Composition and evolution of accessory mineralization of Li–F granites in the Far East as indicators of their ore potential

The ore potential of Pacific Li–F granites is considered on the basis of original and published data on composition of these granites and related metasomatic rocks in the Badzhal (Amur region) and Kuiviveem–Pyrkakai (Chukchi Peninsula) ore districts. The accessory mineralization in rare-metal granites is compared with that in W–Sn deposits. The main features in evolution of magmatic and hydrothermal mineralization are pointed out. A conclusion on the similarity between mineralization of the zwitter–tourmalinite type and accessory minerals in Li–F granites is drawn. It is established that magmatic and hydrothermal types of mineralization belong to the same evolutionary sequence. Genetic links between Li–F granites and the large ore deposits in the East Asian tungsten–tin zone are suggested.     

滇西南云岭锡矿床地质特征与花岗岩锆石U-Pb年代学

滇西南是中国重要的锡矿带之一,前人研究主要集中在白垩纪和新生代花岗岩中的锡矿床,而对印支期花岗岩中的锡矿关注较少.云岭锡矿位于保山地块的东缘,矿体主要以脉状产在黑云母二长花岗岩中,发育云英岩化和电气石化蚀变.矿石矿物为锡石,脉石矿物为石英、白云母、电气石、萤石、方解石,以及黄铁矿、毒砂、黄铜矿、闪锌矿等硫化物.根据矿物...     

云母:花岗岩-伟晶岩稀有金属成矿作用的重要标志矿物

云母是花岗岩、伟晶岩中的重要造岩矿物,不仅是整个岩浆阶段的结晶产物,而且也是热液过程的参与者。作为层状硅酸盐矿物,层间或八面体位置上可容纳锂、铷铯、锡、铌钽等稀有金属。本文结合前人研究积累和作者近年来的研究成果,阐述了云母作为一个重要的稀有金属成矿标志矿物的矿物学特征。铁锂云母-锂云母是稀有金属成矿作用中重要的锂矿物,同时云母中锂含量可以反映花岗岩的分异程度。铷、铯可以置换云母层间钾,在高演化花岗岩、伟晶岩中可以形成铷、铯为主的云母(既可以是锂云母系列,也可以是黑云母系列)。黑云母是稀有金属花岗岩中一个特殊的矿物。准铝质含锡花岗岩中黑云母锡含量可达100×10~(-6),其锡含量可以指示其锡成矿能力。稀有金属花岗岩中,常见的是铌钽氧化物矿物。但是最近研究发现,黑云母中铌可以超常富集(超过1000×10~(-6)),成为稀有金属花岗岩中最重要、甚至唯一的铌矿物,形成一种以富铌黑云母为特色的新类型稀有金属花岗岩,并可能代表了一种新型的潜在铌资源。基于云母在花岗岩中的重要性和结构的特殊性,今后要利用微区成分和结构分析技术,加强对云母中稀有金属晶体化学的研究,以及进一步揭示云母对稀有金属成矿的特殊重要意义。     

华南与花岗岩有关的一种新类型的锡成矿作用：矿物化学、元素和同位素地球化学证据

华南是我国最重要的锡成矿省,产有大量的与花岗岩有关的大型-超大型锡多金属矿床。近年来,在湘南新探明一个超大型锡矿床—芙蓉锡矿床,其中,最重要的锡矿化产在骑田岭花岗岩体西南部的破碎蚀变带内,与绿泥石化密切相关。骑田岭花岗岩富含角闪石,具有较高的氧逸度,显示出准铝的地球化学特征,在花岗岩形成过程中发生过壳-慢岩浆混合作用。这些特点都表明骑田岭花岗宕并不同于一般的 S 型含锡花岗岩,而显示出 A 型花岗岩的地球化学特征。同位素定年分析表明,芙蓉锡矿床主成矿阶段的形成时代要晚于骑田岭花岗岩侵位年龄近20Ma。氢、氧同位素分析表明,发生过水-岩反应的大气降水在成矿流体中占有很重要的地位。硫同位素分析表明花岗岩和地层都提供了成矿所需的硫。因此,用花岗岩浆结晶分异过程中分离出富锡的岩浆流体来形成锡矿的传统模式并不适合于解释芙蓉锡矿的形成。我们认为芙蓉锡矿的形成主要与骑田岭花岗岩的绿泥石化蚀变有关,循环的大气降水与花岗岩发生水-岩反应,富锡的铁镁矿物在蚀变成绿泥石的同时释放出 Sn 和 Ti 等金属到流体中,当物理化学条件改变时,沉淀形成锡矿体。这是一种比较独特的锡矿化模式,丰富了华南与花岗岩有关的锡矿化类型。     

新疆东准噶尔贝勒库都克锡矿带锡成矿的40Ar-39Ar年龄

位于新疆东准噶尔的贝勒库都克锡矿带是我国北方地区首次发现具独立锡矿床的锡成矿带。该成矿带自东向西发育萨惹什克、贝勒库都克、干梁子、卡姆斯特4个独立锡矿床。它们在主要矿石类型、脉石矿物组成上表现为两类。萨惹什克锡矿属于石英型,占优势的脉石矿物是石英,其次有长石,而白云母很不发育。其它3个锡矿则以云英岩型为特征,主要脉石矿物是石英和长石,次要矿物有白云母。本文报道了我们对发育白云母的卡姆斯特、干梁子、贝勒库都克锡矿床开展矿石⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar同位素定年的结果。3件与锡石平衡共生的白云母有很平坦的年龄谱,其⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar-³⁹Ar/³⁶Ar正等时线年龄与各自的坪年龄很一致,年龄值范围是305~315Ma。这些结果和我们已报道的萨惹什克锡矿的Re-Os等时线年龄一起,确定了全部4个锡矿床的成矿年龄,并证实它们构成一个锡成矿带。此外,锡矿石与花岗岩围岩年龄的一致性表明了研究区锡成矿与花岗岩浆作用间很可能存在成因关系。     

Magmatism and formation conditions of the Urma helvite-bertrandite deposit,West Transbaikal berillium province

The relationships between mineralization and magmatism during the formation of the Early Mesozoic West Transbaikal beryllium province are exemplified in the Urma helvite-bertrandite deposit. The deposit is drawn toward granitoids of elevated alkalinity, which belong to the Tashir Complex. Mineralization is related to leucogranite and characterized by patched distribution controlled by localization of metasomatic alteration. The latter is identified owing to replacement of feldspar with microcline and albite followed by silicification related to fracture zones. Helvite and bertrandite are the major Be minerals at the deposit. The Be grade of the ore is nonuniform and varies from 740 to 25000 ppm. Zircon, malacon, monazite, allanite, bastnaesite, columbite, and xenotime occur in metasomatic rocks together with Be minerals. Geochemical characteristics of alkali granites and metasomatic rocks are similar in a wide range of incompatible elements. Both are characterized by lowered Ba, Sr, P, and Eu contents and enriched in Th, U, Pb, Zr, and Hf. The degree of enrichment is the highest in the ore. The Be content in the ore correlates with concentrations of a number of other rare metals typical of host granite, which form their own mineralization against the background of metasomatic alteration, including Zr and REE minerals. Similarity in geochemistry of granitic rocks and Be ore indicates that the Urma deposit was related to the evolution of magmatic melt. Regional correlation shows that the ore-magmatic system of the Urma deposit is close to that of the Orot deposit, one of the largest in the central segment of the West Transbaikal metallogenic province. Both deposits are characterized by a similar composition of granitoids and comparable localization of ore zones in the structure of plutons. This similarity supports the high ore resource potential of Early Mesozoic alkali granites in the western Transbaikal region. Taking into account that these granitoids are widespread in the West Transbaikal Rift Zone that controls the metallogenic province, one can expect the discovery of new deposits therein.     

Rare-earth elements as indicators of ore sources and the degree of differentiation and ore potential of rare-metal granite intrusions (eastern Transbaikalia)

The meteoritic-material-normalized REE patterns of rare-metal granite intrusions of the ore-bearing Kukul'bei complex (J2–J3), eastern Transbaikalia, were studied. It is shown that the intrusions were initially enriched in granitophile volatiles and trace elements (rare metals), i.e., this phenomenon is not related to the differentiation of their parental magma chambers. On the differentiation of the Kukul'bei rare-metal intrusions, the REE contents decrease in passing from granites of the main intrusive phase (MP) to late leucocratic differentiates (muscovite and amazonite granites), the differentiates become more enriched in granitophile elements, and their rare-metal contents drastically increase as compared with the MP granites. The ore-bearing bodies of muscovite and amazonite granites have extremely low REE contents and the highest contents of granitophile (including ore-forming) elements.The REE patterns of the Kukul'bei intrusive differentiates are not universal among rare-metal intrusions. By the example of highly ore-bearing rare-metal granite intrusions of the Erzgebirge, Central Europe, it has been established that their late deep-seated differentiates (ultrarare-metal lithionite-zinnwaldite Li-F-granites) accompanied by highly productive Sn-W mineralization concentrate both granitophile elements and REE (particularly HREE). Among the studied Transbaikalian rare-metal intrusions of the Kukul'bei complex, only the differentiates of the most ore-bearing Sherlovaya Gora intrusive system belong to the above type. The analysis of the REE patterns of the Kukul'bei granites confirmed the earlier conclusions on the low ore potential of the rare-metal mineralization of the studied intrusive complex.     

江西会昌锡坑迳斑岩型锡矿床成矿系统发育特征与找矿模型

锡坑迳矿田位于南岭成矿带东段与武夷山成矿带交会部位,以早白垩世连续的岩浆喷发-侵入活动与多类型锡多金属成矿作用为特色。矿田内围绕似斑状花岗岩和花岗斑岩发育了岩背斑岩型、淘锡坝和矿背隐爆层间裂隙带型、苦竹岽和凤凰岽云英岩-破碎带蚀变岩型等大中型锡矿床。这些矿床的矿化-蚀变特征可与玻利维亚锡矿带、银岩、维拉斯托和洋滨等国内外斑岩型锡矿床类比,又独具特色,是研究斑岩型锡成矿系统发育特征与找矿模型的理想区域。文章在详细的野外地质调查基础上,系统总结了锡坑迳矿田内各类锡多金属矿化组合特征和蚀变结构,并对岩背矿床和淘锡坝矿床锡石开展了电子探针和LA-ICP-MS原位微区分析。研究结果显示,所有锡石样品均具有La、Pr、Gd和Tb的正异常、Ce与Eu的负异常、明显的Zr/Hf分馏和不规则的稀土元素配分模式,指示成矿热液早期阶段及锡石沉淀阶段经历了流体不相容。岩背锡石较淘锡坝锡石具有高的Ti/Zr和Ti/Sc比值,指示其更为靠近矿化中心。笔者研究认为,锡坑迳斑岩型锡成矿系统矿化类型包括细脉状、浸染状和细网脉状,围岩蚀变由早到晚、由成矿中心向外依次发育黄玉石英带、绿泥石-黄玉石英岩化带、绿泥石-绢云母化带和黏土化-碳酸盐化带。与斑岩型铜钼成矿系统相比,其成矿岩浆岩不仅有花岗斑岩,还有似斑状黑云母花岗岩,矿体在斑岩、花岗岩及上覆火山岩中均有赋存。相较于玻利维亚斑岩型锡成矿带发育的大面积石英-电气石化,锡坑迳斑岩成矿系统更富F,蚀变矿物中出现了大量黄玉、萤石和白云母等。对比国内外典型锡矿床的矿化-蚀变结构和锡石矿物学特征,文章建立了锡坑迳式斑岩型锡成矿系统的找矿模型。     

云南个旧锡矿的玄武岩成矿

个旧锡矿产于个旧东区,是一个以锡铜为主的超大型多金属矿床,具有火山沉积成矿的某些特征。因遭受燕山期花岗岩的叠加改造,区内个旧组卡房段中玄武岩遭受强烈的变质,它又具有花岗岩热液成矿的特征。区内玄武岩的地质地球化学特征表明,印支期玄武岩中的Sn、Cu、Pb、Zn、Ag和Au的质量分数大多数高于世界玄武岩平均值的若干倍;矿石硫化物的硫同位素δ³⁴S为-1.5‰~4.0‰,平均+0.207‰,在幔源硫附近;铅同位素模式年龄分为两组：第一组为180~240 Ma,反映了印支期的火山沉积成矿作用;第二组为80~140 Ma,反映了燕山期花岗岩的叠加改造成矿作用。区内印支期玄武岩为个旧锡铜多金属矿床的形成提供了主要的成矿物质,与成矿有直接联系。     

Geochemical features of rare-metal granites of the Zashikhinsky Massif,East Sayan

The paper presents detailed geochemical data on the rocks of the Zashikhinsky Massif and mineralogical–geochemical characteristics of the ores of the eponymous deposit. The rare-metal granites are divided into three facies varieties on the basis of the degree of differentiation and ore potential: early facies represented by microcline–albite granites with arfvedsonite, middle facies represented by leucocratic albite–microcline granites, and late (most ore-bearing) facies represented by quartz–albite granites grading into albitites. Microprobe data were obtained on major minerals accumulating trace elements in the rocks and ores. All facies of the rare-metal granites, including the rocks of the fluorite–rare-metal vein, define single compositional trends in the plots of paired correlations of rock-forming and trace elements. In addition, they also show similar REE patterns and spidergrams. The latter, however, differ in the depth of anomalies of some elements. Obtained geological, petrographic, and geochemical data suggest a magmatic genesis of the rocks of different composition and their derivation from a single magma during its differentiation. On the basis of all characteristics, the Zashikhinskoe deposit is estimated as one of the largest tantalum rare-metal deposits of alkaline-granite type in Russia.     

The unique Katugin rare-metal deposit (southern Siberia): Constraints on age and genesis

We report new geological, mineralogical, geochemical and geochronological data about the Katugin Ta-Nb-Y-Zr (REE) deposit, which is located in the Kalar Ridge of Eastern Siberia (the southern part of the Siberian Craton). All these data support a magmatic origin of the Katugin rare-metal deposit rather than the previously proposed metasomatic fault-related origin. Our research has proved the genetic relation between ores of the Katugin deposit and granites of the Katugin complex. We have studied granites of the eastern segment of the Eastern Katugin massif, including arfvedsonite, aegirine-arfvedsonite and aegirine granites. These granites belong to the peralkaline type. They are characterized by high alkali content (up to 11.8 wt% Na₂O + K₂O), extremely high iron content (FeO¹/(FeO¹ + MgO) = 0.96–1.00), very high content of most incompatible elements – Rb, Y, Zr, Hf, Ta, Nb, Th, U, REEs (except for Eu) and F, and low concentrations of CaO, MgO, P₂O₅, Ba, and Sr. They demonstrate negative and CHUR-close εNd(t) values of 0.0…−1.9. We suggest that basaltic magmas of OIB type (possibly with some the crustal contamination) represent a dominant part of the granitic source. Moreover, the fluorine-enriched fluid phases could provide an additional source of the fluorine. We conclude that most of the mineralization of the Katugin ore deposit occurred during the magmatic stage of the alkaline granitic source melt. The results of detailed mineralogical studies suggest three major types of ores in the Katugin deposit: Zr mineralization, Ta-Nb-REE mineralization and aluminum fluoride mineralization. Most of the ore minerals crystallized from the silicate melt during the magmatic stage. The accessory cryolites in granites crystallized from the magmatic silicate melt enriched in fluorine. However, cryolites in large veins and lens-like bodies crystallized in the latest stage from the fluorine enriched melt. The zircons from the ores in the aegirine-arfvedsonite granite have been dated at 2055 ± 7 Ma. This age is close to the previously published 2066 ± 6 Ma zircon age of the aegirine-arfvedsonite granites, suggesting that the formation of the Katugin rare-metal deposit is genetically related to the formation of peralkaline granites. We conclude that Katugin rare-metal granites are anorogenic. They can be related to a Paleoproterozoic (∼2.05 Ga) mantle plume. As there is no evidence of the 2.05 Ga mantle plume in other areas of southern Siberia, we suggest that the Katugin mineralization occurred on the distant allochtonous terrane, which has been accreted to Siberian Craton later.     

云南个旧超大型矿床地质特征及成矿模式

个旧矿床不仅是一个超大型的锡矿床,同时也是大型的铜、铅、锌、钨和银矿床,此外还伴生众多的有色金属和稀有金属矿产。近些年来,除了成矿与燕山期花岗岩成矿有关的认识外,还有海底喷流成矿和玄武岩成矿的新观点。笔者在参与国家"十五"科技攻关课题《大型锡矿山接替资源探查技术与示范》工作中,通过野外调查和矿床地质特征的总结分析,提出了个旧超大型矿床的成矿模式,个旧矿区成矿作用的主要因素是燕山期含矿花岗岩,与碳酸盐建造和富含成矿物质的岩层发生相互作用,在花岗岩体的内外接触带附近,富集形成一系列锡铜多金属矿床,成矿作用围绕含矿花岗岩而进行。个旧矿区成矿花岗岩与碳酸盐建造和富含成矿物质的岩层以及构造的有利配置是控制矿床空间分布的根本原因。     

华南与花岗岩有关大规模钨锡成矿作用的时空分布、成矿模式及找矿方向

华南是我国重要的钨锡成矿区。本文围绕华南与花岗岩有关的大规模钨锡成矿作用,系统收集了区内130余个主要矿床的地质和同位素年代学资料,初步总结了与花岗岩有关大规模钨锡矿床的主要类型和时空分布特征。统计结果表明,矽卡岩型和石英脉型是华南最重要的钨成矿类型,而矽卡岩型和锡石硫化物型(或碳酸盐岩交代型)是华南最主要的锡成矿类型。华南与花岗岩有关钨锡成矿作用具有多时代特点,但大规模成矿均集中于燕山期。以南岭和赣北成矿带为主要代表的钨成矿作用主要集中爆发于晚侏罗世至早白垩世早期(160～120Ma),而右江盆地晚白垩世(110～80 Ma,峰期为90～80 Ma)和南岭成矿带晚侏罗世(160～150 Ma)锡矿床则共同构成了华南最主要的锡成矿作用。多种不同矿化或金属类型在同一矿床或矿田尺度上组合产出是华南与花岗岩有关钨锡矿床的重要特征之一,对指导找矿具有重要意义。对此,文章结合华南地区近年来的一些重要成矿机制研究成果和找矿勘查进展,分别以瑶岗仙、川口、茅坪、柿竹园、大厂和个旧等矿床或矿田为例,论述了华南与花岗岩有关大规模钨锡成矿作用的几种成矿模式和找矿方向。此外,本文在钨、锡成矿花岗岩的岩石学、地...     

Prospectivity mapping for “Zhuxi-type” copper-tungsten polymetallic deposits in the Jingdezhen region of Jiangxi Province,South China

The Zhuxi deposit is the largest copper-tungsten polymetallic deposit in the world and is in Jiangxi Province in South China. The ore body is characterized by hydrothermal-vein deposits of copper, lead, and zinc minerals at shallow levels, skarn deposits of tungsten and copper minerals at middle levels, and altered-granite-hosted copper and tungsten minerals at depth. Such metallogenic systems are typically intrusion-related. The intrusive granites related to the Zhuxi polymetallic deposit have been dated at 152.9 Ma to 146.9 Ma. The intrusions provided the thermal energy and the source material for the ore mineralization. Skarns mineralization, the main type of ore mineralization, developed in the contact zone of Carboniferous-Permian formations with the granites. Nappe structures changed the dip of the ore bodies from steep in the top part to gentle in the bottom. NE-trending faults provided the fluid pathways and controlled the geological framework and distribution of ore deposits on a regional scale. In this study, recognition exploration criteria were analyzed based on a mineral deposit model and the geological setting. Extraction of favorable geological information and GIS-based data-integration methods were used for mineral-prospectivity mapping of Zhuxi-type polymetallic deposits. Buffering analysis was employed to extract structural information (e.g. faults) and lithologic or stratigraphic information (e.g. granites or geologic units). The singularity method and spatially weighted principal component analysis were used to enhance and delineate geochemical anomalies. The derivative norm was utilized to extract magnetic-gradient anomalies associated with intrusive granites. Student t-test of weights-of-evidence (WofE) proved to be an effective way to optimize threshold values for binarization of variables as evidence layers by evaluating the spatial correlation between known deposits and geological variables. The posterior probabilities of WofE gave a relative estimation of mineralization potential. Areas delineated by high posterior probability had much higher potentiality for the discovery of new deposits where had none had been found yet.     

新疆贝勒库都克锡矿带含锡花岗岩地质特征

本文根据矿物、岩石、微量元素、稀土元素及同位素的研究,重点讨论了我国近年新发现的北方地区第一条独立锡矿带的海西期含锡和非含锡花岗岩的地质特征,确定了该区花岗岩的成因类型及其与锡矿化的关系,认定该区伴随海西运动出现I型、S型和A型三种花岗岩。与锡矿化有关的属S型和A型花岗岩,它们是在早期(造山期)I型和S型花岗岩的基础上进一步演化而隶属造山晚期—造山期后的产物。在上述研究的基础上,总结了该区含矿花岗岩与无矿花岗岩的综合判别标志,为该区及邻区同类锡矿的找寻与研究提供了依据。     

Age and geological position of the Okunyovo rare-metal ore magmatic complex (Western Sayan Mountains)

Geological, geochemical, and geochronological studies of rocks have been performed at the Okunyovo rare-metal ore magmatic complex (Western Sayan Mountains) composed of alkali granites and related F–Be mineralization. The geological data obtained and the features of the geochemical similarity of granite and ore mineralization identified are indicative of their genetic relation. Riebeckite from two granite samples has been subjected to ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar analyses. The estimated age values of 481.5 ± 2.7 Ma and 486.5 ± 5.8 Ma are consistent within the limits of error and determine the age of Okunyovo alkali granite within 481–486 Ma ago. These data have made it possible to relate the studied rock and ore formation to the development of the Early Paleozoic ASFR controlled by the mantle plume. Along with the Okunyovo rare-metal granite massif, within the Sayan Region of the magmatic province, there are a number of Early Paleozoic alkali massifs related to the Aryskan, Raduga, and Kazyr rare-metal deposits. They are located in the conjugation area of the Western and Eastern Sayan ridges, in the Early Paleozoic Eastern Sayan rare-metal magmatism zone specialized in Be, W, Mo, Zr, Nb, and REEs.     

Suture zones of the Urals as integral prospective ore-bearing tectonic structures

Rift-related (1.2 Ga) and collision (380–240 Ma) suture zones of the Urals are described. The riftrelated suture zones comprise an ultramafic-gabbro complex with titanomagnetite mineralization, an ultramafic complex with chromite mineralization, and a complex of alkali granitoids with rare-metal (including REE) mineralization accompanied by K-feldspathites, albitites, and calcite metasomatic rocks. The collision suture zones are distinguished by early collision granitoids specialized for tungsten (scheelite) and gold, as well as by raremetal granites and such derivatives of them as pegmatite and greisen with rare-metal and colored-stone mineralization. The suture zones are characterized by long-term (up to 80 Ma or more) continuous-discontinuous periods of ore deposition; heterogeneous sources of ore matter and ore-bearing fluids; a polyelemental composition of lithogeochemical halos and an integral mineral composition of altered wall rocks; and the occurrence of mafic, intermediate, and felsic dikes at large gold deposits, as well as wide variations in PT parameters of the ore-forming process: T = 620?150°C and P = 3.2?0.6 kbar. Collision played a dual role in ore formation. On the one hand, collision led to deformation and metamorphism of precollision massive sulfide deposits and, to a lesser degree, Au-bearing Fe and Cu skarn and porphyry copper deposits, and, on the other hand, to the formation of new gold, rare-metal, quartz, colored-stone, talc, muscovite, and noble serpentine deposits. As a rule, this polygenetic mineralization differs in age and is related to collision volcanic and plutonic complexes. This diversity can be a good basis for metallogenic analysis, forecasting, and prospecting of various metallic deposits and industrial minerals. Polygenetic mineralization of various age known in suture zones is accompanied by integral lithogeochemical and metasomatic halos characterized by a continuous-discontinuous history. The complexity of ore mineralization and often nonlinear metallogeny increase the practical value of suture zones.     

四川会理岔河元古宙锡矿床的地质特征及成因探讨

岔河锡矿床产于元古宙裂谷环境中,其形成与晋宁期的花岗质岩浆活动有关。矿化及有关的矽卡岩化蚀变为含矿热液对大理岩等围岩交代的产物,皆围绕岩体接触带分布,并呈现良好的分带。含矿热液主要来自花岗岩,它提供了主要的流体和锡。锡的迁移、富集主要经历了岩浆结晶分异及围岩蚀变两个过程,分异作用是锡在热液中逐渐富集的主要原田,而云英岩化等蚀变中“脱载”出来的锡难以造成锡矿化。     

Tantalum–(niobium–tin) mineralisation in African pegmatites and rare metal granites: Constraints from Ta–Nb oxide mineralogy,geochemistry and U–Pb geochronology

Tantalum, an important metal for high-technology applications, is recovered from oxide minerals that are present as minor constituents in rare-metal granites and granitic rare-element pegmatites. Columbite-group minerals (CGM) account for the majority of the current tantalum production; other Ta–Nb oxides (TNO) such as tapiolite, wodginite, ixiolite, rutile and pyrochlore-supergroup minerals may also be used.In this paper mineralogical and geochemical data with a focus on opaque minerals as well as age determinations on CGM using the U–Pb method are presented for 13 rare-element granite and pegmatite districts in Africa, covering Archean, Paleoproterozoic, Neoproterozoic, Paleozoic and Mesozoic provinces. Geological, economic and geochronological data are reviewed.Each period of Ta-ore formation is characterised by peculiar mineralogical and geochemical features that assist in discriminating these provinces. Compositions of CGM are extremely variable: Fe-rich types predominate in the Man Shield (Sierra Leone), the Congo Craton (Democratic Republic of the Congo), the Kamativi Belt (Zimbabwe) and the Jos Plateau (Nigeria). Mn-rich columbite–tantalite is typical of the Alto Ligonha Province (Mozambique), the Arabian–Nubian Shield and the Tantalite Valley pegmatites (southern Namibia). Large compositional variations through Fe–Mn fractionation, followed by Nb–Ta fractionation are typical for pegmatites of the Kibara Belt of Central Africa, pegmatites associated with the Older Granites of Nigeria and some pegmatites in the Damara Belt of Namibia. CGM, tapiolite, wodginite and ixiolite accommodate minor and trace elements at the sub-ppm to weight-percent level. Trace elements are incorporated in TNO in a systematic fashion, e.g. wodginite and ixiolite carry higher Ti, Zr, Hf, Sn and Li concentrations than CGM and tapiolite. Compared to tapiolite, CGM have higher concentrations of all trace elements except Hf and occasionally Zr, Ti, Sn and Mg. The composition of TNO related to rare-element pegmatites is rather different from rare-metal granites: the latter have high REE and Th concentrations, and low Li and Mg. Pegmatite-hosted TNO are highly variable in composition, with types poor in REE, typical of LCT-family pegmatites, and types rich in REE — showing affinity for NYF-family or mixed LCT–NYF pegmatites. Major and trace elements show regional characteristics that are conspicuous in normalised trace element and REE diagrams. In general, CGM from Ta-ore provinces are characterised by the predominance of one type of REE distribution pattern characterised by ratios between individual groups of REE (light, middle, heavy REE) and the presence and intensity of anomalies (e.g. Eu/Eu*).Despite textural complexities such as complex zoning patterns and multiple mineralisation stages, the chemical compositions of CGM, tapiolite and wodginite–ixiolite from rare-metal granite and rare-element pegmatite provinces indicate that they are cogenetic and reflect specific source characteristics that may be used to discriminate among rocks of different origin.Geochronological data produced for CGM from ore districts are discussed together with the respective ore mineralogy and minor and trace element geochemistry of TNO to reconsider the geodynamics of pegmatite formation. In Africa, formation of rare element-bearing pegmatites and granites is related to syn- to late-orogenic (e.g., West African Craton, Zimbabwe Craton), post-orogenic (Kibara Belt, Damara Belt, Older Granites of Nigeria, Adola Belt of Ethiopia) and anorogenic (Younger Granites of Nigeria) tectonic and magmatic episodes. The late-orogenic TNO mineralisation associated with A-type granites in the Eastern Desert of Egypt shares geochemical features with the anorogenic Younger Granites of Nigeria.     

Molybdenum mineralization in the ores of the Tigriny tin deposit (Primorye,Russia)

The molybdenum mineralization at the Tigriny tin deposit is considered for the first time in the light of possible recovery of Mo as a by-product of selective mining. It is established that Mo has a positive correlation with Bi and does not show a correlation with Sn, W, or Zn. The highest Mo grade (>0.1%) in the ore stockwork is related to hornfels near the exposed granite porphyry stock and decreases downward by an order of magnitude. At the level of adit 5, the most numerous quartz-molybdenite veinlets develop at a distance of 50–100 m from the granite porphyry stock. The molybdenite-quartz, pegmatoid, and autogreisen generations of molybdenum mineralization are related to different substages of the first ore stage. All these generations predated crystallization of wolframite, cassiterite, and other ore minerals. The formation temperature for each molybdenite generation was determined by homogenization of fluid inclusions in quartz and decrepitation of samples characterizing each molybdenite-bearing assemblage. These data allowed us not only to estimate the crystallization temperature of each molybdenite generation but also to establish that the molybdenite crystallized from a pneumatolytic-hydrothermal melt-solution at the early stage of the deposit formation. The molybdenum mineralization is genetically related to the granite porphyry stock. The structure of the quartz-molybdenum stockwork was studied to determine the clusters of quartz-molybdenite veinlets and establish their orientation. Molybdenite 1 occurs in variably oriented veinlets that make up a stockwork around the apical portion of the porphyry stock. Disseminations and pockets of molybdenites 2 and 3 are hosted in pegmatoid rocks, greisen, and greisenized granite porphyry. The density of the Tigriny stockwork varies from 0 to 40–50 quartz-molybdenite veinlets per 5 m. Their orientation and spatial distribution were studied in quantitative terms. The most promising targets for selective mining of molybdenite from the Tigriny deposit are the framework of the Minor porphyry stock and the apical portion of the Main stock. The Tigriny deposit demonstrates a clear relationship between ore formation and granitic magmatism.