Gold metallogeny associated with craton destruction: A geophysical perspective from the North China Craton

Currently ranking as the largest producer of gold in the world, China's gold reserves are spread over 200 major gold deposits and several minor deposits. A large part of these belong to the late Mesozoic gold deposits in the North China Craton (NCC) that occur along craton margins, as well as within the cratonic interior in reactivated paleo sutures, and show a close spatio-temporal relationship with zones of lithospheric thinning and craton destruction. Here we integrate and evaluate geophysical information from the NCC through an analysis of receiver function and tomography that suggest mantle upwelling accompanied by lower crustal or lithospheric delamination. Our results identify that the major gold belts in the NCC are largely located above zones of mantle upwelling and craton destruction. The faults and paleo sutures provided the pathways for migration of ore-bearing fluids, with the granitoids offering favorable conditions for gold deposition.     

Ancient deep roots for Mesozoic world-class gold deposits in the north China craton:An integrated genetic perspective

The North China Craton(NCC)hosts some of the world-class gold deposits that formed more than 2 billion years after the major orogenic cycles and cratonization.The diverse models for the genesis of these deposits remain equivocal,and mostly focused on the craton margin examples,although synchronous deposits formed in the interior domains.Here we adopt an integrated geological and geophysical perspective to evaluate the possible factors that contributed to the formation of the major gold deposits in the NCC.In the Archean tectonic framework of the NCC,the locations of the major gold deposits fall within or adjacent to greenstone belts or the margins of micro-continents.In the Paleoproterozoic framework,they are markedly aligned along two major collisional sutures-the Trans North China Orogen and the Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt.Since the Mesozoic intrusions hosting these deposits do not carry adequate signals for the source of gold,we explore the deep roots based on available geophysical data.We show that the gold deposits are preferentially distributed above zones of uplifted MOHO and shallow LAB corresponding to thinned crust and eroded sub-lithospheric mantle,and that the mineralization is located above regions of high heat flow representing mantle upwelling.The NCC was at the center of a multi-convergent regime during the Mesozoic which intensely churned the mantle and significantly en riched it.The geophysical data on Moho and LAB upwarp from the centre towards east of the craton is more consistent with paleo-Pacific slab subduction from the east exerting the dominant control on lithospheric thinning.Based on these results,and together with an evaluation of the geochemical and isotopic features of the Mesozoic magmatic intrusions hosting the gold mineralization,we propose a genetic model that invokes reworking of ancient Au archives preserved in the lower crust and metasomatised upper mantle and which were generated through multiple subduction,underplating and cumulation events associated with cratonization of the NCC as well as the subduction-collision of Yangtze Craton with the NCC.The heat and material input along zones of heterogeneously thinned lithosphere from a rising turbulent mantle triggered by Mesozoic convergent margins surrounding the craton aided in reworking the deep roots of the ancient Au reservoirs,leading to the major gold metallogeny along craton margins as well as in the interior of the NCC.     

胶东-朝鲜半岛中生代金成矿作用

华北克拉通东部与朝鲜半岛相接,是中朝克拉通的重要组成部分。在华北克拉通东部的胶东半岛和朝鲜半岛内皆产出有不同规模的金矿床,并具有显著的地域特色。胶东半岛已发现金矿床(点)近200处,其中三山岛、焦家、新城、玲珑等为世界级金矿,它们为石英脉型和受构造控制的蚀变岩型,成矿时间主要集中在~120Ma,说明金成矿作用是在相当短的时间内,在同一成矿背景下和同一构造-岩浆-流体成矿系统下完成的。成矿流体主要来自幔源岩浆以及幔源岩浆与地壳相互作用产生的地质流体,就位环境与地壳/岩石圈在早白垩世强烈伸展构造变形有关,为克拉通破坏型金矿;与我国辽东相邻的朝鲜半岛北部平安北道等地金矿储量较大,成矿类型与特征辽东五龙金矿类似,为石英脉型矿化,也可能为早白垩世与华北克拉通岩石圈减薄、破坏相关的金矿床;朝鲜半岛南部的韩国金(银)矿床分成侏罗纪中温热液型和白垩纪浅成低温热液型两类,其中侏罗纪热液脉状金矿成矿特征虽与胶东金矿类似,但成矿时代(峰期~160Ma)有显著差异。而白垩纪浅成低温热液型金-银矿化主要发生在100~70Ma,与太平洋板块俯冲作用相关,为典型的环太平洋斑岩-次火山活动有关的浅成低温贱金属成矿系列。胶东和朝鲜半岛金矿床类型、特征及成矿时间的异同,与区域中生代地质演化及地球动力学背景密切相关。     

华北克拉通东部早白垩世伸展盆地的发育过程及其对克拉通的破坏

在晚侏罗世华北克拉通东部破坏之初出现了区域性隆起,全区缺失上侏罗统沉积。在早白垩世早期,出现了区域性的伸展活动,断陷盆地形成,克拉通南、北缘伸展活动最强,北部燕山构造带以出现变质核杂岩为特征,南部出现宽裂谷型盆地。早白垩世中期华北克拉通东部普遍出现了火山活动与岩浆侵入。早白垩世晚期克拉通上以出现窄裂谷型盆地为特征,沿北北东走向的郯庐断裂带断陷活动最强。这些断陷盆地的演化过程揭示,经历地表抬升后,克拉通破坏之初的岩石圈热而弱,从而形成变质核杂岩或宽裂谷型盆地。这期间的破坏强度在空间上具有不均匀分布的特征,受控于早期岩石圈地幔的结构。经过早白垩世中期的大量岩浆活动之后,早白垩世晚期克拉通岩石圈温度降低、强度变大,从而利用早期大型断裂构造形成窄裂谷型盆地。这现象支持华北克拉通东部晚中生代的岩石圈减薄是以逐渐拆沉机制为主。     

Petrogenesis of Early Cretaceous low-Mg adakitic rocks along the southernmost margin of the North China Craton: implications for late Mesozoic crustal evolution

This article reports systematic zircon U–Pb dating, whole-rock geochemistry, and Sr–Nd isotopic data for the Early Cretaceous Jialou granitoids along the southernmost margin of the North China Craton (NCC), adjacent to the Tongbai Orogen. These results will provide significant constrains on the crustal evolution of the southern margin of the NCC. Zircon U–Pb analyses, using laser ablation–multicollector–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry, indicate that the Jialou granitoids were emplaced at ~130 Ma. The granitoids have high SiO₂, K₂O, Al₂O₃, Sr, and Ba contents, high Sr/Y and (La/Yb)N ratios, and low concentrations of MgO, Y, and heavy rare earth elements, indicating a low-Mg adakitic affinity. They have relatively high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.707464–0.708190) and negative εNd(t) values (–11.8 to –15.2), similar to those of the Palaeoproterozoic lower crust in the NCC. These geochemical and isotopic features indicate that the Jialou low-Mg adakitic rocks were derived by partial melting of mafic Palaeoproterozoic lower crust of the NCC at >50 km depth, leaving behind a garnet amphibolite residue. The petrogenesis of the Jialou low-Mg adakitic rocks, plus the petrogenesis of Mesozoic granitoids and lower crustal xenoliths entrained in the Late Jurassic Xinyang volcaniclastic diatreme, suggests that the continental crust along the southern margin of the NCC was thickened during the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, but thinned after 130 Ma. We propose that crustal thickening was caused by a late Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous intra-continental orogeny, rather than continent–continent collision between the NCC and the Yangtze Craton. We also suggest that crustal thinning and Early Cretaceous magmatism were related to subduction of the palaeo-Pacific plate, rather than post-orogenic collapse of the Qinling–Tongbai–Dabie Orogen.     

Geodynamics of heterogeneous gold mineralization in the North China Craton and its relationship to lithospheric destruction

The North China Craton (NCC) hosts some of the world-class gold deposits on the globe, which can be classified into distinct types as the “Jiaodong type”, explosive breccia type and skarn type. The “Jiaodong type” gold deposits were formed at ca. 120–130 Ma both in the margins and interior of the NCC. Two explosive breccia gold deposits formed at ac. 180 Ma and 120 Ma and are located in the southern margin and the interior of the NCC. Important skarn gold deposits of ca. 128 Ma formed within the interior of the NCC. Although the formation and distribution of these gold deposits are temporally and spatially heterogeneous, they are commonly related with the lithospheric destruction of the NCC. The interplay of several factors such as basement architecture, inhomogeneous decratonization, crust-mantle interaction, mantle dynamics, magmatic characteristics, high heat flow and massive flux of deep-derived ore-forming fluids operated in generating the gold endowment. All the three types of gold systems are closely related with granitoid plutons and different types of dykes, the magmas for which were sourced from the lower crust near the Moho discontinuity and involved the mixing and mingling of felsic and mafic magmas. The ore forming fluids display prominent magmatic signature and were largely derived from deep domains, with probable input from the asthenosphere mantle. The heterogeneous distribution of the giant gold systems in the NCC was geodynamically controlled by the destruction of the craton. The regions at the confluence of two or three Precambrian micro-continental-blocks are generally characterized by thinned lithosphere and high heat flow, constituting the potential sites of giant gold deposits. The mantle beneath these regions shows EM2 characteristics implying the involvement of subducted oceanic components. The magmatic intrusions associated with the gold systems crystallized under high oxygen fugacity conditions and were rich in volatiles.     

西秦岭地区造山型与卡林型金矿床

西秦岭金矿床分为卡林型和造山型两类。卡林型金矿床麇集于南秦岭和松潘—甘孜造山带的东北部。三叠纪和早侏罗世的同构造花岗闪长岩广泛分布于西秦岭中部和南部、松潘—甘孜盆地以及扬子克拉通边缘。造山型脉状金矿床主要分布于西秦岭造山带中的脆韧性剪切带内。大部分粗粒金主要赋存在网格状石英细脉和角砾状围岩中的黄铁矿、磁黄铁矿、毒砂和少量贱金属硫化物中和以分散状分布在蚀变围岩中。同位素资料表明晚三叠世 -中侏罗世与扬子克拉通俯冲有关的作用控制了造山型金矿床的形成。     

Late Mesozoic magmatism in the Jiaodong Peninsula,East China:Implications for crust-mantle interactions and lithospheric thinning of the eastern North China Craton

A section from the Linglong gold deposit on the northwestern Jiaodong Peninsula,East China,containing Late Mesozoic magmatic rocks from mafic and intermediate dikes and felsic intrusions,was chosen to investigate the lithospheric evolution of the eastern North China Craton(NCC).Zircon U-Pb data showed that low-Mg adakitic monzogranites and granodiorite intrusions were emplaced during the Late Jurassic(～145 Ma) and late Early Cretaceous(112-107 Ma),respectively;high-Mg adakitic diorite and mafic dikes were also emplaced during the Early Cretaceous at～139 Ma and ～118 Ma,and 125-145 Ma and 115-120 Ma,respectively.The geochemical data,including whole-rock major and trace element compositions and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes,imply that the mafic dikes originated from the partial melting of a lithospheric mantle metasomatised through hydrous fluids from a subducted oceanic slab.Low-Mg adakitic monzogranites and granodiorite intrusions originated from the partial melting of the thickened lower crust of the NCC,while high-Mg adakitic diorite dikes originated from the mixing of mafic and felsic melts.Late Mesozoic magmatism showed that lithosphere-derived melts showed a similar source depth and that crust-derived felsic melts originated from the continuously thickened lower crust of the Jiaodong Peninsula from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous.We infer that the lower crust of the eastern NCC was thickened through compression and subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific plate beneath the NCC during the Middle Jurassic.Slab rollback of the plate from ～160 Ma resulted in lithospheric thinning and accompanied Late Mesozoic magmatism.     

造山型金矿研究进展:兼论中国造山型金成矿作用

造山型金矿指与大洋板块俯冲和陆块拼贴有关、产在汇聚板块边界变质地体内部或者边缘受韧-脆性断裂构造控制的,成矿流体以低盐度H2O-CO2-CH4为主要特征的,成矿深度(2~20 km)和温度(200~650℃)及其相应的蚀变矿化组合有较大变化的系列金矿床.造山型金矿形成与超大陆聚合时限具有一致性.由于围岩类型和控矿构造多样性、地球化学特征具有多解性、金属源区和演化的不确定性以及成矿就位和物质起源的空间差距,造山型金矿成因模式有以下两个主要观点.第一种为大陆地壳变质流体成因模式,认为造山型金矿形成于造山作用同变质阶段,并随岩石圈演化矿床的物质来源发生变化;富金流体的释放由上地壳岩石绿片岩相到角闪岩相的进变质作用导致,该过程中的黄铁矿向磁黄铁矿转变释放了大量的金,这种模式被广泛运用于赋存在绿片岩相中的显生宙造山型金矿.然而越来越多的实例证实造山型金矿主要形成于峰期变质的退变质阶段或者与区域变质没有任何关系,变质流体成因模式受到了强烈质疑;与大陆地壳变质模式相对立的是幔源流体模式,其认为流体起源于俯冲洋壳脱水或富集地幔再活化,不同时代和地区的成矿流体具有一致性;尽管该模式不符合传统的平衡条件下的相变原理,但是基于幔源流体的存在及其浅部运移的大量观测,初步认为成矿流体是在超临界和非平衡条件下完成了金属的幔→壳迁移.中国造山型金矿分布于江南造山带志留纪、天山-阿尔泰二叠纪、华北克拉通北缘三叠-侏罗纪、特提斯造山带二叠-侏罗纪、华南板块晚三叠世-侏罗纪、华北克拉通东南缘白垩纪、青藏高原及周缘古近纪等七大成矿带,主要受到了显生宙不同时代造山作用的控制,成矿时代晚于变质峰期,重要成矿带大型矿集区(胶东、哀牢山、扬子西缘)的实例解剖均支持幔源流体成因模式.     

Phanerozoic continental growth and gold metallogeny of Asia

The Asian continent formed during the past 800 m.y. during late Neoproterozoic through Jurassic closure of the Tethyan ocean basins, followed by late Mesozoic circum-Pacific and Cenozoic Himalayan orogenies. The oldest gold deposits in Asia reflect accretionary events along the margins of the Siberia, Kazakhstan, North China, Tarim–Karakum, South China, and Indochina Precambrian blocks while they were isolated within the Paleotethys and surrounding Panthalassa Oceans. Orogenic gold deposits are associated with large-scale, terrane-bounding fault systems and broad areas of deformation that existed along many of the active margins of the Precambrian blocks. Deposits typically formed during regional transpressional to transtensional events immediately after to as much as 100 m.y. subsequent to the onset of accretion or collision. Major orogenic gold provinces associated with this growth of the Asian continental mass include: (1) the ca. 750 Ma Yenisei Ridge, ca. 500 Ma East Sayan, and ca. 450–350 Ma Patom provinces along the southern margins of the Siberia craton; (2) the 450 Ma Charsk belt of north-central Kazakhstan; (3) the 310–280 Ma Kalba belt of NE Kazakhstan, extending into adjacent NW Xinjiang, along the Siberia–Kazakhstan suture; (4) the ca. 300–280 Ma deposits within the Central Asian southern and middle Tien Shan (e.g., Kumtor, Zarmitan, Muruntau), marking the closure of the Turkestan Ocean between Kazakhstan and the Tarim–Karakum block; (5) the ca. 190–125 Ma Transbaikal deposits along the site of Permian to Late Jurassic diachronous closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean between Siberia and Mongolia/North China; (6) the probable Late Silurian–Early Devonian Jiagnan belt formed along the margin of Gondwana at the site of collision between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks; (7) Triassic deposits of the Paleozoic Qilian Shan and West Qinling orogens along the SW margin of the North China block developed during collision of South China; and (8) Jurassic(?) ores on the margins of the Subumusu block in Myanmar and Malaysia. Circum-Pacific tectonism led to major orogenic gold province formation along the length of the eastern side of Asia between ca. 135 and 120 Ma, although such deposits are slightly older in South Korea and slightly younger in the Amur region of the Russian Southeast. Deformation related to collision of the Kolyma–Omolon microcontinent with the Pacific margin of the Siberia craton led to formation of 136–125 Ma ores of the Yana–Kolyma belt (Natalka, Sarylakh) and 125–119 Ma ores of the South Verkhoyansk synclinorium (Nezhdaninskoe). Giant ca. 125 Ma gold provinces developed in the Late Archean uplifted basement of the decratonized North China block, within its NE edge and into adjacent North Korea, in the Jiaodong Peninsula, and in the Qinling Mountains. The oldest gold-bearing magmatic–hydrothermal deposits of Asia include the ca. 485 Ma Duobaoshan porphyry within a part of the Tuva–Mongol arc, ca. 355 Ma low-sulfidation epithermal deposits (Kubaka) of the Omolon terrane accreted to eastern Russia, and porphyries (Bozshakol, Taldy Bulak) within Ordovican to Early Devonian oceanic arcs formed off the Kazakhstan microcontinent. The Late Devonian to Carboniferous was marked by widespread gold-rich porphyry development along the margins of the closing Ob–Zaisan, Junggar–Balkhash, and Turkestan basins (Amalyk, Oyu Tolgoi); most were formed in continental arcs, although the giant Oyu Tolgoi porphyry was part of a near-shore oceanic arc. Permian subduction-related deformation along the east side of the Indochina block led to ca. 300 Ma gold-bearing skarn and disseminated gold ore formation in the Truong Son fold belt of Laos, and along the west side to ca. 250 Ma gold-bearing skarns and epithermal deposits in the Loei fold belt of Laos and Thailand. In the Mesozoic Transbaikal region, extension along the basin margins subsequent to Mongol–Okhotsk closure was associated with ca. 150–125 Ma formation of important auriferous epithermal (Balei), skarn (Bystray), and porphyry (Kultuminskoe) deposits. In northeastern Russia, Early Cretaceous Pacific margin subduction and Late Cretaceous extension were associated with epithermal gold-deposit formation in the Uda–Murgal (Julietta) and Okhotsk–Chukotka (Dukat, Kupol) volcanic belts, respectively. In southeastern Russia, latest Cretaceous to Oligocene extension correlates with other low-sulfidation epithermal ores that formed in the East Sikhote–Alin volcanic belt. Other extensional events, likely related to changing plate dynamics along the Pacific margin of Asia, relate to epithermal–skarn–porphyry districts that formed at ca. 125–85 Ma in northeastmost China and ca. 105–90 Ma in the Coast Volcanic belt of SE China. The onset of strike slip along a part of the southeastern Pacific margin appears to correlate with the giant 148–135 Ma gold-rich porphyry–skarn province of the lower and middle Yangtze River. It is still controversial as to whether true Carlin-like gold deposits exist in Asia. Those deposits that most closely resemble the Nevada (USA) ores are those in the Permo-Triassic Youjiang basin of SW China and NE Vietnam, and are probably Late Triassic in age, although this is not certain. Other Carlin-like deposits have been suggested to exist in the Sepon basin of Laos and in the Mongol–Okhotsk region (Kuranakh) of Transbaikal.     

俄罗斯远东地区晚中生代花岗岩类的时空分布及其地质意义

在俄罗斯远东地区晚中生代花岗岩类年龄和相关地球化学数据的基础上,初步建立了该区晚中生代花岗岩类的年代学格架：大致以145Ma为界,分为侏罗纪(178~151Ma)和早白垩世(142~122Ma)2期。侏罗纪的花岗岩类主要为花岗岩－花岗闪长岩－石英二长岩组合,总体上为准铝质—强过铝质高钾钙碱性系列;早白垩世的花岗岩类主要为花岗岩－石英闪长岩－石英二长岩组合,主要为过铝质钙碱性—高钾钙碱性系列—钾玄岩系列。2期花岗岩稀土元素配分曲线均呈右倾型,重稀土元素曲线较平坦,都富集大离子亲石元素(如U、K)和轻稀土元素。与中国东北地区晚中生代花岗岩类对比,中国东北地区总体以兴安岭为中心,中间为早白垩世的花岗岩类,两侧为侏罗纪花岗岩类对称分布。境内外的侏罗纪花岗岩类构造背景不同,其分布与鄂霍次克洋和太平洋板块的俯冲有关,早白垩世花岗岩类可能形成于鄂霍次克带挤压造山后的伸展垮塌和太平洋板块的俯冲弧后伸展阶段。     

俄罗斯远东地区晚中生代花岗岩类的时空分布 及其地质意义

在俄罗斯远东地区晚中生代花岗岩类年龄和相关地球化学数据的基础上,初步建立了该区晚中生代花岗岩类的年代学格架：大致以145Ma为界,分为侏罗纪(178~151Ma)和早白垩世(142~122Ma)2期。侏罗纪的花岗岩类主要为花岗岩－花岗闪长岩－石英二长岩组合,总体上为准铝质—强过铝质高钾钙碱性系列;早白垩世的花岗岩类主要为花岗岩－石英闪长岩－石英二长岩组合,主要为过铝质钙碱性—高钾钙碱性系列—钾玄岩系列。2期花岗岩稀土元素配分曲线均呈右倾型,重稀土元素曲线较平坦,都富集大离子亲石元素(如U、K)和轻稀土元素。与中国东北地区晚中生代花岗岩类对比,中国东北地区总体以兴安岭为中心,中间为早白垩世的花岗岩类,两侧为侏罗纪花岗岩类对称分布。境内外的侏罗纪花岗岩类构造背景不同,其分布与鄂霍次克洋和太平洋板块的俯冲有关,早白垩世花岗岩类可能形成于鄂霍次克带挤压造山后的伸展垮塌和太平洋板块的俯冲弧后伸展阶段。     

华北克拉通北缘张家口-宣化地区古生代-中生代岩浆构造活动与成矿作用

河北省张家口-宣化地区(张宣地区)位于华北克拉通北缘中段,区内自显生宙以来构造活动频繁,并产出大量岩浆岩和金矿床,是研究华北克拉通北缘岩浆-构造-成矿演化体系的重要对象.本文通过对张宣地区的水泉沟正长岩、响水沟似斑状花岗岩、井儿洼粗安岩-英安岩、象山花岗闪长岩、青羊沟黑云母二长花岗岩和张家口组流纹岩的锆石年龄、Lu-H...     

Zircon U–Pb age and Hf isotopic compositions of Mesozoic granitoids in southern Qiangtang,Tibet: Implications for the subduction of the Bangong–Nujiang Tethyan Ocean

The southern Qiangtang magmatic belt was formed by the north-dipping subduction of the Bangong–Nujiang Tethyan Ocean during Mesozoic. To better understand the petrogenesis, time–space distribution along the length of this belt, 21 samples of several granitoid bodies, from west to east, in the Bangong Co, Gaize, Dongqiao and Amdo areas were selected for in-situ zircon U–Pb dating, Hf isotopic and whole-rock chemical analyses. The results suggest a prolonged period of magmatic activity (185–84 Ma) with two major stages during the Jurassic (185–150 Ma) and the Early Cretaceous (126–100 Ma). Both the Jurassic and Cretaceous granitoids are high-K calc-alkaline I-type rocks, except the Cretaceous two-mica granite from Amdo in the east, which belongs to S-type. The granitoids are generated from different source materials as indicated by zircon Hf isotopic compositions. The Bangong Co and Dongqiao granitoids show high zircon ε_Hf(t) values of − 1.3–13.6 with younger T_DM^C ages of 293–1263 Ma, suggesting a relatively juvenile source; whereas the Gaize and Amdo granitoids have low ε_Hf(t) values of − 16.1–2.9 with older T_DM^C ages of 999–2024 Ma, indicating an old crustal contribution. These source rocks melt at different P–T conditions as suggested by Sr/Y ratio and T_Zr. The Sr/Y ratio of both stage granitoids increases with decreasing age. However, the T_Zr of the Jurassic granitoids decreases, whereas the T_Zr of the Cretaceous granitoids increases with decreasing age. The contrasting geochemical signatures of these granitoids may be controlled by the varying contribution of slab-derived fluids involved in the generation of the Jurassic and Cretaceous granitic magmas; i.e. increasing amount of fluids in the Jurassic, whereas decreasing amount of fluids in the Cretaceous. Therefore, it is proposed that the Jurassic and Cretaceous magmatism may be related to subduction and closure of the Bangong–Nujiang Tethyan Ocean, respectively. The age pattern of the Jurassic and Cretaceous granitoids suggests an oblique subduction of the Bangong–Nujiang Tethyan Ocean and a diachronous collision between the Lhasa and Qiangtang blocks.     

Juvenile vs. recycled crust in NE China: Zircon U–Pb geochronology,Hf isotope and an integrated model for Mesozoic gold mineralization in the Jiaodong Peninsula

The continental crust of the North China Craton (NCC) is a major reservoir of mineral resources with imprints of secular changes in tectonics and metallogeny. The Jiaodong Peninsula, located in the eastern margin of the North China Craton (NCC), is currently one of the largest gold producers over the globe, and preserves the records of multiple magmatic and metamorphic events. Here we characterize the timing and tectonics of the major Mesozoic magmatism and the associated gold metallogeny in this region through a comprehensive U–Pb geochronological and Hf isotope investigation of zircons in a suite of granitoids, mafic magmatic enclaves, melanocratic dikes and melted basement rocks.The Linglong granite, hosting one of the major gold deposits in Jiaodong, shows emplacement ages between 150 and 160 Ma, and the dominantly negative ε_Hf (t) values (− 34.0 to − 23.8) of zircons from this intrusion suggest magma derivation from recycled components in the Archean basement. The Guojialing granodiorite and its mafic magmatic enclaves show similar ages between 123 and 127 Ma, with negative ε_Hf (t) values (− 19.3 to − 16.8), corresponding to crustal magma source. The melanocratic dikes, belonging to pre- and syn-mineralization stages, with U–Pb age range of 126 to 166 Ma display large variation in their zircon ε_Hf (t) values (− 25.7 and 2.3) suggesting the involvement of both recycled crustal and juvenile mantle components. Zircons in the melted basement rocks with ages in the range of ca. 127–132 Ma also display both positive and negative ε_Hf (t) values (− 44.6 and 9.8) indicating a mixture of recycled ancient crust and juvenile magmas. Our study shows that although the peak of gold metallogeny coincided with the tectonics associated with Pacific plate subduction which mobilized and concentrated the ores, the source materials of gold mineralization and magmatism had multiple origins including from the Precambrian basement rocks, Mesozoic granitoids and mantle-derived mafic magmas with extensive mixing of crustal, lithosphere mantle and asthenospheric components. A combination of delamination, mantle upwelling, subduction-related metasomatic enrichment and recycling of ancient components facilitated the gold metallogeny in this region. Our study provides a typical case of juvenile and recycled components in the formation and evolution of continental crust and associated mineral resources.     

A review of the geodynamic setting of large-scale Late Mesozoic gold mineralization in the North China Craton: an association with lithospheric thinning

Abundant gold deposits are distributed along the margins of the North China Craton (NCC). Occurring throughout the Precambrian basement and located in or proximal to Mesozoic granitoids, these deposits show a consistent spatial–temporal association with Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous magmatism and are characterized by quartz lode or disseminated styles of mineralization with extensive alteration of wall rock. Their ages are mainly Early Cretaceous (130–110 Ma) and constrain a very short period of metallogenesis. Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic tracers of ores, minerals and associated rocks indicate that gold and associated metals mainly were derived from multi-sources, i.e., the wall rocks (Precambrian basement and Mesozoic granites) and associated mafic rocks.Previous studies, including high surface heat flow, uplift and later basin development, slow seismic wave speeds in the upper mantle, and a change in the character of mantle xenoliths sampled by Paleozoic to Cenozoic magmas, have been used to suggest that ancient, cratonic mantle lithosphere was removed from the base of the NCC some time after the Ordovician, and replaced by younger, less refractory lithospheric mantle. The geochemistry and isotopic compositions of the mafic rocks associated with gold mineralization (130–110 Ma) indicate that they were derived from an ancient enriched lithospheric mantle source; whereas, the mafic dikes and volcanic rocks younger than 110 Ma were derived from a relatively depleted mantle source, i.e., asthenospheric mantle. According to their age and sources, relation to magmatism and geodynamic framework, the gold deposits were formed during lithospheric thinning. The removal of lithospheric mantle and the upwelling of new asthenospheric mantle induced partial melting and dehydration of the lithospheric mantle and lower crust due to an increase of temperature. The fluids derived from the lower crust were mixed with magmatic and meteoric waters, and resulted in the deposition of gold and associated metals.     

Isotope geochemistry and Re–Os geochronology of the Yanjiagou Mo deposit in the central North China Craton

The Yanjiagou deposit, located in the central North China Craton (NCC), is a newly found porphyry‐type Mo deposit. The Mo mineralization here is spatially associated with the Mapeng batholith. In this study, we identify four stages of ore formation in this deposit: pyrite phyllic stage (I), quartz–pyrite stage (II), quartz–pyrite–molybdenite stage (III), which is the main mineralization stage, and quartz–carbonate stage (IV). We present sulphur and lead isotope data on pyrite, and rhenium and osmium isotopes of molybdenite from the porphyry deposit and evaluate the timing and origin of ore formation. The δ³⁴S values of the pyrite range from ‐1.1‰ to −0.6‰, with an average of −0.875‰, suggesting origin from a mixture of magmatic/mantle sources and the basement rocks. The Pb isotope compositions of the pyrite show a range of 16.369 to 17.079 for ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 15.201 to 15.355 for ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, and 36.696 to 37.380 for ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, indicating that the ore‐forming materials were derived from a mixture of lower crust (or basement rocks) and mantle. Rhenium contents in molybdenite samples from the main ore stage are between 74.73 to 254.43 ppm, with an average of 147.9 ppm, indicating a mixed crustal‐mantle source for the metal. Eight molybdenite separates yield model ages ranging from 124.17 to 130.80 Ma and a mean model age of 128.46 Ma. An isochron age of 126.7 ± 1.1 Ma (MSWD = 2.1, initial ¹⁸⁷Os = 0.0032 ± 0.0012 ppb) is computed, which reveals a close link between the Mo mineralization and the magmatism that generated the Mapeng batholith. The age is close to the zircon U–Pb age of ca. 130 Ma from the batholith reported in a recent study. The age is also consistent with the timing of mineralization in the Fuping ore cluster in the central NCC, as well as the peak time of lithosphere thinning and destruction of the NCC. We evaluate the spatio‐temporal distribution of the Mo deposits in the NCC and identify three important molybdenum provinces along the northern and southern margins of the craton formed during three distinct episodes: Middle to Late Triassic (240–220 Ma), Early Jurassic (190–175 Ma), and Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (150–125 Ma). The third period is considered to mark the most important metallogenic event, coinciding with the peak of lithosphere thinning and craton destruction in the NCC. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

华北克拉通北缘早白垩世金成矿与地幔物质的贡献

华北克拉通北缘是我国重要的金成矿带,早白垩世金矿床主要分布在成矿带的中-东段赤峰-朝阳矿集区、五龙-猫岭矿集区、夹皮沟矿集区、老岭矿集区及附近区域。本文综述了华北北缘早白垩世金矿床的地质及同位素地球化学特征,讨论了早白垩世地幔组分参与金成矿的证据和过程。研究表明,华北北缘早白垩世金矿床与矿区内中-基性岩脉具有密切的时空关系;金矿脉中石英流体包裹体氢-氧同位素、碳酸盐矿物碳同位素及含金黄铁矿氦-氩同位素组成揭示成矿流体以岩浆水为主,具有壳-幔混合来源的特征;硫-铅-锶-钕同位素组成显示成矿物质具有显著的上地幔贡献。个别金矿床原位硫同位素组成反映成矿流体经历了强烈的水-岩反应,从围岩中萃取了部分硫等成矿组分。总体上,华北北缘早白垩世金矿具有基本一致的地质和地球化学特征,反映了幔源岩浆对金矿床的成矿流体及成矿物质具有重要贡献,其金成矿过程与早白垩世（140~120Ma）华北克拉通破坏及相关的壳幔相互作用有关。

     

Tectonic nature of the NE Asian continental margin during the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous: constraints from the geochronology and geochemistry of igneous rocks in the NE North China Craton

ABSTRACT

This paper presents geochronological, geochemical, and zircon Hf–O isotope data for late Mesozoic intrusive rocks from the northeastern North China Craton (NCC), with the aim of constraining the late Mesozoic tectonic nature of the NE Asian continental margin. U–Pb zircon data indicate that the Late Mesozoic magmatism in the northeastern NCC can be subdivided into two stages: Late Jurassic (161 ? 156 Ma) and Early Cretaceous (125 ? 120 Ma). Late Jurassic magmatism consists mainly of monzogranites. These monzogranites display high Sr/Y ratios and the tetrad effect in their REE, respectively, and have negative ε_Hf(t) values (?22.6 to ?15.8). The former indicates that the primary magma was generated by partial melting of thickened NCC lower crust, the latter suggests that the monzogranites were crystallized from highly fractionated magma, with the primary magma derived from partial melting of lower continental crust. Combined with the spatial distribution and rock associations of the Late Jurassic granitoids, we conclude that the Late Jurassic magmatism in the eastern NCC formed in a compressional environment related to oblique subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasia. The Early Cretaceous magmatism consists mainly of granitoids and quartz diorites. The quartz diorites formed by mixing of melts derived from the mantle and lower crust. The coeval granitoids are classified as high-K calc-alkaline and metaluminous to weakly peraluminous series. Some of the granitoids are similar to A-type granites. The granitoid ε_Hf(t) values and T_DM2 range from ?14.3 to ?1.4 and 2089 to 1274 Ma, respectively. These values indicate that their primary magma was derived from partial melting of lower crustal material of the NCC, but with a contribution of mantle-derived material. We therefore conclude that Early Cretaceous magmatism in the northeastern NCC occurred in an extensional environment related to westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath Eurasia.     

Mesozoic molybdenum deposits in the East Xingmeng orogenic belt,northeast China: characteristics and tectonic setting

Numerous molybdenum (Mo) ore deposits have been discovered in the East Xingmeng orogenic belt (East Central Asian orogenic belt), over the past 10 years, and this region is becoming one of the world's most important Mo production areas. It contains 6.18 Mt of proven Mo metal reserves, which accounts for 30% of the total proven Chinese Mo reserves. The ore district includes 37 deposits and 15 occurrences, with three major Mo ore types, that is porphyries, skarns, and hydrothermal veins. The latter can be subdivided into quartz- and volcanic hydrothermal-vein types. With the exception of the Ordovician Duobaoshan porphyry Cu–Mo deposit (477 Ma), all the East Xingmeng Mo deposits formed during the Mesozoic. Re–Os dating of molybdenite has documented three episodes of Mo mineralization: Early Triassic (248–242 Ma), Jurassic (178–146 Ma), and Early Cretaceous (142–131 Ma). Early Triassic Mo deposits are distributed along the northern margin fault of the North China Craton (NCC) and include porphyry and quartz vein types. They are characterized by the association of Mo + Cu. Jurassic Mo deposits are mainly distributed in the eastern area and include porphyry, quartz vein, and skarn types. They are typified by Mo alone and/or the association of Mo, Pb, and Zn. Cretaceous Mo deposits are distributed in all areas and include porphyry and volcanic hydrothermal vein types. Similar to the Jurassic ores, they are simple Mo or Mo + Pb + Zn deposits. Volcanic hydrothermal vein deposits are characterized by an association of molybdenum and uranium. The Triassic Mo deposits formed in a syn-collision setting between the Siberian and North China plates. The Jurassic Mo deposits formed in a compressional setting, which was probably triggered by the westward subduction of the palaeo-Pacific plate. The Early Cretaceous Mo deposits are linked to a tectonic regime of lithosphere thinning, which was caused by delamination of thickened lithosphere. However, the Mo deposits in the Erguna terrane of the northwest Xingmeng orogenic belt may be related to the evolution of the Okhotsk Ocean.