Jusa and Barsuchi Log Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits from the Southern Urals of Russia: Devonian Analogs of the Kuroko Deposits of NE Honshu, Japan

Chemical analysis of 60 samples from the Jusa and Barsuchi Log volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry shows that, on average, the Jusa deposit is more enriched in the chalcophilic elements than the Barsuchi Log deposit, whereas the Barsuchi Log deposit is more enriched in the lithogenous elements and Te. In addition, the yellow ores in these deposits are more enriched on average in Cu, As and Mo and the black ores more enriched in Zn, Ga, Cd, Sb, Ba , Hg and Pb relative to each other. Both these deposits are similar in composition to the Kuroko deposits of NE Honshu and may be considered to be analogs of these deposits. The Kuroko deposits, however, contain much higher concentrations of As, Ag, Sb, Ba, Hg and lower contents of Te on average than the Jusa and Barsuchi Log deposits. Based on the higher contents of Te in the Barsuchi Log deposit compared to the Jusa deposit, as well as on textural considerations, it is concluded that the Barsuchi Log deposit is intermediate between the Urals- and Kuroko-type deposits, whereas the Jusa deposit is more analogous to the Kuroko-type deposits. Based on the compositional data presented here, the Jusa and Barsuchi Log deposits may be described as Zn-Pb-Cu-Ba deposits rather than as Zn-Cu-Ba deposits, as the Baimak-type deposits of the west Magnitogrosk zone have previously been described.     

Metallogenic Province and Large Scale Mineralization of Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits in China

Volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits are one of the most important base–metal deposit types in China, are major sources of Zn, Cu, Pb, Ag, and Au, and significant sources for Co, Sn, Se, Mn, Cd, In, Bi, Te, Ga, and Ge. They typically occur at or near the seafloor in submarine volcanic environments, and are classified according to base metal content, gold content, or host-rock lithology. The spatial distribution of the deposits is determined by the different geological settings, with VMS deposits concentrated in the Sanjiang, Qilian and Altai metallogenic provinces. VMS deposits in China range in age from Archaean to Mesozoic, and have three epochs of large scale mineralization of Proterozoic, Palaeozoic and Mesozoic. Only Hongtoushan Cu–Zn deposit has been recognized so far in an Archaean greenstone belt, at the north margin of the North China Platform. The Proterozoic era was one of the important metallogenic periods for the formation of VMS mineralization, mainly in the Early and Late Proterozoic periods. VMS-type Cu–Fe and Cu–Zn deposits related to submarine volcanic-sedimentary rocks, were formed in the Aulacogens and rifts in the interior and along both sides of the North China Platform, and the southern margin of the Yangtze Platform. More than half of the VMS deposits formed in the Palaeozoic, and three important VMS–metallogenic provinces have been recognized, they are Altai–Junggar (i.e. Ashele Cu–Pb–Zn deposit), Sanjiang (i.e. Laochang Zn–Pb–Cu deposit) and Qilian (i.e. Baiyinchang Cu–Zn deposit). The Triassic is a significant tectonic and metallogenic period for China. In the Sanjiang Palaeo–Tethys, the Late Triassic Yidun arc is the latest arc–basin system, in which the Gacun-style VMS Pb–Zn–Cu–Ag deposits developed in the intra-arc rift basins, with bimodal volcanic suites at the northern segment of the arc.     

Stratigraphic Correlation of the Malusok Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits, Southern Mindanao, Philippines

Abstract: Two adjacent volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits, the Main Malusok and the Malusok Southeast, are delineated within Barangay Tabayo, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, Mindanao, Philippines. These deposits comprise massive to semi-massive sulfide lenses representing the down-dip equivalent of oxidized gossans. The massive sulfides have a primary mineral assemblage of pyrite-chalcopyrite-sphalerite with significant amounts of supergene copper in the form of chal-cocite. Owing to structural and metamorphic overprinting combined with intense alteration, primary textures are generally obliterated. Rock types are classified according to dominant mineral assemblages whereas the main lithologic units comprising the Malusok volcanic package are divided based on the position of each unit relative to the mineralized zone. The main lithologic units are designated as the hanging wall, the host, and the footwall sequences. In correlating the stratigraphy of the Main Malusok zone with that of the Malusok Southeast zone, a chlorite/epidote-rich interval located at the base of the hanging wall sequence serves as a distinct stratigraphic marker from which all lithologies are referred to. Comparisons between the stratigraphy of the two areas show that massive to semi-massive sulfide lenses are confined within a single stratigraphic interval representing the favorable horizon for the entire Malusok area. However, differences exist relative to style of mineralization and configuration of the altered interval between the Main Malusok and the Malusok Southeast VMS deposits. Based on characteristics exhibited by each individual deposit, it is inferred that the Main Malusok VMS deposit overlies a feeder zone whereas the Malusok Southeast sulfide lenses represent satellite deposits and transported blocks.     

Re-Os Dating of Sulfides from the Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposit at Gacun, Southwestern China

Abstract. The Re-Os isotopic compositions of sulfide ores were analyzed for the Gacun, a volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit in southwestern China, to constrain the timing of mineralization. Sulfide ores from the deposit have a wide range of Re and Os concentrations, varying from 80.2 to 1543.2 ppb and from 0.307 to 8.83 ppb, respectively, and yielded a limited field of high ¹⁸⁷Re/¹⁸⁸Os and high ¹⁸⁷Os/188Os ratios, ranging from 1452 to 3309 and from 5.77 to 13.24, respectively. All sulfide samples yielded an isochron with an age of 217±28 Ma and an initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratio of around 0.52±0.73. The Re-Os isochron age agrees with ages previously constrained by the other isotopic dating of the host rocks and fossil strata for the deposit. The rhythmic variation in ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os and ¹⁸⁷Re/¹⁸⁸Os ratios within massive sulfide zone records a complicated process for ore-forming fluids episodically vented into the brine pool on the Mesozoic seafloor.     

Chemical Composition of Ores from the Takara Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposit, Central Japan

Abstract. The Takara volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposit occurs in Miocene formation of the Misaka Mountain, the South Fossa Magna region, central Japan. The tectonic setting of the Misaka Mountain is reconstructed to be a part of the paleo Izu-Ogasawara arc which collided with the Honshu arc and to form accreted body in the present position. The Takara deposit, therefore, is considered to have formed in the paleo Izu-Ogasawara arc.
The ores from the Takara deposit are classified into pyrite-type ore, chalcopyrite-type ore, and sphalerite-type ore on the basis of chemical composition and their mineral assemblages. Some pyrite-type ores are characterized by their high Au content. The Au content is hardly recognized in the chalcopyrite-type and sphalerite-type ores.
The ores from the Takara deposit have intermediate bulk chemical composition between those from the Besshi-type deposits and the Kuroko-type deposits that are two representative VMS deposits. However, the bulk chemical composition is closer to that from the Kuroko-type deposits. And moreover, chemical composition of tetrahedrite-tennantite series minerals (tetrahedrite) is similar to that from the Kuroko-type deposits. The bulk chemical composition (Cu, Zn, Co, Pb, and As contents) of ores is affected by the chemical composition of volcanic rocks associated with VMS deposits.     

阿尔金山喀腊达坂一带火山成因块状硫化物型铅锌矿床地质特征及找矿前景

阿尔金山北缘喀腊达坂地区位于红柳沟-拉配泉弧后盆地(裂谷)内,中酸性火山岩及近东西向断裂构造十分发育,在喀腊达坂断裂分布的褐铁矿化、黄钾铁矾蚀变带内已发现多处地质特征相似的铅锌矿床;通过分析喀腊达坂铅锌矿床地质特征,认为该区铅锌矿床均属火山成因块状硫化物型;。分析了该区的控矿因素,总结了找矿标志,认为该区硫化物型铅锌矿具有优越的成矿条件和巨大的找矿前景。     

Petrochemical Investigation of the Antique Ophiolite (Philippines): Implications on Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide and Podiform Chromitite Deposits

Abstract: The Antique ophiolite, located in Panay island (west‐central Philippines), corresponds to several tectonic slices within the suture zone between the Philippine Mobile Belt (PMB) and the North Palawan Block (NPB). It includes dismembered fragments of a basaltic sequence, dominantly pillow‐lavas with minor sheet flows, rare exposures of sheeted dikes, isotropic gabbros, subordinate layered mafic and ultramafic rock sequences and serpentinites. Most of the ophiolite units commonly occur as clasts and blocks within the serpentinites, which intrude the whole ophiolitic body, as well as, the basal conglomerate of the overlying Middle Miocene sedimentary formation. The volcanic rock sequence is characterized by chemical compositions ranging from transitional (T)‐MORB, normal (N)‐MORB and to chemistry intermediate between those of MORB and island arc basalt (IAB). The residual upper mantle sequence is harzburgitic and generally more depleted than the upper mantle underlying modern mid‐oceanic ridges. Calculations using whole‐rock and mineral compositions show that they can represent the residue of a fertile mantle source, which have undergone degrees of partial melting ranging from 9‐22.5 %. Some of the mantle samples display chondrite‐nor‐malized REE and extended multi‐element patterns suggesting enrichments in LREE, Rb, Sr and Zr, which are comparable to those found in fore‐arc peridotites from the Izu‐Bonin‐Mariana (IBM) arc system. The Antique ultramafic rocks also record relatively oxidizing mantle conditions (Δlog f_O2 (FMQ)=0.9‐3.5). As a whole, the ophiolite probably represents an agglomeration of oceanic ridge and fore‐arc crust fragments, which were juxtaposed during the Miocene collision of the PMB and the NPB. The intrusion of the serpentinites might be either coeval or subsequent to the accretion of the oceanic crust onto the fore‐arc. Volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits occur either in or near the contact between the pillow basalts and the overlying sediments or interbedded with the sediments. The morphology of the deposits, type of metals, ore texture and the nature of the host rocks suggest that the formation of the VMS bodies was similar to the accumulation of metals around and in the subsurface of hydrothermal vents observed in modern mid‐oceanic ridge and back‐arc basin rift settings. The podiform chromitites occur as pods and subordinate layers within totally serpentinized dunite in the residual upper mantle sequence. No large coherent chromitite deposit was found since the host dunitic rocks often occur as blocks within the serpentinites. It is difficult to evaluate the original geodynamic setting of the mineralized bodies since the chemistry of the host rocks were considerably modified by alteration during their tectonic emplacement. A preliminary conclusion for Antique is that the VMS is apparently associated with a primitive tholeiitic intermediate MORB‐IAB volcanic suite, the chemistry of which is close to the calculated composition of the liquid that coexisted with the podiform chromitites.     

Pb-Pb age of sedimentary phosphorite reworking in Lower Riphean carbonate sediments,the Satka Formation of Southern Urals

The mineral composition and U-Pb and Rb-Sr systematics of phosphorites from the Satka Formation of Lower Riphean carbonates, the Burzyan Group of Southern Urals, are studied. Phosphorites occurring as small lenses between stromatolite layers are composed largely of fluorapatite with admixture of detrital quartz, feldspars, illite, and chlorite. Phosphorite samples have been subjected to stepwise dissolution in 1 N (fraction L-1) and 2 N (fraction L-2) HCl. As is established, the maximum apatite content is characteristic of fraction L-1, while fraction L-2 is enriched in products of dolomite and sulfide dissolution and in elements leached from siliciclastic components. The Sr content in the Satka apatites (280–560 ppm) is substantially lower as compared with that in unaltered marine apatite. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr “initial ratio in the phosphorites studied (0.71705–0.72484) and host dolomites from the lower part of the Satka Formation is significantly higher than in the Early Riphean seawater that indicates a reset of the Rb-Sr original systems in sediments. The Pb-Pb age of 1340 ± 30 Ma (MSWD = 6.4) estimated based on 7 data points characterizing fractions L-1 and L-2 is younger than the formation time of overlying Burzyan sediments, being consistent, within the error range, with date of the Mashak rifting event recorded at the Early-Middle Riphean boundary. The comparative U-Pb characteristics of two soluble fractions (L-1 and L-2) and silicate residue of phosphorites show that epigenetic redistribution of Pb and U was characteristic of the phosphorite horizon only. The initial Pb isotope composition and μ (²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb) estimated according to model by Stacey and Kramers for the early diagenetic fluids in carbonate and phosphate sediments of the Satka Formation suggest that they were in isotopic equilibrium with erosion products of the Taratash crystalline complex.     

南天山北部志留系巴音布鲁克组火山-侵入杂岩的形成环境及构造意义

南天山北部上志留统巴音布鲁克组火山岩系以中-基性喷出岩为主,并有辉长岩侵入,岩层中爆发相火山碎屑岩极为发育。各火山-侵入杂岩的Zr/Nb=26~47,平均为37,Hf/Ta=11.9~19.9,平均为14.8,暗示其源区与N-MORB相类似,为亏损地幔源。(La/Yb)_N值为2.92~5.21、Nb/La比值为0.22~0.33,平均为0.29,显示出LREE和LILE强烈富集,HFSE相对亏损,尤其出现明显的Ta、Nb负异常,具有岛弧岩浆岩的地球化学特征,应形成于岛弧环境。该套火山-侵入岩与中天山南缘蛇绿混杂岩带紧邻,地层时代也与古生代南天山洋的俯冲-消减时代相当,它很有可能是南天山洋盆于晚志留世时发生的洋内俯冲-消减所引发的岛弧火山-岩浆作用的地质记录。     

新疆昆仑式火山岩型块状硫化物铜矿床及成矿地质环境

新疆西昆仑奥依塔克-恰尔隆拗陷带内阿克塔什-萨落依成矿带发现多处火山岩型块状硫化物铜矿床。这些矿床产在石炭系双峰式火山岩系之内，沿着下石炭统基性火山岩和上石炭统酸性火山岩两个层位产出，分别以玄武岩和流纹岩为容矿主岩，可以明显地分成基性火山岩型和酸性火山岩型两种类型。矿石主成矿元素均以铜为主，含少量的锌，几乎不含铅，矿床类型属于铜型。这些基性火山岩型和酸性火山岩型矿床被统称为昆仑式火山岩型块状硫化物铜矿床。根据矿床产出地质环境、双峰式火山岩系、沉积建造以及火山岩地球化学特征，推断昆仑式火山岩型块状硫化物铜矿床最可能形成于泥盆纪-石炭纪弧后拉张构造环境。     

The Ashele Deposit: A Recently Discovered Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Cu-Zn Deposit in Xinjiang, China

Abstract: The Ashele Cu-Zn deposit is a recently discovered volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit in Xinjiang, Northwestern China. It is the largest Cu-Zn deposit in this type of deposits in China, which were formed in the early period of later Palaeozoic Era. This deposit is hosted within a suit of bimodal submarine volcanic rocks of the Ashele Formation of Lower-Middle Devonian System formed in an environment of paleocontinental margin rift setting. Lensoid orebodies occur between spilitic rocks developed at footwall and quartz-keratophyric tuff at hanging wall. Zonation of metal elements in the Ashele mine is one of typical volcanic-related exhalative Cu-Zn sulfide deposits in the world. Black ores enriched in Pb, Zn and Ag occurs on the top of the No. 1 orebody in the Ashele deposit, yellow ores enriched in Cu in the middle part, and the chalcopyritization stringer below the massive sulfide ores. Zonation of ore-structure in the No. 1 orebody is also apparent and corresponds to the zoning of elements, i. e. lamellar and/or banded sulfide-sulfate ores on the top, massive sulfide ores in the middle, and stockwork veinlets associated with altered breccia pipe on the bottom. Four epochs of mineralization in the Ashele deposit has been recognized. The first period of syngenetic-exhalative deposition of sulfides is the main epoch of mineralization, and the ores deposited subsequently subjected to thermo-metamorphism at the second epoch, superimposed by hydrothermal mineralization at the third epoch, and weathered or oxidized at the fourth epoch.
More than 100 categories of minerals have been recognized in the Ashele mine, but only pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, tetrahedrite, galena, barite, quartz, chlorite, sericite, and calcite are dominant, making up various types of ores, and alteration pipes or horizons. Studies of ore petrology suggest that the massive ores were volcanogenic and deposited by exhalative process.     

Platinum group elements zoning and mineralogy of chromitites from the cumulate sequence of the Nurali massif (Southern Urals, Russia)

The Nurali lherzolite massif is one of the dismembered ophiolite bodies associated with the Main Uralian Fault (Southern Urals, Russia). It comprises a mainly lherzolitic mantle section, an ultramafic clinopyroxene-rich cumulate sequence (Transition Zone), and an amphibole gabbro unit.The cumulate section hosts small chromitite bodies at different stratigraphic heights within the sequence. Chromitite bodies from three different levels along a full section of the cumulate sequence and two from other localities were investigated. They differ in the host lithology, chromitite texture and composition, and PGE content and mineralogy. Chromitites at the lowest level, which are hosted by clinopyroxenite, form cm-scale flattened lenses. They have high Cr# and low Mg# chromites and are enriched in Pt and Pd relative to Os and Ir. At a higher, intermediate level, the chromitites are hosted by dunite. They form meter thick lenses, contain low Cr# and high Mg# chromites, have high PGE contents (up to 26,700 ppb), and are enriched in Os, Ir and Ru relative to Pt and Pd, reflecting a mineralogy dominated by laurite–erlichmanite and PGE–Fe alloys. At the highest level are chromitites hosted by olivine–enstatite rocks. These chromitites have high Cr# and relatively low Mg# chromites and very low PGE content, with laurite as the dominant PGE mineral.The platinum group minerals (PGMs) show extreme zoning, with compositions ranging from erlichmanite to almost pure laurite and from Os-rich to Ru-rich alloys, with variable and irregular zoning patterns.Two chromitite bodies up to 6 km from the main sequence can be correlated with the latter based on geochemistry and mineralogy, implying that the variations in chromitite geochemistry are due to processes that operated on the scale of the massif rather than those that operated on the scale of the outcrop.Pertsev et al. [Pertsev, A.N., Spadea, P., Savelieva, G.N., Gaggero, L., 1997. Nature of the transition zone in the Nurali ophiolite, Southern Urals. Tectonophysics 276, 163–180.] propose that the Transition Zone formed by solidification of a series of small magma bodies that partially overlapped in time and space. The magmas formed by successive partial melting of the underlying mantle. We suggest that this process determined the changing PGE geochemistry of the successive batches of magma. The PGE distribution fits a model of selected extraction from the mantle, where monosulphide solid solution–sulphide liquid equilibrium was attained until complete melting of the monosulphide solid solution. Later and localized variations in fS₂ resulted in the formation of different PGMs with complex zoning patterns.     

乌拉尔南部和印度南部地区隐晶质菱镁矿的地质与地球化学对比研究

印度南部和乌拉尔南部都有隐晶质菱镁矿产出,这两处矿床的产出地质环境相似,在矿物学和地球化学上具有广泛的相似性。印度南部的菱镁矿矿化主要与超镁铁质侵入杂岩体有关,并形成了部分已受变质的火山沉积地层。超镁铁质侵入杂岩体由纯橄岩,橄榄岩,辉石岩,辉长岩及它们的变质产物组成。在乌拉尔地区,菱镁矿床位于一个蛇绿岩带上的超镁铁岩地体中。隐晶质菱镁矿就以网脉状产出于超镁铁质岩地体上部的风化带中。印度和乌拉尔两个地区的矿床中的矿物组合都有菱镁矿,石英,方解石和白云石,但在印度南部的矿区中还含有滑石和菱铁矿。两个地区的菱镁矿矿石的质量都很好,所有的样品的主要成分都为菱镁矿(73～96％),而方解石(1～3％),白云石(0～7％),菱铁矿(0～2％),石英(0～5％)和滑石(O～2％)都只是次要矿物。次生的白云石和菱铁矿使一些矿石含有较高的CaO(最高达2．6％)和FeO(最高达1．6％),石英和滑石等矿物则使矿石中的SiO2较高(5—8％)。滑石指示了低温成因,它的出现说明两个矿区的菱镁矿可能都是内生或外生的成矿流体在上升或下降的过程中在开放裂隙中沉淀而成的。本文研究表明,全球性的超镁铁岩中菱镁矿成矿事件与蛇绿岩带有关,这对菱镁矿的勘探有指导意义。     

闽西南地区块状硫化物矿床的喷流-沉积成矿作用

通过对闽西南地区石炭纪—早二叠世主要块状硫化物矿床的区域成矿背景、贮矿层位特征以及矿石矿物成分、结构构造,硫同位素地球化学特征、成矿温度等分析研究,指出该地区石炭纪—早二叠世块状硫化物矿床的形成多与海底火山活动有关,贮矿层中伴有典型的喷流沉积岩—硅质岩,并提出闽西南地区块状硫化物矿床存在海底喷流-沉积成矿作用的新认识。     

南秦岭东河地区金矿床特征及成因分析

南秦岭东河金矿位于南秦岭西段,属南秦岭成矿带西成金铅锌多金属成矿带的东延部分,为陕甘川金成矿三角地带.区内出露地层为中上志留统舟曲岩组、志留系—泥盆系大河店组,其中,中上志留统舟曲岩组上岩段(S2+3z3)是金矿化产出的主要层位;区内断裂构造十分发育,主要表现为平行分布的近东西的层间挤压破碎带,为区内主要的控矿构造;区内构造破碎带内及旁侧发育的石英脉与金矿化关系密切.工作区内共圈定金矿体8条,矿体均近东西走向,其中主要矿体Au-8长度390m,平均厚度2.54m,Au平均品位为2.41×10-6.东河地区金矿床主要受断裂构造的控制;其次岩性、岩浆岩对金矿的形成也起一定的作用.通过对本区成矿地质背景、矿床地质特征、控矿因素等方面的研究,认为研究区金矿床为沉积-叠加改造型中-低温热液金矿床.     

Mineralogical and Geochemical Features of Pyrite Nodules from Sulfide Turbidites in the Talgan Cu-Zn Massive Sulfide Deposit (Southern Urals)

Lithology and Mineral Resources - Pyrite nodules were found in thin-layered sulfide ores localized at the flanks of the Talgan Cu-Zn massive sulfide deposit (South Urals) which consists of (1) an...     

金沙江造山带碰撞后地壳伸展背景——火山成因块状硫化物矿床的重要成矿环境

近年来对金沙江造山带区域地质、矿床地质和岩石地球化学新资料的研究和典型火山成因块状硫化物(VHMS)矿床的解剖,金沙江造山带的VHMS成矿作用主要发生于早二叠世晚期—晚二叠世海相弧火山岩和晚三叠世裂谷盆地海相火山岩中,构成西南三江地区一条重要的多金属块状硫化物成矿带。成矿带内晚三叠世碰撞后地壳伸展背景下形成的上叠裂谷盆地是其VHMS成矿作用的主体,盆地中火山活动从早期的双峰式火山岩演变为晚期的中酸性火山岩,岩石地球化学特征与孤火山岩有明显的区别,反映其形成于伸展背景。伸展盆地的早期阶段,在双峰火山岩组合的高钾流纹质火山岩系中产出鲁春式VHMS矿床,具有Zn-Cu-Pb-Ag金属组合特征,形成于深水环境;伸展盆地的晚期阶段,在中酸性火山岩系与上覆碳酸盐岩接触带中产出赵卡隆式VHMS矿床,具有Ag-Fe-Pb-Zn金属组合特征,形成于浅水环境;盆地的末期阶段,在滨浅海相磨拉石碎屑岩中产出里仁卡式石膏矿床。金沙江造山带碰撞后地壳伸展背景下VHMS成矿作用的研究,对于造山带中的找矿工作具有重要的指导意义。     

华南型块状硫化物矿床中的胶黄铁矿及其退火作用

华南型块状硫化物矿床中胶黄铁矿的退火过程从早到晚可分成三个阶段:原始晶化变胶体阶段、不等粒变晶生长阶段和颗粒界面调整阶段。不同阶段的矿石各具特征性的结构,反映了燕山期侵入活动对于先存胶黄铁矿的不同程度热效应。     

Metallogenic and Metamorphic Age of the Hongtoushan Copper–Zinc Massive Sulfide Deposit,Liaoning Province,China

The Hongtoushan copper–zinc deposit is the only large Archean volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposit in China. This paper presents new information on the timing of metallogenesis and metamorphism of the deposit, including new cathodoluminescence (CL) images, and Th U^?1 and LA–ICP–MS U–Pb dating on zircons of the biotite–plagioclase gneiss and plagioclase–amphibole gneiss that host the deposit. The CL images and Th U^?1 ratios indicate that the zircons within the gneiss are of metamorphic origin. LA–ICP–MS dating of the plagioclase–amphibole gneiss yielded the upper intercept ages of 2549 Ma, and the biotite–plagioclase gneiss yielded the upper intercept ages of 2552 Ma and 2550 Ma correspondingly, indicating that the mineralization of the deposit occurred at around 2550 Ma. The rims of zircons within these host rocks yielded younger U–Pb ages at 2529, 2520 and 2515 Ma, identical to the age of felsic intrusive rocks in the study area. This suggests that the Hongtoushan VMS deposit underwent initial metamorphism and deformation at around 2520 Ma by the intrusion of granite magmas.     

Geology and Geochemistry of Highly Metamorphosed Footwall Alteration Zones in the Hongtoushan Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposit,Liaoning Province,China

The Hongtoushan Archean Cu–Zn volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposit, which was metamorphosed (3.0–2.8 Ga) to upper amphibolite facies at temperatures between 600 and 650°C, occurs in the Hunbei granite–greenstone terrane, Liaoning Province of NE China. Stratiform cordierite–anthophyllite gneiss (CAG) that occurs hundreds of meters below the ore horizon in the Hongtoushan district corresponds to the metamorphosed semi‐conformable alteration zone of the VMS hydrothermal system, whereas the CAG that contains abundant deformed sulfide‐bearing quartz veins immediately below the main ore layer represents the metamorphosed discordant alteration zone. Whole‐rock geochemistry indicates that stratiform CAG was derived ultimately from five lithologies (basalt, basaltic andesite, andesite, dacite, and rhyolite), while discordant CAG derived from a single lithology (rhyolite). Amphibolite and biotite‐rich gneiss are identified as a metamorphosed least‐altered precursor for these CAGs. Mass change calculation indicates that, compared to the least‐altered rocks, stratiform CAG is enriched in Fe and Mg, and depleted in Na, K, Ca, Cu, Pb and Zn, while discordant CAG is enriched in Fe, Mg, Si, Na, Pb, Cu and Zn, and depleted in K. HREE and HFSE (Zr, Ti, Nb and Ta) behaved inertly during submarine alteration, whereas Rb, Sr, Ba and LREE (especially Eu) were leached off. Both stratiform and discordant CAGs are depleted in ¹⁸O, with values up to 7‰ lower than their corresponding least‐altered precursors. Addition of Fe, Mg, and depletion of Ca, K, Sr, and ¹⁸O, indicate that hydrothermal alteration for both types of CAGs was characterized by chloritization prior to metamorphism. Stratiform CAG could be used to evaluate the mineralization potential of VMS in metamorphic terranes, while discordant CAG containing sulfide‐bearing quartz veins could be a good indication for overlying stratiform massive sulfide ores as well as an exploration target itself.