Genetic Types and Metallogenic Model for the Polymetallic Copper–Gold Deposits in the Tongling Ore District, Anhui Province, Eastern China

The Tongling ore district is one of the most economically important ore areas in the Middle–Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt, eastern China. It contains hundreds of polymetallic copper–gold deposits and occurrences. Those deposits are mainly clustered(from west to east) within the Tongguanshan, Shizishan, Xinqiao, Fenghuangshan, and Shatanjiao orefields. Until recently, the majority of these deposits were thought to be skarn-or porphyry–skarn-type deposits; however there have been recent discoveries of numerous vein-type Au, Ag, and Pb-Zn deposits that do not fall into either of these categories. This indicates that there is some uncertainty over this classification. Here, we present the results of several systematic geological studies of representative deposits in the Tongling ore district. From investigation of the ore-controlling structures, lithology of the host rock, mineral assemblages, and the characteristics of the mineralization and alteration within these deposits, three genetic types of deposits(skarn-, porphyry-, and vein-type deposits) have been identified. The spatial and temporal relationships between the orebodies and Yanshanian intrusions combined with the sources of the ore-forming fluids and metals, as well as the geodynamic setting of this ore district, indicate that all three deposit types are genetically related each other and constitute a magmatic–hydrothermal system. This study outlines a model that relates the polymetallic copper–gold porphyry-, skarn-, and vein-type deposits within the Tongling ore district. This model provides a theoretical basis to guide exploration for deep-seated and concealed porphyry-type Cu(–Mo, –Au) deposits as well as shallow vein-type Au, Ag, and Pb–Zn deposits in this area and elsewhere.

Perspectives of Development of “Black-Shale” Type Ore on the Territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Currently there have been formed industrial uranium deposits in Kyzylkum province that refer to three types of formations—exogenetic uranium formation in the sediments of Mesozoic-Cenozoic cover,endogenic molybdenum-uranium formation and polygenic molybdenum-uranium-vanadium formation in carbon-siliceous shale formations ("black-shale"type).Carbon-siliceous shales are

Analysis of Mineralization System and Prediction of New-Type Ore Deposits

The discovery of new-type ore deposits, an important approach to guarantee the mineral resources supply in the 21st century, often brings about a gigantic increase in the mineral resources reserves. The analysis of mineralization system is of great importance to the discovery of new type ore deposits. ① The understanding of the relationship among various ore deposit types within a mineralization system in a region can help us to locate the unknown ore deposit types from the known ore deposit types, evidence that has been proved in the mineral prospecting history of ore belts in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China. ② The understanding of the spatial structure of a mineralization system, especially of the vertical zonation, is helpful for the discovery of the concealed ore deposit types. ③ Clarifying the temporal structure of a mineralization system, including the iteration relationship between the mineral deposit types in the mineralization, leads to the location of the missing mineralization chains from the known mineralization chains (mineral deposit type), a method often proved to be effective in the magmatic hydrothermal mineralization system.④ Clarifying the factors restraining the diversity of mineral deposit types in mineralization system leads to the discovery of the potential of new type mineral deposits in relevant region. ⑤ Studying new mineralization setting and new ore forming processes leads to discovery of new type mineral deposit. More probabilities of discovery of new type mineral deposits are present in biogenic mineralization system, deep sea mineralization system, low temperature mineralization system, tectonic mineralization system and superimposed mineralization system.

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.

DIWA TYPE OF GOLD MINERALIZATION IN THE YINSHAN-YANSHAN-LIAO-JI ORE BELT,CHINA

DIWA TYPE OF GOLD MINERALIZATIONIN THE YINSHAN-YANSHAN-LIAO-JIORE BELT, CHINAWang Fuquan(Changsha Institute of Geotectonics, Academia Sinica, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China)Yinshan-Yanshan-Liao-Ji gold ore belt diwa type of gold mineralization, diwa regime, diwa type oftectono-magmatismThis studied gold ore belt is giant and very important in China. Its regional tectonics and evolutional process are complicated. There are a few of view points on its geotec-tonic attribute in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras and on the type of its some gold ore deposits, especially, on one hosted in the pre-diwa geological bodies. On the basis of the diwa theory, the author discussed the regionalization, and its evolutional process, and some features of diwa tectono-magmatism and diwa type of gold mineralization in this belt. The author proposed that(1)the main body zone is a part of the diwa regime in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras, and(2)the diwa tectono-magmatism had a series of features such as

Exploration and research progress on ion-adsorption type REE deposit in South China

Since 2011,certain advances have been made through the resource investigation,metallogenesis research,mining supervision and environmental protection of ion-adsorption type rare earth element (REE) deposit in South China.Firstly,some progress has been made in REE prospecting in Jiangxi,Guangdong,Guangxi and Yunnan.REE deposits are not only found within the weathering crusts of granites and felsic volcanic rocks,but also within the weathering crusts of epimetamorphic rocks and basic magmatic rocks.Secondly,the methods of exploration,delineating ore bodies and calculation of reserves have been improved,which intuitively reflect the thickness,REE composition and value of weathering crust.Thirdly,the relationship between REEs and weathering degree and the rule of distribution,migration and enrichment of REEs in the weathering profile was summarized through the analysis of big data,which can predict the metallogenetic horizon of REEs.Fourthly,a method for quick,accurate and dynamic investigation of the REE deposit has been established by using high resolution remote sensing technology.Finally,the relation between the production status of REE mines and water pollution has been revealed based on long-term hydrochemical monitoring data of rivers and wells in mines and surrounding areas.

A Study of Occurrences of Ag in Pb-Zn-Cu Ore Deposits in China

A systematic study of occurrences of silver in 156 Pb-Zn-Cu ore deposits indicates that silver mainly occurs in nonferrous metal ore deposits in forms of association and paragenesis. It occurs mainly as independent minerals in nature and occasionally as ion adsorption, isomorphous or amorphous silver minerals. Nearly 190 silver minerals have been discovered in China. Their shapes, constituents, textures, grain sizes, embedded types, distribution patterns, mineral assemblages and metallogenic series suggest that these characteristics are closely related to geneses of deposits and dependent of ore-forming conditions. Pb, Zn and Cu sulphides are the main carrier minerals of silver. The partition of silver in ore is constrained by the mineralization intensity, grain size and embedded form of silver minerals and mineral assemblages.

POLYGENETIC COMPOUND ORE DEPOSITS AND THEIR ORIGIN IN THE CONTEXT OF REGULARITIES IN CRUSTAL EVOLUTION

Polygenetic compound ore deposits are here defined as those ore deposits which evidently possess n1any sided genetic characteristics as a comprehensive result of more than one rnineralization stages, from many rnaterial sources, and of many genetic types. They are formed most commonly during the diwa (geo(lepression) stage in the process of crustal evolution and, therefore, spread most widely in diwa regions. At the present stage of our knowledge, they may be subdivided into three principal models and many types of metallogenesis, controlled by different geotectonic conditions and being distributed in time and in space according to the corresponding regularities. This is a newly rccognizcd, third gcnetic type of ore deposits, being not reasonable to be simply referred to either pure endogenic or pure exogenic origin. They are very important and are of great study significance, becausc they comrnonly are rich and have a large amount of reserve with high economic value.

The Major Ore Clusters of Super-Large Iron Deposits in the World, Present Situation of Iron Resources in China, and Prospect

The metamorphosed sedimentary type of iron deposits（BIF） is the most important type of iron deposits in the world, and super-large iron ore clusters of this type include the Quadrilatero Ferrifero district and Carajas in Brazil, Hamersley in Australia, Kursk in Russia, Central Province of India and Anshan-Benxi in China. Subordinated types of iron deposits are magmatic, volcanic-hosted and sedimentary ones. This paper briefly introduces the geological characteristics of major super-large iron ore clusters in the world. The proven reserves of iron ores in China are relatively abundant, but they are mainly low-grade ores. Moreover, a considerate part of iron ores are difficult to utilize for their difficult ore dressing, deep burial or other reasons. Iron ore deposits are relatively concentrated in 11 metallogenic provinces（belts）, such as the Anshan-Benxi, eastern Hebei, Xichang-Central Yunnan Province and middle-lower reaches of Yangtze River. The main minerogenetic epoches vary widely from the Archean to Quaternary, and are mainly the Late Archean to Middle Proterozoic, Variscan, and Yanshanian periods. The main 7 genetic types of iron deposits in China are metamorphosed sedimentary type（BIF）, magmatic type, volcanic-hosted type, skarn type, hydrothermal type, sedimentary type and weathered leaching type. The iron-rich ores occur predominantly in the skarn and marine volcanic-hosted iron deposits, locally in the metamorphosed sedimentary type（BIF） as hydrothermal reformation products. The theory of minerogenetic series of mineral deposits and minerogenic models has applied in investigation and prospecting of iron ore deposits. A combination of deep analyses of aeromagnetic anomalies and geomagnetic anomalies, with gravity anomalies are an effective method to seeking large and deep-buried iron deposits. China has a relatively great oresearching potential of iron ores, especially for metamorphosed sedimentary, skarn, and marine volcanic-hosted iron deposits. For the lower guarantee degree of iron and steel industry, China should give a trading and open the foreign mining markets.

Coordination-reduction leaching process of ion-adsorption type rare earth ore with ascorbic acid

The magnesium sulfate(MgSO_(4))-ascorbic acid(Vc)compound leaching technique can extract rare earth elements(REEs)existing in ion-exchangeable phase and colloidal phase from ion-adso rption type rare earth ore through the synergy effect of coordination and reduction,but its reaction process and mechanism remain unclear.In this paper,the coordination-reduction leaching mechanism was analyzed from the perspectives of leaching thermodynamics and kinetics,which provide theoretical guidance for the compound leaching process.In the case of neodymium,about 45%of dissolved neodymium will exist as the complex species of NdVc_(()3(aq))in Nd-Vc-sulfate system.Based on this,it is deduced that the Gibbs free energy of the leaching reaction of ion-exchangeable phase REEs will change to a more negative value through the coordination of REEs cations and Vc anions in the MgSO_(4)leaching process.In addition,the E_(h)-pH diagrams of Ce-SO_(4)^(2-)-H_(2)O and Fe-SO_(4)^(2-)-H_(2)O together with the dissolution experiments confirm that the added Vc initiates the leaching process of colloidal phase REEs through reduction-dissolution reaction.Through the study of leaching kinetics,the leaching of REEs is controlled by diffusion and chemical reaction in the co mpound leaching system since colloidal phase REEs are leached.Therefore,the addition of Vc can shift the leaching equilibrium to a more favorable state and accelerate leaching process.The rare earth leaching efficiency of ion-exchangeable phase and colloidal phase can be effectively improved by increasing the reaction temperature,the conce ntrations of leaching agent and Vc,and the leaching agent acidity.

Reduction leaching of rare earth from ion-adsorption type rare earths ore with ferrous sulfate

The practice ofin-situ leaching of the ion-adsorption type rare earths ore with ammonium sulfate could only leach most of rare earth in ion-exchangeable phase, but not the colloidal sediment phase. Therefore, the reduction leaching of rare earth from the ion-adsorption type rare earths ore with ferrous sulfate was innovatively put forward. The soak leaching process and the column leaching process were investigated in the present study. It was determined that ion-exchangeable phase could be released, and part of colloidal sediment phase rare earth could be reduction leached by the cations with reduction properties. The mechanism of reduction leaching was discussed with the Eh-pH diagram of cerium. Moreover, the stronger reduction of reductive ions, the greater acidity of leaching agent solution, and the higher reductive ion concentration, could result in the higher rare earth efficiency and the bigger ce-rium partition in the leaching liquor. In the ferrous sulfate column leaching process, the rare earth leaching rate and the rare earth effi-ciency were a little higher than with （NH4）2SO4 agent, and the rare earth efficiency and the partitioning of cerium in leaching liquor could be about 102% and 5.31%, respectively. However, the ferrous sulfate leaching process revealed some problems, so compound leaching with magnesium sulfate and a small amount of ferrous sulfate was proposed to an excellent alternative leaching agent for further studies, which may realize efficiency extraction and be environment-friendly.

Progress in green and efficient enrichment of rare earth from leaching liquor of ion adsorption type rare earth ores

Ion adsorption type rare earth ores(IATREOs)are a valuable strategic mineral resource in China,which feature a complete composition of fifteen rare earth elements and are rich in medium and heavy rare earth(RE)elements.In the leaching process for recovering rare earth elements from IATREOs,many impurities will be leached together with rare earth elements and enter the leaching liquor.An impurity removal-precipitation enrichment technique is currently applied to selectively recovery rare earth elements from the leaching liquor with the high content of impurities and low concentration of rare earth elements by using ammonium bicarbonate in the industry.However,a high loss of rare earth elements and severe ammonia nitrogen pollution are caused by this process.Therefore,more beneficial impurities removal technologies,mainly for aluminum,and green enrichment technologies with lower pollution are now urgently needed.For this purpose,this paper analyzed two aspects of research progress in recent decades:the green separation of rare earth elements and aluminum from leaching liquor and the green and efficient enrichment of rare earth elements.Finally,an approach for the high-efficiency and green enrichment of rare earth elements from leaching liquor of the IATREOs is proposed in several aspects,including impurity inhibition leaching,neutralization and impurity removal,alkaline calcium and magnesium salt precipitation enrichment,and centrifugal extraction enrichment.

Molecular dynamics simulation of aluminum inhibited leaching during ion-adsorbed type rare earth ore leaching process

Molecular dynamics simulation was adopted to study the interaction between sulfosalicylic acid and aluminum,lanthanum and yttrium,and adsorption on kaolinite surfaces.A complexation reaction occurs between sulfosalicylic acid and aluminum,with an interaction energy of-10472.05 kJ/mol.O—Al covalent bonds are formed with a peak value of 7.93,while there is only weak adsorption between sulfosalicylic acid and rare earth ions.A hydrogen bonding reaction with 13605.82 kJ/mol energy occurs between sulfosalicylic acid and the surface of kaolinite(100).Thus,sulfosalicylic acid can form a complex with free aluminum ions,and can also be adsorbed on kaolinite by hydrogen bonding with aluminum in kaolinite(100)surfaces.Leaching of ion-adsorbed type rare earth ore was performed with aluminum inhibited,results show that when sulfosalicylic acid dosage increases from 0 to 0.15 wt%,aluminum ion concentration in the leaching solution decreases from 273.23 to 47.19 mg/L.And the effect of leaching pH value on the effect of sulfosalicylic acid on aluminum inhibition was studied,the result shows that,when the leaching pH value is 4.0—5.0,the rare earth leaching rate and the aluminum ion concentration basically remain unchanged.The molecular dynamics simulation results were verified by detection and analysis of XPS and SEM.

A two-parameter model for ion exchange process of ion-adsorption type rare earth ores

The establishment of a mathematical model for the ion exchange process is key to creating a theoretical basis for the mining of ion-adsorption type rare earth ores.Ore samples from Xinfeng,Xunwu and Anyuan were used as the test ore samples in the present study and equilibrium batch tests of ore sample leaching using various ammonium sulfate concentrations were performed.The results show that,after leaching,there is a negative exponential relationship between the ratio of the solid-phase rare earth ion concentration to the aqueous-phase rare earth ion concentration and the initial ammonium ion concentration.However,there is a linear relationship between the natural logarithm of the ratio of the solidphase ammonium ion concentration to the aqueous-phase ammonium ion concentration and the initial ammonium ion concentration.Based on the above two functional relationships,a two-parameter model for the equilibrium ion exchange process of ion-adsorption type rare earth ores was established.Using the established model to analyze the test data the model error for the Xunwu ore sample is found to be less than 5%.The proposed model is more accurate compared with the Kerr model.The two-parameter model proposed in this study provides theoretical support for the numerical simulation of column leaching(in-situ leaching)of ion-adsorption type rare earth ores.

Effects of organic acids on the leaching process of ion-adsorption type rare earth ore

To examine the activation of organic acids on the leaching process of ion-adsorption type rare earth ore（IRE-ore）, the leaching behavior of rare earth（RE） and zeta potential of IRE-ore were investigated in the absence and presence of carboxylic acids. The results show that all the tested organic acids（acetic acid,malonic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, and malic acid） can promote RE extraction. At relatively high concentrations of organic acids, the activation efficiency of organic acids on RE extraction is generally consistent with their complexation ability; whereas at their low concentrations, the change of zeta potential on the IRE-ore surface with organic acid concentration and p H has a close association with RE extraction, which indicates that organic acids can impact the surface electrical property of IREore via their adsorption/desorption, and thereby increase/decrease the affinity of RE ions to IRE-ore.Therefore the influence of organic acids on the IRE-ore surface electrical property also plays an important role in RE extraction in addition to their complexation with RE ions.

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.

Geology,Geochemistry,and Genesis of the Tongcun Reduced Porphyry Mo(Cu) Deposit,NW Zhejiang Province,China

The Tongcun Mo（Cu） deposit in Kaihua city of Zhejiang Province,eastern China,occurs in and adjacent to the Songjiazhuang granodiorite porphyry and is a medium-sized and important porphyry type ore deposit.Two irregular Mo（Cu） orebodies consist of various types of hydrothermal veinlets.Intensive hydrothermal alteration contains skarnization,chloritization,carbonatization,silicification and sericitization.Based on mineral assemblages and crosscutting relationships,the oreforming processes are divided into five stages,i.e.,the early stage of garnet ＋ epidote ± chlorite associated with skarnization and K-feldspar ＋ quartz ± molybdenite veins associated with potassicsilicic alteration,the quartz-sulfides stage of quartz ＋ molybdenite ± chalcopyrite ± pyrite veins,the carbonatization stage of calcite veinlets or stockworks,the sericite ＋ chalcopyrite ± pyrite stage,and the late calcite ＋ quartz stage.Only the quartz-bearing samples in the early stage and in the quartzsulfides stage are suitable for fluid inclusions（FIs） study.Four types of FIs were observed,including1） CO2-CH4 single phase FIs,2） CO2-bearing two- or three-phase FIs,3） Aqueous two-phase FIs,and4） Aqueous single phase FIs.FIs of the early stages are predominantly CO2- and CH4-rich FIs of the CO2-CH4-H2O-NaCl system,whereas minerals in the quartz-sulfides stage contain CO2-rich FIs of the CO2-H2O-NaCl system and liquid-rich FIs of the H2O-NaCl system.For the CO2-CH4 single phase FIs of the early mineralization stage,the homogenization temperatures of the CO2 phase range from 15.4 ℃ to 25.3 ℃（to liquid）,and the fluid density varies from 0.7 g/cm^3 to 0.8 g/cm^3;for two- or three-phase FIs of the CO2-CH4-H2O-NaCl system,the homogenization temperatures,salinities and densities range from 312℃ to 412℃,7.7 wt%NaCl eqv.to 10.9 wt%NaCl eqv.,and 0.9 g/cm^3 to 1.0 g/cm^3,respectively.For CO2-H2O-NaCI two- or threephase FIs of the quartz-sulfides stage,the homogenization temperatures and salinities range from255℃ to 418℃,4.8 wt%NaCl eqv.to 12.4 wt%NaCl eqv.,respectively;for H2O-NaCl two-phase FIs,the homogenization temperatures range from 230 ℃ to 368 ℃,salinities from 11.7 wt%NaCl eqv.to16.9 wt%NaCl eqv.,and densities from 0.7 g/cm^3 to 1.0 g/cm^3.Microthermometric measurements and Laser Raman spectroscopy analyses indicate that CO2 and CH4 contents and reducibility（indicated by the presence of CH4） of the fluid inclusions trapped in quartz-sulfides stage minerals are lower than those in the early stage.Twelve molybdenite separates yield a Re-Os isochron age of 163 ± 2.4 Ma,which is consistent with the emplacement age of the Tongcun,Songjiazhuang,Dayutang and Huangbaikeng granodiorite porphyries.The 〈S18OSMow values of fluids calculated from quartz of the quartz-sulfides stage range from 5.6‰ to 8.6‰,and the 〈JDSMOw values of fluid inclusions in quartz of this stage range from-71.8‰ to-88.9‰,indicating a primary magmatic fluid source.〈534SV-cdt values of sulfides range from＋1.6‰ to ＋3.8‰,which indicate that the sulfur in the ores was sourced from magmatic origins.Phase separation is inferred to have occurred from the early stage to the quartz-sulfides stage and resulted in ore mineral precipitation.The characteristics of alteration and mineralization,fluid inclusion,sulfur and hydrogen-oxygen isotope data,and molybdenite Re-Os ages all suggest that the Tongcun Mo（Cu） deposit is likely to be a reduced porphyry Mo（Cu） deposit associated with the granodiorite porphyry in the Tongcun area.

Characteristics and origin of a new type of polyhalite potassium ore in the Lower Triassic Jialingjiang Formation, Puguang area, northeastern Sichuan Basin, SW China

A new type of polyhalite potassium ore(NTPPO) was found in the Lower Triassic Jialingjiang Formation, NE Sichuan Basin, SW China. It is water soluble, therefore can be exploited using the water-solution method, and is of great potential of economic value and research significance. Based on cores, thin sections, energy spectrum and SEM analyses, its microfeatures, macrofeatures and origin are discussed, and a genetic model is established to provide a scientific basis for future evaluation, prediction and exploration of potassium ore in the Sichuan Basin. It is proposed that the NTPPO was caused by storm activities:(1) the storm broke the original sedimentary polyhalite–gypsum beds, whose fragments were transported into the salt basin with high content of K+ and Mg2+;(2) in the basin, the polyhalite continued to be formed from gypsum by metasomatism with K-and Mg-rich brine;(3) during diagenesis, under high temperature and high pressure, K–Mg-rich brine from halite continued to replace anhydrite(or gypsum) to form polyhalite.