Geological Fluid Mapping in the Tongling Area:Implications for the Paleozoic Submarine Hydrothermal System in the Middle-Lower Yangtze Metallogenic Belt,East China

The Tongling area is one of the 7 ore-cluster areas in the Middle-Lower Yangtze metallogenic belt, East China, and has tectonically undergone a long-term geologic history from the late Paleozoic continental rifting, through the Middle Triassic continent-continent collision to the Jurassic-Cretaceous intracontinental tectono-magmatic activation. The Carboniferous sedimentary-exhalative processes in the area produced widespread massive sulfides with ages of 303-321 Ma, which partly formed massive pyrite-Cu deposits, but mostly provided significant sulfur and metals to the skarn Cu mineralization associated with the Yanshanian felsic intrusions.To understand the Carboniferous submarine hydrothermal system, an area of about 1046 km^2 was chosen to carry out the geological fluid mapping. Associated with massive sulfide formation, footwall sequences 948 m to 1146 m thick, composed of the Lower Silurian-Upper Devonian sandstone, siltstone and thin-layered shale, were widely altered. This hydrothermal alteration is interpreted to reflect largescale hydrothermal fluid flow associated with the late Paleozoic crustal rifting and subsidence. Three hydrothermal alteration types, i.e., deep-level semiconformable siliclfication （S1）, fracture-controlled quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration （S2-3）, and upper-level sub-discordant quartz-sericite-chlorite alteration （D3）, were developed to form distinct zones in the mapped area. About 50-m thick semiconformable silicification zones are located at -1-km depth below massive sulfides and developed between an impermeable shale caprock （S1） and the underlying Ordovician unaltered limestone. Comparisons with modern geothermal systems suggest that the alteration zones record a sub-seafioor aquifer with the most productive hydrothermal fluid flow. Fracture-controlled quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration formed transgressive zones, which downward crosscut the semiconformable alteration zones, and upwards grade into sub-discordant alteration zones that enveloped no economic stringer- stockwork zones beneath massive sulfides. This transgressive zone likely marks an upfiow path of high- flux fluids from the hydrothermal aquifer. Lateral zonation of the sub-discordant alteration zones and their relationship to overlying massive sulfide lenses suggest lateral flows and diffusive discharging of the hydrothermal fluids in a permeable sandstone sequence. Three large-sized, 14 middle-small massive sulfide deposits, and 40 massive sulfide sites have been mapped in detail. They show regional strata- bound characters and two major styles, i.e., the layered sheet plus strata-bound stringer-style and the mound-style. Associated exhalite and chemical sedimentary rock suites include （1） anhydrite-barite, （2） jasper-chert, （3） Mg-rich mudstone-pyrite shale, （4） barite lens, （5） siderite-Fe-bearing dolomite, and （6） Mn-rich shale-mudstone, which usually comprise three sulfide-exhalite cyclic units in the area.The spatial distribution of these alteration zones （minerals） and associated massive sulfdes and exhalites, and regional variation in δ^34S of hydrothermal pyrite and in δ^18O-δ^34C of hanging wall carbonates, suggest three WNW-extending domains of fluid flow, controlled by the basement faults and syn-depositional faults. Each fluid domain appears to have at least two upflow zones, with estimated even spacing of about 5-8 km in the mapped area. The repeated appearance of sulfide-sulfate or sulfide-carbonate rhythmic units in the area suggests episodically venting of fluids through the upfiow conduits by breaking the overlying seals of the hydrothermal aquifer.

In Situ Analyses of Trace Elements, U–Pb and Lu–Hf Isotopes in Zircons from the Tongshankou Granodiorite Porphyry in Southeast Hubei Province, Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt, China

The Tongshankou Cu-Mo deposit, located in southeast Hubei province, is a typical skarn–porphyry type ore deposit closely related to the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry, characterized by a high Sr/Y ratio.Detailed in situ analyses of the trace elements and U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes in zircons from the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry were performed.Scarcely any inherited zircons were observed, and the analyzed zircons yielded highly concordant results with a weighted mean 206Pb/238 U age of 143.5 ± 0.45 Ma（n=20, mean square weighted deviation was 0.75）, which was interpreted to represent the crystallization age of the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry.The chondrite-normalized rare-earth element pattern was characterized by a slope that steeply rises from the light-group rare-earth elements（LREE） to the heavy-group rare-earth elements（HREE） with a positive Ce-anomaly and inconspicuous Eu-anomaly, which was coincident with the pattern of the zircons from the Chuquicamata West porphyry, Chile.The analyzed zircons also had relatively low 176Hf/177 Hf ratios of 0.282526–0.282604.Assuming t=143 Ma, the corresponding calculated initial Hf isotope compositions（εHf（t）） ranged from-5.6 to-2.9.The results of the in situ analysis of trace elements and U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes in zircons from the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry suggest that a deep-seated process involving a thickened-crust/enriched-mantle interaction may play an important role in the generation of high Sr/Y-ratio magma and potentially in the generation of porphyry Cu-Mo systems.

Cathodoluminescence and Trace Element Composition of Scheelite from the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt(MLYB): Implications for Mineralization and Exploration

The Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt(MLYB)is known to contain abundant copper and iron porphyry-skarn deposits,with an increasing number of tungsten deposits and scheelite in Fe-Cu deposits being discovered in the MLYB during recent decades.The ore genesis of the newly-discovered tungsten mineralization in the MLYB is poorly understood.We investigate four sets of scheelite samples from tungsten,iron and copper deposits,using CL imaging and LA-ICP-MS techniques to reveal internal zonation patterns and trace element compositions.The REE distribution patterns of four studied deposits show varying degrees of LREE enrichment with negative Eu anomalies.The oxygen fugacity of ore-forming fluid increased in Donggushan,while the oxygen fugacity of ore-forming fluid decreased in Ruanjiawan,Guilinzheng and Gaojiabang.The scheelites from the Donggushan,Ruanjiawan,Guilinzheng and Gaojiabang deposits show enrichment in LREEs and HFSE,with Nb/La ratios ranging from 1.217 to 52.455,indicating that the four tungsten deposits are enriched in the volatile fluorine.A plot of(La/Lu)N versus Mo/δEu can be used to distinguish quartz vein type,porphyry and skarn tungsten deposits.This study demonstrates that scheelite grains can be used to infer tungsten mineralization and are effective in identifying magmatic types of tungsten deposits in prospective mining sites.

Molybdenite Re-Os,titanite and garnet U-Pb dating of the Magushan skarn Cu-Mo deposit,Xuancheng district,Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt

The Magushan skarn Cu-Mo deposit is a representative example of the skarn mineralization occurring within the Xuancheng ore district of the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt of eastern China.The precise age of an ore deposit is important for understanding the timing of mineralization relative to other geological events in a region and to fully place the formation of a mineral deposit within the geological context of other processes that occur within the study area.Here,we present new molybdenite Re-Os and titanite and andradite garnet U-Pb ages for the Magushan deposit and use these data to outline possible approaches for identifying genetic relationships in geologically complex areas.The spatial and paragenetic relationships between the intrusions,alteration,and mineralization within the study area indicates that the formation of the Magushan deposit is genetically associated with the porphyritic granodiorite.However,this is not always the case,as some areas contain complexly zoned plutons with multiple phases of intrusion or mineralization may be distal from or may not have any clear spatial relationship to a pluton.This means that it may not be possible to determine whether the mineralization formed as a result of single or multiple magmatic/hydrothermal events.As such,the approaches presented in this study provide an approach that allows the identification of any geochronological relationships between mineralization and intrusive events in areas more complex than the study area.Previously published zircon U-Pb data for the mineralization-related porphyritic granodiorite in this area yielded an age of 134.2±1.2 Ma(MSWD=1.4)whereas the Re-Os dating of molybdenite from the study area yielded an isochron age of 137.7±2.5 Ma(MSWD=0.43).The timing of the mineralizing event in the study area was further examined by the dating of magmatic accessory titanite and skarn-related andradite garnet,yielding U-Pb ages of 136.3±2.5 Ma(MSWD=3.2)and 135.9±2.7 Ma(MSWD=2.5),respectively.The dating of magmatic and hydrothermal activity within the Magushan area yields ages around 136 Ma,strongly suggesting that the mineralization in this area formed as a result of the emplacement of the intrusion.The dates presented in this study also provide the first indication of the timing of mineralization within the Xuancheng district.providing evidence of a close genetic relationship between the formation of the mineralization within the Xuancheng district and the Early Cretaceous magmatism that occurred in this area.This in turn suggests that other Early Cretaceous intrusive rocks within this region are likely to be associated with mineralization and should be considered highly prospective for future mineral exploration.This study also indicates that the dating of garnet and titanite can also provide reliable geochronological data and evidence of the timing of mineralization and magmatism,respectively,in areas lacking other dateable minerals(e.g.,molybdenite)or where the relationship between mineralization and magmatism is unclear,for example in areas with multiple stages of magmatism,with complexly zoned plutons,and with distal skarn mineralization.

Research and Application of Micromotional Exploration in the Middle-Lower Yangtze Metallogenic Belt of China

Micromotion is the daily tiny vibration of the earth’s surface. Micromotional exploration can use the surface wave information of micro motion to study the shallow structure of underground media. In this study, we collected microtremor data at 68 stations in the Middle-Lower Yangtze Metallogenic Belt (MLYMB) and determined the resonant frequency and obtained the distribution of sedimentary thickness in this area by using H/V spectral ratio. According to the results of H/V, the sedimentary layer in the basin is thick, and the predominant frequency of the basin is 0.05 - 0.1 Hz. There are no obvious lateral changes in the impedance interface between bedrock and sedimentary layer in this area. The basement of Tongling, Anqing and Luzhou mining areas and their adjacent areas is Kongling-Dongling type basement, which is composed of a set of metamorphic core complex. The predominant frequency is 0.05 - 0.1 Hz. The sedimentary thickness gradually thinned from 3800 m in the west to 2100 m in the East. Moreover, this article used SPAC (spatial autocorrelation) method to obtain the S-wave velocity structure of the mining area near Luzong. The SPAC method reveals that the depth of the interface between the loose sediments and the volcanic rocks is about 600 m in the study area near the Luzhou mining area in the Middle-Lower Yangtze Metallogenic Belt, and the average depth of the interface between the volcanic rock section and the intrusive complex section is about 1000 m. The thickness of the intrusive rock is more than 2500 m. Tourmaline is developed in the interior of the intrusive rock, which may have better exploration value.

A 3D Investigation of Geological Structure and Its Relationship to Mineralization in the Nanling-Xuancheng Ore District,Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt,China

The Nanling-Xuancheng ore region of Anhui Province is located in the Middle-Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt.Insufficient exploration and research have been carried out in this newly defined ore district,although the Chating large porphyry Cu-Au deposit and a few middle-sized skarntype Cu polymetallic deposits have been discovered.In this study,we carried out high-resolution seismic reflection,magnetotelluric,gravity,and magnetic investigations,and constructed the 3 D geological structure of the uppermost crust in a depth range of 0-5 km using a comprehensive inversion of the new data constrained by previous deep-drilling data.We hence proposed some new insights to understand the mineralization processes of this district.A system of alternating ridges and valleys is suggested as the major structure pattern,composed of“two-layer structure”of the basins and“three-layer structure”of anticlines.Moreover,a conjugated fault system and its distribution features are revealed in our models,including the Jiangnan fault,Zhouwang fault,and Kunshan thrust nappe.The Jiangnan and Kunshan faults are suggested to have controlled the diagenesis and metallogenesis.Two deep concealed plutons located in Chating and Magushan are found,forming the Mesozoic diorite-felsic intrusions.These intrusions are believed to be the causes of hydrothermal deposits such as the Chating deposit and the Magushan deposit.

High-resolution 3D crustal S-wave velocity structure of the MiddleLower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt and implications for its deep geodynamic setting

The Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt(MLYMB) is an important mineral resource region in China.High-resolution crustal models can provide crucial constraints to understand the ore-forming processes and geodynamic setting in this region. Using ambient seismic noise from 107 permanent and 82 portable stations in the MLYMB and the adjacent area,we present a new high-resolution 3D S-wave velocity model of this region. We first extract 5–50 s Rayleigh wave phase velocity dispersion data by calculating ambient noise cross-correlation functions(CFs) and then use the surface wave direct inversion method to invert the mixed path travel times for the 3D S-wave velocity structure. Checkerboard tests show that the horizontal resolution of the 3D S-wave velocity model is approximately 0.5°–1.0° and that the vertical resolution decreases with increasing noise and depth. Our high-resolution 3D S-wave velocity model reveals:(1) AV-shaped high-velocity zone(HVZ) is located in the lower crust and the uppermost mantle in the study region. The western branch of the HVZ passes through the Jianghan Basin,the Qinling-Dabie orogenic belt and the Nanxiang Basin. The eastern branch, which almost completely covers the main body of the MLYMB, is located near the Tanlu Fault. The low-velocity anomalies between the western and eastern branches are located in the area of the Qinling-Dabie orogenic belt.(2) High-velocity uplifts(HVUs) are common in the crust of the MLYMB,especially in the areas near the Tanlu Fault, the Changjiang Fault and the Yangxin-Changzhou Fault. The intensities of the HVUs gradually weaken from west to east. The V-shaped HVZ in the lower crust and uppermost mantle and the HVUs in the middle and lower crust likely represent cooled mantle intrusive rocks. During the Yanshanian period, fault systems formed in the MLYMB due to the convergence between the South China Plate and the North China Plate, the multiple-direction drifting of the PaleoPacific Plate and its subduction beneath the Eurasian Plate. The dehydration of the cold oceanic crust led to partial melting in the upper mantle. Temperature differences caused strong convection of the upper mantle material that underplated the lower crust and rose to near the surface along the deep fault systems. After mixing with the crustal materials, mineralization processes, such as assimilation and fractional crystallization, occurred in the MLYMB.

安徽繁昌地区桃冲铁矿床地球化学特征及矿床成因研究

安徽繁昌地区作为长江中下游Fe、Cu、Au成矿带中的重要矿集区,发育一系列以桃冲铁矿为代表的磁铁矿型铁矿床。对桃冲矿区分布的岩浆岩、围岩与赋矿矽卡岩的稀土元素地球化学特征对比,表明三者稀土含量及其配分模式存在差异,桃冲铁矿夕卡岩稀土总量较低,轻稀土富集重稀土亏损,呈右倾过渡型配分模式,具明显Eu正异常。通过对桃冲铁矿床内包裹体的岩相学、显微测温、激光拉曼光谱探针分析,桃冲铁矿体中发育有熔融包裹体、气液相包裹体、含子晶多相包裹体、纯液相包裹体4种类型。成矿流体具中高温、高盐度、富水特征,富含Na+、Ca2+、Mg2+、K+、Cl-、SO24-离子。结合透岩浆流体成矿理论探讨成矿流体及演化,认为形成铁矿床的物质来源为深部富铁夕卡岩矿浆,侵位过程中受构造环境影响,因温压条件的迅速改变含矿流体与夕卡岩浆发生解耦作用,于构造薄弱部位贯入形成矿体。

长江中下游贵池李湾铜多金属矿区岩浆岩年代学及Hf同位素地球化学研究

李湾铜多金属矿位于长江中下游成矿带安庆-贵池矿集区,与矿区岩浆岩有密切的成因联系,是一个典型的矽卡岩型矿床。该区侵入岩主要由钾长花岗岩、闪长岩等组成,总体上具有较高的总碱（K2O＋Na2O）和K2O含量,低MgO、TiO 2和P2O5含量,富集大离子亲石元素（Rb、Th、U）和高场强元素（Zr、Hf、Nb和Y）,亏损Ba、P、Ti,轻稀土富集、亏损重稀土等地球化学特征。通过对闪长岩和钾长花岗岩锆石U-Pb年代学研究表明,前者形成于123.4±2.4Ma,后者形成于122.6±1.3Ma,这与长江中下游125±5Ma岩浆活动及成矿事件一致。两者的锆石稀土元素配分均显示典型的轻稀土亏损、重稀土富集,Ce正异常、Eu负异常特征。前者相对后者锆石的Ce4＋/Ce3＋要高,其均值为345,显示其具有相对较高的氧逸度;锆石Ti温度计计算显示两者形成温度大体一致,为703~748℃范围内。同时钾长花岗岩锆石均具有均一的Hf同位素组成,εHf（t）均值为-4.7,二阶段模式年龄为1118~1356Ma,较高的εHf（t）值,指示源区可能有地幔物质的贡献。结合区域地质背景,我们认为该区闪长岩可能是板块后撤过程中残留的洋壳与地幔物质的混合,而附近的钾长花岗岩则是陆壳部分熔融与地幔混溶的结果,两者均位于太平洋板块125Ma前后俯冲后撤形成的拉张背景中。

姚家岭锌金多金属矿床围岩蚀变三维空间定量分析研究

姚家岭锌金多金属矿床是近年来在长江中下游成矿带铜陵矿集区新发现的大型多金属矿床。姚家岭锌金多金属矿床的成矿作用具有多阶段性的特点,矿床范围内围岩蚀变强烈,蚀变类型复杂多样。三维地质信息技术及三维空间分析方法为定量化分析围岩蚀变的空间分布以及与矿化之间的相关关系提供了有利工具。本文基于上述方法,有效地对姚家岭锌金多金属矿床的围岩蚀变的分带性及其与不同矿化之间的关联性行了定量分析。较之于传统研究方法,不仅能快速地对蚀变与矿化的分布特征进行分析,还能从定量的角度获取不同信息之间的规律性和相关性。本文采用的相关方法不但有助于更准确的判定蚀变分带及规律,还可为矿床的成矿模式及找矿模型的建立提供定量化的数据支持。

安徽沿江坳陷多金属成矿带控矿因素与找矿建议

安徽沿江坳陷是长江中下游铁铜成矿带的重要组成部分,近10年来安徽新发现的具有较高经济价值的金属矿床几乎全都在该区。侵入岩体周边不同性质的围岩往往对矿床的类型具有控制作用;区域性深大断裂控制了成矿母岩的形成和分布,而具体的矿床构造（褶皱、断裂、接触带）控制着成矿有利空间（低压带）的分布;燕山中晚期中性-中酸性混熔型钙碱性岩浆岩不仅控制金属矿床的产出部位,还提供了成矿物质、热能,并产生成矿热液;矿床均围绕岩体分布,具有矿种和矿物组合等方面的水平-垂向分带;成矿时代为130~155 Ma,金属矿床分为玢岩型铁矿、夕卡岩型铁矿、斑岩型铜矿、夕卡岩型铜矿、层控型铁铜矿等5种矿床类型,各类型之间存在过渡、共生、叠加关系,构成中性-中酸性岩浆成矿系列。建议在今后的找矿工作中,要选好靶区、就矿找矿,加强中性-中酸性岩浆岩和控矿构造的研究,并注意技术方法的有效性与多解性。

长江中下游成矿带多金属矿床的成矿地质条件及找矿前景分析

长江中下游成矿带是我国重要的多金属矿成矿带,依照成矿控制作用的不同,有的矿床与内生成矿作用存在紧密的联系,有的为外生作用关系密切的矿床及后生改造类型的矿床等三类。因此,对长江中下游成矿带多金属矿床的成矿地质条件及找矿前景进行分析具有非常重要的现实意义。

Mineral Deposit Model of Cu-Fe-Au Skarn System in the Edongnan Region, Eastern China

Cu and Fe skarns are the world's most abundant and largest skarn type deposits,especially in China,and Au-rich skarn deposits have received much attention in the past two decades and yet there are few papers focused on schematic mineral deposit models of Cu-Fe-Au skarn systems.Three types of Au-rich deposits are recognized in the Edongnan region,Middle-Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt:~140 Ma Cu-Au and Au-Cu skarn deposits and distal Au-Tl deposits.137-148 Ma Cu-Fe and 130-133 Ma Fe skarn deposits are recognized in the Edongnan region.The Cu-Fe skarn deposits have a greater contribution of mantle components than the Fe skarn deposits,and the hydrothermal fluids responsible for formation of the Fe skarn deposits involved a greater contribution from evaporitic sedimentary rocks compared to Cu-Fe skarn deposits.The carbonate-hosted Au-Tl deposits in the Edongnan region are interpreted as distal products of Cu-Au skarn mineralization.A new schematic mineral deposit model of the Cu-Fe-Au skarn system is proposed to illustrate the relationship between the Cu-Fe-Au skarn mineralization,the evaporitic sedimentary rocks,and distal Au-Tl deposits.This model has important implications for the exploration for carbonate-hosted Au-Tl deposits in the more distal parts of Cu-Au skarn systems,and Fe skarn deposits with the occurrence of gypsum-bearing host sedimentary rocks in the MLYRB,and possibly elsewhere.