A Preliminary Review of Metallogenic Regularity of Molybdenum Deposits in China

Molybdenum is one of the dominant minerals in China because of its rich reserves.In recent years,outstanding breakthroughs have been made in molybdenum prospecting in China,and the distribution of molybdenum deposits in China is found to have a ＂planar pattern＂.In general,the molybdenum deposits are concentrated in eastern China,including the largest molybdenum reserves of Henan Province.In terms of the scale of molybdenum deposits,the identified resources of the superlarge deposits are the most important,which account for about 53% of the whole country,and those of the large deposits account for about 30%,those of the medium-sized deposits account for about 14%,those of the small-sized deposits,mine spots and mineralization account for about 3%.The molybdenum deposits are mainly classified as porphyry type,skarn type,hydrothermal（vein） type and sedimentary（metamorphic） type in genesis,and the identified resources of these types account for 85.75%,8.83%,2.79%and 2.63% of the total resources respectively.Based on the statistics of precise chronology data of molybdenites Re-Os,Mo-mineralization can be divided into 6 periods in Chinese geological history,which are Precambrian（〉800 Ma）,Cambrian-Silurian（540-415 Ma,Caledonian）,Devonian-Permian（400-290 Ma,Hecynian）,Triassic（260-200 Ma,Indosinian）,Jurassic-Cretaceous（195-70 Ma,Yanshanian） and Paleogene-Neogene（65-10 Ma,Himalayan）.Mo mineralization during the Yanshanian period is the strongest one,in which about 76.69% of the Chinese total identified resources was formed.The second is the Himalayan period.According to spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of molybdenum deposits,the metallogenic regularity of molybdenum deposits was preliminarily summarized,and 41 level-Ⅲ molybdenum-forming belts,13 level-Ⅱ molybdenum-forming provinces and 4 level-Ⅰ molybdenum-forming domains were ascertained in the mainland of China.There are 39 metallogenic series of and 60 sub-series of molybdenum deposits with molybdenum as the dominant metal and corresponding representative molybdenum deposits proposed.Metallogenic lineages of molybdenum deposits were also established.Spatial-temporal evolution of different types of molybdenum deposits,and the relationship between Mo-mineralization and tectonic evolution have been discussed in this paper.On this basis,the authors think that element Mo is an effective tracer for recording the crustal evolution history of China.At present,there are some problems in the exploration of Mo deposits in China,such as uneven exploration degrees in eastern and western China,shallow exploration depth,low and uneven grade,complex associated components,difficulty of mineral development and utilization,increasing costs of prospecting,and so on.According to successful experience of superficial and deep prospecting and considering also the discussion above,some suggestions are proposed for the prospecting of molybdenum deposits in the future.

The Grade-Tonnage Model for China's Molybdenum Deposits

The authors have studied the statistical characteristics of China＇s molybdenum deposits to establish the grade-tonnage model based on the data updated to the end of 2010. The results showed that each type of China＇s molybdenum deposits complied with Lasky＇s law approximately and the characteristics of grade-tonnage model obey the lognormal distribution. However, there are poor correlations between grade and tonnage respectively. Ultimately, we aimed to fit the grade-tonnage model through the known distribution function, draw the cumulative probability curves, and evaluated undiscovered mineral resources of China＇s molybdenum deposits by means of Monte Carlo simulation integrated in MRAS.

LA-ICP-MS Zircon U-Pb Geochronology of the Fine-grained Granite and Molybdenite Re-Os Dating in the Wurinitu Molybdenum Deposit,Inner Mongolia,China

The Wurinitu molybdenum deposit,located in Honggor,Sonid Left Banner of Inner Mongolia,China,is recently discovered and is considered to be associated with a concealed fine-grained granite impregnated with molybdenite.The wall rocks are composed of Variscan porphyritic-like biotite granite and the Lower Ordovician Wubin'aobao Formation.LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating of the fine-grained granite reveals two stages of zircons,one were formed at 181.7±7.4 Ma and the other at 133.6±3.3 Ma.The latter age is believed to be the formation age of the fine-grained granite,while the former may reflect the age of inherited zircons,based on the morphological study of the zircon and regional geological setting.The Re-Os model age of molybdenite is 142.2±2.5 Ma,which is older than the diagenetic age of the fine-grained granite.Therefore the authors believe that the metallogenic age of the Wurinitu molybdenum deposit should be nearly 133.6±3.3 Ma or slightly later,i.e.,Early Cretaceous.Combined with regional geological background research,it is speculated that the molybdenum deposits were formed at the late Yanshanian orogenic cycle in the Hingganling-Mongolian orogenic belt,belonging to the relaxation epoch posterior to the compression and was associated with the closure of the Mongolia-Okhotsk Sea.

SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb and Molybdenite Re-Os Datings of the Superlarge Donggou Porphyry Molybdenum Deposit in the East Qinling,China,and Its Geological Implications

Located in the eastern part of the East Qinling molybdenum belt, the Donggou deposit is a superlarge porphyry molybdenum deposit discovered in recent years. The authors performed highly precise dating of the mineralized porphyry and ores in the Donggou molybdenum deposit. A SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating of the Donggou aluminous A-type granite-porphyry gave a rock-forming age of 112±1 Ma, and the ICP-MS Re-Os analyses of molybdenite from the molybdenum deposit yielded ReOs model ages ranging from 116.5±1.7 to 115.5±1.7 Ma for the deposit. The ages obtained by the two methods are quite close, suggesting that the rocks and ores formed approximately at the same time. The Donggou molybdenum deposit formed at least 20 Ma later than the Jinduicheng, Nannihu, Shangfanggou and Leimengou porphyry molybdenum deposits in the same molybdenum belt, implying that these deposits were formed in different tectonic settings.

Geology and Geochemistry of the Shizitou Molybdenum Deposit, Jiangxi Province： Implications for Geodynamic Setting and Metallogenesis

The Shizitou molybdenum （Mo） deposit in Yongping, Jiangxi, is an important, recently discovered deposit in the eastern section of the Qin-Hang metallogenic belt. The Mo deposit is located in the outer contact zone behveen the porphyritic biotite granite and the Neoproterozoic migmatite, and present in the deep central part of the intrusion. Re-Os dating and S and Pb isotopic analysis have been conducted to assess the metallogenesis of the Shizitou Mo deposit. S, Pb and Re isotopes show that the ore-forming materials were derived from the porphyritic biotite granitic magma, which originated from the mixing of mantle and crust. Re-Os dating of molybdenite from the ores gives a model age from 156.9±2.2 to 158.5±2.4 Ma, with a weighted mean age of 158±1 Ma and an isochron age of 158.0±2.5 Ma. Geological and geochemical characteristics of the ore deposit and the related granitoids indicate that the Shizitou deposit is a Climax-type Mo deposit. Based on previous studies of the Qin-Hang metaliogenic belt, two metallogenic events are believed to have occurred during 172-145 Ma and 137-132 Ma. These two metallogenic periods are consistent with the timing of two metallogenic peaks during the middle to late Jurassic and the Cretaceous in South China. These events represent responses to the partial backarc extension associated with the subduction of the Izanagi plate beneath the Eurasian continent and the rapid northeastward movement of the subducting Izanagi plate.

Discussion on Middle Jurassic metallogenic mechanism of Au-Mo polymetallic hydrothermal deposits in eastern Jilin

In the Middle Jurassic,a large-scale tectonic-magmatic activities and hydrothermal mineralization occurred in the eastern Jilin province.The deposit types consist of the orogenic gold deposit,porphyry molybdenum deposit and skarn gold deposit,etc.,which constitute regional hydrothermal metallogenic series.The magmatic bodies related to mineralization belong to calc-alkaline series,which are characterized by active continental margins.The above-mentioned different types of deposits formed in a uniform tectonic setting,which resulted from the combined processes between the subduction of Pacific plate under the Eurasia plate and the persistent post-collisional convergent forces between the North China plate and the Siberian plate.The mineralizations were happening in the deceleration period,after which Paleo-Pacific plate was strongly subducted under the Eurasia continental block,i.e.transition period from compression to extension.

Geology and mineralization of the Daheishan supergiant porphyry molybdenum deposit(1.65 Bt),Jilin,China:A review

The Daheishan supergiant porphyry molybdenum deposit(also referred to as the Daheishan deposit)is the second largest molybdenum deposit in Asia and ranks fifth among the top seven molybdenum deposits globally with total molybdenum reserves of 1.65 billion tons,an average molybdenum ore grade of 0.081%,and molybdenum resources of 1.09 million tons.The main ore body is housed in the granodiorite porphyry plutons and their surrounding inequigranular granodiorite plutons,with high-grade ores largely located in the ore-bearing granodiorite porphyries in the middle-upper part of the porphyry plutons.Specifically,it appears as an ore pipe with a large upper part and a small lower part,measuring about 1700 m in length and width,extending for about 500 m vertically,and covering an area of 2.3 km^(2).Mineralogically,the main ore body consists of molybdenite,chalcopyrite,and sphalerite horizontally from its center outward and exhibits molybdenite,azurite,and pyrite vertically from top to bottom.The primary ore minerals include pyrite and molybdenite,and the secondary ore minerals include sphalerite,chalcopyrite,tetrahedrite,and scheelite,with average grades of molybdenum,copper,sulfur,gallium,and rhenium being 0.081%,0.033%,1.67%,0.001%,and 0.0012%,respectively.The ore-forming fluids of the Daheishan deposit originated as the CO_(2)-H_(2)O-NaCl multiphase magmatic fluid system,rich in CO_(2)and bearing minor amounts of CH4,N2,and H2S,and later mixed with meteoric precipitation.In various mineralization stages,the ore-forming fluids had homogenization temperatures of>420℃‒400℃,360℃‒350℃,340℃‒230℃,220℃‒210℃,and 180℃‒160℃and salinities of>41.05%‒9.8%NaCleqv,38.16%‒4.48%NaCleqv,35.78%‒4.49%NaCleqv,7.43%NaCleqv,and 7.8%‒9.5%NaCleqv,respectively.The mineralization of the Daheishan deposit occurred at 186‒167 Ma.The granites closely related to the mineralization include granodiorites(granodiorite porphyries)and monzogranites(monzogranite porphyries),which were mineralized after magmatic evolution(189‒167 Ma).Moreover,these mineralization-related granites exhibit low initial strontium content and high initial neodymium content,indicating that these granites underwent crust-mantle mixing.The Daheishan deposit formed during the Early-Middle Jurassic,during which basaltic magma underplating induced the lower-crust melting,leading to the formation of magma chambers.After the fractional crystallization of magmas,ore-bearing fluids formed.As the temperature and pressure decreased,the ore-bearing fluids boiled drops while ascending,leading to massive unloading of metal elements.Consequently,brecciated and veinlet-disseminated ore bodies formed.

Discovery of the World's Second Largest Molybdenum Deposit in the Shapinggou Area,Jinzhai County,Anhui Province

In the year of 2011, a superlarge molybdenum deposit was discovered in the Shapinggou area, Jinzhai county, Anhui Province by the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration of Anhui Province, with its reserve more than 2.2 million ton, just next to the Klimax molybdenum deposit （〉3.3 million ton） in Colorado. It has ranged the world＇s second largest molybdenum deposit, with potential economic value up to 100 billion dollars.

World's Third-Largest Molybdenum Deposit Discovered in Caosiyao Area, Xinghe County, Inner Mongolia

On l lth September 2013, the Inner Mongolia Mineral Resources and Reserves Evaluation Center estimated that the world＇s third-largest molybdenum deposit had been found in the Caosiyao area of Xinghe County, Inner Mongolia, NE China. The find has 130235.60×10^4 t of （122b）＋（333） molybdenum ores, a metal amount of 1327649.27 t, with Mo grade of 0.102-a super-large one.

Timing and Tectonic Setting of the Gaoaobei TungstenMolybdenum Deposit in Nanling Range, South China

The Gaoaobei tungsten-molybdenum deposit is a newly discovered large-scale quartzvein-type deposit in the Nanling metallogenic belt in South China.The ore bodies are hosted in the Indosinian granites and the Cambrian Xiangnan Group slates and are controlled by NWW-oriented faults,which are obviously different from the“five-story building”model in southern Jiangxi Province.The magmatic rocks in the study area are dominated by medium-to coarse-grained biotite monzogranite,with a few NW-oriented fine-grained granite dykes.The medium-to coarse-grained biotite monzogranite and fine-grained granite dykes have zircon U-Pb ages of 229.4±1.9 Ma(MSWD=1.5)and 164.9±3.3 Ma(MSWD=0.75),respectively,corresponding to the Indosinian and Yanshanian magmatism.The monzogranites have higher contents of FeO,CaO,K2O,P2O5,and TiO2,while the granite dykes have slightly higher contents of SiO2,Al2O3,MnO,and Na2O.Their A/CNK values are 1.11-1.75 and 1.19-2.25,and the contents of CIPW normative corundum are 1.71%-6.66%and 2.41%-9.50%,suggesting both the monzogranites and granite dykes are S-type granite.The total amount of rare earth elements in the monzogranites(from 84.7 ppm to 129 ppm)is slightly lower than that in the granite dykes(from 128 ppm to 133 ppm).The Eu/Eu*values range from 0.12 to 0.30 in monzogranites and from 0.0011 to 0.0013 in granite dykes,indicating the fine-grained granites underwent more intense fractional crystallization.The monzogranite and granite dykes have high 87Sr/86Sri values of 0.7169-0.7193 and 0.72825-0.72880,lowεNd(t)values ranging from-10.2 to-9.6 and from-11.5 to-11.4,and TDM2 ages of 1835-1785 and 1957-1946 Ma,respectively.These isotope data indicate their origin from the remelting of the Paleoproterozoic crustal materials.Combined with regional geology,it is concluded that the medium-to coarse-grained biotite monzogranite was formed in a post-collisional extensional environment.In addition,40Ar-39Ar dating of the greisen type tungsten-molybdenum ore gave consistent plateau age of 164.0±1.2 Ma,isochronal age of 162.0±2.4 Ma and anti-isochronal age of 161.4±1.8 Ma.Combined with the published molybdenite Re-Os age,the Gaoaobei tungsten-molybdenum deposit was formed at~164 Ma,which is inferred to be genetically related to the contemporaneous finegrained granite dykes(165 Ma).The deposit was likely formed during the large-scale magmatism and mineralization event in the early Yanshanian of the Nanling Range in an intra-continental extensional environment caused by the subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate.The late and small granite dykes within the large granite plutons thus require further attention during mineral prospecting in the regions.

Mapping Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Lineaments Extracted from Remote Sensing Image Using Fractal and Multifractal Models

Mapping mineral prospectivity in vegetated areas is a challenge. For this reason, we aimed to map spatial distribution characteristics of linear structures detected in remote sensing images using fractal and multifractal models. The selected study area was the Pinghe District of the Fujian Province（China）, located in the Shanghang-Yunxiao polymetallic and alunite ore belt（within the Wuyishan polymetallic belt）, where mineral resources such as copper, molybdenum, gold, silver, iron, lead, zinc, alunite and pyrophyllite have been discovered. The results of our study showed that：（1） the values of fractal dimension for all lineaments, NW-trending lineaments, and NE-trending lineaments, are 1.36, 1.32, and 1.23, respectively, indicating that these lineaments are statistically self-similar;（2） the fractal dimensions of the spatial distribution of the linear structures in the four selected hydrothermal-type ore deposits of the Pinghe District, named Zhongteng, Panchi, Xiaofanshan and Fanshan, are 1.43, 1.52, 1.37 and 1.37, respectively, which are higher than the mean value in South China;（3） the spatial distribution of the linear structures extracted from the remote sensing image and displayed by the contour map of fractal dimensions, correlates well with the known hydrothermal ore deposits; and（4） the results of the anomaly map decomposed by the spectrum-area（S-A） multifractal model is much better than the original fractal dimension contour map, which showed most of the known hydrothermal-type deposits occur in the high anomalous area. It is suggested that a high step tendency possibly matches with the boundary of the volcanic edifice and the deep fault controlling the development of the rock mass and the volcanic edifice. The complexity of the spatial distribution of mapped lineations（faults） in the Pinghe District, characterized by high values in the anomaly map, may be associated with the hydrothermal polymetallic ore mineralization in the study area.