A note on “Origin of components in Chilean thermal waters” by

Risacher et al. (2011) have presented voluminous data on thermal waters of Chile that is quite appreciable; however, their work still falls short on several counts. The most notable shortcoming of the work is the presentation and treatment of data. The interpretations are based on questionable premises (viz., extent of seawater intrusion) and considerations (viz., using average chemical composition of rock types for geochemical modeling, considering volcanic rocks as the only rock type in contact with the geothermal fluids) and assumptions not always substantiated by facts (with proper references) could have been corroborated. Use of Cl/Br ratio for discrimination purpose is unconvincing, considering the uncertainty in the measurement of low (<1 mg/L) Br concentration.     

福建紫金山矿田中生代岩浆岩演化序列研究

福建紫金山矿田中生代岩浆活动分为晚侏罗世和早白垩世二幕,第一幕为晚侏罗世(154~149 Ma)挤压环境下的岩浆活动,表现为壳源S型花岗岩紫金山复式岩体与才溪岩体的侵位,复式岩体具有154 Ma、150 Ma及149 Ma三次脉动;才溪岩体侵位时代约150 Ma。第二幕发生于早白垩世(125~93 Ma)构造拉张、地幔上涌的环境,岩浆活动共4期,形成一套 I 型花岗岩及共源异相的火山岩、次火山岩,为成矿提供了物源和热源。其中第1期为早白垩世火山喷发与岩浆超浅层就位,形成石帽山群下段的英安岩及紫金山次火山岩(125~118 Ma);第2期表现为石帽山群下段安山岩喷发与四方岩体的侵位以及英安玢岩的形成(109~103 Ma);第3期表现为石帽山群下段英安岩的喷发和罗卜岭—紫金山似斑状花岗闪长(斑)岩的侵位以及龙江亭、二庙沟附近的石英闪长玢岩的形成(103~100 Ma);第4期表现为晚期罗卜岭斑岩的侵位、石帽山群上段流纹岩的喷发和大岩里花岗斑岩岩脉、金铜矿的石英斑岩脉等成矿后期无矿脉岩的形成(100~93 Ma)。晚侏罗世、早白垩世两个岩浆系统各自形成共源岩浆异地异相分异演化的格局。     

Temporal links between pluton emplacement,garnet granulite metamorphism,partial melting and extensional collapse in the lower crust of a Cretaceous magmatic arc,Fiordland, New Zealand

Garnet granulite facies mid‐to lower crust in Fiordland, New Zealand, provides evidence for pulsed intrusion and deformation occurring in the mid‐to lower crust of magmatic arcs. ²³⁸U‐²⁰⁶Pb zircon ages constrain emplacement of the ～595 km² Malaspina Pluton to 116–114 Ma. Nine Sm‐Nd garnet ages (multi‐point garnet‐rock isochrons) ranging from 115.6 ± 2.6 to 110.6 ± 2.0 Ma indicate that garnet granulite facies metamorphism was synchronous or near synchronous throughout the pluton. Hence, partial melting and garnet granulite facies metamorphism lasted <5 Ma and began within 5 Ma of pluton emplacement. Garnet granulite facies L‐S tectonites in the eastern part of the Malaspina Pluton record the onset of extensional strain and arc collapse. An Sm‐Nd garnet age and thermobarometric results for these rocks directly below the amphibolite facies Doubtful Sound shear zone provide the oldest known age for extension in Fiordland at ≥112.8 ± 2.2 Ma at ～920 °C and 14–15 kbar. Narrow high Ca rims in garnet from some of these suprasolidus rocks could reflect a ≤ 1.5 kbar pressure increase, but may be largely a result of temperature decrease based on the Ca content of garnet predicted from pseudosections. At peak metamorphic conditions >900 °C, garnet contained ～4000 ppm Ti; subsequently, rutile inclusions grew during declining temperature with limited pressure change. Garnet granulite metamorphism of the Malaspina Pluton is c. 10 Ma younger than similar metamorphism of the Pembroke Granulite in northern Fiordland; therefore, high‐P metamorphism and partial melting must have been diachronous for this >3000 km² area of mid‐to‐lower crust. Thus, two or more pulses of intrusion shortly followed by garnet granulite metamorphism and extensional strain occurred from north to south along the axis of the lower crustal root of the Cretaceous Gondwana arc.     

吉林中部伊通地区放牛沟火山岩的形成时代及其地质意义

对伊通地区的放牛沟火山岩,以及后期侵入该火山岩的后庙岭花岗质侵入体进行了LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年代学研究。3个样品中的锆石均呈自形-半自形晶,CL图像显示出明显的岩浆振荡生长环带,结合大多数锆石具有较高的Th/U比值(0.23~3.55),暗示了它们的岩浆成因。放牛沟火山岩由变玄武安山岩和变安山岩组成,其中变安山岩样品中锆石22个测点的~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄加权平均值分为3组:420±4 Ma,402±3 Ma及280±1 Ma,其中280±1 Ma代表了安山岩的形成年龄;变玄武安山岩样品中锆石30个测点的~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄加权平均值分为两组:401±1 Ma及279±1 Ma,后者代表了玄武安山岩的形成年龄;后庙岭花岗质侵入体中锆石18个测点的~(206)Pb/~(238)U年龄加权平均值为256±2 Ma。上述锆石U-Pb定年结果表明,放牛沟火山岩形成于早二叠世,而非前人认为的早古生代。对后庙岭侵入体的定年结果,进一步暗示放牛沟多金属硫铁矿床的成矿时代为二叠纪。     

Sequence of magma emplacement and sulfide saturation in the Gaojiacun–Lengshuiqing intrusive complex (SW China)

The Lengshuiqing area contains several small intrusions made up of peridotite ± quartz diorite ± granite spatially associated with the Gaojiacun pluton (gabbroids + peridotite + diorite). Ni–Cu sulfide ore occur at Lengshuiqing, hosted in peridotite. SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating produced the ages of 803 ± 4.2 Ma (peridotite), 807 ± 2.6 Ma (oikocrystic hornblende gabbro), 809 ± 4.3 Ma (hornblende gabbronorites) for the Gaojiacun pluton and 807 ± 3.8 Ma (diorite, intrusion I), 817 ± 6.3 Ma (quartz diorite, intrusion II) and 817 ± 5 Ma (peridotite, intrusion 101) for Lengshuiqing. These ages suggest the emplacement of the Gaojiacun pluton later than the intrusions from Lengshuiqing. The olivine from Lengshuiqing does not contain sulfide inclusions and is relatively Ni-rich (1,150–1,550 ppm Ni), suggesting its crystallisation before the sulfide saturation that generated the Ni–Cu deposits. The olivine of the gabbros in the Gaojiacun pluton is Ni-poor (250–800 ppm), which indicates crystallisation from a severely metal-depleted magma after a sulfide saturation event. The olivine in the peridotites from the Gaojiacun pluton has 800–1,150 ppm Ni and contains sulfide inclusions. Moreover, geological evidence suggests the genesis of the peridotites from Gaojiacun in conduits that were ascending through the gabbroids. A sequence of at least three stages of magma emplacement is proposed: (1) Lengshuiqing; (2) gabbroids from Gaojiacun; (3) peridotites from Gaojiacun. Given the age differences, the intrusions at Lengshuiqing and the Gaojiacun pluton might have been produced by different magmatic events.     

Mineralization,geochronology, and Pb isotope studies of the shoshonitic lava-hosted Nariniya Pb deposit,central Tibet: linking ore formation to post-collisional potassic magmatism

Abstract

A newly discovered, shoshonitic lava-hosted Pb deposit at Nariniya in central Tibet provides an excellent example to help improve our understanding of the linkage between post-collisional potassic magmatism and ore formation in Tibet. The Pb ores exist as veins or veinlets in NWW-striking fracture zones within the potassic lava (trachyte). The veins contain quartz, galena, pyrite, and sericite (muscovite) as well as minor chalcopyrite, sphalerite, calcite, and dolomite with sericitization, pyritization, and minor silicification. The ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar plateau age of the hydrothermal muscovite is 37.95 ± 0.30 Ma, which represents the Pb mineralization age. This obtained age is indistinguishable, within analytical error, from the zircon U–Pb age of 37.88 ± 0.22 Ma for potassic lava. Therefore, the ore formation can be genetically linked to potassic magmatism. Galena has similar Pb isotopic composition to magmatic feldspar from the host lava, suggesting the derivation of Pb from the magmatic system. Previous studies have suggested that S- and ore-forming fluids are of magmatic origin. Published data show that the Nariniya volcanic rocks are acidic, shoshonitic, akakitic, peraluminous, and enriched in Sr–Nd–Pb isotopes. Thus, they are geochemically different from other potassic volcanic rocks (no adakitic affinity) in the North Qiangtang terrane, but similar to the 46–38 Ma high-K calc-alkaline peraluminous adakitic rocks in this terrane and the late Eocene Cu-generating potassic porphyries from the Sanjiang region of eastern Tibet. As such, the Nariniya potassic magma likely originated from melting of subducted continental crust, with or without interaction with the overlying enriched mantle. Such post-collisional potassic rocks in Tibet are thought to be potential targets for prospecting of both Pb–Zn and porphyry Cu ores. Note that other ore styles (in addition to the Nariniya ore style) may exist in the potassic volcanic districts of Tibet.     

新疆东天山觉罗塔格地区花岗岩类年代学、构造背景及其成矿作用研究

东天山觉罗塔格地区岩浆岩非常发育,以花岗岩类分布最为广泛,对其研究还较为薄弱。本文对觉罗塔格地区主要的花岗岩类岩体系统开展了地质特征研究并进行了同位素精确测年,报道了区内16个主要花岗岩类岩体的锆石LA-ICPMS U-Pb年龄：镜儿泉岩体376.9±3.1Ma、西凤山岩体349.0±3.4Ma、石英滩岩体342±11Ma、长条山岩体337.4±2.8Ma、天目岩体320.2±3.1Ma、百灵山岩体317.7±3.7Ma、白石泉岩体303±18Ma、迪坎岩体288.0±2.5Ma、黄山岩体288±17Ma、白山东岩体284.5±4.5Ma、管道岩体284.1±5.8Ma、红石岩体282.7±4.2Ma、陇东岩体276.2±2.5Ma、多头山岩体271.7±5.5Ma、双岔沟岩体252.4±2.9Ma、土墩岩体246.2±2.6Ma,上述定年结果为研究区岩浆活动与区域构造演化及深部过程的关系研究提供了可靠的年代学支持。结合前人已有的部分年代学成果认为,觉罗塔格地区花岗岩类的形成年龄分布在386~230Ma之间,岩浆活动可分为晚泥盆世(386.5~369.5Ma)、早石炭世(349~330Ma)、晚石炭世-晚二叠世(320~252Ma)、早中三叠世(246~230Ma)等4个阶段。前3个阶段岩浆活动具有持续时间逐渐变长、岩浆活动逐渐加剧的特点,并在第三阶段达到顶峰,而第四阶段岩浆活动则明显变弱。花岗岩类岩浆活动在时空分布上表现为,自哈尔里克-大南湖岛弧带→阿奇山-雅满岛弧带→康古尔-黄山韧性剪切带,岩体侵位由早到晚; 自研究区东部→中西部→沿韧性剪切带,岩体侵位由老到新。结合区域构造演化研究成果认为,觉罗塔格地区花岗质岩浆活动与区域构造演化具有很强的耦合关系,花岗岩类在前碰撞阶段、主碰撞阶段、后碰撞阶段、板内阶段等4个构造演化阶段均有发育,与花岗岩类在时间分布上的4个阶段完全对应,其中尤以后碰撞构造演化阶段花岗岩类的分布最广泛、岩浆活动最强烈。觉罗塔格地区与4个阶段花岗岩类有关的成矿作用由早到晚具有无明显矿化→斑岩型铜矿、火山岩型铁矿→韧性剪切带型金矿、夕卡岩型银(铜)矿→斑岩-石英脉型钼矿的演化特点,其中以对应于主碰撞阶段的斑岩型铜矿和后碰撞阶段的韧性剪切带型金矿最为发育。本文系统阐述了东天山觉罗塔格地区中酸性岩体的时空格架、与区域构造演化的耦合、与成矿作用的关系,为北疆地区晚古生代特别是后碰撞背景下的岩浆演化及其成矿关系的研究提供了有力支持。     

A review of the geological characteristics and mineralization history of iron deposits in the Altay orogenic belt of the Xinjiang,Northwest China

In this review, we describe the geological characteristics and metallogenic–tectonic origin of Fe deposits in the Altay orogenic belt within the Xinjiang region of northwestern China. The Fe deposits are found mainly within three regions (ordered from northwest to southeast): the Ashele, Kelan, and Maizi basins. The principal host rocks for the Fe deposits of the Altay orogenic belt are the Early Devonian Kangbutiebao Formation, the Middle to Late Devonian Altay Formation, with minor occurrences of Lower Carboniferous and Early Paleozoic metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary rocks. The principal mineral-forming element groups of the deposits are Fe, Fe–Cu, Fe–Mn, Fe–P, Fe–Pb–Zn, Fe–Au, and Fe–V–Ti. The Fe deposits are associated with distinct formations, such as volcanic rocks, skarn deposits, pegmatites, granite-related hydrothermal vein mineralization, and mafic pluton-related V–Ti-magnetite deposits. The Fe deposits are most commonly associated with volcanic rocks in the upper Kangbutiebao Formation, in the volcano-sedimentary Kelan Basin, and in skarn deposits at several localities, including the lower Kangbutiebao Formation in the volcano-sedimentary Maizi Basin, and the Altay Formation at Jiaerbasidao–Kekebulake region. Homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions in the prograde, retrograde and sulfide stages of the skarn type deposit are mainly medium- to high-temperature (cluster between 200 and 500 °C), medium-temperature (cluster between 200 and 340 °C) and low- to medium temperature (cluster between 160 and 300 °C), respectively. Ore fluids in the sedimentation period in the volcano-sedimentary type deposit are characterized by low- to medium temperature (with a peak around 190 °C), low to moderate salinity (3.23 to 22.71 wt.% NaCl equiv). Ore fluids in the pegmatite type deposit are characterized by low- to medium temperature (with a peak at 240 °C), low salinity (with a peak around 9 wt.% NaCl equiv). An analysis of the isotopic data for Fe deposits from the Altay orogenic belt indicates that the sulfur was derived from several sources, including volcanic rocks and granite, as well as bacterial reduction of sulfate from seawater. The present results indicate that different deposit types were derived from various sources. The REE geochemistry of rocks and ores from the Fe deposits in the Altay orogenic belt suggests that the ore-forming materials were derived from mafic volcanic rocks. Based on isotopic age data, the timing of the mineralization can be divided into four broad intervals: Early Devonian (410–384 Ma), Middle Devonian (377 Ma), Early Permian (287–274 Ma), and Early Triassic (c. 244 Ma). The ore-forming processes of the Fe deposits are closely related to volcanic activity and the emplacement of intermediate and felsic intrusions. We conclude that Fe deposits within the Altay orogenic belt developed in a range of tectonic settings, including continental arc, post-collisional extensional settings, and intracontinental settings.     

The Zhaheba ophiolite complex in Eastern Junggar (NW China): Long lived supra-subduction zone ocean crust formation and its implications for the tectonic evolution in southern Altaids

The composite Zhaheba ophiolite complex, exposed in Eastern Junggar in the Southern Altaids, records an unusually long record of oceanic crust and magmatic arc evolution. The Zhaheba ophiolite complex consists of ultramafic rocks, gabbro, diorite, basalt and chert intruded by diabase dikes and diorite porphyry. These rocks are overlain by a several-km-thick section of tuffaceous rocks, volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks, and intermediate volcanic rocks. The igneous rocks of the ophiolite complex show negative Nb and Ta anomalies and LREE enrichment relative to HREE, suggesting the influence of fluids derived from a subducting oceanic slab. The LA-ICPMS U–Pb age of zircons from gabbro is 495.1 ± 3.5 Ma. Zircon ages from diorite and basalt are 458.3 ± 7.2 Ma and 446.6 ± 6.0 Ma, respectively. The basalt is locally overlain by bedded chert. Diabase dikes and diorite porphyry yield the U–Pb ages of 421.5 ± 4.1 Ma and 423.7 ± 6.5 Ma, respectively. The age of stratigraphically lower part of the overlying volcanic–volcaniclastic section is constrained to be about 410 Ma, the maximum depositional age of the tuffaceous sandstone from U–Pb detrital zircon ages. Late rhyolite at the top of the stratigraphic section yielded a U–Pb zircon age of 280.3 ± 3.7 Ma. The age and stratigraphic relationships for the Zhaheba ophiolite complex and related rocks suggest that the period of ~ 70 Ma of initial supra-subduction magmatism was followed by construction of a mature island arc that spanned an additional 140 Ma. Many other ophiolites in the southern Altaids appear to record similar relationships, and are represented as substrates of oceanic island arcs covered by island arc volcanism in supra-subduction zone. The occurrence of the Zhaheba ophiolite complex with tuffaceous and intermediate to felsic volcanic rocks is different from the rock association of classic Tethyan SSZ ophiolites but similar to some ophiolites in North America. Although the Zhaheba ophiolite belt is flanked by the Dulate arc in the north and Yemaquan arc in the south, it cannot stand a suture between two arcs. It is suggested that Devonian–Carboniferous Dulate arc was built on the late Cambrian–middle Ordovician Zhaheba supra-subduction oceanic crust. The late Carboniferous rocks and early Permian rocks in Dulate arc are interpreted to form in the extensional process within Zhaheba–Dulate arc composite system.     

云南曲靖盆地蔡家冲粗面英安质凝灰岩——扬子克拉通内曲靖深断裂新生代强烈活动的证据

云南曲靖盆地内的蔡家冲火山岩作为扬子克拉通内部深断裂受青藏高原向东南逃逸而影响强度的标志之一,具有重要意义。在该区新发现的新生代火山岩的斑晶成分主要为正长石和少量黑云母,为钾质火山岩(粗面质火山岩);结合火山岩的全岩成分、微量元素分析,确定蔡家冲火山岩为粗面质火山岩(超钾质火山岩),经湖相水解后K、Na等碱质组分部分流失,导致该区火山岩在火山岩分类图解中落入碱质稍低的花岗闪长岩区域,其本质是水解的粗面质火山岩;全岩K/Ar同位素测年显示:火山岩活动时间范围在44.9±0.8~48.4±0.9Ma之间;火山岩下部至上部年龄差大致为3.5Ma,属于古近纪始新世路特阶的产物。该区的新生代火山岩反映出,曲靖深断裂的走滑拉分不仅形成了曲靖、陆良、弥勒、开远等一系列盆地,其活动强度还导致新生代始新世路特阶的蔡家冲组火山岩的喷发,曲靖深断裂同小江深断裂一样,新生代活动显示为超壳深断裂。火山岩显著富集Cd、Pb、Zn等元素,综合考虑东川播卡等地深部发现同时期的富碱侵入岩及金矿床,该区火山岩显示的金矿、铅锌矿的找矿潜力值得关注。曲靖深断裂还与地震活动、热水资源、农业生态环境、油气资源、固体矿产等密切相关,值得深入研究。     

庐枞盆地侵入岩的时空格架及其对成矿的制约

庐枞中生代火山盆地位于长江中下游断陷带内,地处扬子板块的北缘。庐枞盆地内火山岩和侵入岩分布广泛,包括龙门院、砖桥、双庙和浮山四组火山岩以及34个侵入岩体。本次工作在详细野外地质调查的基础上,结合作者已有的5个岩体(巴家滩岩体、城山岩体、花山岩体、黄梅尖岩体和枞阳岩体)年代学的研究工作,系统开展了盆地侵入岩体的年代学和时空分布特征研究。通过侵入岩锆石LA-ICP-MSU-Pb定年方法,本次研究确定庐枞盆地内15个主要侵入岩体的成岩时代分别为:黄屯岩体134.4±2.2Ma、岳山岩体132.7±1.5Ma、拔茅山岩体132.7±1.9Ma、尖山岩体132.0±1.3Ma、谢瓦泥岩体131.6±1.1Ma、龙桥岩体131.1±1.5Ma、焦冲岩体129.6±1.3Ma、土地山岩体127.4±2.8Ma、凤凰山岩体128.4±0.9Ma、罗岭岩体126.3±2.0Ma、龙王尖岩体126.5±1.5Ma、小岭岩体126.2±1.8Ma、大缸窑岩体125.9±1.3Ma、巴坛岩体125.1±1.1Ma、毛王庙岩体123.9±1.9Ma。从而得出庐枞盆地内侵入岩的成岩时代界于134～123Ma之间,属于早白垩世,并进一步将庐枞盆地内侵入岩划分成2期,其中早期侵入岩主要为二长岩和闪长岩类,主要分布在盆地北部,与龙门院旋回和砖桥旋回火山活动关系密切,岩体侵位受火山机构和北东向构造联合控制,成岩时代为134～130Ma;晚期侵入岩还可分为两类,第一类主要为正长岩类,分布在盆地南部,主要受盆地内火山机构和北北东向断裂控制,侵入活动与双庙旋回和浮山旋回火山岩浆活动相对应,成岩时代为129～123Ma;第二类主要为A型花岗岩,分布于盆地东南缘,成岩时代为126～123Ma,主要受区域北北东向大断裂控制,而与盆地火山机构无关。庐枞盆地内与岩浆岩有关的铁、铜、金、铅、锌、铀矿床可划分为3个成矿系列,其中砖桥旋回形成的二长岩类与罗河、泥河和龙桥等铁矿床、岳山铅锌矿床及井边和拔茅山铜矿床关系密切,双庙旋回形成的正长岩类与马口等铁矿床关系密切,而晚期的A型花岗岩与3440矿床等金、铀矿化关系密切。长江中下游地区燕山期存在145～136Ma、135～127Ma、126～123Ma等三期成岩(成矿)作用,庐枞盆地内侵入岩对应于该区域第二和第三期岩浆活动的产物,其形成时代明显晚于长江中下游成矿带断隆区内与斑岩型-矽卡岩型铜(铁)、金矿床有关的高钾钙碱性岩体(第一期)。庐枞盆地内侵入岩形成于区域岩石圈伸展的构造环境。     

Neoproterozoic bimodal magmatism in the Cathaysia Block of South China and its tectonic significance

SHRIMP U–Pb zircon age, geochemical and Sm–Nd isotopic results are reported for the Mamianshan volcanic rocks in the Cathaysia Block of southeastern South China. The Mamianshan volcanic rocks are bimodal in composition and are dominantly transitional to mildly alkaline basalts and subordinate alkaline rhyolite, with an eruption age of 818 ± 9 Ma. The basaltic samples are characterized by LREE-enriched and “humped” trace element patterns, similar to many alkali basalts in continental rifts. Variable ɛNd(T) values between +3.33 and −4.35 indicate that the primary magma of these basalts was derived from an OIB-like mantle source and underwent fractional crystallization plus crustal contamination. The rhyolitic rocks are highly enriched in Th, Ta, Nb, REE, Zr, Hf and Y and depleted in Sr, P, Eu and Ti, sharing affinity to A₁-type granites. Combined with their slightly positive ɛNd(T) values (+0.22 to +0.92), the Mamianshan felsic rocks were most likely generated by partial melting of the regional Paleoproterozoic Mayuan amphibolites. The Mamianshan bimodal volcanic rocks in the Cathaysia Block are coeval with the widespread intraplate magmatism around the Yangtze Block. Our results support the idea that a coherent South China Craton was formed during the ca. 1.0 Ga Sibao orogeny, and it subsequently underwent extensive continental rifting related to mantle plume or superplume activities beneath Rodinia since ca. 825 Ma.     

Molybdenite Re-Os and Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb Dating at the Baishiding Deposit,Guposhan District: New Evidence for Silurian Mo Mineralization in South China

The Baishiding molybdenum deposit is located in the Central-Middle Guangxi depression zone of the South China Caledonian fold zone. Orebodies occur as quartz-molybdenite veins within the Guiling monzonite pluton and arkosic quartz sandstone of Zhengyuanling Group in the northeastern Guangxi. They are NEE-trending with a dip angle of 75–80°. Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb geochronologic analyses of the Guiling monzonite show age of 424.4 ± 5.6 Ma. It indicates that the Guiling monzonite was emplaced in Silurian. The ore minerals in quartz-molybdenite veins contain molybdenite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and scheelite. Six molybdenite samples yield Re-Os ages between 433.3 ± 6.3 Ma and 417.2 ± 5.7 Ma, with a weighted mean age of 424.6 ± 5.7 Ma, which agrees with the zircon age of the Guiling monzonite pluton. It suggests that the deposit was formed in the Silurian, not the Jurassic as previously thought. The Baishiding deposit is the only Silurian molybdenum deposit so far recognized in the South China. It was probably formed in a crustal shortening setting along the continental margin in the Silurian.     

Timing of Magma Mixing in the Gangdisě Magmatic Belt during the India-Asia Collision： Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb Dating

Abstract  Abundant mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) extensively distribute in granitoids in the Gangdisê giant magmatic belt, within which the Qüxü batholith is the most typical MME‐bearing pluton. Systematic sampling for granodioritic host rock, mafic microgranular enclaves and gabbro nearby at two locations in the Qüxü batholith, and subsequent zircon SHRIMP II U‐Pb dating have been conducted. Two sets of isotopic ages for granodioritic host rock, mafic microgranular enclaves and gabbro are 50.4±1.3 Ma, 51.2±1.1 Ma, 47.0±1 Ma and 49.3±1.7 Ma, 48.9±1.1 Ma, 49.9±1.7 Ma, respectively. It thus rules out the possibilities of mafic microgranular enclaves being refractory residues after partial melting of magma source region, or being xenoliths of country rocks or later intrusions. Therefore, it is believed that the three types of rocks mentioned above likely formed in the same magmatic event, i.e., they formed by magma mixing in the Eocene (c. 50 Ma). Compositionally, granitoid host rocks incline towards acidic end member involved in magma mixing, gabbros are akin to basic end member and mafic microgranular enclaves are the incompletely mixed basic magma clots trapped in acidic magma. The isotopic dating also suggested that huge‐scale magma mixing in the Gangdisê belt took place 15–20 million years after the initiation of the India‐Asia continental collision, genetically related to the underplating of subduction‐collision‐induced basic magma at the base of the continental crust. Underplating and magma mixing were likely the main process of mass‐energy exchange between the mantle and the crust during the continental collision, and greatly contributed to the accretion of the continental crust, the evolution of the lithosphere and related mineralization beneath the portion of the Tibetan Plateau to the north of the collision zone.     

Revisiting the tectonic setting of the Carboniferous volcanic rocks in the Chinese Tianshan and its neighboring areas

The Carboniferous–Early Permian rift-related volcanic successions, covering large areas in the Chinese Tianshan and its adjacent areas, make up an important phanerozoic large igneous province in the word, which can be further divided into two sub-provinces: Tianshan and Tarim. The Early Permian volcanic rocks have been considered to be the products of an intraplate volcanism by most researchers. However, there is still strong controversy about the nature and geological setting of the Carboniferous volcanic rocks. The regional angular unconformity of Lower Carboniferous upon basement or pre-Carboniferous rocks, the ages (360–351 Ma) of the youngest ophiolite and the peak of subduction metamorphism of high pressure-low temperature metamorphic belt and the occurrence of Ni-Cu-bearing mafic-ultramafic intrusion with age of ~352 Ma and A-type granite with age of ~358 Ma reveal that the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean might take place in the Early Mississippian. Our studies reveal that although contamination by continental crust or lithosphere can impart subduction-like signature (e.g., low Nb, low Ta and low Ti) and lead to misidentification of contaminated Carboniferous basaltic lavas from the Chinese Tianshan and its neighboring areas as arc related, there are still some essential differences between the Carboniferous basaltic lavas and arc related ones; such as: uncontaminated Carboniferous basaltic lavas have higher Nb concentrations (9–22 ppm), Nb/La > 1, “hump-shaped” OIB-like trace element patterns and moderate positive ɛ_Nd values that distinguish them from the arc related ones; whereas, the contaminated Carboniferous basaltic lavas are characterized by pronounced negative Nb, Ta and Ti anomalies, but, their concentrations of incompatible trace elements are conspicuously higher than those of subduction-zone basalts that also distinguishes them from the arc related ones. Our summation suggests that the Carboniferous volcanic successions did indeed erupt in an intracontinental rift setting and their generation is likely confined to mantle plume.     

Early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Chinese South Tianshan Orogen: constraints from SHRIMP zircon U–Pb geochronology and geochemistry of basaltic and dioritic rocks from Xiate,NW China

Traditionally the Chinese South Tianshan has been regarded as a late Paleozoic orogenic belt. However, little is known about the early Paleozoic tectonic architecture of the region. This paper presents the first evidence of Cambrian–Ordovician MORB-type basalts and adakitic diorites on the southern margin of the Yili plate in China. Basalts from Xiate in southwestern Tianshan show a typical transitional (T-) MORB and ferrobasalt composition, which indicate a formation at a propagating spreading ridge. The basalts give a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U crystallization age of 516.3 ± 7.4 Ma by SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating and have experienced contact metamorphism due to the intrusion of a dioritic pluton. The dioritic pluton has a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U crystallization age of 470 ± 12 Ma and geochemical characteristics resembling that of adakitic rocks. The pluton is considered to have been formed by partial melting of garnet amphibolites from thickened lower crust in arc or continental collision settings. The basalts and diorites are considered to outline the eastern extension of the early Paleozoic suture zone, the Nikolaev Line, which stretches east–west for hundreds of kilometers between the Northern Tianshan and Central Tianshan terranes of Kyrgyzstan. Our findings substantiate that the Yili and Central Tianshan plates were separated by the early Paleozoic Terskey ocean. The Terskey ocean probably closed during the early stage of the late Ordovician (Lomize et al. in Geotectonics 31(6):463–482, 1997), resulting in the final amalgamation of the Yili and Central Tianshan plates. Consequently, an early Paleozoic suture zone is documented in the Chinese Tianshan region, which is most likely represented by the North Nalati fault.     

Provenance and origins of a Late Paleozoic accretionary complex within the Khangai–Khentei belt in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt,central Mongolia

We have investigated the petrography, geochemistry, and detrital zircon U–Pb LA-ICPMS dating of sandstone from the Gorkhi Formation of the Khangai–Khentei belt in the Ulaanbaatar area, central Mongolia. These data are used to constrain the provenance and source rock composition of the accretionary complex, which is linked to subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt during the Middle Devonian to Early Carboniferous. Field and microscopic observations of the modal composition of sandstone and constituent mineral chemistry indicate that the sandstone of the Gorkhi Formation is feldspathic arenite, enriched in saussuritized plagioclase. Geochemical data show that most of the sandstone and shale were derived from a continental margin to continental island arc setting, with plutonic rocks being the source rocks. Detrital zircon ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of two sandstones yields age peaks of 322 ± 3 and 346 ± 3 Ma. The zircon ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of a quartz–pumpellyite vein that cuts sandstone has a weighted mean age of 339 ± 3 Ma. Based on these zircon ages, we infer that the depositional age of sandstone within the Gorkhi Formation ranges from 320 to 340 Ma (i.e., Early Carboniferous). The provenance and depositional age of the Gorkhi Formation suggest that the evolution of the accretionary complex was influenced by the intrusion and erosion of plutonic rocks during the Early Carboniferous. We also suggest that spatial and temporal changes in the provenance of the accretionary complex in the Khangai–Khentei belt, which developed aound the southern continental margin of the Siberian Craton in relation to island arc activity, were influenced by northward subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean plate.     

U–Pb dating, Hf-isotope characteristics and trace-REE-patterns of zircons from Medet porphyry copper deposit, Bulgaria: implications for timing, duration and sources of ore-bearing magmatism

Precise U–Pb geochronology, Hf isotope compositions and trace element distributions in zircons are combined in the present study to define the timing and sources of the magmatism forming the Medet porphyry copper deposit, Bulgaria. ID-TIMS U–Pb-zircon dating demonstrates that ore-bearing magmatism extended for less than 1.12 Ma. As inferred from the field relationships, it started with the intrusion of a quartz-monzodiorite at 90.59?±?0.29 Ma followed by granodiorite porphyries at 90.47?±?0.30 and 90.27?±?0.60 Ma and by crosscutting aplite dykes at 90.12?±?0.36 Ma. These units were overprinted by potassic alteration and host economic copper-(Mo–Au) mineralization. The main magmatic–hydrothermal activity ceased after that, and a later quartz-granodiorite porphyry dyke, dated at 89.26?±?0.32 Ma, only contains an uneconomic quartz–pyrite mineralization. Assimilation of Lower Paleozoic rocks with a mantle to mantle–crust signature is characteristic of the fertile magma in the Medet deposit, as defined by positive ?-Hf values of the inherited zircons. The positive Ce-anomalies and the higher Eu/Eu* ratios of the zircons in the mineralized Cretaceous rocks of Medet deposit argue for crystallization from a generally more oxidized magma compared to the later quartz-granodiorite porphyry dyke. A change in paleostress conditions occurred during the intrusion of the Medet pluton and its dykes. The initial stage reveals E–W extension associated with N–S compression, whereas the younger granodiorite dyke was emplaced during subsequent N–S extension. The large-scale switch of the extensional stress regime during the mineralization was favourable for ore deposition by channelling the fluids and increasing the effective permeability.     

40Ar/39Ar Geochronology of Volcanic and Intrusive Rocks in the Papandayan Metallic Prospect Area,West Java,Indonesia

This study presents new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages on the volcanic and intrusive rocks from the Papandayan metallic district in West Java, Indonesia. The vein system in the Arinem area, one of the prospective areas in the district, has been considered as an epithermal gold–silver–base metal deposit, however, no published age results are available for the host volcanic rocks in the district. The ages of these rocks are critical in terms of their association with mineralization and are important to understand the evolution of volcanism in the region, which has implications for mineral exploration in the district. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of two typical basalt and one andesite samples of the Jampang Formation volcanic rocks yielded ages of 11.65 ± 0.52 Ma, 18.15 ± 0.46 Ma and 7.69 ± 0.05 Ma, respectively. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of three intrusive rock samples from Gunung Halang diorite, Gunung Lingga diorite, and Gunung Buligir fine‐grained quartz diorite yielded ages of 12.98 ± 0.20 Ma, 10.81 ± 0.15 Ma, and 7.37 ± 0.05 Ma, respectively. The age of the youngest fine‐grained diorite (Gunung Wayang dike) is 3.95 ± 0.03 Ma. An ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age obtained from adularia in the Arinem mineralized vein (18.30 ± 0.20 Ma) is older than the age of altered basalt sample of this study (11.65 ± 0.52 Ma) and the K–Ar illite ages of the Arinem vein (9.4 ± 0.3 Ma and 8.8 ± 0.3 Ma) which resulted from a previous study. The age results suggest that the Papandayan district may have experienced multiple hydrothermal and mineralization events. This study, therefore, provides crucial age data to support future mineral exploration in the district.     

福建省紫金山铜金矿田石帽山群下组火山岩锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb测年与白垩纪岩浆活动期次

通过对石帽山群下组底部火山岩两组原位锆石进行LA-ICP-MSU-Pb测年,准确厘定了福建省紫金山铜金矿田中石帽山群下组火山岩的时代,获得206Pb/238U加权平均年龄分别为113.0±1.9Ma(n=16,MSWD=1.02)和110.1±0.7Ma(n=16,MSWD=0.16),并取得了131.8～162.7Ma和501.3Ma的捕获锆石或继承锆石的年龄信息。结合近年前人发表的锆石测年成果,将紫金山铜金矿田白垩纪岩浆活动划分为三个阶段:(1)115～110Ma为早期火山爆发-溢流阶段;(2)110～105Ma为中期岩浆溢流-隐爆-填塞火山通道及四坊岩体侵位阶段;(3)105～95Ma为晚期多阶段花岗闪长斑岩侵位与斑岩-热液成矿作用阶段。这为紫金山铜金矿田白垩纪岩浆活动期次与成矿时代研究提供了重要新资料。