Restoration of reservoir diagenesis and hydrocarbon accumulation process by calcite in-situ U-Pb dating and fluid inclusion analysis: A case study on Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation in Gaoquan Structure, southern Junggar Basin, NW China

The complexity of diagenesis and hydrocarbon accumulation in the deep reservoirs in southern Junggar Basin restricts hydrocarbon exploration in the lower reservoir assemblage. The lithofacies and diagenesis of reservoirs in the Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation in the Gaoquan structure of the Sikeshu Sag, southern Junggar Basin were analyzed. On this basis, the thermal history was calibrated using calcite in-situ U-Pb dating and fluid inclusion analysis to depict the hydrocarbon accumulation process in the Gaoquan structure. The results show that the Qingshuihe reservoir experienced two phases of calcite cementation and three phases of hydrocarbon charging. The calcite cements are dated to be (122.1±6.4) Ma, (14.4±1.0) Ma - (14.2±0.3) Ma. The hydrocarbon charging events occurred at around 14.2-30.0 Ma (low-mature oil), 14.2 Ma (mature oil), and 2 Ma (high-mature gas). The latter two phases of hydrocarbon charging contributed dominantly to the formation of reservoir. Due to the S-N compressive thrust activity during the late Himalayan period since 2 Ma, the traps in the Gaoquan structure were reshaped, especially the effective traps which developed in the main reservoir-forming period were decreased significantly in scale, resulting in weak hydrocarbon shows in the middle-lower part of the structure. This indicates that the effective traps in key reservoir-forming period controlled hydrocarbon enrichment and distribution in the lower reservoir assemblage. Calcite U-Pb dating combined with fluid inclusion analysis can help effectively describe the complex diagenesis and hydrocarbon accumulation process in the central-west part of the basin.

Mineral Chemistry,Trace Elements,Isotopic Analysis and Zircon U-Pb Dating in the Hesar Pluton,Northern UDMA,Iran:Implications for Pre-Collisional Magma Mixing

The Hesar pluton in the northern Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc hosts numerous mafic-microgranular enclaves(MMEs).Whole rock geochemistry,mineral chemistry,zircon U-Pb and Sr-Nd isotopes were measured.It is suggested that the rocks are metaluminous(A/CNK=1.32-1.45),subduction-related I-type calc-alkaline gabbro to diorite with similar mineral assemblages and geochemical signatures.The host rocks yielded an U-Pb crystallization age of 37.3±0.4 Ma for gabbro-diorite.MMEs have relatively low SiO_(2) contents(52.9-56.6 wt%)and high Mg^(#)(49.8-58.7),probably reflecting a mantle-derived origin.Chondrite-and mantle-normalized trace element patterns are characterized by LREE and LILE enrichment,HREE and HFSE depletion with slight negative Eu anomalies(Eu/Eu^(*)=0.86-1.03).The host rocks yield(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_(i) ratios of 0.70492-0.70510,positive ε_(Nd)(t)values of+1.55-+2.06 and T_(DM2)of 707-736 Ma,which is consistent with the associated mafic microgranular enclaves((^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)_(i)=0.705014,ε_(Nd)(t)=+1.75,T_(DM2)=729 Ma).All data suggest magma-mixing for enclave and host rock formation,showing a complete equilibration between mixed-mafic and felsic magmas,followed by rapid diffusion.The T_(DM1)(Nd)and T_(DM2)(Nd)model ages and U-Pb dating indicate that the host pluton was produced by partial melting of the lower continental crust and subsequent mixing with injected lithospheric mantlederived magmas in a pre-collisional setting of Arabian-Eurasian plates.Clinopyroxene composition indicates a crystallization temperature of~1000℃ and a depth of~9 km.

Trace Elements of Multi-stage Minerals and Titanite U-Pb Dating for the Gneisses from Liansan Island,Sulu UHPM Belt

Gneisses with anatectic characteristics from the Liansan island in the Sulu UHPM(ultra-high pressure metamorphic)belt were studied for petrography,titanite U-Pb dating and mineral geochemistry.Three origins of garnets are distinguished:metamorphic garnet,peritectic garnet and anatectic garnet,which are formed in the stages of peak metamorphism,retrograde anatexis and melt crystallization,respectively.The euhedral titanite has a high content of REE and high Th/U ratios,which is interpreted as indicating that it was newly-formed from an anatectic melt.The LA-ICP-MS titanite U-Pb dating yields 214-217 Ma ages for the titanite(melt)crystallization.The distribution of trace elements varies in response to the different host minerals at different stages.At the peak metamorphic stage,Y and HREE are mainly hosted by garnet,Ba and Rb by phengite,Sr,Nb,Ta,Pb,Th,U and LREE by allanite and Y,U and HREE by zircon.During partial melting,Y,Pb,Th,U and REE are released into the melt,which causes a dramatic decline of these element contents in the retrograde minerals.Finally,titanite absorbs most of the Nb,U,LREE and HREE from the melt.Therefore,the different stages of metamorphism have different mineral assemblages,which host different trace elements.

Nomore blind dates with calcite: Fluid-flow vs. fault-slip along the Očkov thrust, Prague Basin

Dating of fracture-filling calcitewith U-Pb geochronology is becoming a rapidly adopted technique for determining the absolute timing of brittle deformation in the upper crust.Slickenfibre calcite is a desirable target,as it precipitates between individual fault slip displacement events,and provides additional kinematic information.Here we present a case study of slickenfibres formed on the Očkov thrust in the Lower Palaezoic Prague Basin,Bohemian Massif,utilising a combination of petrographic and in situ methods.We demonstrate that slickenfibre external textures can be preserved,whilst internally primary textures are removed by fluid infiltration and recrystallization,leading to variable U and Pb mobilisation.One slickenfibre yielded a date of ca.250 Ma,which we interpret as recording fault slip along the Očkov thrust.Another cross-cutting slickenfibre yielded more scattered U-Pb data,with an imprecise apparent age around ca.95 Ma.This slickenfibre is recrystallised,destroying the primary textures,and exhibits element mobility.The meaning of this younger apparent age is therefore questionable;whereas it likely reflects Cretaceous U and Pb mobility assisted by fluid-flow along the fault plane,it may not reflect a period of fault slip.Our results demonstrate that slickenfibre-based U-Pb dates do not unequivocally relate to fault motion,and that petrographic and elemental analyses are important requirements for interpreting calcite U-Pb data.

Geochronology,Geochemistry,Fluid Inclusion and C,O Isotope Compositions of Calcite Veins in the Paleogene of the Jiangling Basin,South China:Implications for Fluid Evolution and Brine Potash Mineralization

Deep-seated potassium-rich brines were identified in the Jiangling Basin,South China.Although magmatichydrothermal sources have been proposed,the relationship between brine-type potash mineralization and volcanism remains unclear.In this study,U-Pb geochronology,geochemistry,fluid inclusion and C-O isotopic compositions of hydrothermal vein minerals in the Jiangling Basin are examined.Laser ablation U-Pb dating of calcite veins indicates that the ages are slightly younger than the formation age of the Balingshan basalt.Fluid inclusions in hydrothermal minerals show medium–low homogenization temperatures(160–220℃)and low salinities(0.14 to 4.9 wt%NaCl eqv.)and densities(0.882–0.944 g/cm^(3)).The liquid compositions of fluid inclusions in calcite veins from sedimentary strata have higher contents of potassium,compared with those from basalt.The coupled negativeδ^(13)CPDB(-10.3‰to-8.0‰)and positiveδ^(18)OSMOW(17.4‰to 20.7‰)values imply that calcite precipitation resulted from CO_(2)degassing of the basaltic magmatic fluids,as indicated by the gas composition of these inclusions in hydrothermal minerals.Rare earth element patterns indicate that water-rock interaction between hydrothermal fluids and sedimentary wall rocks contributed to the calcite precipitation in sedimentary strata.It is proposed that high-temperature water-rock interaction between magmatic fluids and sedimentary strata resulted in the potassium enrichment in fluids,interpreted as one of the sources of potassium-rich brines in the Jiangling Basin.

Garnet and Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Geochemistry Reveal Genesis of the Dafang Au-Pb-Zn-Ag Deposit,Southern Hunan

Garnet is a primary mineral in skarn deposits and plays a significant role in recording copious mineralization and metallogenic information.This study systematically investigates the geochemistry and geochronology of garnet and zircon in the Dafang Au-Pb-Zn-Ag deposit,which represents prominent gold mineralization in southern Hunan,China.Garnet samples with distinct zoning patterns and compositional variations were identified using various analytical techniques,including Backscattered Electron(BSE)imaging,Cathodoluminescence(CL)response,textural characterization,and analysis of rare-earth elements(REE),major contents,and trace element compositions.The garnet was dated U-Pb dating,which yielded a lower intercept age of 161.06±1.93 Ma.This age is older than the underlying granodiorite porphyry,which has a concordia age of 155.13±0.95 Ma determined by zircon U-Pb dating.These results suggest that the gold mineralization may be related to the concealed granite.Two groups of garnet changed from depleted Al garnet to enriched Al garnet,and the rare earth element(REE)patterns of these groups were converted from light REE(LREE)-enriched and heavy REE(HREE)-depleted with positive europium(Eu)anomalies to medium REE(MREE)-enriched from core to rim zoning.The different REE patterns of garnet in various zones may be attributed to changes in the fluid environment and late superposition alteration.The development of distal skarn in the southern Hunan could be a significant indicator for identifying gold mineralization.

基于原位方解石U-Pb定年与包裹体分析技术恢复储集层成岩-成藏过程——以准噶尔盆地南缘高泉地区白垩系清水河组为例

准噶尔盆地南缘深层成岩-成藏复杂性制约了其下组合油气勘探的进程。以准噶尔盆地南缘四棵树凹陷高泉构造油气藏为例,在白垩系清水河组储集层岩相及成岩作用分析的基础上,通过原位方解石U-Pb定年和流体包裹体分析技术,标定盆地热演化史,刻画高泉构造下组合油气成藏过程。研究表明,储集层中发育两期方解石胶结和3期油气充注,方解石形成年龄分别为(122.1±6.4),(14.2±0.3)~(14.4±1.0)Ma,油气充注事件为距今14.2~30.0 Ma低熟油充注,距今14.2 Ma以来成熟原油充注和距今2 Ma以来高熟天然气充注,油气藏以成熟油和高熟天然气充注贡献为主。距今2 Ma以来受喜马拉雅晚期南北向挤压冲断构造活动的影响,高泉构造圈闭发生了调整,主要成藏期有效圈闭规模明显减小,导致构造中低部位油气显示相对较弱,说明关键成藏期的圈闭有效性控制该区下组合的油气富集与分布。储集层方解石U-Pb定年技术和流体包裹体分析技术耦合,为精细刻画中国中西部复杂构造带的复杂成岩-成藏过程提供了有效方法。

A Paleozoic mercury mineralisation event in South China:In situ U-Pb dating and chemical compositions of calcite from the Jianyan Hg deposit

The ages of hydrothermal Hg deposits are difficult to constrain because of the lack of suitable minerals for dating.The South China low-temperature metallogenic domain hosts numerous Hg deposits,including the Jianyan Hg deposit that is composed mainly of cinnabar and calcite.There are two stages of calcite in the deposit:syn-ore calcite(Cal-Ⅰ)and post-ore/barren calcite(Cal-Ⅱ).Cal-Ⅰis mainly euhedral-subhedral and fine-grained,has homogeneous grey luminescence,and is associated with cinnabar.Subhedral-anhedral Cal-Ⅱcrosscuts Cal-Ⅰand is relatively coarse-grained.The syn-ore Cal-Ⅰhas high U contents(0.1–1.3 ppm)and U/Pb ratios(up to 4.2),and is thus suitable for U-Pb dating.Using a laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer equipped with ion counters,we obtained a U-Pb age of 426.3±5.7 Ma(MSWD=1.5)for CalI.This age is interpreted to represent the timing of Hg mineralisation at Jianyan and is similar to ages of 440–400 Ma reported for many carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn and Ba-F deposits in South China.Based on the present results in combination with existing geochemical and geochronological data,we infer that these deposits belong to a Paleozoic Hg-Pb-Zn-Ba-F mineralisation system that was controlled by Caledonian tectonism.

Geochronologic Constraints on the Magmatic Underplating of the Gangdisê Belt in the India-Eurasia Collision: Evidence of SHRIMP II Zircon U-Pb Dating

Abundant small mafic intrusions occur associated with granitoids along the Gangdise^ magmatic belt. In addition to many discrete gabbro bodies within the granitoid plutons, a gabbro-pyroxenite zone occurs along the southern margin of the Gangdise^ belt to the north of the Yarlung Zangbo suture. The mafic intrusion zone spatially corresponds to a strong aeromagnetic anomaly, which extends -1400 km. The mafic intrusions consist of intermittently distributed small bodies and dikes of gabbro and dolerite with accumulates of pyroxenite, olivine pyroxenite, pegmatitic pyroxenite and amphibolite. Much evidence indicates that the Gangdise^ gabbro-pyroxenite assemblage is most likely a result of underplating of mantle-derived magma. Detailed field investigation and systematic sampling of the mafic rocks was conducted at six locations along the Lhasa-Xigaze^ segment of the mafic intrusive zone, and was followed by zircon SHRIMP Ⅱ U-Pb dating. In addition to the ages of two samples previously published （47.0±1 Ma and 48.9±1.1 Ma）, the isotopic ages of the remaining four gabbro samples are 51.6±1.3Ma, 52.5±3.0 Ma, 50.2±4.2Ma and 49.9±1.1Ma. The range of these ages （47-52.5 Ma） provide geochronologic constraints on the Eocene timing of magma underplating beneath the Gangdise^ belt at ca. 50 Ma. This underplating event post-dated the initiation of the India-Eurasia continental collision by 15 million years and was contemporaneous with a process of magma mixing. The SHRIMP Ⅱ U-Pb isotopic analysis also found several old ages from a few zircon grains, mostly in a range of 479-526 Ma （weighted average age 503±10 Ma）, thus yielding information about the pre-existing lower crust when underplating of mafic magma took place. It is believed that magma underplating was one of the major mechanisms for crustal growth during the Indian-Eurasia collision, possibly corresponding in time to the formation of the 14-16 km-thick ＂crnst-mantle transitional zone＂ characterized by Vp=6.85-6.9 km/s.

Chronology and Sources of Mesozoic Intrusive Complexes in the Xuzhou-Huainan Region, Central China: Constraints from SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Dating

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating in the Liguo and Jiagou intrusives indicates that they were formed at -130 Ma in the Early Cretaceous. Most inherited zircons in the Liguo intrusive were formed at 2509±43 Ma. Most inherited and detrital zircons in the Jiagou intrusive were formed at -2500 Ma, -2000 Ma and -1800 Ma. The SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating in two gneiss xenoliths from the Jiagou intrusive yields the ages of 2461±22 Ma and 2508±15 Ma, respectively. The dating results from inherited and detrital zircons in the intrusives and the gneiss xenoliths imply that the magmas could be derived from the partial melting of the basement of the North China Block (NCB). The magmatism is strong and extensive in the periods from 115 to 132 Ma, which is of typical bimodal characteristics. It is suggested that the lithospheric thinning in the eastern North China Block reached its peak in 115-132 Ma.

An Important Spreading Event of the Neo-Tethys Ocean during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous: Evidence from Zircon U-Pb SHRIMP Dating on Diabase in Nagarze, Southern Tibet

Widely distributed in Gyangzê-Chigu area, southern Tibet, NW- and nearly E-W-trending diabase（gabbro）-gabbro diorite dykes are regarded as the product of the large-scale spreading of the late Neo-Tethys Ocean. In order to constrain the emplacement age of these dykes, zircons of two samples from diabases in Nagarzê were dated by using the U-Pb SHRIMP method. Two nearly the same weighted mean ^206pb/^23SU ages were obtained in this paper, which are 134.9±1.8 Ma （MSWD=0.65） and 135.5 ± 2.1 Ma （MSWD=1.40）, respectively. They not only represent the crystallization age of the diabase, but also documented an important spreading event of the Neo-Tethys Ocean during the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous. This dating result is of great significance to reconstruct the temporal framework of the late Neo-Tethys Ocean in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Geological Characteristics and Zircon U-Pb Dating of Volcanic Rocks from the Beizhan Iron Deposit in Western Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, NW China

The Beizhan large iron deposit located in the east part of the Awulale metallogenic belt in the western Tianshan Mountains is hosted in the Unit 2 of the Dahalajunshan Formation as lens, veinlets and stratoid, and both of the hanging wall and footwall are quartz-monzonite; the dip is to the north with thick and high-grade ore bodies downwards. Ore minerals are mainly magnetite with minor sulfides, such as pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite. Skarnization is widespread around the ore bodies, and garnet, diopside, wollastonite, actinolite, epidote, uralite, tourmaline sericite and calcite are ubiquitous as gangues. Radiating outwards from the center of the ore body the deposit can be classified into skarn, calcite, serpentinite and marble zones. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating of the rhyolite and dacite from the Dahalajunshan Formation indicates that they were formed at 301.3±0.8 Ma and 303.7±0.9 Ma, respectively, which might have been related to the continental arc magmatism during the late stage of subduction in the western Tianshan Mountains. Iron formation is genetically related with volcanic eruption during this interval. The Dahalajunshan Formation and the quartz-monzonite intrusion jointly control the distribution of ore bodies. Both ore textures and wall rock alteration indicate that the Beizhan iron deposit is probably skarn type.

LA-ICP-MS Zircon U-Pb Dating of Intermediate-Acidic Intrusive Rocks and Molybdenite Re-Os Dating from the Bangpu Mo (Cu) Deposit, Tibet and its Geological Implication

The multi-stage intrusions of intermediate-acid magma occur in the Bangpu mining district, the petrogenic ages of which have been identified. The times and sequences of their emplacement have been collated and stipulated in detail in this paper by using the laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry （LA-ICP-MS） zircon U-Pb dating method. The ages of biotite monzogranite that were formed before mineralization in the southwest of this mining district are 70±1 Ma （mean square of weighted deviates （MSWD） =9.5, n=8） and 60.60±0.31 Ma （MSWD=3.8, n=16）, which belong to the late Cretaceous-early Paleocene in age. That means, they are products of an early tectonicmagmatic event of the collision between the Indian and Asian continentals. The ages of ore-bearing monzogranite porphyry and ore-bearing diorite porphyrite are 16.23±0.19 Ma （MSWD=2.0, n=26） and 15.16±0.09 Ma （MSWD=3.9, n=5） separately, which belong to the middle Miocene in age; namely, they are products of the Gangdese post-collision extensional stage when crust-mantle materials melted and mixed as well as magmatic intrusion simultaneously occurred. Some zircons with ages of 203.6±2.2 Ma （MSWD=1.18, n=7） were captured in the ore-bearing diorite porphyrite, which shows that there had been tectono-magmatic events in the late Triassic-early Jurassic. Molybdenum （copper） ore-bodies produced in the monzogranite porphyry and copper （molybdenum） ore-bodies produced in the diorite porphyrite are the main ore types in this ore deposit. The model ages of Re-Os isotopic dating for the 11 molybdenite are 13.97-15.84 Ma, while isochron ages are 14.09±0.49 Ma （MSWD=26）. The isochron ages of seven molybdenite from molybdenum （copper） ore with monzogranite porphyry type are 14.11±0.31 Ma （MSWD=5.2）. There is great error in the isochron ages of four molybdenite from copper （molybdenum） ore with diorite porphyrite type, and their weighted average model ages of 14.6±1.2 Ma （MSWD=41）, which generally represent the mineralization age. The results about the Re-Os isotopic dating of molybdenite in the ore of different types have limited exactly that, the minerlazation age of this ore deposits is about 14.09 Ma, which belongs to the middle Miocene mineralization. The Bangpu deposit has a uniform metallogenic dynamics background with the porphyry type and skarn-type deposits such as Jiama, Qulong and others.

Zircon U-Pb Dating on Granitoids from the Northern South China Sea and its Geotectonic Relevance

Zircon U-Pb ages of 163.8-100.4 Ma and 146.6-134.5 Ma are obtained for the granitoids from the Pearl River mouth basin, and from southern Guangdong Province, respectively. These new dating data accord well with the crystallization ages of Yanshanian granitoids broadly in the Nanling. The active continental margin of South China, as revealed by a combination of zircon U-Pb data, underwent a key granitoid-dominated magmatism in 165-100 Ma. Its evolution varied temporally, and spatially, registering under control of the paleo-Pacific slab subduction. The granitoids that occurred in 165-150 Ma broadly from the South China Sea to the Nanling are preferably related to two settings from volcanic-arc to back-arc extension, respectively. The activities of Cretaceous granitoids migrated from the southeastern Guangdong （148-130 Ma） to the Pearl River Mouth basin （127-112 Ma）, corresponding to the model of a retreating subduction. The subduction-related granitoid magmatism in South China continued until 108-97 Ma. A tectonic transformation from slab-subduction to extension should occur at -100 Ma.

Geochemical Characteristics and LA-ICP-MS Zircon U-Pb Dating of Amphibolites in the Songshugou Ophiolite in the Eastern Qinling

Geochemical studies on the arnphibolites in the Songshugou ophiolite from Shangnan County, Shaanxi Province demonstrate that the protolith of the amphibolites is tholeiitic. The arnphibolites can be classified into two groups according to their REE patterns and trace element features. Rocks of the first group are depleted in LREE while rocks of the second group are slightly depleted in LREE or flat from LREE to HREE without significant Eu anomaly. The first group of rocks have (La/Yb)N=0.33-0.55, (La/Sm)N= 0.45-0.65, and their La/Nb, Ce/Zr, Zr/Nb, Zr/Y and Ti/Y ratios are averaged at 1.20, 0.12, 31.02, 2.92 and 198, respectively, close to those of typical N-MORB. The second group of rocks have (La/Yb)N=0.63-0.95, (La/ Sm)N = 0.69--0.90, and their average La/Nb, Ce/Zr, Zr/Nb, Zr/Y and Ti/Y ratios are 0.82, 0.83, 1.15, 0.16, 19.00, 2.58 and 225, respectively, which lie between those of typical N-MORB and E-MORB but closer to the former. The two groups of rocks both exhibit flat patterns from Th to Yb in the highly incompatible elements spider diagram, but the first group of rocks have lower element abundances than the modern N-MORB, indicating a derivation of their mantle source from more depleted mantle source than the present N-MORB. The abundances of Th, Ta, Nb, La and Ce in the second group of rocks are slightly higher than those of the present N-MORB, and other elements, such as Hf, Zr, Sm, Ti, Y and Yb, are close to those of the N-MORB, indicating that the original magma was derived from depleted mantle but mixed with the enriched mantle. These characteristics, combined with the regional geology and previous studies, provide further evidence that the mafic-ultramafic rocks have the features of a typical ophiolite.Zircon grains from the amphibolite are generally rounded, and in most of them a distinguishable core-mantle texture is preserved as shown in the cathodoluminescence (CL) images. The core or core-mantle parts of the zircon grains are also rounded, same as those in basalts from other regions of the world. The LA-ICP-MS trace element and U-Pb isotopic analyses show that the zircon grains from the amphibolites are similar to the typical magmatic zircon in terms of their very low U and Th contents (62.36-0.10 μg/g and 78.47-0.003 μg/g, respectively). Seven pits from the core and core-mantle parts of the zircon grains yielded an average weighted 206Pb/ 238U age of 973±35 (2σ) Ma with the Th/U ratios range from 0.01 to 8.38 and mostly greater than 0.23. This age is consistent within the error range with the whole-rock Sm-Nd isochron age of 1030±46 Ma for the same kind of rocks reported by Dong et al. (1997a). In a combined analysis with the zircon positions on the CL images and the corresponding Th/U ratios, the age of 973±35 Ma is probably the formation age of tholeiite, the protolith of the Songshugou amphibolite. The geochronological determination gives further evidence that the Songshugou ophiolite was formed during the Neoproterozoic. In addition, there is one pit from the rim of a zircon grain giving a 206Pb/ 238U age of 5721199 (1σ) Ma with a Th/U ratio of 0.08. It may represent the age of the accretionary zircon in the amphibolite-facies metamorphism.

LA-ICPMS Zircon U-Pb Dating in the Jurassic Daohugou Beds and Correlative Strata in Ningcheng of Inner Mongolia

LA-ICPMS Zircon U-Pb dating is applied to volcanic rocks overlying and underlying the Salamander-bearing bed in the Daohugou beds of Ningcheng in Inner Mongola and Reshuichang of Lingyuan and Mazhangzi of Jianping in western Liaoning. The results indicate that the youngest age of the rocks in Daohugou of Ningcheng is 158 Ma, and the oldest one is 164 Ma. Synthesized researches indicate that the salamander-bearing beds in Daohugou of Ningcheng, Reshuichang of Lingyuan and Mazhangzi of Jianping were developed in the same period. The Daohugou beds were formed in the geological age of 164-158 Ma of the middle-late Jurassic. Whilst, the Daohugou beds and its corrdative strata should correspond to the Tiaojishan Formation （or Lanqi Formation） of the middle Jurassic in northern Hebei Province and western Liaoning Province, based on the disconformity between the Daohugou beds and its overlaying beds of the Tuchengzi Formation of Late Jurassic and the Jehol Beds of early Cretaceous, and the disconformity between the Daohugou Beds and its underlying Jiulongshan Formation, which is composed of conglomerate, sandstone, shale with coal and thin coal beds.

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

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

Single Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb Dating of the Guandimiao and Wawutang Granitic Plutons in Hunan,South China and Its Petrogenetic Significance

The Guandimao and Wawutang plutons are located at the center of Hunan, South China. The former is mainly composed of biotite monzonitic granites/granodiorites and two-mica monzonltic granites, but the latter only consists of biotite monzonitic granites. The zircon ages of 203.0±1.6 Ma （biotite monzonitic granites） and 208.0-23.2 Ma （two-mica monzonltic granites） for the Guandimao pluton and 204±3 Ma for the Wawutang pluton obtained with the LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating indicate that they were formed during the late Indosinian. In consideration of other geochronological data from Indosinian rocks of South China and adjacent regions, it is inferred that the two plutons were derived from crustal materials by decompressional melting in a post-collisional tectonic setting during spontaneous thinning of the thickened curst. Moreover, the inherited zircon age of 1273±57 Ma from the Wawutang pluton indicates that the source of the two plutons is related to the early Proterozoic crustal basement.

U-Pb Zircon Dating of the Yeniutan Granitic Intrusion in the Western Sector of the North Qilian Mountains

Zircons from granodiorite and biotite granite in the Yeniutan granitic intrusion in the western North Qilian Mountains yielded a weighted mean 206Pb/238U apparent age of 460±3 Ma, suggesting that the intrusion originated during the late stage of plate subduction. Its related Ta'ergou and Xiaoliugou deposits are two of the few large tungsten deposits formed in the plate subduction environment in the world. The U-Pb dating of the zircons from the biotite granite gave a discordant lower intercept age of 183±4 Ma, which implies that the Yanshanian event was probably superimposed on the North Qilian region.

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating of the mafic and felsic intrusive rocks of the Saza area in the Lupa goldfields, southwestern Tanzania: Implication for gold mineralization

The Lupa Goldfield (LGF) is one of the eight structural terranes in the NW – SE striking Ubendian Belt of SW Tanzania. The LGF is comprised of granitic gneisses with bands of amphibolites which are intruded by mafic intrusions including gabbros, granodiorites, diorites;and various granites as well as metavol-canics. These rocks are cross-cut by narrow mafic dykes and aplites. SHRIMP zircon U-Pb data are presented for the granodiorite and a mafic dyke that cross-cut the granodiorites in the Saza area of the LGF, with the aim of constraining the mafic and felsic magmatism and their implication to gold mineralization. The zircon U-Pb data shows that the Saza granodiorites were emplaced at 1924 ± 13 Ma (MSWD = 2.6) whereas the cross-cutting mafic dyke yielded a zircon U-Pb age of 1758 ± 33 Ma (MSWD = 0.88). The dated granodiorite sample was in sheared contact with an altered mafic intrusive rock, most likely a diorite, along which an auriferous quartz vein occurs. The 1924 ± 13 Ma age of granodiorites is within error of the reported molybdenite Re-Os age of 1937 Ma determined for the gold mineralization event in Lupa Goldfields. Although auriferous quartz veins are younger than the granodiorites, the more or less similar ages between the emplacement of granodiorites and the mineralizing event indicate that the granodiorites might be the heat source (or driver) of hydrothermal fluids responsible for gold mineralization in the Lupa goldfields. This would further suggest that gold mineralization in the LGF is intrusion-related type. The mafic dykes represent the youngest rocks to have been emplaced in the area and hence the 1758 ± 33 Ma age of the mafic dykes conclude the magmatic evolution in the Lupa goldfields during the Palaeoproterozoic.