Distribution of porphyry deposits in the Eurasian continent and their corresponding tectonic settings

In the Eurasian continent there are three huge metallogenic belts of Cu and Mo porphyry deposits, comprising the Paleozoic Central Asian Ore Belt in the north, the Tethyan Eurasian Ore Belt of Jurassic to Cenozoic age in the southwest, and the East Margin Ore Belt of the Eurasian Continent of Jurassic to Cretaceous age in the east. The latter is considered to be part of the vast Circum-Pacific ore belt. Some of the main features of the spatial–temporal distribution of Cu and Mo porphyry systems and related geodynamic processes of the three metallogenic belts are described. In particular, the key role of post-subduction – related porphyry ore systems is emphasized, comprising collisional and post-collisional Cu–Mo porphyry deposits during the geological history of the Eurasian continent. The recurrent feature of these ore systems and related felsic rocks is their derivation from partial melting of stagnant or residual oceanic slabs, and mixing with a variable amount of crustal material during magma ascent to shallower levels.     

Geochronology and isotope analysis of the Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic granitoids from northeastern Vietnam and implications for the evolution of the South China block

In northeastern Vietnam, Late Paleozoic and Permo-Triassic granitic plutons are widespread, but their tectonic significance is controversial. In order to understand the regional magmatism and crustal evolution processes of the South China block (SCB), this study reports integrated in situ U–Pb, Hf–O and Sr–Nd isotope analyses of granitic rocks from five plutons in northeastern Vietnam. Zircon SIMS U–Pb ages of six granitic samples cluster around in two groups 255–228 Ma and 90 Ma. Bulk-rock ε_Nd (t) ranges from −11 to −9.7, suggesting that continental crust materials were involved in their granitic genesis. In situ zircon Hf–O isotopic measurements for the granitic samples yield a mixing trend between the mantle- and supracrustal-derived melts. It is suggested that the granitic rocks were formed by re-melting of the continental crust. These new data are compared with the Paleozoic and Mesozoic granitic rocks of South China. We argue that northeastern Vietnam belongs to the South China block. Though still speculated, an ophiolitic suture between NE Vietnam and South China, so-called Babu ophiolite, appears unlikely. The Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic magmatism in the research area provides new insights for the magmatic evolution of the South China block.     

Geochronology,geochemistry and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopes of the Haisugou porphyry Mo deposit,northeast China,and their geological significance

The Haisugou Mo deposit is located in the northern part of the Xilamulun Mo–Cu metallogenic belt in northeastern China. The Mo mineralization mainly occurs as quartz-molybdenite veins within the Haisugou granite, which was emplaced into rocks of the Early Permian Qingfengshan Formation. Zircon U–Pb dating by LA–ICP-MS of the granite yields a crystallization age of 137.6 ± 0.9 Ma, suggesting emplacement during the peak time of Mo mineralization in eastern China, broadly constrained to ca. 150–130 Ma, when tectonic stresses shifted from compression to extension. Whole-rock geochemical data suggest that the granite belongs to the high-K calc-alkaline series, and is characterized by relatively high LREE; low HREE; depletion of Ti, Ba, and Nb; and a moderate negative Eu anomaly. The zircon ε_Hf(t) and whole-rock ε_Nd(t) values for the intrusion range from +4.5 to +10.0 and +0.2 to +1.6, respectively, indicating that the magma originated from the juvenile lower crust source derived from depleted mantle, with some component of ancient continental crust. The granite is also characterized by initial (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratios ranging from 0.7040 to 0.7074, which suggest some contamination by the upper crust during the ascent of the primitive magma. Moreover, it can be recognized from the whole-rock major and trace element data that significant fractional crystallization occurred during magmatic evolution, with the separation of plagioclase and K-feldspar. Because Mo is an incompatible element and tends to concentrate in the melt during crystallization, fractionation processes likely played an important role in the formation of the Haisugou Mo deposit.     

Gold-hosting high Ba-Sr granitoids in the Xincheng gold deposit,Jiaodong Peninsula,East China: Petrogenesis and tectonic setting

The Xincheng deposit is the only large gold deposit with a proven reserve of >200 t gold hosted by the Early Cretaceous granitoids in northwest Jiaodong Peninsula, East China. The granitoids hosting this ore deposit comprise an inner medium- to fine-grained quartz monzonite and an outer medium- to coarse-grained monzogranite with distinctive K-feldspar megacrysts. LA–ICP–MS zircon dating yields U–Pb ages of 128 ± 1 to 132 ± 1 Ma and 127 ± 2 to 129 ± 1 Ma, for the quartz monzonite and the monzogranite, respectively. The Early Cretaceous ages obtained in our study are comparable with the 126–130 Ma age range reported for the Guojialing granitic suite. The monzogranites, typical high Ba–Sr granites, possess high SiO₂ (70.89–73.35%), K₂O (3.85–4.32%), total alkalis (K₂O + Na₂O = 8.08–8.68%), Sr (634–888 ppm), Ba (1395–2111 ppm) and LREE (59.43–145.88), with low HREE and HFSE contents and insignificant Eu anomalies. The rocks display markedly high Sr/Y (114–297) and (La/Yb)_N (20–79) ratios. They have low MgO (0.23–0.62%), Cr (0.4–8.33 ppm) and Ni (0.47–2.92 ppm) contents. The typical high Ba–Sr signatures of the outer acidic monzogranites are also shared by the inner intermediate-acidic quartz monzonites, with a relatively higher abundance of these elements. The plagioclases in the quartz monzonites and monzogranites are oligoclase–andesine with An contents of 11.7–44.5%, and oligoclase with An contents of 12.9–29.3%, respectively, which both show the reverse zoning texture. The quartz monzonites have zircon ε_Hf(t) values of −21.3 to −13.9 (average −18.7), which are less negative and show larger variations than those of the monzogranites (ε_Hf(t) = −24.7 to −18.1, average −19.5). Detailed elemental, mineralogical and isotopic data suggest that the high Ba–Sr quartz monzonites and monzogranites were most likely generated by partial melting of the basement rocks of the Jiaobei terrane accompanied by crustal assimilation, with minor addition of the intermediate magma derived from the partial melting of juvenile mafic lower crust formed by the earlier underplating of mantle magma, and the quartz monzonites may represent the path of intermediate magma inputting into felsic magma. In combination with previous investigations, we suggest subduction of the paleo-Pacific slab beneath the North China Craton (NCC) and associated asthenosphere upwelling were most likely the mechanism associated with the generation of the high Ba–Sr granites.     

Crustal recycling through intraplate magmatism: Evidence from the Trans-North China Orogen

The North China Craton (NCC) preserves the history of crustal growth and craton formation during the early Precambrian followed by extensive lithospheric thinning and craton destruction in the Mesozoic. Here we present evidence for magma mixing and mingling associated with the Mesozoic tectonic processes from the Central NCC, along the Trans-North China Orogen, a paleo suture along which the Eastern and Western Blocks were amalgamated at end of Paleoproterozoic. Our investigations focus on two granitoids – the Chiwawu and the Mapeng plutons. Typical signatures for the interaction of mafic and felsic magmas are observed in these plutons such as: (1) the presence of diorite enclaves; (2) flow structures; (3) schlierens; (4) varying degrees of hybridization; and (5) macro-, and micro-textures. Porphyritic feldspar crystals show numerous mineral inclusions as well as rapakivi and anti-rapakivi textures. We present bulk chemistry, zircon U–Pb geochronology and REE data, and Lu–Hf isotopes on the granitoids, diorite enclaves, and surrounding basement rocks to constrain the timing of intraplate magmatism and processes of interaction between felsic and mafic magmas. Our LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb data show that the pophyritic granodiorite was emplaced at 129.7 ± 1.0 Ma. The diorite enclaves within this granodiorite show identical ages (128.2 ± 1.5 Ma). The basement TTG (tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite) gneisses formed at ca. 2.5 Ga coinciding with the major period of crustal accretion in the NCC. The 1.85 Ga age from zircons in the gabbro with positive Hf isotope signature may be related to mantle magmatism during post-collisional extension following the assembly of the Western and Eastern Blocks of the NCC along the Trans-North China Orogen. Our Hf isotope data indicate that the Neoarchean–Paleoproterozoic basement rocks were derived from complex sources of both juvenile magmas and reworked ancient crust, whereas the magma source for the Mesozoic units are dominantly reworked basement rocks. Our study provides a window to intraplate magmatism triggered by mantle upwelling beneath a paleosuture in the North China Craton.     

The formation and rejuvenation of continental crust in the central North China Craton: Evidence from zircon U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotope

The Trans-North China Orogen (TNCO) along the central part of the North China Craton (NCC) is considered as a Paleoproterozoic suture along which the Eastern and Western Blocks of the NCC were amalgamated. Here we investigate the Precambrian crustal evolution history in the Fuping segment of the TNCO and the subsequent reactivation associated with extensive craton destruction during Mesozoic. We present zircon LA-ICP-MS U–Pb and Lu–Hf data on TTG (tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite) gneiss, felsic orthogneiss, amphibolite and granite from the Paleoproterozoic suite which show magmatic ages in the range of 2450–1900 Ma suggesting a long-lived convergent margin. The ε_Hf(t) values of these zircons range from −11.9 to 12 and their model ages suggest magma derivation from both juvenile components and reworked Archean crust. The Mesozoic magmatic units in the Fuping area includes granite, diorite and mafic microgranular enclaves, the zircons from which define a tight range of 120–130 Ma ages suggesting a prominent Early Cretaceous magmatic event. However, the ε_Hf(t) values of these zircons show wide a range from −30.3 to 0.2, indicating that the magmatic activity involved extensive rejuvenation of the older continental crust.     

Improved characterization of local seismicity using the Dubai Seismic Network,United Arab Emirates

In April 2006, Dubai Municipality established a broadband seismological network in Dubai Emirate, United Arab Emirates (UAE). This network was the first seismic network in UAE and consists of four remote seismic stations to observe local and regional seismic activity that may have an effect on Dubai Emirate and the surrounding areas. The network exchanges real-time data with the National Center of Meteorology and Seismology in Abu Dhabi, the Earthquake Monitoring Center in Oman and imports in real-time data from few Global Seismic Network stations, which increases the aperture of the network. In April 2012, Dubai Municipality installed an additional five free-field strong motion stations inside the urban area to estimate and publish real-time ShakeMaps for public and decision makers. Although the local seismic activity from April 2006 to June 2013 reflects low seismic activity with the Emirate, it indicates active tectonics in the relatively aseismic northern Oman Mountains region. A few inland clusters of micro-to-small earthquakes have been identified with the new network. A clear cluster of small-to-moderate earthquakes took place in the eastern part of UAE to the east of Masafi, while two clusters of micro-to-small earthquakes took place at Wadi Nazwa and northern Huwaylat. Focal mechanisms of few well recorded earthquakes in this region indicate normal faulting, generally trending NE in parallel to the transition shear zone between the collision at Zagros and the subduction at the Makran zone.     

K–Ar illite dating to constrain multiple events in shallow crustal rocks: Implications for the Late Phanerozoic evolution of NE Asia

A recently developed illite-age-analysis (IAA) approach was applied to determine the multiple events for the Chugaryeong fault belt, Korea. Each event was determined by a combined approach of the optimized illite-polytype quantification and the K–Ar age-dating of clay fractions separated from the fault clays. The Late Cretaceous to Paleogene events (76.5 ± 0.8, 69.1 ± 0.6, 59.3 ± 0.7, and 48.2 ± 0.7 Ma) were recognized by calculating the authigenic 1M/1M_d illite ages on the IAA plots of the fault clays. The Early Cretaceous ages (121.7–124.7 and 112.4 ± 1.5 Ma) were also obtained from the convergent intercepts of 100% 2M₁ illite on the IAA plots. The absence of the 2M₁ illites in the host-rock indicates that the Early Cretaceous ages represent the timings of high-T hydrothermal events of >280 °C. The 2M₁ illites in the fault clays should be pre-formed by a fluid-rock interaction under a relatively high-T subsurface condition, and be mechanically reworked into the near surface along the fault by post-tectonic events. This is the first report determining the absolute age constraints of multi-activated tectonic events from a fault. These geochronological determinations of the multiple events recorded in the Chugaryeong fault belt are crucial to establish the tectonic evolution of the Korean Peninsula since the Late Cretaceous.     

Penglai Zircon Megacrysts: A Potential New Working Reference Material for Microbeam Determination of Hf–O Isotopes and U–Pb Age

We introduce a potential new working reference material – natural zircon megacrysts from an Early Pliocene alkaline basalt (from Penglai, northern Hainan Island, southern China) – for the microbeam determination of O and Hf isotopes, and U–Pb age dating. The Penglai zircon megacrysts were found to be fairly homogeneous in Hf and O isotopes based on large numbers of measurements by LA-multiple collector (MC)-ICP-MS and SIMS, respectively. Precise determinations of O isotopes by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and Hf isotopes by solution MC-ICP-MS were in good agreement with the statistical mean of microbeam measurements. The mean δ¹⁸O value of 5.31 ± 0.10‰ (2s) by IRMS and the mean ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf value of 0.282906 ± 0.0000010 (2s) by solution MC-ICP-MS are the best reference values for the Penglai zircons. SIMS and isotope dilution-TIMS measurements yielded consistent ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages within analytical uncertainties, and the preferred ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age was found to be 4.4 ± 0.1 Ma (95% confidence interval). The young age and variably high common Pb content make the Penglai zircons unsuitable as a primary U–Pb age reference material for calibration of unknown samples by microbeam analysis; however, they can be used as a secondary working reference material for quality control of U–Pb age determination for young (particularly < 10 Ma) zircon samples.     

Isobar Attenuation Using Anion–Gas Reactions for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry and Application to 36Cl

Preliminary tests of a prototype radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) collision cell system, known as an isobar separator for anions (ISA), for the removal of isobaric interferences for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and for studies of anion–gas interactions are reported. The ISA decelerated a mass-analysed beam of anions from an energy (∼ 20 keV) typically generated by an AMS ion source to < 10 eV. RFQs and electrostatic lenses then guided the ions through the collision cell where ion-gas collisions reduced both the energy and energy spread of the ion beam (cooled the ions) and ion-gas reactions attenuated most of the unwanted isobars. The anions were then re-accelerated to their original energy for injection into the rest of the AMS system. With the ISA installed on a full 3 MV AMS system, attenuations of ³²S^-, ¹²C₃^- and ³⁹K^- by six, seven and greater than ten orders of magnitude, respectively were achieved using 0.7–1 Pa NO₂ gas in the collision cell, while maintaining approximately 10–30% of the chlorine anion transmission. A further measurement of a ³⁶Cl/Cl = 4.1 × 10^-11 RM is also described. The results suggest that the ³⁶Cl/Cl lower detection limit of the current system was 10^-14–10^-15 for samples that could be prepared with S/Cl ratios below 10 μg g^-1.