Genesis of the Bangbu Orogenic Gold Deposit,Tibet: Evidence from Fluid Inclusion,Stable Isotopes,and Ar-Ar Geochronology

The Bangbu gold deposit is a large orogenic gold deposit in Tibet formed during the AlpineHimalayan collision. Ore bodies(auriferous quartz veins) are controlled by the E-W-trending Qusong-Cuogu-Zhemulang brittle-ductile shear zone. Quartz veins at the deposit can be divided into three types: pre-metallogenic hook-like quartz veins, metallogenic auriferous quartz veins, and postmetallogenic N-S quartz veins. Four stages of mineralization in the auriferous quartz veins have been identified:(1) Stage S1 quartz+coarse-grained sulfides,(2) Stage S2 gold+fine-grained sulfides,(3) Stage S3 quartz+carbonates, and(4) Stage S4 quartz+ greigite. Fluid inclusions indicate the oreforming fluid was CO_2-N_2-CH_4 rich with homogenization temperatures of 170–261°C, salinities 4.34–7.45 wt% Na Cl equivalent. δ~(18)Ofluid(3.98‰–7.18‰) and low δDV-SMOW(-90‰ to-44‰) for auriferous quartz veins suggest ore-forming fluids were mainly metamorphic in origin, with some addition of organic matter. Quartz vein pyrite has δ~(34)SV-CDT values of 1.2‰–3.6‰(an average of 2.2‰), whereas pyrite from phyllite has δ~(34)SV-CDT 5.7‰–9.9‰(an average of 7.4‰). Quartz vein pyrites yield 206Pb/204 Pb ratios of 18.662–18.764, 207Pb/204 Pb 15.650–15.683, and ~(208)Pb/204 Pb 38.901–39.079. These isotopic data indicate Bangbu ore-forming materials were probably derived from the Langjiexue accretionary wedge. 40Ar/39 Ar ages for sericite from auriferous sulfide-quartz veins yield a plateau age of 49.52 ± 0.52 Ma, an isochron age of 50.3 ± 0.31 Ma, suggesting that auriferous veins were formed during the main collisional period of the Tibet-Himalayan orogen(~65–41 Ma).     

Early Paleozoic Magmatism and Gold Mineralization in the Northern Aitun, NW China

Abstract This paper discusses the relationships between granitic magmatism and gold mineralization and the exhumation history of the Dapinggou gold deposit in northern Altun, NW China based on the geochronological data, including zircon U‐Pb ages, Rb‐Sr isochron age and ⁴⁰Ar‐³⁹Ar dating and MDD modeling data. The main granitic magmatism age in this area is attained from the ID TIMS U‐Pb geochronology of zircons from the Kuoshibulak granite, the biggest granite in the northern Altun area, which gives a concordant age of 443±5 Ma in the Late Ordovician. Zircon ID TIMS U‐Pb geochronology of the West Dapinggou biotite granite west of the Dapinggou gold deposit gives concordant ages around 485±10 Ma, representing the early stage of Ordovician magmatism. The Rb‐Sr isochron age (487±21 Ma) of 6 quartz inclusion samples from quartz veins in this gold deposit is very close to that of the West Dapinggou granite. MDD modeling of step heating ⁴⁰Ar‐³⁹Ar data of K‐feldspar from the same West Dapinggou biotite granite gives a rapid cooling history from 300°C to 150°C during 200–185 Ma. According to the age data and the geological setting of this area, we conclude that the Dapinggou gold deposit was formed at the early stage of the Early Paleozoic granitic magmatism in northern Altun, and exhumed in the Early Jurassic due to the normal faulting of the Lapeiquan detachment. The Early Paleozoic magmatism may provide heat source and produce geological fluids, which are very important for gold mineralization. Exhumation in the Mesozoic caused the uplift of the deposit towards the ground surface.     

Geochronology of Gold Deposits and Its Implication for Metallogenesis in the Fengxian-Lixian Area, Qinling Orogenic Belt, China

Abstract: A series of super large‐scale and large‐scale Pb and Zn, and Au deposits are distributed in the Qinling orogenic belt, China. Gold deposits were generally ascribed to Carlin‐type originated from circular meteoric water. Visible and coarse‐grained gold (up to over 3mm in grain size) was recently identified in some gold deposits in the Fengxian‐Lixian area, Qinling. Au‐bearing quartz lodes related to magmatism were discovered in the Xiaogouli gold deposit. Two types of Au‐bearing quartz veins, i.e., NW‐trending quartz veins and NE‐trending quartz veins cutting strata are widely present in the Baguamiao gold deposit. Both are spatially associated with each other. The former is generally snake–like, S‐shape or zigzag, which was resulted from plastic deformation by ductile shearing, being generally cut by the latter. The latter is generally linear with widely developed bleaching alteration zones in its adjacent wall rocks, which symbolizes the superimposition of brittle deformation and filling and metasomatism of magmatic hydrothermal solution in ductile shear zones after uplifting of the shear zones near the surface. The NW‐trending quartz veins contain Au of lower than 3ppm. The NE‐trending quartz veins contain Au of more than 3 ppm, so that NE‐trending quartz veins and the adjoining altered rocks are important ores. The NW‐trending Au–bearing quartz vein was dated as 210.61.26 to 232.581.59 Ma by ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar method, i.e., late Indosinian epoch (Triassic). The NE‐trending Au–bearing quartz vein was dated as 131.910.89 to 197.451.13 Ma by ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar method, i.e., Yanshanian epoch (Jurassic). The ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar age of the NW‐trending Au–bearing quartz veins represents the age of the ductile shear formation. The isotope data of the NE‐trending quartz veins indicate that gold mineralization was closely related to Indosinian and Yanshanian granite intrusives not only in time and space, but also in origin.     

Isotopic Geochronology of the Late Paleozoic Kanggur Gold Deposit of East Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, NW China

Abstract: The Kanggur gold deposit lies in East Tianshan mountains, eastern section of Central Asia orogenic belt. The gold mineralization occurs on the northern margin of the Aqishan‐Yamansu Paleozoic island arc in the Tarim Plate. It was hosted mainly in Middle‐Lower Carboniferous calc‐alkaline volcanic rocks, and controlled by the distributions of syn‐tectonic intrusions and ductile shear zones. In order to determine ore‐forming age of the Kanggur deposit, samples were collected from ores, wall rocks, altered rocks and intrusions. The dating methods include Rb‐Sr isochron and Sm‐Nd isochron, and secondly ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age spectrum, U‐Pb and Pb‐Pb methods. Based on the mineral assemblage and crosscutting relationship of ore veins, five mineralization stages are identified. This result is confirmed by isotope geochronologic data. The first stage featuring formation of pyrite‐bearing phyllic rock, is mineralogically represented by pyrite, sericite and quartz with poor native gold. The Rb‐Sr isochron age of this stage is 2905 Ma. The second stage represents the main ore‐forming stage and is characterized by native gold–quartz–pyrite–magnetite–chlorite assemblage. Magnetite and pyrite of this stage are dated by Sm‐Nd isochron at 290.47.2 Ma and fluid inclusion in quartz is dated by Rb‐Sr isochron at 282.35 Ma. The third mineralization stage features native gold–quartz–pyrite vein. In the fourth stage, Au‐bearing polymetallic sulfide‐quartz veins formed. Fluid inclusions in quartz are dated by Rb‐Sr isochron method at 25821 Ma. The fifth stage is composed of sulfide‐free quartz–carbonate veins with Rb‐Sr age of 2547 Ma. The first and second stages are related to ductile‐brittle deformation of shear zones, and are named dynamo‐metamorphic hydrothermal period. The third to fifth stages related to intrusive processes of tonalite and brittle fracturing of the shear zones, are called magmato‐hydrothermal mineralization period. The Rb‐Sr isochron age of 2905 Ma of the altered andesite in the Kanggur mine area may reflect timing of regional ductile shear zone. The Rb‐Sr isochron age of 28216 Ma of the quartz‐syenite porphyry and the zircon U‐Pb age of 2757 Ma of tonalite in the north of Kanggur gold mine area are consistent with the age of gold mineralization (290‐254 Ma). This correspondence indicates that the tonalite and subvolcanic rocks may have been related to gold mineralization. The Rb–Sr, Sm‐Nd and U‐Pb ages and regional geology support the hypothesis that the Kanggur gold deposit was formed during collisional orogenesis process in Late Variscan.     

^40Ar-^39Ar Isotopic Dating of the Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic Orefield in Southern Hunan, China and Its Geological Implications

The Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic orefield in Hunan Province, southern China, is a large-size tin orefield. Although numerous studies have been undertaken on this orefield, its genesis, mineralization age, and tectonic setting are still controversial, mainly because of the lack of reliable geochronological data on tin mineralization. The 40Ar/39Ar stepwise heating dating method was first employed on muscovite from different deposits in this orefield. The muscovite sample from the Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic deposit defines a plateau age of 154.4±1.1 Ma and an isochron age of 151.9±3.0 Ma; muscovite from the Xianghuapu W-polymetallic deposit yields a plateau age of 161.3±1.1 Ma and an isochron age of 160.0±3.2 Ma; muscovite from the Jianfengling greisen-type Sn-polymetallic deposit gives a plateau age of 158.7±1.2 Ma and an isochron age of 160.3±3.2 Ma. The tungsten-tin mineralization ages in the Xianghualing area are therefore restricted within 150-160 Ma. The tungsten -tin mineralization in Xianghualing occurred at the same time as the regional tin-tungsten mineralization including the Furong tin orefield, Shizhuyuan tungsten-tin polymetallic deposit and Yaogangxian tungsten-polymetallic deposit. Thus, the large-scale tungsten-tin metallogenesis in South China occurring at 160-150 Ma. probably is closely related to asthenospheric upwelling and crust-mantle interaction under a geodynamic setting of crustal extension and lithosphere thinning during the transformation of tectonic regimes during the Mid-Late Jurassic.     

Magmatic‐Hydrothermal Mineralization Sequence in Xinlu Ore Field,Guangxi, South China: Constraints from Zircon U‐Pb,Molybdenite Re‐Os,and Muscovite Ar‐Ar Dating

The Xinlu Sn‐polymetallic ore field is located in the western Nanling Polymetallic Belt in northeastern Guangxi, South China, where a number of typical skarn‐, hydrothermal vein‐type tin deposits have developed. There are two types of Sn deposits: skarn‐type and sulfide‐quartz vein‐type. The tin mineralizations mainly occur on the south side of the Guposhan granitic complex pluton and within its outer contact zone. To constrain the Sn mineralization age and further understand its genetic links to the Guposhan granitic complex, a series of geochronological works has been conducted at the Liuheao deposit of the ore field using high‐precision zircon SHRIMP U‐Pb, molybdenite Re‐Os, and muscovite Ar‐Ar dating methods. The results show that the biotite‐monzogranite, which is part of the Xinlu intrusive unit of the Guposhan complex pluton, has a SHRIMP U‐Pb zircon age of 161.0 ± 1.5 Ma. The skarn‐type ore has a ⁴⁰Ar‐³⁹Ar muscovite plateau age of 160 ± 2 Ma (same as its isochron age), and the sulfide‐quartz vein‐type ore yields an Re‐Os molybdenite isochron age of 154.4 ± 3.5 Ma. The magmatic‐hydrothermal geochronological sequence demonstrated that the hydrothermal mineralization took place immediately following the emplacement of the monzogranite, with the skarn metasomatic mineralization stage predating the sulfide mineralization stage. Geochronologically, we have compared this ore field with 26 typical Sn deposits distributed along the Nanling Polymetallic Belt, leading to the suggestion of the magmatic‐metallogenic processes in the Xinlu ore field (ca. 161–154 Ma) as a component of the Early Yanshanian large‐scale Sn‐polymetallic mineralization event (peaked at 160–150 Ma) in the Nanling Range of South China. Petrogenesis of Sn‐producing granite and Sn‐polymetallic mineralization were probably caused by crust–mantle interaction as a result of significant lithospheric extension and thinning in South China in the Late Jurassic.     

Age and tectonic setting of the first orogenic gold deposit discovered in the Yanbian Region,NE China

The Yangjingou gold deposit in Jilin Province lies 11 km south of the large-scale Xiaoxinancha gold–copper deposit. Yangjingou orebodies are structurally controlled fault- or fracture-related auriferous quartz veins. This type of mineralization is significantly different from that of the Xiaoxinancha porphyry gold–copper deposit, and has mineral assemblages and fluid inclusion compositions typical of orogenic gold deposits. We suggest that the Yangjingou deposit is the first orogenic gold deposit discovered in the Yanbian area, even in all of NE China. Here, we present new isotopic dating and trace element analysis of the ore-hosting monzogranite and auriferous quartz veins within the deposit, in order to determine the age and tectonic setting of metallogenesis, and the geological conditions controlling gold mineralization. LA-ICP-MS U–Pb dating of zircons separated from the monzogranite yielded an age of 262.3 ± 1.3 Ma, indicating intrusion during the late Permian. Hydrothermal muscovite from auriferous quartz veins yielded a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of 241.57 ± 1.2 Ma, indicating that gold mineralization occurred at 241 Ma. Trace element and REE compositions of the monzogranite and auriferous quartz veins are both indicative of the formation from a region of the upper mantle that previously underwent crustal contamination. Geochronological analysis indicates that the diagenesis and mineralization resulting in the Yangjingou gold deposit occurred during the late Permian–Early Triassic. The tectonic evolution of the region and comparison of this deposit with other mineralizing events indicate that the orebody formed during orogenesis associated with collision between the North China and Siberian cratons.     

~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar Age and Geological Significance of the Sawur Gold Belt in Northern Xinjiang, China

1 IntroductionThe Sawur gold belt is an eastward extending section ofthe Zarma-Sawur gold-copper belt in Kazakhstan, locatedin the Sawur Mountain, northern Xinjiang, and mainlycomprises two large- to medium-sized gold deposits,accompanied by five small gold deposits and a series ofgold ore spots (Yin et al., 1996, 2003; Wang et al., 1999; Liet al., 2000; Liu et al., 2003; Shen et al., 2004a). TheKuo'erzhenkuola and Bu'erkesidai gold deposits are thebiggest and most important ones in this …     

Precise molybdenite Re–Os and mica Ar–Ar dating of the Mesozoic Yaogangxian tungsten deposit, central Nanling district, South China

The Yaogangxian deposit in the central Nanling region, South China consists of vein-type ore bodies hosted in Cambrian to Jurassic strata and Mesozoic granitic intrusions. Wolframite and molybdenite are the dominant ore minerals intergrown with gangue minerals of quartz, feldspar, phlogopite, and muscovite. We have carried out molybdenite Re–Os and phlogopite and muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating to better understand the timing and genesis of mineralization. Re–Os dating of eight molybdenite samples yielded model ages ranging from 152.0±3.5 to 161.1±4.5 Ma, with an average of 156.0 Ma. The Re–Os analyses give a well-defined ¹⁸⁷Re/¹⁸⁷Os isochron with an age of 154.9±2.6 Ma (MSWD=2.4). Hydrothermal phlogopite and muscovite display extremely flat ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age spectra. Phlogopite yields a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau age of 153.0±1.1 Ma, whereas muscovite yields a plateau age of 155.1±1.1 Ma. Both ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages are in good agreement with the Re–Os ages, placing the timing of tungsten mineralization at about 154 Ma. This age is consistent with the field relationships. Our new data, when combined with published geochronological results from other major deposits in this region, suggest that large scale W–Sn mineralization occurred throughout the central Nanling region in the Late Jurassic.     

Zircon U–Pb,Molybdenite Re–Os and K‐feldspar 40Ar/39Ar Dating of the Bolong Porphyry Cu–Au Deposit,Tibet, China

The Bolong porphyry Cu–Au deposit is a newly discovered deposit in the central Tibetan Plateau, and is ranked as the second largest copper deposit discovered to date in the Bangong‐Nujiang metallogenic belt in China. Three granodiorite porphyry phases occur within the Bolong porphyry Cu–Au deposit. Phyllic alteration is widespread on the surface of the deposit, and potassic alteration occurs at depth, associated with granodiorite porphyries. The copper and gold mineralization is clearly related to the potassic and phyllic alteration. Multiple chronometers were applied to constrain the timing of magmatic–hydrothermal activity at the Bolong deposit. Zircon U–Pb geochronology reveals that the granodiorite porphyry phases were emplaced at ca. 120 Ma. Re–Os data of four molybdenite samples from quartz–molybednite veinlets yielded an isochron age of 119.4 ± 1.3 Ma. The plateau age of hydrothermal K‐feldspar from the potassic alteration zone, analyzed by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating, is 118.3 ± 0.6 Ma, with a similar reverse isochron age of 118.5 ± 0.7 Ma. Therefore, the magmatic–hydrothermal activity occurred at ca. 120–118 Ma, which is similar in age to the neighboring Duobuza porphyry copper deposit. The period of 120–118 Ma is therefore important for the development of porphyry Cu–Au mineralization in the central Tibetan Plateau, and these porphyry deposits were formed during the final stages of the northward subduction of the Neo‐Tethys Ocean.     

Geology,geochronology, geochemistry and ore genesis of the Wangu gold deposit in northeastern Hunan Province,Jiangnan Orogen,South China

The Wangu gold deposit in northeastern Hunan, South China, is one of many structurally controlled gold deposits in the Jiangnan Orogen. The host rocks (slates of the Lengjiaxi Group) are of Neoproterozoic age, but the area is characterized by a number of Late Jurassic–Cretaceous granites and NE-trending faults. The timing of mineralization, tectonic setting and ore genesis of this deposit and many similar deposits in the Jiangnan Orogen are not well understood. The orebodies in the Wangu deposit include quartz veins and altered slates and breccias, and are controlled by WNW-trending faults. The principal ore minerals are arsenopyrite and pyrite, and the major gangue minerals are quartz and calcite. Alteration is developed around the auriferous veins, including silicification, pyritic, arsenopyritic and carbonate alterations. Field work and thin section observations indicate that the hydrothermal processes related to the Wangu gold mineralization can be divided into five stages: 1) quartz, 2) scheelite–quartz, 3) arsenopyrite–pyrite–quartz, 4) poly-sulfides–quartz, and, 5) quartz–calcite. The Lianyunshan S-type granite, which is in an emplacement contact with the NE-trending Changsha-Pingjiang fracture zone, has a zircon LA-ICPMS U–Pb age of 142 ± 2 Ma. The Dayan gold occurrence in the Changsha-Pingjiang fracture zone, which shares similar mineral assemblages with the Wangu deposit, is crosscut by a silicified rock that contains muscovite with a ca. 130 Ma ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar age. The gold mineralization age of the Wangu deposit is thus confined between 142 Ma and 130 Ma. This age of mineralization suggests that the deposit was formed simultaneously with or subsequently to the development of NE-trending extensional faults, the emplacement of Late Jurassic–Cretaceous granites and the formation of Cretaceous basins filled with red-bed clastic rocks in northeastern Hunan, which forms part of the Basin and Range-like province in South China. EMPA analysis shows that the average As content in arsenopyrite is 28.7 atom %, and the mineralization temperature of the arsenopyrite–pyrite–quartz stage is estimated to be 245 ± 20 °C from arsenopyrite thermometry. The high but variable Au/As molar ratios (>0.02) of pyrite suggest that there are nanoparticles of native Au in the sulfides. An integration of S–Pb–H–O–He–Ar isotope systematics suggests that the ore fluids are mainly metamorphic fluids originated from host rocks, possibly driven by hydraulic potential gradient created by reactivation of the WNW-trending faults initially formed in Paleozoic, with possible involvement of magmatic and mantle components channeled through regional fault networks. The Wangu gold deposit shares many geological and geochemical similarities as well as differences with typical orogenic, epithermal and Carlin-type gold deposits, and may be better classified as an “intracontinental reactivation” type as proposed for many other gold deposits in the Jiangnan Orogen.     

The Variscan Tamlalt–Menhouhou gold deposit,Eastern High-Atlas,Morocco

The Tamlalt–Menhouhou gold deposit belongs to the Neoproterozoic–Palaeozoic Tamlalt inlier located in the Eastern High-Atlas (Morocco). It occurs in altered Upper Neoproterozoic bimodal volcanic and volcano-sedimentary units outcropping in the Tamlalt–Menhouhou area. Gold mineralization has been identified in quartz veins related to shear-zones associated with a strong quartz-phyllic-argillic alteration. Visible free gold is related to goethite–malachite–barite boxworks in quartz veins. The other alteration minerals accompanying gold mineralization are mainly carbonates, chlorite, hematite, albite and pyrite whose relative proportion defines three alteration types. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology performed on phengite grains from phyllic alteration and the auriferous quartz veins, yields plateau ages ranging from 300 ± 5 Ma to 284 ± 12 Ma with a weighted mean age of 293 ± 7 Ma. This identifies a Late Variscan age for the Tamlalt–Menhouhou “shear zones-related” gold deposit and emphasizes the consequences of the Variscan orogeny for gold mineralization in the High-Atlas and Anti-Atlas Neoproterozoic inliers.     

黑龙江嘉荫连珠山金矿床成岩成矿年代学及其地质意义

连珠山矿床位于小兴安岭北麓,是一个产于花岗岩内部断裂体系的蚀变岩型金矿床。为了限定其成矿时代与成矿地质背景,本文对其赋矿围岩黑云母二长花岗岩和石英闪长岩进行了岩石地球化学、锆石U-Pb和绢云母40Ar/39Ar年代学的系统研究。定年结果表明黑云母二长花岗岩形成时代为中三叠世(243.7±1.3Ma,MSWD=0.77,n=12),岩浆上侵过程中受到早古生代(474~438Ma)和中二叠世(267~261Ma)的岩浆混染,而石英闪长岩形成于晚三叠世(215.3±1.3Ma,MSWD=0.35,n=17);黄铁绢英岩化矿石中的绢云母40Ar/39Ar坪年龄为194.2±2.0Ma,指示为早侏罗世成矿;元素地球化学特征显示连珠山侵入岩为准铝质-弱过铝质、高钾钙碱性岩石系列,具有I型花岗岩的地球化学属性;轻稀土元素富集,相对亏损重稀土元素,且具有弱的负Eu异常;富集大离子亲石元素(LILE),亏损高场强元素(HFSE)。结合小兴安岭-张广才岭地区已有年代学资料和区域构造演化特征,认为其成矿地质背景为兴蒙造山晚期与古太平洋板块俯冲转换期,或成矿发生在兴蒙造山期后的伸展阶段。     

40Ar/39Ar dating of the Jiehe gold deposit in the Jiaodong Peninsula,eastern North China Craton: Implications for regional gold metallogeny

The Jiehe gold deposit, containing a confirmed gold reserve of 34 tonnes (t), is a Jiaojia-type (disseminated/stockwork-style) gold deposit in Jiaodong Peninsula. Orebodies are hosted in the contact zone between the Jurassic Moshan biotite granite and the Cretaceous Shangzhuang porphyritic granodiorite, and are structurally controlled by the NNE- to NE-striking Wangershan-Hedong Fault. Sulphide minerals are composed predominantly of pyrite with lesser amounts of chalcopyrite, galena, and sphalerite. Hydrothermal alteration is strictly controlled by fracture zones, in which disseminated sulfides and native gold are spatially associated with pervasive sericitic alteration. Mineralogical, textural, and field relationships indicate four stages of alteration and mineralization, including pyrite-bearing milky and massive quartz (stage 1), light-gray granular quartz–pyrite (stage 2), quartz–polysulfide (stage 3) and quartz–carbonate (stage 4) stages. Economic gold is precipitated in stages 2 and 3.The Jiehe deposit was previously considered to form during the Eocene (46.5 ± 2.3 Ma), based on Rb-Sr dating of sericite. However, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of sericite in this study yields well-defined, reproducible plateau ages between 118.8 ± 0.7 Ma and 120.7 ± 0.8 Ma. These ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages are consistent with geochronological data from other gold deposits in the region, indicating that all gold deposits in Jiaodong formed in a short-term period around 120 Ma. The giant gold mineralization event has a tight relationship with the extensional tectonic regime, and is a shallow crustal metallogenic response of paleo-Pacific slab subduction and lithospheric destruction in the eastern NCC.     

新疆额尔齐斯构造带哲兰德金矿白云母~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar同位素年龄及地质意义

哲兰德金矿是额尔齐斯构造带上重要的造山型金矿,产出于韧性剪切带中,金矿化赋存于黄铁矿化闪长岩脉、含金石英脉和黄铁矿化千枚岩中,矿化与韧脆性剪切变形有关。沿剪切面理发育的白云母、绿泥石等新生矿物,为测定金矿形成时代提供了依据。本研究利用白云母~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar年代学手段,确定了韧性剪切带的形成时代和金成矿时代。结果表明白云母坪年龄为295. 4±1. 6 Ma,韧性剪切变形和金成矿作用发生在295 Ma,略早于多拉纳萨依金矿形成时间。结合前人资料认为,新疆额尔齐斯构造带造山型金矿形成于295～270 Ma。     

Laser probe <Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar dating for quartz from auriferous quartz veins in the Shihu gold deposit,western Hebei Province,North China

The Shihu gold deposit is situated in the central shear zone of the Meso-Cenozoic Fuping metamorphic core complex in the middle-northern part of the Taihang Mountains. This kind of gold deposits named after ‘Shihu type’ widely occurs in this region. Gold-bearing quartz veins are their most important industrial orebodies. Detailed laser ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology of the mineralized quartz veins in the study area reveals details of its tectono-magmatic history. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages for the quartz are between 134.4 Ma and 155.9 Ma with a mean age of 141±4 Ma on the isochron line and 139±7 Ma on the inverse isochron line, respectively, which is interpreted to be the best estimate of the crystalline age of the quartz veins. The gold mineralization was most likely related to an underplating event that took place in the northern part of the Taihang Mountain at ca. 140 Ma. The timing of gold mineralization in the area is similar to those observed in other major gold-producing provinces in the NCC. This episode is simultaneous with those in the eastern NCC, indicative of a widespread late Yanshanian metallogenic event that was a response either to the subduction of the Izanagi-Pacific plate beneath eastern China or to the removal of the Early Cretaceous lithosphere in the eastern NCC. The ore-forming material sources may be the Early Precambrian metamorphic basement, instead of intermediate-acid rock bodies and dykes.     

Ar-Ar Dating on the Metallogenesis of the Dongchuang Gold Deposit in the Xiaoqinling Area

The Dongchuang gold deposit in the Xiaoqinling area is an orogenic-type lode gold deposit. It is one of the few superlarge (>100 t Au) deposits in China. Although it has been argued that it was formed in the Mesozoic, related isotopic age data have not been reported in previous studies. Based on detailed geological study, the authors have carried out isotopic dating on various metallogenic generations. The ore-forming process of the Dongchuang gold deposit consists of four stages: coarse-grained pyrite-bearing quartz veins (stage Ⅰ), fine-grained pyrite-quartz veinlets (stage Ⅱ), multi-sulfides (stage Ⅲ) and carbonate-quartz veinlets (stage IV). Ar-Ar dating on mineral separates of stages Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ yields plateau ages of 142.9±2.9 Ma, 132.2±2.6 Ma and 128.3±6.2 Ma, respectively. Sericite separates from stage Ⅱ assemblage also yield an Ar-Ar isochron age of 132.6±2.7 Ma, similar to the Ar-Ar plateau age. These results suggest that the Dongchuang gold deposit was mainly formed during 143-128 M     

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.     

湖南龙山锑金矿床白云母~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar年代学及其意义初探

龙山锑金矿是湘中Sb-Au矿集区内规模最大的脉状锑金矿床,但其精确的成矿时代尚未厘定。本次工作发现该矿床第Ⅰ成矿阶段的石英硫化物脉中发育少量的热液白云母。通过40Ar-39Ar年代学测定,确定了白云母的~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar同位素坪年龄为162. 5±1. 8Ma,相应的等时线年龄为161. 1±1. 2Ma(MSWD=1. 0),反等时线年龄为161. 1±1. 2Ma(MSWD=1. 0)。根据矿物共生组合特征,认为白云母的~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar坪年龄能代表龙山锑金矿床的成矿年龄。结合湘中地区其他锑(金)矿床的年代学研究成果,本文认为,该地区在155~162Ma之间有一次热液成矿事件,与南岭地区165~150Ma与花岗岩有关的钨锡多金属矿床的成矿时代相一致。湘中地区已有的S同位素地球化学和地球物理学资料表明,该地区锑金矿床的形成可能与岩浆作用有关,类似于南岭地区晚侏罗世钨锡多金属矿床的构造背景。     

广西大瑶山地区加里东期石英脉型金矿：上木水金矿白云母Ar-Ar年龄约束

石英脉型金矿是广西大瑶山地区主要的金矿床类型之一,但一直没有高精度的年龄数据约束其成矿时代。论文首次 对大瑶山南部广西苍梧县上木水石英脉型金矿中的热液白云母进行39Ar/40Ar年龄法测年,获得坪年龄为（432.6 ± 3.2）Ma,相应 的等时线年龄为（428.2 ± 7.2）Ma,反等时线年龄为（425.3 ± 6.6）Ma,表明其成矿时代为加里东期。这一数据进一步证明 大瑶山南部的古龙-夏郢环形成矿区主要以加里东期矿化为主,除了与加里东期岩浆岩有关的斑岩-矽卡岩型钨多金属矿化 外,还存在石英脉型金矿。同时,位于大瑶山中部沿区域性大黎断裂分布的六岑-桃花-古袍金矿田的石英脉型金矿时代仍 然不明确,还需要进一步的高精度测年数据来约束。