Genesis of the Jiajika superlarge lithium deposit,Sichuan,China:constraints from He–Ar–H–O isotopes

The Jiajika granitic-and pegmatite-type lithium deposit,which is in the Songpan-Garze Orogenic Belt in western Sichuan Province,China,is the largest in Asia.Previous studies have examined the geochemistry and mineralogy of pegmatites and their parental source rocks to determine the genesis of the deposit.However,the evolution of magmatic-hydrothermal fluids has received limited attention.We analyzed He–Ar–H–O isotopes to decipher the ore-fluid nature and identify the contribution of fluids to mineralization in the late stage of crystallization differentiation.In the Jiajika ore field,two-mica granites,pegmatites(including common pegmatites and spodumene pegmatites),metasandstones,and schists are the dominant rock types exposed.Common pegmatites derived from early differentiation of the two-mica granitic magmas before they evolved into spodumene pegmatites during the late stage of the magmatic evolution.Common pegmatites have~3He/~4He ratios that vary from 0.18 to 4.68 Ra(mean1.62 Ra),and their~(40)Ar/~(36)Ar ratios range from 426.70 to 1408.06(mean 761.81);spodumene pegmatites have~3He/~4He ratios that vary from 0.18 to 2.66 Ra(mean 0.87Ra)and their~(40)Ar/~(36)Ar ratios range from 402.13 to 1907.34(mean 801.65).These data indicate that the hydrothermal fluids were shown a mixture of crust-and mantle-derived materials,and the proportion of crustderived materials in spodumene pegmatites increases significantly in the late stage of the magmatic evolution.Theδ~(18)OH_(2)O–VSMOWvalues of common pegmatites range from 6.2‰to 10.9‰,with a mean value of 8.6‰,andδDV–SMOWvalues vary from-110‰to-72‰,with a mean o f-85‰.Theδ~(18)OH_(2)O–VSMOWvalues of spodumene pegmatites range from 5.3‰to 13.2‰,with a mean of 9.1‰,andδDV–SMOWvalues vary from-115‰to-77‰,with a mean of-91‰.These data suggest that the ore-forming fluids came from primary magmatic water gradually mixing with more meteoric water in the late stage of the magmatic evolution.Based on the He–Ar–H–O and other existing data,we propose that the oreforming metals are mainly derived from the upper continental crust with a minor contribution from the mantle,and the fluid exsolution and addition of meteoric water during the formation of pegmatite contributed to the formation of the Jiajika superlarge lithium deposit.

Dating of the Dachang Superlarge Tin-polymetallic Deposit in Guangxi and Its Implication for the Genesis of the No. 100 Orebody

The Dachang superlarge Sn-polymetal deposit in Guangxi, China, is one of the largest tin deposit all over the world. However, this deposit has long been in debate as to its origin. One of the opinions is that the Dachang deposit was formed by replacement of hydrothermal solution originating from Yanshanian granites, and the other is that this deposit was formed by submarine exhalation in the Devonian. This paper presents some new isotopic geochronology data obtained with the 40Ar-39Ar method for quartz and sanidine from massive ore in the No. 91 and No. 100 orebodies. Analytic results show that the No. 91 orebody was formed at 94.52±0.33 Ma (the plateau age obtained with the 40Ar-39Ar method for quartz) or 91.4±2.9 Ma (the plateau age obtained with the 40Ar-39Ar method for feldspar), while the No. 100 orebody was formed at 94.56±0.45 Ma (the plateau age obtained with the 40Ar-39Ar method for quartz), suggesting that both the No. 91 and the No. 100 orebodies were formed at the Late Yanshanian instead of the Devonian. The No. 100 orebody might be formed by filling of ore materials into caves in Devonian reef limestone. Because the ore-bearing solution released its pressure and lowered its temperature suddenly in a cave environment, ore minerals were formed concentratedly while water and other materials such as CO2 evaporated quickly, resulting less alteration of host rocks.

Control of Deep Tectonics on the Superlarge Deposits in China

Seventy-three large-superlarge deposits in China were formed in 4 metallogenic epochs, and located in 6 metallogenic domains. By combing their time-space distribution and the relevant data of crustal thickness, we discuss the control conditions of deep tectonics on superlarge deposits. The various spatial variation of the crustal thickness where deposits locate is closely related to their different tectonic setting. The crustal thickness of the region where deposits are in the Precatnbrian metallogenic epoch is 37.1 km and shows double-peak distribution, which is related to the different tectonic-mineralization processes in the Tarim-North China and Yangtze metallogenic domains. The crustal thickness of the region where deposits are in the Paleoproterozoic metallogenic epoch is 43.4 km and shows normal distribution, which is the result of 'pure' mineralization setting. The crustal thickness of the region where deposits are in the Late Palaeozoic-Early Mesozoic metallogenic epoch is about 41.2 km and shows multi-peak distribution, which can be related with dispersing distribution in the metallogenic domain of these superlarge deposits. The crustal thickness of the region where deposits are in the post-Indosinian metallogenic epoch is 37.3 km, and shows skew distribution, which resulted from different tectonic settings in eastern and western China.

Magmatic-Hydrothermal Superlarge Metallogenic Systems——A Case Study of the Nannihu Ore Field

Located in the Qinling （秦岭） molybdenum metallogenic belt on the southern margin of North China craton, the Nannihu （南泥湖） molybdenum （-tungsten） ore field, consisting of the Nannihu, Sandaozhuang （三道幢）, and Shangfang （上房） deposits, represents a superlarge skarn-porphyry molybdenum （-tungsten） accumulation. Outside the ore field, there are some hydrothermal lead-zinc-silver deposits found in recent years, for example, the Lengshuibeigou （冷水北沟）, Yindonggou （银涧沟）, Yangshuwa （杨树凹）, and Yinhegou （银河沟） deposits. Ore-forming fluid geochemistry indicates that these deposits belong to the same metallogenic system. The hydrothermal solutions were mainly derived from primary magmatic water in the early stage and from the mixture of the primary magmatic water and meteoric water in the later stage, with an obvious decreasing tendency in temperature, salinity and gas-liquid ratio of fluid inclusions. Sulfur and lead isotope data show that the ore-forming substances and related porphyries were mainly derived from the lower crust, and a hidden magmatic chamber is indicated by aeromagnetic anomaly and drill hole data indicate that the Nannihu granite body extends to being larger and larger with depth increasing. The large-scale mineralization was the consequence of lithospheric extension during the late stage of the tectonic regime when the main compressional stress changed from NS-trending to EW-trending.

Lincang Superlarge Germanium Deposit in Yunnan Province,China: Sedimentation,Diagenesis,Hydrothermal Process and Mineralization

The mineralization is related closely to sedimentation, diagenesis and hydrothermal processes. In this paper, investigations are carried out on coal occurrence, maceral composition, inorganic minerals, trace elements and huminite reflectance. It is concluded that the source of Lincang superlarge deposit is mainly the muscovite granite in the west edge of the basin. During sedimentation, Ge (germanium) was leached out and entered the basin. Ge was adsorbed by lower organism and humic substances in water. Lincang lignite underwent three thermal processes: peatification, early diagenesis and hydrothermal transformation. During peatification, Ge was adsorbed or complexed by humic colloids. During early diagenesis, the Ge associated with humic acids was hard to mobilize or transport. Most of Ge entered the structure of huminite while a small amount of Ge was associated with residual humic acids as complex or humate. During hydrothermal transformation, the heated natural water or deep fluid from basement encountered the coal layer within tectonic weak zone. SO 2- 4 was reduced by coal organic matter. Pyrite and calcite formed. Hydrothermal process did not contribute significantly to mineralization.

New Discovery of Shizhushan Superlarge Wollastonite Deposit in Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province

Objective The Mengshan area of the Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province is an important wollastonite production base in China. As early as the 90s of the 20th century, more than ten medium to small-sized wollastonite deposits, such as the Yueguangshan and Caofangmiao Deposits were discovered in the outer contact zone of the Mengshan rock mass. After that, no more progress was achieved in wollastonite prospection. In 2016, the project funded by the Geological Prospecting Fund of Jiangxi Province made significant breakthroughs in the ＂General Survey of the Shizhushan Wollastonite Ore in the Yushui District and Zhangmuqiao Wollastonite Ore in Shanggao County, Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province＂ in the Mengshan area. The new discovered Shizhushan Wollastonite Deposit has a scale of 50 million tons and its resources scale far exceeds that of the Seeleys Bay Wollastonite Deposit discovered in Canada.

GEODYNAMICS OF SUPERLARGE DEPOSITS IN CHINSES YUNNAN-GUIZHOU-GUANGXI ON THE EASTERN MARGIN OF THE QINGZANG PLEAUTAN

Interest in the ore\|forming histories of basins has grown rapid since 1960 and is now intensive. The main reason behind the acceleration is the increasing awareness that the natural processes responsible for generating metal deposits in the sedimentary basin from the source rocks of the beneath the basin and intensively hydrothermal activity in the basin. Observations made in different continental margin basin systems and superlarge deposits in Chinese Yunnan\|Guizhou\|Guangxi Province on the eastern margin of the Qingzang (Himalaya—Karakoram—Tibet) were investigated in terms of geodynamics of basin formation. Geotectonically, the area is situated in the conjoint between the Tethys—Himalaya and the Marginal\|Pacific tectonic domain, characterized by very complex geological structure, typical basin\|mountain tectonics, abundant Superlarge deposits.

Geology and Genesis of the Superlarge Jinchang Gold Deposit,NE China

The superlarge Jinchang gold deposit is located in the joint area between the Taipingling uplift and the Laoheishan depression of the Xingkai Block in both eastern Jilin and eastern Heilongjiang Province. Wall rocks of the gold deposits are the Neoproterozoic Huangsong Group of metamorphic rocks. Yanshanian magmatism in this region can be divided into 5 phases, the diorite, the graphic granite, the granite, the granite porphyry and the diorite porphyrite, which resulted in the magmatic domes and cryptoexplosive breecia chimney followed by large-scale hydrothermal alteration. Gold mineralization is closely related to the fourth and fifth phase of magmatism. According to the occurrences, gold ores can be subdivided into auriferous pyritized quartz vein, auriferous quartz-pyrite vein, auriferous polymetailic sulfide quartz vein and auriferous pyritized calcite vein. The ages of the gold deposit are ranging from 122.53 to 119.40 Ma. The ore bodies were controlled by a uniform tectono-magmatic hydrothermal alteration system that the ore-forming materials were deep derived from and the ore-forming fluids were dominated by magmatic waters with addition of some atmospheric water in the later phase of mineralization. Gold mineralization took place in an environment of medium to high temperatures and medium pressures. Ore-forming fluids were the K^＋-Na^＋-Ca^2＋-Cl^--SO4^2- type and characterized by medium salinity or a slightly higher, weak alkaline and weak reductive. Au in the ore-forming fluids was transported as complexes of [Au （HS）2]^-, [AuCl2]^-, [Au（CO2）]^- and [Au（HCO3）2]^-. Along with the decline of temperatures and pressures, the ore-forming fluids varied from acidic to weak acidic and then to weak alkaline, which resulted in the dissociation of the complex and finally the precipitation of the gold.

On Geophysical Background of Superlarge Deposits in the Chinese Continent

Based on the study of tens of geophysical profiles (seismic, geothermal flow and magnetotelluric sounding profiles) and 3-D shear wave velocity structures of the Chinese continent and its neighbouring regions, this paper describes the 3-D crustal and upper mantle structures and discusses briefly the deep geophysical background of superlarge ore deposits in the Chinese continent. Superlarge deposits are usually very few in number, but they are distributed still in certain forms such as “point”, “zone” and “area”. Most of the large-, medium- and small-sized deposits occur near the margins of different tectonic units; while the superlarge endogenic polymetallic deposits occur mostly in thinned mantle lithosphere, uplifts of the asthenosphere (vertical low-velocity zones) and the transformation zones of lateral inhomogeneity (weak zones) in the upper mantle. The superlarge endogenic polymetallic deposits are almost unevenly distributed in three major ore zones in China, corresponding to the boundaries of inhomogeneous regions in the asthenosphere.

Metallogenesis of superlarge gold deposits in Jiaodong region and deep processes of subcontinental lithosphere beneath North China Craton in Mesozoic

The study of ore-forming chronology indicates that the superlarge gold deposits in the Jiaodong region were formed in 120±10 Ma. Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions from typical gold deposits suggest that ore-forming materials were derived from the multisources, mantle component was partly involved in mineralization, the deep dynamic processes are the major geological background of large-scale metallogenesis in the Jiaodong region in Mesozoic. The deep pro- cesses mainly include the effect of post deep-subduction of continental crust of the central orogen belt and the distant effect of subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate underneath the Eurasian continent. However, lithosphere thinning, crust-mantle interaction, crustal extension and formation of large-type ore-controlling structures would be the comprehensive consequences of the above- mentioned geodynamic processes in the region.

Helium and argon isotopic geochemistry of Jinding superlarge Pb-Zn deposit

The study results of He and Ar isotopes from fluid inclusions in pyrites formed during mineralization stage of Jinding superlarge Pb-Zn deposit in west Yunnan, China are reported. The data show that the 40Ar/ 36Ar and 3He/ 4He ratios of fluid inclusions are respectively in the range of 301.7\385.7 and 0.03\0.06Ra, suggesting the ore-forming fluid is a kind of air saturated meteoric groundwater. On the basis of research on coupled relationships among He, Ar, S and Pb isotopes, the evolution history of ore-forming fluid of the deposit can be summarized as （i） air saturated meteogenic groundwater infiltrated down and was heated→ （ii） leached S, C and radiogenic He, Ar from the basinal strata → （iii） leached Pb and Zn from mantle-derived igneous rocks located in the bottom of the basin→ （iv） ore-forming fluid ascended and formed the deposit. Due to this process, the isotope signatures of crustal radiogenic He, atmospheric Ar （with partial radiogenic 40Ar）, crustal S and mantle-derived Pb remained in the ore-forming fluid.

Continental hydrothermal sedimentary siliceous rock andgenesis of superlarge germanium(Ge)deposit hosted incoal:A study from the Lincang Ge deposit,Yunnan,China

There are abundant hydrothermal sedimentary structures and plant fragment fossils in the siliceous rocks from the Lincang Ge deposit. The major element compositions of these siliceous rocks are characterized by high content SiO2, low TiO2 and Al2O3concentrations, and low Al/(Al+Fe+Mn) ratios (0.010 on average). The siliceous rocks are distinctly enriched in Ge, Sb, As, W, and secondly enriched in Cs, U, Mo and Tl. Their total REE content are generally less than 1μg/g, LREE relatively concentrated, and the values of Eu anomaly and Ce anomaly vary from 0.452 to 5.141 and 0.997 to 1.174, respectively. Their NAS-normalized REE patterns are plain or left-inclined. The Oxygen isotope compositions of these siliceous rocks are similar to those of the hydrothermal siliceous sinter. The above characteristics, as well as the geological setting of the deposit, indicate these siliceous rocks formed in continental hydrothermal envi- ronment. As the interlayer or cliff of the Ge-rich coal seams, siliceous rocks tightly contacted with ore-body, and the contents of Ge in siliceous rocks vary from 5.6 to 360 μg/g (78 μg/g on aver- age). The Ge content increased in coal which close to the siliceous rocks. With the increase of Ge content, the typical trace element ratios (i.e., Ge/Ga, Nb/Ta and U/Th) and REE patterns of Ge-rich coal are more close to those of the siliceous rocks. The Ge concentrated in coal seams of the Lincang Ge deposit might be transported by the hydrothermal water, which demonstrated by the siliceous rocks, during the coal-forming processes.

Crust-mantle interaction and its contribution to the Shizhuyuan superlarge tungsten polymetallic mineralization

The Qianlishan granite, which is closely related to theShizhuyuan tungsten polymetallic mineralization, is aluminous alkali-type granite. The intimate temporal and spatial association among the basaltic, syenite and granitic rocks in the mining area, and their major and trace ele-ments, and Nd, Pb, Sr, O isotopic compositions indicate that the crustal-mantle interaction probably was an important constraint on, and participated in, the formation of the superlarge ore deposit.

Characteristics of Proterozoic basements on the geochemical steep zones in the continent of China and their implications for setting of superlarge deposits

Based on the Pb isotopic mapping of the continent of China and the geochemical data of Proterozoic basements, the steep zones of geochemical blocks of Cathaysia, Yangtze, North China, Central Mongolia, China\|Korea and Jiamusi are established. There are tight relationships between geochemical steep zones and setting of the superlarge deposits along with main mineralization zones. There are Proterozoic basements belonging to different blocks on both sides of geochemical steep zones in which volcanism and SEDEX were comprehensively developed and associated with reconstruction ore emplacement of dynamic metamorphism and magmatism from Jinning period to Mesozoic\|Cenozoic.

Preliminary study on the relationship between the crust-mantle structure and the formation of Laowangzhai superlarge gold deposit

The essential shallow crust structural factors controlling the formation of Laowangzhai gold deposit include favorable tectonic and regional structural site, the release site of a great deal of the earth energy, favorable ore controlling structure system, abundant and favorable source rocks for gold, ductile shearing, abundant minerogenetic materials source in extensive crust and mantle. And the essential deep seated crust mantle structure factors dominating the formation of the ore deposit include intracrustal low velocity len, high velocity bodies in the lower part of middle crust and lower crust, the steps on the slope of Moho, connecting site of mantle rises, the crust mantle transition layer, upwelling of asthenosphere and the low velocity plume. It is concluded that the fundamental reason that controls the formation of Laowangzhai superlarge gold deposit lies in the coupling between deep and shallow crust mantle structure factors controlling the formation of the deposit and their coupling with the lithospheric evolution and geological event.

The unique nature in ore composition, geological background and metallogenic mechanism of non-conventional superlarge ore deposits: A preliminary discussion

The unique nature of four non conventional superlarge deposits: the Bayan Obo deposit, the Shizhuyuan deposit, the Dachang deposit and the Franklin Furnace deposit is discussed. It is postulated that the unique nature of these deposits is related to the rare geological processes and their coupling.

Sea-level changes and hydrothermal sedimentary mineralization of large-superlarge ore deposits among Sinian to Triassic in South China

Among the Sinian to Triassic strata in South China, the stratiform, quasi-stratiform and lenticular metallic deposits in association with hydrothermal sedimentation mainly occur in the four periods: (1) the Sinian Datangpo interglacial period, (2) the early period of Early Cambrian, (3) the late period of Middle Devonian to early period of Late Devonian,and (4) the late period of Early Permian. The four mineralization periods all happened around the maximum flooding period in the third-order seal-level cycle during the ascending stage in the first-order sea-level cycle. The deep seawater layer, starved and non-compensatory basin, low sedimentary rate, and low energy and anoxic environment during the maximum flooding period are very suitable for the formation and preservation of large to superlarge hydrothermal sedimentary deposits. The maximum flooding period also coincided with the intensified regional tectonism, extensive deep magmatism and hydrothermal sedimentation, which provide, for the formation of large to superlarge hydrothermal sedimentary deposits through the rapid accumulation of hydrothermal sediments, the needed dynamics, ore-forming materials and favorable passway for hydrothermal fluids to enter the basin.