Geological-Geochemical Characteristics of Carlin-and Carlin-Like-Type Gold Deposits in south Qinling Mountains

In this paper an integrated geological and geochemical comparison is made of Carlin-type and Carlin-like-type gold deposits in the region of South Qinling with their associated hydro-thermal sedimentary lead-zinc deposits, the Carlin-type deposits in the Yunnan-Guizhou-Guan-gxi gold triangle, China, the Carlin gold deposits, Carlin, western United States, and the Mu-runtau-type gold deposits in Uzbekistan. The comparative study indicates that the formation ofthese deposits has an intimate coupling relation with the mechanism of the tectonic movement ofmodern plates. Therefore, these deposits belong to those that were formed in the orogenic stage.They have the following similar characteristics: they are all sediment-hosted, occur in a tectonicenvironment of extensional rifting nature and show the characteristics of syngenetically modifiedmineralization. On the other hand, they also have noticeable differences: they are different inrespect to their tectonic settings, association and structure of orogenic belts and complexity andstrength of the modified mineralization. The regional tectonic evolution and extensive mineraliza-tion in orogenic belts are different expressions of the same continental dynamic process.

A study on the mixing proportion in groundwater samples by using Piper diagram and Phreeqc model

Piper (1944) diagram has been the basis for several important interpretations of the hydrogeochemical data. As seen in this diagram, most natural waters contain relatively few dissolved constituents, with cations (metals or bases) and anions (acid radicles) in chemical equilibrium with one another. Apart from the facies representation, the composition of the mixed sample can be identified in terms of the composition of the parental solution. To bring out this advantage of the Piper diagram, a study was conducted in the Kalpakkam region of Tamilnadu, South India. By taking the geology and water table into consideration, two sample locations were selected as parent solution and third one as the mixture sample. All three samples were analyzed for calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), sulphate (SO4) and phosphate (PO4) by Ion Chromatograph (Metrohm IC 861). HCO3 was determined by volumetric titration. The Piper diagram shows that parent solutions clustered towards Na-Mg-Ca-HCO3-Cl and Na-HCO3 facies, and the mixing sample belongs to Na-Mg-HCO3 facies. Phreeqc interac-tive (Ver 2.8) along with the original composition of the mixture sample was used to correlate the mixing proportion identified by the Piper diagram.

Pollution of organic compounds and heavy metals in a coal gangue dump of the Gequan Coal Mine, China

Samples around a coal gangue dump of the Gequan Coal Mine were collected in April 2009. GC (gas chromatography) and GC/MS (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) were employed to analyze the composition of organic matter in the samples. ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) was used to determine the concentrations of heavy metals. The contents of organic extracts are within the range of 140-750 mg/kg. Alkand aro-ratios are relatively high. Compared to those of the background sample (GQ13 ), the contents of saturated hydrocarbon compounds in all the samples are relatively high. The contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are relatively high with the distance getting closer to the coal gangue dump. These indicate that organic matter in the samples is from coal particles of the coal gangue dump. The distributions of heavy metals are very similar: the contents decrease with distance from the dump, which indicates that the harmful heavy metals from the coal gangue dump have polluted as thick as at least 500 m.

Sulfur isotopic composition of the Tianqiao Pb-Zn ore deposit,Northwest Guizhou Province,China:Implications for the source of sulfur in the ore-forming fluids

The Tianqiao Pb-Zn ore deposit of Guizhou Province, China, is located in the mid-east of the Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou Pb-Zn-Ag multi-metallic mineralization area, which is representative of the Pb-Zn ore de-posits in this area. It consists of three main orebodies, whose Pb+Zn reserves are more than 0.2 million ton. This paper analyzes the sulfur isotopic composition of these orebodies. The data show that the ore minerals (galena, sphalerite, pyrite) in these orebodies are enriched in heavy sulfur, with δ34SV-CDT values varying between 8.35‰ and 14.44‰, i.e. the δ34SV-CDT values of pyrite are between 12.81‰ and 14.44‰, the mean value is 13.40‰; the δ34SV-CDT values of sphalerite are range from 10.87‰ to 14.00‰, the mean value is 12.53‰; the δ34SV-CDT values of galena are range from 8.35‰ to 9.83‰, the mean value is 8.84‰, and they have the feature of δ34Spyrite>δ34Ssphalerite>δ34Sgalena, which indicates the sulfur isotope in ore-forming fluids has attained equilibrium. The δ34S V-CDT values of the deposit are close to those of sulfates from carbonate strata of different ages in the ore-field (15‰), which suggests that the sulfur in the ore-forming fluids should be derived from the thermo-chemical sulfate reduction of sulfates from the sedimentary strata.

Calcified roasting-acid leaching process of vanadium from low-grade vanadium-containing stone coal

The low-grade vanadium-containing stone coal used in this experiment was collected from Wuxi Country, Chongqing City, China. The experiment focused on the vanadium recovery from roasted residue through optimizing the process conditions of an effective and environmentally-friendly technology, named calcified roasting-sulfuric acid leaching technology. By single-factor experiments and orthogonal experiments, the effects of roasting temperature, roasting time, sulfuric acid concentration and leaching time on the leaching ratio of vanadium were analyzed. The results showed that the leaching ratio of vanadium reached 85.5% under the proper technological conditions of roasting temperature=950℃, roasting time=4 h, 40% concentration of sulfuric acid and leaching time=6 h.

Research on thermal shock resistance of mullite-bauxite-silicon carbide castable refractory

Effects of different silicon carbide contents on thermal shock resistance properties of mullite-bauxite castable refractory were analyzed respectively by taking the mullite,bauxite as main raw materials and taking calcium aluminate cement as a binding system.After 24 h curing in mould and another 24 h curing at 110℃ after demoulding,the samples were heated at 1000,1300 and 1500℃for 3 h in air,respectively.The bulk density,thermal expansion coefficient and thermal shock resistance were examined.The results showed that there was a great effect of content of SiC on bulk density,thermal expansion coefficient and thermal shock resistance of mullite-bauxite castable.Under the experimental conditions,the castable performed the best thermal shock resistance when w(SiC)=5%-10%.

Age, Mechanism and Direction of East Qinling-Dabieshan Lithosphere Delamination Petrological Evidence and Stipulation

Through studies of P\|T\|t paths and decompressive retrograde metamorphic textures of metamorphic rocks in the East Qinling\|Dabieshan region, the authors determined the Mesozoic crust rapid uplifting age, and then inferred that in the East Qinling\|Dabieshan region lithosphere delamination occurred from T\-3 to J\-1. The Yanshanian granites produced by delamination are developed well in the East Qinling\|Dabieshan region. But due to the Gondwana plate effect, magmatism in the region caused by delamination lagged until J\-3 when the northern Tibet terrane and the Eurasian plate completely amalgamated. Additionally, due to western Pacific plate subducting underneath the Eurasian plate, in the East Qinling\|Dabieshan region the stress state was transformed from compression to extension. So in the region from J\-3 to K\-2 magmatism was most intensive, and liberalization was also relatively strong. Geophysical data reflect that in the East Qinling\|Dabieshan region the asthenosphere rose to the shallow level, the Moho is flat with no mountain root, and the crustal thickness is less than 40 km on average. These features agree with those of collisional orogenes in which delamination has occurred. Through contrasting differences in surface and interior depth between east and west Qinling we believe that delamination proceeded from east to west.

Rb-Sr isotopic dating of sphalerite from the giant Huize Zn-Pb ore field, Yunnan Province, Southwestern China

The giant Huize Zn-Pb ore field in Yunnan Province, southwestern China, comprises the Qilinchang and Kuangshanchang deposits. The deposits are large in scale (more than 5 Mt of Zn and Pb) and high in grade (average grade of total Zn and Pb is 30%). Reported in this paper are the results of Rb-Sr isotopic dating of sphalerite from this ore field. Two precise ages (223.5±3.9 Ma and 226±6.4 Ma) have been obtained from two isochrons. These two ages are close to the reported ages of native copper mineralizations related to the Emeishan flood basalts in this region, which are 226 Ma to 228 Ma. Previous studies showed that the magnitude of uplift resultant from the Emeishan flood basalts is greater than 1000 m, indicating that the Kuangshanchang and Qilinchang deposits were formed during the same geological event and originated by fluid migration during uplifting resultant from the Emeishan flood basalts.

The distribution characteristics of heavy metals in Guiyang urban soils

Guiyang is located in southwestern China,which is a famous tourism city,and is awarded the title of"the Summer Capital of China".A study on heavy metals in Guiyang urban soils was conducted.The results showed that the concentrations of Cd,Cu,Ni,Pb and Zn in Guiyang urban soils are significantly higher than their background values and Cu,Zn and Pb in Guiyang soils are accumulated seriously.The distribution characteristics of heavy metals in 3 districts are described as follows:the level of heavy metals in soils follows the order of Nanming District> Yunyan District>Xiaohe District.The spatial distribution of metals in urban soils of Guiyang shows that the level of metals in the central and eastern parts of Guiyang is relatively high,and its characteristics are attributed to the influence of commercial activities,heavy traffic and industrial emission.Compared with some other cities in China,Guiyang is characterized by relatively high accumulation level of Cd,Cu,and Zn in its soils.

Isotopic compositional Characteristics of Terrigenous Natural Gases in China

The C and H isotopic compositions of the methane in more than 160 gas samples from 10 basins in China are presented in this paper.The natural gases are classified as four types: biogenic gas ,bio-thermocatalytic transitional gas, gas associated with condensate oil ,and coal-type gas. The isotopic compositions of these gases closely related to the depositional basins, the types of organic matter,the stages of thermal evolution and the genetic characteristics of different gas reservoirs.Studies of the C and H isotopic compositions of terrigenous natural gases will provide valua-ble information on the prospecting and development of natural gases of different genetic types.

Geochemical characteristics,cooling history and mineralization significance of Zhangtiantang pluton in South Jiangxi Province,P.R. China

The zircon SHRIMP dating of the Zhangtiantang granite gave an age of 159±7 Ma.,which shows that the granite was produced at the early Late Jurassic.The Ar-Ar plateau ages of biotite and K-feldspar from the Zhangtiantang pluton are 153.2±1.1 Ma and 135.8±1.2 Ma,respectively.The Ar-Ar anti-isochrone ages of biotite and K-feldspar are 152.5±1.7Ma and 135.4±2.7Ma,respectively.The ages represent the isotopic closure ages of minerals in the pluton.The Zhangtiantang granites are regarded as peraluminous crust-derived type granites to possess the typical geochemical characteristics of calc-alkaline rocks on continental margin,with enriched Si,K,Al(average value of A/CNK as 1.18),HREE,Rb,U,and Th,heavily depleted V,Cr,Co,Ni,Ti,Nb-Ta,Zr,Sr,P,and Ba,strongly negative Eu and common corundum normative(average value of C as 1.84).The εNd(t) values of the Zhangtiantang granite are-5.84 to-7.79,and t2DM values are 1.69 to 1.83 Ga,which indicates partial melting of continental-crust metamorphic sedimentary rocks during the Middle Proterozoic.The cooling history of the Zhangtiantang granitic pluton indicates that the cooling velocity of pluton was faster(about 67℃ /Ma) from zircon(158 Ma) to biotite(152 Ma),and was slower(about12℃ /Ma) from biotite(152.5 Ma) to K-feldspar(135.8 Ma).It can be deduced that the temporal gap(about 10 Ma) between the granite formmation and W-Sn mineralization in South China may be related to ordinary magma-hydrothermal processes by the variational cooling curve of the pluton.The Zhangtiantang pluton was formed in a compressive setting,with differentiation evolution and mineralization occurring in a relative relaxation setting.

Environmental Geochemistry of Heavy Metal Contaminants in Soil and Stream Sediment in Panzhihua Mining and Smelting Area,Southwestern China

Mining and smelting activities are the main causes for the in creasing pollution of heavy metals in soil, water body and stream sediment. An e nvironmental geochemical investigation was carried out in and around the Panzhih ua mining and smelting area to determine the extent of chemical contamination in soil and sediment. The main objective of this study was to investigate the envi ronmental geochemistry of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn and As in soil and sediment and to assess the degree of pollution in the study area. The data of heavy metal concentrations reveal that soils and sediments in the area have been slightly c ontaminated. Geochemical maps of I\-\{geo\} of each heavy metal show that the co ntaminated sites are located in V-Ti-magnetite sloping and smelting, gangues d am. The pollution sources of the selected elements come mainly from dusts result ant from mining activities and other three-waste-effluents. The area needs to be monitored regularly for trace metal, especially heavy metal enrichment.

S, C, O, H, and Pb isotopic studies for the Shuiyindong Carlin-type gold deposit, Southwest Guizhou, China: constraints for ore genesis

The Shuiyindong gold deposit is one of the most famous and largest Carlin-type gold deposits in China and is located in southwest Guizhou, in the eastern part of the Huijiabao anticline. The Shuiyindong's gold mineralization occurred in bioclastic limestone of the Permian Longtan Formation. Sulfur, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and lead isotopic compositions are reported in this paper. The properties and sources of ore-forming fluid have been discussed and a metallogenic model for the Shuiyindong gold deposit has been proposed. The d34 S values of stibnite, realgar, orpiment, pyrite from orebodies, and pyrite from quartz veins are similar to or slightly higher than the d34 S values of mantle sulfur. It is suggested that the sulfur of hydrothermal sulfides was likely of magmatic origin with minor heavy sulfur contributed from the country rocks. The measured d D values and calculated d18OH2 O values of inclusion fluid in quartz plotted within or below a magmatic hydrothermal fluid field far from the meteoric water line. This indicates that the ore-forming fluid for the main-stage gold mineralization could have been derived mainly from a magmatic source and mixed with a small amount of meteoric water. The carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of calcites in the d18 O vs. d13 C diagram suggest that the CO2 in ore-forming fluid was derived from dissolution of bioclastic limestone and oxidation of sedimentary organic carbon in limestone. However, the d13 C values of ore-related calcites, which contain intergrown realgar and/or orpiment, are similar to those of mantle carbon. Although no igneous intrusive rock has been observed in the vicinity of the gold deposits, the possibility of mantle fluid integrated into the ore-forming fluid cannot be eliminated based on the d13 C values of ore-related calcites. The lead isotopes of sulfides are distributed near the growth curves of upper crust and orogenic belt in the plumbotectonic diagram. Their calculated Dc and Db values plotted within the magmatism field of crust-mantle subduction zone in the Dc- Db diagram. This suggests that the lead of sulfides has an intimate connection with magmatism. Our S, H, O, C, and Pb isotopic studies for the Shuiyindong Carlin-type gold deposit in Guizhou manifest a concordant possibility that the ore-forming fluid was mainly derived from magmatic fluid with minor contribution from the surrounding strata. With the integration of comprehensive geology and isotopic geochemistry, we have proposed a magmatic hydrothermal model for the origin of the Shuiyindong gold deposit.

Application of Pb isotopic tracing technique to constraining the source of Pb in the West Lake Longjing tea

This paper dealt with the Pb contents and Pb isotopic composition of the West Lake Longjing tea. The results showed that in the tea leaves, from young leaf →old leaf →tea limb, the Pb contents tend to increase gradu-ally from 1.63 →4.84 →6.07×10-6, wich revealed that the Pb was accumulated gradually in the tea. After cleaned, the Pb contents of tea leaves were significantly reduced. This indicated that the deposits on the surface of tea leaves made a great contributuion to Pb contents. The survey results for soils in the relevant tea gardens showed that soil from the Longjing tea garden has higher Pb contents, with an average level of 49.6×10-6, two times those of common soils (24×10-6) in China. Results of the systematic analysis for tea, tea garden soil and the samples with the relevant background of the Pb isotopic composition displayed that the Pb isotopic ratio of tea is 206Pb/207Pb=1.164±0.005 (2σ). The ratio of 206Pb/207Pb for the soil gradually decreased from residue phase, soil dilute acid extract phase, and then to urban topsoil, i.e., 1.175 →1.171 →1.170. The 208Pb/(206Pb+207Pb) ratios also show a similar variation trend. 206Pb/207Pb ratios in the samples with the relevant background were: vehicle exhaust, 1.124; coal-combustion, 1.156; atmosphere, 1.168; and water, 1.166. Comparative studies have shown that Pb pollution is popular in the environ-mental media (soil, atmosphere, water) in Hangzhou. With the aggravation of Pb pollution, the Pb isotopic composi-tion gradually changed from the natural background (soil residues) to the direction of automobile exhaust. This phe-nomenon could illustrate that the pollution source was the vehicle exhaust, while the coal-combustion contributed little to environmental pollution in Hangzhou. The Pb of the Longjing tea came mostly from soluble phase Pb in the polluted soil. Moreover, secondary pollution was caused by vehicle exhaust.

A large carbon pool in lake sediments over the arid/semiarid region, NW China

Carbon burial in lake sediments is an important component of the global carbon cycle. However, little is known about the magnitude of carbon sequestered in lake sediments over the arid/semiarid region of China(ASAC).In this study, we estimate both organic and inorganic carbon burial since *AD 1800 based on nine lakes in ASAC,and discuss the most plausible factors controlling carbon burial. Our estimates show that the annual organic carbon burial rate(OCBR) ranges from 5.3 to 129.8 g cm-2year-1(weighted mean of 49.9 g cm-2year-1), leading to a standing stock of 1.1–24.0 kg cm-2(weighted mean of 8.6 kg cm-2)and a regional sum of *108 Tg organic carbon sequestered since *AD 1800. The annual inorganic carbon burial rate(ICBR) ranges from 11.4 to 124.0 g cm-2year-1(weighted mean of 48.3 g cm-2year-1), which is slightly lower than OCBR. The inorganic carbon standing stock ranges from2.4 to 26.0 kg cm-2(weighted mean of 8.1 kg cm-2),resulting in a sum of *101 Tg regional inorganic carbon burial since *AD 1800, which is slightly lower than the organic carbon sequestration. OCBR in ASAC shows a continuously increasing trend since *AD 1950, which is possibly due to the high autochthonous and allochthonous primary production and subsequently high sedimentation rate in the lakes. This increasing carbon burial is possibly related to both climatic changes and enhanced anthropogenic activities, such as land use change, deforestation, and eutrophication in the lake. Furthermore, OCBR and ICBR are expected to continuously increase under the scenario of increasing precipitation and runoff and enhanced anthropogenic activities.The results of this research show that the buried carbon in lake sediments of the ASAC region constitutes a significant and large carbon pool, which should be considered and integrated into the global carbon cycle.

Petrological and Mineralogical Study of Enclaves in Plutons in the Typical Mining Districts of Tongling, Anhui and Its Bearing on the Process of Magmatism Metallogeny

Two types of enclaves occur in magmatic plutons in Tongling, Anhui. Enclaves of the first type are residuals of metamorphic rocks of high amphibolite facies, and those of the other type are magmatic rocks ranging from monzonitic to dioritic in composition. A combined petrological and mineralogical study has been carried out on the two types of enclaves in order to estimate their forming conditions and analyze their relations to their hosts, so as to have an insight into the material sources of magmatic rocks and associated mineral deposits and give a clue to better understanding the mechanism of magmatism metallogeny. This leads us to propose a new metallogenic model for strata bound skarn type ore deposits associated with a syntectic type of magmatic rocks. The new model can be simply summarized as partial melting of old metamorphic basement rocks at depth and accumulating, differentiating and positioning of magmas to form deep level and shallow level magma chambers, followed by mixing of different magmas associated with their crypto explosion, migration of gas bearing ore fluids and precipitation of metals in fluids within the magmas.