Mineral Geochemistry of Apatite in the Jiama PorphyrySkarn Deposit,Tibet and its Geological Significance

The Jiama deposit,a significant porphyry-skarn-type copper polymetallic deposit located within the Gangdese metallogenic belt in Tibet,China,exemplifies a typical porphyry metallogenic system.However,the mineral chemistry of its accessory minerals remains under-examined,posing challenges for resource assessment and ore prospecting.Utilizing electron microprobe analysis and LA-ICP-MS analysis,this study investigated the geochemical characteristics of apatite in ore-bearing granite and monzogranite porphyries,as well as granodiorite,quartz diorite,and dark diorite porphyries in the deposit.It also delved into the diagenetic and metallogenic information from these geochemical signatures.Key findings include:(1)The SiO_(2) content,rare earth element(REE)contents,and REE partition coefficients of apatite indicate that the dark diorite porphyry possibly does not share a cogenetic magma source with the other four types of porphyries;(2)the volatile F and Cl contents in apatite,along with their ratio,indicate the Jiama deposit,formed in a collisional setting,demonstrates lower Cl/F ratios in apatite than the same type of deposits formed in a subduction environment;(3)compared to non-ore-bearing rock bodies in other deposits formed in a collisional setting,apatite in the Jiama deposit exhibits lower Ce and Ga contents.This might indicate that rock bodies in the Jiama deposit have higher oxygen fugacity.Nevertheless,the marginal variation in oxygen fugacity between ore-bearing and non-ore-bearing rock bodies within the deposit suggests oxygen fugacity may not serve as the decisive factor in the ore-hosting potential of rock bodies in the Jiama deposit.

Petrogenesis, oxidation state and volatile content of Dongga tonalite in the Gangdese belt, Xizang: Implication for porphyry Cu mineralization

The Gangdese belt in Xizang has experienced both Jurassic subduction and Cenozoic continental collision processes, making it a globally renowned region for magmatic rocks and porphyry copper deposits. Numerous Jurassic intrusions have been identified in the belt. Apart from the quartz diorite porphyry in the large Xietongmen deposit, the Cu mineralization potential of other Jurassic intrusions in this belt remains unclear. This study presents zircon U–Pb dating and trace elements, apatite major and trace elements as well as published whole-rock geochemical and isotopic data of the Dongga tonalite in the central part of the Gangdese belt, aiming to reveal the petrogenesis, oxidation state, volatile content, and Cu mineralization potential of this intrusion. The Dongga tonalite has a zircon U–Pb age of 179.4 ± 0.9 Ma. It exhibits high whole-rock V/Sc values(8.76–14.6), relatively low apatite CeN/CeN*ratios(1.04–1.28), elevated zircon(Eu/Eu*)Nvalues(an average of 0.44), high Ce4+/Ce3+values(205–1896), and high ?FMQ values(1.3–3.7), collectively suggesting a high magmatic oxygen fugacity. The Dongga tonalite features amphibole phenocrysts, relatively high whole-rock Sr/Y ratios(20.3–58.9), and lower zircon Ti temperatures (502–740 ℃), reflecting a high magmatic water content. Estimation of magmatic sulfur content(0.002–0.024 wt%) based on apatite SO3contents indicates an enriched magma sulfur content. Combined with previous studies and the collected Sr–Nd–Hf isotopes, the Dongga tonalite is derived from juvenile lower crust related with subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic slab. When compared with Xietongmen orebearing porphyries, the Dongga tonalite exhibits remarkable similarities with the Xietongmen ore-bearing porphyries in terms of magma source, tectonic background, magmatic redox state, and volatile components, which indicates that the Dongga tonalite has a high porphyry Cu mineralization potential, and therefore, provides important guidance for the future mineralization exploration.

Late Mesozoic Exhumation of the Huangling Massif:Constraints on the Evolution of the Middle Yangtze River

Plate subduction leads to complex exhumation processes on continents.The Huangling Massif lies at the northern margin of the South China Block.Whether the Huangling Massif was exhumed as a watershed of the middle reaches of the Paleo-Yangtze River during the Mesozoic remains under debate.We examined the exhumation history of the Huangling Massif based on six granite bedrock samples,using apatite fission track(AFT)and apatite and zircon(U-Th)/He(AHe and ZHe)thermochronology.These samples yielded ages of 157–132 Ma(ZHe),119–106 Ma(AFT),and 114–72 Ma(AHe),respectively.Thermal modeling revealed that three phases of rapid cooling occurred during the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous,late Early Cretaceous,and Late Cretaceous.These exhumation processes led to the high topographic relief responsible for the emergence of the Huangling Massif.The integrated of our new data with published sedimentological records suggests that the Huangling Massif might have been the watershed of the middle reaches of the Paleo-Yangtze River since the Cretaceous.At that time,the rivers flowed westward into the Sichuan Basin and eastward into the Jianghan Basin.The subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Asian continent in the Mesozoic deeply influenced the geomorphic evolution of the South China Block.

Geology and Geochemistry of K-feldspar Veins in Lamprophyre at the Zhenyuan Gold Deposit,Yunnan,Southwest China:Implications for Gold Mineralization

Lamprophyres typically appear in hydrothermal gold deposits.The relationship between lamprophyres and gold deposits is investigated widely.Some researchers suggest that the emplacement of lamprophyres triggers gold mineralization,whereas others hypothesize that the formation of lamprophyres increases the fertility of mantle sources and ore-forming fluids.K-feldspar veins,with ages between those of lamprophyres and gold deposits,appear in lamprophyres in Zhenyuan.Therefore,K-feldspar veins are ideal for investigating the relationship between lamprophyres and gold deposits.Phlogopite in K-feldspar veins has lower Mg#,Ni,and Cr contents and higher TiO2,Li,Ba,Sr,Sc,Zr,Nb,and Cs contents than phlogopite in lamprophyres.The in-situ Sr isotopic values of apatites(0.7063–0.7066)in K-feldspar veins are within the range for apatites(0.7064–0.7078)from lamprophyres.High large-ion lithophile element concentrations and low Nb and Ta concentrations in phlogopite from lamprophyres,in addition to high(87Sr/86Sr)i values of apatite(0.7064–0.7078),indicate that the magma parental to these phlogopite and apatite crystals is derived from an enriched mantle.Kfeldspar veins are genetically correlated with lamprophyres,whereas sulfide mineral assemblage and trace element compositions of pyrite in K-feldspar veins suggest that K-feldspar veins in lamprophyres are not directly related to gold mineralization of the Zhenyuan deposit.

Mineralogy and geochemistry of trachytic rocks from the Lichi Volcanics, Eastern Himalaya: insights into the Kerguelen mantle plume activity in the Eastern Himalayan Region

The Lichi volcanics are a suite of mafic-intermediate-felsic rocks and are considered coeval with the Abor volcanics(~132 Ma) of the Siang window in the Eastern Himalaya. Here, we present the first report of trachytic rocks from the Lichi volcanics, which are exposed in the Ranga valley, along the Kimin-Yazali road section in the Eastern Himalayan Region, Northeast India. The trachytes occur in close association with sandstones of the Gondwana Group of rocks and are characterised based on field, petrographical, and geochemical investigations.These fine-grained trachytes are composed of alkali feldspar, biotite, plagioclase, sodic-amphibole, apatite, illmenite, and titanite. The REE profiles of the evolved trachytic rocks(higher SiO_(2)content) display fractionated trends. The fractionation of accessory mineral phases, like apatite and titanite, was possibly responsible for the strongly fractionated REE patterns of the evolved samples.The trachytic rocks demonstrate high apatite saturation temperatures of 988 ± 14 ℃(1σ, n = 8). The Aluminium Saturation Index(< 1.1) and binary discrimination diagrams of these peralkaline trachytes define their affinity with A-type granitoids. Elemental ratios like Y/Nb, Nb/U,and Ce/Pb signify that the Lichi trachytes are differentiated products of mantle-derived ocean island basalts. Trace elemental discrimination diagrams Th/Yb versus Nb/Yb, Y versus Nb, and Y + Nb versus Rb reflect a within-plate tectonic regime for the trachytes. From the results presented in this work, we infer that the development of rifting events during the breakup of eastern Gondwana due to the onset of Kerguelen plume activity further led to underplating of basic magma in lower crustal levels. These parental basaltic magmas underwent fractionation processes forming differentiated trachyandesites and trachytes.Taking into consideration the similarities recorded between the Lichi volcanics and Abor volcanics, this study supports the idea that Kerguelen plume activities resulted in the emplacement of these volcanics in the Eastern Himalayas.

Multiple Uplift and Exhumation of the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau:Evidence from Low-Temperature Thermochronology

Since the Cenozoic,the Tibetan Plateau has experienced large-scale uplift and outgrowth due to the India-Asia collision.However,the mechanism and timing of these tectonic processes still remain debated.Here,using apatite fission track dating and inverse thermal modeling,we explore the mechanism of different phases of rapid cooling for different batholiths and intrusions in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau.In contrast to previous views,we find that the coeval granitic batholith exposed in the same tectonic zone experienced differential fast uplift in different sites,indicating that the present Tibetan Plateau was the result of differential uplift rather than the entire lithosphere uplift related to lithospheric collapse during Cenozoic times.In addition,we also suggest that the 5-2 Ma mantle-related magmatism should be regarded as the critical trigger for the widely coeval cooling event in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau,because it led to the increase in atmospheric CO_(2)level and a hotter upper crust than before,which are efficient for suddenly fast rock weathering and erosion.Finally,we propose that the current landform of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau was the combined influences of tectonic and climate.

Apatite Fission Track Thermochronology of Granite from the Xiazhuang Uranium Ore Field,South China:Implications for Exhumation History and Ore Preservation

Xiazhuang uranium ore field,located in the southern part of the Nanling Metallogenic Belt,is considered one of the largest granite-related U regions in South China.In this paper,we contribute new apatite fission track data and thermal history modeling to constrain the exhumation history and evaluate preservation potential of the Xiazhuang Uranium ore field.Nine Triassic outcrop granite samples collected from different locations of Xiazhuang Uranium ore field yield AFT ages ranging from 43 to 24 Ma with similar mean confined fission track lengths ranging from 11.8±2.0 to 12.9±1.9μm and Dpar values between 1.01 and 1.51μm.The robustness time-temperature reconstructions of samples from the hanging wall of Huangpi fault show that the Xiazhuang Uranium ore field experienced a time of monotonous and slow cooling starting from middle Paleocene to middle Miocene(~60-10 Ma),followed by relatively rapid exhumation in the late Miocene(~10-5 Ma)and nearly thermal stability in the Pliocene-Quaternary(~5-0 Ma).The amount of exhumation after U mineralization since the Middle Paleogene was estimated as~4.3±1.8 km according to the integrated thermal history model.Previous studies indicate that the ore-forming ages of U deposits in the Xiazhuang ore field are mainly before Middle Paleocene and the mineralization depths are more than 4.4±1.2 km.Therefore,the exhumation history since middle Paleocene plays important roles in the preservation of the Xiazhuang Uranium ore field.

Apatite Fission-Track Thermochronology in the Tamusu Area,Bayingobi Basin,NW China,and its Geological Significance

The Bayingobi basin is located in the middle of Central Asia Orogenic Belt,at the intersection of Paleo-Asian Ocean and Tethys Ocean,as well as the junction of multiple tectonic plates.This unique tectonic setting underpins the basin's intricate history of tectonic activity.To unravel the multifaceted tectono-thermal evolution within the southwestern region of the basin and to elucidate the implications of sandstone-hosted uranium mineralization,granitic and clastic rock samples were collected from the Zongnai Mts.uplift and Yingejing depression,and apatite fission track(AFT)dating and thermal history simulation analysis were performed.AFT dating findings reveal that the apparent ages of all samples fall within the range of 244 Ma to 112 Ma.In particular,the bedrock of the Zongnai Mts.and Jurassic detrital apatite fission tracks have undergone complete annealing,capturing the uplift-cooling age.Meanwhile,the AFT ages of Cretaceous detrital rocks are either equivalent to or notably exceed the age of sedimentary strata,signifying the cooling age of the provenance.A comprehensive examination of AFT ages and palaeocurrent direction analyses suggests that the Cretaceous source in the Tamusu area predominantly originated from the central and southern sectors of the Zongnai Mts.uplift.However,at a certain juncture during the Late Early Cretaceous,the Cretaceous provenance expanded to include the northern part of the Zongnai Mts.uplift.Based on the results of thermal history simulations and previous studies,it is considered that the Tamusu area has undergone four distinct tectonic uplift events since the Late Paleozoic.The first is the Late Permian to Early Triassic(260-240 Ma),which is associated with the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean and the accretionary orogeny within the Alxa region.The second uplift event took place in the Early Jurassic(190-175 Ma)and corresponded to intraplate orogeny following the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean.The third uplift event is the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous(160-120 Ma),which is linked to the East Asia's position as the convergence center of multiple tectonic plates during this period.The fourth uplift event is linked to the Late Early Cretaceous(112-100 Ma),driven either by the westward subduction of the eastern Pacific plate or the mantle upwelling resulting from the Bangong-Nujiang oceanic lithosphere subduction and slab break-off.The primary stress orientation for the first three tectonic uplift phases approximated a nearly SN direction,while the fourth stage featured a principal stress direction of NW.The fourth tectonic uplift event of the Late Early Cretaceous and basaltic eruption thermal event during this period likely exerted a significant influence on the formation of the Tamusu sandstone-hosted uranium deposit.

Hydrocarbon accumulation history in Lower Cretaceous in northern slope of Bongor Basin in Chad,Central Africa

Based on the analysis of the fluid inclusion homogenization temperature and apatite fission track on the northern slope zone of the Bongor Basin in Chad,this paper studied the time and stages of hydrocarbon accumulation in the study area.The results show that:(1)The brine inclusions of the samples from the Kubla and Prosopis formations in the Lower Cretaceous coexisting with the hydrocarbon generally present two sets of peak ranges of homogenization temperature,with the peak ranges of low temperature and high temperature being 75–105℃ and 115–135℃,respectively;(2)The samples from the Kubla and Prosopis formations have experienced five tectonic evolution stages,i.e.,rapid subsidence in the Early Cretaceous,tectonic inversion in the Late Cretaceous,small subsidence in the Paleogene,uplift at the turn of the Paleogene and Neogene,and subsidence since the Miocene,in which the denudation thickness of the Late Cretaceous and after the turn of the Paleogene and Neogene are~1.8 km and~0.5 km,respectively.The cumulative denudation thickness of the two periods is about 2.3 km;(3)Using the brine inclusion homogenization temperature coexisting with the hydrocarbon as the capture temperature of the hydrocarbon,and combining with the apatite fission track thermal history modeling,the result shows that the Kubla and Prosopis formations in the Lower Cretaceous on the northern slope of the Bongor Basin have the same hydrocarbon accumulation time and stages,both of which have undergone two stages of hydrocarbon charging at 80–95 Ma and 65–80 Ma.The first stage of charging corresponds to the initial migration of hydrocarbon at the end of the Early Cretaceous rapid sedimentation,while the second stage of charging is in the stage of intense tectonic inversion in the Late Cretaceous.

Optimization by the Taguchi Method of a Robust Synthesis Protocol of Calcium Carbonate Phosphate

The experimental processes are difficult to model by physical laws, because a multitude of factors can intervene simultaneously and are responsible for their instabilities and their random variations. Two types of factors are to be considered;those that are easy to manipulate according to the objectives, and those that can vary randomly (uncontrollable factors). These could eventually divert the system from the desired target. It is, therefore, important to implement a system that is insensitive to fluctuations in factors that are difficult to control. The aim of this study is to optimize the synthesis of an apatitic calcium carbonate phosphate characterized with a Ca/P ratio equal to 1.61 by using the experimental design method based on the Taguchi method. In this process, five factors are considered and must be configured to achieve the previously defined objective. The temperature is a very important factor in the process, but difficult to control experimentally, so considered to be a problem factor (noise factor), forcing us to build a robust system that is insensitive to the last one. Therefore, a much simpler model to study the robustness of a synthetic solution with respect to temperature is developed. We have tried to parameterize all the factors considered in the process within a wide interval of temperature variation (60˚C - 90˚C). Temperature changes are no longer considered as a problem for apatitic calcium carbonate phosphate synthesis. In this finding, the proposed mathematical model is linear and efficient with very satisfactory statistical indicators. In addition, several simple solutions for the synthesis of carbonate phosphate are proposed with a Ca/P ratio equal to 1.61.

Apatite Geochemical and Nd Isotopic Insights into Trachyte Petrogenesis in the Tianchi Volcanic Area of Changbai Mountain,NE China

We report the oxide,element geochemistry and Nd isotopic geochemical data of apatite in the middle Pleistocene medium-and fine-grained trachyte in the Tianchi volcanic area(TVA)of Changbai Mountain,discussing the relationship between apatite and the composition of the whole rock.The purpose is to use the apatite geochemical data to constrain the evolutionary process of trachytic magma and the petrogenesis of trachyte in the cone-forming period of the Tianchi volcano.Apatite(Ca_(5)(PO_(4))_(3)(OH,F,Cl))is a common accessory mineral that occurs widely in volcanic rocks in the TVA.The apatites in the trachyte are mainly subhedral-anhedral,having the characteristics of magmatic apatite.In terms of oxide and element geochemistry,they have homogeneous Al_(2)O_(3),SiO_(2),MgO,P_(2)O_(5),K_(2)O,CaO and heterogeneous TiO2,with high F content.They are generally enriched in Th,U and LREEs,depleted in Nb,Ta,Zr,Hf and HFSEs,showing negative Ba,Sr and Ti anomalies,similar to those of the whole-rock host trachytes.The ratios of high(La/Yb)_(N),low δEu(Eu/Eu*),Sr/Y value and ΣREE content in apatite,and the F,Sr,Y,Th/U,La/Sm,and Nd/Tb with ΣREE andδEu anomalies showed a linear correlation,all of those indicating that the host magma has the characteristic of high differentiation.The apatite grains generally having ^(147)Sm/^(144)Nd,^(143)Nd/^(144)Nd ratios and ε_(Nd)(t)values of 0.1072-0.1195,0.5123-0.5126 and -3.49 to -0.10,respectively,are similiar to those of the host rock.The Nd model ages TDM1 are 949-803 Ma in apatite.Combined with theεNd(t)value of the apatite core(-7.06 to-3.49),we conclude that the initial magma of the host trachyte was derived from the partial melting of Proterozoic crustal material and there was an assimilation of wall rocks during its evolution.

Removal of dolomite and potassium feldspar from apatite using simultaneous flotation with a mixed cationic-anionic collector

This study aims to investigate the effect of a cationic-anionic mixed collector(dodecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide/sodium oleate(DTAB/NaOL)on the selective separation of apatite,dolomite,and potassium feldspar.Herein,several experimental methods,including flotation experiments,zeta-potential detection,microcalorimetry detection,XPS analysis and FTIR measurements,were used.The flotation tests showed that dolomite and potassium feldspar can be successfully removed from apatite simultaneously when the molar ratio of DTAB to NaOL was 2:1 with pH 4.5.Zeta-potential and microcalorimetry detection suggested that NaOL and DTAB were adsorbed on the surface of dolomite and potassium feldspar respectively,and part of NaOL and DTAB formed co-adsorption on the surface of potassium feldspar to enhance the floatability of potassium feldspar.The XPS and FTIR spectra analysis demonstrated that the cationic collector,DTAB,was first adsorbed on the surface of potassium feldspar through electrostatic attraction in the DTAB/NaOL mixture system.Subsequently,the anionic NaOL collector and cationic DTAB collector form an electron neutralisation complex,thereby resulting in co-adsorption on the surface of potassium feldspar.NaOL was chemically reacted and adsorbed on dolomite surface,but almost no collector was adsorbed on apatite surface.Finally,the adsorption models of different collectors on mineral surface were obtained.

Exhumation and Preservation of the Jinchuan Ni-Cu-PGE Deposit under the East Longshou Mountain Thermal Evolution,Revealed by Apatite Fission Track Thermochronology

Uplift and exhumation are important factors affecting the preservation of deposits.The anatomy of uplift-cooling evolution and exhumation in the East Longshou Mountain is of significant research value in understanding changes in the Jinchuan Ni-Cu-PGE deposit since its formation.This study uses apatite fission track(AFT)thermochronology to reconstruct the thermal history of the East Longshou Mountain,including the Jinchuan mine,revealing the uplift and exhumation history of the East Longshou Mountain and elucidating the preservation status of the Jinchuan deposit.The AFT ages in the East Longshou Mountain are distributed from 62.3±3.0 Ma to 214.7±14 Ma,with significant differences in ages in distinct areas,the central and pooled ages being consistent within the margin of error.Inverse thermal history models reveal two rapid cooling events associated with exhumation from the Early Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous(200–100 Ma)and since the Miocene(15–0 Ma),the former attributable to the far-afield response to the closure of the PaleoTethys Ocean and plate assembly at the southern margin of Eurasia,the latter associated with the initial India-Eurasia plate collision.A slow cooling event from the Early Cretaceous to the Miocene(100–15 Ma)is thought to be related to the arid environment in northwest China since the Cretaceous.These cooling events have diverse responses and cooling rates in different blocks of the East Longshou Mountain:the southwest and centre of which are mainly cooled over 200–120 Ma and 120–0 Ma,with cooling rates of~0.25 and~0.33°C/Ma(~1.25 and~0.33°C/Ma in the centre);the Jinchuan mine primarily cooled over 160–100 Ma,100–15 Ma and 15–0 Ma,with cooling rates of~1.33,~0.25 and~2.00°C/Ma.These differentiated coolings imply that the uplift of the East Longshou Mountain before the Miocene(~15 Ma)was integral.Strong uplift then occurred in the vicinity of the mining area,which is a critical period for the uplift of the Jinchuan deposit to the surface,meaning that the Jinchuan deposit was exposed no earlier than the Miocene(~15 Ma).Based on mineralization depth information obtained by previous researchers,in conjunction with the calculation and simulation results of this study,it can be seen that the bulk of the Jinchuan intrusion may still be preserved at depth.

Tectonic-thermal history and hydrocarbon potential of the Pearl River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea:Insights from borehole apatite fission-track thermochronology

The Pearl River Mouth Basin(PRMB)is one of the most petroliferous basins on the northern margin of the South China Sea.Knowledge of the thermal history of the PRMB is significant for understanding its tectonic evolution and for unraveling its poorly studied source-rock maturation history.Our investigations in this study are based on apatite fission-track(AFT)thermochronology analysis of 12 cutting samples from 4 boreholes.Both AFT ages and length data suggested that the PRMB has experienced quite complicated thermal evolution.Thermal history modeling results unraveled four successive events of heating separated by three stages of cooling since the early Middle Eocene.The cooling events occurred approximately in the Late Eocene,early Oligocene,and the Late Miocene,possibly attributed to the Zhuqiong II Event,Nanhai Event,and Dongsha Event,respectively.The erosion amount during the first cooling stage is roughly estimated to be about 455-712 m,with an erosion rate of 0.08-0.12 mm/a.The second erosion-driven cooling is stronger than the first one,with an erosion amount of about 747-814 m and an erosion rate between about 0.13-0.21 mm/a.The erosion amount calculated related to the third cooling event varies from 800 m to 3419 m,which is speculative due to the possible influence of the magmatic activity.

几种矿物相在重金属类污染物自净化体系中的应用

自然界中的许多矿物自身赋有容纳和稳定有害物质的自净化能力,可用于重金属类污染物的治理。水滑石类层状双氢氧化物LDH体系(layer double hydroxide)、托勃莫来石类水化硅酸钙(calcium silicate hydrate)和磷灰石(apatite)是自然界中普遍存在的3种矿物相,具有较高的地球化学稳定性和潜在的重金属自束缚稳定能力。在阐述3种矿物相晶体结构特点和自净化原理的基础上,对它们在危险废物污染物自净化体系中所起的作用进行了讨论。

Seed selections for crystallization of calcium phosphate for phosphorus recovery

Seed induces and promotes the crystallization of calcium phosphate, and acts as carrier of the recovered phosphorus （P）. In order to select suitable seed for P recovery from wastewater, three seeds including Apatite （AP）, Juraperle （JP） and phosphate-modified Juraperle （M-JP） were tested and compared. Batch and fixed-bed column experiments of seeded crystallization of calcium phosphate were undertaken by using synthetic wastewater with 10 mg/L P phosphate. It shows that AP has bad enduring property in the crystallization process, while JP has better performance for multiple uses, and M-JP is a hopeful seed for P recovery by crystallization of calcium phosphate.

Cenozoic Exhumation and Thrusting in the Northern Qilian Shan,Northeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau:Constraints from Sedimentological and Apatite Fission-Track Data

The Qilian Shan lies along the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. To constrain its deformation history, we conducted integrated research on Mesozoic-Cenozoic stratigraphic sections in the Jiuxi Basin immediately north of the mountain range. Paleocurrent measurements, sandstone compositional data, and facies analysis of Cenozoic stratigraphic sections suggest that the Jiuxi Basin received sediments from the Altyn Tagh Range in the northwest, initially in the Oligocene （-33 Ma）, depositing the Huoshaogou Formation in the northern part of the basin. Later, the source area of the Jiuxi Basin changed to the Qilian Shan in the south during Late Oligocene （-27 Ma）, which led to the deposition of the Baiyanghe Formation. We suggest that uplift of the northern Qilian Shan induced by thrusting began no later than the Late Oligocene. Fission-track analysis of apatite from the Qilian Shan yields further information about the deformation history of the northern Qilain Shan and the Jiuxi Basin. It shows that a period of rapid cooling, interpreted as exhumation, initiated in the Oligocene. We suggest that this exhumation marked the initial uplift of the Qilian Shan resulting from the India-Asia collision.

Geochronology and mineralogy of the Weishan carbonatite in Shandong province, eastern China

The Weishan REE deposit is located at the eastern part of North China Craton(NCC), western Shandong Province. The REE-bearing carbonatite occur as veins associated with aegirine syenite. LA-ICP-MS bastnaesite Th-Pb ages(129 Ma) of the Weishan carbonatite show that the carbonatite formed contemporary with the aegirine syenite. Based on the petrographic and geochemical characteristics of calcite, the REEbearing carbonatite mainly consists of Generation-1 igneous calcite(G-1 calcite) with a small amount of Generation-2 hydrothermal calcite(G-2 calcite). Furthermore, the Weishan apatite is characterized by high Sr, LREE and low Y contents, and the carbonatite is rich in Sr, Ba and LREE contents. The δ^(13)Cv-PDB(-6.5‰ to -7.9‰) and δ^(13)OV-SMOW(8.48‰-9.67‰) values are similar to those of primary, mantlederived carbonatites. The above research supports that the carbonatite of the Weishan REE deposit is igneous carbonatite. Besides, the high Sr/Y, Th/U, Sr and Ba of the apatite indicate that the magma source of the Weishan REE deposit was enriched lithospheric mantle, which have suffered the fluid metasomatism. Taken together with the Mesozoic tectono-magmatic activities, the NW and NWW subduction of Izanagi plate along with lithosphere delamination and thinning of the North China plate support the formation of the Weishan REE deposit. Accordingly, the mineralization model of the Weishan REE deposit was concluded: The spatial-temporal relationships coupled with rare and trace element characteristics for both carbonatite and syenite suggest that the carbonatite melt was separated from the CO_2-rich silicate melt by liquid immiscibility. The G-1 calcites were crystallized from the carbonatite melt, which made the residual melt rich in rare earth elements. Due to the common origin of G-1 and G-2 calcites, the REE-rich magmatic hydrothermal was subsequently separated from the melt. After that, large numbers of rare earth minerals were produced from the magmatic hydrothermal stage.

Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic Exhumation of the Northern Hexi Corridor：Constrained by Apatite Fission Track Ages of the Longshoushan

The apatite fission track（AFT） ages and thermal modeling of the Longshoushan and deformation along the northern Hexi Corridor on the northern side of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau show that the Longshoushan along the northern corridor had experienced important multi-stage exhumations during the Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The AFT ages of 7 samples range from 31.9 Ma to 111.8 Ma.Thermal modeling of the AFT ages of the samples shows that the Longshoushan experienced significant exhumation during the Late Cretaceous to the Early Cenozoic（-130-25 Ma）. The Late Cretaceous exhumation of the Longshoushan may have resulted from the continuous compression between the Lhasa and Qiangtang blocks and the flat slab subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic plate, which affected wide regions across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. During the Early Cenozoic, the Longshoushan still experienced exhumation, but this process was caused by the Indian-Eurasian collision. Since this time,the Longshoushan was in a stable stage for approximately 20 Ma and experienced erosion. Since -5 Ma,obvious tectonic deformation occurred along the entire northern Hexi Corridor, which has also been reported from the peripheral regions of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, especially in the Qilianshan and northeastern margin of the plateau. The AFT ages and the Late Cenozoic deformation of the northern Hexi Corridor all indicate that the present northern boundary of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is situated along the northern Hexi Corridor.

The Exhumation History of North Qaidam Thrust Belt Constrained by Apatite Fission Track Thermochronology:Implication for the Evolution of the Tibetan Plateau

Determining the spatio-temporal distribution of the deformation tied to the India-Eurasian convergence and the impact of pre-existing weaknesses on the Cenozoic crustal deformation is significant for understanding how the convergence between India and Eurasia contributed to the development of the Tibetan Plateau. The exhumation history of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau was addressed in this research using a new apatite fission track （AFT） study in the North Qaidam thrust belt （NQTB）. Three granite samples collected from the Qaidam Shan pluton in the north tied to the Qaidam Shan thrust, with AFT ages clustering in the Eocene to Miocene. The other thirteen samples obtained from the Luliang Shan and Yuka plutons in the south related to the Luliang Shan thrust and they have showed predominantly the Cretaceous AFT ages. Related thermal history modeling based on grain ages and track lengths indicates rapid cooling events during the Eocene-early Oligocene and since late Miocene within the Qaidam Shan, in contrast to those in the Cretaceous and since the Oligocene-Miocene in the Luliang Shan and Yuka region. The results, combined with published the Cretaceous thermochronological ages in the Qaidam Shan region, suggest that the NQTB had undergo rapid exhumation during the accretions along the southern Asian Andean-type margin prior to the India-Eurasian collision. The Cenozoic deformation initially took place in the North Qaidam thrust belt by the Eocene, which is consistent with the recent claim that the deformation of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau initiated in the Eocene as a response to continental collision between India and Eurasia. The immediate deformation responding to the collision is tentatively attributed to the preexisting weaknesses of the lithosphere, and therefore the deformation of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau should be regarded as a boundary-condition-dependent process.