Hydrodynamic analysis of clastic injection and hydraulic fracturing structures in the Jinding Zn-Pb deposit,Yunnan,China

The Jinding Zn-Pb deposit has been generally considered to have formed from circulating basinal fluids in a relatively passive way, with fluid flow being controlled by structures and sedimentary facies, similar to many other sediments-hosted base metal deposits. However, several recent studies have revealed the presence of sand injection structures, intrusive breccias, and hydraulic fractures in the open pit of the Jinding deposit and suggested that the deposit was formed from explosive release of overpres- sured fluids. This study reports new observations of fluid overpressure-related structures from under- ground workings （Paomaping and Fengzishan）, which show clearer crosscutting relationships than in the open pit. The observed structures include： 1） sand （--rock fragment） dikes injecting into fractures in solidified rocks; 2） sand （~rock fragment） bodies intruding into unconsolidated or semi-consolidated sediments; 3） disintegrated semi-consolidated sand bodies; and 4） veins and breccias formed from hydraulic fracturing of solidified rocks followed by cementation of hydrothermal minerals. The development of ore minerals （sphalerite） in the cement of the various clastic injection and hydraulic fractures indicate that these structures were formed at the same time as mineralization. The development of hydraulic fractures and breccias with random orientation indicates small differential stress during mineralization, which is different from the stress field with strong horizontal shortening prior to miner- alization. Fluid flow velocity may have been up to more than 11 m/s based on calculations from the size of the fragments in the clastic dikes. The clastic injection and hydraulic fracturing structures are interpreted to have formed from explosive release of overpressured fluids, which may have been related to either magmatic intrusions at depth or seismic activities that episodically tapped an overpressured fluid reservoir. Because the clastic injection and hydraulic structures are genetically linked with the mineralizing fluid source, they can be used as a guide for mineral exploration.

Multiple and prolonged porphyry Cue Au mineralization and alteration events in the Halasu deposit, Chinese Altai, Xinjiang,northwestern China

The Halasu area is located in the southeastern margin of the Chinese Altai in Xinjiang, China. It is part of the Altaid orogenic collage where a number of porphyry-type Cue Moe Au deposits have been discovered in recent years. Geological mapping and drilling indicate the presence of various mineralized porphyritic intrusions in the Halasu Cue Au deposit, which is currently under exploration. Ue Pb dating of zircon crystals from four different mineralized porphyries reveals three significantly different ages of magmatic intrusion, i.e., ca. 372e382 Ma granodioritic porphyry and porphyritic granite, ca. 266 Ma quartz monzonitic porphyry, and ca. 216 Ma quartz dioritic porphyry. Ree Os dating of molybdenite from veinletdissemination ores in the granodioritic porphyry yields an age of mineralization of ca. 377 Ma, and Ar e Ar dating of K-feldspar from K-feldsparequartzechalcopyrite veins produces ages of ca. 269 and ca.198 Ma. The mineralization（and alteration） ages correspond broadly to the three episodes of magmatic intrusion, suggesting three overprinting porphyry mineralization events that are significantly separated in time. The first episode of porphyry intrusion and mineralization may be related to the magmatic arc being above a plate subduction zone, and the second was formed in a late-collisional environment during the closing of the Junggar Ocean, whereas the third episode of mineralization took place in the postcollisional stage. This case study suggests that in orogens where major porphyry deposits have been found in magmatic arc environments, the potential of discovering late- to post-collisional porphyry deposits cannot be neglected; conversely, in orogens where most porphyry deposits have late- to postcollisional ages, more attention should be paid to porphyries that were formed earlier in magmatic arc environments.

Zinc, copper, and strontium isotopic variability in the Baiyangping Cu–Pb–Zn–Ag polymetallic ore field, Lanping Basin, Southwest China

The Baiyangping Cu-Ag polymetallic ore district is located in the northern part of the Lanping-Simao foreland fold belt,between the Jinshajiang-Ailaoshan and Lancangjiang faults,and the deposit can be divided into eastern and western ore zones.Based upon microscope observation of ore minerals and analysis of zinc,copper,and strontium isotope composition,we conclude that:(1)the zinc isotopic compositions of sphalerite from the eastern and western ore belt of the Baiyangping polymetallic ore deposits are enriched in both the heavy(-0.09‰ to+0.15‰) and light(-0.19‰ to-0.01‰)zinc isotopes.Rayleigh fractionation is likely the additional factor controlling the observed temporal and spatial variations in zinc isotopes in the two studied ore zones.The zinc isotopic composition in the Baiyangping polymetallic Pb-Zn deposits may have the same fractionation as that of magmatic-hydrothermal,VHMS,SEDEX,and MVT deposits,as demonstrated by geological and other geochemical evidence;(2) the range of δ^(65)Cu in massive tetrahedrite is from-0.06‰ to+0.12 ‰ that relates to the early stages of ore-formation,which are higher than that of venial chalcopyrite(from-0.72‰ to-0.07‰)formed at a late ore-forming stage in the western ore belt.Different ore-forming stages and alteration or leaching processes are likely the main factors controlling the observed variations in copper isotopes in the western ore zone;(3) the ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr value of hydrothermal calcite in eastern(0.7080-0.7093) and western(0.7085-0.7113) ore belt suggested that mineralization of early calcite,with^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr values much higher than in ancient Late Triassic seawater,may be related to recrystallization from a radiogenic Sr-rich or silicifying fluid,either from the strata that the ore-forming fluid flows through or from other fluids.

Sources of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Street Dust from the Chang-Zhu-Tan Region, Hunan, China

Street dusts collected from 20 sites as well as three special dust samples collected from chimney of coal-fired plant, smelter and refinery of nonferrous metals and automobile exhaust, respectively, in the Chang-Zhu-Tan (Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan) urban region, Hunan, China, in May to August 2009, were investigated for sources of polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The ΣPAHs16 levels were in the range of 3515 - 24488 ng/g, with a mean of 8760 ng/g. The sources of PAH inputs to street dusts were determined by isomer ratios, principal components analysis and REE geochemical analysis. The isomer ratios suggested a rather uniform mixture of coal combustion and petroleum PAH sources. Factor analysis indicated that the main sources of 16 PAHs were coal combustion/vehicle exhaust and coking/ petroleum. Rare earth elements (REE) and Factor score analysis further indicated the possible dust sources were from background soil, coal or coking combustion, nonferrous metal factories, traffic exhaust.

安徽铜陵凤凰山铜(金)矿床矽卡岩型与斑岩型复合成矿作用流体研究

凤凰山铜(金)矿床产于燕山晚期花岗闪长岩及石英二长闪长斑岩与三叠系碳酸盐岩的接触带,先后包括矽卡岩型和斑岩型两期矿化,并可细分为9个成矿阶段。矿石中广泛出现角砾状和细脉状、网脉状构造。流体包裹体特征及显微冷热台测温资料表明,成矿流体存在过沸腾和局部超高压等现象。两个成矿期都经历了从高温高盐度向低温低盐度的转变,成矿溶液的主要成分也由钾钠型变成了钠钙型。来源于岩浆热液的早期含矿流体与来自围岩的地下水热液的混合可以解释成矿流体的这种演化。

利用H_2O-Nacl-CaCl_2体系水盐化合物和冰的融化温度计算NaCl/(Nacl+CaCl_2)比值和盐度的方程

The composition of fluid inclusions in the H_2O-NaCl-CaCl_2 system has been generally graphically estimated using the melting temperatures of hydrohalite(T_(m-HH))and ice(T_(m-ice)).Here we present two equations that can be used to calculate the relative proportion of NaCl(i.e.,NaCl/[NaCl+CaCl_2],or X_(NaCl))and the total salinity( i.e.,NaC1 + CaC12,wt% )for fluid inclusions with ice as the last melting phase.X_(NaCl)can be calculated from T_(m-HH)using the following equation: y=(a+bx)^(-1/c) where y is X_(NaCl),x is T_(m-HH),a=0.33124402,b=-0.031518028,and c=0.22932736.In the cases where only T_(m-ice)is measured and T_(m-HH)is not known,T_(m-ice)can be used as the maximum possible TIn.nil to calculate the maximum value of X_(NaCl)using the above equation.In these cases,the following equation can be used to calculate the maximum total salinity: y=(a+bx+cx^2)^(-1) where y is salinity,x is T_(m-HH),a=0.057184817,b=0.00078565757,and c=5.7262766E-6.Because the isothems in the field of ice are sub-parallel to the NaCl-CaCl_2 binary side in the H20-NaC1-CaC12 ternary system,the errors in salinity calculation introduced by the above approximation are small(less than 2 wt% ).A Windows program for calculation of X_(NsCl)and salinity is available at: http://uregina.ca/~chiguox.

An overview of hydrodynamic studies of mineralization

Fluid flow is an integral part of hydrothermal mineralization, and its analysis and characterization constitute an important part of a mineralization model. The hydrodynamic study of mineralization deals with analyzing the driving forces, fluid pressure regimes, fluid flow rate and direction, and their relationships with localization of mineralization. This paper reviews the principles and methods of hydrodynamic studies of mineralization, and discusses their significance and limitations for ore deposit studies and mineral exploration. The driving forces of fluid flow may be related to fluid overpressure, topographic relief, tectonic deformation, and fluid density change due to heating or salinity variation, depending on specific geologic environments and mineralization processes. The study methods may be classified into three types, megascopic （field） observations, microscopic analyses, and numerical modeling. Megascopic features indicative of significantly overpressured （especially lithostatic or supralithostatic） fluid systems include horizontal veins, sand injection dikes, and hydraulic breccias. Microscopic studies, especially microthermometry of fluid inclusions and combined stress analysis and microthermometry of fluid inclusion planes （FIPs） can provide important information about fluid temperature, pressure, and fluid-structural relationships, thus constraining fluid flow models. Numerical modeling can be carried out to solve partial differential equations governing fluid flow, heat transfer, rock deformation and chemical reactions, in order to simulate the distribution of fluid pressure, temperature, fluid flow rate and direction, and mineral precipitation or dissolution in 2D or 3D space and through time. The results of hydrodynamic studies of mineralization can enhance our understanding of the formation nrocesses of hvdrothermal denosits, and can be used directly or indirectly in mineral exnloration.

Effects of hydrocarbon generation on fluid flow in the Ordos Basin and its relationship to uranium mineralization

The Ordos Basin of North China is not only an important uranium mineralization province, but also a major producer of oil, gas and coal in China. The genetic relationship between uranium mineralization and hydrocarbons has been recognized by a number of previous studies, but it has not been well understood in terms of the hydrodynamics of basin fluid flow. We have demonstrated in a previous study that the preferential localization of Cretaceous uranium mineralization in the upper part of the Ordos Jurassic section may have been related to the interface between an upward flowing, reducing fluid and a downward flowing, oxidizing fluid. This interface may have been controlled by the interplay between fluid overpressure related to disequilibrium sediment compaction and which drove the upward flow, and topographic relief, which drove the downward flow. In this study, we carried out numerical modeling for the contribution of oil and gas generation to the development of fluid overpressure, in addition to sedi- ment compaction and heating. Our results indicate that when hydrocarbon generation is taken into account, fluid overpressure during the Cretaceous was more than doubled in comparison with the simu- lation when hydrocarbon generation was not considered. Furthermore, fluid overpressure dissipation at the end of sedimentation slowed down relative to the no-hydrocarbon generation case. These results suggest that hydrocarbon generation may have played an important role in uranium mineralization, not only in providing reducing agents required for the mineralization, but also in contributing to the driving force to maintain the upward flow.

Microstructural analysis of a subhorizontal gold-quartz vein deposit at Donalda,Abitibi greenstone belt,Canada:Implications for hydrodynamic regime and fluid-structural relationship

The Donalda gold deposit in the southern part of the Archean Abitibi greenstone belt consists mainly of a subhonzontal gold-quartz vein perpendicular to subvertical shear zones.The 0.3—0.5 m thick vein is characterized by vein-parallel banding structures indicating multiple episodes of fracture opening and mineral precipitation.Measurement of the c-axis of primary growth quartz indicates that quartz preferentially grew perpendicular to the fracture,suggesting open space filling and/or extensional nature of the fracture.Measurement of the orientations of microfractures,veinlets and fluid—inclusion planes（FIPs） crosscutting primary growth quartz indicates that the vein minerals were subject to a vertical maximum principal stress（σ_1）,which is inconsistent with the subhorizontalσ_1 inferred from the regional stress field with N—S shortening.This apparent discrepancy is explained by invoking episodic fluid pressure fluctuation between supralithostatic and hydrostatic regimes accompanied by episodic opening and closing of the sub-horizontal fracture.When fluid pressure was higher than the lithostatic value,the fracture was opened and primary growth minerals were precipitated,whereas when fluid pressure decreased toward the hydrostatic value,the hanging wall of the fracture collapsed,causing collision of protruding primary growth minerals from both sides of the fracture and resulting in formation of vein-parallel deformation bands.The columns where the two facing sides of the fracture collided were subject to higher-than-lithostatic stress due to the bridging effect and reduced support surface area,explaining the development of verticalσ_1.This hypothesis is consistent the fault-valve model,and explains the flipping ofσ_1 without having to change the regional stress field.

Structural deformation, metallogenic epoch and genetic mechanism of the Woxi Au-Sb-W deposit, Western Hunan Province, South China

The remobilization,migration,precipitation,and enrichment of ore-forming elements are closely related to structures.Therefore,detailed regional and ore-field structural analyses are critical for determining the genesis of a mineral deposit.The Jiangnan Orogenic Belt(JOB)is an important gold polymetallic metallogenic belt in South China,which is characterized by multiple periods of gold mineralization in the Paleozoic and Mesozoic.However,the genesis of these gold polymetallic deposits is still not well understood due to a lack of systematic research on the regional geology,ore-controlling structures and metallogenic mechanism.In this study,a detailed structural survey at the surface and in the subsurface tunnels was conducted on the Woxi Au-Sb-W deposit,the genesis of which is relatively controversial among the gold polymetallic deposits in the JOB due to poor structural constraints.In addition,a wolframite U-Pb dating was carried out to further constrain the relationship between structures and mineralization.Based on the results of these studies,together with those from previous studies,it is proposed that the Woxi deposit and surrounding areas likely underwent six periods of regional deformation,which are constrained in time and geodynamic setting.Furthermore,we present a systematic discussion on the roles of ore-controlling structures in the transportation,distribution,and deposition of ore-forming elements and localization of orebodies.According to the wolframite dating results,structural analyses,and previous data,we propose that the Woxi Au-Sb-W deposit was formed in two stages during the Yanshanian:a W(wolframite)-Au mineralization stage at ca.140 Ma and an Au-Sb-W(scheelite)mineralization stage at<130 Ma.These mineralizing events are interpreted to have a tight relationship with tectonic reactivation,and the ore-forming fluids were derived from deep sources,including those of magmatic or metamorphic origins.The Woxi deposit can therefore be classified as an“intracontinental reactivation-type”,and the mineralization is related to lithospheric extension caused by plate retreat,retention,and delamination following the cessation of westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath the East Asian continent.

Mass Transfer during Hematitization and Implications for Uranium Mineralization in the Zoujiashan Deposit,Xiangshan Volcanic Basin

The Zoujiashan uranium deposit in the Xiangshan ore field is the largest volcanic-related uranium deposit in China.Hematite-and fluorite-type ores are the predominant mineralization styles.Hematitization in the Xiangshan ore field is closely associated with uranium mineralization,mainly occurring as hematitized rocks enclosing fluorite-type vein ores developed in pre-ore illitized porphyritic lava.Detailed petrographic and mass balance calculation studies were conducted to evaluate the mechanisms for uranium precipitation and mass transfer during hematitization.Petrographic observations suggest that in the hematitized rocks,orthoclase is more altered than plagioclase,and quartz dissolution is common,whereas in the illitized rocks,pyrite commonly occurs within the altered biotite grains,and chlorite grains are locally found.Mass balance calculations indicate that Na2O and U were gained,K2O,Ca O and Si O2were lost,whereas Fe2O3-t remained more or less constant during hematitization.These observations suggest that the hydrothermal fluids were Na-and U-rich and Ca-K-poor,and the Fe2+used for hematitization was locally derived,most likely from biotite,pyrite and chlorite in the host rocks.The Fe2+is inferred to have played the role of reductant to precipitate uranium,and calculation indicates that oxidation of Fe2+provided by host rocks is sufficient to form ores of economic significance.Consequently,the hematite-type ore is interpreted to be generated by the reaction between oxidized ore fluids and reduced components in host rocks.The development of calcite and pyrite in the fluorite ores suggests that perhaps mixing between the U-rich fluid and another fluid carrying reduced sulfur and carbon may have also contributed to uranium mineralization,in addition to temperature and pressure drop associated with the veining.