Geology and fluid evolution of the Wangfeng orogenic-type gold deposit,Western Tian Shan,China

The Wangfeng gold deposit is located in Western Tian Shan and the central section of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The deposit is mainly hosted in Precambrian metamorphic rocks and Caledonian granites and is structurally controlled by the Shenglidaban ductile shear zone. The gold orebodies consist of gold-bearing quartz veins and altered mylonite. The mineralization can be divided into three stages: quartz–pyrite veins in the early stage, sulfide–quartz veins in the middle stage, and quartz–carbonate veins or veinlets in the late stage. Ore minerals and native gold mainly formed in the middle stage. Four types of fluid inclusions were identified based on petrography and laser Raman spectroscopy: CO₂–H₂O inclusions (C-type), pure CO₂ inclusions (PC-type), NaCl–H₂O inclusions (W-type), and daughter mineral-bearing inclusions (S-type). The early-stage quartz contains only primary CO₂–H₂O fluid inclusions with salinities of 1.62 to 8.03 wt.% NaCl equivalent, bulk densities of 0.73 to 0.89 g/cm³, and homogenization temperatures of 256 °C–390 °C. Vapor bubbles are composed of CO₂. The middle-stage quartz contains all four types of fluid inclusions, of which the CO₂–H₂O and NaCl–H₂O types yield homogenization temperatures of 210 °C–340 °C and 230 °C–300 °C, respectively. The CO₂–H₂O fluid inclusions have salinities of 0.83 to 9.59 wt.% NaCl equivalent and bulk densities of 0.77 to 0.95 g/cm³, with vapor bubbles composed of CO₂, CH₄, and N₂. Fluid inclusions in the late-stage quartz are NaCl–H₂O solution with low salinities (0.35–3.87 wt.% NaCl equivalent) and low homogenization temperatures (122 °C–214 °C). The coexistence of inclusions of these four types in middle-stage quartz suggests that fluid boiling occurred in the middle-stage mineralization. Trapping pressures estimated from CO₂–H₂O inclusions are 110–300 MPa and 90–250 MPa for the early and middle stages, respectively, suggesting that gold mineralization mainly occurred at depths of about 10 km. In general, the Wangfeng gold deposit originated from a metamorphic fluid system characterized by low salinity, low density, and enrichment of CO₂. Depressurized fluid boiling caused gold precipitation. Given the regional geology, ore geology, fluid-inclusion features, and ore-forming age, the Wangfeng gold deposit can be classified as a hypozonal orogenic gold deposit.     

Geology,geochronology, fluid inclusion and H–O isotope geochemistry of the Luoboling Porphyry Cu–Mo deposit,Zijinshan Orefield,Fujian Province,China

The Luoboling Cu–Mo deposit in the Zijinshan Orefield, Fujian province, southeastern China, is a large porphyry deposit hosted by the Sifang granodiorite and the Luoboling granodiorite porphyry. The largest Cu–Mo orebody is saddle-shaped with various types of hydrothermal veinlets. Intensive hydrothermal alteration in the deposit is characterized by outward zoning from potassic, overprinted by phyllic alteration, to phyllic and alunite–dickite alteration. Based on the mineral assemblages and crosscutting relationships of veins, the ore-forming process can be divided into three stages, namely: an early-stage K-feldspar + quartz ± magnetite ± molybdenite veins associated with potassic alteration; a middle-stage quartz + molybdenite + chalcopyrite + pyrite veins in phyllic zone; and a late-stage quartz ± gypsum veins in the phyllic and alunite–dickite alteration zones. Six molybdenite separates yield a Re−Os isochron age 104.6 ± 1.0 Ma, which is identical to the age of emplacement of the Sifang and Luoboling granodiorite porphyries. Three types of fluid inclusions (FIs) were observed at the Luoboling deposit: 1) NaCl–H₂O (aqueous), 2) daughter mineral-bearing and 3) CO₂–H₂O fluid inclusions. FIs of the early and middle stages are predominantly vapor-rich aqueous and daughter mineral-bearing inclusions, together with minor CO₂-rich and liquid-rich aqueous inclusions; whereas the late-stage minerals only contain liquid-rich aqueous inclusions. Homogenization temperatures and salinities of FIs trapped in the early-stage minerals range from 420 to 540 °C and 0.4 to 62.9 wt.% NaCl equiv., respectively. FIs of the middle-stage yield homogenization temperatures of 340 to 480 °C and salinities of 0.5 to 56.0 wt.% NaCl equiv. CO₂ content and the oxygen fugacity (indicated by daughter minerals) of FIs trapped in middle-stage minerals are lower than those in the early stage. The liquid-rich aqueous inclusions of the late-stage homogenize at temperatures of 140 to 280 °C, yielding salinities of 0.4 to 8.4 wt.% NaCl equiv. The minimum estimated pressures of the three stages are 30–70 MPa, 10–40 MPa and 1–10 MPa, respectively, corresponding to minimum ore-forming depths of 1–2.8 km. Fluids trapped in early, middle and late stages yield δD values of − 67‰ to − 54‰, − 54‰ to − 70‰, and − 62‰, and δ¹⁸O values of 5.4‰ to 6.7‰, 2.8‰ to 4.2‰, and − 2.1‰, respectively. Fluid boiling, which resulted in the formation of stockworks and the precipitation of sulfides, occurred in the early and middle stages. The fluids subsequently evolved into a low temperature, low salinity system in the late stage, along with an input of meteoric water. The Luoboling porphyry Cu–Mo system was developed in a transition from continental arc to back-arc extension region, which was related to the westward subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate beneath the Huanan Orogen.     

Fluid inclusions and H–O–S–Pb isotope systematics of the Baishan porphyry Mo deposit in Eastern Tianshan,China

The Baishan porphyry Mo deposit formed in the Middle Triassic in Eastern Tianshan, Xinjiang, northwestern China. Mo mineralization is associated with the Baishan monzogranite and granite porphyry stocks, mainly presenting as various types of hydrothermal veinlets in alerted wall rocks, with potassic, phyllic, propylitic, and fluorite alteration. The ore-forming process can be divided into four stages: stage I K-feldspar–quartz–pyrite veinlets, stage II quartz–molybdenite ± pyrite veinlets, stage III quartz–polymetallic sulfide veinlets and stage IV barren quartz–calcite veins. Four types of fluid inclusions (FIs) can be distinguished in the Baishan deposit, namely, liquid-rich two-phase (L-type), vapor-rich two-phase (V-type), solid-bearing multi-phase (S-type) and mono-phase vapor (M-type) inclusions, but only the stage I quartz contains all types of FIs. The stages II and III quartz have three types of FIs, with exception of M-type. In stage IV quartz minerals, only the L-type inclusions can be observed. The FIs in quartz of stages I, II, III and IV are mainly homogenized at temperatures of 271–468 °C, 239–349 °C, 201–331 °C and 134–201 °C, with salinities of 2.2–11.6 wt.% NaCl equiv., 1.1–10.2 wt.% NaCl equiv., 0.5–8.9 wt.% NaCl equiv. and 0.2–5.7 wt.% NaCl equiv., respectively. The ore-forming fluids of the Baishan deposit are characterized by high temperature, moderate salinity and relatively reduced condition, belonging to a H₂O–NaCl ± CH₄ ± CO₂ system. Hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions of quartz indicate that the ore-forming fluids were gradually evolved from magmatic to meteoric in origin. Sulfur and lead isotopes suggest that the ore-forming materials came predominantly from a deep-seated magma source from the lower continental crust. The Mo mineralization in the Baishan deposit is estimated to have occurred at a depth of no less than 4.7 km, and the decrease in temperature and remarkable transition of the redox condition (from alkalinity to acidity) of ore-forming fluids were critical for the formation of the Baishan Mo deposit.     

Fluid evolution of the Yuchiling porphyry Mo deposit,East Qinling,China

The Yuchiling Mo deposit, East Qinling, China, belongs to a typical porphyry Mo system associated with high-K calc-alkaline intrusions. The pure CO₂ (PC), CO₂-bearing (C), aqueous H₂O-NaCl (W), and daughter mineral-bearing (S) fluid inclusions were observed in the hydrothermal quartz. Based on field investigations, petrographic, microthermometric and LA-ICP-MS studies of fluid inclusions, we develop a five-stage fluid evolution model to understand the ore-forming processes of the Yuchiling deposit. The earliest barren quartz ± potassic feldspar veins, developed in intensively potassic alteration, were crystallized from carbonic-dominant fluids at high temperature (> 416 °C) and high pressure (> 133 MPa). Following the barren quartz ± potassic feldspar veins are quartz-pyrite veins occasionally containing minor K-feldspar and molybdenite, which were formed by immiscible fluids at pressures of 47–159 MPa and temperatures of 360–400 °C. The fluids were characterized by high CO₂ contents (approximately 8 mol%) and variable salinities, as well as the highest Mo contents that resulted in the development of quartz-molybdenite veins. The quartz-molybdenite veins, accounting for > 90% Mo in the orebody, were also formed by immiscible fluids with lower salinity and lower CO₂ content of 7 mol%, at temperatures of 340–380 °C and pressures of 39–137 MPa, as constrained by fluid inclusion assemblages. After the main Mo-mineralization, the uneconomic Cu-Pb-Zn mineralization occurred, as represented by quartz-polymetallic sulfides veins consisting of pyrite, molybdenite, chalcopyrite, digenite, galena, sphalerite and quartz. The quartz-polymetallic sulfide veins were formed by fluids containing 5 mol% CO₂, with minimum pressures of 32–110 MPa and temperatures of 260–300 °C. Finally, the fluids became dilute (5 wt.% NaCl equiv) and CO₂-poor, which caused the formation of late barren quartz ± carbonate ± fluorite veins at 140–180 °C and 18–82 MPa.It is clear that the fluids became more dilute, CO₂-poor, and less fertile, with decreasing temperature and pressure from quartz-pyrite to late barren veins. Molybdenite and other sulfides can only be observed in the middle three stages, i.e., quartz-pyrite, quartz-molybdenite and quartz-polymetallic sulfide veins. These three kinds of veins are generally hosted in potassic altered rocks with remarkable K-feldspathization, but always partly overprinted by phyllic alteration. The traditional porphyry-style potassic–phyllic–propylitic alteration zoning is not conspicuous at Yuchiling, which may be related to, and characteristic of, the CO₂-rich fluids derived from the magmas generated in intercontinental collision orogens.Among the fluid inclusions at Yuchiling, only the C-type contains maximum detectable Mo that gradationally decreases from 73 ppm in quartz-pyrite veins, through 19 ppm in quartz-molybdenite veins, and to 13 ppm in quartz-polymetallic sulfide veins, coinciding well with the decreasing CO₂ contents from 8 mol%, through 7 mol%, to 5 mol%, respectively. Hence it is suggested that decreasing CO₂ possibly results in decreasing Mo concentration in the fluids, as well as the precipitation of molybdenite from the fluids. This direct relationship might be a common characteristic for other porphyry Mo systems in the world.The Yuchiling Mo deposit represents a new type Mo mineralization, with features of collision-related setting, high-K calc-alkaline intrusion, CO₂-rich fluid, and unique wall-rock alterations characterized by strong K-feldspathization and fluoritization.     

Genesis of the Fuxing porphyry Cu deposit in Eastern Tianshan,China: Evidence from fluid inclusions and C–H–O–S–Pb isotope systematics

The Fuxing porphyry Cu deposit is a recently discovered deposit in Eastern Tianshan, Xinjiang, northwestern China. The Cu mineralization is associated with the Fuxing plagiogranite porphyry and monzogranite, mainly presenting as various types of hydrothermal veins or veinlets in alerted wall rocks, with potassic, chlorite, phyllic, and propylitic alteration developed. The ore-forming process can be divided into four stages: stage I barren quartz veins, stage II quartz–chalcopyrite–pyrite veins, stage III quartz–polymetallic sulfide veins and stage IV quartz–calcite veins. Four types of fluid inclusions (FIs) can be distinguished in the Fuxing deposit, including hypersline (H-type), vapor-rich two-phase (V-type), liquid-rich two-phase (L-type), and trace amounts of pure vapor inclusions (P-type), but only the stage I quartz contains all types of FIs. The stages II and III quartz have two types of FIs, with exception of H- and P-types. In stage IV quartz minerals, only the L-type inclusions can be observed. The FIs in quartz of stages I, II, III and IV are mainly homogenized at temperatures of 357–518 °C, 255–393 °C, 234–322 °C and 145–240 °C, with salinities of 1.9–11.6 wt.% NaCl equiv., 1.6–9.6 wt.% NaCl equiv., 1.4–7.7 wt.% NaCl equiv. and 0.9–3.7 wt.% NaCl equiv., respectively. The ore-forming fluids of the Fuxing deposit are characterized by high temperature, moderate salinity and relatively oxidized condition. Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions of quartz indicate that the ore-forming fluids were gradually evolved from magmatic to meteoric in origin. Sulfur and lead isotopes suggest that the ore-forming materials were derived from a deep-seated magma source. The Cu mineralization in the Fuxing deposit occurred at a depth of ~ 1 km, and the changes of oxygen fugacity, decompression boiling, and local mixing with meteoric water were most likely critical for the formation of the Fuxing Cu deposit.     

Whole rock geochemistry,molybdenite Re-Os geochronology,stable isotope and fluid inclusion investigations of the Siah-Kamar deposit,western Alborz-Azarbayjan: New constrains on the porphyry Mo deposit in Iran

The Siah-Kamar porphyry Mo deposit, located in the western Alborz-Azarbayjan magmatic belt, is the first and largest Mo deposit in the Iran. This deposit is mainly hosted by an I-type, shoshonitic quartz monzonite to monzonite intrusion and also extends in the surrounding lower to middle Eocene volcanic rocks. The geochemical features of the Siah-Kamar intrusion show enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE), and significant negative anomalies of Nb, Ta and Ti analogues to the magmas derived from metasomatized sub-continental mantle. Porphyry molybdenum mineralization is associated with potassic, sericitic, argillic, and propylitic alteration zones. Mineralization occurs in disseminated form, in veins/veinlets and in hydrothermal breccias. The main ore minerals comprise molybdenite, chalcopyrite and bornite. The Microthermometric analyses at Siah-Kamar deposit showed that the halite-bearing inclusions contain high salinity (30.9–60.7 wt% NaCl eq.) with homogenization temperature ranging from 226 °C to 397 °C. The homogenization temperature of two phase liquid-rich inclusions range between 224 °C and 375 °C. The salinity of this type inclusions range from 0.6 to 7.5 wt% NaCl equivalent. The two-phase vapor-rich fluid inclusions homogenized at 270 °C to 397 °C. The salinity of this type fluid inclusions lie within the range of 0.6 to 4.24 wt% NaCl equivalent. Coexisting two phase V-rich and L-rich fluid inclusions in quartz associated with molybdenite provide evidence for boiling at 270 °C to 400 °C. The δ¹⁸O_water values of quartz in the molybdenite-bearing veins vary from +2.16 to +4.05‰, suggesting a magmatic origin for the ore-forming fluids. Re-Os isotopic dating of molybdenite indicated a mineralization age of 41.9 ± 3.6 Ma. The Re concentration in molybdenite suggests incorporation of mantle derived melt with crustal materials. The late Eocene magmatism along the western Alborz-Azarbayjan magmatic zone resulted from the Neo-Tethys subduction beneath the Iranian plateau. The Siah-Kamar monzonitic intrusion hosting the Mo deposit, could be considered as an example among the late Eocene intrusions within the western Alborz-Azarbayjan magmatic zone for any further exploration in this zone.     

Fluid inclusions and H–O–S–Pb isotope systematics of the Chalukou giant porphyry Mo deposit,Heilongjiang Province,China

The Chalukou giant porphyry Mo deposit, located in the northern Great Xing'an Range, is the largest Mo deposit in the Xing'an–Mongolia orogenic belt. This deposit's ore bodies are mainly hosted in an intermediate–felsic complex and Jurassic volcanic sedimentary rocks, of which Late Jurassic granite porphyry, quartz porphyry and fine grained granite are closely associated with the Mo mineralization. Three types of fluid inclusions (FIs) are present in the quartz associated with oxide and sulphide minerals, i.e., liquid-rich two-phase, gas-rich two-phase and daughter mineral-bearing multiphase FIs. The FIs in the quartz phenocrysts of the granite porphyry contain liquid-rich two-phase, gas-rich two-phase and daughter mineral-bearing multiphase FIs. The homogenization temperatures vary from 230 °C to 440 °C and 470 °C to 510 °C, and their salinities vary from 0.7% to 53.7% NaCl eq. and 6.2% to 61.3% NaCl eq., respectively. The FIs of K-feldspar–quartz–magnetite veins of the early stage are composed of liquid-rich two-phase, gas-rich two-phase and daughter mineral-bearing multiphase FIs with homogenization temperatures and salinities of 320 °C to 440 °C and 4.2% to 52.3% NaCl eq., respectively. The FIs of quartz–molybdenite veins and breccia of the middle stage are composed of liquid-rich two-phase, gas-rich two-phase and daughter mineral-bearing multiphase FIs with homogenization temperatures and salinities of 260 °C to 410 °C and 0.4% to 52.3% NaCl eq., respectively. FIs of quartz–fluorite–galena–sphalerite veins of the late stage are liquid-rich two-phase FIs with homogenization temperatures and salinities of 170 °C to 320 °C and 0.5% to 11.1% NaCl eq., respectively. The ore-forming fluids of the Chalukou deposit are characterised by high temperature, high salinity and high oxygen fugacity, belonging to an F-rich H₂O–NaCl ± CO₂ system. The δ¹⁸O_W values vary from − 4.5‰ to 3.2‰, and the δD_W values vary from − 138‰ to − 122‰, indicating that the ore-forming fluids were a mixture of magmatic and meteoric water. The δ³⁴S values range from − 1.9‰ to + 3.6‰ with an average of + 1.6‰. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values of the metallic minerals are in the ranges of 18.269–18.501, 15.524–15.567 and 38.079–38.264, respectively. Both the S and Pb isotopic systems indicate that the ore metals and fluids came primarily from a deep-seated magma source from the juvenile lower crust. The Mo mineralization in the Chalukou deposit occurred at a depth of 0.5 to 1.3 km, and multiple stages of phase separation or immiscibility of ore-forming fluid was critical for the formation of the Chalukou deposit.     

Isotope and fluid inclusion geochemistry and genesis of the Qiangma gold deposit,Xiaoqinling gold field,Qinling Orogen,China

The Qiangma gold deposit is hosted in the > 1.9 Ga Taihua Supergroup metamorphic rocks in the Xiaoqinling terrane, Qinling Orogen, on the southern margin of the North China Craton. The mineralization can be divided as follows: quartz-pyrite veins early, quartz-polymetallic sulfide veinlets middle, and carbonate-quartz veinlets late stages, with gold being mainly introduced in the middle stage. Three types of fluid inclusions were identified based on petrography and laser Raman spectroscopy, i.e., pure carbonic, carbonic-aqueous (CO₂–H₂O) and aqueous inclusions.The early-stage quartz contains pure carbonic and CO₂–H₂O inclusions with salinities up to 12.7 wt.% NaCl equiv., bulk densities of 0.67 to 0.86 g/cm³, and homogenization temperatures of 280−365 °C. The early-stage is related to H₂O–CO₂ ± N₂ ± CH₄ fluids with isotopic signatures consistent with a metamorphic origin (δ¹⁸O_water = 3.1 to 5.2‰, δD = − 37 to − 73‰). The middle-stage quartz contains all three types of fluid inclusions, of which the CO₂–H₂O and aqueous inclusions yield homogenization temperatures of 249−346 °C and 230−345 °C, respectively. The CO₂–H₂O inclusions have salinities up to 10.9 wt.% NaCl equiv. and bulk densities of 0.70 to 0.98 g/cm³, with vapor bubbles composed of CO₂ and N₂. The isotopic ratios (δ¹⁸O_water = 2.2 to 3.6‰, δD = − 47 to − 79‰) suggest that the middle-stage fluids were mixed by metamorphic and meteoric fluids. In the late-stage quartz only the aqueous inclusions are observed, which have low salinities (0.9−9.9 wt.% NaCl equiv.) and low homogenization temperatures (145−223 °C). The isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O_water = − 1.9 to 0.5‰, δD = − 55 to − 66‰) indicates the late-stage fluids were mainly meteoric water.Trapping pressures estimated from CO₂–H₂O inclusions are 100−285 MPa for the middle stage, suggesting that gold mineralization mainly occurred at depths of 10 km. Fluid boiling and mixing caused rapid precipitation of sulfides and native Au. Through boiling and inflow of meteoric water, the ore-forming fluid system evolved from CO₂-rich to CO₂-poor in composition, and from metamorphic to meteoric, as indicated by decreasing δ¹⁸O_water values from early to late. The carbon, sulfur and lead isotope compositions suggest the hostrocks within the Taihua Supergroup to be a significant source of ore metals. Integrating the data obtained from the studies including regional geology, ore geology, and fluid inclusion and C–H–O–S–Pb isotope geochemistry, we conclude that the Qiangma gold deposit was an orogenic-type system formed in the tectonic transition from compression to extension during the Jurassic−Early Cretaceous continental collision between the North China and Yangtze cratons.     

Timing and mechanism of gold mineralization at the Wang'ershan gold deposit,Jiaodong Peninsula,eastern China

The Wang'ershan gold deposit, located in the southern Jiaojia goldfield, is currently the largest gold deposit hosted within the subsidiary faults in Jiaodong Peninsula, with a gold reserve of > 60 t gold at a grade of 4.07 g/t Au. It is hosted in the Late Jurassic Linglong biotite granites and controlled by the second-order, N- to NNE-trending Wang'ershan Fault (and its subsidiary faults) which is broadly parallel to the first-order Jiaojia Fault in the goldfield. Gold mineralization occurs as both disseminated- and stockwork-style and quartz–sulfide vein-style ores, mainly within altered cataclasites and breccias, and sericite–quartz and potassic alteration zones, respectively. Mineralization stages can be divided into (1) the pyrite–quartz–sericite stage, (2) the quartz–pyrite stage, (3) the quartz–sulfide stage, and (4) the quartz–carbonate stage.Two sericite samples associated with the main ore-stage pyrites from pyritic phyllic ores of the deposit with weighted mean plateau ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 120.7 ± 0.6 Ma and 119.2 ± 0.5 Ma, respectively, were selected for ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology. On the basis of petrography and microthermometry, three types of primary fluid inclusions related to the ore forming event were identified: type 1 H₂O–CO₂–NaCl, type 2 aqueous, and type 3 CO₂ fluid inclusions (in decreasing abundance). Stage 1 quartz contains all three primary fluid inclusions, while stages 2 and 3 quartz contain both type 1 and 2 inclusions, and stage 4 quartz contains only type 2 inclusions. The contemporaneous trapping, similar salinities and total homogenization temperature ranges, and different homogenization phases of type 1 and type 2 inclusions indicate that fluid immiscibility did take place in stages 1, 2 and 3 ores, with P–T conditions of 190 to 85 MPa and 334 to 300 °C for stage 1 and 200 to 40 MPa and 288 to 230 °C for stages 2 and 3. Combined with the H–O–C–S–Pb isotopic compositions, ore-forming fluids may have a metamorphic-dominant mixed source, which could be associated with the dehydration and decarbonisation of a subducting paleo-Pacific plate and characterized by medium–high temperature (285–350 °C), CO₂-bearing (~ 8 mol%) with minor CH₄ (1–4% in carbonic phase), and low salinity (3.38–8.45 eq. wt.% NaCl). During mineralization, the fluid finally evolved into a medium–low temperature NaCl–H₂O system. Au(HS)₂⁻ was the most probable gold-transporting complex at Wang'ershan, due to the low temperature (157–350 °C) and near-neutral to weakly acidic ore fluids. The reaction between gold-bearing fluids and iron-bearing wall-rocks, and fluid-immiscibility processes caused via fluid–pressure cycling during seismic movement along fault zones that host lode-gold orebodies, which led to breakdown of Au(HS)₂⁻, are interpreted as the two main precipitation mechanisms of gold deposition.In general, the Wang'ershan deposit and other deposits in the Jiaojia camp have concordant structural system and wall-rock alteration assemblages, nature of orebodies and gold occurrence conditions, as well as the similar geochronology, ore-forming fluids system and stable isotope compositions. Thus gold mineralization in the Jiaojia goldfield was a large-scale unified event, with consistent timing, origin, process and mechanism.     

Geology,geochronology and fluid characteristics of the Pingqiu gold deposit,Southeastern Guizhou Province,China

The junction of the southeastern Guizhou, the southwestern Hunan, and the northern Guangxi regions is located within the southwestern Jiangnan orogen and forms a NE-trending ∼250 km gold belt containing more than 100 gold deposits and occurrences. The Pingqiu gold deposit is one of the numerous lode gold deposits in the southeastern Guizhou district. Gold mineralization is hosted in Neoproterozoic lower greenschist facies metamorphic rocks and controlled by fold-related structures. Vein types present at Pingqiu include bedding-parallel and discordant types, with saddle-reefs and their down limb extensions dominating but with lesser discordant types. The major sulfide minerals are arsenopyrite and pyrite, with minor sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, and rare pyrrhotite, marcasite, and tetrahedrite. Much of the gold is μm- to mm-sized grains, and occurs as fracture-controlled isolated grains or filaments in quartz, galena, sphalerite, pyrite, and wallrock.Three types of fluid inclusions are distinguished in hydrothermal minerals. Type 1 aqueous inclusions have homogenization temperatures of 171–396 °C and salinities of 1.4–9.8 wt% NaCl equiv. Type 2 aqueous-carbonic inclusions yield final homogenization temperatures of 187–350 °C, with salinities of 0.2–7.7 wt% NaCl equiv. Type 3 inclusions are carbonic inclusions with variable relative content of CO₂ and CH₄, and minor amounts of N₂ and H₂O. The close association of CO₂-rich inclusions and H₂O-rich inclusions in groups and along the same trail suggests the presence of fluid immiscibility. The calculated δ¹⁸O_H2O values range from 4.3‰ to 8.3‰ and δD_H2O values of fluid inclusions vary from −55.8‰ to −46.9‰. A metamorphic origin is preferred on the basis of geological background and analogies with other similar deposit types.Two ore-related sericite samples yield well-defined ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of 425.7 ± 1.7 Ma and 425.2 ± 1.3 Ma, respectively. These data overlap the duration of the Caledonian gold mineralization along the Jiangnan orogen, and suggest that gold mineralization was post-peak regional metamorphism and occurred during the later stages of the Caledonian orogeny.Overall, the Pingqiu gold deposit displays many of the principal characteristics of the Bendigo gold mines in the western Lachlan Orogen (SE Australia) and the Dufferin gold deposit in the Meguma Terrane (Nova Scotia, Canada) but also some important differences, which may lead to the disparity in gold endowment. However, the structural make-up at deposit scale, and the shallow mining depth at present indicate that the Pingqiu gold deposit may have considerable gold potential at depth.     

Geology,fluid inclusion geochemistry,and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology of the Wulasigou Cu deposit,and their implications for ore genesis,Altay, Xinjiang,China

The Wulasigou Cu deposit occurs as veins controlled by a NW-trending structure in a Devonian volcano-sedimentary basin of the Altay orogenic belt, Xinjiang, China. Igneous and sedimentary rocks exposed in the area have undergone greenschist-facies metamorphism. The ore-forming process can be divided into early, middle, and late stages, represented by, respectively, pyrite-quartz, polymetallic sulfide-quartz, and carbonate–quartz veins, veinlets, and/or replacement bodies. The early veins were deformed and brecciated during a compressional or transpressional event. The middle-stage veinlets filled fractures in the early-stage vein and alteration assemblages, and are undeformed, suggesting a tensional shear setting. The late-stage veinlets are mainly open-space fissure fillings that cut veins and replacement bodies formed in the earlier stages.Four types of fluid inclusions (FIs), including aqueous (W-type), mixed carbonic-aqueous (M-type), purely carbonic (C-type) and daughter mineral-bearing (S-type), have been identified in copper-related quartz and calcite from the Wulasigou deposit. The early-stage quartz contains M- and W-type primary FIs that completely homogenized at temperatures of 322–412 °C with low salinities of 0.9–6.5 wt.% NaCl equiv. In contrast, the late-stage quartz or calcite contains only the W-type FIs with homogenization temperatures of 101–234 °C, and salinities of 0.9–2.9 wt.% NaCl equiv. This indicates that the metallogenic system evolved from CO₂-rich, metamorphic to CO₂-poor, through input of meteoric fluids. All four types of FIs can only be observed in the middle-stage minerals, where they show evidence of vein formation during an episode of fluid immiscibility. These FIs homogenized at temperatures ranging mainly from 230 to 347 °C, with salinities clustering 2.7–10.2 wt.% NaCl equiv for the W-, M- and C-types, and 34.7–38.2 wt.% NaCl equiv for the S-type, respectively. The metal precipitation resulted from a decrease in copper solubility during the fluid immiscibility episode. The estimated trapping pressures for the middle-stage fluids are 1.55–3.55 kbar, suggesting an alternating lithostatic-hydrostatic fluid-system, controlled by fault-valve activity at a depth of 13–15.5 km.Muscovite separates from the middle-stage polymetallic-quartz veinlets yield a well-defined ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar isotopic plateau age of 219.41 ± 2.10 Ma, and an ³⁹Ar/³⁶Ar - ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar isochron age of 219.73 ± 2.17 Ma. This age postdates the final Paleo-Asia Ocean closure (at ca. 250 Ma) by about 30 Ma, and indicates that the Cu mineralization at Wulasigou has occurred in the Triassic continental collision setting. Hence, the Wulasigou Cu deposit may be the first example of orogenic lode Cu deposits formed in accretionary orogeny or continental collision.     

Evolution of the Mo-rich scheelite skarn mineralization at Kozbudaklar,Western Anatolia,Turkey: Evidence from mineral chemistry and fluid inclusions

The Kozbudaklar scheelite skarn deposit in the Tavşanlı Zone, located approximately 22 km southeast of Bursa, is hosted by the Triassic calcic İnönü Marble and Eocene Topuk Pluton. At least four stages have been recognized through skarn evolution. Scheelite skarn distributed close to the Topuk Pluton occurred during the early (stage 1) and late (stage 2) prograde substages. The early prograde endo and exoskarn are composed of hedenbergite (Hd₉₆Joh₄)–plagioclase (An_55–64) and hedenbergite (Hd_61–94Joh_4–7), accompanied by calcic garnet (Grs_38–94Sps_1–5Alm₀) and scheelite (Pow_1–6). The second stage represents a relatively oxidized mineralogy dominated by diopside (Hd_16–48Joh_0–9), subcalcic garnet (Grs_24–92Sps_0–11Alm_0–31) and scheelite (Pow_7–32). The stage 3 and 4 mineral assemblages are characterized by few hydrous minerals in the retrograde stage and intense fracturing.Fluid inclusions from skarn rocks are indicative of multiple fluid events: (1) low-moderate salinity (5–16 wt.%NaCl equiv.) inclusions homogenized dominantly by a high-temperature (308 °C to > 600 °C) liquid phase in stage 1. Fluid inclusions in an early garnet homogenized over a similar temperature range (440 °C and 459 °C) into both liquid and vapor phases. Eutectic temperatures ranging from − 61.7 °C to − 35.0 °C that indicate the presence of H₂O–NaCl–(± MgCl₂ ± CaCl₂)–CO₂ solutions; (2) coexisting daughter mineral-bearing high salinity (29.5 ≥ 70 wt.%NaCl equiv.) and vapor-rich moderate salinity (11.5–16.7 wt.%NaCl equiv.) inclusions that homogenized in the liquid phase by the disappearance of the vapor phase at a similar temperature range (308 °C to > 600 °C) in stage 2. Eutectic temperatures range from − 67.9°C to − 51.8°C that shows the presence of H₂O–NaCl–CO₂–(± CH₄/N₂) solutions; (3) low-moderate salinity (12.5–7.6 wt.%NaCl equiv.) and temperature (320 °C to 215 °C) inclusions homogenized by the liquid phase in stage 3. Eutectic temperatures range from − 59.5 °C to − 44.2 °C indicating the presence of H₂O–NaCl–(± MgCl₂ ± CaCl₂)–CO₂ solutions; (4) inclusions of low salinity (9.9–0.9 wt.%NaCl equiv.) and homogenization temperature (183 °C to 101 °C) in stage 4.These data show that the Kozbudaklar skarn deposit was formed in a magmatic–hydrothermal system. In this model, carbonaceous fluids may have been exsolved from the plutonic rock during its emplacement and crystallization. Fluid inclusion data indicate that fluid boiling and immiscibility occurred at temperatures between 440 °C and 459 °C and pressures ranging from 50 MPa to 60 MPa based on hydrostatic considerations. Early scheelite was precipitated with relatively reduced mineral compositions. As a result of depressurization, Mo-rich scheelite with oxidized minerals formed via high salinity and vapor-rich inclusions. The second scheelite mineralization occurred in a normal hydrothermal system by an infiltration mechanism at pressures between approximately 40 and 1.5 MPa. At shallow depths (< 1.5 MPa) with increasing permeability, sulfide and oxide minerals were deposited in the retrograde stage, greatly assisted by meteoric water. Finally, as a result of the diminishing of ore-forming fluids, post-depositional barren quartz and calcite veins were formed.     

Geology and fluid characteristics of the Ulu Sokor gold deposit,Kelantan, Malaysia: Implications for ore genesis and classification of the deposit

The Ulu Sokor gold deposit is one of the most famous and largest gold deposits in Malaysia and is located in the Central Gold Belt. This deposit consists of three major orebodies that are related to NS- and NE-striking fractures within fault zones in Permian-Triassic meta-sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the East Malaya Block. The faulting events represent different episodes that are related to each orebody and are correlated well with the mineralogy and paragenesis. The gold mineralization consists of quartz-dominant vein systems with sulfides and carbonates. The hydrothermal alteration and mineralization occurred during three stages that were characterized by (I) silicification and brecciation; (II) carbonatization, sericitization, and chloritization; and (III) quartz–carbonate veins.Fluid inclusions in the hydrothermal quartz and calcite of the three stages were studied. The primary CO₂–CH₄–H₂O–NaCl fluid inclusions in stage I are mostly related to gold mineralization and display homogenization temperatures of 269–389 °C, salinities of 2.77–11.89 wt.% NaCl equivalent, variable CO₂ contents (typically 5–29 mol%), and up to 15 mol% CH₄. In stage II, gold was deposited at 235–398 °C from a CO₂ ± CH₄–H₂O–NaCl fluid with a salinity of 0.83–9.28 wt.% NaCl equivalent, variable CO₂ contents (typically 5–63 mol%), and up to 4 mol% CH₄. The δ¹⁸O_H2O and δD values of the ore-forming fluids from the stage II quartz veins are 4.5 to 4.8‰ and − 44 to − 42‰, respectively, and indicate a metamorphic–hydrothermal origin. Oxygen fugacities calculated for the entire range of T-P-X_CO2 conditions yielded log f_O2 values between − 28.95 and − 36.73 for stage I and between − 28.32 and − 39.18 for stage II. These values indicate reduced conditions for these fluids, which are consistent with the mineral paragenesis, fluid inclusion compositions, and isotope values.The presence of daughter mineral-bearing aqueous inclusions is interpreted to be a magmatic signature of stage IIIa. Combined with the oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions (δ¹⁸O_H2O = 6.8 to 11.9‰, δD = − 77 to − 62‰), these inclusions indicate that the initial fluid was likely derived from a magmatic source. In stage IIIb, the gold was deposited at 263° to 347 °C from a CO₂–CH₄–H₂O–NaCl fluid with a salinity of 5.33 to 11.05 wt.% NaCl equivalent, variable CO₂ contents (typically 9–15 mol%), and little CH₄. The oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions of this fluid (δ¹⁸O_H2O = 8.1 to 8.8‰, δD = − 44 to − 32‰) indicate that it was mainly derived from a metamorphic–hydrothermal source. The CO₂–H₂O ± CH₄–NaCl fluids that were responsible for gold deposition in the stage IIIc veins had a wide range of temperatures (214–483 °C), salinities of 1.02 to 21.34 wt.% NaCl equivalent, variable CO₂ contents (typically 4–53 mol%), and up to 7 mol% CH₄. The oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions (δ¹⁸O_H2O = 8.5 to 9.8‰, δD = − 70 to − 58‰) were probably acquired at the site of deposition by mixing of the metamorphic–hydrothermal fluid with deep-seated magmatic water and then evolved by degassing at the site of deposition during mineralization. The log f_O2 values from − 28.26 to − 35.51 also indicate reduced conditions for this fluid in stage IIIc. Moreover, this fluid had a near-neutral pH and δ³⁴S values of H₂S of − 2.32 to 0.83‰, which may reflect the derivation of sulfur from the subducted oceanic lithospheric materials.The three orebodies represent different gold transportation and precipitation models, and the conditions of ore formation are related to distinct events of hydrothermal alteration and gold mineralization. The gold mineralization of the Ulu Sokor deposit occurred in response to complex and concurrent processes involving fluid immiscibility, fluid–rock reactions, and fluid mixing. However, fluid immiscibility was the most important mechanism for gold deposition and occurred in these orebodies, which have corresponding fluid properties, structural controls, geologic characteristics, tectonic settings, and origins of the ore-forming matter. These characteristics of the Ulu Sokor deposit are consistent with its classification as an orogenic gold deposit, while some of the veins are genetically related to intrusions.     

Fluid inclusion geochemistry and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology constraints on the genesis of the Jianchaling Au deposit,China

The giant Jianchaling gold deposit is located in the Shaanxi Province, China. The mineralization is hosted by WNW-trending faults in the Mianxian-Lueyang-Yangpingguan (MLY) area. The mineralization can be divided into three stages based on mineralogical assemblages and crosscutting relationships of mineralized quartz veins. These stages, from early to late, are characterized by the mineral assemblage of: (1) quartz – coarse-grained pyrite – pyrrhotite – pentlandite – dolomite; (2) quartz – pyrite – gold – sphalerite – galena – carbonate – arsenopyrite – fuchsite; and (3) dolomite – calcite – quartz – fine-grained pyrite – realgar – orpiment.Three types of fluid inclusions have been recognized in this study based on petrographic and microthermometric measurements, including pure CO₂ and/or CH₄ (PC-type), NaCl-H₂O (W-type), and NaCl-CO₂-H₂O (C-type) fluid inclusions. These fluid inclusion types are present in quartz from the Stage 1 and 2 assemblages, whereas the Stage 3 quartz only contains W-type fluid inclusions. The Stage 2 assemblage is associated with the mineralization at the Jianchaling deposit. Fluid inclusions of Stage 1 quartz homogenize mainly between 250° and 360 °C, with salinities up to 15.6 wt.% NaCl equiv., whereas the Stage 3 dolomite with homogenization temperatures of 160° – 220 °C and salinities of 1.1–7.4 wt.% NaCl equiv. This indicates that the ore fluid system evolved from CO₂-rich, probably metamorphic hydrothermal to CO₂-poor, meteoric fluid. All three types of fluid inclusions can be observed in the Stage 2 quartz, suggesting that this heterogeneous association was trapped from a boiling fluid system. These inclusions homogenized at temperatures of 200°–250 °C and salinities of 1.2–12.4 wt.% NaCl equiv. The estimated trapping pressures of the fluid inclusions are between 117 and 354 MPa in Stage 1, suggesting an alternating lithostatic–hydrostatic fluid system, which was controlled by a fault-valve at the depth of ~ 12 km.Two fuchsite samples collected from the Stage 2 polymetallic-quartz veins yielded well-defined ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar isotopic plateau ages of 197 ± 2 and 194 ± 2 Ma, and ³⁹Ar/³⁶Ar-⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar normal isochrones of 198 ± 2 and 199 ± 2 Ma. This indicates that the mineralization at Jianchaling is Early Jurassic (ca. 198 Ma) in age. We propose that Jianchaling is an orogenic gold deposit, and formed during continental collision related to the northward subduction of the Mian-Lue oceanic plate during the Early Jurassic. We also conclude that the beginning of the continental collision between the Yangtze and the North China Cratons took place around 200 Ma.     

Geology,geochemistry and ore genesis of the Wenyu gold deposit,Xiaoqinling gold field,Qinling Orogen,southern margin of North China Craton

The Wenyu giant gold deposit is hosted in the Precambrian Taihua Supergroup metamorphic rocks within the Xiaoqinling terrane (Qinling Orogen), on the southern margin of the North China Craton. The mineralization can be divided into three stages: quartz–pyrite veins early, quartz–sulfide veins middle (main), and carbonate–quartz veinlets late, with gold being mainly introduced in main stage. Quartz formed in two earlier stages contains three compositional types of fluid inclusions, i.e. pure CO₂, CO₂–H₂O and NaCl–H₂O, but the late-stage minerals only contain the NaCl–H₂O inclusions. The inclusions in quartz formed in the early, main and late stages yield total homogenization temperatures of 262–417 °C, 236–407 °C and 114–239 °C, respectively, with salinities no higher than 13 wt.% NaCl equiv. Trapping pressures estimated from CO₂–H₂O inclusions are 139–399 MPa and 111–316 MPa in the early and main stages, corresponding to mineralization depths of 14 km and 11 km, respectively. Fluid boiling and mixing caused rapid precipitation of sulfides and native Au. Through boiling and inflow of meteoric water, the ore-forming fluid system evolved from CO₂-rich to CO₂-poor in composition, and from metamorphic to meteoric, as indicated by decreasing δ¹⁸O_water values from early to late. The carbon, sulfur and lead isotope compositions suggest the hostrocks within the Taihua Supergroup to be a significant source of ore metals. Integrating the data obtained from the studies including regional geology, ore geology, fluid inclusion and C–H–O–S–Pb isotope geochemistry, we conclude that the Wenyu gold deposit was an orogenic-type system formed in the tectonic transition from compression to extension during the Jurassic–Early Cretaceous continental collision between the North China and Yangtze Cratons.     

Origin of fluids in the Hetaoping Pb–Zn deposit,Baoshan–Narong–Dongzhi block metallogenic belt,Yunnan Province,SW China

The Hetaoping skarn type Pb–Zn deposit is located in the Baoshan–Narong–Dongzhi block metallogenic belt (BND belt), a belt between the Tengchong terrane and the Lanping basin. The deposit is hosted by marble of the upper Cambrian Hetaoping Formation and there are no outcrops of plutonic rocks present. This deposit is one of two large Pb–Zn deposits recently discovered in the BND belt. The Hetaoping deposit is a high Mn skarn. Four types of fluid inclusions were recognized in quartz from the deposit: vapor-rich inclusions (Type I), liquid-rich inclusions (Type II), pure vapor inclusions (Type III), and pure fluid inclusions (Type IV). The coexistence of Type I and Type III inclusions in Stage I (pre-ore stage) and Stage II (main ore stage) shows evidence of fluid boiling. Quartz-hosted fluid inclusions (Stage I and Stage II) display high homogenization temperatures and salinities (134–315 °C; 3.7–18.6 wt% NaCl equivalent) but calcite-hosted fluid inclusions in Stage III (post-ore stage) record lower homogenization temperatures and salinities (85–214 °C; 0.5–5.4 wt% NaCl equivalent). These data suggest a possible mixing between primary magmatic water and meteoric water. Based on chromatography data, the fluid inclusions in quartz contain abundant CO₂ and O₂ and subordinate CO, CH₄ and C₂H₂ + C₂H₄, suggesting an oxidizing environment. Based on their Na/K and Cl/SO₄ ratios, fluids contained in fluid inclusions are similar to volcanic spring waters. The low Na/K ratios (0.40–1.34) of the ore-forming fluids may have resulted from interaction with a deep alkaline intermediate-acid intrusion. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope determinations on quartz from different ore stages show low δ¹⁸O and δD values relative to VSMOW (−4.3‰ to 2.3‰; −109‰ to −91‰), indicating that the ore-forming fluids were diluted by external fluid sources as the skarn system cooled. Overall, geological and geochemical interpretations suggest that the Hetaoping deposit is a distal manganese skarn Pb–Zn deposit related to concealed intrusions.     

Metallogeny of the Handagai skarn Fe–Cu deposit,northern Great Xing'an Range,NE China: Constraints on fluid inclusions and skarn genesis

The newly discovered Handagai skarn Fe–Cu deposit is located in the northern Great Xing'an Range of NE China and is hosted by the Ordovician Luohe Formation. The orebodies that form the deposit are generally concordant with the bedding within these sediments, and are spatially related to areas of skarn development. The Fe–Cu mineralization in this area records four stages of paragenesis, namely prograde skarn, retrograde skarn, quartz–sulfide, and quartz–carbonate stages. The Handagai deposit is a calcic skarn that is dominated by an andradite–diopside–epidote–actinolite assemblage. The mineralogy and geochemistry of the skarn indicate that it formed from a hydrothermal fluid that altered the carbonate units in this area to a garnet (And_42–95Grs_4–53) and pyroxene (Di_71–78Hd_22–29Jo_0–2) bearing skarn. The epidote within the skarn has an epidote end-member composition, with the chlorite in the skarn dominantly Fe-rich, indicating that these minerals formed in an Fe-rich environment. The petrographic, microthermometric, and Raman spectroscopic analysis of fluid inclusions within garnet, epidote, actinolite, quartz, and calcite precipitated at different stages of formation of the Handagai deposit indicate that mineralization-related fluid inclusions are either liquid-rich two-phase H₂O–NaCl (type I), gas-rich two-phase H₂O–NaCl (type II), three-phase (liquid + vapor + solid) H₂O–NaCl (type III), or CO₂–H₂O–NaCl inclusions (type IV). The early stages of mineralization are associated with all four types of inclusion, whereas the later stages of mineralization are only associated with type I and II inclusions. Inclusion homogenization temperatures vary between the four stages of mineralization (370 °C–530 °C and > 600 °C, 210 °C–290 °C, 190 °C–270 °C, and 150 °C–230 °C, from early to late, respectively), with salinities also varying between the earlier and later stages of mineralization (11–18 and > 45, 7–15, 6–9, and 3–7 wt.% NaCl equivalent (equiv.), respectively). The majority of the inclusions within the Handagai deposit have homogenization temperatures and salinities of 200 °C–350 °C and 4–14 wt.% NaCl equiv., respectively, indicating that this is a medium–high temperature and medium–low salinity type deposit. The fluid inclusions were trapped at pressures of 11 to 72 MPa, corresponding to depths of 0.4 to 2.9 km. The geology, mineralogy, geochemistry, and fluid inclusions microthermometry indicate that the Handagai deposit formed as a result of contact infiltration metasomatism, with the deposition of ore minerals resulting from a combination of factors that include boiling as a result of reduced pressure, cooling, and fluid mixing.     

Hydrothermal alteration and ore-forming fluids associated with gold-tellurium mineralization in the Dongping gold deposit,China

The Dongping gold deposit hosted in syenites is one of the largest hydrothermal gold deposits in China and composed of ore veins in the upper parts and altered zones in the lower parts of the ore bodies. Pervasive potassic alteration and silicification overprint the wall rocks of the ore deposit. The alteration minerals include orthoclase, microcline, perthite, quartz, sericite, epidote, calcite, hematite and pyrite, with the quartz, pyrite and hematite assemblages closely associated with gold mineralization. The phases of hydrothermal alteration include: (i) potassic alteration, (ii) potassic alteration - silicification, (iii) silicification - epidotization - hematitization, (iv) silicification - sericitization - pyritization and (v) carbonation. Mass-balance calculations in potassic altered and silicified rocks reveal the gain of K₂O, Na₂O, SiO₂, HFSEs and transition elements (TEs) and the loss of REEs. Most major elements were affected by intense mineral reactions, and the REE patterns of the ore are consistent with those of the syenites. Gold, silver and tellurium show positive correlation and close association with silicification. Fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures in quartz veins range from 154 °C to 382 °C (peak at 275 °C–325 °C), with salinities of 4–9 wt.% NaCl equiv. At temperatures of 325 °C the fluid is estimated to have pH = 3.70–5.86, log fO₂ = − 32.4 to − 28.1, with Au and Te transported as Au (HS)₂⁻ and Te₂^2 − complexes. The ore forming fluids evolved from high pH and fO₂ at moderate temperatures into moderate-low pH, low fO₂ and low temperature conditions. The fineness of the precipitated native gold and the contents of the oxide minerals (e.g., magnetite and hematite) decreased, followed by precipitation of Au- and Ag-bearing tellurides. The hydrothermal system was derived from an alkaline magma and the deposit is defined as an alkaline rock-hosted hydrothermal gold deposit.     

Metallogeny of the Shilu Fe–Co–Cu deposit,Hainan Island,South China: Constraints from fluid inclusions and stable isotopes

The Shilu deposit is a world-class Fe–Co–Cu orebody located in the Changjiang area of the western part of Hainan Island, South China. The distribution of Fe, Co, and Cu orebodies is controlled by strata of the No. 6 Formation in the Shilu Group and the Beiyi synclinorium. Based on a petrological study of the host rocks and their alteration assemblages, and textural and structural features of the ores, four mineralization stages have been identified: (1) the sedimentary ore-forming period; (2) the metamorphic ore-forming period; (3) the hydrothermal mineralization comprising the skarn and quartz–sulfide stage; and (4) the supergene period. The fluid inclusions in sedimentary quartz and/or chert indicate low temperatures (ca. 160 °C) and low salinities from 0.7 to 3.1 wt.% NaCl_eq, which corresponds to densities of 0.77 to 0.93 g/cm³. CO₂-bearing or carbonic inclusions have been interpreted to result from regional metamorphism. Homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions for the skarn stage have a wide range from 148 °C to 497 °C and the salinities of the fluid inclusions range from 1.2 to 22.3 wt.% NaCl_eq, which corresponds to densities from 0.56 to 0.94 g/cm³. Fluid inclusions of the quartz–sulfide stage yield homogenization temperatures of 151–356 °C and salinities from 0.9 to 8.1 wt.% NaCl_eq, which equates to fluid densities from 0.63 to 0.96 g/cm³.Sulfur isotopic compositions indicate that sulfur of the sedimentary anhydrite and Co-bearing pyrite, and the quartz–sulfide stage, was derived from seawater sulfate and thermochemical sulfate reduction of dissolved anhydrite at temperatures of 200 °C and 300 °C, respectively. H and O isotopic compositions of the skarn and quartz–sulfide stage demonstrate that the ore-forming fluids were largely derived from magmatic water, with minor inputs from metamorphic or meteoric water. The Shilu iron ore deposit has an exhalative sedimentary origin, but has been overprinted by regional deformation and metamorphism. The Shilu Co–Cu deposit has a hydrothermal origin and is temporally and genetically associated with Indosinian granitoid rocks.     

Spatial–temporal evolution of ore-forming fluids and related mineralization in the western Lanping basin,Yunnan Province,China

The Lanping basin is a significant Pb–Zn–Cu–Ag mineralization belt in the Sanjiang Tethyan metallogenic province. A series of sediment-hosted Himalayan Cu–Ag–Pb–Zn polymetallic deposits have been discovered in the western part of the basin, controlled by a thrust–nappe system. In the thrust–nappe system, the Cu orebodies mainly occur in the western and relatively deep part of the mineralization system (the root zone), whereas the Pb–Zn–Ag (± Cu) orebodies occur in the eastern and relatively shallow part of the system (the front zone), both as vein-type mineralization.In this paper we present new data, combined with existing data on fluid inclusions, isotopes and geologic characteristics of representative deposits, to provide the first study that contrasts mineralizing fluids in the Cu–Ag (Mo) and Pb–Zn–Ag (Cu) polymetallic deposits.Fluid inclusion and isotope studies show that the Cu–Ag (Mo) mineralization in the root zone formed predominantly from deep crustal fluids, with the participation of basinal brines. The deep crustal fluids are marked by high CO₂ content, relatively high temperatures (280 to 340 °C) and low salinities (1 to 4 wt.% NaCl equivalent), whereas the basinal brine shows relatively low temperatures (160 °C to 220 °C) and high salinities (12 to 22 wt.% NaCl equivalent), containing almost no CO₂. In comparison, hydrothermal activity associated with the Pb–Zn–Ag (± Cu) deposits in the front zone is characterized by basinal brine, with relatively low temperatures (130 °C to 180 °C), high salinities (9 to 24 wt.% NaCl equivalent), and low CO₂ concentrations. Although evolved meteoric waters have predominantly been proposed as the source for deep crustal fluids, magmatic and metamorphic components cannot be completely excluded. The basinal brine was predominantly derived from meteoric water.The δ³⁴S values of sulfides from the Cu–Ag (Mo) deposits and Pb–Zn–Ag (± Cu) deposits range from − 17.9 to 16.3‰ and from 2.5 to 11.2‰, respectively. These ranges may relate to variations in physicochemical conditions or compositional variation of the sources. Lead isotope compositions indicate that the ore-forming metals were predominantly derived from sedimentary rocks of the Lanping basin.