S and Pb Isotopic Constraints on the Relationship between the Linong Granodiorite and the Yangla Copper Deposit,Yunnan, China

The Yangla copper deposit, located in western Yunnan Province, China, is a typical giant, newly started mining copper deposit with an estimated Cu reserves of about 1,200,000 tons. The deposit is spatially and temporally associated with the Linong granodiorite, which is rich in SiO2 (SiO2=58.25 wt%–69.84 wt%) and alkalis (Na2O+K2O=5.98 wt%–8.34 wt%), indicating an association with shoshonitic series to high-K calc-alkaline series granites, and shows low contents of TiO2 (0.35 wt%–0.48 wt%), MgO (1.51 wt%–1.72 wt%), and Al2O3 (13.38 wt%–19.75 wt%). The δ34S values of sulfides of the main ore stage from copper ores vary range from ?4.2‰ to ?0.9‰, indicating a much greater contribution from the mantle to the ore-forming fluids. The δ34S values of the late ore stage is ?9.8‰, indicating enrichment of biogenic sulfur which may derive from the crustal hydrothermal fluid. The 208Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb and 206Pb/204Pb of sulfides of the main ore stage from copper ores range within 38.66–38.73, 15.71–15.74 and 18.35–19.04, respectively, implying that the Pb was derived from the mantle, with the crustal component, probably representing mixtures of mantle lead and crustal lead. Sulfide of the late ore stage in their Pb isotopic composition, 208Pb/204Pb= 38.69, 207Pb/204Pb=15.70, 206Pb/204Pb=18.35, implying that the Pb was derived from the crust. The Linong granodiorite is syn-collisional, produced by partial melting of thickened lower crust, which was triggered by the westward subduction of the Jinshajiang Oceanic plate. During a transition in geodynamic setting from collision-related compression to extension, gently dipping ductile shear zones (related to subduction) were transformed to brittle shear zones, consisting of a series of thrust faults in the Jinshajiang tectonic belt. The tensional thrust faults would have been a favorable environment for ore-forming fluids. The ascending magma provided a channel for the ore-forming fluid from the mantle wedge. After the magma arrived at the base of the early-stage Linong granodiorite, the platy granodiorite at the base of the body would have shielded the late-stage magma from the fluid. The magma would have cooled slowly, and some of the ore-forming fluid in the magma would have entered the gently dipping thrust faults near the Linong granodiorite, resulting in mineralization.     

Geological,fluid inclusion,and O–C–S–Pb–He–Ar isotopic constraints on the genesis of the Honghuagou lode gold deposit,northern North China Craton

The Honghuagou Au deposit is located in the Chifeng-Chaoyang region within the northern margin of the North China Craton. The auriferous quartz veins are mainly hosted in the mafic gneiss and migmatite of the Neoarchean Xiaotazigou Formation along NNW- and NE-striking faults, with pyrite as the predominant ore mineral. The gold mineralization process can be divided into two stages, involving stage I quartz-pyrite and stage II quartz-calcite-polymetallic sulfide. Three types of fluid inclusions (FIs) have been identified in the Honghuagou deposit, namely, carbonic inclusions, aqueous‑carbonic inclusions, and aqueous inclusions. Quartz of stage I contains all types of FIs, whereas only aqueous inclusions are evident in stage II veins. The FIs of stages I and II yield homogenization temperatures of 275–340 °C and 240–290 °C with salinities of 3.4–10.7 wt% and 1.4–9.7 wt% NaCl eqv., respectively. The ore-forming fluids are characterized by medium temperature and low salinity, belonging to the H₂O–NaCl–CO₂ system. The δ¹⁸O_H2O values of the ore fluids are between 2.1‰ and 5.9‰, within the range of enriched mantle-derived fluids in the North China Craton. The carbon isotope compositions of calcite (δ¹³C_PDB = −4.4‰ to −4‰) are also similar to mantle carbon. He-Ar isotope data (³He/⁴He = 0.38–0.44 Ra; ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar = 330–477) of fluid inclusions in pyrite indicate a mixed crustal and mantle source for the ore-forming fluids. Whereas, S-Pb isotope compositions of sulfides reveal that ore metals are principally derived from crustal rocks. On the basis of available geological and geochemical evidence, we suggest that the Honghuagou deposit is an orogenic gold deposit.     

Mantle Redox State Evolution in Eastern China and Its Implications

Using the secondary spinel standard, the authors have precisely measured the Fe3+/∑ Fe values of spinels in mantle xenoliths from Cenozoic basalts in eastern China, and estimated the oxygen fugacities recorded by 63 mantle xenoliths through olivine-orthopyroxene-spinel oxygen barometry. The results indicate that the oxygen fugacities of the lithospheric mantle in eastern China are higher in the south than in the north. Among them, the oxygen fugacity of the North China craton lithospheric mantle is the lowest, similar to that of the oceanic mantle, while that of Northeast and South China are the same as that of the global continental mantle. The variations of mantle redox state in eastern China are mainly controlled by the C-O-H fluids derived from the asthenospheric mantle. According to the mantle oxidation state, it can be concluded that the C-O-H fluids in the lithospheric mantle of eastern China consist mainly of CO2 and minor H2O, but CH4-rich fluids should come from the asthenosphere where the ox     

Geology and D-O-C Isotope Systematics of the Tieluping Silver Deposit,Henan, China: Implications for Ore Genesis

The Tieluping silver deposit, which is sited along NE-trending faults within the high-grade metamorphic basement of the Xiong‘er terrane, is part of an important Mesozoic orogenic-type Ag-Pb and Au belt recently discovered. Ore formation includes three stages: Early (E), Middle (M) and Late (L), which include quartz-pyrite (E),polymetallic sulfides (M) and carbonates (L), respectively. The E-stage fluids are characterized by δD=-90%c,δ^13CCO2=2.0‰ and δ^18O=9‰ at 373℃, and are deeply sourced; the L-stage fluids, with δD=-70‰, δ^13C CO2=-1.3%c and δ^18O=-2‰, are shallow-sourced meteoric water; whereas the M-stage fluids, with δD=-109‰, δ^13C CO2=0.1%c and δ^18O2‰, are a mix of deep-sourced and shallow-sourced fluids. Comparisons of the D-O-C isotopic systematics of the Estage ore-forming fluids with the fluids derived from Mesozoic granites, Archean-Paleoproterozoic metamorphic basement and Paleo-Mesoproterozoic Xiong‘er Group, show that these units cannot generate fluids with the measured isotopic composition (high δ^180 and δ^13C ratios and low δD ratios) characteristic of the ore-forming fluids. This suggests that the E-stage ore-forming fluids originated from metamorphic devolatilization of a carbonate-shale-chert lithological association, locally rich in organic matter, which could correspond to the Meso-Neoproterozoic Guandaokou and Luanchuan Groups, rather than to geologic units in the Xiong‘er terrane, the lower crust and the mantle. This supports the view that the rocks of the Guandaokou and Luanchuan Groups south of the Machaoying fault might be the favorable sources. A tectonic model that combines collisional orogeny, metallogeny and hydrothermal fluid flow is proposed to explain the formation of the Tieluping silver deposit. During the Mesozoic collision between the South and North China paleocontinents, a crustal slab containing a lithological association consisting of carbonate-shale-chert, locally rich in organic matter (carbonaceous shale) was thrust northwards beneath the Xiong‘er terrane along the Machaoying fault.Metamorphic devolatilization of this underthrust slab provided the ore-forming fluids to develop the Au-Ag-(Pb-Zn) ore belt, which includes the Tieluping silver deposit.     

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.     

Origin and evolution of geothermal fluids from Las Tres Vírgenes and Cerro Prieto fields,Mexico – Co-genetic volcanic activity and paleoclimatic constraints

Major and trace elements, noble gases, and stable (δD, δ¹⁸O) and cosmogenic (³H, ¹⁴C) isotopes were measured from geothermal fluids in two adjacent geothermal areas in NW-Mexico, Las Tres Vírgenes (LTV) and Cerro Prieto (CP). The goal is to trace the origin of reservoir fluids and to place paleoclimate and structural-volcanic constraints in the region. Measured ³He/⁴He (R) ratios normalized to the atmospheric value (R_a = 1.386 × 10⁻⁶) vary between 2.73 and 4.77 and are compatible with mixing between a mantle component varying between 42 and 77% of mantle helium and a crustal, radiogenic He component with contributions varying between 23% and 58%. Apparent U–Th/⁴He ages for CP fluids (0.7–7 Ma) suggest the presence of a sustained ⁴He flux from a granitic basement or from mixing with connate brines, deposited during the Colorado River delta formation (1.5–3 Ma). Radiogenic in situ ⁴He production age modeling at LTV, combined with the presence of radiogenic carbon (1.89 ± 0.11 pmC – 35.61 ± 0.28 pmC) and the absence of tritium strongly suggest the Quaternary infiltration of meteoric water into the LTV geothermal reservoir, ranging between 4 and 31 ka BP. The present geochemical heterogeneity of LTV fluids can be reconstructed by mixing Late Pleistocene – Early Holocene meteoric water (58–75%) with a fossil seawater component (25–42%), as evidenced by Br/Cl and stable isotope trends. CP geothermal water is composed of infiltrated Colorado River water with a minor impact by halite dissolution, whereas a vapor-dominated sample is composed of Colorado River water and vapor from deeper levels. δD values for the LTV meteoric end-member, which are 20‰–44‰ depleted with respect to present-day precipitation, as well as calculated annual paleotemperatures 6.9–13.6 °C lower than present average temperatures in Baja California point to the presence of humid and cooler climatic conditions in the Baja California peninsula during the final stage of the Last Glacial Pluvial period. Quaternary recharge of the LTV geothermal reservoir is related to elevated precipitation rates during cooler-humid climate intervals in the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene. The probable replacement of connate water or pore fluids by infiltrating surface water might have been triggered by enhanced fracture and fault permeability through contemporaneous tectonic–volcanic activity in the Las Tres Vírgenes region. Fast hydrothermal alteration processes caused a secondary, positive δ¹⁸O-shift from 4‰ to 6‰ for LTV and from 2‰ to 4‰ for CP geothermal fluids since the Late Glacial infiltration.     

He–Ar Isotopic Tracing of Pyrite from Ore-forming Fluids of the Sanshandao Au Deposit, Jiaodong Area

The Sanshandao Au deposit is located in the famous Sanshandao metallogenic belt, Jiaodong area. To date, accumulative Au resources of 1000 t have been identified from the belt. Sanshandao is a world-class gold deposit with Au mineralization hosted in Early Cretaceous Guojialing-type granites. Thus, studies on the genesis and ore-forming element sources of the Sanshandao Au deposit are crucial. He and Ar isotopic analyses of fluid inclusions from pyrite(the carrier of Au) indicate that the fluid inclusions have 3 He/4 He=0.043–0.21 Ra with an average of 0.096 Ra and 40 Ar/36 Ar=488–664 with an average of 570.8. These values represent the initial He and Ar isotopic compositions of ore-forming fluids for trapped fluid inclusions. The comparison of H–O isotopic characteristics combined with deposit geology and wall rock alteration reveals that the ore-forming fluids of the Sanshandao Au deposit show mixed crust–mantle origin characteristics, and they mainly comprise crust-derived fluid mixed with minor mantle-derived fluid and meteoric water during the uprising process. The ore-forming elements were generally sourced from pre-Cambrian meta-basement rocks formed by Mesozoic reactivation and mixed with minor shallow crustal and mantle components.     

He-Ar Isotopic Systematics of Fluid Inclusions in Pyrites from PGEpolymetallic Deposits in Lower Cambrian Black Rock Series, South China

He-Ar isotopic compositions of fluid inclusions trapped in pyrites from some representative PGE-polymetallic deposits in Lower Cambrian black rock series in South China were analyzed by using an inert gas isotopic mass spectrometer. The results show that the ore-forming fluids possess a low 3He/4He ratio, varying from 0.43×10-8 to 26.39×10-8, with corresponding R/Ra value of 0.003-0.189. The 40Ar/36Ar ratios are 258-287, close to those of air saturated water (ASW). He-Ar isotopic indicator studies show that the ore-forming fluids were mainly derived from the formation water or basinal hot brine and sea water, while the content of mantle-derived fluid or deep-derived magmatic water might be negligible. The PGE-polymetallic mineralization might be related to the evolution of the Caledonian miogeosynclines distributed along the southern margin of the Yangtze Craton. During the Early Cambrian, the formation water or basinal hot brine trapped in Caledonian basins which accumulated giant thick sediments was     

Stable Isotopic Geochemical and Geochronological Constraints on the Formation of the Shihu Gold Deposit: The Intracontinental Metallogeny of the Taihang Tectonic Belt,Eastern China

The Early Cretaceous Shihu gold deposit is located in the northern segment of the Taihang Tectonic belt, which extends across the central part of the North China Craton. The deposit is hosted predominantly by the Archean metamorphic crystalline units, and is spatially and temporally related to quartz diorite porphyry present extensively throughout the gold deposit. We studied the geology, geochronology and stable isotopic geochemistry. Zircon U–Pb LA–ICP–MS ages of the quartz diorite porphyry at deposit range from 134 ± 1 to 131 ± 2 Ma, which are coeval and probably genetically related to the mineralization. The majority of the sulfides of the gold deposit have δ³⁴S values ranging from ?1 to 2‰, which suggest an homogeneous magmatic source. In addition, the isotopic compositions of δ¹⁸O_fluid and δ¹⁸D_fluid vary from 2.1 to 7.0‰ and ?93 to ?65‰, respectively, suggesting that the magmatic fluids mingled with meteoric water. The Pb isotopic analyses reveal that both the ore‐forming materials and the quartz diorite porphyry originated from the lower crust and may have been mixed with mantle material. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd)_i ratios for the quartz diorite porphyry demonstrate that there was mixing of two end‐member (crust and the mantle) isotopic compositions. These results suggest that the ore‐forming fluids and materials were derived from lower‐crustal melting induced by mantle processes. Processes associated with the formation of the Shihu gold deposit differ significantly from those that characterize orogenic gold deposits, and instead are representative of formation in an intracontinental tectonic environment.     

A Study of Sr, Nd and O Isotopes of the K-rich Melanocratic Dykes in the Late Mesozoic Gold Field in the Jiaodong Peninsula

Geologic, petrographic and petrochemical studies of the late Mesozoic K-rich melanocratic dykes, including lamprophyres, andesite porphyrites and dacite-porphyry in the gold field system in the Jiaodong Peninsula, China, have shown that these dykes are characterized by rich potassium and alkali but poor titanium. They belong to an ultra-high potassic, shoshonitic and high potassic calc-alkaline rock series. The parental magma has relatively high initial strontium ratios ((87Sr/86Sr)i=0.70895-0.71140) and low (143Nd/144Nd)i ratios (varying from 0.51135 to 0.51231); and its δ18OSMow. whole rock values vary from +5.8‰ to +10.6‰ with a mean of+7.1‰. These features suggest that the source region of the magma is an enriched mantle wedge transformed from a continental lithosphere mantle which has experienced metasomatism by mantle-derived fluids with H2O-dominated fluids that were provided during the underthrusting of an ocean crust. The initial magma was generated by low-degree partial melting of the enri     

Genesis of the Gold Deposit in the Indus-Yarlung Tsangpo Suture Zone, Southern Tibet: Evidence from Geological and Geochemical Data

The Nianzha gold deposit,located in the central section of the Indus-Yarlung Tsangpo suture(IYS) zone in southern Tibet,is a large gold deposit(Au reserves of 25 tons with average grade of 3.08 g/t) controlled by a E-W striking fault that developed during the main stage of Indo-Asian collision(~65-41 Ma).The main orebody is 1760 m long and 5.15 m thick,and occurs in a fracture zone bordered by Cretaceous diorite in the hanging wall to the north and the Renbu tectonic melange in the footwall to the south.High-grade mineralization occurs in a fracture zone between diorite and ultramafic rock in the Renbu tectonic melange.The wall-rock alteration is characterized by silicification in the fracture zone,serpentinization and the formation of talc and magnesite in the ultramafic unit,and chloritization and the formation of epidote and calcite in diorite.Quartz veins associated with Au mineralization can be divided into three stages.Fluid inclusion data indicate that the deposit formed from H_2O-NaCl-organic gas fluids that homogenize at temperatures of 203℃-347℃ and have salinities of 0.35wt%-17.17wt%NaCl equivalent.The quartz veins yield δ~(18)O_(fluid) values of 0.15‰-10.45‰,low δD_(V-SMOW)values(-173‰ to-96‰),and the δ~(13)C values of-17.6‰ to-4.7‰,indicating the ore-forming fluids were a mix of metamorphic and sedimentary orogenic fluids with the addition of some meteoric and mantle-derived fluids.The pyrite within the diorite has δ~(34)S_(V-CDT) values of-2.9‰-1.9‰(average-1.1‰),~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb values of 18.47-18.64,~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb values of 15.64-15.74,and ~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb values of 38.71-39.27,all of which are indicative of the derivation of S and other ore-forming elements from deep in the mantle.The presence of the Nianzha,Bangbu,and Mayum gold deposits within the IYS zone indicates that this area is highly prospective for large orogenic gold deposits.We identified three types of mineralization within the IYS,namely Bangbu-type accretionary,Mayum-type microcontinent,and Nianzha-type ophiolite-associated orogenic Au deposits.The three types formed at different depths in an accretionary orogenic tectonic setting.The Bangbu type was formed at the deepest level and the Nianzha type at the shallowest.     

Helium and carbon isotope variations in Liaodong Peninsula,NE China

Chemical and C–He isotopic compositions have been measured for N₂-rich hydrothermal gases from the Liaodong (abbreviation of East Liaoning Province) Peninsula from which the oldest crustal rocks in China with ⩾3.8 Ga outcrop. With the exception of one sample containing tritogenic ³He and atmospheric ⁴He in Liaoyang, the observed ³He/⁴He ratios from 0.1 Ra to 0.7 Ra indicate 1–8% helium from mantle, 92–98% from crust and 0.1–0.8% from atmosphere. Despite the lack of Quaternary volcanism, such ³He/⁴He ratios suggest, together with geophysical evidences, the existence of intrusive magmas that contain mantle helium and heat within the Liaodong middle-lower crust. The ³He/⁴He ratios are high along the NE-trending Jinzhou faults and gradually decrease with the increase of distance from the faults. Such a spatial distribution suggests that the mantle helium exsolves from magmatic reservoir in the middle-lower crust, becomes focused into the root zones of Jinzhou faults, and subsequently traverses the crust via permeable fault zones. When transversely migrated by groundwater circulation in near surface, mantle helium with high ³He/⁴He ratio may have been further diluted to the observed values by addition of radiogenic helium produced in the crust. This pattern shows strong evidence that the major faults played an important role on mantle-derived components transport from mantle upwards.     

Dashuigou Tellurium Deposit in Sichuan Province, China: S, C, O, and H Isotope Data and Their Implications on Hydrothermal Mineralization

Abstract: Dashuigou, a unique tellurium‐dominated deposit over the world, is located in the western margin of the Yangtze cra‐ton in southwestern China. It is characterized by high‐grade tellurium accompanied by bismuth, gold, silver, and sulfur, and occurs in the area of less than one km². The mineralization is divided into three stages, i.e. (1) tellurium‐bearing pyrrhotite–pyrite stage, (2) tetradymite stage, and (3) auriferous quartz veins stage. Tellurium mineralization coexisting with bismuth, silver, selenium, and gold predominantly develops in the stage 2, while the stage 1 is enriched only in sulfur and iron, and the stage 3 is very weakly mineralized with gold. The δ³⁴S values of sulfides in the ore of the deposit vary in a narrow range of –3.1 ‐ +2.8 per mil with –3.1 ‐ +2.8 per mil for the stage 1 and –0.5 ‐ +2.1 for the stage 2, showing the isotopic characteristics of mantle derived sulfur. The δ¹³C values of vein dolomites vary from –5.3 to –7.2 per mil, with –5.3 ‐ –6.6 per mil for the stage 1 and –5.3 ‐ –7.2 per mil for the stage 2, which are significantly different from those of surrounding Triassic marble with δ¹³C values of –0.3 ‐ +2.8 per mil, and show characteristics of mantle derived carbon. The δ¹⁸O values of vein dolomites range from +10.2 to +13.1 per mil, which are higher than those of carbonatite, but lower than those of the marble. Their corresponding δ¹⁸O_water values are +0.6 ‐ +3.9 per mil, with +2.7 ‐ +3.8 per mil for the stage 1 and +0.6 ‐ +3.9 per mil for the stage 2. The data implies that these vein carbonates were formed by the mixing fluids of magmatic or mantle source with meteoric or formation water. The δ¹⁸O values of ore‐forming fluids responsible for the formation of vein quartz are estimated to be +3.2 to +6.8, the δD values of inclusion fluids of the quartz are measured to be –54 to –82 per mil. All those stable isotopic data suggest the involvement of the fluids from mantle and/or mantle‐derived magmas through fault system in the forming process of the Dashuigou tellurium deposit.     

Effects of Deep Fluids on Hydrocarbon Generation and Accumulation in Chinese Petroliferous Basins

Deep fluids in a petroliferous basin generally come from the deep crust or mantle beneath the basin basement, and they transport deep substances(gases and aqueous solutions) as well as heat to sedimentary strata through deep faults. These deep fluids not only lead to large-scale accumulations of CO_2, CH_4, H_2, He and other gases, but also significantly impact hydrocarbon generation and accumulation through organic-inorganic interactions. With the development of deep faults and magmatic-volcanic activities in different periods, most Chinese petroliferous basins have experienced strong impacts associated with deep fluid activity. In the Songliao, Bohai Bay, Northern Jiangsu, Sanshui, Yinggehai and Pearl Mouth Basins in China, a series of CO_2 reservoirs have been discovered. The CO_2 content is up to 99%, with δ~(13)C_(CO2) values ranging from-4.1‰ to-0.37‰ and ~3He/~4He ratios of up to 5.5 Ra. The abiogenic hydrocarbon gas reservoirs with commercial reserves, such as the Changde, Wanjinta, Zhaozhou, and Chaoyanggou reservoirs, are mainly distributed in the Xujiaweizi faulted depression of the Songliao Basin. The δ~(13)CCH4 values of the abiogenic alkane gases are generally -30‰ and exhibit an inverse carbon isotope sequence of δ~(13)C_(CH4)δ~(13)C_(C2H6)δ~(13)C_(C3H8)δ~(13)C_(C4H10). According to laboratory experiments, introducing external H_2 can improve the rate of hydrocarbon generation by up to 147% through the kerogen hydrogenation process. During the migration from deep to shallow depth, CO_2 can significantly alter reservoir rocks. In clastic reservoirs, feldspar is easily altered by CO_2-rich fluids, leading to the formation of dawsonite, a typical mineral in high CO_2 partial pressure environments, as well as the creation of secondary porosity. In carbonate reservoirs, CO_2-rich fluids predominately cause dissolution or precipitation of carbonate minerals. The minerals, e.g., calcite and dolomite, show some typical features, such as higher homogenization temperatures than the burial temperature, relatively high concentrations of Fe and Mn, positive Eu anomalies, depletion of 18 O and enrichment of radiogenic ~(87)Sr. Due to CO_2-rich fluids, the development of high-quality carbonate reservoirs is extended to deep strata. For example, the Well TS1 in the northern Tarim Basin revealed a high-quality Cambrian dolomite reservoir with a porosity of 9.1% at 8408 m, and the Well ZS1 C in the central Tarim Basin revealed a large petroleum reserve in a Cambrian dolomite reservoir at ~6900 m. During the upward migration from deep to shallow basin strata, large volumes of supercritical CO_2 may extract petroleum components from hydrocarbon source rocks or deep reservoirs and facilitate their migration to shallow reservoirs, where the petroleum accumulates with the CO_2. Many reservoirs containing both supercritical CO_2 and petroleum have been discovered in the Songliao, Bohaiwan, Northern Jiangsu, Pearl River Mouth and Yinggehai Basins. The components of the petroleum trapped with CO_2 are dominated by low molecular weight saturated hydrocarbons.     

Re–Os systematics of the Raobazhai peridotite massifs from the Dabie orogenic zone, eastern China

The Raobazhai ultramafic massif of the ultrahigh pressure Sulu–Dabie orogenic belt, central China, is thought to be a segment of subcontinental lithospheric mantle that was subducted and exhumed during the Triassic collision of the North China and Yangtze cratons. We performed a Re–Os isotopic study of peridotites from the massif, associated with major and trace element analysis and textural examination. Os (1.02 to 6.28 ppb) and Re (0.004 to 0.376 ppb) concentrations are typical of orogenic lherzolite values, and ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios (0.1157 to 0.1283) are all similar to or lower than the proposed primitive upper mantle value. ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os is roughly correlated with ¹⁸⁷Re/¹⁸⁸Os, and strongly correlated with Al₂O₃. These correlations can be explained by radiogenic ingrowth of ¹⁸⁷Os since an ancient partial melting event. T_MA model ages (1.7 to 2.0 Ga) of refractory peridotites from the lower massif are consistent with the model age (1.8 Ga) obtained from the ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os vs. Al₂O₃ correlation at ~1% Al₂O₃. This age cannot distinguish the cratonic provenance of the Raobazhai massif, since similar Re–Os model ages have been obtained from both the North China and the Yangtze cratons. The poor quality of the ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os vs. ¹⁸⁷Re/¹⁸⁸Os correlation indicates that the Re/Os ratios were disturbed, perhaps during Triassic subduction. The mainly lherzolitic samples of the upper massif, which were most strongly affected by this process, have porphyroclastic textures with fine-grained olivine, pyroxene and amphibole neoblasts, suggesting Re mobility during recrystallization in the presence of fluids.Previous studies of ultramafic xenoliths from arc volcanics demonstrate that slab-derived melts or fluids can both scavenge mantle Os and add substantial amounts of radiogenic Os to the suprasubduction mantle. In Raobazhai, both trace element patterns and the abundance of hydrous phases provide evidence for extensive interaction with fluids during subduction and/or exhumation. Nevertheless, the strong correlation between ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os and Al₂O₃, and the high Os concentrations of these rocks indicate that Os isotopic ratios, and probably even Os concentrations, were essentially unaffected by this process. Assuming that the arguments favoring a suprasubduction setting for the Raobazhai massif are valid, these data provide evidence that Os systematics are sometimes surprisingly robust, even above subduction zones.     

The role of slab melting in the petrogenesis of high-Mg andesites: evidence from Simbo Volcano,Solomon Islands

The petrogenesis of high-Mg andesites (HMA) in subduction zones involves shallow melting of refractory mantle sources or, alternatively, the interaction of ascending slab-derived melts with mantle peridotite. To unravel the petrogenesis of HMA, we report major, trace element and Sr–Nd–Hf–Pb isotope data for a newly found occurrence of HMA in the New Georgia group, Solomon Islands, SW-Pacific. Volcanism in the Solomon Islands was initiated by subduction of the Pacific plate beneath the Indian–Australian plate until a reversal of subduction polarity occurred ca. 10 Ma ago. Currently, the Indian–Australian plate is subducted northeastwards along the San Cristobál trench, forming the younger and still active southwestern Solomon island arc. However, a fossil slab of Pacific crust is still present beneath the arc. The edifice of the active volcano Simbo is located directly in the San Cristobál trench on top of the subducting Indian–Australian plate. Simbo Island lies on top of a strike-slip fault of the adjacent Woodlark spreading centre that is subducted beneath the Pacific plate. Geochemical and petrological compositions of volcanic rocks from Simbo are in marked contrast to those of volcanic rocks from islands north of the trench (mostly arc basalts). Simbo-type rocks are opx-bearing HMA, displaying 60–62 wt% SiO₂ but rather primitive Mg–Ni–Cr characteristics with 4–6 wt% MgO, up to 65 ppm Ni, up to 264 ppm Cr and Mg# from 67 to 75. The compositions of the Simbo andesites are explained by a binary mixture of silicic and basaltic melts. Relict olivine phenocrysts with Fo_88–90 and reaction-rims of opx also support a mixing model. The basaltic endmember is similar to back-arc basalts from the Woodlark Ridge. A slab melt affinity of the silicic mixing component is indicated by Gd_(N)/Yb_(N) of up to 2.2 that is higher if compared to MORB and other arc basalts from the Solomon Islands. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ɛNd and ɛHf values in the analysed rocks range from 0.7035 to 0.7040, +6.4 to +7.9 and +12 to +14.4, respectively. These values reveal the presence of the Indian–Australian mantle domain beneath Simbo (i.e. the Indian–Australian plate) and also beneath all other volcanic islands of the New Georgia group, which are located north of the San Cristobál trench. ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values (18.43–18.52, 15.49–15.55 and 18.13–18.34, respectively) confirm the presence of slab melts from the subducted Pacific plate beneath southern Simbo where the highest Gd_(N)/Yb_(N) ratios are reported. A spatial shift towards an Indian–Australian slab signature is observed when approaching the active San Cristobál trench on northern Simbo, reflecting the decreasing influence of slab melts from the old subducted Pacific plate.     

Geology and Isotope Geochemistry of the Yinchanggou-Qiluogou Pb-Zn Deposit, Sichuan Province, Southwest China

The Yinchanggou-Qiluogou Pb-Zn deposit,located in the western Yangtze Block,southwest China,is hosted by the Upper Sinian Dengying Formation dolostone.Ore bodies occur in the Qiluogou anticline and the NS-and NNW-trending faults.Sulfide ores mainly consist of sphalerite,pyrite,galena and calcite,with subordinate dolomite and quartz.Seventeen ore bodies have been discovered to date and they have a combined 1.0 million tons of sulfide ores with average grades of 2.27wt%Zn and 6.89wt%Pb.The δD_(H2O-SMOW) and δ~(18)O_(H2O-SMOW) values of fluid inclusions in quartz and calcite samples range from-68.9‰ to-48.7‰ and 7.3‰ to 15.9‰,respectively,suggesting that H_2O in the hydrothermal fluids sourced from metamorphic water.Calcite samples have δ~(13)C_(PDB) values ranging from-6.2‰ to-4.1‰ and δ~(18)O_(SMOW) values ranging from 15.1‰ to 17.4‰,indicating C and O in the hydrothermal fluids likely derived from a mixed source of metamorphic fluids and the host carbonates.The δ~(34)S_(CDT) values of sulfide minerals range from 5.5‰ to 20.3‰,suggesting that thermal chemical reduction of sulfate minerals in evaporates were the most probable source of S in the hydrothermal fluids.The ~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb,~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb and ~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb ratios of sulfide minerals fall in the range of 18.11 to 18.40,15.66 to 15.76 and 38.25 to 38.88,respectively.The Pb isotopic data of the studied deposit plot near the upper crust Pb evolution curve and overlap with the age-corrected Proterozoic basement rocks and the Upper Sinian Dengying Formation hosting dolostone.This indicates that the Pb originated from a mixed source of the basement metamorphic rocks and the ore-hosting carbonate rocks.The ore geology and C-H-O-S-Pb isotopic data suggest that the YinchanggouQiluogou deposit is an unusual carbonate-hosted,strata-bound and epigenetic deposit that derived ore-forming materials from a mixed source of the underlying Porterozoic basements and the Sinian hosting carbonates.     

Slab–mantle flow interaction: influence on subduction dynamics and duration

We investigate the influence of mantle flow relative to the lithosphere on subduction dynamics. We use 2D thermo‐mechanical models assuming incompressible non‐Newtonian fluid rheology. Different mantle flow velocities consistent with absolute plate motion models are tested, as well as both directions of flow, either sustaining or opposing slab dip. The effects of different inflow/outflow velocity profiles, slab strengths and upper–lower mantle viscosity contrasts are also evaluated. Slab dip deviations between models with opposite mantle flow directions range from 37° for relatively strong slabs (η_max = 10²⁵ Pa s) to 50° for weaker slabs (η_max = 10²⁴ Pa s), accounting for a significant amount of natural slab dip variability. For imposed mantle flow supporting the slab, the initial stage of slab steepening is followed by a stage of continuous slab dip decrease. This slab shallowing eventually leads to mantle wedge closure, subduction cessation and slab break‐off, possibly driving subduction flips.     

Geology and Isotope Geochemistry of the Dongzhongla Pb–Zn Deposit in Tibet: Implications for the Origin of the Ore‐Forming Fluids and Storage Condition of Certain Metals

As a newly discovered medium‐sized deposit (proven Pb + Zn resources of 0.23 Mt, 9.43% Pb and 8.73% Zn), the Dongzhongla skarn Pb–Zn deposit is located in the northern margin of the eastern Gangdese, central Lhasa block. Based on the geological conditions in this deposit of ore‐forming fluids, H, O, C, S, Pb, Sr, and noble gas isotopic compositions were analyzed. Results show that δ¹⁸O_SMOW of quartz and calcite ranged from −9.85 to 4.17‰, and δD_SMOW ranged from −124.7 to −99.6‰ (where SMOW is the standard mean ocean water), indicating magma fluids mixed with meteoric water in ore‐forming fluids. The δ¹³C_PDB and δ¹⁸O_SMOW values of calcite range from −1.4 to −1.1‰ and from 5.3 to 15.90‰, respectively, show compositions consistent with the carbonate limestone in the surrounding rocks, implying that the carbon was primarily sourced from the dissolution of carbonate strata in the Luobadui Formation. The ore δ³⁴S composition varied in a narrow range of 2.8 to 5.7‰, mostly between 4‰ and 5‰. The total sulfur isotopic value δ³⁴S was 4.7‰ with characteristics of magmatic sulfur. The ³He/⁴He values of pyrite and galena ranged from 0.101 to 5.7 Ra, lower than those of mantle‐derived fluids (6 ± 1 Ra), but higher than those of the crust (0.01–0.05 Ra), and therefore classified as a crust–mantle mixed source. The Pb isotopic composition for ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values of the ores were in the ranges of 18.628–18.746, 15.698–15.802, and 39.077–39.430, respectively, consistent with the Pb isotopic composition of magmatic rocks in the deposit, classified as upper‐crust lead. The ore lead was likely sourced partially from the crustal basement of the Lhasa Terrane. The initial (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i value from five sulfide samples ranged from 0.71732 to 0.72767, and associated ore‐forming fluids were mainly sourced from the partial melting of the upper‐crust materials. Pb isotopic compositions of ore sulfides from the Dongzhongla deposit are similar to that of the Yuiguila and Mengya'a deposit, indicating that they have similar sources of metal‐rich ore‐forming solution. According to basic skarn mineralogy, the economic metals, and the origin of the ore‐forming fluids, the Dongzhongla deposit was classified as a skarn‐type Pb–Zn deposit.     

Dolomitization by hypersaline reflux into dense groundwaters as revealed by vertical trends in strontium and oxygen isotopes: Upper Muschelkalk,Switzerland

The Trigonodus Dolomit is the dolomitized portion of the homoclinal ramp sediments of the Middle Triassic Upper Muschelkalk in the south‐east Central European Basin. Various dolomitizing mechanisms, followed by recrystallization, have been previously invoked to explain the low δ¹⁸O, high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, extensive spatial distribution and early nature of the replacive matrix dolomites. This study re‐evaluates the origin, timing and characteristics of the dolomitizing fluids by examining petrographic and isotopic trends in the Trigonodus Dolomit at 11 boreholes in northern Switzerland. In each borehole the ca 30 m thick unit displays the same vertical trends with increasing depth: crystal size increase, change from anhedral to euhedral textures, ultraviolet‐fluorescence decrease, δ¹⁸O_VPDB decrease from ?1·0‰ at the top to ?6·7‰ at the base and an ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr increase from 0·7080 at the top to 0·7117 at the base. Thus, dolomites at the top of the unit record isotopic values similar to Middle Triassic seawater (δ¹⁸O_VSMOW = 0‰; ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0·70775) while dolomites at the base record values similar to meteoric groundwaters from the nearby Vindelician High (δ¹⁸O_VSMOW = ?4·0‰; ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = >0·712). According to water–rock interaction modelling, a single dolomitizing or recrystallizing fluid cannot have produced the observed isotopic trends. Instead, the combined isotopic, geochemical and petrographic data can be explained by dolomitization via seepage‐reflux of hypersaline brines into dense, horizontally‐advecting groundwaters that already had negative δ¹⁸O and high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values. Evidence for the early groundwaters is found in meteoric calcite cements that preceded dolomitization and in fully recrystallized dolomites with isotopic characteristics identical to the groundwaters following matrix dolomitization. This study demonstrates that early groundwaters can play a decisive role in the formation and recrystallization of massive dolomites and that the isotopic and textural signatures of pre‐existing groundwaters can be preserved during seepage‐reflux dolomitization in low‐angle carbonate ramps.