of life, represented by prominent biological evolution from the first appearance of soft-bodied animals from the late Neoproterozoic to the sudden diversification of animals with mineralized skeletons in the Cambrian. In South China several areas contain many fossils and are well exposed, suitable for the investigation of PC/C boundary. However, geochronological relationships are still poorly known because of lack of combined detailed investigations of internal structures of zircons and in-situ U–Pb dating.We focus on the internal structure of zircons from a tuff layer within Bed 5 in the Meishucun section on which we undertook cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging and in-situ U–Pb dating with LA-ICP-MS and nano-SIMS. Over 600 zircons from the tuff layer were classified into three types based on their CL images: oscillatory rims, inherited cores and dull structures. U–Pb dating of the internal structure of the zircons by LA-ICP-MS clearly shows a distinct unimodal age population dependent on the structure: 531 ± 17 Ma for the oscillatory rims and 515 Ma for the dull structures. The clear oscillatory zonation, the prismatic morphology, and their occurrence indicate that the oscillatory rims were formed from felsic magmatism, and that the U–Pb nano-SIMS age of 536.5 ± 2.5 Ma records the depositional age of the tuff. Our results indicate that the PC/C boundary is situated below Bed 5, and therefore the bottom of Zone 1 (Marker A) is more appropriate for the PC/C boundary than is the top of Zone 1 (Marker B). The age of a positive anomaly (P2) in the early Cambrian is estimated to be ca. 536 Ma.