Mechanisms of salinization in a middle Eocene lake in the Tanggu area of the Huanghua Depression

The Sha-3-5 Submember of the Shahejie Formation in the Tanggu area of the Huanghua Depression contains analcime-bearing dolomite, indicating salinization of an ancient lake during deposition. Solar evaporation and hydrothermal salinization have both been proposed as ways to generate these saline conditions. Based on a comprehensive analysis of core data, thin sections, spore and pollen data, elemental geochemistry, pyrolysis results, and vitrinite reflectance, we assessed the mechanisms driving salinization in light of provenance evolution, geothermal evolution, paleoclimate, mineral responses to evaporation, and the relationship between fluid temperature and salinity. The vertical profiles of ΣREE, Eu/*Eu, and T_max exhibit little variation, and the maximum paleotemperatures attained by organic matter are comparable to present-day drill hole temperature. No major changes in provenance or paleotemperature and no petrological fabrics that would indicate a hydrothermal input are observed in the studied section. However, evidence for a semi-humid to semi-arid climate, primary evaporitic textures and structures, and a positive relationship between fluid temperature and salinity all support evaporation as the primary mechanism driving rising salinity. Solar evaporation, rather than hydrothermal eruption, appears to have been the primary factor driving lake salinization during middle Eocene deposition of the dolomitic Sha-3-5 Submember.     

Research on the fault controlling mechanism of geothermal water in Zhangzhou Basin

Fault has an important influence on the storage and movement of geothermal water. The Zhangzhou Basin is wholly located in a granodiorite rock mass. Due to the low permeability of granodiorite, faulted structure has an evident control action on the hydrothermal activity of geothermal fields. Hot springs in Zhangzhou Basin crack along Pingtan-Dongshan Fault to the northeastern direction and emerge along Fu’an-Nanjing Fault. Through measurement of the temperature of several hot springs in the Basin, we found the temperature along the northwestern direction of Zhangzhou-Tianbao Fault is high and the temperature gap between the two sides of Yangxi-Yuanshan Fault is huge; the estimation of geothermal reservoir temperature of geothermal water through quartz geothermometer indicates that the geothermal reservoir temperature of the northern area of Nanjing-Xiamen Fault is obviously higher than that of southern area. Such result indicates that Fault obviously obstructs underground heat source. Under the condition that the average geothermal gradient of the Zhangzhou Basin is set, the circulation depth of the geothermal water of the Zhangzhou Basin measured by geothermal reservoir temperature is 3 550-5 200 m and the circulation depth of the geothermal water of the north of Nanjing-Xiamen Fault is deeper than that of the South.     

Deep Seabed Mining: Past Failures and Future Prospects

The first attempt to exploit deep-sea manganese nodules ended in failure as a result of the collapse of world metal prices, the onerous provisions imposed by the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the overoptimistic assumptions about the viability of nodule mining. Attention then focused on Co-rich manganese crusts from seamounts. Since the mid-1980s, a number of new players have committed themselves to long-term programs to establish the viability of mining deep-sea manganese nodules. These programs require heavy subsidy by the host governments. Au-rich submarine hydrothermal deposits located at convergent plate margins are now emerging as a more promising prospect for mining than deep-sea manganese deposits.     

Actively forming Kuroko-type volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) mineralization at Iheya North,Okinawa Trough,Japan

Modern seafloor hydrothermal systems provide important insights into the formation and discovery of ancient volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposits. In 2010, Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 331 drilled five sites in the Iheya North hydrothermal field in the middle Okinawa Trough back-arc basin, Japan. Hydrothermal alteration and sulfide mineralization is hosted in a geologically complex, mixed sequence of coarse pumiceous volcaniclastic and fine hemipelagic sediments, overlying a dacitic to rhyolitic volcanic substrate. At site C0016, located adjacent to the foot of the actively venting North Big Chimney massive sulfide mound, massive sphalerite-(pyrite-chalcopyrite ± galena)-rich sulfides were intersected (to 30.2% Zn, 12.3% Pb, 2.68% Cu, 33.1 ppm Ag and 0.07 ppm Au) that strongly resemble the black ore of the Miocene-age Kuroko deposits of Japan. Sulfide mineralization shows clear evidence of formation through a combination of surface detrital and subsurface chemical processes, with at least some sphalerite precipitating into void space in the rock. Volcanic rocks beneath massive sulfides exhibit quartz-muscovite/illite and quartz-Mg-chlorite alteration reminiscent of VHMS proximal footwall alteration associated with Kuroko-type deposits, characterized by increasing MgO, Fe/Zn and Cu/Zn with depth. Recovered felsic footwall rocks are of FII to FIII affinity with well-developed negative Eu anomalies, consistent with VHMS-hosting felsic rocks in Phanerozoic ensialic arc/back-arc settings worldwide.Site C0013, ∼100 m east of North Big Chimney, represents a likely location of recent high temperature discharge, preserved as surficial coarse-grained sulfidic sediments (43.2% Zn, 4.4% Pb, 5.4% Cu, 42 ppm Ag and 0.02 ppm Au) containing high concentrations of As, Cd, Mo, Sb, and W. Near surface hydrothermal alteration is dominated by kaolinite and muscovite with locally abundant native sulfur, indicative of acidic hydrothermal fluids. Alteration grades to Mg-chlorite dominated assemblages at depths of >5 mbsf (metres below sea floor). Late coarse-grained anhydrite veining overprints earlier alteration and is interpreted to have precipitated from down welling seawater as hydrothermal activity waned. At site C0014, ∼350 m farther east, hydrothermal assemblages are characterized by illite/montmorillonite, with Mg-chlorite present at depths below ∼30 mbsf. Recovered lithologies from distal, recharge site C0017 are unaltered, with low MgO, Fe₂O₃ and base metal concentrations.Mineralization and alteration assemblages are consistent with the Iheya North system representing a modern analogue for Kuroko-type VHMS mineralization. Fluid flow is focussed laterally along pumiceous volcaniclastic strata (compartmentalized between impermeable hemipelagic sediments), and vertically along faults. The abundance of Fe-poor sphalerite and Mg-rich chlorite (clinochlore/penninite) is consistent with the lower Fe budget, temperature and higher oxidation state of felsic volcanic-hosted hydrothermal systems worldwide compared to Mid Ocean Ridge black smoker systems.     

Mechanism of mineralization in the Changjiang uranium ore field,South China: Evidence from fluid inclusions,hydrothermal alteration,and H–O isotopes

The Changjiang uranium ore field, which contains >10,000 tonnes of recoverable U with a grade of 0.1–0.5%, is hosted by Triassic two-mica and Jurassic biotite granites, and is one of the most important uranium ore fields in South China. The minerals associated with alteration and mineralization can be divided into two stages, namely syn-ore and post-ore. The syn-ore minerals are primarily quartz, pitchblende, hematite, hydromica, chlorite, fluorite, and pyrite; the post-ore minerals include quartz, calcite, fluorite, pyrite, and hematite. The fluid inclusions of the early syn-ore stage characteristically contain O₂, and those of the late syn-ore and post-ore stage contain H₂ and CH₄. The fluid inclusions in quartz of the syn-ore stage include H₂O, H₂O–CO₂, and CO₂ types, and they occur in clusters or along trails. Homogenization temperatures (T_h) for the H₂O–CO₂ and two-phase H₂O inclusions range from 106 °C to >350 °C and cluster in two distinct groups for each type; salinities are lower than 10 wt% NaCl equiv. The ore-forming fluids underwent CO₂ effervescence or phase separation at ∼250 °C under a pressure of 1000–1100 bar. The U/Th values of the altered granites are lowest close to the ore, increase outwards, but subsequently decrease close to unaltered granites. From the unaltered granites to the ore, the lowest Fe₂O₃/FeO values become lower and the highest values higher. The REE patterns of the altered granites and the ores are similar to each other. The U contents of the ores show a positive correlation with total REE contents but a negative correlation with LREE/HREE ratios, indicating the pitchblende is REE-bearing and selectively HREE-rich. The δEu values of the ore show a positive correlation with U contents, indicating the early syn-ore fluids were oxidizing. The δCe values show a negative correlation, indicating the later mineralization environment became reducing. The water–rock interactions of the early syn-ore stage resulted in oxidization of altered granites and reduction of the ore-forming fluids, and it was this reduction that led to the uranium mineralization. During alteration in the early syn-ore stage, the oxidizing fluids leached uranium from granites close to faults, and Fe₂O₃/FeO ratios increased in the alteration zones. The late syn-ore and post-ore alteration decreased the Fe₂O₃/FeO ratios in the alteration zones. The δ¹⁸O_W–SMOW values of the ore-forming fluids range from −1.8‰ to 5.4‰, and the δD_W–SMOW values range from −104.4‰ to −51.6‰, suggesting meteoric water. The meteoric water underwent at least two stages of water–rock interaction: the first caused the fluids to become uranium-bearing, and the second stage, which was primarily associated with ore-bearing faults, led to uranium deposition as pitchblende, accompanied by CO₂ effervescence.     

Re–Os and U–Pb geochronology of the Shazigou Mo polymetallic ore field,Inner Mongolia: Implications for Permian–Triassic mineralization at the northern margin of the North China Craton

The recently discovered polymetallic Shazigou Mo–W–Pb–Zn ore field is located at the northern margin of the North China Craton. This integrated metallogenic system is comprised of quartz vein mineralization in three deposits: Shazigou Mo–W, Jindouzishan Pb–Zn and Mantougou Pb–Zn. The total reserves are estimated to be 50 kt Mo, 626 t WO₃, 244 kt Pb and 150 kt Zn. Molybdenite Re–Os dating of five quartz vein-type ores yielded a mean model age of 243.8 ± 1.6 Ma (MSWD = 0.81) and hydrothermal zircons yielded a concordant U–Pb age of 245 ± 2.6 Ma (MSWD = 0.65). These results suggest that the mineralization was formed in the early Triassic and could be related to Paleo-Asian Ocean subduction. Microthermometry and quartz fluid inclusion compositions indicate that fluids related to the Mo–W mineralization were mainly derived from magmatic sources and precipitated under relatively high temperature (280–340 °C) and salinity conditions (6–9 wt% NaCl equiv.), whereas subsequent Pb–Zn mineralization-related fluids may have been modified by metamorphic and meteoric waters. The discovery of the Shazigou ore field suggests conditions may be favourable for more extensive mineralization in the western Xilamulun Mo metallogenic belt at the northern margin of the North China Craton.     

Geochronological and mineralogical constraints on mineralization of the Hetai goldfield in Guangdong Province,South China

The Hetai goldfield, located in the southern segment of the Qinzhou Bay-Hangzhou Bay Juncture Orogenic Belt (QHJB), is the largest concentration of gold deposits in Guangdong Province, South China. The gold mineralization is hosted within the late Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic Yunkai Group and strictly confined to mylonite (ductile shear) zones. The nature of the structural control of mineralization, in particular the role of ductile versus brittle deformation and their ages, which remain unclear despite numerous previous studies, are examined in this paper through an integrated study of geochronology and mineralogy.Lamellar and filament structures shown by pyrite and pyrrhotite in the ores suggest that sulfidation took place during ductile deformation and syntectonic metamorphism, but the majority of the ores are associated with brittle deformation features. In combination with macroscopic and microscopy observations on shear fabrics, LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating on zircons of hydrothermal origin from mylonites suggests that the Hetai goldfield was subjected to two shearing events: an early sinistral ductile shearing at ca. 240 Ma, and a late dextral ductile-brittle shearing at ca. 204 Ma (Indosinian). These ages are ca. 90–30 Ma older than the previously published gold mineralizing ages of ca. 175–152 Ma (Yanshanian), suggesting that the main gold mineralization and related brittle deformation significantly postdate the ductile deformation. This inference is supported by the mineralization temperatures estimated from geothermometers of arsenopyrite (ca. 350–290 °C), chlorite (ca. 260–230 °C), and sphalerite (ca. 230–170 °C) intergrown with native gold, which are considerably lower than that for the ductile deformation (500–300 °C or higher). Based on these data, we propose that the gold mineralization in the Hetai goldfield predominantly occurred during the Yanshanian event, and only minor gold mineralization and associated sulfidation took place during the earlier Indosinian ductile deformation.     

Petrogenesis of Lingshan highly fractionated granites in the Southeast China: Implication for Nb-Ta mineralization

Whole rock major and trace element and Sr-, Nd- and Hf-isotope data, together with zircon U-Pb, Hf- and O-isotope data, are reported for the Nb-Ta ore bearing granites from the Lingshan pluton in the Southeastern China, in order to trace their petrogenesis and related Nb-Ta mineralization. The Lingshan pluton contains hornblende-bearing biotite granite in the core and biotite granite, albite granite and pegmatite at the rim. In addition, numerous mafic microgranular enclaves occur in the Lingshan granites. Zircon SIMS U-Pb dating gives consistent crystallization ages of ca. 132 Ma for the Lingshan granitoids and enclaves, consistent with the Nb-Ta mineralization age of ∼132 Ma, indicating that mafic and felsic magmatism and Nb-Ta mineralization are coeval. The biotite granites contain hornblende, and are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous, with high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.7071–0.7219, negative ε_Nd(t) value of −5.9 to −0.3, ε_Hf(t) values of −3.63 to −0.32 for whole rocks, high δ¹⁸O values and negative ε_Hf(t) values for zircons, and ancient Hf and Nd model ages of 1.41–0.95 Ga and 1.23–1.04 Ga, indicating that they are I-type granites and were derived from partial melting of ancient lower crustal materials. They have variable mineral components and geochemical features, corresponding extensive fractionation of hornblende, biotite and feldspar, with minor fractionation of apatite. Existence of mafic microgranular enclaves in the biotite granites suggests a magma mixing/mingling process for the origin of the Lingshan granitoids, and mantle-derived mafic magmas provided the heat for felsic magma generation. In contrast, the Nb-Ta mineralized albite granites and pegmatites have distinct mineral components and geochemical features, which show that they are highly-fractionated granites with extensive melt and F-rich fluid interaction in the generation of these rocks. The fluoride-rich fluids induce the enrichment in Nb and Ta in the highly evolved melts. Therefore, we conclude that the Nb-Ta mineralization is the result of hydrothermal process rather than crystal fractionation in the Lingshan pluton, which provides a case to identify magmatic and hydrothermal processes and evaluate their relative importance as ore-forming processes.     

Polymetallic (Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag ± Au) vein-type deposits in brittle-ductile transtensional shear zones,Eastern Sierras Pampeanas (Argentina): Age constraints and significance for the Late Paleozoic tectonic evolution and metallogenesis

This paper discusses new structural, kinematic and geochronological data from polymetallic (Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag ± Au) vein-type deposits hosted in the metamorphic basement of the southern Sierras de Córdoba. A Carboniferous age was established for the hydrothermal event between ∼329 and 315 Ma (Late Mississippian-Early Pennsylvanian) by the K/Ar fine-fraction dating method of sericitic alteration related to metallic ore deposition in the Las Guindas and Oro districts. The obtained ages postdate the spatially associated Devonian magmatism and overlap the A-type Early Carboniferous magmatism defined for the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas. The presence of non-exhumed granitic bodies at shallow depths, possibly related to mineralization, is supported by available geophysical and field evidence.The strain fabric and 3-D kinematic analyses constitute first kinematic data for the Carboniferous basement of the Southern Sierras Pampeanas demonstrating that mineralization was controlled by NNW- and ENE-trending brittle-ductile transtensional shear zones that overprint the earlier high-strain deformation fabrics of the basement. Transtensional deformation has accommodated large amounts of strike-slip movements and subordinated extensional components. The calculated kinematic axes indicate a coherent kinematic pattern of the mineralized systems in the two studied districts, with a maximum extension direction oriented NNE- to NE and maximum shortening direction oriented WNW- to NW. This deformation regime, active during mineralization, point to a non-compressive setting at the Late Mississippian-Early Pennsylvanian boundary. In line with other regional evidence, we propose a distinctive Carboniferous deformational phase in the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas, dominated by transtension. This period would have occurred after the transition with the Devonian compressional/transpressional orogenic regime.