Reconstruction of Ore-controlling Structures Resulting from Magmatic Intrusion into the Tongling Ore Cluster Area during the Yanshanian Epoch

The Tongling ore cluster area experienced intensive compression and associated shearing during the Indosinian-Yanshanian Epoch, which formed a trunk ore-controlling fold and fault system in the caprock. The magmatic intrusion in the Yanshanian Epoch induced a multi-stage unmixing of poly-phase fluids, resulting in mineralization characterized by multi-layer, wide-range, and multiform styles. The magmatic intrusion in the Tongling area not only supplied the essential ore-forming materials, but also reconstructed the ore-controlling structures according to a trend surface simulation of the following five strata boundaries： Silurian-Devonian, Devonian-Carboniferous, Carboniferous- Permian, Middle Permian-Upper Permian and Permian -Triassic. The result of this simulation shows that there exists a significant difference between the strata in the upper part and those in the lower. The lower trend surfaces are antiform whereas the upper trend surfaces are synform. In addition, superposing of the trend surfaces of adjacent bed boundaries （such as, Silurian-Devonian boundary superposed upon Devonian-Carboniferous boundary） shows that the lower trend surface always pierces the one above. Moreover, the position and orientation of the pierced parts of the different superposed trend surfaces are similar and show E-W-trending zonal distribution in accordance with the distribution of the regional E-W-trending magmatic-metallogenic belt. Based on comprehensive analysis of the mechanical properties of the strata, structural deformation mechanisms, and field phenomena, it seems that the special characteristics of the stratal trend surface resulted from jacking due to magmatic intrusion into the caprock previously controlled by an E-W-trending basement fault. Therefore, it is deduced that the major ore-controlling structures, which formed during regional horizontal compression, were reconstructed by the vertical jacking function of ore-forming magmas during the Yanshanian Epoch. During the ore-forming process, the local vertical jacking of magmas, coupled with the regional horizontal compression, optimized an extensive environment in the fluid- conduit network and accelerated the unmixing of poly-phase fluids following magmatic emplacement. Jacking also strengthened the vertical and lateral fluid-guiding structures, supplying more suitable physical conditions for multi-layer emplacement and wide-ranging transport of poly-phase fluids.

The Major Ore Clusters of Super-Large Iron Deposits in the World, Present Situation of Iron Resources in China, and Prospect

The metamorphosed sedimentary type of iron deposits（BIF） is the most important type of iron deposits in the world, and super-large iron ore clusters of this type include the Quadrilatero Ferrifero district and Carajas in Brazil, Hamersley in Australia, Kursk in Russia, Central Province of India and Anshan-Benxi in China. Subordinated types of iron deposits are magmatic, volcanic-hosted and sedimentary ones. This paper briefly introduces the geological characteristics of major super-large iron ore clusters in the world. The proven reserves of iron ores in China are relatively abundant, but they are mainly low-grade ores. Moreover, a considerate part of iron ores are difficult to utilize for their difficult ore dressing, deep burial or other reasons. Iron ore deposits are relatively concentrated in 11 metallogenic provinces（belts）, such as the Anshan-Benxi, eastern Hebei, Xichang-Central Yunnan Province and middle-lower reaches of Yangtze River. The main minerogenetic epoches vary widely from the Archean to Quaternary, and are mainly the Late Archean to Middle Proterozoic, Variscan, and Yanshanian periods. The main 7 genetic types of iron deposits in China are metamorphosed sedimentary type（BIF）, magmatic type, volcanic-hosted type, skarn type, hydrothermal type, sedimentary type and weathered leaching type. The iron-rich ores occur predominantly in the skarn and marine volcanic-hosted iron deposits, locally in the metamorphosed sedimentary type（BIF） as hydrothermal reformation products. The theory of minerogenetic series of mineral deposits and minerogenic models has applied in investigation and prospecting of iron ore deposits. A combination of deep analyses of aeromagnetic anomalies and geomagnetic anomalies, with gravity anomalies are an effective method to seeking large and deep-buried iron deposits. China has a relatively great oresearching potential of iron ores, especially for metamorphosed sedimentary, skarn, and marine volcanic-hosted iron deposits. For the lower guarantee degree of iron and steel industry, China should give a trading and open the foreign mining markets.