Timing of formation of the Hongdonggou Pb-Zn polymetallic ore deposit,Henan Province,China:Evidence from Rb-Sr isotopic dating of sphalerites

The Hongdonggou Pb-Zn polymetallic ore deposit, located in the southwestern part of the Luanchuan Mo-W-Pb-Zn-Ag polymetallic ore mineralization in Henan Province, China, is an important part of the East Qinling metallogenic belt. The orebodies in the deposit, which are vein, bedded and lenticular, are mainly hosted in the syenite porphyry, and formed within the carbonate and clastic rocks of the Yuku and Qiumugou formations partially. The genesis of the deposit has previously been argued to be of hydrothermal-vein type or of skarn-hydrothermal type. In this study, we report the results of Rb-Sr isotopic dating based on sphalerites from the main orebody of the Hongdonggou Pb-Zn polymetallic ore deposit, which yield an isochron age of 135.7 ± 3.2 Ma, constraining the timing of mineralization as early Cretaceous. The age is close to those reported for the Pb-Zn deposits in the Luanchuan ore belt. The （87Sr/86Sr）i values of the sphalerites （0.71127± 0.00010） are lower than that of terrigenous silicates （0.720） and higher than the mantle （0.707）, suggesting that the metallogenic components were mainly derived through crust-mantle mixing. Combining the results from this study with those from previous work, we propose that the Hongdonggou Pb-Zn polymetallic ore deposit is a hydrothermal-vein deposit associated with the early Cretaceous tectonothermal event, and the mineralization is controlled by NW- and near EW-trending faults in the Luanchuan Mo-W-Pb-Zn-Ag polymetallic ore concentration belt.

Origin of Ore-Forming Fluids of Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) Pb-Zn Deposits in Kangdian Area, China

Analyses of fluid\|inclusion leachates from ore deposits show that Na/Br ratios are within the range of 75-358 and Cl/Br 67-394, respectively, and this variation trend coincides with the seawater evaporation trajectory on the basis of the Na/Br and Cl/Br ratios. The average Cl/Br and Na/Br ratios of mineralizing fluids are 185 and 173 respectively, which are very close to the ratios (120 and 233) of the residual evaporated seawater past the point of halite precipitation. It is suggested that the original mineralizing brine was derived from highly evaporated seawater with a high salinity. However, the inclusion fluids have absolute Na values of \{69.9\}-\{2606.2\} mmol kg\+\{-1\} and Cl values of \{106.7\}-\{1995.5\} mmol kg\+\{-1\}. Most of the values are much less than those of seawater: Na, 485 mmol kg\+\{-1\} and Cl, 566 mmol kg\+\{-1\}, respectively; the salinity measured from fluid inclusions of the deposits ranges from \{2.47 wt%\} to \{15.78 wt%\} NaCl equiv. The mineralizing brine has been diluted. The \{δ\{\}\+\{18\}O\} and δD values of ore\|forming fluids vary from \{-8.21‰\} to \{9.51‰\} and from \{-40.3‰\} to \{-94.3‰\}, respectively. The δD values of meteoric water in this region varied from \{-80‰\} to \{-100‰\} during the Jurassic. This evidenced that the ore\|forming fluids are the mixture of seawater and meteoric water. Highly evaporated seawater was responsible for leaching and extracting Pb, Zn and Fe, and mixed with and diluted by descending meteoric water, which resulted in the formation of ores.

Stable Isotopes and Halogen Geochemistry of the Huayuan Carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn Ore District, South China: Implications for the Salt Source of Ore-forming Fluids

The Huayuan Pb-Zn ore district in China,located in western Hunan Province,is a giant carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn ore district.The source of ore-forming brines in this ore district remains poorly constrained.Whether the highly saline brines are derived from evaporated seawater or dissolved evaporates continues to be intensely debated.Carbonate minerals associated with Pb-Zn mineralization haveδ^(13)CV-PDB andδ^(18)OV-SMOW values ranging from−5.55‰to+1.35‰(mean value of−0.69‰;n=14)and+16.28‰to+25.05‰(mean value of+20.22‰;n=14),respectively.This indicates that carbonate minerals are dominantly formed from dissolved ore-hosted carbonate rocks.Theδ^(34)S values of sulfides range from+20.2‰to+36.8‰,with an average value of+30.0‰(n=27).These results suggest that sulfur is predominantly derived from the thermochemical sulfate reduction of marine sulfate.The crush-leach analyzed solute data of fluid inclusions in sphalerite show the ore-forming fluids have Cl/Br molar ratios range from 118 to 384,and Na/Br molar ratios from 39 to 160(n=8).These Cl/Br ratios of hydrothermal fluid are much lower than those of seawater(657 to 564),but are consistent with bittern brines through early halite precipitation.We propose that ore-forming fluids are mainly derived from evaporitic basin brines,which leached base metals from the basement and/or country rocks.The brine then migrated to the basin margins through clastic rocks of basement and then precipitated sulfides by thermochemical sulfate reduction.

Characteristics of the ore-forming fluid in the Huayuan Pb-Zn ore filed, Northwest of Hunan Province, China

1 Geological Setting The Huayuan Pb-Zn ore field in Xiangxi is located in the southeastern margin of the Yangtze block and the mid-segment of the West Hunan-West Hubei metallogenic belt.The exposed stratum are the lower

Genesis of the Changba–Lijiagou Giant Pb-Zn Deposit, West Qinling, Central China: Constraints from S-Pb-C-O isotopes

The extensive Changba-Lijiagou Pb-Zn deposit is located in the north of the Xihe–Chengxian ore cluster in West Qinling. The ore bodies are mainly hosted in the marble, dolomitic marble and biotite-calcite-quartz schist of the Middle Devonian Anjiacha Formation, and are structurally controlled by the fault and anticline. The ore-forming process can be divided into three main stages, based on field geological features and mineral assemblages. The mineral assemblages of hydrothermal stage I are pale-yellow coarse grain, low Fe sphalerite, pyrite with pits, barite and biotite. The mineral assemblages of hydrothermal stage II are black-brown cryptocrystalline, high Fe shalerite, pyrite without pits, marcasite or arsenopyrite replace the pyrite with pits, K-feldspar. The features of hydrothermal stage III are calcite-quartz-sulfide vein cutting the laminated, banded ore body. Forty-two sulfur isotope analyses, twenty-five lead isotope analyses and nineteen carbon and oxygen isotope analyses were determined on sphalerite, pyrite, galena and calcite. The δ34 S values of stage I(20.3 to 29.0‰) are consistent with the δ34 S of sulfate(barite) in the stratum. Combined with geological feature, inclusion characteristics and EPMA data, we propose that TSR has played a key role in the formation of the sulfides in stage I. The δ34 S values of stage II sphalerite and pyrite(15.1 to 23.0‰) are between sulfides in the host rock, magmatic sulfur and the sulfate(barite) in the stratum. This result suggests that multiple S reservoirs were the sources for S2-in stage II. The δ34 S values of stage III(13.1 to 22‰) combined with the structure of the geological and mineral features suggest a magmatic hydrothermal origin of the mineralization. The lead isotope compositions of the sulfides have 206 Pb/204 Pb ranging from 17.9480 to 17.9782, 207 Pb/204 Pb ranging from 15.611 to 15.622, and 208 Pb/204 Pb ranging from 38.1368 to 38.1691 in the three ore-forming stages. The narrow and symmetric distributions of the lead isotope values reflect homogenization of granite and mantle sources before the Pb-Zn mineralization. The δ13 CPDB and δ18 OSMOW values of stage I range from-0.1 to 2.4‰ and from 18.8 to 21.7‰. The values and inclusion data indicate that the source of fluids in stage I was the dissolution of marine carbonate. The δ13 CPDB and δ18 OSMOW values of stage II range from-4 to 1‰ and from 12.3 to 20.3‰, suggesting multiple C-O reservoirs in the Changba deposit and the addition of mantle-source fluid to the system. The values in stage III are-3.1‰ and 19.7‰, respectively. We infer that the process of mineralization involved evaporitic salt and sedimentary organic-bearing units interacting through thermochemical sulfate reduction through the isotopic, mineralogy and inclusion evidences. Subsequently, the geology feature, mineral assemblages, EPMA data and isotopic values support the conclusion that the ore-forming hydrothermal fluids were mixed with magmatic hydrothermal fluids and forming the massive dark sphalerite, then yielding the calcite-quartz-sulfide vein ore type at the last stage. The genesis of this ore deposit was epigenetic rather than the previously-proposed sedimentary-exhalative(SEDEX) type.

Development in selective flotation of galena from lead-zinc-iron sulfide ores in China

A new technique for the flotation separation of lead zinc iron sulfide ores has been developed and applied to several mills in China. It is characterized by the matching of relationships among pulp pH, pulp potential, flotation collector inside grinding mill. The flotation separation of galena and sphalerite has been accomplished without the addition of any conventional depressant of sphalerite such as zinc sulphate. Lime is used as a regulator and stabilizer of pulp pH and potential. Diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC), not xanthate, is determined as a collector for the selective flotation of galena from the Pb Zn Fe sulfide ores. The laboratory scale tests, the plant scale tests and the plant operations have all shown that the best separation results can be achieved at pH of 12.4～12.6, the pulp potential of 160～180 mV. The operation practice in the four plants has confirmed that compared with conventional flotation flowsheet, our new technology can greatly improve the flotation results, reduce the flotation time and the number of flotation cell, and increase the stability of operation and the adaptability to changes in ore properties. All these advantages have made this four plants more profitable.

Ore-forming fluid characteristics and genesis of vein-type lead-zinc mineralization of Xiaohongshilazi deposit,Jilin Province, China

The Xiaohongshilazi mineral deposit in Jilin Province,China,is located in the accretion zone in the northern margin of the North China Block. The deposit contains two types of ore bodies: layered Pb-Zn ore bodies in volcanic rock and vein-hosted Pb-Zn ore bodies controlled by fractures. The vein Pb-Zn ore bodies are strictly controlled by tectonic fracture zones trending in S-N direction,which comprise sulfide veins or sulfidebearing quartz veins distributed along faults or structural fissures. The ores mainly appear mesh-vein and vein structures,and also show solid-solution separation and metasomatic textures. The metal minerals are mainly sphalerite,galena,and pyrite,etc. Wall-rock alteration includes mainly sericitization,chloritization,silicification and carbonatization,etc. Microscope observations and Raman spectroscopy analyses indicate that the oreforming fluid of the vein Pb-Zn ore bodies was mainly magmatic water with low temperature,low salinity,and a shallow depth of metallogenesis( ~ 1.5 km). Sulfur and lead isotope analyses indicate that the sulfide source is mainly formation sulfur or biogenic sulfur,which is similar to the sulfur source of hydrothermal deposit( negative( δ^(34) S values),while the main Pb source was the upper crust with some mantle input. This article argues that the vein Pb-Zn ore body of the Xiaohongshilazi deposit is a low-to medium-temperature hydrothermal vein type related to the formation of a shallow magma chamber.

Anatomy and genesis of the world’s largest carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb deposit:New insights from ore characteristics,Zn-Pb-C-O isotopes,and trace element constraints of the Huoshaoyun deposit,Karakorum Range,Xinjiang

The Huoshaoyun deposit in the Karakorum area of NW China is the world’s largest zinc-lead carbonate ore deposit.Here we investigate the genesis of the mineralization based on multiproxy investigations.The deposit contains zinc-lead carbonate and sulfide minerals,with smithsonite(Smt),cerussite(Cer),and sulfides accounting for 85%,10%,and 5%of the total lead and zinc resources,respectively.Three ore-forming stages,involving Smt,Cer,and sulfides ores were summarized.The Smt mineralization is characterized by veined,massive,and stratified Smt forming horizontal sedimentary layered ore and vertical feeder veins similar to the SEDEX-type deposits.The sulfide and Cer veins display typical hydrothermal characteristics and are superimposed on the massive Smt ores.The Smt ores show high Li,Be,Cr,Y,Ba,Nd,Yb,and Zr contents,whereas the Cer veins have extremely high Sr contents(up to 3814–9174 ppm)and low Zr contents(less than 0.01 ppm).Galena and sphalerite show higher Cd concentrations compared to Smt and Cer ores.The Smt ores differ with different spatial locations,with Smt ores formed at the vent haveδ^(66)Zn values of+0.15‰to+0.21‰,the massive Smt formed close to the vent show a value of+0.13‰,and those formed away from the vent show a value of 0.05‰,all values being close to 0.The sulfides haveδ^(66)Zn values of−0.09‰to+0.04‰.The C-O isotopes of Smt ores are similar to both altered and unaltered host limestone,suggesting that the limestone was a potential source for carbon and oxygen.Quartz with veined Smt shows magmatic signatures withδ^(18)OVSMOW of+1.14‰to+2.23‰,high Pb(115–401 ppm)and Zn concentrations(390–997 ppm),whereas quartz associated with sulfide has meteoric fluid signature with the lowestδ^(18)OVSMOW(−14‰to−10.7‰),low Pb(11.6–49.0 ppm)and Zn(18.1–72.8 ppm)concentrations.The temperature of equilibration computed based on oxygen isotope fractionation between Smt and coeval quartz indicate a dual source with that of quartz derived from an aqueous fluid,whereas the source for Smt might involve CO_(2)or HCO_(3)^(−).We trace multiple metallogenic stages for this deposit including exhalation,hydrothermal deposition,and fault-controlled sulfide vein formation.The largest orebody(III-1)preserves a 16 Mt reserve of Zn and was formed by crust-mantle interaction at ca.195 Ma in the early development of the Linjitang post-arc rift system.Fluid convection,zinc enrichment driven by granitic magma,volcanic activity,and karst alteration induced by acid rain in a lagoonal environment promoted ore enrichment.

Geological Characteristics and Genesis of the Jiamoshan MVT Pb–Zn Deposit in the Sanjiang belt, Tibetan Plateau

The carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn deposits in the Sanjiang metallogenic belt on the Tibetan Plateau are typical of MVT Pb–Zn deposits that form in thrust-fold belts. The Jiamoshan Pb–Zn deposit is located in the Changdu area in the middle part of the Sanjiang belt, and it represents a new style of MVT deposit that was controlled by karst structures in a thrust–fold system. Such a karst-controlled MVT Pb–Zn deposit in thrust settings has not previously been described in detail, and we therefore mapped the geology of the deposit and undertook a detailed study of its genesis. The karst structures that host the Jiamoshan deposit were formed in Triassic limestones along secondary reverse faults, and the orebodies have irregular tubular shapes. The main sulfide minerals are galena, sphalerite, and pyrite that occur in massive and lamellar form. The ore-forming fluids belonged to a Mg2+–Na+–K+–SO2-4–Cl-–F-–NO-3–H2 O system at low temperatures(120–130°C) but with high salinities(19–22% NaCl eq.). We have recognized basinal brine as the source of the ore-forming fluids on the basis of their H–O isotopic compositions(-145‰ to-93‰ for δDV-SMOW and-2.22‰ to 13.00‰ for δ18 Ofluid), the ratios of Cl/Br(14–1196) and Na/Br(16–586) in the hydrothermal fluids, and the C–O isotopic compositions of calcite(-5.0‰ to 3.7‰ for δ13 CV-PDB and 15.1‰ to 22.3‰ for δ18 OV-SMOW). These fluids may have been derived from evaporated seawater trapped in marine strata at depth or from Paleogene–Neogene basins on the surface. The δ34 S values are low in the galena(-3.2‰ to 0.6‰) but high in the barite(27.1‰), indicating that the reduced sulfur came from gypsum in the regional Cenozoic basins and from sulfates in trapped paleo-seawater by bacterial sulfate reduction. The Pb isotopic compositions of the galena samples(18.3270–18.3482 for 206 Pb/204 Pb, 15.6345–15.6390 for 207 Pb/204 Pb, and 38.5503–38.5582 for 208 Pb/204 Pb) are similar to those of the regional Triassic volcanic-arc rocks that formed during the closure of the Paleo-Tethys, indicating these arc rocks were the source of the metals in the deposit. Taking into account our new observations and data, as well as regional Pb–Zn metallogenic processes, we present here a new model for MVT deposits controlled by karst structures in thrust–fold systems.

Study on Separation of Pb and Zn from Mixed Rougher Concentrates

The compositions of Pb and Zn mixed rougher concentrates were studied. The process utilizes flotation and gravity flow sheet to separate Pb or Zn. Pb and Zn in the tailings were reclaimed by gravity more efficiently. This test used an ion-wave shaking table developed by Kunming University of Science and Technology. Based on the test results, the optimum test condition was chosen and testing of synthetic condition was performed. The results show that the process produces a final Zn concentrate with a 42.16% grade and 79.64% recovery and a final Pb concentrate with a 46.52% grade and 78.41% recovery.

Genetic Relationship of Minerals and Carbonate Units of Stratigraphy Sequence in the Ahmadabad Deposit (NE of Bafq) Using Data Related to Rare Earth Elements

Ahmadabad Pb-Zn ore deposit is located in the mineral area of Bahabad in Central Iran Zone. This ore deposit like other metallogenic areas in Bahabad is found in Triassic carbonate rocks. Carbonate rocks in Shotori formation have the highest frequency in the regional sequence stratigraphy. This formation is composed of TRSh1, TRSh2, TRSh3 and TRSh4 units. The TRSh3 unit hosts minerals in ore deposit Ahmadabad. Microcrystalline particles are the main constituent of these rocks. The most important minerals in this ore deposit include calamine Celestine, Cerussite and Wulfenite. The comparison of normalized ore patterns and carbonate sequence indicates that they have a specified genetic relationship. Here the TRSh2 unit is more similar to minerals.

Improving gold recovery of Pb–Zn sulfide ore by selective activation with organic acid

Free gold and gold wrapped in sulfides are considered as the object of gold floatation. However,floatation of free gold exhibits more variables in practice.In this study, improving gold recovery of a Pb-Zn sulfide ore from Yunnan Province, China, was investigated. The results show that free gold and auriferous sulfides account for 94.99 % of total gold. Without adding organic acid in floatation, only 82 % recovery of gold could be obtained.Gold recovery in Au/Pb concentrates increases by 9.29 %with oxalate added and by 7.35 % with citric acid added,respectively, while performances of lead and arsenic nearly keep a constant. A possible reason is that free gold is of wonderful selectivity against pyrite with organic activators.A new method to enhance gold recovery is proposed.