Geochemical Tracing of Ore-forming Material Sources of Carlin-type Gold Deposits in the Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi Triangle Area --A Case Study of the Application of the Combined Silicon Isotopes Geochemistry and Siliceous Cathodoluminescence Analysis

Abstract This paper deals with characteristics of silicon isotope compositions and siliceous cathodoluminescence of host rocks, ores and hydrothermal silicified quartz of the Carlin-type ore deposits in the Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi triangle area. The study shows that primary silicified quartz is nonluminescent but quartz in host rocks and secondary silicified quartz are luminescent by the action of cathode rays. Correspondingly, silicon isotope compositions of host rocks, ores and hydro6thermal quartz veins are clearly distinguished. In strata from the Middle Triassic to the “Dachang” host bed, δ30Si of the host rocks ranges from 0.0% ?0.3%, while that of primary ore-forming silicified fluids from ?0.1% to ?0.4%; in the Upper Permian and Lower Carboniferous strata and Indosinian diabase host beds, δ30Si of the host rocks is from ?0.1% to ?0.2% and that of the primary silicified quartz veins from 0.3 % ?0.5 %. This pattern demonstrates the following geochemical mineralization process, primary ore-forming siliceous fluids migrated upwards quickly along the main passages of deep-seated faults from mantle to crust and entered secondary faults where gold deposits were eventually formed as a result of permeation and replacement of the siliceous ore-forming fluids into different ore-bearing strata. This gives important evidence for the fact that ore-forming fluids of this type of gold deposits were mainly derived from upper mantle differentiation and shows good prospects for deep gold deposits and geochemical background for large and superlarge gold deposits.

On the Mechanism of Transformation fromPrimary Ores into Oxidized Ores in FinelyDisseminated Gold Deposits

This paper, taking the finely disseminated gold deposits in southwestern Guizhou and northwestern Guangxi as examples, discusses the difference between the occurrence of primary ores and that of oxidized ores, analyzes the occurrence mechanism in terms of crystallochemistry and geochemistry, and especially studies the chemical model for supergene leaching transformation of clay minerals in the two types of ores. This study proposes a new idea for dressing and smelting technology for primary gold ores.

Super-Enrichment of Dispersed Elements and Associated Ore Deposits

Dispersed elements do not always occur as associated elements in the ore deposits of other elements. Instead, they can constitute independent ore deposits. The focus of this paper is placed on the mechanism of super-enrichment of the four dispersed elements Tl, Ge, Se, and Te under favorable geological conditions, where their enrichment coefficients are so high that their abundances can reach n×10+3-n×10+4, sometimes even up to n×10+6 times (e.g. Te) those of the crust. As a result, they can form their independent ore deposits. Studies have shown that such independent ore deposits are mostly distributed in the southwestern part of China, most of which belong to low-temperature ore deposits, ranging in age from Yanshanian to Himalayan (Cretaceous to Cenozoic), with a significant time gap with the host strata. Moreover, this paper also deals with the existing forms (as independent minerals, occurring isomorphously and being adsorbed) of the dispersed elements in those independent ore deposits. The discovery of independent ore deposits of dispersed elements is a great breakthrough in the study of dispersed element metallogenesis.

Characteristics and origin of ore-forming fluids of Jinchangqing gold (copper) ore deposit (s) in Xiangyun, Yunnan Province

On the basis of results of the studies of primary fluid inclusions, and the hydrogen and oxygen isotope data, the authors concluded that the early-stage ore-forming fluid from the Jinchangqing gold (copper) ore deposit is a kind of sulfate type hot brine characterized by medium temperature and salinity, genetically related to the late-stage ore-forming fluid derived from an acidic and more reductive environment. However, the late-stage ore-forming fluid is a sort of low temperature and low salinity chloride-type hot brine which originated from a lower pressure, acidic and more oxidative environment. In general, the ore fluids were derived from the late-stage, or largely from the early-stage groundwater-derived meteoric water, which has a 12‰-17‰ heavier oxygen isotopic composition than the original rain water (δ{}+{18}O={-15.3‰}), and were formed during gold mineralization as a product of oxygen isotope exchange during the reaction between ore-forming fluid and wall rocks under a lower water/rock ratio condition.

Analysis of Organic Inclusions Using Fluorescence Microscopy and Micro-FT. IR Techniques

Organic inclusions from the Shahejie Formation of the Eogene period in the Bohai Gulf Basin, eastern China, were examined using micro\|FT. IR and fluorescence microscopy in addition to the measurement of their homogenization temperatures (T\-h). Two populations of organic inclusions were recognized, the primary and the secondary organic inclusions. The primary organic inclusions contain organic materials with relatively long alkyl chains (the carbon atom number is 15 to 17), whereas the secondary organic inclusions contain a certain amount of H\-2S besides organic materials which have relatively short alkyl chains with the carbon atom number of 5 to 6. The T\-h values of the primary organic inclusions are within the range of 87-91℃, lower than those of the secondary organic inclusions (T\-h=98-105℃), suggesting that the primary organic inclusions experienced a lower degree of thermal evolution than the secondary inclusions. This inference is consistent with the fluorescence spectroscopic characteristics and parameters (T\-\{max\}, Q values) of the organic inclusions. Data from the organic inclusions together with the petroleum geology setting revealed that the primary inclusions resulted from the migration of hydrocarbons generated within the strata they are hosted, whereas the secondary organic inclusions were trapped in the process of secondary hydrocarbons expelled out of the source rocks to the locations where they were accumulated. The thermal properties of the organic inclusions are consistent with the maturation of the oil generated from the Shahejie Formation. The abundance of the organic inclusions and their characteristics indicate that the member Es3 of the Shahejie Formation is highly potential for oil accumulation. The results could provide essential clues to petroleum exploration in the Bohai Gulf Basin.

Research on the Eco-Geochemical Effects of Black Shales in Pingli County, Shaanxi

This paper presents the results of eco-geochemical research on black rock series enriched in metallic elements in Pingli County, Shaanxi Province, which lies at the northern margin of the Yangtze Platform. There is a suite of bone coal-bearing black carbonaceous rocks in the Cambrian Donghe Formation throughout the region. Soils in Pingli contain high metallic elements derived from the bone coal and carbonaceous rocks. Edible plants growing in the soils contain high Se, Cu and Mo. Two case studies are documented. One is a black shale area with bone coal and Se enrichment, and the other is a black shale area with bone coal mine and copper mineralization. Eco-geochemical effects of metallic element-rich black shales on plants are reported in this paper.

Sedimentary-volcanic tuffs formed during the early Middle Triassic volcanic event in Guizhou Province and their stratigraphic significance

The sedimentary-volcanic tuff (locally called “green-bean rock”) formed during the early Middle Triassic volcanic event in Guizhou Province is characterized as being thin, stable, widespread, short in forming time and predominantly green in color. The green-bean rock is a perfect indicator for stratigraphic division. Its petrographic and geochemical features are unique, and it is composed mainly of glassy fragments and subordinately of crystal fragments and volcanic ash balls. Analysis of the major and trace elements and rare-earth elements (REE), as well as the related diagrams, permits us to believe that the green-bean rock is acidic volcanic material of the calc-alkaline series formed in the Indosinian orogenic belt on the Sino-Vietnam border, which was atmospherically transported to the tectonically stable areas and then deposited as sedimentary-volcanic rocks there. According to the age of green-bean rock, it is deduced that the boundary age of the Middle-Lower Triassic overlain by the sedimentary-volcanic tuff is about 247 Ma.

The metallogenic mechanism of the sandstone-type copper deposits in the Chuxiong Basin, Yunnan Province

The sandstone-type Cu deposits in the Chuxiong Basin occur in the Cretaceous Gaofengsi Formation and the Maotoushan Formation and the orebodies are stratoid and lenticular in form, structurally controlled by their stratigraphical position. Ore structures are dominated by impregnated and striped ones. In addition, it has been observed that copper mineralization is controlled by water-discharge and deformation structures. Orebodies are commonly seen on the gently inclined limbs of the anticline, with the involution front. Copper mineralization shows a distinct zonation. S, Pb isotope and REE data suggest that the copper would stem from the country rocks and the sulfur largely from the lower strata. During diagenesis oxidized Cu-bearing brines derived from the upper parts and reduced brines from the lower parts are involved in metallogenetic reactions in the stress neutral plane, which is the key to the formation of copper deposits in the Chuxiong Basin.