Deep gold mineralization features of Jiaojia metallogenic belt,Jiaodong gold Province:Based on the breakthrough of 3000 m exploration drilling

Recently,continuous breakthroughs have been made about deep gold prospecting in the Jiaodong gold province area of China.Approximately 5000 t of cumulative gold resources have been explored in Jiaodong,which has thus become an internationally noteworthy gold ore cluster.The gold exploration depth has been increased to about 2000 m from the previous<1000 m.To further explore the mineralization potential of the Jiaodong area at a depth of about 3000 m,the Shandong Institute of Geological Sciences has drilled an exploratory drillhole named“Deep drillhole ZK01”to a depth of 3266 m.Hence,as reported herein,the mineralization characteristics of the Jiaojia metallogenic belt have been successfully documented.ZK01 is,to date,the deepest borehole with an gold intersect in China,and constitutes a significant advance in deep gold prospecting in China.The findings of this study further indicate that the depth interval of 2000 m to 4000 m below the ground surface in the Wuyi Village area incorporates 912 t of inferred gold resources,while the depth interval of 2000 m to 4000 m below the surface across the Jiaodong area possesses about 4000 t of inferred gold resources.The Jiaojia Fault Belt tends to gently dip downward,having dip angles of about 25°and about 20°at vertical depths of 2000 m and 2850 m,respectively.The deep part of the Jiaojia metallogenic belt differs from the shallow and moderately deep parts about fracturing,alteration,mineralization,and tectonic type.The deep zones can generally be categorized from inside outward as cataclastic granite,granitic cataclasite,weakly beresitized granitic cataclasite,beresitized cataclasite,and gouge.These zones exhibit a gradual transitional relation or occur alternately and repeatedly.The mineralization degree of the pyritized cataclastic granite-type ore in the deep part of the Jiaojia metallogenic belt is closely related to the degree of pyrite vein development;that is,the higher the pyrite content,the wider the veins and the higher the gold grade.Compared to the shallow gold ores,the deep-seated gold ores have higher fineness and contain joseite,tetradymite,and native bismuth,suggesting that the deep gold mineralization temperature is higher and that mantle-sourced material may have contributed to this mineralization.ZK01 has also revealed that the deep-seated ore bodies in the Jiaojia metallogenic belt are principally situated above the main fracture plane(gouge)and hosted within the Linglong Granite,contradicting previous findings indicating that the moderately shallow gold ore bodies are usually hosted in the contact zone between the Linglong Granite and Jiaodong Group or meta-gabbro.These new discoveries are particularly significant because they can help correct mineralization prospecting models,determine favorable positions for deep prospecting,and improve metallogenic prediction and resource potential evaluation.

Geology and mineralization of the Hongqiling large magmatic nickel-copper-cobalt deposit(22×10^(4)t)in Jilin Province,China:A review

The Hongqiling large nickel-copper-cobalt deposit(hereafter referred to as the Hongqiling deposit),a typical mafic-ultramafic copper-nickel deposit in China,boasts proven Ni(Ni)resources of approximately 22×10^(4)t,associated copper resources of 2×10^(4)t,and associated cobalt(Co)resources of 0.5×10^(4)t,with Ni reserves ranking 10th among China's magmatic nickel deposits.Geotectonically,the Hongqiling deposit is situated in the superimposed zone between the Xing'an-Mongolian orogenic belt and the circum-Western Pacific's active continental margin belt.Its ore-bearing plutons occur within the metamorphic rocks of the Ordovician Hulan Group,with the emplacement of plutons and the locations of orebodies governed by the deep-seated Huifahe fault and its secondary NW-trending Fujia-Hejiagou-Beixinglong-Changsheng fault zone.In the deposit,the rock assemblages of ore-bearing plutons predominantly encompass gabbro-pyroxenite-olivine pyroxenite-pyroxene peridotite(pluton No.1)and norite-orthopyroxenite-harzburgite(pluton No.7),with ore-bearing lithofacies consisting primarily of olivine pyroxenite and pyroxenite facies.The Hongqiling deposit hosts stratoid,overhanging lentoid,veined,and pure-sulfide veined orebodies.Its ores principally contain metallic minerals including pyrrhotite,pentlandite,chalcopyrite,violarite,and pyrite.Despite unidentified magma sources of ore-bearing mafic-ultramafic rocks,it is roughly accepted that the magmatic evolution in the Hongqiling deposit primarily involved fractional crystallization and crustal contamination.The ore-forming materials were primarily derived from the upper mantle,mixed with minor crustal materials.The ore-bearing mafic-ultramafic rocks in the deposit,primarily emplaced during the Indosinian(208-239 Ma),were formed in an intense extension setting followed by the collisional orogeny between the North China Plate and the Songnen-Zhangguangcai Range Block during the Middle-Late Triassic.From the perspective of the metallogenic geological setting,surrounding rocks,ore-controlling structures,and rock assemblages,this study identified one favorable condition and seven significant indicators for prospecting for Hongqiling-type nickel deposits and developed a prospecting model of the Hongqiling deposit.These serve as valuable references for exploring similar nickel deposits in the region,as well as the deep parts and margins of the Hongqiling deposit.

In situ U-Pb dating and trace elements of magmatic rutile from Mujicun Cu-Mo deposit,North China Craton:Insights into porphyry mineralization

Porphyry Cu(Mo-Au)deposit is one of the most important types of copper deposit and usually formed under magmatic arc-related settings,whilst the Mujicun porphyry Cu-Mo deposit in North China Craton uncommonly generated within intra-continental settings.Although previous studies have focused on the age,origin and ore genesis of the Mujicun deposit,the ore-forming age,magma source and tectonic evolution remain controversial.Here,this study targeted rutile(TiO_(2))in the ore-hosting diorite porphyry from the Mujicun Cu-Mo deposit to conduct in situ U-Pb dating and trace element composition studies,with major views to determine the timing and magma evolution and to provide new insights into porphyry Cu-Mo metallogeny.Rutile trace element data show flat-like REE patterns characterized by relatively enrichment LREEs and depleted HREEs,which could be identified as magmatic rutile.Rutile U-Pb dating yields lower intercept ages of 139.3–138.4 Ma,interpreted as post magmatic cooling timing below about 500℃,which are consistent or slightly postdate with the published zircon U-Pb ages of diorite porphyry(144.1–141.7 Ma)and skarn(146.2 Ma;139.9 Ma)as well as the molybdenite Re-Os ages of molybdenum ores(144.8–140.0 Ma).Given that the overlap between the closure temperature of rutile U-Pb system and ore-forming temperature of the Mujicun deposit,this study suggests that the ore-forming ages of the Mujicun deposit can be constrained at 139.3–138.4 Ma,with temporal links to the late large-scale granitic magmatism at 138–126 Ma in the Taihang Orogen.Based on the Mg and Al contents in rutile,the magma of ore-hosting diorite porphyry was suggested to be derived from crust-mantle mixing components.In conjunction with previous studies in Taihang Orogen,this study proposes that the far-field effect and the rollback of the subducting Paleo-Pacific slab triggered lithospheric extension,asthenosphere upwelling,crust-mantle interaction and thermo-mechanical erosion,which jointly facilitated the formation of dioritic magmas during the Early Cretaceous.Subsequently,the dioritic magmas carrying crust-mantle mixing metallic materials were emplaced and precipitated at shallow positions along NNE-trending ore-controlling faults,eventually resulting in the formation of the Mujicun Cu-Mo deposit within an intracontinental extensional setting.

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.

Geology and mineralization of the Sanshandao supergiant gold deposit(1200 t)in the Jiaodong Peninsula,China:A review

The Jiaodong Peninsula in Shandong Province,China is the world’s third-largest gold metallogenic area,with cumulative proven gold resources exceeding 5000 t.Over the past few years,breakthroughs have been made in deep prospecting at a depth of 500‒2000 m,particularly in the Sanshandao area where a huge deep gold orebody was identified.Based on previous studies and the latest prospecting progress achieved by the project team of this study,the following results are summarized.(1)3D geological modeling results based on deep drilling core data reveal that the Sanshandao gold orefield,which was previously considered to consist of several independent deposits,is a supergiant deposit with gold resources of more than 1200 t(including 470 t under the sea area).The length of the major orebody is nearly 8 km,with a greatest depth of 2312 m below sea level and a maximum length of more than 3 km along their dip direction.(2)Thick gold orebodies in the Sanshandao gold deposit mainly occur in the specific sections of the ore-controlling fault where the fault plane changes from steeply to gently inclined,forming a stepped metallogenic model from shallow to deep level.The reason for this strong structural control on mineralization forms is that when ore-forming fluids migrated along faults,the pressure of fluids greatly fluctuated in fault sections where the fault dip angle changed.Since the solubility of gold in the ore-forming fluid is sensitive to fluid pressure,these sections along the fault plane serve as the target areas for deep prospecting.(3)Thermal uplifting-extensional structures provide thermodynamic conditions,migration pathways,and deposition spaces for gold mineralization.Meanwhile,the changes in mantle properties induced the transformation of the geochemical properties of the lower crust and magmatic rocks.This further led to the reactivation of ore-forming elements,which provided rich materials for gold mineralization.(4)It can be concluded from previous research results that the gold mineralization in the Jiaodong gold deposits occurred at about 120 Ma,which was superimposed by nonferrous metals mineralization at 118‒111 Ma.The fluids were dominated by primary mantle water or magmatic water.Metamorphic water occurred in the early stage of the gold mineralization,while the fluid composition was dominated by meteoric water in the late stage.The S,Pb,and Sr isotopic compositions of the ores are similar to those of ore-hosting rocks,indicating that the ore-forming materials mainly derive from crustal materials,with the minor addition of mantle-derived materials.The gold deposits in the Jiaodong Peninsula were formed in an extensional tectonic environment during the transformation of the physical and chemical properties of the lithospheric mantle,which is different from typical orogenic gold deposits.Thus,it is proposed that they are named“Jiaodong-type”gold deposits.

The long-lived partial melting of the Greater Himalayas in southern Tibet, constraints from the Miocene Gyirong anatectic pegmatite and its prospecting potential for rare element minerals

The Cenozoic Himalayan leucogranite-pegmatite belt has been a hotspot for rare metal exploration in recent years.To determine the genesis of the pegmatite in the Himalayan region and its relationship with the Greater Himalayan Crystalline Complex(GHC),the Gyirong pegmatite in southern Tibet was chosen for geochronological and geochemical studies.The dating analyses indicate that the U-Th-Pb ages of zircon,monazite,and xenotime exhibit large variations(38.6‒16.1 Ma),with the weighted average value of the four youngest points is 16.5±0.3 Ma,which indicates that the final stage of crystallization of the melt occurred in the Miocene.The age of the muscovite Ar-Ar inverse isochron is 15.2±0.4 Ma,which is slightly later than the intrusion age,showing that a cooling process associated with rapid denudation occurred at 16‒15 Ma.TheεHf(t)values of the Cenozoic anatectic zircons cluster between−12 and−9 with an average of−11.4.The Gyirong pegmatite shows high contents of Si,Al,and K,a high Al saturation index,and low contents of Na,Ca,Fe,Mn,P,Mg,and Ti.Overall,the Gyirong pegmatite is enriched in Rb,Cs,U,K,Th and Pb and depleted in Nb,Ta,Zr,Ti,Eu,Sr,and Ba.The samples show a high 87Sr/86Sr(16 Ma)ratio of ca.0.762 and a lowεNd(16 Ma)value of−16.0.The calculated average initial values of 208Pb/204Pb(16 Ma),207Pb/204Pb(16 Ma)and 206Pb/204Pb(16 Ma)of the whole rock are 39.72,15.79 and 19.56,respectively.The Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopic characteristics of the Gyirong pegmatite are consistent with those of the GHC.This study concludes that the Gyirong pegmatite represents a typical crustal‒derived anatectic pegmatite with low metallogenic potential for rare metals.The Gyirong pegmatite records the long‒term metamorphism and partial melting process of the GHC,and reflects the crustal thickening caused by thrust compression at 39‒29 Ma and the crustal thinning induced by extensional decompression during 28‒15 Ma.

Geology and mineralization of the Pulang supergiant porphyry copper deposit(5.11 Mt)in Shangri-la,Yunnan Province,China:A review

The porphyry copper belt in the Geza island arc in southwestern China is the only Indosinian porphyry copper metallogenic belt that has been discovered and evaluated so far.The Pulang porphyry copper deposit(also referred to as the Pulang deposit)in this area has proven copper reserves of 5.11×106 t.This deposit has been exploited on a large scale using advanced mining methods,exhibiting substantial economic benefit.Based on many research results of previous researchers and the authors’team,this study proposed the following key insights.(1)The Geza island arc was once regarded as an immature island arc with only andesites and quartz diorite porphyrites occurring.This understanding was overturned in this study.Acidic endmember components such as quartz monzonite porphyries and quartz monzonite porphyries have been identified in the Geza island arc,and the mineralization is mainly related to the magmatism of quartz monzonite porphyries.(2)Complete porphyry orebodies and large vein orebodies have developed in the Pulang deposit.Main orebody KT1 occurs in the transition area between the potassium silicate alteration zone of quartz monzonite porphyries and the sericite-quartz alteration zone.Most of them have developed in the potassium silicate alteration zone.The main orebody occurs as large lenses at the top of the hanging wall of rock bodies,with an engineering-controlled length of 1920 m and thickness of 32.5‒630.29 m(average:187.07 m).It has a copper grade of 0.21%-1.56%(average:0.42%)and proven copper resources of 5.11×10^(6) t,which are associated with 113 t of gold,1459 t of silver,and 170×10^(3) t of molybdenum.(3)Many studies on diagenetic and metallogenic chronology,isotopes,and fluid inclusions have been carried out for the Pulang deposit,including K-Ar/Ar-Ar dating of monominerals(e.g.,potassium feldspars,biotites,and amphiboles),zircon U-Pb dating,and molybdenite Re-Os dating.The results show that the porphyries in the Pulang deposit are composite plutons and can be classified into pre-mineralization quartz diorite porphyrites,quartz monzonite porphyries formed during the mineralization,and post-mineralization granite porphyries,which were formed at 223±3.7 Ma,218±4 Ma,and 207±3.9 Ma,respectively.The metallogenic age of the Pulang deposit is 213‒216 Ma.(4)The petrogeochemical characteristics show that the Pulang deposit has the characteristics of volcanic arc granites.The calculation results of trace element contents in zircons show that quartz monzonite porphyries and granite porphyries have higher oxygen fugacity.The isotopic tracing results show that the diagenetic and metallogenic materials were derived from mixed crust-and mantle-derived magmas.

Geology and mineralization of the Dayin’gezhuang supergiant gold deposit(180 t)in the Jiaodong Peninsula,China:A review

The Dayin’gezhuang gold deposit is located in the central part of the Zhaoping Fault metallogenic belt in the Jiaodong gold province-the world’s third-largest gold metallogenic area.It is a typical successful case of prospecting at a depth of 500-2000 m in recent years,with cumulative proven gold resources exceeding 180 t.The main orebodies(No.1 and No.2 orebody)generally have a pitch direction of NNE and a plunge direction of NEE.As the ore-controlling fault,the Zhaoping Fault is a shovel-shaped stepped fault,with its dip angle presenting stepped high-to-low transitions at the elevation of -2000-0 m.The gold mineralization enrichment area is mainly distributed in the step parts where the fault plane changes from steeply to gently,forming a stepped metallogenic pattern from shallow to deep.It can be concluded from previous studies that the gold mineralization of the Dayin’gezhuang gold deposit occurred at about 120 Ma.The ore-forming fluids were H_(2)O-CO_(2)-NaCl-type hydrothermal solutions with a medium-low temperature and medium-low salinity.The H-O isotopic characteristics indicate that the fluids in the early ore-forming stage were possibly magmatic water or mantle water and that meteoric water gradually entered the ore-forming fluids in the late ore-forming stage.The S and Pb isotopes indicate that the ore-forming materials mainly originate from the lower crust and contain a small quantity of mantle-derived components.The comprehensive analysis shows that the Dayin’gezhuang gold deposit was formed by thermal uplifting-extensional tectonism.The strong crust-mantle interactions,large-scale magmatism,and the material exchange arising from the transformation from adakitic granites to arc granites and from the ancient lower crust to the juvenile lower crust during the Early Cretaceous provided abundant fluids and material sources for mineralization.Moreover,the detachment faults formed by the rapid magmatic uplift and the extensional tectonism created favorable temperature and pressure conditions and space for fluid accumulation and gold precipitation and mineralization.

Geology, geochronology, and exploration of the Jiama giant porphyry copper deposit (11 Mt), Tibet, China: A review

Jiama,with more than 11 Mt of copper metal,is the largest porphyry-skarn copper system in the Gangdese metallogenic belt,Tibet,China,creating ideal conditions for deciphering the origin of porphyry ores in a collision setting.Despite massive studies of the geology,chronology,petrogenesis,and ore-related fluids and their sources in Jiama,there is a lack of systematic summaries and reviews of this system.In contrast to traditional porphyry copper systems in a subduction setting,recent studies and exploration suggest that the Jiama deposit includes porphyry-type Mo-Cu,skarn-type Cu polymetallic,vein-type Au and manto orebodies.This paper reviews the latest studies on the geology,chronology,petrogenesis,fluid inclusions,and isotopic geochemistry(hydrogen,oxygen,sulfur,and lead)of the Jiama deposit.Accordingly,a multi-center complex mineralization model was constructed,indicating that multi-phase intrusions from the same magma reservoir can form multiple hydrothermal centers.These centers are mutually independent and form various orebodies or are superimposed on each other and form thick,high-grade orebodies.Finally,a new comprehensive exploration model was established for the Jiama porphyry copper system.Both models established in this study help to refine the theories on continental-collision metallogeny and porphyry copper systems.

Research and exploration progress on lithium deposits in China

Since 2012,some advances have been made through the resource investigation,metallogenesis research,and comprehensive utilizing of lithium deposits in China.Firstly,the progress of lithium exploration has been made in Sichuan,Xinjiang,Qinghai and Jiangxi provinces(autonomous region).Li deposits are not only found within the pegmatite rocks but also within the granitic rocks and sedimentary rocks.Secondly,the methods of geological survey,geochemical and geophysical exploration,remote sensing technology and even drilling technology have been improved,which can be delineating orebodies quickly.Thirdly,the mechanisms of Li mineralization were summarized by analyzing the relationship between the Li contents and kinds of geological phenomena.Based on practice,a new understanding of"multi-cycle,deep circulation,integration of internal and external"metallogenic mechanism or"MDIE"metallogenic mechanism for short has been put forwarded further in this paper,and the"five levels+basement"exploration model has been successfully expanded to guide the prospecting work both in the Jiajika and Keeryin pegmatite ore fields in western Sichuan Province.Besides,new progress has been made in the aspect of amblygonite deposits of granite-type and hydrothermal type in the Mufushan-Jiuling ore district,which points out a new direction for prospecting new types of lithium deposits in China.

LA-ICP-MS in situ analyses of the pyrites in Dongyang gold deposit,Southeast China:Implications to the gold mineralization

The Dongyang gold deposit is a newly discovered epithermal deposit in Fujian Province,Southeast China,along the Circum-Pacific metallogenic belt.Herewith,the authors present mineralogical,scanning electron microscope,and laser ablation inductively coupled clasma mass spectrometry analysis to reveal the relations between Au and Te,As,S,Fe,etc.,and discuss the gold precipitation process.The pyrites in this deposit are Fe-deficient,and are enriched in Te and As.The authors infer that As was mainly in form of As-complexes,and Te-Au-Ag inclusions/solid solution also exsits in the Py I.Along with the depletion of Te and As,they were less active chemically in the Py II,and Au may be incorporated into As-rich and Fe-deficient surface sites by chemisorption onto As-rich growth surfaces.Because of the incorporation of new fluid,Te and As became the most active chemically in the Py III,which was the main elements precipitation stage,and As dominantly substituted for S in the lattice of pyrite,due to the more reducing condition.The authors propose Au was in form of invisible gold,and the incorporation of gold can be considered as post-pyrite event,while the Au-bearing minerals were result of post incorporation of gold in arsenian pyrite.

Geology and mineralization of the Duobaoshan supergiant porphyry Cu-Au-Mo-Ag deposit(2.36 Mt)in Heilongjiang Province,China:A review

The reserves of the Duobaoshan porphyry Cu-Au-Mo-Ag deposit(also referred to as the Duobaoshan porphyry Cu deposit)ranks first among the copper deposits in China and 33rd among the porphyry copper deposits in the world.It has proven resources of copper(Cu),molybdenum(Mo),gold(Au),and silver(Ag)of 2.28×10^(6)t,80×10^(3)t,73 t,and 1046 t,respectively.The major characteristics of the Duobaoshan porphyry Cu deposit are as follows.It is located in a zone sandwiched by the Siberian,North China,and paleo-Pacific plates in an island arc tectonic setting and was formed by the Paleozoic mineralization and the Mesozoic mineralization induced by superposition and transformation.The metallogenic porphyries are the Middle Hercynian granodiorite porphyries.The alterations of surrounding rocks are distributed in a ring form.With silicified porphyries at the center,the alteration zones of K-feldspar,biotite,sericite,and propylite occur from inside to outside.This deposit is composed of 215 ore bodies(including 14 major ore bodies)in four mineralized zones.Ore body No.X in the No.3 mineralized zone has the largest resource reserves,accounting for more than 78%of the total reserves of the deposit.Major ore components include Cu,Mo,Au,Ag,Se,and Ga,which have an average content of 0.46%,0.015%,0.16 g/t,1.22 g/t,0.0003%,and 0.001%-0.003%,respectively.The ore minerals of this deposit primarily include pyrite,chalcopyrite,bornite,and molybdenite,followed by magnetite,hematite,rutile,gelenite,and sphalerite.The ore-forming fluids of this deposit were magmatic water in the early metallogenic stage and then the mixture of meteoric water and magmatic water at the late metallogenic stage.The ore-forming fluids experienced three stages.The ore-forming fluids of stageⅠhad a hydrochemical type of H_(2)O-CO_(2)-Na Cl,an ore-forming temperature of 375-650℃,and ore-forming pressure of 110-160 MPa.The ore-forming fluids of stageⅡhad a hydrochemical type of H_(2)O-CO_(2)-Na Cl,an ore-forming temperature of 310-350℃,and ore-forming pressure of 58-80 MPa.The ore-forming fluids of stageⅢhad a hydrochemical type of Na Cl-H_(2)O,an ore-forming temperature of 210-290℃,and ore-forming pressure of 5-12 MPa.The CuAu-Mo-Ag mineralization mainly occurred at stagesⅠandⅡ,with the ore-forming materials having a mixed crust-mantle source.The Duobaoshan porphyry Cu deposit was formed in the initial subduction environment of the Paleo-Asian Ocean Plate during the Early Ordovician.Then,due to the closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean and the subduction and compression of the Paleo-Pacific Ocean,a composite orogenic metallogenic model of the deposit was formed.In other words,it is a porphyry-epithermal copper-gold polymetallic mineralization system of composite orogeny consisting of Paleozoic island arcs and Mesozoic orogeny and extension.

Geology and mineralization of the supergiant Shimensi granitic-type W-Cu-Mo deposit(1.168 Mt)in northern Jiangxi,South China:A Review

The Shimensi deposit is a recently discovered W-Cu-Mo polymetallic deposit located in the Jiangnan porphyry-skarn W belt in South China.The deposit has a resource of 0.74×10^(6)t of WO_(3)accompanied by 0.4×10^(6)t Cu and 28000 t Mo and other useful components like Ga,making it one of the largest W deposits in the world.This paper is aimed to reveal the ore-controlling mechanisms of the Shimensi deposit,involving the role of the ore-related granites,the tectonic background for its formation,and the metallogenesis model.The systematic geological survey suggests multi-types of alteration are developed in the deposit,mainly including greisenization,potassic-alteration,sericitization,chloritization,and silicification.Drilling engineering data and mining works indicate that the Shimensi deposit consists of two main orebodies of I and II.Therein,the W resource has reached a supergiant scale,and the accompanied Cu,Mo,Au,Bi,Ga,and some other useful components are also of economic significance.The main ore-minerals consist of scheelite,wolframite and chalcopyrite.Disseminated mineralization is the dominant type of the W-Cu-Mo polymetallic orebodies,and mainly distributes in the inner and external contact zone that between the Neoproterozoic biotite granodiorite and the Yanshanian granites.The main orebody occurs at the external contact zone,and the pegmatoid crust near the inner contact zone is an important prospecting marker of the W mineralization.Of them,the disseminated W ores within the wall rock of the Neoproterozoic biotite granodiorite is a new mineralization type identified in this paper.Combining previous geochronological and isotopic data,we propose that the mineralization of the Shimensi deposit is closely related to the intruding of the Yanshanian porphyritic biotite granite and granite porphyry.Geochemical data suggest that the biotite granodiorite is rich in Ca and had provided a large amount of Ca for the precipitation of scheelite in this area.Thus,it is a favorable wall rock type for W mineralization.The Shimensi deposit belongs to granitic-type W polymetallic deposit related to post-magmatic hydrothermal,and the ore-forming fluid was initially derived from the Yanshanian magmas.

Geology and mineralization of the Tiegelongnan supergiant porphyry-epithermal Cu(Au, Ag) deposit(10 Mt) in western Tibet, China: A review

The Tiegelongnan Cu(Au,Ag)deposit in central Tibet contains more than 10 Mt of copper ranking 29 th in the world.It is characterized by typical porphyry-epithermal alteration and mineralization.In order to improve the understanding of porphyry-epithermal copper deposit in Tibet,new zircon U-Pb age and sulfur isotope data along with published data in the Tiegelongnan are presented to investigate the formation and preservation mechanism.Ore-related intrusive rocks in the Tiegelongnan including Early Cretaceous(about 120 Ma)granodiorite porphyry and diorite porphyry are closely related to the northward subduction of Bangongco-Nujiang ocean.Sulfur mainly comes from deep magma,and ore-forming fluid is affected by both magmatic and meteoric water.The metallogenic setting of Tiegelongnan is consistent with those of Andean porphyry copper deposits in South America.The cover of the Meiriqiecuo Formation volcanic rocks,Lhasa-Qiangtang collision and India-Eurasian collision have significance in the preservation and uplift of the deposit.The formation,preservation and discovery of Tiegelongnan play an important role in exploration of ancient porphyry-epithermal deposits in Tibet.

The characteristics, formation and exploration progress of the potash deposits on the Khorat Plateau, Thailand and Laos, Southeast Asia

The giant potash deposit on the Khorat Plateau is one of the most promising targets for exploitation of potassium salts.So far,many researches and geologic survey have been conducted on the giant potash deposits.Hence,it is necessary to make an overall review on the potash deposits.The potash deposit on the Khorat Plateau was formed during the Middle to Late Cretaceous,during which seawater was enriched in Ca2+and depleted in SO42-compared with those of modern seawater.In addition to seawater,continental water and hydrothermal fluids could have affected the evaporite basins.The seawater was probably derived from Tethys ocean,and the brine should have evaporated to some extent before entering into the basin systems based on the evidence of absence of carbonates and unproportionate sulphate compared with chloride salts.The paleo-climate during Middle to Late Cretaceous was characterized as high temperature and extremely arid environment,which is favourable for deposition of potassium-magnesium saline minerals.The major saline minerals are of anhydrite,halite,carnallite,sylvite and,tachyhydrite,with trace amounts of borates.The resources of the potash deposit on the Khorat Plateau could be approximately as much as 400×109 t of carnallite and 7×109 t of sylvite.The evaporite sequences have been deformed and altered by postdepositinal processes,including tectonic movements and chemical alteration.Salt domes were formed in the postdepositional processes.Based on the analyses of geophysical surveys and drilling projects,high-quality sylvinite ores are commonly found at the flanks of those salt domes due to incongruent dissolution of carnallite.The furure potential prospecting areas for the highquality sylvinite ores would be on the edges of the Khorat Plateau.

Melt extraction and mineralization: A case study from the Shuangjianzishan supergiant Ag-Pb-Zn deposit(208 Mt), Inner Mongolia, NE China

The supergiant Shuangjianzishan(SJZ) Ag-Pb-Zn deposit is in the southern segment of the Great Hinggan Range(SGHR), northeast China. Previous studies suggest the ore-forming material and fluid originated from the magmatic system, and the mineralization age was consistent with the diagenetic age. However,the relationship between granitic magmatism and mineralization is still unclear in the SJZ. In this study, CH-O-He-Ar and in-situ S-Pb isotope analyses were conducted to determine the sources of ore-forming fluids and metals, which were combined with geochemistry data of SJZ granitoids from previous studies to constrain the relationship between the magmatism and the mineralization. The C-H-O-He-Ar-S-Pb isotopic compositions suggested the SJZ ore-forming material and fluids were derived from a magmatic source, which has mixed a small amount of mantle-derived materials. In addition, the disseminated sulfide from the syenogranite has comparable S-Pb isotopic composition with the sulfide minerals from ore veins,suggesting that the generation of the SJZ ore-forming fluids has a close relationship with the syenogranite magmatism. Combining with the geochemical characters of the syenogranite, the authors proposed that the mantle-derived fingerprint of the SJZ ore-forming fluid might be caused by the parent magma of the syenogranite, which was derived from partial melting of the juvenile lower crust, and underwent the residual melts segregated from a crystal mush in the shallow magma reservoir. The extraction of the syenogranite parent magma further concentrated the fertilized fluids, which was crucial to mineralization of the SJZ Ag-Pb-Zn deposit.

Geology and mineralization of the Daheishan supergiant porphyry molybdenum deposit(1.65 Bt),Jilin,China:A review

The Daheishan supergiant porphyry molybdenum deposit(also referred to as the Daheishan deposit)is the second largest molybdenum deposit in Asia and ranks fifth among the top seven molybdenum deposits globally with total molybdenum reserves of 1.65 billion tons,an average molybdenum ore grade of 0.081%,and molybdenum resources of 1.09 million tons.The main ore body is housed in the granodiorite porphyry plutons and their surrounding inequigranular granodiorite plutons,with high-grade ores largely located in the ore-bearing granodiorite porphyries in the middle-upper part of the porphyry plutons.Specifically,it appears as an ore pipe with a large upper part and a small lower part,measuring about 1700 m in length and width,extending for about 500 m vertically,and covering an area of 2.3 km^(2).Mineralogically,the main ore body consists of molybdenite,chalcopyrite,and sphalerite horizontally from its center outward and exhibits molybdenite,azurite,and pyrite vertically from top to bottom.The primary ore minerals include pyrite and molybdenite,and the secondary ore minerals include sphalerite,chalcopyrite,tetrahedrite,and scheelite,with average grades of molybdenum,copper,sulfur,gallium,and rhenium being 0.081%,0.033%,1.67%,0.001%,and 0.0012%,respectively.The ore-forming fluids of the Daheishan deposit originated as the CO_(2)-H_(2)O-NaCl multiphase magmatic fluid system,rich in CO_(2)and bearing minor amounts of CH4,N2,and H2S,and later mixed with meteoric precipitation.In various mineralization stages,the ore-forming fluids had homogenization temperatures of>420℃‒400℃,360℃‒350℃,340℃‒230℃,220℃‒210℃,and 180℃‒160℃and salinities of>41.05%‒9.8%NaCleqv,38.16%‒4.48%NaCleqv,35.78%‒4.49%NaCleqv,7.43%NaCleqv,and 7.8%‒9.5%NaCleqv,respectively.The mineralization of the Daheishan deposit occurred at 186‒167 Ma.The granites closely related to the mineralization include granodiorites(granodiorite porphyries)and monzogranites(monzogranite porphyries),which were mineralized after magmatic evolution(189‒167 Ma).Moreover,these mineralization-related granites exhibit low initial strontium content and high initial neodymium content,indicating that these granites underwent crust-mantle mixing.The Daheishan deposit formed during the Early-Middle Jurassic,during which basaltic magma underplating induced the lower-crust melting,leading to the formation of magma chambers.After the fractional crystallization of magmas,ore-bearing fluids formed.As the temperature and pressure decreased,the ore-bearing fluids boiled drops while ascending,leading to massive unloading of metal elements.Consequently,brecciated and veinlet-disseminated ore bodies formed.

Mineralization of the Liwu large-scale stratiform copper deposits in Sichuan Province, China: Constraints from fluid inclusions

The Liwu stratiform copper deposit is located in the northwestern Jianglang dome,western China.Current studies mainly focus on the genetic type and mineralization of this deposit.Detailed fluid inclusion characteristics of metallogenic period quartz veins were studied to reveal the ore-forming fluid features.Laser Raman analysis indicates that the ore-forming fluids is a H_(2)O-NaCl-CH_(4)(-CO_(2))system.Fluid inclusions microthermometry shows a homogenization temperature of 181-375°C and a salinity of 5.26%-16.99%for the disseminated-banded Cu-Zn mineralization;but a homogenization temperature of 142-343°C and a salinity of 5.41%-21.19%for the massive-veined Cu-Zn mineralization.These features suggest a medium-high temperature and a medium salinity for the ore-forming fluids.H-O isotopic data indicates that the ore-forming fluids were mainly from the metamorphic and magmatic water,plus minor formation water.And sulfur isotopic data indicates that sulfur was mainly derived from the formation and magmatic rocks.Metallogenesis of the disseminated-banded mineralization was mainly correlated with fluid mixing and water-rock reaction;whereas that of the massive-veined mineralization was mainly correlated with fluid boiling.The genetic type of the deposit is a medium-high temperature hydrothermal deposit related to magmatism and controlled by shear zones.This study is beneficial to understand the stratiform copper deposit.

Classification,metallogenesis and exploration of silver deposits in Daxing’anling of Inner Mongolia and its adjacent areas

By the end of 2020,83 silver deposits(or ore occurrences),including four super-large-scale deposits,nine large-scale deposits,33 medium-scale deposits and 37 small-scale deposits or ore occurrences,have been proved.The amount of silver metal exceeds 86000 t with average grade of 100 g/t,which makes Daxing’anling region one of the the most important silver ore belt in China.However,the metallogenic characteristics and metallogenesis need to be clarified.The silver deposits in the study area are classified into three main types,which are magmatic hydrothermal vein type,continental volcano-subvolcanic type and skarn type,respectively.The supergiant deposits include the Shuangjianzishan deposit(silver metal amount of 15214 t with average grade of 138 g/t),the Baiyinchagandongshan deposit(silver metal amount of 9446 t with average grade of 187 g/t),the Huaobaote deposit(silver metal amount of 6852 t with average grade of 170 g/t),and the Fuxingtun deposit(silver metal amount of 5240 t with average grade of 196 g/t).The silver deposits are mainly distributed in the central and south of the Daxing’anling area,and mainly formed in the Yanshanian period.The silver polymetallic deposits in the Daxinganling area are significantly controlled by regional faults and the junction zone of volcanic rock basins and their margins.The north-east trending deep faults are the most important ore-controlling structures in this area.The distribution of silver polymetallic deposits along the main faults is obvious,and the intersection area of multiple groups of faults often form important mine catchments.The Permian is the most important ore-bearing formation in this area,but some important silver polymetallic deposits occur in Mesozoic volcanic basins or pre-Mesozoic strata.The magmatic rocks related to mineralization are mainly intermediate acidic or acidic intrusions,intermediate acidic lavas,pyroclastic rocks,and small intrusions of ultra-shallow or shallow facies of the Yanshanian Period.The mineralization element combination is mainly determined by the elemental geochemical background of surrounding rocks or source layers.In addition,the type of deposit,the distance from the mineralization center,and the degree of differentiation of ore-forming rock mass are also important influence factors.The article analyzes the prospecting prospects of each silver deposit type in the study area,discusses the relationship between mineralization center and deep prospecting,and proposes that porphyry silver deposits should be paid attention to.In the prospecting and exploration of silver deposits,comprehensive evaluation and multi-target prospecting need to be strengthened because silver can coexist or be associated with a variety of metals.

Classification and mineralization of global lithium deposits and lithium extraction technologies for exogenetic lithium deposits

A reasonable classification of deposits holds great significance for identifying prospecting targets and deploying exploration. The world ’s keen demand for lithium resources has expedited the discovery of numerous novel lithium resources. Given the presence of varied classification criteria for lithium resources presently, this study further ascertained and classified the lithium resources according to their occurrence modes, obtaining 10 types and 5 subtypes of lithium deposits(resources) based on endogenetic and exogenetic factors. As indicated by surveys of Cenozoic exogenetic lithium deposits in China and abroad,the formation and distribution of the deposits are primarily determined by plate collision zones, their primary material sources are linked to the anatectic magmas in the deep oceanic crust, and they were formed primarily during the Miocene and Late Paleogene. The researchers ascertained that these deposits,especially those of the salt lake, geothermal, and volcanic deposit types, are formed by unique slightly acidic magmas, tend to migrate and accumulate toward low-lying areas, and display supernormal enrichment. However, the material sources of lithium deposits(resources) of the Neopaleozoic clay subtype and the deep brine type are yet to be further identified. Given the various types and complex origins of lithium deposits(resources), which were formed due to the interactions of multiple spheres, it is recommended that the mineralization of exogenetic lithium deposits(resources) be investigated by integrating tectono-geochemistry, paleoatmospheric circulation, and salinology. So far, industrialized lithium extraction is primarily achieved in lithium deposits of the salt lake, clay, and hard rock types. The lithium extraction employs different processes, with lithium extraction from salt lake-type lithium deposits proving the most energy-saving and cost-effective.