REE Geochemistry of Fluorite from the Maoniuping REE Deposit,Sichuan Province,China:Implications for the Source of Ore-forming Fluids

Fluorite is one of the main gangue minerals in the Maoniuping REE deposit, Sichuan Province, China. Fluorite with different colors occurs not only within various orebodies, but also in wallrocks of the orefield. Based on REE geochemistry, fluorite in the orefleld can be classified as the LREE-rich, LREE-flat and LREE-depleted types. The three types of fluorite formed at different stages from the same hydrothermal fluid source, with the LREE-rich fluorite forming at the relatively early stage, the LREE-flat fluorite in the middle, and the LREE-depleted fluorite at the latest stage. Various lines of evidence demonstrate that the variation of the REE contents of fluorite shows no relation to the color. The mineralization of the Maouiuping REE deposit is associated spatially and temporally with carbonatite-syenite magmatism and the ore-forming fluids are mainly derived from carbonatite and syenite melts.

The role of carbonate-fluoride melt immiscibility in shallow REE deposit evolution

The Lugiin Gol nepheline syenite intrusion, Mongolia, hosts a range of carbonatite dikes mineralized in rare-earth elements(REE). Both carbonatites and nepheline syenite-fluorite-calcite veinlets are host to a previously unreported macroscale texture involving pseudo-graphic intergrowths of fluorite and calcite. The inclusions within calcite occur as either pure fluorite, with associated REE minerals within the surrounding calcite, or as mixed calcite-fluorite inclusions, with associated zirconosilicate minerals. Consideration of the nature of the texture, and the proportions of fluorite and calcite present(～29 and 71 mol%,respectively), indicates that these textures most likely formed either through the immiscible separation of carbonate and fluoride melts, or from cotectic crystallization of a carbonatefluoride melt. Laser ablation ICP-MS analyses show the pure fluorite inclusions to be depleted in REE relative to the calcite. A model is proposed, in which a carbonate-fluoride melt phase enriched in Zr and the REE, separated from a phonolitic melt, and then either unmixed or underwent cotectic crystallization to generate an REE-rich carbonate melt and an REE-poor fluoride phase. The separation of the fluoride phase(either solid or melt) may have contributed to the enrichment of the carbonate melt in REE, and ultimately its saturation with REE minerals. Previous data have suggested that carbonate melts separated from silicate melts are relatively depleted in the REE, and thus melt immiscibility cannot result in the formation of REE-enriched carbonatites. The observations presented here provide a mechanism by which this could occur, as under either model the textures imply initial separation of a mixed carbonate-fluoride melt from a silicate magma. The separation of an REEenriched carbonate-fluoride melt from phonolitic magma is a hitherto unrecognized mechanism for REE-enrichment in carbonatites, and may play an important role in the formation of shallow magmatic REE deposits.

Temporo-Spatial Distribution of Rare Metal and REE Deposits in Xinjiang, Northwest China

Many rare metal and REE deposits have been found in the Altay orogenic belt,on the northern margin of the Tarim massif and in the Kunlun-Altun orogenic belt, constituting threevery important rare metal-REE mineralization belts in western China. These deposits belong tovarious genetic types with complex ore-forming mechanism, and were formed in certain mineralizationepochs. On the basis of a systematic sum-up of geologic and geochemical achievements and^(40)Ar-^(39)Ar ages of potassium-rich minerals as well as whole-rock Rb-Sr dating results, theauthors systematically analyzed the spatial distribution and mineralization epochs of rare metal-REEdeposits in Xinjiang, northwestern China, and concluded that although the Hercynian rare metal-REEmineralizations in this area are very important, pre- and post-Hercynian (especially Indosinian andearly Yanshanian) rare metal-REE mineralizations also have important theoretical and economicsignificance.

REE and Trace Element Geochemistry of Yinachang Fe-Cu-REE Deposit, Yunnan Province, China

REE and other trace elements in ores, wall rocks, alkaline volcanic rocks and diabase dikes have been determined in the Yinachang Fe-Cu-REE deposit. Comparative studies of REE and trace element geochemical characteristics of these geological bodies indicate that the ores and alkaline volcanic rocks contain abundant REE and Y ({65.9}-{4633})×10+{-6}, with higher abundances of As, Mo, Nb, Co and U than those of the crust. Their chondrite-normalized patterns show a strong enrichment of LREE and a positive Eu anomaly, in contrast to those of the dolomites which are characterized by slight LREE enrichment and moderate negative Eu anomaly. The REE patterns of ores are similar to those of hydrothermal sediment cores in the East Pacific Rise, whereas the REE patterns of dolomites are similar to those of PAAS (Post-Archean Average Shale). In combination with the geological setting of the deposit, the primary ore-forming fluids might have higher REE and volatile elements, and might have been derived from mantle degassing, or the alkaline volcanic magmas. The Yinachang Fe-Cu-REE ore deposit is considered to be of volcanic exhalation-hydrothermal sedimentary origin.

蒙古阿尔泰哈勒赞布勒格泰碱性岩有关的Zr-Nb-Ta-REE矿床地质特征、地球化学与成因初探

哈勒赞布勒格泰稀有稀土矿床产出于蒙古国阿尔泰地区,是一处与碱性杂岩体有关的超大型Zr-Nb-Ta-REE矿床。该杂岩体具有多期次侵位和多岩相的特征,主要由含钠铁闪石和霓石的碱长正长岩、英碱正长岩、碱长花岗岩、蚀变碱长花岗岩和碱长花岗伟晶岩等组成,并被碱性辉长岩和辉绿岩侵入。其中,蚀变碱长花岗岩发生了全岩Zr、Nb、Ta和REE矿化,并具有广泛的热液交代特征。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年显示,该杂岩体中的长英质碱性岩和基性碱性岩具有相似的侵位年龄,均为~400Ma,侵入于~463Ma的黑云母正长花岗岩中。主微量元素地球化学研究显示,该杂岩体具有强过碱性的特征。岩浆演化主要受到碱性长石分异的控制,使硅逐渐聚集于晚期粒间熔体之中,并逐渐演化为英碱正长岩和碱长花岗岩。这个过程使岩浆的过碱性特征不断加强,也使钠铁闪石和霓石逐渐富集。杂岩体的岩浆演化经历了一定程度的锆石、富集稀土的磷灰石、独居石和磷钇矿以及富集Nb的异性石的分异,使Zr、Nb、Ta和REE等成矿元素在岩浆的演化过程中没有得到显著的富集,因此岩浆的演化并非是该杂岩体中稀有稀土元素发生矿化的关键因素。在蚀变碱长花岗岩的石英、碱性长石和钠铁闪石中,普遍发育顺着晶格生长的“雪球状”钠长石,是碱性花岗质共结岩浆演化晚期流体发生周期性饱和并释放,造成Ab周期性过饱和而沉淀的结果。流体的周期性过饱和及释放萃取成矿元素并汇聚于蚀变碱长花岗岩,造成其Zr、Nb、Ta和REE等元素与硅含量相似但未发生蚀变的碱长花岗岩相比富集了近10倍,因此这是发生矿化的根本原因。

Sm-Nd isotopic geochronologyof the Yinachang Fe-Cu-REE deposit at Wuding,Yunnan Province and its genetic significance

Sm-Nd isotope systematics of ores and fluorites places precise time constraints on REE mineralization of the Yinachang Fe-Cu-REE deposit in Yunnan Province which occur in the Proterozoic Kunyan group. The ore-related fluorites contain high abundant REE, and show a strong enrichment of LREE and a positive Eu anomaly, which is in marked contrast to post-ore fluorites that are HREE en-riched. The Sm-Nd isochron ages of the ores and fluorites are 1539±40 Ma and 1617±100 Ma, respectively, and calculated εNd(t) are ?4.6 and ?3.2. Accurate age determinations of the mineralization demonstrate that the REE mineralization took place during early Mesoproterozoic. Together with other geological evidence from the ore deposit, the primary REE-bearing ore-forming fluids are suggested to have been derived from the Enriched Mantle, and the Yinachang Fe-Cu-REE ore deposit is of volcanic exhalation- hydro-thermal sedimentary origin. This study also imply that the sudden large-scale REE mineralization in the Mesoprotero-zoic epoch may have been induced by alkaline-rich anoro-genic magmatism which occurred at marginal rifts of the continent in the Mesoproterozoic.

The microbial metallogeny of weathering crust REE deposits in South China

VERY little is known about the roles of microorganisms in the metallogeny of weathering crust REE deposits, although there has been much literature on REE behavior in weathering conditions. The present note deals with the microorganisms in 4 weathering profiles of an REE deposit and their roles in migration and accumulation of REE in weathering conditions. 1 Cultivation and identification of microorganisms Under strict sterilization, samples were collected from various parts of 4 weathering profiles of granites in a weathering crust REE deposit in South China. The samples were then cultivated for microorganisms with ordinary agars as culture media and then the cultivated microorganisms were dyed and identifiedunder a microscope. The sampled positions and cultivated numbers of microbial colonies are shown

Geochemistry of carbonatites in Maoniuping REE deposit, Sichuan Province, China

Carbonatites in the Maoniuping REE deposit, Sichuan Province, which are spatially and temporally associated with rare earth mineralization, were emplaced at the time of Himalayan. The rocks are carbonatite-syenite complexes, with the mineral assemblages of calcite-aegirine-acmite- arfvedsonite-mica-orthoclase. The rocks are characterized by the enrichment in incompatible ele-ments, such as Sr, Ba and REE, with C and O isotopic compositions of the 損rimary igneous car-bonatites? relatively high initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios and low e Nd values. All of these suggest that the rocks were derived from the metasomatic enriched mantle. It is demonstrated by geological and geochemical evidence that the mixing of the Himalayan subducting crustal materials with mantle source EM1 is probably the main factor responsible for the formation of carbonatites. The car-bonatite-syenite complexes were generated from liquid immiscibility of CO2-rich alkalic silicate magma, which was derived from partial melting of the metasomatic mantle.

The giant Bayan Obo REE-Nb-Fe deposit,China:Controversy and ore genesis

Bayan Obo ore deposit is the largest rare-earth element（REE） resource,and the second largest niobium（Nb） resource in the world.Due to the complicated element/mineral compositions and involving several geological events,the REE enrichment mechanism and genesis of this giant deposit still remains intense debated.The deposit is hosted in the massive dolomite,and nearly one hundred carbonatite dykes occur in the vicinity of the deposit.The carbonatite dykes can be divided into three types from early to late：dolomite,co-existing dolomite-calcite and calcite type,corresponding to different evolutionary stages of carbonatite magmatism based on the REE and trace element data.The latter always has higher REE content.The origin of the ore-hosting dolomite at Bayan Obo has been addressed in various models,ranging from a normal sedimentary carbonate rocks to volcano-sedimentary sequence,and a large carbonatitic intrusion.More geochemical evidences show that the coarse-grained dolomite represents a Mesoproterozoic carbonatite pluton and the fine-grained dolomite resulted from the extensive REE mineralization and modification of the coarse-grained variety.The ore bodies,distributed along an E-W striking belt,occur as large lenses and underwent more intense fluoritization and fenitization.The first episode mineralization is characterized by disseminated mineralization in the dolomite.The second or main-episode is banded and/or massive mineralization,cut by the third episode consisting of aegirinerich veins.Various dating methods gave different mineralization ages at Bayan Obo,resulting in long and hot debates.Compilation of available data suggests that the mineralization is rather variable with two peaks at～1400 and 440 Ma.The early mineralization peak closes in time to the intrusion of the carbonatite dykes.A significant thermal event at ca.440 Ma resulted in the formation of late-stage veins with coarse crystals of REE minerals.Fluids involving in the REE-Nb-Fe mineralization at Bayan Obo might be REE-F-C02-NaCI-H20 system.The presence of REE-carbonates as an abundant solid in the ores shows that the original ore-forming fluids are very rich in REE,and therefore,have the potential to produce economic REE ores at Bayan Obo.the Bayan Obo deposit is a product of mantle-derived carbonatitic magmatism at ca.1400 Ma,which was likely related to the breakup of Columbia.Some remobilization of REE occurred due to subduction of the Palaeo-Asian oceanic plate during the Silurian,forming weak vein-like mineralization.

Characteristics of rare-earth elements (REE),strontium and neodymium isotopes in hydrothermal fluorites from the Bailashui tin deposit in the Furong ore field,southern Hunan Province,China

In this paper the authors present the REE concentrations and Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of fluorites from the Bailashui tin deposit of the Furong ore field,southern Hunan Province. The results showed that the total amount of REE in fluorites is usually low,ranging from 0.705 to 8.785 μg/g with the chondrite-normalized REE dis-tribution patterns similar to those of the Qitianling granites in the study area,characterized by LREE-enrichment patterns with pronounced negative Eu anomalies. The fluorites vary in Sr isotopic composition within the range of 0.7083-0.7091,the values are lower than those of the granites and higher than those of the host carbonate rocks in this area. The εNd(t) values of fluorites vary between -9.4 and +10.3,revealing that both the crust-and mantle-source materials were involved in the ore-forming hydrothermal fluids. Combined with previous studies on this ore deposit,the Bailashui tin deposit is temporally and spatially closely related with granitic magmatism in this area. The hydro-thermal fluorites are the product of fluid/rock interactions between granitic magmatic hydrothermal fluid and marine carbonate rocks. The REE and F in the ore-forming fluid were derived from the granites,whereas Sr in the ore-forming fluid came mainly from the granitic magmatic hydrothermal fluid and marine carbonate rocks,although variations in Sr isotopic composition cannot be explained by a simple mixture of these two end-members. Evidence demonstrated that the ore-forming fluids are of crustal-mantle mixing origin,but that the fluids were probably in-completely homogenized and this may be caused by inhomogeneous mixing of the fluids of different sources.

Trace element and REE geochemistry of the Zhewang gold deposit, southeastern Guizhou Province, China

The quartz vein-type gold deposits are widely hosted by the Neoproterozoic(Xiajiang Group) epimetamorphic clastic rock series in southeastern Guizhou Province, China. The Zhewang gold deposit studied in this paper occurs in the second lithological member of the Pinglue Formation of the Xiajiang Group. Trace element geochemistry of host rocks, quartz veins and arsenopyrite has revealed that ore-forming fluid was enriched in sulphophile elements such as Au, Ag, As, Sb, Pb and Zn, and simultaneously concentrated some magmaphile elements such as W and Mo, which probably provides some evidence for multi-stage mineralization or overprinting of magmatic hydrotherm. Quartz veins and arsenopyrite were characterized by depletion in HFSE and enrichment in LREE. Hf/Sm, Nb/La and Th/La imply that the ore-forming fluid was probably a NaCl-H2O solution system enriched in more Cl than F; Th/U values reflect the strong reducibility of the ore-forming fluid, coincident with the sulfide assemblages. The values of Co/Ni reflect that magmatic fluids may have partly participated in the ore-forming process and Y/Ho values have proved that the ore-forming fluid was associated with metamorphism and exotic hydrotherm which has reformed former quartz veins during late mineralization. The concentrations of REE, Eu anomalies and Ce anomalies of this deposit display that ore-forming elements mainly were derived from host rocks and possibly from a mixed deep source, and the ore-forming fluid was mixed by dominant metamorphic fluid and minor other sources. The physical-chemical conditions of ore-forming fluid changed from the initial stage to the late stage. The metamorphic fluid is responsible for the mineralization. Therefore, the Zhewang gold deposit is classified as a quartz vein-type gold deposit which may have been reformed by magmatic fluids during the late stage.

REE/trace element characteristics of sandstone-type uranium deposits in the Ordos Basin

The major elements, trace elements and REEs were analyzed on the samples collected from the sandstone-type uranium deposits in the Ordos Basin to constrain the mechanism of uranium enrichment. The total REE amount ranges from 36.7 to 701.8 μg/g and the REE distribution patterns of the sandstone-type uranium samples are characterized by LREE enrichment and high REE depletion. The results also indicated a high Y abundance and Eu anomalies between 0.77-1.81. High-precision ICP-MS results showed that U abundances are within the range of 0.73-150 μg/g, showing some strong correlation between U enrichment and related elements such as Ti, V, Zr, Mo, and Au. In addition, Th abundance is correlated with ΣREE.

REE geochemical characteristics of the No. 302 uranium deposit in northern Guangdong, South China

The No. 302 uranium deposit, located in Guangdong Province, is a typical granite-type uranium ore deposit. REE geochemical characteristics of the wall rocks, pitchblende, altered rocks, calcite and fluorite from this deposit have been systematically studied in this paper. The result showed that the alkali-metasomatic granites and other altered rocks have the same REE distribution patterns as Indosinian granites. It is indicated that the hydrothermal ore-forming solution had altered the Indosinian granites, and ore-forming materials may directly originate from the Indosinian granites. Calcite and fluorite of different stages are the products derived from the same source but different stages. The evolution and degassing of the mineralizing solution might induce LREE enrichment to varying degree. Mantle fluid and a large volume of mineralizer may be the crucial factors controlling uranium mineralization, and the hydrothermal solution with mineralizer played an important role in U transport and concentration. Meanwhile, the degassing of CO2 might promote U and REE precipitation.

Trace element and REE geochemistry of Sanshenjiang gold deposit, southeastern Guizhou Province, China

The Sanshenjiang gold deposit in southeastern Guizhou Province, China, is hosted by the Neoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks which experienced low-grade greenschist facies metamorphism. Gold mineralization occurs mainly in the ribbon chiltern slate of the first member of the Longli Formation and is controlled by both strata and faults. Ore bodies are characterized by abundant quartz-arsenopyrite-gold-pyrite-bedding veins, veinlets and small lenses within the shear zone. In this study, trace element and REE geochemistry was analyzed to constrain the origin and genesis of this deposit. The trace element signatures of wall rocks and veins display a basically similar tendency in the spider diagram, showing the genetic relationship. The values of Co/Ni, Y/Ho, Hf/Sm, Nb/La and Th/La reflect that the hydrothermal fluids of this deposit were derived from the mixture of multiple sources with marked enrichment of Cl and moderate to high temperature. There is a broad similarity in the chondrite-normalized patterns and REE fractionation between wall rocks and ore bodies, possibly reflecting their similar origin. Based on the difference in δCe and δEu, quartz veins and lenses can be subdivided into weakly negative Ce-anomalies (δCe=0.81 to 1.06) with slight Eu anomalies (δEu=0.81 to 1.06) type and the significant positive Ce-anomalies (δCe=1.13 to 1.97) with moderate negative Eu-anomalies type, probably suggesting physical-chemical changes in the evolution process of ore-forming fluids from the early to late stage. It can be concluded that the ore-forming process may have experienced three stages: formation of the original ore source bed, regional metamorphism and gold mineralization, on the basis of trace element and REE analysis and field observation.

云南华昌山Pb-Zn矿床热液流体演化:方解石REE及C-O同位素证据

云南华昌山Pb-Zn矿床是发育在典型褶皱逆冲带内的密西西比河谷型(MVT)铅锌矿床,矿体多沿断裂及断裂两侧分布。本次工作通过对华昌山矿区内关键平硐的编录,识别出4套不同属性的断裂,其中3套对应发育了三种不同期次的热液流体:无矿流体、含铜银流体、含铅锌流体。三期流体均发育热液矿物方解石,通过对三期方解石的原位稀土元素分析发现,这三期流体均是与岩浆作用无关的热液流体,且三期热液流体存在不同的稀土元素配分模式曲线图、不同的lg(Y/Ho)-lg(La/Ho)分布特征和不同的Yb/Ca(原子比)-Yb/La(原子比)分布特征,说明三期热液流体的来源属性不同或者同源但受不同作用的改造。三期方解石的碳、氧同位素值表明热液流体中的碳来自盆地海相碳酸盐岩的溶解作用,方解石的氧同位素特征表明三期流体均为盆地卤水,且铅锌成矿期的流体中混入大气降水。分析华昌山矿床的构造断裂活动和热液流体特征,本文认为区域逆冲断裂之后的张性断裂是控制华昌山铅锌矿床的控矿断裂。

Geochemical Behaviors of REE and Other Trace Elements during the Formation of Strata-bound Skarns and Related Deposits:A Case Study of the Dongguashan Cu(Au)Deposit,Anhui Province,China

REE and other trace elements in the altered marbles, massive skarns and ores, as well as garnet and quartz were determined in order to examine the behaviors of trace elements during hydrothermal alteration. It is demonstrated that the high-field-strength (HFS) elements Zr, Hf, Th and Nb were immobile while other trace elements were mobile during the formation of skarns and related deposits. REE and ore-forming elements such as Cu and Ag in hydrothermally-altered marbles and skarns were provided primarily by hydrothermal fluids. In the direction transverse of the strata, the more deeply the marbles were altered, the higher the total REE abundance and the larger the negative Eu anomalies would be. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of skarns are similar to those of the marbles, but the former are distinguished by much higher REE contents and more remarkable negative Eu anomalies. Those patterns were apparently not inherited from the marble protolith, but were controlled by garnets, which were determined by the hydrothermal solutions involved in the infiltration metasomatism. The hydrothermal fluids are characterized by having slightly right-hand dipping REE patterns, being enriched in LREE and having strongly negative Eu anomalies. The uptake of REE from hydrothermal fluids during the growth of garnet crystals resulted in the garnets having similar REE patterns to the hydrothermal fluids. Based on the spatial variation of REE in skarns and the structures of the hosting strata, we can get a better understanding of the transport path and pattern of the fluids involved in the formation of skarns and their related deposits. REE geochemistry investigation can help elucidate the genesis of skarns and skarn-related deposits.

REE geochemistry of gangue minerals and their geological significance in the Muli antimony ore deposit in Yunnan, China

The Muli antimony deposit is located in the Au-Sb polymetallic metallogenic belt in south-eastern Yunnan,China.In this paper,we investigated the concentrations of trace elements in gangue minerals,mainly calcite,quartz,and pyrite,which were formed at different metallogenic stages.Meanwhile,the host rocks,predominantly composed of limestone,are also analysed for comparison.The calcite from the Nadan ore section is enriched with medium-heavy rare earth elements(M-HREEs),likely due to the presence of a high concentration of Fe and Mn impurities,which results in the preferential enrichment of M-HREEs in the calcite.Alternatively,the calcite may be precipitated from the M-HREE・rich granitic leaching fluid.In the Muli ore section,both quartz and pyrite in the metallogenic period show enrichment with light rare earth elements(LREEs),and the wall rock is also enriched with LREEs,which indicates that the wall rock material was involved in the metallogenic process.The W-shaped tetrad effect of quartz in the late metallogenic stage was interpreted to determine extensive flu id-rock interactions in highly fractionated Si-rich systems.Fe and Mn impurities cause M-HREE to be preferentially enriched with calcite to some extent.Whether mineralization is related to granite deserves further study.Eu and Ce anomalies of different types of gangue minerals indicate that the temperature and the fO2 were constantly changing during mineralization,and the temperature of the main ore-stage was higher than 200°C in an oxidized state.The various REE patterns,LREE/HREE and(La/Yb)N values,reveal that there may be multi-sources and multi-stage hydrothermal activities in the Muli antimony deposit.The REE distribution patterns of minerals are likely interfered with by many internal and external factors.Studies on REE characteristics of calcite,quartz,pyrite and limestone in the Muli antimony deposit have greatly improved the understanding of ore-forming fluids.When we traced the origin and evolution of ore・forming fluids by means of mineral REE distribution patterns,in addition to the determination of inclusions of ore minerals related to mineralization and the in situ analysis methods performed by LA-ICP-MS,we should also com・bine the REE characteristics of various minerals or trace the ore-forming fluids with multiple methods.

REE Characteristics of a New Uranium Mineral from the Xianshi Uranium Deposit, South China

Objective Galuskin et al. （2011） firstly discovered that vorlanite （CaU^6＋/4＋）04 is a rare Ca-rich mineral with a fluorite-type structure, which is isostructural with uraninite （U^4＋O2）. Previous studies of the Xianshi granite-related uranium deposit reported that uraninite and pyrite are the major ore minerals whereas galena, clausthalite （PbSe）, and pyrite are minor phases in the ores. A more detailed petrographic and geochronological study of the uranium minerals from the Xianshi deposit showed that there are three distinct types of uraninite-bearing assemblages which formed at three mineralization episodes （Fig. la; Luo et al., 2015）.

Geochemical studies on REE and trace elements from several Cu-Au deposits along the lower Yangtze metallogenic valley, central-southern Anhui Province

The Yangtze Valley was one of the most important metallogenic regions during the Jurassic-Cretaceous period in East China, where more than 200 polymetallic Cu-Fe-Au, Mo, Zn, Pb, Ag deposits have been found. Trace elements were chemically analyzed and the relevant data were collected from literature for the Yanshanian (Mesozoic) igneous rocks which have close relationship with Cu-Au mineralization. Copper mineralization in the lower Yangtze Valley can be divided into three major types: skarn type, porphyry type and volcanic type. The porphyry type is of rare occurrence, such as the Shaxi porphyry copper deposit in the northern part of the lower Yangtze metallogenic valley. This paper focuses on the REE and trace element geochemistry of several Cu-Au deposits along the lower part of Yangtze metallogenic valley in Anhui. The results showed that there are differences in REE distribution for these four types of Cu-Au mineralization, which confine the sources of REE and trace elements as well as other mantle and transitional compatible elements. The results of both REE and trace element geochemical studies showed that these elements with different characteristics have different origins, probably representing different sources of Cu-Au deposits in the deep crust and upper mantle environments. The 40Ar/39Ar dating of one biotite sample gave an age of 131 Ma with a high level of confidence, which represents the age of formation of the Shaxi porphyrite intrusive with porphrytic Cu-Au mineralization, which is consistent with that of the majority of the adjacent acid intrusives with mass Cu-Au mineralization along the Yangtze metallogenic belt in the Yanshanian period (Mesozoic). This is the first attempt to use the high precision method to date the Shaxi porphyrite intrusive.

REE Geochemistry of the Lead-Zinc Ores from the Jinding Lead-Zinc Deposit, Lanping, Yunnan

Nineteen volcanic and magmatic rock samples were collected from the Jinding lead-zinc deposit and its surrounding areas in Yunnan. The ICP and AES analyses, referred to the previous results, show that the metal minerals and altered rocks in the Jinding lead-zinc deposit display a decreasing trend of ΣREE from the early to late stages of mineralization, and similarities in REE distribution patterns, indicating that the ore fluids are characterized by high LREE enrichment, markedly negative δCe anomaly and slight δEu anomaly. These REE distribution patterns exhibit striking similarities to those of the Pliocene trachyte in the study area, both of which are similar in ΣREE, LREE/HREE ratio, δEu and δCe. The ore fluids besides the basin fluids in the deposit are also closely related to those associated with Pliocene trachyte magmas.