Main Mineralization Mechanism of Magmatic Sulphide Deposits in China

Before intruding, primary magmas have undergone liquation and partial crystallization atdepth; as a result the magmas are partitioned into barren magma, ore-bearing magma, ore-richmagma and ore magma, which then ascend and are injected into the present locations once ormultiple times, thus forming ore deposits. The above-mentioned mineralizing process is knownas deep-seated magmatic liquation-injection mineralization. The volume of the barren magma isgenerally much larger than those of the ore-bearing magma, ore-rich magma and ore magma. Inthe ascending process, most of the barren magma intrudes into different locations or outpoursonto the ground surface, forming intrusions or lava flows. The rest barren magma, ore-bearingmagma, ore-rich magma and ore magma may either multiple times inject into the same space inwhich rocks and ores are formed or separately inject into different spaces in which rocks and oresare formed. The intrusions containing such deep-seated magmatic liquation-injection depositshave a much smaller volume, greater ore potential and higher ore grade than that of in-situmagmatic liquation deposits. Consequently this mineralizing process results in the formation oflarge deposits in small intrusions.     

中国岩浆硫化物矿床的主要成矿机制

深部熔离—贯入成矿机制,即指母岩浆侵入现存空间之前,在深部就发生了熔离作用和部分结晶作用,使母岩浆分离为不含矿岩浆、含矿岩浆、富矿岩浆、矿浆几部分,然后对现存空间一次或多次上侵贯入成矿。一般来说,经过深部熔离后的不含矿岩浆的体积,比含矿岩浆、富矿岩浆和矿浆的体积要大得多,在上侵过程中,不含矿岩浆大部分都侵入到不同的空间或喷溢出地表,形成岩群或岩流,剩余的岩浆、含矿岩浆、富矿岩浆和矿浆可以多次贯入同一空间成岩、成矿(金川),也可以分别贯入不同的空间成岩、成矿(红旗岭)。比照就地熔离的矿床,这种深部熔离—贯入矿床的岩体体积就小得多,含矿率和矿石品位也高得多,所以这种成矿作用导致形成小岩体,大矿床。     

中国岩浆硫化物矿床的主要类型

母岩浆侵入现存空间之前，在深部就已发生了熔离作用和部分结晶作用，致使母岩浆分离为不含矿岩浆、含矿岩浆、富矿岩浆和矿浆，然后对现存空间一次或多次贯入成矿。这种成矿作用是小岩体成大矿的必备条件，这种深部熔离—贯入矿床，是中国最主要的岩浆硫化物矿床类型，也是世界主要的岩浆硫化物矿床类型之一     

铜镍硫化物矿床成矿作用及成矿模式研究

铜镍硫化物矿床是典型的岩浆矿床。其成矿岩体是由上地幔的拉斑玄武岩浆在构造动力驱动下，沿深大断裂侵入形成的含矿铁质超基性岩、铁质基性一超基性杂岩和铁质基性岩体。主矿体通常赋存在这些岩体的中下部、底部或根部。主要成矿作用有岩浆熔离作用（包括岩浆就地熔离作用和岩浆深部熔离作用）和硫化作用。其成矿模式为“以岩浆深部熔离作用为主导的脉动式”成矿，形成由多种矿体（包括岩浆就地熔离型、岩浆深部溶离贯入型、晚期贯入型及交代型和岩浆熔离硫化叠加型）构成的复式矿床。     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111000429

The three most crucial factors for the formation of large and super-large magmatic sulfide deposits are: (1) a large volume of mantle-derived mafic-ultramafic magmas that participated in the formation of the deposits; (2) fractional crystallization and crustal contamination, particularly the input of sulfur from crustal rocks, resulting in sulfide immiscibility and segregation; and (3) the timing of sulfide concentration in the intrusion. The super-large magmatic Ni-Cu sulfide deposits around the world have been found in small mafic-ultramafic intrusions, except for the Sudbury deposit. Studies in the past decade indicated that the intrusions hosting large and super-large magmatic sulfide deposits occur in magma conduits, such as those in China, including Jinchuan (Gansu), Yangliuping (Sichuan), Kalatongke (Xinjiang), and Hongqiling (Jilin). Magma conduits as open magma systems provide a perfect environment for extensive concentration of immiscible sulfide melts, which have been found to occur along deep regional faults. The origin of many mantle-derived magmas is closely associated with mantle plumes, intracontinental rifts, or post-collisional extension. Although it has been confirmed that sulfide immiscibility results from crustal contamination, grades of sulfide ores are also related to the nature of the parental magmas, the ratio between silicate magma and immiscible sulfide melt, the reaction between the sulfide melts and newly injected silicate magmas, and fractionation of the sulfide melt. The field relationships of the ore-bearing intrusion and the sulfide ore body are controlled by the geological features of the wall rocks. In this paper, we attempt to demonstrate the general characteristics, formation mechanism,tectonic settings, and indicators of magmatic sulfide deposits occurring in magmatic conduits which would provide guidelines for further exploration.     

新疆北部幔源岩浆矿床的类型、时空分布及成矿谱系

新疆北部与幔源岩浆有关的矿床种类齐全,成矿环境复杂,时代和类型繁多,在中国乃至世界颇具特色。主要矿床类型包括铬铁矿矿床、钒钛磁铁矿矿床、铜镍硫化物矿床、铂族元素(PGE)矿床、铜镍-钒钛铁复合型矿床、含钴磁铁矿矿床、玄武岩自然铜矿床、热液型钴-多金属矿床,以及非金属矿床等。按照含矿地质体的类型,可分为6种类型:蛇绿岩型、层状杂岩型、小侵入体型、阿拉斯加型、浅成岩型和喷出岩型。这些幔源岩浆矿床可划分为3个成岩成矿系列:铜镍系列、钛铁系列和铬铁系列。钛铁系列以碱性层状岩体型钒钛磁铁矿、铁磷矿为代表,岩石具有明显的富Fe特征,属于碱性富铁质的高钛玄武岩系列;铜镍系列以小侵入体型铜镍矿、阿拉斯加型铜镍-PGE矿为代表,岩石属于铁质的拉斑玄武岩-钙碱性系列;铬铁系列主要为蛇绿岩型铬铁矿,岩石具富Mg贫Fe特征,属于镁质系列。3个系列的岩浆都具有亏损地幔源特征,可能都与地幔柱活动有关;岩浆源区富含相应的成矿元素,是形成3个系列矿床相应成矿地质体的主要条件。3个系列矿床的成矿机制可分为深部熔离/岩浆分异、就地分凝、矿浆贯入、岩浆热液等过程。根据各系列矿床之间存在的紧密联系,建立了与幔源岩浆作用有关的3个系列矿床综合模式: 亏损地幔部分熔融产生的幔源岩浆在上升过程中发生熔离/分异,分离为3个系列,由于外部物质加入在地壳深部发生分异和熔离,在不同深度富集形成铬铁矿、钒钛磁铁矿和铜镍硫化物矿床,临近地表时流体富集和分离成含矿流体,分别形成浅成岩型磁铁矿和喷出岩型自然铜矿。新疆北部各类幔源岩浆矿床从早到晚主要产于3期构造阶段/构造类型: 大陆裂解期、板块俯冲期、碰撞/后碰撞造山期(又分3个阶段: 碰撞后伸展阶段、幔柱叠加造山阶段、后碰撞结束阶段)。     

新疆喀拉通克一号岩体及铜镍硫化物矿床地质特征

本矿床是咯拉通克铜镍矿化集中区一大型铜镍硫化物矿床。含矿岩体侵位于下石炭统南明水组。岩浆分异良好,自上而下依次有闪长岩相,苏长岩相、橄榄苏长岩相、冷凝带为辉绿辉长岩相,岩体呈透镜状,体积O.023km3。全岩矿化,主要矿体赋存于岩体中下部,由含矿岩浆侵位后就地分异形成的浸染状矿石和深源岩浆熔离矿浆后期贯入形成的致密块状矿石所组成,二者之间有明显的地质和物理化学界面,具叠生特征。矿石铜镍品位高且铜大于镍,有贵金属稀散元素可以综合利用。矿床成因类型属岩浆熔离叠生铜镍硫化物矿床。     

甘肃金川硫化铜镍矿床地质特征

金川矿床是我国知名的硫化铜镍矿床。它由四个矿区组成(图1)。该矿床除含有丰富的镍、铜外,还含有一些贵金属及钴等,为一含多种金属元素的硫化物矿床。本文是笔者在对该区多年积累的大量地质资料进行分析研究的基础上写成的,谬误之处,敬请指正。一、区域地质背景矿床位于阿拉善台块南西边缘,龙首山隆起东段北东侧深断裂的上盘(即南西侧)。龙首山基底为前长城系,盖层为长城—蓟县系和震旦系。前长城系内的八个伟晶花岗岩之云母样的同位素年龄为16.57—17.41亿年,一个片麻状花岗岩之白云母样的同位素年龄为17.86亿年。故这套深变质岩系的年龄应不小于18亿年。     

含矿岩浆通道对于岩浆铜镍硫化物矿床找矿工作的意义

“深部熔离-贯入式”岩浆铜镍硫化物矿床具有矿化比例极高、岩体岩相分带及矿体产状与原地分异、熔离机制不协调的特征.我国对这类矿床深部勘探策略和方法的研究相对滞后,尚未开展深部找矿工作.本文以金川矿床为重点,系统总结和归纳其地质特征和成矿有利部位,对比了与之成因类似的加拿大Voisey＇s Bay超大型岩浆Gu-Ni-Co硫化物矿床的成功勘探经验,阐述了这类矿床沿岩浆通道找矿的前景和巨大潜力.以金川矿床为实例,提出了这类矿床沿含矿岩浆通道开展深部找矿的策略和方法.     

岩浆通道系统与岩浆硫化物成矿研究新进展

大型-超大型岩浆硫化物矿床的形成需要满足3个基本条件:(1)大量幔源岩浆参与成矿;(2)岩浆演化导致硫化物熔离;(3)硫化物在有限空间聚集。然而,除Sudbury矿床外,全球与镁铁质岩浆有关的超大型铜镍硫化物矿床都发现于小的镁铁-超镁铁岩体中。近10年来的研究表明这些含矿岩体实际上都是岩浆通道系统的一部分,中国金川、杨柳坪、喀拉通克、红旗岭等大型和超大型Ni-Cu-(PGE)硫化物矿床都形成于岩浆通道系统中,正是岩浆通道这样特殊的开放系统为大规模岩浆硫化物矿床提供了成矿条件。总结国内外最新研究结果,可以发现与成矿有关的岩浆通道系统都分布在深大断裂附近,大规模的幔源岩浆补充与地幔柱、大陆裂谷、碰撞造山后伸展等地质事件有密切的关系。尽管研究证明硫化物熔离都与地壳物质的混染有关,但矿石各种元素的品位却受母岩浆性质、硫化物熔离强度、与新注入镁铁质岩浆反应、以及硫化物本身结晶分异等多重因素的影响;含矿岩体和硫化物矿体的形态和大小都强烈地受围岩地质特征的控制。进一步明确这类矿床的地质特征、形成机制、成矿背景和成矿标志,对未来的研究和找矿工作都是非常必要的。     

煎茶岭与金川硫化镍矿床的铂族元素地球化学特征对比及其意义

采用ICP—MS方法分析了煎茶岭和金川硫化镍矿床岩石、矿石的铂族元素含量,煎茶岭岩体蛇纹岩的Cu／Pd比值低于原生地幔岩浆,说明岩浆熔离作用较弱,矿石的Pd／Ir比值较小,指示其多数矿石属于岩浆型,以岩浆成矿作用为主;而金川岩体的平均Cu／Pd比值远大于原生地幔岩浆,表明岩浆熔离作用强,矿石的Pd／Ir比值较大,体现了钯族元素矿化及成矿物质以幔源为主的特征。煎茶岭在成矿过程中有壳源物质的混染,整体上岩石、矿石铂族元素含量较低,这与岩浆熔离作用弱、铂族元素成矿作用不发育等因素有关;金川在成岩成矿过程中也有少量地壳物质的混染,但岩石、矿石铂族元素含量较高,反映了以岩浆深部熔离成矿作用为主的特征。     

Sources and formation conditions of sulfide-silicate magmas in the Noril’sk district

Geology, tectonomagmatic reactivation of the Noril??sk district, as well as stratigraphy and geochemistry of the volcanic sequence are considered. Sources and formation mechanism of ore-bearing magma and the scope of ore formation are discussed. The Permian-Triassic flood-basalt magmatism of the Noril??sk district developed in part of the Siberian Platform with Archean-Paleoproterozoic basement broken into blocks and overlapped by a sedimentary cover up to 13 km thick and a volcanic sequence reaching 3.7 km in thickness. The geophysical data show that remnants of the subducted ancient oceanic crust exist in the mantle and fragments of transitional magma chambers and conduits are retained at different levels of the Earth??s crust. The cyclic tectonomagmatic evolution of the territory was characterized by alternation of extension with intense volcanic activity and compression accompanied by waning of volcanic eruptions. The early rifting, transitional stage, and late dispersed spreading are distinguished. The associations of volcanic (lavas and tuffs) and intrusive rocks were formed during each stage. The volcanic sequence is subdivided into 11 formations. The intrusions of the Talnakh and Noril??sk ore fields are distinguished by two-level structure with the Upper Noril??sk ore-bearing intrusions above and the Lower Noril??sk barren intrusions below. Two types of primary magmas differ in geochemistry of lavas and intrusions: (1) OIB-type high-Ti magma (iv, sv, gd formations of the first stage from bottom to top) and (2) low-Ti magma (hk, tk, nd formations of the second stage and mr-mk formations of the third stage). The nd formation depleted in ore elements and the ore-bearing cumulus composed of silicate and sulfide melts in combination with early silicate minerals and chromite are products of the fractionation of the primary low-Ti magma. As follows from geochemical parameters, intrusions of the Lower Noril??sk type are comagmatic to the evolved lavas of the nd₃ subformation, whereas intrusions of the Upper Noril??sk type are comagmatic to the lavas of the mr-mk formations. Geochemical similarity with volcanic rocks provides evidence for the composition of the initial magma and the time of intrusion emplacement. The ore-bearing intrusions of the Upper Noril??sk type were formed at the onset of the third stage, when the primitive low-Ti magma similar to the lavas of mr-mk formations in composition was emplaced. When intruding, this melt captured and transported ore-bearing cumulus (drops of sulfide melt, early olivine and chromite grains) into the magma chamber. Separate portions of sulfide liquid were involved into movement as a self-dependent intrusive subphase during formation of the Talnakh and Kharaelakh intrusions. An extremal effect of pressure on sulfur concentration in fluid-bearing and sulfide-saturated mafic magmas has been established in experiments to be P = 1?2 GPa. In this interval of pressure, the S concentration in sulfide-saturated magmas increases in the following sequence: dry magma ??(H₂O + CO₂)-bearing magma <H₂O-bearing magma. In the regions of low (<0.3 GPa) and high (>2.5 GPa) pressures, the S contents (0.1?C0.2 wt %) are commensurable. The extremal baric relationship of S concentration in fluid-bearing and sulfide-saturated mafic magmas may be important for the formation of ore-bearing magmas. The calculation results show that the amount of sulfides in the known deposits does not exceed 2% of geological resources of the sulfides separated from the flood basalts. Therefore, the chance of discovery of new deposits remains rather high. Proceeding from the conditions of ore-bearing magma formation and geological setting of the known deposits, criteria for recognition of potentially ore-bearing areas are proposed and such areas are outlined.     

新疆喀拉通克矿区I号含贵金属硫化铜镍矿床的成岩成矿模式

讨论了喀拉通克矿区I号含贵金属硫化铜镍矿床含矿岩体及矿体地质特征、成岩成矿物质来源和成矿作用等，建立了相应的成岩成矿模式。该模式认为，喀拉通克I号含贵金属硫化铜镍矿床是一叠生矿床，它是由深部熔离作用形成的富含硫化物的含矿岩浆，侵位后经就地熔离成矿怍用、纯硫化物矿浆就地结晶和挤压迁移作用以及热液成矿作用形成的，矿床类型属岩浆熔离型。     

岩浆铜-镍-铂族金属硫化矿床“深部熔离-贯入”成矿作用与模式--加拿 大伏伊希湾和中国金川矿床地质特征对比

通过对金川铜镍矿床地质、矿化特征与加拿大伏伊希湾（Voisey′s Bay）铜- 镍-铂族金属硫化物矿床进行系统对比分析,总结出这2个世界级铜镍硫化物矿床 形成演化方面的相似性、可比性及其共同特点,即深部岩浆房含矿岩浆沿通道脉 动式上侵,到上部表现为“小岩体,成大矿”。成矿作用过程和模式表现为：①含矿 岩浆的有序侵位显示岩浆在深部岩浆房停歇过程中曾发生熔离分异,形成岩浆、 含矿岩浆、富矿岩浆和矿浆分层结构;②成矿作用是在富有动力的岩浆环境下岩 浆不连续（脉动式）上侵过程中发生的,岩浆熔融体富含挥发组分,上侵活动剧烈, 围岩角砾化;③含矿岩浆沿相同的通道或越位上侵,在先期侵入岩体下侧或上方 不同空间成矿;④岩浆运移过程中与围岩发生相互作用、组分交换和成矿物质的 富集。深入阐明了含矿岩浆不连续（脉动式）上侵、后续岩浆补给和混合是镁铁 —超镁铁岩体中硫化物被聚集在岩浆流动的通道内形成超大型铜镍硫化物型铂 族元素矿床的重要机制。     

东天山镁铁质_超镁铁质岩带岩石特征及铜镍成矿作用

东天山地区分布有众多镁铁质-超镁铁质岩体,岩体成群成带状分布,从北向南可划分为7个区带,受区域性韧性剪切带和断裂构造控制。从岩相学来看,本区含矿岩体可分为多期次侵入的复式杂岩体和单期次侵入的超镁铁质单式杂岩体,显示出深源岩浆充分分异的特征。含矿岩体具有高镁、低碱、低钙、低铝、低钛特征,具有较高的Mg#、m/f和m/s比值,兼具岩浆硫化物熔离作用与岩浆结晶分异作用。根据TiO2-10P2O5-10MnO图判别出本区岩浆具有拉斑玄武岩到钙碱玄武岩过渡的性质,岩浆源具有钙碱性玄武岩浆特征,富含含水矿物,预示了早期俯冲洋壳对幔源岩浆的交代作用。岩体矿化分为3种成矿作用和5期成矿步骤,且岩浆成矿作用与热液作用几乎同时进行,岩浆分异作用提供热液来源,而热液作用促进硫化物的饱和与熔离,造成岩石的热液蚀变结构并对岩浆期成矿进行改造。晚期岩体隆升后,矿体出露地表遭受氧化淋滤作用,形成特有的地表氧化带找矿标志。     

皖赣沿江地区中生代壳幔相互作用与多成因夕卡岩成矿过程研究综述

在皖赣沿江地区分布着大量中生代侵入岩体及其岩石包体和相关的夕卡岩矿床。本文在综合整理作者研究团队近30年来所获得的区内大部分侵入岩体及其岩石包体和夕卡岩矿床研究资料的基础上,聚焦区域中生代壳幔相互作用与多成因夕卡岩成矿过程分析,为发展壳幔成矿学打下一定基础。基性侵入岩和镁铁质岩石包体的同位素年代学和岩石地球化学资料表明,皖赣沿江地区在中生代发生了碰撞后(145~135 Ma)富铜金和造山后(130~120 Ma)富铁金幔源岩浆底侵作用和相应的壳幔混源岩浆作用。壳幔混源岩浆作用主要包括结晶分异作用、同化混染作用、岩浆混合作用和岩浆熔离作用。夕卡岩矿床地质调研和镜下观察结果显示,两期壳幔混源岩浆侵入晚古生代到早中生代围岩地层后引发了多成因夕卡岩成矿作用,形成了接触交代、层控、岩浆和复合叠加等多成因夕卡岩矿床。接触交代、层控、岩浆和复合叠加夕卡岩矿床分别以热液交代、沉积+热液交代、岩浆结晶+热液交代和沉积+岩浆结晶+热液交代矿物组合和结构构造为特征。在碰撞后酸性-中酸性侵入岩体中产有富Cu和Zn等成矿物质的元古宙变质岩包体,表明碰撞后富铜金的底侵玄武岩浆或其演化岩浆在浅位岩浆房中同化了元古宙变质基底成矿物质(铜锌等)储库导致铜进一步富集,从而形成更富铜的酸性-中酸性岩浆。在碰撞后中基性-基性侵入岩体中产有含大量Cu-Fe硫化物(黄铜矿和磁黄铁矿)和氧化物包裹体的深位和浅位堆积岩,表明碰撞后富铜金的底侵玄武岩浆在深位岩浆房中和其演化岩浆在浅位岩浆房中发生了强烈的结晶分异作用导致铜铁亏损,形成更富金的中基性-基性岩浆。酸性-中酸性侵入岩体中夕卡岩包体和夕卡岩中辉长岩-夕卡岩过渡包体的存在表明,碰撞后富铜金的底侵玄武岩浆在侵位处同化晚古生代含铜铁矿源层的碳酸盐地层导致铜进一步富集,形成更富铜的夕卡岩岩浆。更富铜的酸性-中酸性岩浆、更富金的中基性-基性岩浆和更富铜的夕卡岩岩浆是形成碰撞后时期接触交代和层控夕卡岩铜矿、接触交代夕卡岩金矿和岩浆夕卡岩铜矿的最重要控制因素。在造山后中基性-基性侵入岩体中产有含大量Cu-Fe硫化物(黄铜矿和磁黄铁矿)和氧化物包裹体的堆积岩,表明造山后富铁金的底侵玄武岩浆在深位岩浆房中发生了强烈的结晶分异作用导致铜铁亏损,从而形成更富金的中基性-基性岩浆。造山后富铁金的底侵玄武岩浆在侵位处同化晚古生代含铜铁矿源层的碳酸盐地层、早中生代铁矿源层或者早中生代铁硅矿源层,导致铁、铁和铁硅的进一步富集,分别形成更富铁的夕卡岩岩浆、基性岩浆和中基性岩浆。更富金的中基性-基性岩浆及更富铁的夕卡岩岩浆、基性岩浆和中基性岩浆是形成造山后时期接触交代夕卡岩金矿、岩浆夕卡岩铁矿、矿浆型铁矿和接触交代夕卡岩铁矿的关键控制因素。     

黑龙江省洋灰洞子铜矿床地质特征及成因探讨

洋灰洞子铜矿床是太平岭多金属成矿带一小型矿床,通过对矿床的矿体形态、矿石组成、结构构造、围岩蚀变、硫同位素测定及矿石爆裂温度测定的分析,成矿物质来源于含矿岩体和地层,在成岩成矿作用中,岩浆同熔和交代作用较强烈,其成矿期可分二期,成矿温度划分三阶段.认为洋灰洞子铜矿床是与中酸性侵入岩密切相关的中温热液型斑岩铜矿床.     

云南金平铜厂斑岩铜钼矿区岩体锆石Ce4+/Ce3+比值及其对成矿的指示意义

对金沙江—红河成矿带南段铜厂斑岩铜钼矿区含矿的石英正长斑岩和无矿的细粒正长岩开展了锆石的Ce4+/Ce3+比值、δCe及δEu值的研究,结果显示含矿的4个石英正长斑岩样品的锆石Ce4+/Ce3+比值变化范围为208～336,平均比值为265,δCe值变化范围为17.6～60.6,平均值为33.8,δEu值变化范围为0.592～0.628,平均值为0.611,不含矿的1个细粒正长岩样品的锆石Ce4+/Ce3+比值为61,δCe值为8.50,δEu值为0.424,含矿的石英正长斑岩的锆石Ce4+/Ce3+比值、δCe及δEu值均明显高于不含矿的细粒正长岩,反映了与成矿有关的岩浆具有相对高的氧化状态。对比金沙江—红河成矿带北段的玉龙斑岩铜钼矿带和中段的马厂箐斑岩铜钼矿的含矿与无矿岩体,它们的锆石Ce4+/Ce3+比值与南段铜厂斑岩铜钼矿含矿及无矿岩体具有基本类似的特征,含矿岩体的锆石Ce4+/Ce3+比值通常大于200,而不含矿岩体的锆石Ce4+/Ce3+比值基本上都小于120。这种差异对进一步认识金沙江—红河成矿带斑岩铜钼矿的岩浆氧逸度特征具有重要的理论意义,对斑岩铜钼矿的找矿工作具有一定的指导意义。     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987113000595

Magmatic oxide deposits in the～260 Ma Emeishan Large Igneous Province(ELIP),SW China and northern Vietnam,are important sources of Fe,Ti and V.Some giant magmatic Fe-Ti-V oxide deposits, such as the Panzhihua,Hongge,and Baima deposits,are well described in the literature and are hosted in layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions in the Panxi region,the central ELIP.The same type of ELIP- related deposits also occur far to the south and include the Anyi deposit,about 130 km south of Panzhihua,and the Mianhuadi deposit in the Red River fault zone.The Anyi deposit is relatively small but is similarly hosted in a layered mafic intrusion.The Mianhuadi deposit has a zircon U-Pb age of～260 Ma and is thus contemporaneous with the ELIP.This deposit was variably metamorphosed during the Indosinian orogeny and Red River faulting.Compositionally,magnetite of the Mianhuadi deposit contains smaller amounts of Ti and V than that of the other deposits,possibly attributable to the later metamorphism.The distribution of the oxide ore deposits is not related to the domal structure of the ELIP.One major feature of all the oxide deposits in the ELIP is the spatial association of oxide-bearing gabbroic intrusions,syenitic plutons and high-Ti flood basalts.Thus,we propose that magmas from a mantle plume were emplaced into a shallow magma chamber where they were evolved into a field of liquid immiscibility to form two silicate liquids,one with an extremely Fe-Ti-rich gabbroic composition and the other syenitic.An immiscible Fe-Ti-(P) oxide melt may then separate from the mafic magmas to form oxide deposits.The parental magmas from which these deposits formed were likely Fe-Ti-rich picritic in composition and were derived from enriched asthenospheric mantle at a greater depth than the magmas that produced sulfide-bearing intrusions of the ELIP.     

Time scales and length scales in magma flow pathways and the origin of magmatic Ni–Cu–PGE ore deposits

Ore forming processes involve the redistribution of heat, mass and momentum by a wide range of processes operating at different time and length scales. The fastest process at any given length scale tends to be the dominant control. Applying this principle to the array of physical processes that operate within magma flow pathways leads to some key insights into the origins of magmatic Ni–Cu–PGE sulfide ore deposits. A high proportion of mineralised systems, including those in the super-giant Noril'sk-Talnakh camp, are formed in small conduit intrusions where assimilation of country rock has played a major role. Evidence of this process is reflected in the common association of sulfides with vari-textured contaminated host rocks containing xenoliths in varying stages of assimilation. Direct incorporation of S-bearing country rock xenoliths is likely to be the dominant mechanism for generating sulfide liquids in this setting. However, the processes of melting or dissolving these xenoliths is relatively slow compared with magma flow rates and, depending on xenolith lithology and the composition of the carrier magma, slow compared with settling and accumulation rates. Chemical equilibration between sulfide droplets and silicate magma is slower still, as is the process of dissolving sulfide liquid into initially undersaturated silicate magmas. Much of the transport and deposition of sulfide in the carrier magmas may occur while sulfide is still incorporated in the xenoliths, accounting for the common association of magmatic sulfide-matrix ore breccias and contaminated “taxitic” host rocks. Effective upgrading of so-formed sulfide liquids would require repetitive recycling by processes such as re-entrainment, back flow or gravity flow operating over the lifetime of the magma transport system as a whole. In contrast to mafic-hosted systems, komatiite-hosted ores only rarely show an association with externally-derived xenoliths, an observation which is partially due to the predominant formation of ores in lava flows rather than deep-seated intrusions, but also to the much shorter timescales of key component systems in hotter, less viscous magmas. Nonetheless, multiple cycles of deposition and entrainment are necessary to account for the metal contents of komatiite-hosted sulfides. More generally, the time and length scale approach introduced here may be of value in understanding other igneous processes as well as non-magmatic mineral systems.