Types,geological features and geodynamic significances of gold-copper deposits in the Kanggurtag metallogenic belt,eastern Tianshan,NW China

Occupying the middle of the central Asia Paleozoic accretionary and collisional orogenic belt, the eastern Tianshan area has a great economic potential due to Au-Cu mineralization during syn- and post- orogenic events. In the Kanggurtag Au-Cu metallogenic belt, three major types of gold deposits have been recognized: ductile-shear-zone-hosted gold deposits, magmatic hydrothermal gold deposits, and epithermal gold deposits. Four kinds of copper deposits have also been identified recently: the porphyry-type, the skarn-type, the magmatic type, and volcanic/sedimentary-type. Tectonically, the development of these late Paleozoic gold and copper deposits was closely associated with the subduction and collision of the ancient Tianshan ocean that intervened between the Tarim craton and the Siberian block. In the early to mid-Carboniferous, N-dipping subduction beneath the Dananhu arc generated magmatic intrusions, leading to formation of the porphyry Cu deposits. The magmatic front migrated southward to form the Yamansu arc upon the Kanggurtag accretionary wedge. In the latest Carboniferous to early Permian, during the closure of the ancient Tianshan ocean, large mafic-ultramafic complexes were emplaced, resulting in several magmatic copper-nickel deposits. Gold deposits of the shear-zone-type are controlled by the Kanggurtag ductile shear zone, which is related to collisional orogenesis. The epithermal gold deposits are associated with extensional tectonics and post-tectonic volcanic activity. The tectonic settings, geological features, and temporal and spatial distributions of these different types of gold and copper deposits reflect, to a great extent, the accretionary and collisional tectonics that occurred between the northern margin of the Tarim block and the southern margin of the Siberian block.     

造山带金矿研究现状与存在的问题

造山带金矿是当前矿床学和大地构造学研究热点,Groves等(1998)、Goldfarb等(2001)基于太古"地壳连续模式"(Groves,1993)的研究工作以涉及资料量大、应用成果新、考虑地质因素多而居于这一领域前沿.但是,目前众多研究对前寒武地质与显生宙地质的宏观差异、世界金矿一些总体规律及若干具体大地构造背景等尚认识不足.显生宙缺乏太古代大规模火成活动,已知金矿中很少同变质深成型(hypozonal),以浅变质岩为围岩的金矿区中没有相当的中-深变质岩为围岩的金矿."太古绿岩带"金矿区同样也缺乏浅变质岩为围岩的金矿.华北地块周边金矿主要形成在侏罗-白垩纪,明显晚于大兴安岭造山带和秦岭-大别山造山带,而与欧亚陆缘近南北向燕山期岩浆弧有关.距俯冲带较远、缺乏蛇绿混杂岩与大规模变质作用、发育大量中-新生代盆地及广泛地壳减薄等表明,中国东部与北美科迪勒拉(Cordillera)造山带晚中生代地质存在宏观差异,燕山期岩浆弧可能形成于一个以伸展为主导的环境,大量以花岗岩为围岩或相对太古变质围岩后生成因金矿及其成矿的大地构造背景值得深入研究,弄清各类显生宙金矿与造山带的关系是推进造山带金矿研究的关键.     

Constraining models of the tectonic setting of the giant Olympic Dam iron oxide–copper–gold deposit, South Australia, using deep seismic reflection data

In the Gawler Craton, the completeness of cover concealing the crystalline basement in the region of the giant Olympic Dam Cu–Au deposit has impeded any sufficient understanding of the crustal architecture and tectonic setting of its IOCG mineral-system. To circumvent this problem, deep seismic reflection data were recently acquired from  250 line-km of two intersecting traverses, centered on the Olympic Dam deposit. The data were recorded to 18 s TWT ( 55 km). The crust consists of Neoproterozoic cover, in places more than 5 km thick, over crystalline basement with the Moho at depths of 13–14 s TWT ( 40–42 km). The Olympic Dam deposit lies on the boundary between two distinct pieces of crust, one interpreted as the Archean–Paleoproterozoic core to the craton, the other as a Meso–Neoproterozoic mobile belt. The host to the deposit, a member of the  1590 Ma Hiltaba Suite of granites, is situated above a zone of reduced impedance contrast in the lower crust, which we interpret to be source-region for its  1000 °C magma. The crystalline basement is dominated by thrusts. This contrasts with widely held models for the tectonic setting of Olympic Dam, which predict extension associated with heat from the mantle producing the high temperatures required to generate the Hiltaba Suite granites implicated in mineralization. We use the seismic data to test four hypotheses for this heat-source: mantle underplating, a mantle-plume, lithospheric extension, and radioactive heating in the lower crust. We reject the first three hypotheses. The data cannot be used to reject or confirm the fourth hypothesis.     

Fluid evolution in the Rushan lode gold deposit of Jiaodong Peninsula, eastern China

The Rushan gold deposit in the Jiaodong Peninsula is currently the largest lode gold in China. Gold occurs mainly in pyrite- and polymetallic sulfide–quartz vein/veinlet stockworks. Fluid inclusions in the deposit are divided into three main types, namely CO₂–H₂O, H₂O–CO₂ ± CH₄ and aqueous ones. Microthermometric data show that the pre-gold fluids were CO₂-dominant (X_CO2 up to 0.53), and the total homogenization temperatures fall in the range of 298377 °C. These fluids, modified by fluid/wallrock reactions, gradually evolved into fluids with less CO₂ (X_CO2 = 0.010.19) in the main ore-forming stage, and the total homogenization temperatures range from 170 to 324 °C. Hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope data suggest that ore-forming fluids were mixture of magmatic and meteoritic origin. Co-occurrence of gold and sulfides implies that gold was most likely transported in the form of gold–sulfide complexes. The wide distribution of CO₂ inclusions means that the pH variation during gold transportation was controlled by CO₂ buffering.     

胶东金矿研究进展及约束金物质来源的新思路

作为全球最主要的金成矿带之一,胶东地区仅占全国国土面积的0.27%,黄金储量却约占全国的25%,特别是胶西北地区的金矿更是星罗棋布,引起了国内外地质学家的广泛关注,进行了大量的生产和科研工作。该文总结了近年来取得的关于胶东金矿在构造、岩浆、流体及成矿物质、富集机制等方面取得的研究进展,并且针对颇具争议的金成矿物质来源问题,提出了新的研究思路,并初步论证了其可行性。以期抛砖引玉,引起广大地学同仁对此科学问题的关注。     

Pliocene–Quaternary fluvial and aeolian records in the Souss Basin, southwest Morocco: A geomorphological model

The Souss Basin in SW Morocco is filled by Pliocene–Quaternary fluvial, fluvio-lacustrine and aeolian sediments, representing an excellent archive of palaeohydrology, palaeoclimate and the effects of crustal deformation. In general these sediments indicate stream-dominated alluvial systems, influenced by fluctuations in climate (humidity/aridity). Lakes developed within the basin around the Pliocene–Pleistocene transition and persisted into the Early Pleistocene. During this early period, relatively humid conditions are indicated by the dominance of coarse-grained sedimentation in the upper reaches of fluvial systems, the existence of large lakes and the considerable sediment thicknesses in the centre of the basin. Uplift of the surrounding mountain ranges contributed to piedmont formation by providing large amounts of coarse-grained material that accumulated at the lowland margin. Climatic deterioration in the Middle Pleistocene was accompanied by progressively more irregular and disrupted fluvial regimes. These trends were evident in the Late Pleistocene and became clearer after the mid-Holocene, with aeolian activity becoming the dominant sedimentary agent. Differences between upstream and downstream depositional regimes became marked: while coarse-grained sedimentation has characterized the upper reaches of wadi catchments, fine-grained sedimentation has prevailed downstream. Hiatuses in sedimentation throughout the Pliocene and Quaternary are marked by palaeosol horizons interbedded within the sedimentary sequences, indicating alternate vegetated (stable) and unvegetated (unstable/active) phases (biostasy and ‘rhexistasy’).     

Climatic implications of correlated Upper Pleistocene glacial and fluvial deposits on the Cinca and Gállego Rivers (NE Spain) based on OSL dating and soil stratigraphy

We correlate Upper Pleistocene glacial and fluvial deposits of the Cinca and Gállego River valleys (south central Pyrenees and Ebro basin, Spain) using geomorphic position, luminescence dates, and time-related trends in soil development. The ages obtained from glacial deposits indicate glacial periods at 85 ± 5 ka, 64 ± 11 ka, and 36 ± 3 ka (from glacial till) and 20 ± 3 ka (from loess). The fluvial drainage system, fed by glaciers in the headwaters, developed extensive terrace systems in the Cinca River valley at 178 ± 21 ka, 97 ± 16 ka, 61 ± 4 ka, 47 ± 4 ka, and 11 ± 1 ka, and in the Gállego River valley at 151 ± 11 ka, 68 ± 7 ka, and 45 ± 3 ka. The times of maximum geomorphic activity related to cold phases coincide with Late Pleistocene marine isotope stages and Heinrich events. The maximum extent of glaciers during the last glacial occurred at 64 ± 11 ka, and the terraces correlated with this glacial phase are the most extensive in both the Cinca (61 ± 4 ka) and Gállego (68 ± 7 ka) valleys, indicating a strong increase in fluvial discharge and availability of sediments related to the transition to deglaciation. The global Last Glacial Maximum is scarcely represented in the south central Pyrenees owing to dominantly dry conditions at that time. Precipitation must be controlled by the position of the Iberian Peninsula with respect to the North Atlantic atmospheric circulation system. The glacial systems and the associated fluvial dynamic seem sensitive to 1) global climate changes controlled by insolation, 2) North Atlantic thermohaline circulation influenced by freshwater pulses into the North Atlantic, and 3) anomalies in atmospheric circulation in the North Atlantic controlling precipitation on the Iberian Peninsula. Our scenario of glacial and fluvial evolution during the Late Pleistocene in northern Spain could be extrapolated to other glaciated mountainous areas in southern Europe.     

煎茶岭大型金矿床地球化学特征、成矿地球动力学及找矿标志

煎茶岭大型金矿床的地球化学特征表明,超基性岩体是金的主要矿源层,成岩物质具幔源特点,金成矿过程与早期构造岩浆热液作用及后期构造热液蚀变作用有关,成矿流体为混合岩浆热液,晚期中酸性岩浆水是引起超基性岩蚀变变质的主要流体成分,金矿化过程中的硫是多期次、多来源.初步认为该矿床为造山型金矿床,成矿可分为两期,即晋宁晚期-加里东期和印支-燕山期,以后者为主,其主成矿期对应于区域上的后碰撞造山过程,陆内挤压造山是其成矿地球动力学背景.超基性岩体的褪化蚀变、F_1~(45)断裂的长期活动及与其大角度相交的上、下盘次级断裂、裂隙系统与灯影组白云岩是煎茶岭金矿床的主要控矿因素.结合该区找矿实践,认为F_1~(45)断裂带、Au-Ag-As-Hg-B等组合化探异常和蚀变白云岩为其重要的找矿标志.煎茶岭地区仍具有较好的找矿潜力,这对于指导该地区进一步勘查并取得找矿突破具有重要的现实意义.     

Stratigraphic evolution of an outcropping continental slope system, Tres Pasos Formation at Cerro Divisadero, Chile

Depositional slope systems along continental margins contain a record of sediment transfer from shallow‐water to deep‐water environments and represent an important area for natural resource exploration. However, well‐preserved outcrops of large‐scale depositional slopes with seismic‐scale exposures and tectonically intact stratigraphy are uncommon. Outcrop characterization of smaller‐scale depositional slope systems (i.e. < 700 m of undecompacted shelf‐to‐basin relief) has led to increased understanding of stratigraphic packaging of prograding slopes. Detailed stacking patterns of facies and sedimentary body architecture for larger‐scale slope systems, however, remain understudied. The Cretaceous Tres Pasos Formation of the Magallanes Basin, southern Chile, presents a unique opportunity to evaluate the stratigraphic evolution of such a slope system from an outcrop perspective. Inherited tectonic relief from a precursor oceanic basin phase created shelf‐to‐basin bathymetry comparable with continental margin systems (～1000 m). Sedimentological and architectural data from the Tres Pasos Formation at Cerro Divisadero reveal a record of continental margin‐scale depositional slope progradation and aggradation. Slope progradation is manifested as a vertical pattern exhibiting increasing amounts of sediment bypass upwards, which is interpreted as reflecting increasing gradient conditions. The well‐exposed, seismic‐scale outcrop is characterized by four 20 to 70 m thick sandstone‐rich successions, separated by mudstone‐rich intervals of comparable thickness (40 to 90 m). Sedimentary body geometry, facies distribution, internal bedding architecture, sandstone richness and degree of amalgamation were analysed in detail across a continuous 2·5 km long transect parallel to depositional dip. Deposition in the lower section (Units 1 and 2) was dominated by poorly channellized to unconfined sand‐laden flows and accumulation of mud‐rich mass transport deposits, which is interpreted as representing a base of slope to lower slope setting. Evidence for channellization and indicators of bypass of coarse‐grained turbidity currents are more common in the upper part of the > 600 m thick succession (Units 3 and 4), which is interpreted as reflecting increased gradient conditions as the system accreted basinward.     

Diamonds from placers in western and central Africa: A problem of primary sources

This paper discusses diamonds and their accessory minerals from the Koidu kimberlites, placers on the Bafit River in Sierra Leone, and Chikapa placers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Minerals from the placers are characterized by fine preservation and bear no evidence of long-term transportation. In placers, garnet, ilmenite and zircon have been found, but the specific features of their chemical composition do not coincide with those of minerals from kimberlites. Diamonds from the placers are of a mantle origin, but they have no direct analogs in the known kimberlite and lamproite pipes.