Geochronolosic constraints on masmatic intrusions and mineralization of the Zhunuo porphyry copper deposit in Gansdese, Tibet

In situ zircon U-Pb ages for the recently discovered Zhunuo porphyry copper deposit in the western part of the Gangdese metallogenic belt in Tibet were determined by sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe （SHRIMP）. The ages can be divided into two separate groups, reflecting more than four major tectono-magmatic events in the area. The 62.5±2.5 Ma age of inherited zircons may be related to the volcanic eruption of the Linzizong Group formed shortly after the India-Asia continental collision. The 50.1±3.6 Ma age most likely corresponds to the time of underplating of mantle-derived mafic magma in Gangdese. The 15.6±0.6 Ma age obtained from magmatic zircons is interpreted as the age of crystallization of the Zhunuo ore-forming porphyry. Finally, a molybdenite Re-Os isochron age of 13.72±0.62 Ma is consistent with another zircon U-Pb age of 13.3±0.2 Ma, representing the time of copper mineralization. These ages, in combination with available literature data, indicate that magmatic crystallization and copper mineralization in the Gangdese metallogenic belt became gradually younger westward, and further suggest that the Zhunuo porphyry copper deposit was formed in the same tectonic stage as other porphyry copper deposits in the eastern and central Gangdese belt. This conclusion provides critical information for future exploration of porphyry copper deposits in western Gangdese.     

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating for subduction-related granitic rocks in the northern part of east Junggar, Xinjiang

A great deal of studies have recently devoted to the Central Asian orogenic belt (CAOB). Some of the studies have proposed that CAOB is a tectonic frame ofcomplex mosaic fragments, link of multiple suture zone and mountain-basin coupling, and has undergon…     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating for the Cangshuipu volcanic rocks and its implications for the lower boundary age of the Nanhua strata in South China

Continental volcanic rocks and volcaniclastic sedi-mentary conglomerates of the Cangshuipu Formation oc- cur as wedge-shaped Neoproterozoic strata in the Yiyang region, Hunan Province. They overlie with a high-angle unconformity the Lengjiaxi Group of the Upper Meso- proterozoic Eonothem. The wedge-shaped Neoproterozoic strata of the continental clastic rocks and the Mesopro-terozoic deep marine flysch turbidites of the Lengjiaxi Group represent two distinct stages of basin-tectonic evo-…     

Indosinian isotope ages of plutons and deposits in southwestern Miaoershan-Yuechengling,northeastern Guangxi and implications on Indosinian mineralization in South China

The Miaoershan-Yuechengling complex pluton is the largest granitoid complex in the western Nanling metallogenic belt with a surface exposure of >3000 km2.The complex pluton is composed of an early stage granitoid batholith and late stage small intrusions.The early stage batholith contains mainly medium-grained porphyritic mica granite and porphyritic monzonite granite,whereas the late stage intrusions are composed of muscovite granite porphyry and muscovite monzonitic granite.There are many W-Sn-Mo-Pb-Zn-Cu ores in the contact zone between the batholith and strata,forming an ore-rich belt around the batholith.Based on zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages,the southwestern part of the early stage batholith formed at 228.7 ± 4.1 Ma(MSWD = 2.49),with slightly earlier magmatic activity at 243.0 ± 5.8 Ma(MSWD = 2.62).The Yuntoujie muscovite granite was associated with W-Mo mineralization and has a zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb age of 216.8 ± 4.9 Ma(MSWD = 1.44).The Re-Os isochron age of molybdenite from the Yuntoujie W-Mo ore was 216.8 ± 7.5 Ma(MSWD = 11.3).Our new isotope data suggest that the late stage intrusive stocks from the southwestern Miaoershan-Yuechengling batholith were closely associated with W-Mo mineralization from the Indosinian period.These new results together with previous isotope data,suggest that South China underwent not only the well-known Yanshanian mineralization event,but also a widespread Indosinian metallogenic event during the Mesozoic period.Therefore,South China has a greater potential for Indosinian mineralization than previously thought such that more attention should be given to the Indosinian ore prospecting in South China.     

SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating for the dacite of the Sangxiu Formation in the central segment of Tethyan Himalaya and its implications

The Tethyan Himalaya is located between the In-dus-Yarlung Zangbo suture zone to the north and HigherHimalayan crystallines to the south, paleogeographicallybelonging to the northern margin of “Greater India”. TheSangxiu Formation is used to define a series of specialstrata with rich volcanic interbeds, and is only distributedto the southeast of Yangzuoyong Co within 200 km×50 km along the eastern part of central Tethyan Hima-laya[1]. Based on overlapped relationships of strata andfos…     

Lower boundary age of the Nanhua System and the Gucheng glacial stage: Evidence from SHRIMPⅡ dating

After the disintegration of the pro-Sinian System, the choice of the stratotype section of the newly established Nanhua System and determination of its lower boundary age have been one of the most important problems in Neoproterozoic stratigraphy[1—3]. In the Yangtze Gorge area in Yichang of Hubei Province where the standard section of the pro-Sinian System is located, the newly established Nanhua System consists only of the Nantuo formation (tillite) and the Liantuo Formation with tuf-…     

Re-Os isotopes and PGE geochemistry of black shales and intercalated Ni-Mo polymetallic sulfide bed from the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation, South China

The paleo oceanenvironmentalchangeduringthePrecambrian Cambriantransitionisakeyissuere latedtothecausesforanexplosiveradiationofdiffer entmetazoanphyladuringtheEarlyCambrianera .Thechemicalandisotopiccompositionsofmarinesed iments (carbonates ,phosphorites ,siliceousrocks ,andblackshales)recordthechangingcompositionandphysicalconditionsoftheseawaterinwhichtheserocksaccumulated .Organiccarbon richblackshalesfrommarineenvironmentsarecommonlyenrichedinanumberoftraceelementssuchasNi,Mo ,V ,Co ,…     

The latest Yanshanian magmatic and metallogenic events in the middle-lower Yangtze River belt: Evidence from the Ningzhen region

The Ningzhen region in Jiangsu Province represents the easternmost magmatic region in the middle-lower Yangtze River belt.The formation of the polymetallic deposits has close genetic relationships with Early Cretaceous intermediate-acid intrusions.In this study,LA-ICP-MS zircon geochronology of two Mesozoic intermediate-acid intrusive rocks(including the Shima porphyritic granodiorite and Gaozi quartz diorite porphyry)in the Ningzhen region were systematically investigated.These new geochronological data demonstrate that the intermediate-acid magmatism in the Ningzhen region dates to approximately between 109 and101 Ma.We present new40Ar-39Ar phlogopite ages for the Cishantou skarn iron deposits that constrain the timing of the mineralisation in the Ningzhen region.The phlogopite in the Cishantou skarn deposits yielded a40Ar-39Ar plateau age of 104±1 Ma.This result coincides with the ages of the Anjishan and Tongshan Cu(Mo)deposits in the Ningzhen region.Our high-precision geochronological data together with recent high-precision geochronological studies(such as zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb,zircon SHRIMP U-Pb,molybdenite Re-Os and single-mineral40Ar-39Ar dates)reveal that there were four periods(152-135 Ma,135-127 Ma,127-121 Ma,109-101 Ma)of magmatism and ore formation in the middle-lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt.The Mesozoic intermediate-acid magmatism and mineralisation in the Ningzhen region belong to the latest episode in the middle-lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt.     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating for olivine gabbro at Wangmuguan in the Beihuaiyang zone and its geological significance

In the Neoproterozoic, a large-scale magmatic activ- ity took place in the northern margin of the South China Block, with ages in a range of 700―800 Ma[1―4]). A systematic zircon U-Pb dating for bimodal metaigneous rocks in the Dabie-Sulu orogen yields ages of 758 ± 15 Ma[5], typifying rift magmatism along the northern margin of the South China Block during the middle Neoproterozoic. In addition, there is a widespread oc- currence of volcanic tuff interlayers around 635 Ma with the se…     

Zircon U-Pb ages of granites at Changba and Huangzhuguan in western Qinling and implications for source nature

Mesozoic granitoids are widespread in the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. Precise U-Pb dating on these granitoids can reveal the evolution of the continental collision orogen and thus provide information on the nature of magma sources. This study presents zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating and whole-rock geochemical analyses for two intrusions at Changba and Huangzhuguan in western Qinling. Zircon U-Pb ages for central and marginal phases of the Huangzhuguang intrusion are 214±1 Ma and 213±3 Ma, respectively. Zircons from the Changba intrusion yield a dominant cluster with an U-Pb age of 213±2 Ma. Collectively, these ages are younger than ages of 220 to 240 Ma for ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism due to the continental collision between the South China Block and the North China Block, corresponding to syn-exhumation magmatism. Some inherited zircons occur in the Changba intrusion, yielding a weighted mean of ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages at 757±14 Ma. This indicates that the Changba intrusion has the crustal source of mid-Neoproterozoic ages and a tectonic affinity to the South China Block. Geochemically, the two intrusuons are both rich in LILE and LREE but depleted in HFSE and HREE, similar to arc-type igneous rocks. The Huangzhuguang intrusion exhibits linear correlations between SiO₂ and the other major oxides, implying chemical evolution from a cognate magma source. It contains mafic enclaves, suggesting possible mixing of felsic-mafic magmas. The Changba granite is rich in Si and K but poor in Fe and Mg as well as has a high value of Fe*, suggesting strong differentiation of granitic magma. Therefore, the two intrusions were derived from the Late Triassic anatexis of the continental crust of different compositions in the northern margin of South China Block. This process may be coupled with exhumation of the subducted continental crust in the stage of late collision.     

Identification of Mesoproterozoic zircons in a Triassic dolerite from the Liaodong Peninsula,Northeast China

Evolution of mantle and crust in all blocks of China and their relationship with the surrounding blocks are re-lated to amalgamation and breakup of the supercontinents. Studies on the Mesoproterozoic Grenvillian orogeny and the configuration of Neoproterozoic Rodinia provide the most important advances to the ideas of continental crustal growth and configuration of plates[1,2]. Recent studies show that there are geological records of assembly and breakup of Rodinia in the Cathaysia and Yang…     

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb geochronology of Indosinian granites in Hunan Province and its petrogenetic implications

The structure, magmatism and sedimentation within the South China Block (SCB) related to the Indosinian Orogeny had attracted considerable attention since De-prat[1] and Fromagat[2] proposed the “Indosinian move-ment” based on two unconformities between Pre-Norian and Pre-Rhaetian during Triassic in Vietnam. However, Indosinian tectonic evolution of the SCB has been long debated[3―6]. Some researchers believed that the compli-cated structure-magmatism-sedimentation within the SCB w…     

Zircon U-Pb dating for the earliest Neoproterozoic mafic magmatism in the southern margin of the North China Block

Geological records of Neoproterozoic magmaticevents have recently been identified in the central Phanerozoic orogenic belts of China[1]. In regions of east Qinling orogen[2], Dabie-Sulu orogen[3], north Qaidam Basin orogen[4―6], and southwest Tarim Basin…     

Zircon SHRIMP dating of sodium alkaline rocks from Maomaogou area of Huili County in Panxi, SW China and its geological implications

Alkalinerocksareoftenassociatedwithextensionaltectonicsandregardedasthecharacteristicproductsoc-curringincontinentalmarginsorriftzones[1].Theywereusuallygeneratedindeep-large-faultzoneandcloselyconnectedwithbasic/ultrabasicrocksinspace.Therefore,alkalinerocksareofsignificanceintectonicpetrology.Atthebeginningofthe1980s,geologicalandgeophysicalstudieswereperformedinPanzhihua-Xichangpaleo-riftzone(Panxiriftzone).However,thesestudiesonlyin-volvedgeologyandpetrochemistryoftheMaomaogouringalkalic…     

Mineralizing age of the Rushan lode gold deposit in the Jiaodong Peninsula：SHRIMP U-Pb dating on hydrothermal zircon

Knowledge of the mineralizing timing is fundamen-tal to understand the genesis of mineral deposits, and ex-act time spectrum of mineralization is essential to com-prehending the relationship among the genesis of en-dogenic hydrothermal deposits, regional tectonic-magma-tism event and the geodynamics of mineral deposits. The Jiaodong or eastern Shandong gold province islocated in the southeastern margin of the North Chinacraton, and belongs to the Mesozoic circum-Pacific oro-genic gold system…     

SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating for two episodes of migmatization in the Dabie orogen

Zircon CL imaging and SHRIMP U-Pb dating were carried out for migmatite in the Dabie orogen. Zircons from the Manshuihe migmatite show clear core-rim structures. The cores display sector or weak zoning and low Th/U ratios of 0.01 to 0.17, indicating their precipitation from metamorphic fluid. They yield a weighted mean age of 137±5 Ma. By contrast, the rims exhibit planar or nebulous zoning with relatively high Th/U ratios of 0.35 to 0.69, suggesting their growth from metamorphic melt. They give a weighted mean age of 124±2 Ma. Zircons from the Fenghuangguan migmatite also display core-rim structures. The cores are weakly oscillatory zoned or unzoned with high Th/U ratios of 0.21 to 3.03, representing inherited zircons of magmatic origin that experienced different degrees of solid-state recrystallization. SHRIMP U-Pb analyses obtain that its protolith was emplaced at 768±12 Ma, consistent with middle Neoproterozoic ages for protoliths of most UHP metaigneous rocks in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. By contrast, the rims do not show significant zoning and have very low Th/U ratios of 0.01 to 0.09, typical of zircon crystallized from metamorphic fluid. They yield a weighted 206Pb/238U age of 137±4 Ma. Taking the two case dates together, it appears that there are two episodes of zircon growth and thus migmati-tization at 137±2 Ma and 124±2 Ma, respectively, due to metamorphic dehydration and partial melting. The appearance of metamorphic dehydration corresponds to the beginning of tectonic extension thus to the tectonic switch from crustal compression to extension in the Dabie orogen. On the other hand, the partial melting is responsible for the extensional climax, resulting in formation of coeval migmatite, granitoid and granulite. They share the common protolith, the collision-thickened continental crust of mid-Neoproterozoic ages.     

内蒙古中部宝力高庙组长英质火山岩U-Pb-Hf同位素特征及其地质意义

锆石SHRIMP U-Pb定年结果显示: 内蒙古中部白音乌拉地区原宝力高庙组的流纹岩形成时代为300.0±2.9 Ma, 属晚石炭世; 青格勒宝拉格地区原宝力高庙组的凝灰岩结晶年龄为159.6±1.4 Ma, 并获得 3颗捕获锆石的年龄分别为291.8±3.4, 304.0±3.3和734.7±9.2 Ma, 应属于晚侏罗世满克头鄂博组。锆石LA-MC-ICP-MS Hf同位素分析显示: 流纹岩锆石ε_Hf(t) 值为+10.5~+12.9, T_DM^C值为493~645 Ma; 凝灰岩岩浆锆石ε_Hf(t)值为+10.1~+13.1, T_DM^C值为369~563 Ma。研究结果表明, 流纹岩源于晚古生代新生地壳的重熔并混入少量老地壳物质, 凝灰岩源于晚古生代地壳的熔融。Hf同位素特征显示晚古生代流纹岩和中生代凝灰岩源于相似的源区, 揭示了晚古生代的一次重要的增生事件, 并且在约160 Ma时期发生过地壳的再造。结合前人的研究成果表明, 兴蒙造山带在约300 Ma时处于古亚洲洋演化过程中岛弧向碰撞后伸展环境的转换时期, 在约160 Ma受到蒙古?鄂霍茨克构造域的影响。     

Porphyry Cu-Mo deposits in the eastern Xing’an-Mongolian Orogenic Belt: Mineralization ages and their geodynamic implications

The eastern Xing’an-Mongolian (Xing-Meng) Orogenic Belt (XMOB) is one of the important areas of porphyry copper (Cu)-molybdenum (Mo) deposits in China. However, studies on the exact ages of mineralization and their geodynamic significance are very limited. In this study, granodioritic rocks from the Duobaoshan Cu deposit and Daheishan Mo deposit were selected to make zircon SHRIMP U-Pb analyses in order to constrain their mineralization ages. Geochronological data indicate that two episodes of mineralization took place in the Duobaoshan Cu deposits. The granodiorite related to the Duobaoshan porphyry Cu deposit was formed in the Early Paleozoic with zircon U-Pb age of 485±8 Ma, whereas the granodiorites related to the Sankuanggou skarn-type Cu deposit were emplaced in the Jurassic with zircon U-Pb ages of 176±3 and 177±3 Ma. In the Daheishan area of Jilin Province, the emplacement age of the granodiorite porphyry related to the porphyry Mo deposit was dated at 170±3 Ma, and the unmineralized monzogranite at 178±3 Ma. Therefore, two episodes of Cu-Mo mineralization were developed in the eastern XMOB, at ~485 Ma and ~175 Ma, respectively. Based on the geological history and spatial-temporal distribution of the granitoids in northeastern (NE) China, it is proposed that the Duobaoshan Cu deposit was related to the collision of the Xing’an and Erguna blocks in the Early Paleozoic, and the Sankuanggou Cu and Daheishan Mo deposits were related to subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate during the Jurassic.     

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages of the “Xinghuadukou Group” in Hanjiayuanzi and Xinlin areas and the “Zhalantun Group” in Inner Mongolia, Da Hinggan Mountains

A report is presented of SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating data of meta-igneous and meta-sedimentary rocks of the Xinghuadukou Group(Xinlin-Hanjiayuanzi area,Heilongjiang Province)and meta-volcanic rocks of the Zhalantun Group(Zhalantun district,Inner Mongolia).The SHRIMP analyses show that the meta-igneous rocks from the Xinghuadukou Group formed at 506±10―547±46 Ma,belonging to Early-Middle Precambrian,whereas the meta-sedimentary rocks yielded detrital zircons,with ages of 1.0―1.2,1.6―1.8 and 2.5―2.6 Ga,indicative of deposition age at least<1.0 Ga. Meta-basic volcanic rocks from the Zhalantun Group have a formation age of 506±3 Ma.These data suggest that both the Xinghuadukou and Zhalantun Groups formed during Cambrian and/or Neoproterozoic time,rather than Paleoproterozoic time as previously thought.Early Precambrian inherited zircons in the meta-igneous rocks and numerous Precambrian detrital zircons in the meta-sedimentary rocks imply that these rocks were formed proximal to older crust.It is inferred that the Xinghuadukou and Zhalantun Groups represent Cambrian and/or Neoproterozoic vol- cano-sedimentary sequences formed in an active continental margin setting.     

Mesoproterozoic age for Xiamaling Formation in North China Plate indicated by zircon SHRIMP dating

Zircon grains of magmatic origin from tuffite layers in the Xiamaling Formation at Zhaojiashan Village, Xuanhua area, Hebei Province, were used for zircon dating with a Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Microprobe （SHRIMP Ⅱ）, which gives a weighted mean ^207Pb/^206Pb age of 1366±9 Ma. It shows a very similar age （1368±12 Ma） as the zircon dating from the Xiamaling Formation in Western Hill, Beijing. This age proposes that the Xiamaling Formation in the North China plate should be of Mesoproterozoic, instead of Neoproterozoic based on K-Ar, Ar-Ar dating. The new zircon age also indicates the development of macrofossils algae from the Mesoproterozoic age.