Zircon Geochronology and Trace Element Geochemistry from the Xiaozhen Copper Deposit, North Daba Mountain: Constraints on Albitites Petrogenesis

Albitite often accompanies with various metal and gem mineral deposits and a large number of occurrences have been reported globally, including the South Qinling orogen, China. The Xiaozhen copper deposit is a typical deposit in the North Daba Mountain area of the South Qinling orogen whose distribution is controlled by albitite veins and fractures. As there are few studies on the petrogenesis of albitite in Xiaozhen copper deposit, this paper focuses on the petrogenesis of albitite and its mineralization age. Detailed fieldwork and mineral microscopic observations initially suggest that albitite from the Xiaozhen copper deposit is igneous in origin. Further zircon trace element geochemistry studies indicate that these zircons have high Th/U ratios（〉0.5）, low La content, high（Sm/La）N and Ce/Ce＊values, and a strong negative Eu anomaly, which are commonly seen in magmatic zircons. The chondrite–normalized rare earth element（REE） patterns are consistent with magmatic zircons from throughout the world, and they fall within or near the field of magmatic zircons on discriminant diagrams. The calculated average apparent Ti–in–zircon temperature for young zircons is 780°C, consistent with magmatic zircon crystallization temperatures. Therefore, zircon geochemistry indicates that the albitite origin is magmatic. SIMS U–Pb dating on nine magmatic zircons yielded a concordia age of 154.8±2.2 Ma, which represents the formation of albitite and the metallogenic age. More importantly, it is consistent with the ages of Yanshanian magmatism and metallogenesis in the South Qinling orogen, so formation of the Xiaozhen copper deposit may be a closely related geological event.

Origin of trondhjemite and albitite at the expense of A-type granite,Aravalli orogen, India:Evidence from new metasomatic replacement fronts

The A-type Harsora-Dadikar granites in the Alwar complex of northern Aravalli orogen,NW India provide evidence for subsolidus-requilibration of feldspars.They record three new discrete stages of albitisation,producing trondhjemite and albitite sequentially at the expense of original granite.Stage-I metasomatism deanorthised the magmatic oligoclase and transformed the grey least-albitised granite to pinkish grey microcline-oligoclase granite.Stage-II converted the latter to trondhjemite by replacement of microcline to oligoclase.Stage-III metasomatism led to the formation of albitite/albite granite from trondhjemite,where the metasomatically formed oligoclase was replaced by albite.This stage of metasomatism resulted in nearly complete disappearance of amphibole and biotite,producing a monomineralic rock (albitite),which is consistent with Korzhinskii theory of infiltration metasomatism.The reaction fronts delineating the Stage-II and Stage-III are sharp and easily discernible by their prominent color differences in Harsora on the outcrop scale.Chemically,the mineral transformations during three stages are manifested by the differential gains/losses in Na,K,Ca,Rb,Ba,Sr,Fe and Mg.The formation of albite,Cl-rich marialitic scapolite and Cl-rich amphibole in the albitised granites are suggestive of Naand Cl-brines as the metasomatising fluids.The fluid-rock interactions,which can significantly transform the pristine mineralogy of granitoids,should be carefully considered to avoid any misinterpretations about their petrological history.

A new type U-Th-REE-Nb mineralization related to albitite:A case study from the Chachaxiangka deposit in the northeastern Qaidam Basin of China

The U-Th-REE-Nb(Ta)-polymetallic mineralization is generally related to either the silica-undersaturated syenites,the silica-oversaturated alkaline/peralkaline granites or igneous carbonatites.In this study,the authors report a new mineralization type,which is related to the magmatic-hydrothermal albitite(with mineral assemblage predominated by albite with volume content>90%),as exemplified by the Chachaxiangka deposit in Qinghai Province of China.The Chachaxiangka deposit is the first albititerelated U-Th-REE-Nb deposit recognized in China and the mineralization can be divided into 3 types:the vein-type,the disseminated veinlet type and breccia type,of which the former 2 are predominant.Three mineralization stages can be identified according to the detailed mineralogical analyses,including the magmatic stage,main hydrothermal mineralization stage and post-ore stage.By comprehensive analyses of the mineralogical,major and trace element compositions,the authors suggest that the albitite vein is magmatic-hydrothermal in origin and both the magmatic evolution and overprint of the hydrothermal fluids play important roles in the formation of the albitite and related polymetallic mineralization.Phase separation between the silicate melt and carbonate/phosphate melt might take place in the magmatic stage,yet the immiscibility between the silicate melt and chloride-dominated fluids is the most important mechanism for the REE mineralization and also causes the Nb-Th re-mobilization and enrichment.The red color of the albitite aplite vein is an eye-catching prospecting mark in the field and more mineralization can be expected at depth and in the surrounding areas.The discovery of the new albitite type U-Th-REENb mineralization give rise to new ideas during future U-Th-REE-Nb exploration,not only in the Qaidam-Altun belt,but also other areas across China.