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.

Metallogenic model of the Shuangjianzishan Ag-Pb-Zn district,Northeast China:Revealed from integrated geophysical investigation

The Shuangjianzishan deposit in Inner Mongolia is a typical Ag-Pb-Zn deposit of the southern Great Xing’an Range.Proven reserves of Ag,Pb,and Zn in this deposit have reached the scale of super-large deposits,with favorable metallogenic conditions,strong prospecting signs,and high metallogenic potential.This paper reports a study involving integrated geophysical methods,including controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotelluric,gravity,magnetic,and shallow-seismic-reflection methods,to determine the spatial distribution of ore-controlling structures and subsurface intrusive rock for a depth range of<2000 m in the Shuangjianzishan ore district.The objective of this study is to construct a metallogenic model of the ore district and provide a scientific basis for the exploration of similar deposits in the deep and surrounding regions.We used three-dimensional inversion for controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotelluric data based on the limited memory quasi-Newton algorithm,and three-dimensional physical-property inversion for the gravity and magnetic data to obtain information about the subsurface distribution of ore-controlling structures and intrusive rocks.Under seismic reflection results,regional geology,petrophysical properties,and borehole information,the geophysical investigation shows that the Dashizhai group,which contains the main ore-bearing strata in the ore district,is distributed within a depth range of<1239 m,and is thick in the Xinglongshan ore block and the eastern part of the Shuangjianzishan ore block.The mineralization is spatially associated with a fault system characterized by NE-,NW-,and N-trending faults.The magnetic and electrical models identify large,deep bodies of intrusive rock that are inferred to have been involved in mineralization,with local shallow emplacement of some intrusions.Combining the subsurface spatial distributions of ore-bearing strata,ore-controlling faults,and intrusive rock,we propose two different metallogenic models for the Shuangjianzishan ore district,which provide a scientific basis for further prospecting in the deep regions of the ore district and surrounding areas.

内蒙古索家沟玄武岩覆盖区银铅锌矿地质特征及找矿标志

索家沟银铅锌矿床位于华北陆块北缘阴山隆起东部。银铅锌矿体主要赋存于玄武岩覆盖层下北西向断裂构造带及燕山晚期酸性岩体上侵形成的张裂隙内。据现有钻探工程初步估算银金属量为1 404 t(大型);铅+锌28万t(中型)。在分析索家沟银铅锌矿成矿地质背景、矿体地质特征及物探异常特征的基础上,提出了该矿与燕山期酸性火山-侵入活动有关,属中低温热液脉状充填型银铅锌矿床,并进一步指出了找矿标志。

内蒙古索家沟银多金属矿深部找矿预测

索家沟银多金属矿床是近年来在内蒙古中南部发现的大型隐伏银多金属矿床,银多金属矿体主要赋存于燕山期酸性侵入岩体附近早期构造及同期张裂隙中,在岩体上部也发育矿化,属岩浆热液成因。为预测矿床深部找矿前景,笔者对矿床激电极化率异常、钻孔原生晕及深部地质体矿化特征进行研究。矿床频谱激电测量显示,激电极化率异常往深部未封闭且具较大延伸趋势;原生晕研究结果表明矿体叠加晕特征明显,局部出现反向分带特征,表明具有多阶段成矿的特征;同时Ag、Pb、Zn、Cu、Au、W、Sn等元素异常向深部均呈现高强度延伸,指示深部具备较好找矿潜力,由此提出深部存在厚大盲矿体或多金属矿脉群。通过对深部已控制岩体及Au、Cu矿化特征分析,提出深部具备寻找斑岩型铜金钨(钼)系列矿产的潜力。根据当前矿床地物化特征,认为索家沟银多金属矿床具有斑岩型成矿系统的特征,提出在岩体外围及浅部-中深部继续寻找银铅锌矿,深部寻找金铜钨(钼)矿的找矿方向,为该矿区或同类型区域进一步找矿提供借鉴。

内蒙古索家沟银铅锌矿矿石特征及矿床成因分析

索家沟银铅锌矿为内蒙古乌兰察布地区一新发现的矿床,据现有钻探工程初步估算银金属量1404 t,平均品位为232.99×10^-6;铅+锌的金属量28万吨,平均品位为4.70×10^-2。银达到大型规模,铅+锌达中型规模。对该矿床的矿石样品进行了光薄片鉴定及化学全分析、光谱全分析、组合分析测试等研究工作。研究表明:矿床的有用元素为Ag,共(伴)生Pb、Zn;银与方铅矿、闪锌矿密切相关,多分布于闪锌矿及方铅矿间隙内,少部分包裹在方铅矿、石英中;成矿可分为两期(热液成矿期与表生期)。矿床成因为与燕山期酸性火山-侵入活动有关的中低温热液脉状充填型矿床。

Factors Controlling Deposition of Metallic Minerals in the Meng’entaolegai Ag-Pb-Zn Deposit, Inner Mongolia, China: Evidence from Fluid Inclusions, Isotope Systematics, and Thermodynamic Model

The Meng’entaolegai Ag-Pb-Zn vein-type deposit in Inner Mongolia,NE China is hosted in biotite/muscovite granite.This deposit includes the western(Zn-rich,deepest),middle(Zn-Pb rich)and eastern(Pb-Ag-rich,shallowest)ore-blocks.To better understand the metallogenic processes in ore district,we have undertaken a series of studies including fluid inclusion microthermometry,H-O-S-Pb isotope compositions and thermodynamic modeling.Based on fluid inclusion petrography,microthermometry results and HO isotope compositions,the ore-forming H2O-NaCl fluid inclusions are characterized by medium temperature and medium salinity.And two kinds of fluid processes(boiling in western and middle ore-block and fluid mixing in the eastern ore-block)were identified to explain the ore fluid evolution.More importantly,log ?O2-pH diagrams of δ^34S contours with the stability fields of Fe-and Cu-,Zn-,Pb-,and Ag-bearing minerals were constructed to restore the physicochemical conditions of ore-forming fluid in the western(270℃ and 80 bars),middle(250℃ and 70 bars),and eastern(230℃ and 50 bars)ore-blocks.As a result,the ore-forming conditions in the western and middle ore-block were similar.In the eastern ore-block,the fluids may have changed from acidic,S-poor and δ^34S(ΣS)≈2.8 to neutral,S-richer and δ^34S(ΣS)≈0.5,which imply that neutral S-rich meteoric water was mixed with the magmatic fluid.Meanwhile,the activity of Ag+was estimated to be about 10 ppm–9 ppm in the middle ore-block,but in the eastern ore-block it was about^10 ppm–12 ppm.We proposed that the key for Ag ore deposition was likely to be neutralization led by fluid mixing.

Geology,Mineralogy,and Isotopic Characteristics of the Zhonghe Ag-Pb-Zn Deposit,Western Henan Province,Central China

Located in Luoning County,western Henan Province,Central China,the Zhonghe Ag-Pb-Zn ore field,is a newly discovered deposit in the Xiaoshan District.Ore bodies controlled by NNW Faults occur as veins within the Paleoproterozoic Xiong’er Group or the Early Cretaceous porphyritic granite.Given that the Zhonghe deposit has been covered by thick Quaternary sediments,the paragenetic mineral assemblage was determined mainly by microscopic observations,including the quartzsiderite-pyrite alteration (StageⅠ),polymetallic sulfide precipitation (StageⅡ),silver mineralization(Stage Ⅲ),and quartz-carbonate stage (StageⅣ).The host minerals for silver are diverse,such as freibergite,pyrargyrite,polybasite,argyrodite,canfieldite,argentite,and native silver,whereas those for Pb and Zn are galena and sphalerite,respectively.In order to constrain the ore-forming components of the Zhonghe deposit,a combined in-situ analysis was conducted on represented sulfides from StageⅡand Stage Ⅲ.In-situ δ^(34)S values of the analyzed sulfides,including the pyrite,chalcopyrite,sphalerite,and galena,display a relatively narrow range (0.90‰-5.0‰),which is close to magmatic sulfur source.The ^(206)Pb/^(204)Pb and^(207)Pb/^(204)Pb ratios show a narrow range (17.140-17.360 and 15.385-15.490),whereas the ^(208)Pb/^(204)Pb ratios exhibit a broad variation (36.601-37.943),indicating a contamination of the Xiong’er Group.Synthesis of geochronological and geochemical data from the Xiaoshan District,we contend that the ore-forming materials of the Zhonghe Ag-Pb-Zn deposit are originated from the lower crust,which has presumably been influenced by the large-scale lithospheric delamination of the eastern North China Craton during the Early Cretaceous.In consideration of the geological setting,mineralogy,and geochemical compositions,we suggest that the Zhonghe Ag-Pb-Zn deposit is characterized as intermediate sulfidation type epithermal deposit,and may be a potential exploration target for porphyry Mo-Cu deposits.

内蒙古索家沟银铅锌矿床伴生稀散金属镉、镓的富集特征研究

内蒙古索家沟银铅锌矿床是近年来在内蒙古中部玄武岩覆盖区发现的隐伏大型矿床,估算银金属量1400t,铅+锌金属量28万吨,矿床中富含Cd、Ga等稀散金属,且达到了综合利用工业价值要求。通过对Cd、Ga含量与主成矿元素Ag、Pb、Zn含量进行相关性分析及纵向不同高程含量对比,表明矿石中Ga与Zn的相关活跃性要高于Pb、Ag,Cd与Zn表现出强烈的正相关性,即Zn与Cd、Ga具有较好的共生关系;总体上矿床中稀散金属Cd、Ga分布相对均匀,在1200m高程以下硫化矿中,呈现稳定富集的特征,显示出较好的稀散金属镉、镓资源前景。本次研究对矿床进一步勘查及将来矿石选冶回收Cd、Ga具有指导意义,同时为同区域类似矿床稀散金属研究提供参考,并引起周边类似矿山对于稀散金属元素回收利用的重视。

Fluid-rock interactions leading to the formation of the epithermal Ag-Pb-Zn veins:A perspective of thermodynamic modeling

Although vein-type silver-lead-zinc ore deposits have been extensively studied,the factors controlling their formation are still poorly understood and their genesis is a matter of ongoing debate.In this contribution,I present new mineralogical data and the results of thermodynamic modeling that constrain the conditions of metal transport and deposition for the Aerhada epithermal Pb-Zn-Ag deposit(reserves of>1,000 t Ag@58 g/t and 1.0 Mt Pb+Zn@5.2%)in NE China.Three primary paragenetic stages have been identified,the second of which(Stage II)is the main base metal and silver mineralization.Freibergite,argentite,pyrargyrite,and canfieldite are the main Ag-bearing minerals and are spatially associated with an alteration assemblage of quartz-muscovite±chlorite±epidote.Dissolution textures and evidence of compositional heterogeneity for freibergite suggest that its decomposition may have redistributed the Ag and contributed in part to the high Ag grade ores in the deposit.Thermodynamic calculations indicate that there was extensive silver ore deposition from a strongly reducing(e.g.,∆log fO_(2)(HM)of<-8.6 to-2.4)and nearly neutral to weakly alkaline(e.g.,pH of 5.5 to 6.8)aqueous fluid at temperatures between 220℃ and 170℃.These calculations reveal that a reduction in fO_(2)and decreasing temperature,both as a result of fluid-rock interactions,were the key factors leading to silver and base metal mineral deposition.Further path modeling showed that the sole evolution of a magmatic-derived fluid is capable of forming the large Ag-Pb-Zn veins via fluid-rock interactions,which is contrary to the conclusions of some other studies that the mixture of an externally derived fluid is required to explain their formation.The genetic model for Ag-Pb-Zn ore formation developed in this study is applicable to other polymetallic vein-type deposits in comparable geological settings elsewhere.