The Geology and Tectonic Settings of China's Mineral Deposits by Franco Pirajno

China is the third largest country in the world, with a land area of about 9.6 million km2. It is endowed with abundant mineral resources, and the metal mining activity can be traced back to ca. 8000 years ago. However, due to language barrier, little has been known about the geology and tectonics to the outside world until 1980s. In the last three decades, a great deal of knowledge has been gained, enhanced by a vigorous cooperation between Chinese and Western geologists. Research papers about geological, geochemical, and geochronological features of mineral deposits of China are widely published and cited in international journals. A comprehen- sive and comprehensible English literature that summarises the features of mineral deposits in China, however, is still lacking.

Zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic characteristics of the Dehe biotite monzonitic gneiss pluton in the North Qinling orogen and their geological significance

The Dehe granitic pluton intruded the Xiahe Group which is in the core complex of the North Qinling Orogenic Belt(NQOB).It shows gneissic bedding and possesses typical S-type granite minerals such as muscovite and garnet.LA-ICP-MS U-Pb isotopic dating of the Dehe granite yielded a weighted average age of 925±23 Ma which represents the emplacement age of the pluton.Most of the εHf(t) values are negative,and the two-stage model ages are consistent with the age of the Qinling Group.The isotope data show that the Dehe granite was formed in the following geological setting:in the syn-collision setting of the NQOB in the Neoproterozoic,crustal thickening induced partial melting of materials derived from the Qinling complex,and then the maga upwelled and intruded into the Xiahe Group.The formation of the Dehe S-type granite implied the occurrence of a convergent event in the QOB during the Neoproterozoic.

Geological Characteristics of Epithermal Ore Concentrated Areas and Epithermal Ore Deposits in China

The epithermal ore concentrated area is located in Southwestern China. We systematically study the regional geological characteristics such as the basement of Proterozoic, the capping bed, Moho, geothermal feature and tectonics, and discuss the relationship between distributed characteristics of the epithermal ore deposits and ore control factors in this paper. It is concluded that the conditions, under which the epithermal ore deposits form, are huge thick basement of Proterozoic, long time and wide scope developed capping bed and weak magmatic activity. The basement of Proterozoic that enriches volcanic matters and carbon and the carbonaceous bearing and paleo pool bearing capping bed provides main ore source. The large and deep faults and paleopool accordance with gravity anomaly gradient control the distribution of epithermal ore deposits. The lithologic assembles of microclastic rocks and carbonate rocks in the capping bed provide spaces of ore precipitation and create conditions of ore precipitation. The coincidence of many geological factors above forms the epithermal ore concentrated area.

Geological Setting of the Porphyry Copper Deposit Series of China

In accordance with the terms global minerogenic series, regional metallogenic series and ore depositsystem which are put forward here, metallogenic environments at different levels are discussed for theporphyry copper deposit series in China. It is considered that the porphyry copper deposits in China arecontrolled not only by the boundaries of convergent plates but, more importantly, by the boundaries ofintraplate divergent mobile belts and those between continental blocks. Besides, the emplacement ofhypabyssal and supper-hypabyssal calc-alkaline magmas and the temporal-spatial distribution of China'sporphyry copper deposits are governed by the superimposition of fracture systems of the pre-Alpine base-ments. Meso-Cenozoic cover and continental-margin new-born crust. Such a superimposition has also re-sulted in the polycyclicity of the mineralization.

Geological Features,Mineralization Types and Metallogenic Setting of the Phlaythong Large Iron Deposit,Southern Laos

The Phlaythong large iron deposit in Shampasak of southern Laos,is located in the Kon Tum microblock （Fig.1A）,central-southern part of the Indo-China block,and the geographic coordinate of the central mining area is 14°43′04″ N and 106°07′02″ E.

Geoscientific Significance and Classification of National Geoparks of China

The conservation of geological remains in China, especially in renowned sites with historical or cultural significance, has long been paid attention to. As the urban residents become more interested in returning to and harmony with the nature, tourism related sciences and knowledge gets more attractive. Geosites and geoparks can definitely play an important role to lead this historic tendency.

Characteristics of geothermal reservoirs and utilization of geothermal resources in the southeastern coastal areas of China

Based on regional geological setting, stratigraphic distribution and other geological conditions, this paper summarized three types of geothermal reservoirs in the southeast coastal areas of China: Cenozoic sandstone or sandy conglomerate reservoir, Mesozoic granite fissure reservoir and Paleozoic karst reservoir. Cenozoic sandstone or sandy conglomerate reservoirs are mainly located in Cenozoic basins, such as Zhangzhou, Fuzhou, Sanshui and Leiqiong basins. The Tertiary sedimentary basins such as Leiqiong Basin and Sanshui Basin, are controlled by NE-trending faults, while the Quaternary sedimentary such as Zhangzhou and Fuzhou basins are controlled by NW-trending faults. Mesozoic granite fissure reservoirs are mainly distributed in the southeast coastal areas, such as Zhangzhou, Fuzhou, Fengshun, Yangjiang and southern part of Hainan Province. The distribution of good Mesozoic granite fissure reservoir in these areas is mainly controlled by NE-trending faults. Paleozoic carbonate reservoirs are widely distributed in these areas. Most carbonate rocks are from the upper Paleozoic strata, such as those in the area of Huizhou in Guangdong Province. The major types of geothermal systems in the southeast coastal areas of China belong to medium and low-temperature convection. The geothermal resources developed from the ground to-3 000 m underground could be utilized directly for space heating, greenhouse heating, aquaculture pond heating and industrial uses, as well as other purposes. The geothermal resources with a depth of 3 000~6 000 m underground is mainly featured by Hot Dry Rock(HDR) with a temperature ranges from 150 ℃ to 200 ℃, which is conductive to the development of Enhanced Geothermal System(EGS) and can be utilized for power generation.

The Characteristics of the Hydrothermal Exhalative Dolostone of Lucaogou Formation in Santanghu basin and its Geology Setting Indication

The NW-SE trending Santanghu basin is located in Xinjiang,NW China,between Tianshan Mountains and Altai Mountains.The tectonic evolution history of north Xinjiang has long been debated,especially the question when did that area began its intraplate rift evolution stage.This abstract discusses the features and possible origin of the hydrothermal exhalative dolostone of Lucaogou Formation in Santanghu basin,aiming to provide relevant information about this question.The target dolostone are characterized by extreme thin lamina of 0.3cm–1 cm thick.Dolomite,ankerite,potassium feldspar and analcite are dominant composition.Most dolomite is poor crystallized and is in anhedral or subhedral shapes.Ankerite is generally porphyritic,few is in irregular shapes.It has to be noted that the porphyritic ankerite commonly develop zonal textures characterized by rings with various Fe O content.Potassium feldspar and analcite（<50%）are commonly observed in dolostones.Thin sections show some analcite is tetragonal trisoctahedron with harbour–like corrosion rims.Besides,few fragments of carbonatite rocks are observed in Lucaogou Formation and they perform intermittent or scattered distribution in rock layers.Previous work done by our study team showsδ13C PDB values are 4.8‰;1.4‰,6.93‰on average.Theδ18 O PDB values are between-5‰;21.1‰,-10.94‰on average.Paleosalinity calculated byδ13C andδ18 O is between 128.35 and 136.81,134.42 on average.Sr content of dolostones in study area reaches to164×10-6;37×10-6（379.1×10-6 on average）,most dolostone in target area are between 0.70457;.706194, average at 0.705360.Considering either accompanying residual tuff or residual leucite is found via electron probe,this indicates the analcite may derive form analcime phonolite.Furthermore,fragments of carbonatite rocks proves mantle-derived magmatism exist.The rapid variation ofδ18 O indicates multiple interactions of hydrothermal fluids with lake water during Lucaogou sedimentary period.87Sr/86Sr values are much lower than that of crustal silica rocks while are more close to mantle derived rocks,which indicates diagenetic hydrothermal fluid is mantle-origin.It has been reported that dolostone does not intergrow with iron-rich dolostone in study area.According to the latest X diffraction results of cores,iron-rich dolostone distributes rather locally.Given that ankerite commonly develop zonal textures characterized by various Fe O content,we confirm it is due to multiple hydrothermal fluids activities in different hydrothermal vents.There should be abundant hydrothermal vents during Lucaogou period.Deep faults and its relevant fractures built plenty paths for mantle-origin hydrothermal fluids to run up.Different vents owned various fluid properties,so did relevant sedimentation products.Hence we inclined to believe Santanghu basin was at intraplate rift evolution stage,under regional extension condition in late Carboniferous.During early-mid Permian the basin was a starved,deep lacustrine intracontinental rift basin.Accordingly,in northern Xinjiang,ocean basin may close in late Carboniferous and started continental sedimentary development in early Permian.

3D Seismic Attributes for Structural Analysis in Compressional Context: A Case Study from Western Sichuan Basin

Compressional region usually forms complex thrust faults system, which is difficult to identify using traditional migration profiles. The successful application of three-dimensional（3D） seismic attributes analysis greatly reduces the difficulty, and improves the accuracy and efficiency of seismic interpretation and structural analysis. In this paper, we took Qiongxi area in the compressional region of western Sichuan as an example, using two 3D seismic attributes, coherence and instantaneous phase, to identify fault assemblages and variations both vertically and laterally. The results show that the study area mainly consists of NS-, NE- and NEE-trending faults. The NS-trending faults are the largest and have a component of sinistral slip controlling the formation of NEE-trending faults, while the NE-trending faults are intermediate in scale, formed earlier and were cut by the NS-trending faults. Our results demonstrate that using seismic attributes for structural analysis have the following advantages：（1） more details of major fault zones,（2） highlighting minor faults which are hardly traced in seismic migration cube, and（3） easier acquisition of accurate fault systems. The application of seismic attributes provides a new idea for deciphering fine and complicated structures, and will significantly contribute to the development of objective and precise geological interpretation in the future.