Geochemistry of Two Types of Basalts in the Emeishan Basaltic Province: Evidence for Mantle Plume-Lithosphere Interaction

Based on the temporal-spatial distribution and geochemical characteristics,the Emeishan basalts can be divided into two types: high-P_2O-TiO_2 basalt (HPT) andlow-P_2O_5-TiO_2 basalt (LPT), which differ distinctly in geochemistry: the LPTs are characterizedby relatively high abundances of MgO, total FeO and P_2O_5 and compatible elements (Cr, Ni, Sc), andrelatively low contents of moderately compatible elements (V, Y, Yb, Co), LREE and otherincompatible elements compared with the HPT. On the diagrams of trace element ratios, they areplotted on an approximately linear mixing line between depleted and enriched mantle sources,suggesting that these two types of basalts resulted from interactions of varying degrees betweenmantle plume and lithospheric mantle containing such volatile-rich minerals as amphibole andapatite. The source region of the LPT involves a smaller proportion of lithospheric components,while that of the HTP has a larger proportion of lithospheric components. Trachyte is generated bypartial melting of the basic igneous rocks at the base of the lower continental crust. Both the twotypes of magmas underwent certain crystal fractionation and contamination of the lower crest athigh-level magma chambers and en route to the surface.

Chemostratigraphy of Flood Basalts in the Garze-Litang Region and Zongza Block: Implications for Western Extension of the Emeishan Large Igneous Province, SW China

The Late Permian Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP) is commonly regarded as being located in the western part of the Yangtze craton, SW China, with an asymmetrical shape and a small area. This area, however, is just a maximum estimation because some parts of the ELIP were not recognized or dismembered and destroyed during the Triassic to Cenozoic tectonism. In this paper, the chemostratigraphical data of the Zongza block, the Garze-Litang belt and the Songpan-Garze block suggest that the Late Permian basalts in these areas have remarkable similarities to the ELIP basalts in petrography and geochemistry. Flood basalts in the Sanjiangkou area are composed of the lower part of the low-Ti (LT) tholeiite and the upper part of the high-Ti (HT) tholeiite, which is the same as the flood basalts on the western margin of the Yangtze craton. Flood basalts in the Zongza and Songpan-Garze areas, which are far from the Yangtze craton, consist of HT tholeiite only. This is the same as the flood basalts within the Yangtze craton. Therefore we argue that these contemporary basalts all originated from the Emeishan mantle plume, and the ELIP could have a significant westward extension with an outcropped area of over 500,000 km2. This new scenario shows that the LT tholeiite occurs on the western margin of the Yangtze craton, while the HT tholeiite overlying the LT basalts occupies the whole area of the ELIP.

Petrology, Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Emeishan Continental Flood Basalts, SW China: Evidence for Activity of Mantle Plumes

Electronic microprobe analyses for olivine, clinopyroxene and Cr-spinel in picrites, which we have discovered recently in the Emeishan continental flood basalt province (ECFBP), show that the olivine is rich in Mg, and that Cr-spinel is rich in Cr. Based on the olivine-melt equilibrium, the primary parental melt compositions are calculated. The high-Mg olivine-hosted picrite can be regarded as parental melt. Thus, the melting temperature and pressure are estimated: T=1600℃ and P=4.5 GPa. It suggests that the picrites are connected with the activity of mantle plumes. Their major element composition is comparable to many other CFBs by their high Fe8, (CaO/Al2O3)8 and low Na8, indicating a high pressure. All rocks display a similar chondrite-normalized REE patterns, i.e., enrichment of LREE, relative depletion of HFSE and absence of negative Nb and Ta but depletion in P and K. Some incompatible element ratios, such as La/Ta, La/ Sm, (La/Nb)PM, (Th/Ta)PM, are in a limited range, show that they were derived from the mantle plume, and there was no or little crustal contamination during magma ascent en route to the surface. They were generated by 7% partial melting of garnet peridotite. The axis of the plume might be located beneath Lijiang Town, Yunnan province.

Eruption of the Continental Flood Basalts at -259 Ma in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province, SW China: Evidence from Laser Microprobe ^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar Dating

A suite of continental flood basalts sampled over a vast exposure and stratigraphic thickness in the Emeishan large igneous province （LIP）, SW China was investigated for laser microprobe ^40Ar/^39Ar dating. There are two ^40Ar/^39Ar age groups for these basalts, corresponding to 259-246 Ma and 177-137 Ma, respectively. A well-defined isochron gives an eruption age of huge quantities of mafic magmas at 258.9±3.4 Ma, which is identical to previous dating and paleontological data. Much younger ^40Ar/^39Ar ages for some basalts with Iow-greenschist metamorphic facies probably recorded a late thermo-tectonic event caused by collision between the Yangtze and Qiangtang continental blocks during the Mesozoic, which resulted in the reset of argon isotope system. The ^40Ar/^39Ar age data, we present here, combined with previous dating and paleontological data, suggest relatively short duration （about 3 Ma） of mafic volcanism, which have important implication on mantle plume genesis of the Emeishan continental flood basalts in the LIP.

A New Type of REE Deposit Found in Clay Rock at the Top of the Permian Emeishan Basalt in the Yunnan-Guizhou Area

Objective A set of REE-rich clay rocks is formed at the top of the Emeishan basalt in the eastern Yunnan-Western Guizhou area,accompanied by Nb,Zr,Ga.It is a new type of REE deposit and has great resource potential.This paper introduces its metallogenic conditions and element occurrence states,discusses the genetic mechanism.

The Principles for Discrimination of the Source Composition of Mantle-Derived Igneous Rocks and the Nature of the Mantle Source Region of the Emeishan Basalts

This paper discusses the discrimination principles. deduction and methods for probing into the source composition of mantle-derived magma. The magmatophile (incompatible) source elements are not all optimal tracers for mantle source composition. The ratios of two strong magmatophile elements (D<1) or the ratios of two trace elements with the same D value are not controlled by the formation mode and evolution degree of a magma, but maintain the characteristics of their composition in mantle source region prior to the magma formation. The ratios are related to different mantle-crust structures and dynamics. The mantle source composition of the Emeishan Basalt series is similar to that of the South Atlantic Rio Grande Rise-Walvis Ridge Basalts and Brazil continental-margin basalts. This may indicate that these basalt series might have similar source regions and tectonic environments.

Integration of zircon and apatite U–Pb geochronology and geochemical mapping of the Wude basalts(Emeishan large igneous province):A tool for a better understanding of the tectonothermal and geodynamic evolution of the Emeishan LIP

Radiogenic isotopic dating and Lu–Hf isotopic composition using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry(LA-ICP-MS)of the Wude basalt in Yunnan province from the Emeishan large igneous province(ELIP)yielded timing of formation and post-eruption tectonothermal event.Holistic lithogeochemistry and elements mapping of basaltic rocks were further reevaluated to provide insights into crustal contamination and formation of the ELIP.A zircon U–Pb age of 251.3±2.0 Ma of the Wude basalt recorded the youngest volcanic eruption event and was consistent with the age span of 251-263 Ma for the emplacement of the ELIP.Such zircons hadε_(Hf)(t)values ranging from7.3 to+2.2,identical to those of magmatic zircons from the intrusive rocks of the ELIP,suggesting that crust-mantle interaction occurred during magmatic emplacement,or crust-mantle mixing existed in the deep source region prior to deep melting.The apatite U–Pb age at 53.6±3.4 Ma recorded an early Eocene magmatic superimposition of a regional tectonothermal event,corresponding to the Indian–Eurasian plate collision.Negative Nb,Ta,Ti and P anomalies of the Emeishan basalt may reflect crustal contamination.The uneven Nb/La and Th/Ta values distribution throughout the ELIP supported a mantle plume model origin.Therefore,the ELIP was formed as a result of a mantle plume which was later superimposed by a regional tectonothermal event attributed to the Indian–Eurasian plate collision during early Eocene.

Engineering geological classification of the structural planes for hydroelectric projects in Emeishan Basalts

The scale and characteristics of rock mass are important indexes of the rock mass structural plane classification. This paper firstly analyzes the spatial distribution characteristics, the structural plane types （original structural plane, tectonic structural plane and hypergenic structural plane） and the associated features of the Emeishan basalts and then studies the classification schemes of the built hydropower structure planes of different rock areas （the east district, the central district and the west district） in the Emeishan basalt distribution area, Southwest China. Based on the analysis and comparison of the scale and the engineering geological characteristics of the typical structure planes in the basalt hydroelectric Stations, the types of structural planes are used in the first order classification. The secondary order classification is made by considering the impact factors of rock mass quality, e.g., the state of the structural planes, infilling, joint opening, extending length, the grade of weathering and strength. The engineering geological classification for Emeishan basalt is proposed. Because there are no evidences of a large structure presenting in study area, the first-order （Ⅰ） controlling structural planes do not appear in the classification, there only appear Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ grade structural planes influencing the rock-mass quality. According to the different rock-block types in bedding fault zone, the second-grade （Ⅱ） structural planes consisted of bedding fault zone is further classified into Ⅱ1, Ⅱ2 and Ⅱ3. The third-grade （Ⅲ） structural planes constructed by intraformational faulted zones are not subdivided. According to the different characteristics of intrusion, alteration and weathering unloading structural planes, the Ⅳ grade structure plane is divided into Ⅳ1, Ⅳ2 and Ⅳ3. According to the development characteristics of joints and fractures, the V grade structure plane is divided into fracture Ⅴ1 and columnar joint Ⅴ2. In all, the structural planes are classified into four groups with nine subsets. The research proposes the engineering geological classification of the structural plane for the hydropower project in the Emishan basalts, and the result of the study has a potential application in similar regions.

Density structure of the crust in the Emeishan large igneous province revealed by the Lijiang-Guiyang gravity profile

The Emeishan large igneous province(hereafter named by its acronym ELIP) is the first accepted large igneous region in China.The current study tries to reconstruct the density structure of the crust in this region. For this purpose, we conducted the gravity survey along an 800-km-long profile, which stretched laterally along the latitude 27°N from Lijiang(Yunnan province) to Guiyang(Guizhou province). The fieldwork included 338 gravity measurements distributed from the inner zone to the outer zone of the mantle plume head.After a series of gravity reductions, we calculated the Bouguer gravity anomaly and then constructed the density model for ELIP by iterative forward modeling from an initial density model tightly constrained by wide-angle seismic reflection data. The topography of the Moho, here physically interpreted as a density discontinuity of ~0.4 g·cm^(–3), gradually rises from the inner zone(~50 km deep) to the outer zone(~40 km), describes a thicker crust in the inner zone than in any other segment of the profile and largely reproduces the shape of the Bouguer gravity anomaly curve. Both the Bouguer gravity and the density structure show significant differences with respect to the inner zone and the other two zones of ELIP according to the commonly accepted partition of the Emeishan area. A thicker and denser middle-lower crust seems to be the main feature of the western section of the profile, which is likely related to its mafic magmatic composition due to magmatic underplating of the Permian mantle plume.

Crust-derived felsic magmatism in the Emeishan large igneous Province:New evidence from zircon U-Pb-Hf-O isotope from the Yangtze Block,China

Numerous intrusive bodies of mafic–ultramafic to felsic compositions are exposed in association with volcanic rocks in the Late Permian Emeishan large igneous province(ELIP),southwestern China.Most of the granitic rocks in the ELIP were derived by differentiation of basaltic magmas with a mantle connection,and crustal magmas have rarely been studied.Here we investigate a suite of mafic dykes and Ⅰ-type granites that yield zircon U-Pb emplacement ages of 259.9±1.2 Ma and 259.3±1.3 Ma,respectively.The εHf(t)values of zircon from the DZ mafic dyke are–0.3 to 9.4,and their corresponding TDM1 values are in the range of 919–523 Ma.The εHf(t)values of zircon from the DSC Ⅰ-type granite are between–1 and 3,with TDM1 values showing a range of 938–782 Ma.We also present zircon O isotope data on crust-derived felsic intrusions from the ELIP for the first time.The δ18O values of zircon from the DSC Ⅰ-type granite ranges from 4.87‰to 7.5‰.The field,petrologic,geochemical and isotopic data from our study lead to the following salient findings.(i)The geochronological study of mafic and felsic intrusive rocks in the ELIP shows that the ages of mafic and felsic magmatism are similar.(ii)The DZ mafic dyke and high-Ti basalts have the same source,i.e.,the Emeishan mantle plume.The mafic dyke formed from magmas sourced at the transitional depth between from garnet-lherzolite and spinel-lherzolite,with low degree partial melting(<10%).(iii)The Hf-O isotope data suggest that the DSC Ⅰ-type granite was formed by partial melting of Neoproterozoic juvenile crust and was contaminated by minor volumes of chemically weathered ancient crustal material.(iv)The heat source leading to the formation of the crust-derived felsic rocks in of the ELIP is considered to be mafic–ultramafic magmas generated by a mantle plume,which partially melted the overlying crust,generating the felsic magma.

Modeling experimental study on weathering-leaching of Emeishan basalt and its relation with metallogenesis

The Emeishan basalt has a high Cu background value (170×10-6 on average), and thus provides a ore-forming material source for copper ores. The collected samples were exposed in basalt lavas of the third segment of the Emeishan basalt eruptive cycle. By using a set of automatically cycling glass apparatuses, weathering-leaching experiments by three kinds of rainwater on the collected samples were carried out in the open system (at normal temperature and normal pressure). The analysis results showed that the most intensive export of Cu occurred under acidic rainwater-induced weathering-leaching conditions, almost 2-3 orders of magnitude the export of Cu by mod-ern air rainwater, and 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than the export of Cu by CO2 rainwater. In addition, the total amount of Zn, Cu, U, Ni and Sr exported by acidic rainwater are greater than 1%. All this indicates that copper in the Emeishan basalt provided the copper source for Cu mineralization at the contact between the basalt and the Maokou Formation limestone at the bottom.

Recycled carbon degassed from the Emeishan plume as the potential driver for the major end-Guadalupian carbon cycle perturbations

Massive gas emissions(e.g.,CO_(2),CH_(4) and SO_(2))during the formation of large igneous provinces(LIPs)have been suggested as the primary cause of dramatic climatic change and the consequent ecological collapses and biotic crises.Thermogenic carbon of crustal sediments induced by intrusive magmatism throughout the LIPs is considered as the primary trigger for environmental catastrophe including mass extinction,as illustrated in the case of the Emeishan LIP in Southwest China.Herewe evaluate the Emeishan LIP to address the causal link between carbon degassing and environmental crises during the end-Guadalupian of Middle Permian.An assessment of the carbon flux degassed from recycled oceanic crust in the Emeishan plume shows that recycled oceanic crust contributed significantly to the carbon flux.Using evidence fromcarbonate carbon isotopic records at the Gualupian-Lopingian(G-L)boundary stratotype at Penglaitan of South China,our study suggests that carbon degassed from massive recycled components in the Emeishan plume served as a major end-Guadalupian(Middle Permian)carbon isotope excursion.The model based on the Emeishan LIP also offers new insights into the important role of recycled carbon released from other LIPs in climatic change and mass extinctions,as in the cases of the end-Permian Siberian and end-Cretaceous Deccan Traps.Our work highlights that carbon released from subducted slabs is returned to the atmosphere via upwelling mantle plumes,which could drive global climatic change and mass extinction.

Contrasting oxidation states of low-Ti and high-Ti magmas control Ni-Cu sulfide and Fe-Ti oxide mineralization in Emeishan Large Igneous Province

Magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) sulfide and Fe-Ti oxide deposits in plume-related large igneous provinces(LIPs)are commonly related to low-Ti and high-Ti series magmas, respectively, but the major factors that control such a relationship of metallogenic types and magma compositions are unclear. Magma fOcontrols sulfur status and relative timing of Fe-Ti oxide saturation in mafic magmas, which may help clarify this issue. Taking the Emeishan LIP as a case, we calculated the magma fOof the high-Ti and low-Ti picrites based on the olivine-spinel oxygen barometer, and the partitioning of V in olivine. The obtained fOof the high-Ti series magma(FMQ + 1.1 to FMQ + 2.6) is higher than that of the low-Ti series magma(FMQ-0.5to FMQ + 0.5). The magma fOof the high-Ti and low-Ti picrites containing Fo > 90 olivine reveals that the mantle source of the high-Ti series is likely more oxidized than that of the low-Ti series. The results using the ’lambda REE’ approach show that the high-Ti series may have been derived from relatively oxidized mantle with garnet pyroxenite component. The S contents at sulfide saturation(SCSS) of the two series magmas were calculated based on liquid compositions obtained from the alpha Melts modeling, and the results show that the low-Ti series magma could easily attain the sulfide saturation as it has low fOwith S being dominantly as S. In contrast, the oxidized high-Ti series magma is difficult to attain the sulfide saturation, but could crystallize Fe-Ti oxides at magma MgO content of ~7.0 wt.%. Thus, contrasting magma fOof low-Ti and high-Ti series in plume-related LIPs may play an important role in producing two different styles of metallogeny.

Newly Discovered Fluvial-Lacustrine Sediments in the Western Yangtze Block and their Geological Significance for the Emeishan Large Igneous Province

Objective The Emeishan large igneous province （ELIP） in SW China is the only one large igneous province in China recognized by international geologists. Previous studies of ELIP over past two decades indicate that the ELIP age, duration, scale and generation mechanism are still controversial. Among those scientific topics, some scholars suggest that ELIP is an example of up-doming prior to LIP formation, which was evidenced by： （1） The thickness of the Yangxin Formation （P^v） limestone unit, which lies directly beneath ELIP, reduces from the center of erosional area to the outer edge. （2） Paleo-karst surfaces are present. （3） The clastic rocks of alluvial fan deposits, from the eroded materials in the maximum uplifted area, developed surrounding the inner zone. However, other scholars urge that those so-called ＂alluvial fan＂ deposits are ＂hydromagmatic deposits＂, erupted or emplaced at or near sea level, and conclude that there was no pre-emptive uplift in ELIP. In order to constrain the above-mentioned scientific issue, we conducted detailed field geological investigations and systematically measured geological sections to provide new evidence by using sedimentary data.

Formation and evolution of Emeishan basalt saprolite in vadose zones of Touzhai landslide source rockmass

In order to explain the formation process of slope hazards, and to identify the key factors leading to instability of a slope, Emeishan basalt saprolite in vadose zones of the Touzhai landslide in Zhaotong, Yunnan, was studied. The formation and evolution of Emeishan basalt saprolite was examined using, amongst other techniques, field investigations,thin section analysis, scanning electron microscopy(SEM) observations, chemical analysis, physical and water-physical property tests of rock masses. Field observations revealed that the majority of the weathered rock blocks were presented as a concentric layer structure in which an internal corestone was enveloped with several layers of external saprolized crust. Chemical and mineralogical analysis identified that iron was the most sensitive element and that the weathering progress usually started with the oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ in rock blocks. Alkaline elements such as Si, Ca, Mg, Na and K were also dissolved and Fe and Al were concentrated in saprolized crusts. Results indicated that loss on ignition(LOI) also increased significantly. SEM results showed that the weathering intensity of thebasalt blocks decreased gradually from the outside to the inside, and the mineral morphology significantly differed on both sides of the weathering front. The saprolized crusts presented cellular microstructure features due to the generation of micropore and clay minerals. Thin section analysis showed that plagioclase was relatively more stable than pyroxene and chlorite during weathering. With a centripetal propagation of the weathering front, saprolized crusts became thicker and corestones became smaller; fresh Emeishan basalt blocks gradually turned into saprolized blocks. Due to the loose structure and low strength of saprolite, the quality of the Emeishan basalt mass significantly deteriorated, this being a potentially important factor which caused the Touzhai landslide to occur.

Lead isotopic systematics for native copper-chalcocite mineralization in basaltic lavas of the Emeishan large igneous province, SW China: Implications for the source of copper

The Emeishan continental flood basalt, which is widespread in Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces of Southwest China, is the volcanic product of a Permian mantle plume, and native copper-chalcocite mineralization associated with the basalt is very common in the border area of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. The mineralization occurred in the tuff intercalation and terrestrial sedimentary rock intercalation which were formed during the main period of basalt eruption. The orebodies are controlled by the stratigraphic position and faults. Metal ore minerals in the ores are mainly native copper, chalcocite and tenorite, with small amounts of chalcopyrite, bomite, pyrite and malachite, and sometimes with large amounts of bitumen, carbon and plant debris. Several decades of ore deposits are distributed in the neighboring areas of the two provinces, while most of them are small-scale deposits or only ore occurrences. By comparing the lead isotopic composition of the ores with that of the wall-rocks, cover and basement rocks of various periods, the source of copper in this type of ore deposits was studied in this paper. The results showed that: (1) The Pb isotopic composition of the ores from ten deposits is absolutely different from that of siliceous-argillaceus rocks of the Upper Permian Xuanwei Formation, limestones of the Lower Permian Series and Carboniferous, Cambrian sandstone-shale and recta-sedimentary rock and dolomite from the upper part of the Meso-Proterozoic Kunyang Group. This indicates that ore lead was derived neither from the cover rock nor from the basement rocks; (2) Although the Neo-Proterozoic Siman dolomite and silicalite, and dolomite in the lower part of the Kunyang Group are similar in Pb isotopic composition to the ores, lead and copper contents in these rocks are very low and they have not made great contributions to copper mineralization; (3) The ores have the same Pb isotopic composition as the basalt, the latter being enriched in copper. These facts indicate that lead and copper were derived from the basalt. According to the regional geological data and the geological-geochemical characteristics of the ore deposits, it is suggested that ore-forming materials were leached out from the basalt. The thickness and buried depth of the basalt and regional tectonic dynamics can affect the formation of large-scale copper deposits. Therefore, exploration for this type of ore deposits should be conducted in the areas from western Yunnan to western Sichuan, where there are developed basalts of great thickness, with extensive tectonic movement and magmatic activity.

Textural and compositional zoning in plagioclase phenocrysts:implications for magma chamber processes in the Emeishan large Igneous Province,SW China

Textural and compositional zoning within plagioclase phenocrysts records the magma chamber processes,such as magma differentiation,magma recharge and mixing,and crustal contamination.The plagioclase phenocrysts in the Daqiao and Qiaojia plagioclase-phyric basalts from the Emeishan Large Igneous Province(LIP)show complex textural and compositional zoning patterns,e.g.,normal,reverse,oscillatory,and patchy zoning patterns.Most plagioclase phenocrysts exhibit a core–rim normal zoning pattern(Pl-A)with euhedral high-An cores(An=76–78%,in mole fraction)and low-An rims(An=68–72%),indicative of the crystal regrowth processes caused by recharge of relatively evolved magmas after the formation of high-An cores.Some phenocrysts have a core–rim reverse zoning pattern(Pl-B)with irregular ovaloid cores,characterized by extremely low An(60–61 mol%)and Ba(84–88 ppm)contents and extremely high87Sr/86Sr ratios(0.7120–0.7130).The rims of the Pl-B have relatively high An(69–72%),Ba(~160 ppm)contents,and low87Sr/86Sri(~0.7056).These Pl-B plagioclase phenocrysts preserve the information about the interaction between the crustal xenocrysts and the transporting magmas.Some plagioclase phenocrysts show a core–mantle–rim oscillatory zoning pattern(Pl-C)with multiple oscillations of An(70–80%),Ba(88–147ppm)from core to rim,revealing replenishment and mixing of multiple batches of basaltic melts with diverse compositions.87Sr/86Sr ratios of the Pl-C do not vary significantly(0.7050–0.7054).A small portion of phenocrysts has patchy patterns in the cores(Pl-D),where the low-An patches(72–75%)in form of elliptical or irregular elongated shapes were enclosed by the high-An domains(80–87%).These features can be attributed to crystal dissolution and regrowth processes during the reaction between earlyformed low-Cumulates and recharged hot primitive melts.The cores,mantles,and rims of different types of plagioclase phenocrysts(except the core of Pl-B)commonly display nearly constant Sr isotopic compositions,implying insignificant wall-rock assimilation at shallow-level magma reservoir(s)during the growth of these plagioclase phenocrysts.In conclusion,the massive crystallization of plagioclase in the late stage was an important controlling factor for the formation of iron-rich basalts in the Emeishan LIP.

A preliminary study on ore-forming environments of Xianglushan-type iron deposit and the weathering mineralization of Emeishan basalt in Guizhou Province, China

Xianglushan-type iron deposits are one of the new types of iron deposits found in the Weining Area of Western Guizhou. The iron-bearing rock system is a paleo-weathered crustal sedimentary(or accumulating) stratum between the top of the Middle-Late Permian Emeishan basalt formation and the Late Permian Xuanwei formation. Iron ore is hosted in the Lower-Middle part of the rock system. In terms of the genesis of mineral deposit, this type of deposit should be a basalt paleo-weathering crustal redeposit type, very different from marine sedimentary iron deposits or continental weathering crust iron deposits. Based on field work and the analytical results of XRD Powder Diffraction, Electron Probe, Scanner Electron Microscope, etc., the geological setting of the ore-forming processes and the deposit features are illustrated in this paper. The ore-forming environment of the deposit and the Emeishan basalt weathering mineralization are also discussed in order to enhance the knowledge of the universality and diversity of mineralization of the Emeishan Large Igneous Province(ELIP), which may be a considerable reference to further research for ELIP metallogenic theories, and geological research for iron deposits in the paleo-weathering crust areas of the Emeishan basalt,Southwestern, China.

峨眉大火成岩省攀西钒钛磁铁矿矿集区钴、镓、钪资源及综合利用潜力

峨眉大火成岩省内带攀西地区的攀枝花、红格、白马、太和等矿床的钒钛磁铁矿矿石量约100亿t,V_(2)O_(5)储量1580万t、TiO_(2)储量8.7亿t,此外还蕴含着丰富的Co、Ga、Sc、Cr等十多种稀有金属。尽管自20世纪八九十年代V和Ti逐渐得到了利用,但是Co、Ga、Sc、Cr等元素尚未得到综合利用,这些矿床的尾矿中还有巨量的各种金属元素。本文对近年来获得的磁铁矿、钛铁矿、单斜辉石电子探针和激光等离子质谱原位分析数据进行了系统分析,发现Ga和Cr主要赋存在磁铁矿中,Co主要赋存在硫化物和磁铁矿中,Sc主要赋存在单斜辉石和钛铁矿中;而且不同岩体中的磁铁矿、钛铁矿和单斜辉石中各种元素的含量存在差异。这些分析为矿石、尾矿甚至某些岩石中这些元素的综合利用提供了重要信息。

峨眉山大火成岩省钒钛磁铁矿矿床成因研究进展

钒钛磁铁矿矿床主要赋存于与大火成岩省相关的镁铁-超镁铁层状岩体中,虽然全球大火成岩省形成的镁铁-超镁铁层状岩体众多,但大规模的钒钛磁铁矿成矿作用并不常见。峨眉山大火成岩省内带的攀西地区赋存有数个超大型钒钛磁铁矿矿床,是全球最大的钒钛磁铁矿矿集区。钒钛磁铁矿大规模的成矿与母岩浆成分和磁铁矿的成因机制密切相关。此外,形成巨厚的钒钛磁铁矿矿层还需要高效的富集机制。本文系统总结了上述几个方面的研究进展,分析了导致钒钛磁铁矿大规模成矿的主要控制因素,指出钒钛磁铁矿矿床下一步研究值得关注的问题。