Geochemistry, petrogenesis and tectonic implications of granitic plutons at the Liziyuan orogenic goldfield in the Western Qinling Orogen, central China

2012 ◽  
Vol 150 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
TAO YANG ◽  
LAIMIN ZHU ◽  
FEI WANG ◽  
HUJUN GONG ◽  
RUKUI LU
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Central China ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Trace Element Geochemistry ◽  
Qinling Orogen ◽  
Element Geochemistry ◽  
Medium Temperature ◽  
Icp Ms

AbstractThe Liziyuan goldfield is located along the northern margin of the western part of the Qinling Orogen (WQO). The goldfield consists of five gold-only deposits hosted by metavolcanic rocks, and one polymetallic (Au–Ag–Pb) deposit hosted by the Tianzishan Monzogranite. As the Liziyuan goldfield appears to be spatially and temporally related to the Jiancaowan Porphyry, the study of the deposit provides a crucial insight into the relationship between tectonic-magmatic events and gold metallogenesis in the WQO. In this paper, we present whole-rock major and trace element geochemistry, and in situ zircon U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopic data from the Tianzishan Monzogranite and Jiancaowan Porphyry. The two granitic plutons are enriched in LILEs and LREEs, depleted in HFSEs and have zircon εHf(t) values between −14.1 and −5.1 for the Tianzishan Monzogranite and between −21.0 and −8.4 for the Jiancaowan Porphyry. These characteristics indicate that the granites are derived from the crust. The Tianzishan Monzogranite has LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb ages of 256.1 ± 3.7 to 260.0 ± 2.1 Ma, which suggests that it was emplaced in the WQO during the convergence of the North and South (Yangtze) China cratons in the early stage of the Qinling Orogeny. In contrast, the porphyry has a LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb age of 229.2 ± 1.2 Ma, which is younger than the peak collision age, but corresponds to the widespread Late Triassic post-collisional granitic plutons in the WQO. The Tianzishan Monzogranite has somewhat higher Sr contents (196–631 ppm), lower Y (2.23–19.6 ppm) and Yb (0.20–2.01 ppm) contents, and a positive Eu/Eu* averaging 1.15. These characteristics suggest the pluton was derived from partial melting of the thickened crust. In contrast, the relatively higher MgO content (0.85–2.08 wt%) and Mg no. (43.4–58.2) of the Jiancaowan Porphyry indicates that insignificant amounts of subcontinental lithospheric mantle-derived mafic melts were involved in the generation of the magma. The Liziyuan goldfield is hosted by faults in greenschist-facies metamorphic rocks. Fluid inclusion studies suggest that gold was precipitated from CO2-rich, low-salinity and medium temperature fluids. This feature is consistent with the other orogenic gold deposits throughout the world. The field relationships and zircon U–Pb ages of the two granitic plutons suggest that gold mineralization is coeval with or slightly younger than the emplacement of the Jiancaowan Porphyry. Therefore, both the porphyry and deposit formed during the post-collisional stage of the Qinling Orogen.

CALCITE U-Pb DATING UNRAVELS THE AGE AND HYDROTHERMAL HISTORY OF THE GIANT SHUIYINDONG CARLIN-TYPE GOLD DEPOSIT IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE, SOUTH CHINA

2021 ◽  
Vol 116 (6) ◽  
pp. 1253-1265
Author(s):  
Xiao-Ye Jin ◽  
Jian-Xin Zhao ◽  
Yue-Xing Feng ◽  
Albert H. Hofstra ◽  
Xiao-Dong Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Early Cretaceous ◽  
South China ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Gold Deposition ◽  
Golden Triangle ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Carlin Type Gold Deposits

Abstract The ages of Carlin-type gold deposits in the Golden Triangle of South China have long been questioned due to the general lack of minerals unequivocally linked to gold deposition that can be precisely dated using conventional radiogenic isotope techniques. Recent advances in U-Pb methods show that calcite can be used to constrain the ages of hydrothermal processes, but few studies have been applied to ore deposits. Herein, we show that this approach can be used to constrain the timing of hydrothermal activity that generated and overprinted the giant Shuiyindong Carlin-type gold deposit in the Golden Triangle. Three stages of calcite (Cal-1, Cal-2, and Cal-3) have been recognized in this deposit based on crosscutting relationships, cathodoluminescence colors, and chemical (U, Pb, and rare earth element [REE]) and isotope (C, O, Sr) compositions. Cal-1 is texturally associated with ore-stage jasperoid and disseminated Au-bearing arsenian pyrite in hydrothermally altered carbonate rocks, which suggests it is synmineralization. Cal-2 fills open spaces and has a distinct orange cathodoluminescence, suggesting that it precipitated during a second fluid pulse. Cal-1 and Cal-2 have similar carbonate rock-buffered chemical and isotopic compositions. Cal-3 occurs in veins that often contain realgar and/or orpiment and are chemically (low U, Pb, and REE) and isotopically (higher δ13C, lower δ18O and Sri values) distinct from Cal-1 and Cal-2, suggesting that it formed from a third fluid. U-Pb isotope analyses, by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for U-rich Cal-1 and Cal-2 and by LA-multicollector (MC)-ICP-MS for U-poor Cal-3, yield well-defined age constraints of 204.3 to 202.6, 191.9, and 139.3 to 137.1 Ma for Cal-1, Cal-2, and Cal-3, respectively. These new ages suggest that the Shuiyindong gold deposit formed in the late Triassic and was overprinted by hydrothermal events in the early Jurassic and early Cretaceous. Given the association of Cal-3 with orpiment and realgar, and previous geochronologic studies of several other major gold deposits in the Golden Triangle, we infer that the latest stage of calcite may be associated with an early Cretaceous regional gold metallogenic event. Combined with existing isotopic ages in the region, these new ages lead us to propose that Carlin-type gold deposits in the Golden Triangle formed during two metallogenic episodes in extensional settings, associated with the late Triassic Indochina orogeny and early Cretaceous paleo-Pacific plate subduction. This study shows that the calcite U-Pb method can be used to constrain the timing of Carlin-type gold deposits and successive hydrothermal events.

Petrology of the late Triassic mafic volcanic rocks from the Antalya Complex, southern Turkey: evidence for mantle source characteristics during the Neotethyan rifting

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1049-1072
Author(s):  
Utku BAĞCI ◽  
Tamer RIZAOĞLU ◽  
Güzide ÖNAL ◽  
Osman PARLAK
Keyword(s):  
Mantle Source ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Trace Element Geochemistry ◽  
Secondary Phases ◽  
Element Geochemistry ◽  
Source Characteristics ◽  
Enriched Mantle ◽  
Southern Turkey ◽  
Island Basalt

The Antalya Complex in southern Turkey comprises a number of autochthonous and allochthonous units that originated from the Southern Neotethys. Late Triassic volcanic rocks are widespread in the Antalya Complex and are important for the onset of the rifting stage of the southern Neotethys. The studied Late Triassic volcanic rocks within the Antalya Complex are exposed in the southern part of Saklıkent (Antalya) region. They are represented by pillow, massive, and columnar-jointed lava flows with volcaniclastic breccias and pelagic limestone intercalations. Spilitic basalts exhibit intersertal, microlithic porphyritic, and ophitic textures and are represented by plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine. Secondary phases are characterized by serpentine, calcite, chlorite, epidote, zeolite, and quartz. Based on Zr/Ti vs. Nb/Y ratios, the volcanic rocks are represented by alkaline basalts (Nb/Y = 1.54–2.82). A chondrite normalized REE diagram for the volcanic rocks displays significant LREE enrichment with respect to HREE ([La/Yb]N = 15.14–19.77). Trace element geochemistry of the studied rocks suggests that these rocks are more akin to ocean island basalt (OIB) and were formed by small degrees (~2–4%) of partial melting of an enriched mantle source (spinel + garnet-bearing lherzolite). The volcanic rocks of the Saklıkent region exhibit similarities to the Late Triassic volcanics of the Koçali Complex in SE Anatolia and the Mamonia Complex (Cyprus) in terms of their geochemical features. All evidence suggests that the Late Triassic alkaline volcanics in Antalya, Mamonia (Cyprus), and the Koçali (Adıyaman) Complexes were formed in an extensional environment at the continent-ocean transition zone during the rifting of the southern Neotethyan Ocean.

scholarly journals Trace element geochemistry of carbonates in the Jurassic Lusitanian Basin records mineral-fluid interactions

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 ◽  
pp. 01017
Author(s):  
Mário A. Gonçalves ◽  
Maja Vuckovic ◽  
Alfonso Fiorelli ◽  
Pedro Barrulas ◽  
José Mirão
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Carbonate Rocks ◽  
Sedimentary Basins ◽  
Trace Element Geochemistry ◽  
Element Geochemistry ◽  
Chemical Signatures ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Mineral Interaction ◽  
Lusitanian Basin

Carbonate rocks in sedimentary basins are reactive and can record complex histories of events associated with fluid flow in these basins. These include processes of dolomitization and dedolomitization. In this work we provide some preliminary data where distinct calcite and dolomite generations in the Jurassic Lusitanian Basin were analysed by LA-ICP-MS for trace elements in order to characterize chemical signatures of fluid-mineral interaction. It was observed that different carbonate generations can preserve the range of certain trace metal concentrations, but later calcites have distinctly higher contents in REE, Th and U, and Ba. Dolomites also show distinct chemical signatures but lack of analytical and spatial resolution does not allow quantification of the precursor calcite relicts. However, these processes point to the action of basinal fluids triggered by distinct tectonic episodes and associated volcanic activity.

Initiation of Iapetus subduction under Irish Avalonia

1997 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRIAN McCONNELL ◽  
JOHN MORRIS
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Oceanic Lithosphere ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Trace Element Geochemistry ◽  
Plate Tectonic ◽  
Element Geochemistry ◽  
Volcanic Origin ◽  
Volcanic Arc ◽  
Lower Ordovician ◽  
Minimum Age

The Dowery Hill Member of metamorphosed basalt, dolerite and siltstone is here recognized as the oldest exposed volcanic unit of the Lower Ordovician Ribband Group, with a minimum age of early Arenig. Peperites and resedimented hydroclastic breccia demonstrate a volcanic origin for the basalts. The igneous rocks are tholeiitic, with a trace element geochemistry indicative of a subduction-modified fertile mantle source, which we interpret as recording an early stage of volcanic arc evolution. The member is therefore the oldest known component of the volcanic arc generated by subduction of Iapetus oceanic lithosphere under southeastern Ireland. Subduction started earlier than predicted by current plate tectonic models, and these should be re-evaluated.

scholarly journals Mineralogical and geochemical characterisation of the Kipawa syenite complex, Quebec: implications for rare-earth element deposits

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Matte ◽  
M Constantin ◽  
R Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Element ◽  
Earth Element ◽  
Crustal Contamination ◽  
Hydrothermal Activity ◽  
Trace Element Geochemistry ◽  
Element Geochemistry ◽  
Gneissic Granite ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Regional Tectonic

The Kipawa rare-earth element (REE) deposit is located in the Parautochton zone of the Grenville Province 55 km south of the boundary with the Superior Province. The deposit is part of the Kipawa syenite complex of peralkaline syenites, gneisses, and amphibolites that are intercalated with calc-silicate rocks and marbles overlain by a peralkaline gneissic granite. The REE deposit is principally composed of eudialyte, mosandrite and britholite, and less abundant minerals such as xenotime, monazite or euxenite. The Kipawa Complex outcrops as a series of thin, folded sheet imbricates located between regional metasediments, suggesting a regional tectonic control. Several hypotheses for the origin of the complex have been suggested: crustal contamination of mantle-derived magmas, crustal melting, fluid alteration, metamorphism, and hydrothermal activity. Our objective is to characterize the mineralogical, geochemical, and isotopic composition of the Kipawa complex in order to improve our understanding of the formation and the post-formation processes, and the age of the complex. The complex has been deformed and metamorphosed with evidence of melting-recrystallization textures among REE and Zr rich magmatic and post magmatic minerals. Major and trace element geochemistry obtained by ICP-MS suggest that syenites, granites and monzonite of the complex have within-plate A2 type anorogenic signatures, and our analyses indicate a strong crustal signature based on TIMS whole rock Nd isotopes. We have analyzed zircon grains by SEM, EPMA, ICP-MS and MC-ICP-MS coupled with laser ablation (Lu-Hf). Initial isotopic results also support a strong crustal signature. Taken together, these results suggest that alkaline magmas of the Kipawa complex/deposit could have formed by partial melting of the mantle followed by strong crustal contamination or by melting of metasomatized continental crust. These processes and origins strongly differ compare to most alkaline complexes in the world. Additional TIMS and LA-MC-ICP-MS analyses are planned to investigate whether all lithologies share the same strong crustal signature.

scholarly journals Genesis of the Koka Gold Deposit in Northwest Eritrea, NE Africa: Constraints from Fluid Inclusions and C-H-O-S Isotopes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Zhao ◽  
Huazhou Yao ◽  
Jianxiong Wang ◽  
Ghebsha Fitwi Ghebretnsae ◽  
Wenshuai Xiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Meteoric Water ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Orogenic Gold ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Three Phase ◽  
Igneous Origin ◽  
Ne Africa

The Koka gold deposit is located in the Elababu shear zone between the Nakfa terrane and the Adobha Abiy terrane, NW Eritrea. Based on the paragenetic study two main stages of gold mineralization were identified in the Koka gold deposit: 1) an early stage of pyrite-chalcopyrite-sphalerite-galena-gold-quartz vein; and 2) a second stage of pyrite-quartz veins. NaCl-aqueous inclusions, CO2-rich inclusions, and three-phase CO2-H2O inclusions occur in the quartz veins at Koka. The ore-bearing quartz veins formed at 268℃, from NaCl-CO2-H2O(-CH4) fluids averaging 5 wt% NaCl eq. The ore-forming mechanisms include fluid immiscibility during stage I, and mixing with meteoric water during stage II. Oxygen, hydrogen and carbon isotopes suggest that the ore-forming fluids originated as mixtures of metamorphic water, meteoric water and magmatic water, whereas sulfur isotope suggest an igneous origin. Features of geology and ore-forming fluid at Koka deposit are similar to those of orogenic gold deposits, suggesting the Koka deposit might be an orogenic gold deposit related to granite.

scholarly journals Supplemental Material: Testing models of Laramide orogenic initiation by investigation of Late Cretaceous magmatic-tectonic evolution of the central Mojave sector of the California arc

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.C. Economos ◽  
et al.
Keyword(s):  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
National Park ◽  
Granitic Rocks ◽  
Trace Element Geochemistry ◽  
Element Geochemistry ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Joshua Tree National Park ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Plasma Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Shrimp Zircon

<div>Table S1: SHRIMP zircon U-Pb geochronology data for six samples from the Cadiz Valley batholith. Table S2: SHRIMP zircon U-Pb geochronology data for six samples from the Federal 2-26 Cajon Pass drill core. Table S3: Whole-rock major- and trace-element geochemistry of granitic rocks from Joshua Tree National Park and the Cadiz Valley batholith measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Table S4: Rb/Sr and Sm/Nd isotope data from the Joshua Tree National Park and Cadiz Valley batholith. Table S5: Locations, data, and references used to generate histograms in Figure 5.<br></div>

Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous magmatism in the Xiong’ershan gold district, central China: implications for gold mineralization and geodynamics

2019 ◽  
Vol 157 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-457
Author(s):  
Zhenshan Pang ◽  
Fuping Gao ◽  
Yangsong Du ◽  
Yilun Du ◽  
Zhaojian Zong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Cretaceous ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Central China ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Metamorphic Basement ◽  
Plasma Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Cretaceous Magmatism

AbstractThe Xiong’ershan area is the third largest gold-producing district in China. The Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous magmatism in the Xiong’ershan area can be divided into two episodes: early (165–150 Ma) and late (138–113 Ma). Laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) zircon U–Pb dating yields ages of 160.7 ± 0.6 Ma and 127.2 ± 1.0 Ma for the Wuzhangshan and Huashan monzogranites in the Xiong’ershan area, respectively, representing the two magmatic episodes. The Wuzhangshan monzogranites exhibit adakite-like geochemical features (e.g. high Sr/Y ratios, low Yb and Y contents). Their Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic compositions are consistent with those of the amphibolites of the Taihua Group, indicating that the Wuzhangshan monzogranites were formed from partial melting of the Taihua Group metamorphic rocks. Compared to the Wuzhangshan rocks, the Huashan monzogranites have higher MgO, Cr, Co and Ni contents, but lower Sr/Y and Fe3+/Fe2+. All the samples from the Huashan monzogranites plot in the area between the Taihua Group amphibolite rocks and the mantle rocks in the (87Sr/86Sr)t vs εNd(t) and age vs εHf(t) diagrams, suggesting that the Huashan monzogranites were probably generated by mixing of mantle-derived magmas and the Taihua Group metamorphic basement melts. The gold mineralization (136–110 Ma) is coeval with the emplacement of the late-episode magmas, implying that crustal–mantle mixed magma might be a better target for gold mineralization compared to the ancient metamorphic basement melt. The data presented in this study further indicate that the transformation of the lithosphere from thickening to thinning in the Xiong’ershan area probably occurred between ~160 Ma and ~127 Ma, and that the gold mineralization in this area was probably related to lithospheric thinning.

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