Tectonic setting and mineralization potential of the Zefreh porphyry Cu-Mo deposit, central Iran: Constraints from petrographic and geochemical data

AbstractPorphyry Cu-Au±Mo mineralization at Peschanka is hosted by monzodiorite and monzonite intrusions with high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic compositions and dated at about 144.1±1.5 Ma, using U/Pb zircon ages. The Cretaceous intrusions are emplaced in a melange of Cretaceous island arcs, a tectonic setting comparable to other world-class porphyry Cu-Au deposits, such as Oyu Tolgoi, Mongolia, and Pebble, Alaska.Abundant primary magnetite contents of the Peschanka intrusions, as well as numerous gypsum and anhydrite veins, reflect the high oxidation states of their parental magmas. This mineralogical interpretation is confirmed by high whole-rock Fe2O3/FeO ratios and high V/Sc ratios of the rocks of up to 1.27 and up to 21.9, respectively. The whole-rock Eu/Eu& ratios of the Peschanka intrusions are ≥1 which is also typical for potassic igneous rocks with high oxidation states. Abundant amphibole and biotite phenocrysts of the intrusions as well as their high whole-rock Sr/Y ratios of up to 225 document significantly high H2O contents of the high-K magmas.Peschanka contains a resource of >9.5 Mt of copper at an average grade of 0.43 wt% and 16.5 Moz of gold at a high average grade of 0.23 g/t and, thus, representing one of the largest undeveloped greenfield copper projects worldwide. The vicinity of Peschanka still offers significant brownfields exploration potential.The hypogene vein-related and disseminated Cu-Au±Mo sulfide mineralization at Peschanka is structurally-controlled by significant NE-trending strike-slips that acted as the conduits for the hydrothermal fluids. The central part of the orebody consists of high-grade N-S trending sheeted quartz-bornite veining with unusually high vein densities. The highest Cu and Au grades are directly correlated with high vein densities.Peschanka is defined by distinct hydrothermal alteration zones including potassic, phyllic, propylitic and argillic assemblages, but a distinct lack of advanced argillic alteration. The mineralization itself is also zoned ranging from a central Mo-Cpy-Bn sulfide assemblage to a peripheral Py-Mt-dominated zone (“pyrite-shell”). Late-stage polymetallic assemblages overprint and surround the main stockwork zone.

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Geochronology and geochemistry of igneous rocks in the southeastern Lesser Xing’an Range, northeastern China: petrogenesis and implications for the early Mesozoic tectonic evolution

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences ◽

10.1139/cjes-2018-0198 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 57 (4) ◽

pp. 506-523

Author(s):

Jin-hua Qin ◽

Cui Liu ◽

Jin-fu Deng

Keyword(s):

Field Strength ◽

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

High Field ◽

Magma Mixing ◽

Tectonic Setting ◽

Alkali Feldspar ◽

Igneous Rocks ◽

Geochemical Data ◽

High Field Strength ◽

Alkaline Granite

We present systematic U–Pb age data collected by laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, precise geochemical data, and Nd isotope data for igneous rocks from the southeastern Lesser Xing’an Range (SE LXR). The results indicate that the formation ages as follows: Maojiatun alkaline granite, 207.2 ± 0.84 Ma and 204.6 ± 0.93 Ma; Diorite porphyrite, 164.5 ± 0.97 Ma; and Tieli syenogranite, 186.7 ± 1.50 Ma. The alkaline granite has high silicon, potassium, alkali, and FeOT contents; it is enriched in high field strength elements, Zr, Hf, Th, Rb, and U; is depleted in Ba, Sr, Nb, Ta, P, Ti, etc.; and has high ratios of 10000Ga/Al. It shows an A2-type granite affinity. The Tieli alkali-feldspar granite has high total alkali contents and is enriched in high field strength elements and rare earth elements and depleted in Sr, Ba, Ti, and P, and shows varying degrees of alkalinity. Rocks from SE LXR display similar εNd (t) values with corresponding to Nd model ages of 1095 to 813 Ma. The igneous rocks from the SE LXR are proposed to be derived from melting of the Neoproterozoic lower crust and potential magma mixing with ancient crystalline basement. The formation of the Maojiatun alkaline granite occurred in response to a postorogenic event following the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. However, the SE LXR exhibited an extensional back-arc tectonic setting in the Early Jurassic. The Middle Jurassic diorite porphyrite could be related to the temporary stagnation of the westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate.

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Neoproterozoic Amdo and Jiayuqiao microblocks in the Tibetan Plateau: Implications for Rodinia reconstruction

Geological Society of America Bulletin ◽

10.1130/b35632.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yiming Liu ◽

Yuhua Wang ◽

Sanzhong Li ◽

M. Santosh ◽

Runhua Guo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tibetan Plateau ◽

South China ◽

Tectonic Setting ◽

Parental Magma ◽

Tibet Plateau ◽

Geochemical Data ◽

The Tibetan Plateau ◽

South China Craton ◽

Neoproterozoic Magmatism ◽

T Values

The Tibetan Plateau is composed of several microblocks, the tectonic affinity and paleogeographic correlations of which remain enigmatic. We investigated the Amdo and Jiayuqiao microblocks in central Tibet Plateau with a view to understand their tectonic setting and paleogeographic position within the Neoproterozoic supercontinent Rodinia. We present zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope, and whole-rock geochemical data on Neoproterozoic granitic gneisses from these microblocks. Zircon grains from the Jiayuqiao granitic gneiss yielded an age of 857 ± 9 Ma with variable εHf(t) values (−8.9 to 4.0). The Amdo granitic gneisses yielded ages of 893 ± 5 Ma, 807 ± 5 Ma, and 767 ± 11 Ma, with εHf(t) values in the range of −4.9 to 3.5. Geochemically, the granitoids belong to high-K calc-alkaline series, with the protolith derived from partial melting of ancient crustal components. The ascending parental magma of the Amdo granitoids experienced significant mantle contamination as compared to the less contaminated magmas that generated the Jiayuqiao intrusions. In contrast to the Lhasa, Himalaya, South China, and Tarim blocks, we suggest that the Amdo and Jiayuqiao microblocks probably formed a unified block during the Neoproterozoic and were located adjacent to the southwestern part of South China craton. The Neoproterozoic magmatism was probably associated with the subduction of the peripheral ocean under the South China craton and the delamination of lithospheric mantle beneath the Jiangnan orogen.

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Widespread Permian granite magmatism in Lower Austroalpine units: significance for Permian rifting in the Eastern Alps

Swiss Journal of Geosciences ◽

10.1186/s00015-020-00371-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 113 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sihua Yuan ◽

Franz Neubauer ◽

Yongjiang Liu ◽

Johann Genser ◽

Boran Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tectonic Setting ◽

Eastern Alps ◽

Geochemical Data ◽

Calc Alkaline ◽

Three Samples ◽

High K ◽

Icp Ms ◽

Granite Magmatism ◽

Austroalpine Unit ◽

Granite Suite

Abstract The Grobgneis complex, located in the eastern Austroalpine unit of the Eastern Alps, exposes large volumes of pre-Alpine porphyric metagranites, sometimes associated with small gabbroic bodies. To better understand tectonic setting of the metagranites, we carried out detailed geochronological and geochemical investigations on the major part of the porphyric metagranites. LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb dating of three metagranites sampled from the Grobgneis complex provides the first reliable evidence for large volumes of Permian plutonism within the pre-Alpine basement of the Lower Austroalpine units. Concordant zircons from three samples yield ages at 272.2 ± 1.2 Ma, 268.6 ± 2.3 Ma and 267.6 ± 2.9 Ma interpreted to date the emplacement of the granite suite. In combination with published ages for other Permian Alpine magmatic bodies, the new U–Pb ages provide evidence of a temporally restricted period of plutonism (“Grobgneis”) in the Raabalpen basement Complex during the Middle Permian. Comparing the investigated basement with that of the West Carpathian basement, we argue that widespread Permian granite magmatism occurred in the Lower Austroalpine units. They belong to the high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic S-type series on the base of geochemical data. Zircon Hf isotopic compositions of the Grobgneis metagranites show εHf(t) values of − 4.37 to − 0.6, with TDM2 model ages of 1.31–1.55 Ga, indicating that their protoliths were derived by the recycling of older continental crust. We suggest that the Permian granitic and gabbroic rocks are considered as rifted-related rocks in the Lower Austroalpine units and are contemporaneous with cover sediments.

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Neoproterozoic Nafun Group Sediments from Oman Affected by an Active Continental Margin

Minerals ◽

10.3390/min10060511 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 511

Author(s):

Liang Yue ◽

Veerle Vandeginste

Keyword(s):

Continental Margin ◽

Water Oxidation ◽

Tectonic Setting ◽

Active Continental Margin ◽

Trace Element Analysis ◽

Deep Ocean ◽

Geochemical Data ◽

Ocean Water ◽

Element Analysis ◽

Deep Ocean Water

The Neoproterozoic era is a time of major environmental change in Earth history. The Ediacaran period (635–541 Ma), the uppermost division of Precambrian time, is characterized by the remarkable Shuram excursion (largest C isotope negative excursion), a deep ocean water oxidation event, and Ediacaran biota. The Nafun Group of Oman provides a well-preserved and mostly continuous section of an Ediacaran succession. Based on geochemical data from the Nafun Group, the Shuram excursion (SE) and deep ocean oxidation hypotheses were proposed. Now, we sampled this section at high stratigraphic resolution, and present here the petrographical and geochemical analysis of the Khufai, Shuram and Buah Formations. The major and trace element analysis of shales from the Shuram Formation indicates that northern Oman was an active continental margin environment in Neoproterozoic times. The provenance of the Shuram Formation was primarily mafic and intermediate igneous rocks. With the unsteady tectonic setting, the development of the Nafun Group was influenced by hydrothermal supply and volcaniclastic input. Based on the V/Cr and U/Th ratio of the samples from the Nafun Group, our study reveals the transition of the ocean water redox environment, which is connected to the rise and fall of the Ediacaran biota. Our study constrains the tectonic setting of northern Oman and the petrography and geochemical data from the Nafun Group for the hydrothermal and volcaniclastic supply. Thus, our study acknowledges more factors for the explanation of the Ediacaran conundrums.

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