Mineralogical study and significance of the basalt-hosted Carlin-type Au deposits in southwestern Guizhou Province,China

The Jiadi and Damaidi gold deposits in southwest Guizhou Province are the largest basalt-hosted Carlintype gold deposits recently discovered in China.This study uses the Tescan Integrated Mineral Analyzer,supported by detailed field investigations,regional geological data,and extensive sample collections,including mineralized ore,altered wall rock,and unaltered basalt samples,for orebearing and geochemical analyses.Comparative analysis between altered and unaltered basalt samples revealed a mineral assemblage of sericite,quartz,and pyrite.This mineral composition forms through the hydrothermal alteration of unaltered basalt,originally containing feldspar,pyroxene,and ilmenite.The wall rock primarily features sericite,quartz,and hematite.During the alteration process,major,trace,and rare earth elements notably migrate.In the Jiadi deposit,K_(2)O,Rb,Au,and REE significantly increase,while Na_(2)O,CaO,MgO,and MnO decrease.SiO_(2),Al_(2)O_(3),and Fe_(2)O_(3)levels remain relatively stable.In the Damaidi deposit,K_(2)O,Rb,and Au enrich,contrasting with the depletion of Na_(2)O,CaO,MgO,and MnO,while SiO_(2),Fe_(2)O_(3),Al_(2)O_(3),TiO_(2),and REE show no significant changes.In the wall rock,TiO_(2),Al_(2)O_(3),K_(2)O,and REE increase,while Na_(2)O,CaO,MgO,and MnO decrease;SiO_(2)and Fe_(2)O_(3)content remains unchanged.The mineralization process likely originated from mid-to low-temperature,reductive magmatic hydrothermal fluids rich in CO_(2),CH_(4),N_(2),H^(+),S^(2-),HS^(-),H_(3)AsO_(3),and[Au(HS_(2)]^(-).These fluids migrated to tectonically weak zones in the Lianhuashan area,where Emeishan basalts are present.They reacted with Fe-bearing minerals in the basalt,such as ferro-hornblende and ilmenite,forming pyrite,arsenic-bearing pyrite,and arsenopyrite,thus enriching Au in these minerals.Additionally,K^(+)and H^(+)in the fluid reacted with plagioclase in the basalt,forming sericite and quartz.As the fluid entered the wall rock from structural weak zones,its oxidation increased,leading to the complete or partial reaction of Fe-bearing minerals in the wall rock,resulting in the formation of hematite or magnetite.This mineralization process is similar to that observed in carbonate-hosted Carlin-type gold deposits in southwest Guizhou,with the primary distinction being the iron source.In carbonate deposits,iron originates from ferridolomite within the wall rock,while in basalt-hosted deposits,it derives from ferripyroxene and ilmenite.

He–Ar Isotopic Tracing of Pyrite from Ore-forming Fluids of the Sanshandao Au Deposit, Jiaodong Area

The Sanshandao Au deposit is located in the famous Sanshandao metallogenic belt,Jiaodong area.To date,accumulative Au resources of 1000 t have been identified from the belt.Sanshandao is a world-class gold deposit with Au mineralization hosted in Early Cretaceous Guojialing-type granites.Thus,studies on the genesis and ore-forming element sources of the Sanshandao Au deposit are crucial.He and Ar isotopic analyses of fluid inclusions from pyrite(the carrier of Au)indicate that the fluid inclusions have 3 He/4 He=0.043–0.21 Ra with an average of 0.096 Ra and 40 Ar/36 Ar=488–664 with an average of 570.8.These values represent the initial He and Ar isotopic compositions of ore-forming fluids for trapped fluid inclusions.The comparison of H–O isotopic characteristics combined with deposit geology and wall rock alteration reveals that the ore-forming fluids of the Sanshandao Au deposit show mixed crust–mantle origin characteristics,and they mainly comprise crust-derived fluid mixed with minor mantle-derived fluid and meteoric water during the uprising process.The ore-forming elements were generally sourced from pre-Cambrian meta-basement rocks formed by Mesozoic reactivation and mixed with minor shallow crustal and mantle components.

Geochemistry, Geochronology and Lu-Hf Isotopes of Peraluminous Granitic Porphyry from the Walegen Au Deposit, West Qinling Terrane

Walegen Au deposit is closely correlated with granitic intrusions of Triassic age, which are composed of granite and quartz porphyries. Both granite porphyry and quartz porphyry consist of quartz, feldspar and muscovite as primary minerals. WeaMy peraluminous granite porphyry （A/ CNK=1.10-1.15） is enriched in LREE, depleted in HREE with Nb-Ta-Ti anomalies, and displays subduction-related geochemistry. Quartz porphyry is strongly peraluminous （A/CNK=1.64-2.81） with highly evolved components, characterized by lower TiO2, REE contents, Mg#, K/Rb, Nb/Ta, Zr/Hf ratios and higher Rb/Sr ratios than the granite porphyry. REE patterns of quartz porphyry exhibit lanthanide tetrad effect, resulting from mineral fractionation or participation of fluids with enriched F and CI. LA- ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating indicates quartz porphyry formed at 233±3 Ma. The ages of relict zircons from Triassic magmatic rocks match well with the detrital zircons from regional area. In addition, εHf（t） values of Triassic magmatic zircons from the granite and quartz porphyries are -14.2 to -9.1 （with an exception of ＋4.1） and -10.8 to -8.6 respectively, indicating a crustal-dominant source. Regionally, numerous Middle Triassic granitoids were previously reported to be formed under the consumption of Paleotethyan Ocean. These facts indicate that the granitic porphyries from Walegen Au deposit may have been formed in the processes of the closing of Paleotethyan Ocean, which could correlate with the arc-related magmatism in the Kunlun orogen to the west and the Qinling orogen to the east.

Origin of the Newly Discovered Zhunuo Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au Deposit in the Western Part of the Gangdese Porphyry Copper Belt in the Southern Tibetan Plateau,SW China

The newly discovered Zhunuo porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposit is located in the western part of the Gangdese porphyry copper belt in southern Tibet, SW China. The granitoid plutons in the Zhunuo region are composed of quartz diorite porphyry, diorite porphyry, granodiorite porphyry, biotite monzogranite and quartz porphyry. The quartz diorite porphyry yielded zircon U-Pb ages of 51.9±0.7 Ma（Eocene） using LA-ICP-MS, whereas the diorite porphyry, granodiorite porphyry, biotite monzogranite and quartz porphyry yielded ages ranging from 16.2±0.2 to 14.0±0.2 Ma（Miocene）. CuMo-Au mineralization is mainly hosted in the Miocene granodiorite porphyry. Samples from all granitoid plutons have geochemical compositions consistent with high-K calc-alkaline series magmatism. The samples display highly fractionated light rare-earth element（REE） distributions and heavy REE distributions with weakly negative Eu anomalies on chondrite-normalized REE patterns. The trace element distributions exhibit positive anomalies for large-ion lithophile elements（Rb, K, U, Th and Pb） and negative anomalies for high-field-strength elements（Nb and Ti） relative to primitive mantlenormalized values. The Eocene quartz diorite porphyry yielded εNd（t） values ranging from-3.6 to-5.2,（-（87）Sr/-（86）Sr）i values in the range 0.7046–0.7063 and initial radiogenic Pb isotopic compositions with ranges of 18.599–18.657 -（206）Pb/-（204）Pb, 15.642–15.673 -（207）Pb/-（204）Pb and 38.956–39.199 -（208）Pb/-（204）Pb. In contrast, the Miocene granitoid plutons yielded ε（Nd）（t） values ranging from-6.1 to-7.3 and（87Sr/86Sr）i values in the range 0.7071–0.7078 with similar Pb isotopic compositions to the Eocene quart diorite. The Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions of the rocks are consistent with formation from magma containing a component of remelted ancient crust. Zircon grains from the Eocene quartz diorite have ε（Hf）（t） values ranging from-5.2 to ＋0.9 and two-stage Hf model ages ranging from 1.07 to 1.46 Ga, while zircon grains from the Miocene granitoid plutons have ε（Hf）（t） values from-9.9 to ＋4.2 and two-stage Hf model ages ranging from 1.05–1.73 Ga, indicating that the ancient crustal component likely derives from Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic basement. This source is distinct from that of most porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits in the eastern part of the Gangdese porphyry copper belt, which likely originated from juvenile crust. We therefore consider melting of ancient crustal basement to have contributed significantly to the formation Miocene porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits in the western part of the Gangdese porphyry copper belt.

^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar Dating of the Shaxi Porphyry Cu-Au Deposit in the Southern Tan-Lu Fault Zone, Anhui Province

Four samples of plagioclase and biotite from the Shaxi porphyry in the lower part of the Yangtze metallogenic belt were analyzed for age determination with the ^40 Ar/^39Ar method. The results yield reproducible ages of 126 Ma to 135 Ma with a high level of confidence according to the agreement between isochron and plateau ages. The four Ar-Ar ages are relatively consistent within the analytical error. These ages are also consistent with, but more precise than, previous K-Ar and Rb-Sr ages and thus provide better constraints on the time of porphyry formation and associated Cu-Au mineralization along the middle to lower part of the Yangtze metallogenic belt. The ages of 126 to 135 Ma are interpreted to represent the intrusive time of the Shaxi porphyry, so that the Cu-Au mineralization should have occurred later due to the post-magmatic hydrothermal event.

Characteristics and Genesis of Fine-Clastic Rock-Type Au Deposits in the Liaodong Rift

Gold deposits occurring in the Liaodong rift are located in interlayered carbonate rocks and fine-clastic rocks, belonging to the middle and upper parts of the lower Proterozoic. Compared with the Carlin-type Au deposits abroad and gold deposits in Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi, Qinling and western Sichuan Province, they are similar in many respects. This paper discusses the geological features of ore-bearing formations and ore-filling structures and metallogenetic characteristics. Through the discussion on the sources of ores, heat and water, it points out that the Au deposits belong to vadose reworked hydrothermal deposits. This conforms to the principle of “mineralization in the neighbouring areas”, i.e., the deposits are formed in nearby ore-bearing layers, and the latest hydrothermal event was the main factor in forming the Au deposits.

Hydrous Juvenile Lower Crust at the Western Yangtze Craton Margin as the Main Source of the Beiya Porphyry-skarn Au Deposit

The Beiya porphyry-skarn Au deposit is one of the largest gold deposits in China,temporally and spatially associated with Eocene intrusions in a post-collisional setting in western Yunnan,China.In this study,we report new whole-rock geochemistry,Sr-Nd isotope,zircon U-Pb geochronology and in situ zircon Hf-O isotopes of quartz-monzonite and biotite-monzonite porphyries from the Beiya deposit.The porphyry-skarn mineralization at the Beiya deposit is mainly associated with the quartz monzonite porphyry(35.8±0.6 Ma),while the biotite-monzonite porphyry(34.3±0.5 Ma)represents a post-mineralization intrusion crosscutting the main orebodies and the quartz-monzonite porphyry.Both intrusions have high-K and adakitic composition and are characterized by high Sr/Y ratios,high SiO_(2)and Al_(2)O_(3)concentrations(SiO_(2)=69.80-73.86 wt%;Al_(2)O_(3)=14.11-15.19 wt%),and low MgO,Cr,and Ni concentrations(MgO=0.2-1.0 wt%;Cr=1.76-11.13 ppm;Ni=2.52-11.72 ppm).Their Sr-Nd isotope compositions(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr=0.7066-0.7077;εNd(t)=−5.3 to−1.5)are consistent with the lower crustal-derived amphibolite xenoliths(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr=0.7060-0.7100;εNd(t)=−10.0 to 0.0),indicating that they might be derived from a thickened juvenile lower crust beneath the Yangtze Craton.The biotite-monzonite porphyry has lower zirconδ^(18)O values of+5.3‰to+6.8‰and higherεHf(t)values of−2.3 to+5.5 than those of the quartz-monzonite porphyry withδ^(18)O values of+7.1‰to+8.2‰andεHf(t)values of−3.8 to+1.5,implying that they were derived from different parts of the lower crust.High Ba/La and Pb/Ce ratios suggest that the quartz-monzonite porphyry is derived from a volatiles-rich reservoir.Relatively higher La/Yb,Sm/Yb and Dy/Yb ratios of the biotite-monzonite porphyry indicate residual garnet in the source,indicating a deeper source than that of the quartz-monzonite porphyry.The hydrous components should be represented by the amphibole-rich lithologies,which has relatively shallower depth than that of the garnet-bearing mafic thickened lower crust.Our data suggest that the mineralized quartz-monzonite porphyry at the Beiya deposit is derived from partial melting of amphibole-rich lithologies in the upper part of the thickened juvenile lower crust beneath the Yangtze Craton,while the post-mineralization biotite-monzonite porphyry is derived from the basal,and volatiles-poor,part of the juvenile lower crust.

A new method of searching for concealed Au deposits by using the spectrum of arid desert plant species

With the increase of exploration depth,it is more and more difficult to find Au deposits.Due to the limitation of time and cost,traditional geological exploration methods are becoming increasingly difficult to be effectively applied.Thus,new methods and ideas are urgently needed.This study assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of using hyperspectral technology to prospect for hidden Au deposits.For this purpose,48 plant(Seriphidium terrae-albae)and soil(aeolian gravel desert soil)samples were first collected along a sampling line that traverses an Au mineralization alteration zone(Aketasi mining region in an arid region of China)and were used to obtain soil Au contents by a chemical analysis method and the reflectance spectra of plants obtained with an Analytical Spectral Device(ASD)FieldSpec3 spectrometer.Then,the corresponding relationship between the soil Au content anomaly and concealed Au deposits was investigated.Additionally,the characteristic bands were selected from plant spectra using four different methods,namely,genetic algorithm(GA),stepwise regression analysis(STE),competitive adaptive reweighted sampling(CARS),and correlation coefficient method(CC),and were then input into the partial least squares(PLS)method to construct a model for estimating the soil Au content.Finally,the quantitative relationship between the soil Au content and the 15 different plant transformation spectra was established using the PLS method.The results were compared with those of a model based on the full spectrum.The results obtained in this study indicate that the location of concealed Au deposits can be predicted based on soil geochemical anomaly information,and it is feasible and effective to use the full plant spectrum and PLS method to estimate the Au content in the soil.The cross-validated coefficient of determination(R2)and the ratio of the performance to deviation(RPD)between the predicted value and the measured value reached the maximum of 0.8218 and 2.37,respectively,with a minimum value of 6.56μg/kg for the root-mean-squared error(RMSE)in the full spectrum model.However,in the process of modeling,it is crucial to select the appropriate transformation spectrum as the input parameter for the PLS method.Compared with the GA,STE,and CC methods,CARS was the superior characteristic band screening method based on the accuracy and complexity of the model.When modeling with characteristic bands,the highest accuracy,R2 of 0.8016,RMSE of 7.07μg/kg,and RPD of 2.20 were obtained when 56 characteristic bands were selected from the transformed spectra(1/lnR)'(where it represents the first derivative of the reciprocal of the logarithmic spectrum)of sampled plants using the CARS method and were input into the PLS method to construct an inversion model of the Au content in the soil.Thus,characteristic bands can replace the full spectrum when constructing a model for estimating the soil Au content.Finally,this study proposes a method of using plant spectra to find concealed Au deposits,which may have promising application prospects because of its simplicity and rapidity.

Geological, Alteration and Mineralization Characteristics of Ali Javad Porphyry Cu-Au Deposit, Arasbaran Zone, NW Iran

Ali Javad porphyry Cu-Au deposit is located 20 Km north of Ahar city in Arasbaran metallogenic zone which is considered as a part of Alp-Himalayan mineralization belt. Magmatism in this area began in Late Cretaceous, followed by extensive magmatism in Cenozoic and Quaternary periods. Porphyry type mineralization developed in Ali Javad quartz monzonitic porphyry stock and Eocene pyroclastic and volcanic country rocks. Ali Javad porphyry intrusion has shoshonitic nature and shows characteristics of volcanic arc granitoids that it is have been emplaced in a post-collision tectonic setting. Alteration zones at the deposit demonstrated zoning which is comparable with Lowel-Guilbert model proposed for quartz-monzonite type porphyry copper deposits. Phyllic, argillic, silicic and propylitic alteration zones were observed at the surface while potassic alteration zone could be observed at depth in drill core samples. Mineralization was recognized both as supergene and hypogene, the latter was as veins, veinlets and disseminations. Dominant hypogene minerals were chalcopyrite, bornite, molybdenite, pyrite and magnetite while chalcocite, covellite and limonite were dominant supergene minerals. Four mineralization zones were observed in the deposit as leached, transitional, supergene and hypogene zones. Average grades were 0.75% for copper and 1.86 ppm for gold with 81.5 Mt proved reserve for copper and 37.8 Mt for gold.

Geochemical studies on REE and trace elements from several Cu-Au deposits along the lower Yangtze metallogenic valley, central-southern Anhui Province

The Yangtze Valley was one of the most important metallogenic regions during the Jurassic-Cretaceous period in East China, where more than 200 polymetallic Cu-Fe-Au, Mo, Zn, Pb, Ag deposits have been found. Trace elements were chemically analyzed and the relevant data were collected from literature for the Yanshanian (Mesozoic) igneous rocks which have close relationship with Cu-Au mineralization. Copper mineralization in the lower Yangtze Valley can be divided into three major types: skarn type, porphyry type and volcanic type. The porphyry type is of rare occurrence, such as the Shaxi porphyry copper deposit in the northern part of the lower Yangtze metallogenic valley. This paper focuses on the REE and trace element geochemistry of several Cu-Au deposits along the lower part of Yangtze metallogenic valley in Anhui. The results showed that there are differences in REE distribution for these four types of Cu-Au mineralization, which confine the sources of REE and trace elements as well as other mantle and transitional compatible elements. The results of both REE and trace element geochemical studies showed that these elements with different characteristics have different origins, probably representing different sources of Cu-Au deposits in the deep crust and upper mantle environments. The 40Ar/39Ar dating of one biotite sample gave an age of 131 Ma with a high level of confidence, which represents the age of formation of the Shaxi porphyrite intrusive with porphrytic Cu-Au mineralization, which is consistent with that of the majority of the adjacent acid intrusives with mass Cu-Au mineralization along the Yangtze metallogenic belt in the Yanshanian period (Mesozoic). This is the first attempt to use the high precision method to date the Shaxi porphyrite intrusive.

Metallogenic mechanisms of super-large Cu and Au deposits in the Dexing region and simulating experiments

Based on the results of previous studies and under the direction of the theory of "ore deposit genesis",the authors made use of high temperature and high pressure experimental facilities and conditions at the Tectono-geochemistry Research Room under the State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry,Institute of Geochemistry,Chinese Academy of Sciences,and put the focus on the multi-source of tectonically controlling ore-forming materials,the characteristics of multi-stage and multi-episode hydrothermal activities and mineralization and the characteristics of multi-genesis and multi-ore deposition so as to shed light on the metallogenic mechanisms of super-large Cu and Au deposits.In addition simulating experiments were made on multi-stage and multi-episode tectonic activities and rock and ore deformation,multi-stage and multi-episode tectonic activities and mobilization and migration of ore-forming materials,and multi-stage and multi-episode tectonic activities and superimposition and enrichment of ore-forming materials.The experimental results showed that under the action of multi-stage and multi-episode tectonic stress the deformation and fragmentation of not only rocks and ores have been intensified,and but also the ore-forming materials originally disbursed in the rocks and ores have been mobilized and migrated and superimposed and enriched.The experimental results also provided the scientific experimental data and grounds for deep-going research on the rules of metallogenesis and geneses of super-large ore deposits in the Dexing region,Jiangxi Province.

The Forming Conditions of and Ore-searching Direction for B, Mg,Pb, Zn and Au Deposits in the Liaoji Proterozoic Rift

The Liaoji Proterozoic rift is an inter-intracontinenatl rift developed from Archean granite-greenstone tectonic regime and contains many important mineral deposits of U, B, magnesite, Pb-Zn, Au, Ag, Co and P. These deposits were formed as the result of late mobilization, transportation and concentfation of the previously enriched ore-forming mate- rials in several ore-bearing formations formed during the rift stage. So the metallogeny of these deposits in the rift shows both inheritance and new generation of the ore-forming materials. In future ore-searching practice, attentions should be paid on the studies of the ore-bearing formations in the rift, on the multiple stages of metallogeny and and on multiple derivations of the ore-forming materials.

Geology and mineralization of the Dongping supergiant alkalic-hosted Au-Te deposit(>100 t Au)in Northern Hebei Province,China:A review

The Dongping deposit is the largest alkalic-hosted gold deposit in China containing>100 t of Au.This paper presents a new understanding for Dongping ore system,based on the previous studies.The mineralization originally occurred at 400-380 Ma,simultaneous with emplacement of the Shuiquangou alkaline complex,and was overprinted by the hydrothermal activity in the Yanshanian.Isotope compositions of ores indicate metals of the deposit are mainly provided by the Shuiquangou complex.Ore-forming fluids are characterized by increasing oxygen fugacity and decreasing sulfur fugacity,while tellurium fugacity increased in the Stage II-2 and decreased in Stage II-3.These systematic changes are closely related to the processes of mineral precipitation and fluid evolution.Sulfide precipitation from Stage Ⅰ to Stage Ⅱ was triggered by fluid boiling,which leads to the precipitation of Pb-Bi-Te,due to decrement of sulfur fugacity.Condensation of gas phase containing high concentration of H_2Te leads to precipitation of Te-Au-Ag minerals and native tellurium.Based on these hypotheses,this paper present a polyphase metallogenic model as follow.During the Devonian,fluids were released from alkaline magmas,which carried ore-forming materials form the surrounding rocks and precipitate the early ores.During the Jurassic-Cretaceous,fluorine-rich fluids exsolved from highly factionated Shangshuiquan granite,which extracted and concentrated Au from the Shuiquangou complex and the Sanggan Group metamorphic rocks,and finally formed the Dongping gold deposit.

豫西熊耳山蒿坪沟Ag-Au-Pb-Zn多金属矿床闪锌矿矿物学和微量元素组成特征及其成矿启示

蒿坪沟银金铅锌多金属矿床是豫西熊耳山地区重要的铅锌多金属矿床之一,矿体主要赋存在蚀变破碎带和断裂带内,成矿与区内岩浆活动关系密切。目前该矿床的研究集中于同位素地球化学、成矿时代和成矿物质来源等方面,但从矿物角度示踪成矿过程的报道较少。本文以矿石中不同世代闪锌矿为研究对象,开展电子探针和LA-ICP-MS原位主微量元素分析,查明不同世代闪锌矿的矿物学和微量元素组成特征,以反演矿床成矿物理化学条件进而约束矿床成因类型。结果表明,该矿床中闪锌矿主要存在两个世代:第一世代闪锌矿(Sp1)呈黑褐色或浅褐色,常与黄铁矿和黄铜矿共生,相对富集Fe、Mn、Cd、Cu和In;第二世代闪锌矿(Sp2)呈黄褐色或暗褐色,与大量方铅矿共生,裂隙被它形黄铁矿和碳酸盐充填,相对富集Co、Ge、Sn和Pb。闪锌矿中主要富集的元素为Fe、Co和In,其中Fe、Mn、Cd、Co和In等元素基本是以类质同象的形式赋存在闪锌矿的矿物晶格中,而Ag、Sb、Cu和Pb可能是以子矿物或显微包裹体的形式赋存。此外,Zn/Cd、Zn/Fe和Ga/In比值以及Fe温度计指示闪锌矿形成于中低温(沉淀时流体温度为229~259℃)和低硫逸度(lgƒ(S_(2))=-12.0~-10.1)的环境下,由成矿阶段II(Sp1到成矿阶段Ⅲ(Sp2其成矿温度可能发生了显著变化,结合面扫描分析结果,指示闪锌矿从核部到边缘温度逐渐降低。通过与国内外典型铅锌矿床闪锌矿微量元素特征对比,结合本矿床闪锌矿中低的Ga/In和Ge/In比值及Ge含量的特征,指示蒿坪沟银金铅锌多金属矿床成矿过程有岩浆活动的参与。综合认为蒿坪沟银金铅锌多金属矿床可能属于岩浆期后热液蚀变岩型和脉型矿床。

^40Ar/^39Ar and Rb-Sr Ages of the Tiegelongnan Porphyry Cu-(Au)Deposit in the Bangong Co-Nujiang Metallogenic Belt of Tibet,China:Implication for Generation of Super-Large Deposit

The Tiegelongnan deposit is a newly discovered super-large porphyry-epithermal Cu-（Au） deposit in the western part of the Bangong Co-Nujiang metallogenic belt, Tibet（China）. Field geology and geochronology indicate that the porphyry mineralization was closely related to the Early Cretaceous intermediate-felsic intrusions（ca. 123–120 Ma）. Various epithermal ore and gangue mineral types were discovered in the middle-shallow part of the orebody, indicating the presence of epithermal mineralization at Tiegelongnan. Potassic, propylitic, phyllic and advanced argillic alteration zones were identified. 40Ar/39Ar dating of hydrothermal biotite（potassic zone）, sericite（phyllic zone）, and alunite（advanced argillic zone） in/around the ore-bearing granodiorite porphyry yielded 121.1±0.6 Ma（1σ）, 120.8±0.7 Ma（1σ） and 117.9±1.6 Ma（1σ）, respectively. Five hydrothermal mineralization stages were identified, of which the Stage IV pyrite was Rb-Sr dated to be 117.5±1.8 Ma（2σ）, representing the end of epithermal mineralization. Field geology and geochronology suggest that both the epithermal and porphyry mineralization belong to the same magmatic-hydrothermal system. The Tiegelongnan super-large Cu-（Au） deposit may have undergone a prolonged magmatichydrothermal evolution, with the major mineralization event occurring at ca.120–117Ma.

Gold and antimony metallogenic relations and ore-forming process of Qinglong Sb(Au) deposit in Youjiang basin, SW China: Sulfide trace elements and sulfur isotopes

In the northwestern margin of the Youjiang basin(NWYB)in SW China,many Carlin-like gold deposits are highly antimony(Sb)-rich,and many vein-type Sb deposits contain much Au.These deposits have similar ages,host rocks,ore-forming temperatures,ore-related alterations and ore mineral assemblages,but the Au and Sb metallogenic relations and their ore-forming process remain enigmatic.Here we investigate the large Qinglong Sb deposit in the NWYB,which has extensive sub-economic Au mineralization,and present a new metallogenic model based on in-situ trace elements(EPMA and LA-ICP-MS)and sulfur isotopes(NanoSIMS and fs-LA-MC-ICPMS)of the ore sulfides.At Qinglong,economic Sb ores contain coarse-grained stibnite,jasperoid quartz and fluorite,whilst the sub-economic Au–Sb ores comprise dominantly veined quartz,arsenian pyrite and fine-grained stibnite.Three generations of ore-related pyrite(Py1,Py2 and Py3)and two generations of stibnite(Stb1 and Stb2)are identified based on their texture,chemistry,and sulfur isotopes.The pre-ore Py1 is characterized by the lower ore element(Au,As,Sb,Cu and Ag)contents(mostly below the LA-ICP-MS detection limit)and Co/Ni ratios(average 0.31)than the ore-stage pyrites(Py2 and Py3),implying a sedimentary/diagenetic origin.The Py2 and Py3 have elevated ore element abundance(maximum As=6500 ppm,Au=22 ppm,Sb=6300 ppm,Cu=951 ppm,Ag=77 ppm)and Co/Ni ratios(average 1.84),and have positive As vs.Au–Sb–Cu–Ag correlations.Early-ore Stb1 has lower As(0.12–0.30 wt.%)than late-ore Stb2(0.91–1.20 wt.%).These features show that the progressive As enrichment in ore sulfides is accompanied by increasing Au,Sb,Cu and Ag with the hydrothermal evolution,thereby making As a good proxy for Au.As-rich,As-poor and As-free zones are identified via NanoSIMS mapping of the Au-bearing pyrite.The As-rich zones in the Qinglong Au-bearing pyrites(Py2 and Py3)and ore stibnites(Stb1 and Stb2)have narrowδ^(34)SH_(2)S ranges(-8.9‰to +4.1‰,average-3.1‰)and-2.9‰to +6.9‰,average + 1.3‰),respectively,indicating that the Au-rich and Sb-rich fluids may have had the same sulfur source.Published in-situ sulfur isotopic data of pyrite As-rich zones from other Carlin-like Au deposits(Shuiyindong,Taipingdong,Nayang,Getang and Lianhuashan)in the NWYB have similar ore-fluidδSH_(2)S values(-4.5‰to +6.7‰,average-0.6‰)to those of Qinglong.Therefore,we infer that the sulfur of both Au and Sb mineralization was derived from the same magmatic-related source(0±5‰)in the NWYB.Moreover,the core of pyrites(Py1)has variable S isotope fractionation(-18.9‰to +18.1‰,mostly +3‰to +12‰),suggesting that the higher-^(34)S H_(2)S was produced by bacterial sulfate reduction(BSR).The hydrothermal pyrite(Py2 and Py3)δ^(34)S values gradually decrease with increasing As concentrations,and ultimately,within the restricted range(-5‰to +5‰)in As-rich zones.This variation implies that the As-rich pyrite was formed through ongoing interactions of the magmatic-hydrothermal fluid with pre-existing sedimentary pyrites,causing the progressive decreasing δ^(34)S values with As content increase,Hence,the fluid/mineral interaction may have generated the observed variation in δ^(34)S and As contents.Overall,comparing the Au and Sb deposits in the NWYB,we favor a magmatic-related source for the Au–Sb–As-rich fluids,but the Au-and Sb-ore fluids were likely evolved at separate stages in the ore-forming system.

Petrogenesis and Tectonic Significance of the Three-Period Porphyries from the Daruoluolong Cu(Au) Deposit, Tibet, China

Objective The Daruoluolong deposit is the first high-grade Cu(Au)deposit discovered in the middle section of the Bangonghu-Nujiang(herein after referred to as Ban-Nu)metallogenic belt,which has not been documented about previously.This deposit is located in Shuanghu County of northern Tibet,and its geotectonic position belongs to the

Organic Gases in Fluid Inclusions of Ore Minerals and Their Constraints on Ore Genesis:A Case Study of the Changkeng Au-Ag Deposit,Guangdong,China

The newly discovered Changkeng Au-Ag deposit is a new type of sediment-hostedprecious metal deposit. Most of the previous researchers believed that the deposit was formed bymeteoric water convection. By using a high vacuum quadrupole gas mass spectrometric system, ninelight hydrocarbons have been recognized in the fluid inclusions in ore minerals collected from theChangkeng deposit. The hydrocarbons are composed mainly of saturated alkanes C_(1-4) and unsaturatedalkenes C_(2-4) and aromatic hydrocarbons, in which the alkanes are predominant, while the contentsof alkenes and aromatic hydrocarbons are very low. The sum alka/sum alke ratio of most samples ishigher than 100, suggesting that those hydrocarbons are mainly generated by pyrolysis of kerogens insedimentary rocks caused by water-rock interactions at medium-low temperatures, and themetallogenic processes might have not been affected by magmatic activity. A thermodynamiccalculation shows that the light hydrocarbons have reached chemical equilibrium at temperatureshigher than 200 deg C, and they may have been generated in the deep part of sedimentary basins(e.g., the Sanzhou basin) and then be transported by ore-forming fluids to a shallow position of thebasin via a long distance. Most of the organic gases are generated by pyrolysis of the type IIkerogens (kukersite) in sedimentary host rocks, only a few by microorganism activity. Thecompositions and various parameters of light hydrocarbons in gold ores are quite similar to those insilver ores, suggesting that the gold and silver ores may have similar metallogenic processes.Based on the compositions of organic gases in fluid inclusions, the authors infer that the Changkengdeposit may be of a tectonic setting of continental rift. The results of this study support fromone aspect the authors' opinion that the Changkeng deposit is not formed by meteoric waterconvection, and that its genesis has a close relationship with the evolution of the Sanzhou basin,so it belongs to the sedimentary hot brine transformed deposit.

Geochronology and Geochemistry of Metallogenetic Porphyry Bodies from the Nongping Au-Cu Deposit in the Eastern Yanbian Area, NE China: Implications for Metallogenic Environment

The metallogenetic porphyry bodies in the Nongping Au-Cu deposit, in the eastern Yanbian area, mainly include porphyritic granodiorite and biotite granodiorite porphyry. They are featured with high silicon and enrichment in sodium, and classified into sodic rocks of low-K tholeiitic basalt series. Except slightly low Sr content, the rock basically has the geochemical characteristics of the adakite： relatively high A12O3 content, relatively low MgO content, depletion in Y and Yb; relative enrichment in large ion lithophile elements （LILEs） and light rare-earth elements （LREEs）, relatively low content of high field strength elements （HFSEs）; positive Eu anomaly or weak negative Eu anomaly. In situ zircon dating technology LA-MC-ICP-MS was used to conduct single-grain zircon dating of biotite granodiorite porphyry, and the results show that the age of metallogenetic porphyry body is 100.04±0.88 Ma, indicating that the porphyry bodies were emplaced in the late Cretaceous period. According to the regional tectonic setting and the comparison with the same kind of deposits, we think that the metallogenetic porphyry bodies in the Nongping Au-Cu deposit have a close genetic connection with the subduction of the Pacific plate in the late Yanshanian period. The adakitic magma generated from partial melting of the subducting plate has high formation temperature, high oxygen fugacity, and volatile constituents＇ enrichment, so it is helpful for enrichment of metallogenetic elements and plays an important role in the formation of porphyry Au-Cu deposits in this region.

Study on the evolution of ore-formation fluids for Au-Sb ore deposits and the mechanism of Au-Sb paragenesis and differentiation in the southwestern part of Guizhou Province, China

Ore deposits (occurrences) of Au, As, Sb, Hg, etc. distributed in Southwest Guizhou constitute the important portion of the low-temperature metallogenic domain covering a large area in Southwest China, with the Carlin-type Au and Sb deposits being the most typical ones. In this paper the Au and Sb ore deposits are taken as the objects of study. Through the petrographic analysis, microthermomitric measurement and Raman spectrophic analysis of fluid inclusions in gangue minerals and research on the S and C isotopic compositions in the gold ore deposits we can reveal the sources of ore-forming materials and ore-forming fluids and the rules of ore fluid evolution. Ore deposits of Au, Sb, etc. are regionally classified as the products of ore fluid evolution, and their ore-forming materials and ore fluids were probably derived mainly from the deep interior of the Earth. Fluid inclusion studies have shown that the temperatures of Au mineralization are within the range of 170-361℃,the salinities are 0.35 wt%-8 wt% NaCl eq.; the temperatures of Sb mineralization are 129.4-214℃ and the salinities are 0.18 wt%- 3.23 wt% NaCl eq.; the ore-forming fluid temperatures and salinities tend to decrease progressively. In the early stage (Au metallogenic stage) the ore-forming fluids contained large amounts of volatile components such as CO2, CH4, N2 and H2S, belonging to the H2O-CO2-NaCl fluid system; in the late stage (Sb metallogenic stage) the ore-forming fluids belong to the Sb-bearing H2O-NaCl system. The primitive ore-forming fluids may have experienced at least two processes of immiscibility: (1) when early ore-bearing hydrothermal solutions passed through rock strata of larger porosity or fault broken zones, CO2, CH4, N2 would escape from them, followed by the release of pressure, resulting in pressure release and boiling of primitive homogenous fluids, thereafter giving rise to their phase separation, thus leading to Au unloading and mineralization; and (2) in the late stage (Sb metallogenic stage ) a large volume of meteoric water was involved in the ore-forming fluids, leading to fluid boiling as a result of their encounter, followed by the drop of fluid temperature. As a result, the dissolubility of Sb decreased so greatly that Sb was enriched and precipitated as ores. Due to differences in physic-chemical conditions between Au and Sb precipitates, Au and Sb were respectively precipitated in different structural positions, thus creating such a phenomenon of Au/Sb paragenesis and differentiation in space.