In Situ Analyses of Trace Elements, U–Pb and Lu–Hf Isotopes in Zircons from the Tongshankou Granodiorite Porphyry in Southeast Hubei Province, Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt, China

The Tongshankou Cu-Mo deposit, located in southeast Hubei province, is a typical skarn–porphyry type ore deposit closely related to the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry, characterized by a high Sr/Y ratio.Detailed in situ analyses of the trace elements and U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes in zircons from the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry were performed.Scarcely any inherited zircons were observed, and the analyzed zircons yielded highly concordant results with a weighted mean 206Pb/238 U age of 143.5 ± 0.45 Ma（n=20, mean square weighted deviation was 0.75）, which was interpreted to represent the crystallization age of the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry.The chondrite-normalized rare-earth element pattern was characterized by a slope that steeply rises from the light-group rare-earth elements（LREE） to the heavy-group rare-earth elements（HREE） with a positive Ce-anomaly and inconspicuous Eu-anomaly, which was coincident with the pattern of the zircons from the Chuquicamata West porphyry, Chile.The analyzed zircons also had relatively low 176Hf/177 Hf ratios of 0.282526–0.282604.Assuming t=143 Ma, the corresponding calculated initial Hf isotope compositions（εHf（t）） ranged from-5.6 to-2.9.The results of the in situ analysis of trace elements and U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopes in zircons from the Tongshankou granodiorite porphyry suggest that a deep-seated process involving a thickened-crust/enriched-mantle interaction may play an important role in the generation of high Sr/Y-ratio magma and potentially in the generation of porphyry Cu-Mo systems.

Three-dimensional P-wave Velocity Structure Modelling of the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt: Crustal Architecture and Metallogenic Implications

In this study,we compiled and analyzed 69310 P-wave travel-time data from 6639 earthquake events.These events(M≥2.0)occurred from 1980 s to June 2019 and were recorded at 319 seismic stations(Chinese Earthquake Networks Center)in the study area.We adopted the double-difference seismic tomographic method(tomo DD)to invert the 3-D P-wave velocity structure and constrain the crust-upper mantle architecture of the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt(MLYB).A 1-D initial model extracted from wide-angle seismic profiles was used in the seismic tomography,which greatly reduced the inversion residual.Our results indicate that reliable velocity structure of th e uppermost mantle can be obtained when Pn is involved in the tomography.Our results show that:(1)the pattern of the uppermost mantle velocity structure corresponds well with the geological partitioning:a nearly E-W-trending low-velocity zone is present beneath the Dabie Orogen,in contrast to the mainly NE-trending low-velocity anomalies beneath the Jiangnan Orogen.They suggest the presence of thickened lower crust beneath the orogens in the study area.In contrast,the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks are characterized by relatively high-velocity anomalies;(2)both the ultra-high-pressure(UHP)metamorphic rocks in the Dabie Orogen and the low-pressure metamorphic rocks in the Zhangbaling dome are characterized by high-velocity anomalies.The upper crust in the Dabie Orogen is characterized by a low-velocity belt,sandwiched between two high velocity zones in a horizontal direction,with discontinuous low-velocity layers in the middle crust.The keel of the Dabie Orogen is mainly preserved beneath its northern section.We infer that the lower crustal delamination may have mainly occurred in the southern Dabie Orogen,which caused the mantle upwelling responsible for the formation of the granitic magmas emplaced in the middle crust as the low-velocity layers observed there.Continuous deep-level compression likely squeezed the granitic magma upward to intrude the upper crustal UHP metamorphic rocks,forming the'sandwich'velocity structure there;(3)high-velocity updoming is widespread in the crust-mantle transition zone beneath the MLYB.From the Anqing-Guichi ore field northeastward to the Luzong,Tongling,Ningwu and Ningzhen orefields,high-velocity anomalies in the crust-mantle transition zone increase rapidly in size and are widely distributed.The updoming also exists in the crust-mantle transition zone beneath the Jiurui and Edongnan orefields,but the high-velocity anomalies are mainly stellate distributed.The updoming high-velocity zone beneath the MLYB generally extends from the crust-mantle transition zone to the middle crust,different from the velocity structure in the upper crust.The upper crust beneath the Early Cretaceous extension-related Luzong and Ningwu volcanic basins is characterized by high velocity zones,in contrast to the low velocity anomalies beneath the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous compression-related Tongling ore field.The MLYB may have undergone a compressive-to-extensional transition during the Yanshanian(Jurassic-Cretaceous)period,during which extensive magmatism occurred.The near mantle-crustal boundary updoming was likely caused by asthenospheric underplating at the base of the lower crust.The magmas may have ascended through major crustal faults,undergoing AFC(assimilation and fractional crystallization)processes,became emplaced in the fault-bounded basins or Paleozoic sequences,eventually forming the many Cu-Fe polymetallic deposits there.

Molybdenite Re-Os,titanite and garnet U-Pb dating of the Magushan skarn Cu-Mo deposit,Xuancheng district,Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt

The Magushan skarn Cu-Mo deposit is a representative example of the skarn mineralization occurring within the Xuancheng ore district of the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt of eastern China.The precise age of an ore deposit is important for understanding the timing of mineralization relative to other geological events in a region and to fully place the formation of a mineral deposit within the geological context of other processes that occur within the study area.Here,we present new molybdenite Re-Os and titanite and andradite garnet U-Pb ages for the Magushan deposit and use these data to outline possible approaches for identifying genetic relationships in geologically complex areas.The spatial and paragenetic relationships between the intrusions,alteration,and mineralization within the study area indicates that the formation of the Magushan deposit is genetically associated with the porphyritic granodiorite.However,this is not always the case,as some areas contain complexly zoned plutons with multiple phases of intrusion or mineralization may be distal from or may not have any clear spatial relationship to a pluton.This means that it may not be possible to determine whether the mineralization formed as a result of single or multiple magmatic/hydrothermal events.As such,the approaches presented in this study provide an approach that allows the identification of any geochronological relationships between mineralization and intrusive events in areas more complex than the study area.Previously published zircon U-Pb data for the mineralization-related porphyritic granodiorite in this area yielded an age of 134.2±1.2 Ma(MSWD=1.4)whereas the Re-Os dating of molybdenite from the study area yielded an isochron age of 137.7±2.5 Ma(MSWD=0.43).The timing of the mineralizing event in the study area was further examined by the dating of magmatic accessory titanite and skarn-related andradite garnet,yielding U-Pb ages of 136.3±2.5 Ma(MSWD=3.2)and 135.9±2.7 Ma(MSWD=2.5),respectively.The dating of magmatic and hydrothermal activity within the Magushan area yields ages around 136 Ma,strongly suggesting that the mineralization in this area formed as a result of the emplacement of the intrusion.The dates presented in this study also provide the first indication of the timing of mineralization within the Xuancheng district.providing evidence of a close genetic relationship between the formation of the mineralization within the Xuancheng district and the Early Cretaceous magmatism that occurred in this area.This in turn suggests that other Early Cretaceous intrusive rocks within this region are likely to be associated with mineralization and should be considered highly prospective for future mineral exploration.This study also indicates that the dating of garnet and titanite can also provide reliable geochronological data and evidence of the timing of mineralization and magmatism,respectively,in areas lacking other dateable minerals(e.g.,molybdenite)or where the relationship between mineralization and magmatism is unclear,for example in areas with multiple stages of magmatism,with complexly zoned plutons,and with distal skarn mineralization.

Cathodoluminescence and Trace Element Composition of Scheelite from the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt(MLYB): Implications for Mineralization and Exploration

The Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt(MLYB)is known to contain abundant copper and iron porphyry-skarn deposits,with an increasing number of tungsten deposits and scheelite in Fe-Cu deposits being discovered in the MLYB during recent decades.The ore genesis of the newly-discovered tungsten mineralization in the MLYB is poorly understood.We investigate four sets of scheelite samples from tungsten,iron and copper deposits,using CL imaging and LA-ICP-MS techniques to reveal internal zonation patterns and trace element compositions.The REE distribution patterns of four studied deposits show varying degrees of LREE enrichment with negative Eu anomalies.The oxygen fugacity of ore-forming fluid increased in Donggushan,while the oxygen fugacity of ore-forming fluid decreased in Ruanjiawan,Guilinzheng and Gaojiabang.The scheelites from the Donggushan,Ruanjiawan,Guilinzheng and Gaojiabang deposits show enrichment in LREEs and HFSE,with Nb/La ratios ranging from 1.217 to 52.455,indicating that the four tungsten deposits are enriched in the volatile fluorine.A plot of(La/Lu)N versus Mo/δEu can be used to distinguish quartz vein type,porphyry and skarn tungsten deposits.This study demonstrates that scheelite grains can be used to infer tungsten mineralization and are effective in identifying magmatic types of tungsten deposits in prospective mining sites.

A 3D Investigation of Geological Structure and Its Relationship to Mineralization in the Nanling-Xuancheng Ore District,Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt,China

The Nanling-Xuancheng ore region of Anhui Province is located in the Middle-Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt.Insufficient exploration and research have been carried out in this newly defined ore district,although the Chating large porphyry Cu-Au deposit and a few middle-sized skarntype Cu polymetallic deposits have been discovered.In this study,we carried out high-resolution seismic reflection,magnetotelluric,gravity,and magnetic investigations,and constructed the 3 D geological structure of the uppermost crust in a depth range of 0-5 km using a comprehensive inversion of the new data constrained by previous deep-drilling data.We hence proposed some new insights to understand the mineralization processes of this district.A system of alternating ridges and valleys is suggested as the major structure pattern,composed of“two-layer structure”of the basins and“three-layer structure”of anticlines.Moreover,a conjugated fault system and its distribution features are revealed in our models,including the Jiangnan fault,Zhouwang fault,and Kunshan thrust nappe.The Jiangnan and Kunshan faults are suggested to have controlled the diagenesis and metallogenesis.Two deep concealed plutons located in Chating and Magushan are found,forming the Mesozoic diorite-felsic intrusions.These intrusions are believed to be the causes of hydrothermal deposits such as the Chating deposit and the Magushan deposit.

Mineralization,Geochemistry and Zircon U-Pb Ages of the Paodaoling Porphyry Gold Deposit in the Guichi Region,Lower Yangtze Metallogenic Belt,Eastern China

The newly discovered Paodaoling porphyry Au deposit from the Guichi region, Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt （LYRB）, contains 〉35 tons of Au at an average grade of -1.7 g/t. It is a porphyry ＇Au-only＇ deposit, as revealed by current exploration in the depths, mostly above -400 m, which is quite uncommon among coeval porphyry mineralization along the LYRB. Additionally, there are also Cu-Au bearing porphyries and barren alkaline granitoids in the Paodaoling district. Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of the Cu-Au-bearing porphyries yield an age of 141-140 Ma, falling within the main magmatic stage of the LYRB, whereas the barren granites give an age of 125-120 Ma, coeval with the regional A- type granites. The Cu-Au-bearing porphyries are LILE-, LREE-enriched and HFSE-depleted, typical of arc magmatic affinities. The barren granites are HFSE-enriched, with lower LREE/HREE ratios and pronounced negative Eu anomalies. The Cu-Au-bearing porphyries in the Paodaoling district have high oxygen fugacities and high water content. Pyrite sulfur isotopes of the Paodaoling gold deposit indicate a magmatic-sedimentary mixed source for the ore-forming fluids. Based on the alteration and poly-metal zonation of the deepest exploration drill hole from the Paodaoling Au deposit, we propose that Cu ore bodies could lie at depth beneath the current Au ore bodies. The magmatism and associated Cu-Au mineralization of the Paodaoling district are likely to have formed in a subduction setting, during slab rollback of the paleo-Pacific plate.

Mineral Deposit Model of Cu-Fe-Au Skarn System in the Edongnan Region, Eastern China

Cu and Fe skarns are the world's most abundant and largest skarn type deposits,especially in China,and Au-rich skarn deposits have received much attention in the past two decades and yet there are few papers focused on schematic mineral deposit models of Cu-Fe-Au skarn systems.Three types of Au-rich deposits are recognized in the Edongnan region,Middle-Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt:~140 Ma Cu-Au and Au-Cu skarn deposits and distal Au-Tl deposits.137-148 Ma Cu-Fe and 130-133 Ma Fe skarn deposits are recognized in the Edongnan region.The Cu-Fe skarn deposits have a greater contribution of mantle components than the Fe skarn deposits,and the hydrothermal fluids responsible for formation of the Fe skarn deposits involved a greater contribution from evaporitic sedimentary rocks compared to Cu-Fe skarn deposits.The carbonate-hosted Au-Tl deposits in the Edongnan region are interpreted as distal products of Cu-Au skarn mineralization.A new schematic mineral deposit model of the Cu-Fe-Au skarn system is proposed to illustrate the relationship between the Cu-Fe-Au skarn mineralization,the evaporitic sedimentary rocks,and distal Au-Tl deposits.This model has important implications for the exploration for carbonate-hosted Au-Tl deposits in the more distal parts of Cu-Au skarn systems,and Fe skarn deposits with the occurrence of gypsum-bearing host sedimentary rocks in the MLYRB,and possibly elsewhere.