Trace Element Geochemistry of Magnetite from the Fe(-Cu) Deposits in the Hami Region, Eastern Tianshan Orogenic Belt, NW China

Laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry（LA–ICP–MS） was used to determine the trace element concentrations of magnetite from the Heifengshan, Shuangfengshan, and Shaquanzi Fe（–Cu） deposits in the Eastern Tianshan Orogenic Belt. The magnetite from these deposits typically contains detectable Mg, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn and Ga. The trace element contents in magnetite generally vary less than one order of magnitude. The subtle variations of trace element concentrations within a magnetite grain and between the magnetite grains in the same sample probably indicate local inhomogeneity of ore–forming fluids. The variations of Co in magnetite between samples are probably due to the mineral proportion of magnetite and pyrite. Factor analysis has discriminated three types of magnetite： Ni–Mn–V–Ti（Factor 1）, Mg–Al–Zn（Factor 2）, and Ga– Co（Factor 3） magnetite. Magnetite from the Heifengshan and Shuangfengshan Fe deposits has similar normalized trace element spider patterns and cannot be discriminated according to these factors. However, magnetite from the Shaquanzi Fe–Cu deposit has affinity to Factor 2 with lower Mg and Al but higher Zn concentrations, indicating that the ore–forming fluids responsible for the Fe–Cu deposit are different from those for Fe deposits. Chemical composition of magnetite indicates that magnetite from these Fe（–Cu） deposits was formed by hydrothermal processes rather than magmatic differentiation. The formation of these Fe（–Cu） deposits may be related to felsic magmatism.

Sodium-rich volcanic rocks and their relationships with iron deposits in the Aqishan-Yamansu belt of Eastern Tianshan,NW China

The volcanic rocks hosting the iron deposits in the Aqishan–Yamansu metallogenic belt are sodium-rich.The geochronology,petrography,and geochemistry of minerals and sodium-rich rocks as well as the relationship between these rocks and the iron deposits are studied.Geochemically,the ore-hosting volcanic rocks are sodiumrich(the averages of Na2O and Na2O/K2O are 4.31 wt.%and 8.56,respectively)and belong to the calc-alkaline series.They are enriched in LREEs and LILEs(Ba,U,K,and Sr),but depleted in HFSEs(Nb,Ta,and Ti).SHRIMP zircon U–Pb dating of the crystal tuff in the Aqishan Formation and the dacite in the Tugutu Bulak Formation yields ages of 337.5
2.3 Ma(n?15,MSWD?0.85)and 313.0
3.3 Ma(n?13,MSWD?0.74),respectively,indicating that the sodium-rich volcanic rocks formed from the early–late Carboniferous.Electron microprobe data from plagioclases demonstrate that albites and/or oligoclases were formed in the basic–intermediate–acid volcanic rocks.Two stages of albitization are identified,and the latter is likely attributed to the dissolution of iron in the Aqishan–Yamansu belt.The sodium-rich volcanic rocks probably formed by the interaction between volcanic lava and seawater after volcanoes erupted on the seafloor;meanwhile,the albites formed by element substitution in a low-metamorphic environment.The spatiotemporal coupling relationship between sodium-rich volcanic rocks and iron deposits in the Aqishan–Yamansu belt is favorable.Iron dissolved from the dark minerals of basic–intermediate volcanic rocks through sodium metasomatism is one of the material sources for the iron deposits.