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…     

Metallogenic epoch and genesis of the gold deposits in Jiaodong Peninsula, Eastern China: a regional review

Gold deposits are characterized by multi-sources, superimposition, large scale and temporal-spatial concentration in Jiaodong Peninsula, Eastern China. In this paper, we review the history and the development of the study on metallogenic chronology and genesis of gold deposits, summarize the main features of superimposed metallogenesis, provide evidence of the Mesozoic complex metallogenic system, and point out some problems for further research of Jiaodong gold deposit cluster from a regional view. Although gold deposits are different in genetic types, ore-forming materials and geological settings, our research indicates that the accumulation and emplacement of the ore-forming materials are temporally-spatially concentrated on a large scale, and the main metallogenic epoch of Jiaodong gold deposits was concentrated in Mesozoic. Metallogenic chronology and geological-geochemical data indicate that there are two periods of gold mineralizations occurred in 130-110 Ma and 90-80 Ma respectively in Jiaodong ore cluster. The gold deposit cluster results from the superimposition of the polygenetic mineralization, and further study is needed to investigate the formation and evolution of the Mesozoic complex metallogenic system.     

Metallogenic epoch and genesis of the gold deposits in Jiaodong Peninsula, Eastern China: a regional review

Gold deposits are characterized by multi-sources, superimposition, large scale and temporal-spatial concentration in Jiaodong Peninsula, Eastern China. In this paper, we review the history and the development of the study on metallogenic chronology and genesis of gold deposits, summarize the main features of superimposed metallogenesis, provide evidence of the Mesozoic complex metallogenic system, and point out some problems for further research of Jiaodong gold deposit cluster from a regional view. Although gold deposits are different in genetic types, ore-forming materials and geological settings, our research indicates that the accumulation and emplacement of the ore-forming materials are temporally-spatially concentrated on a large scale, and the main metallogenic epoch of Jiaodong gold deposits was concentrated in Mesozoic. Metallogenic chronology and geological-geochemical data indicate that there are two periods of gold mineralizations occurred in 130?110 Ma and 90?80 Ma respectively in Jiaodong ore cluster. The gold deposit cluster results from the superimposition of the polygenetic mineralization, and further study is needed to investigate the formation and evolution of the Mesozoic complex metallogenic system.     

Stratigraphy and age of the Daohugou Bed in Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia

Recent fieldwork has extended the distribution of the Daohugou Bed deposits from the Daohugou Village to its several neighboring areas. The fossil-bearing Daohugou deposits uncomformably overlie complex bedrocks, and comprise three major parts. The red shales in the lower part were misidentified as belonging to the Tuchengzi Formation. Field excavation has indicated that the shales of upper part of the bed are the major fossil-bearing horizon. Due to strong tectonic activities, sediments were often folded with the sequences inverted in the region. Some newly recognized contacts between the Daohugou Bed and the volcanic rocks showed that the ignimbrite of the Tiaojishan Formation （159-164 Ma） underlies the Daohugou deposits, rather than overlying the latter as previously proposed. Thus, the age of the Daohugou deposits should be younger than the age of the ignimbrite, and thus it was incorrect to correlate the Daohugou Bed with the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation. Although biostratigraphic studies based on conchostracans and insects support a Middle Jurassic-early Late Jurassic age for the Daohugou deposits, vertebrate fossils such as Liaoxitriton, Jeholopterus and feathered maniraptorans show much resemblance to those of the Yixian Formation. In other words, despite the absence of Lycoptera, a typical fish of the Jehol Biota, the Daohugou vertebrate assemblage is closer to that of the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota than to any other biota. We propose that the Daohugou fossil assemblage probably represents the earliest evolutionary stage of the Jehol Biota based on both vertebrate biostratigraphy and the sedimentological and volcanic features which suggest the Daohugou deposit belongs to the same cycle of volcanism and sedimentation as the Yixian Formation of the Jehol Group.     

Discovery of a large area of ice-wedge networks in Ordos： Implications for the southern boundary of permafrost in the north of China as well as for the environment in the latest 20 kaBP

Deep sea deposits, ice cores and loess deposits have been used extensively and successfully, to study global climatic changes. Since permafrost is a consequence of cold climates, indicators of permafrost can also be used to reconstruct ancient climates in certain areas during certain periods. The recent discovery of large areas of ice wedge networks, and determination of their ages, have enabled us to locate the southern boundary of the permafrost that ex-isted in China about 20 thousand years…     

Helium and argon isotope trace in ore-forming fluid of Sawuer gold belt in Xinjiang,China

The helium and argon isotope compositions of fluid inclusions hosted in pyrite have been measured from Kuoerzhenkuola and Buerkesidai gold deposits in Sawuer gold belt, northern Xinjiang. The results show that fluidinclusion ^3He/^4He ratios are 0.64 Ra-4.25 Ra and 1.16 Ra-9.48 Ra, ^40Ar/^36Ar ratios are 282-359 and 312-525 for Kuoerzhenkuola and Buerkesidai gold deposits respectively.The ore-forming fluids of two deposits possessed the same source and derived mainly from mantle beneath the island arc (including oceanic crust and oceanic sediments by subduction of oceanic plate). They were diluted by incorporating meteoric water to form a mixture of mantle- and partial meteoric water-derived fluid. The ore-forming fluids of twodeposits are of the same evolutionary histories. From the early to the late mineralization stages, the ratios of meteoric water/mantle- derived fluid in ore-forming fluid increasedgrad ually. Based on these results and detailed geological and geochemical studies on the two deposits, it is proposed that the geneses of the two gold deposits are the same, being volcanogenic late-stage hydrothermal gold deposits occurring in the same volcanic apparatus.     

Characteristics of the Middle-Late Triassic sedimentary facies assemblages in the Songpan-Ruoergai area

The Middle-Late Triassic sedimentary rocks in the Songpan-Ruoergai area mainly consist of calcareous siltstone, muddy limestone, lithic arkose, feldspathic litharenite, mudstone, wormkalk, oolithic limestone, and conglomerate. Except for limestone bed increasing eastward longitudinally and vertically, the calcareous component of the sandstones increases obviously. Abundant benthic and plant fossils and their clasts occur within these rocks. The sedimentary structures predominately contain flaser, parallel, tabular, wavy, and herringbone cross beddings. These data coevally imply that the Middle-Late Triassic sediments deposited in the fluvial, lake and tide environments. Additionally, the rocks display graded, parallel, hummocky beddings, and sandy lamination, a feature characteristic of storm deposits.     

Discussions on the age of the Daohugou fauna—evidence from invertebrates

Volcanic tuff deposits near Daohugou village, Ningcheng County of Inner Mongolia have yielded many wellpreserved fossils. Here we briefly introduce our recent findings of invertebrates from the Daohugou fauna: mainly insects, conchostracans, anostracans, and spiders. The age of the Daohugou fauna is considered to be Middle Jurassic on the basis of an analysis of various invertebrates especially insects and conchostracans, showing strong similarities to the Yanliao fauna of north China and the Karatau fauna of Kazakhstan.     

Characteristics of the Middle-Late Triassic sedimentary facies assemblages in the Songpan-Ruoergai area

The Middle-Late Triassic sedimentary rocks in the Songpan-Ruoergai area mainly consist of calcareous siltstone, muddy limestone, lithic arkose, feldspathic litharenite, mudstone, wormkalk, oolithic limestone, and conglomerate. Except for limestone bed increasing eastward longitudinally and vertically, the calcareous component of the sandstones increases obviously. Abundant benthic and plant fossils and their clasts occur within these rocks. The sedimentary structures predominately contain flaser, parallel, tabular, wavy, and herringbone cross beddings. These data coevally imply that the Middle-Late Triassic sediments deposited in the fluvial, lake and tide environments. Additionally, the rocks display graded, parallel, hummocky beddings, and sandy lamination, a feature characteristic of storm deposits.     

Discussions on the age of the Daohugou fauna—evidence from invertebrates

Volcanic tuff deposits near Daohugou village, Ningcheng County of Inner Mongolia have yielded many wellpreserved fossils. Here we briefly introduce our recent findings of invertebrates from the Daohugou fauna: mainly insects, conchostracans, anostracans, and spiders. The age of the Daohugou fauna is considered to be Middle Jurassic on the basis of an analysis of various invertebrates especially insects and conchostracans, showing strong similarities to the Yanliao fauna of north China and the Karatau fauna of Kazakhstan.     

新疆吐哈盆地南北缘石炭纪火山岩铂族元素配分及其指示意义

古俯冲带背景下的残余地幔岩的PGEs配分以Pd ,Pt明显亏损和Ir ,Ru相对富集为特征 ,而部分熔融产物的玄武岩和基性岩脉则呈现相反的Ir ,Ru明显亏损和Pd ,Pt相对富集特征。俯冲带中流体的参与一方面增加了部分熔融程度 ,有利于Pd ,Pt从原始地幔进入熔融相 ;另一方面 ,流体的作用使得Pd ,Pt相对于Ir,Ru迁移活动性效率提高 ,造成地幔岩中w(Pd) w(Ir)和w(Pt) w(Ir)比值很低。新疆吐鲁番—哈密盆地南缘觉罗塔格和北缘博格达两个石炭纪火山岩带中的玄武岩和基性岩墙群PGEs配分曲线均呈缓的正倾斜曲线形式 ,PGEs总量和Pd ,Pt分异程度均很低 ,与典型蛇绿杂岩带中的基性岩明显不同 ,据此可以认为两个岩浆带并不具备古板块俯冲带的构造背景     

Platinum-group elements for the mantle peridotites in the Dazhuka ophiolite, Tibet, China

The total PGE amounts of mantle peridotites in the Dazhuka ophiolite, Tibet, are 28.37—50.67 ng/g, slightly higher than those of mantle peridotites in the primitive mantle, and typical ophiolites in the world, and the Alps-type mantle peridotites. The PGE distribution patterns in the Dazhuka mantle peridotites are also different from those of the mantle peridotites of partial melting relict origin. The Dazhuka mantle peridotites have relatively high total PGE amounts and are enriched in Pt, Pd, and Ru. Their PGE distribution patterns belong to the positively inclined- or swallow-type patterns. The PGE distribution patterns in the mantle peridotites of partial melting relict origin belong to the negative-slope patterns or flat patterns. This reflects the unique features of the upper mantle in this region. Relative enrichment in Pt and Pd, as well as in the incompatible elements Cu, Au, Cs, Rb, Ba, Th, U and LREE, indicates that the partial melting-derived relict mantle peridotites in the Dazhuka ophiolite had experienced intensive permeating and mixing processes of the melt and fluid both containing abundant incompatible elements.     

超镁铁岩中铂族元素的行为和规律

在总结前人工作的基础上,论述了PGE在超镁铁岩中的分布范围以及在部分熔融、结晶分异和蚀变作用过程中的行为规律。在部分熔融和结晶分异过程中,Ir组PGE(Os,Ir,Ru)表现为相容性,除寄存于硫化物外,还可寄存于难熔相中如橄榄岩,铬铁岩等;Pt组PGE(Rh,Pt,Pd)表现为不相容性,主要寄存于硫化物相中,且优先进入熔体中。在蚀变作用过程中,PGE的行为主要受其溶解度的控制。     

Polybaric partial melting in the continental mantle: Evidence from mantle xenoliths from Qilin Guangdong Province

The extremely low Ti content (160–245 μg/g) in clinopyroxene in some spinel peridotites from Qilin, South China is indicative of high degree of partial melting, inconsistent with their relatively high clinopyroxene modes (7.4%–12.4%). These clinopyroxenes show fractionated HREE patterns ((Gd/Yb)_n<0.2), suggesting the involvement of garnet in the melting regime. These REE patterns can be modeled as residues of 22%–23% fractional melting from a primitive mantle, first in garnet stability field (12%) then continuing in spinel stability field (10%–11%) after breakdown of garnet to pyroxenes and spinel. Such a polybaric melting suggests the lithospheric thinning and rapid mantle upwelling in south China during the Cenozoic. This is consistent with the dominant MORB-OIB isotopic signature and high thermal gradient of the lithospheric mantle in this region, and supports the contention that the formation of South China Sea basin is related to southward migration of continental lithosphere extension, rather than passive back-arc basin.     

Supergene mobility of noble metal elements in black rock series

In order to discuss the supergene mobility of noble metal elements in black rock series, measurements have been conducted with ICP-MS method for the contents of Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Au and Ag in the primary jordisite-rich black shale ore, in the supergene leached jordisite-rich black shale ore, in the pyrite-rich black shale ore and in the water of pit, well and stream of the mining area near Zhongnan Village, Zunyi District of Guizhou Province. The temperature, pH, electric conductivity, dissolved oxygen of the water were also measured. The pit water is acidic with high electrical conductivity and low dissolved oxygen. The total content of platinum group elements in the primary pyrite-rich black shale ore is only 1/13 of that in the primary jordisite-rich black shale ore. The Ag content in the former is only a half of that in the latter while the Au contents in the two kinds of ores are almost the same. Being leached under supergene condition, the contents of most of the noble metal elements except Au in the jordisite-rich black shale ore greatly decrease; the leaching rates of Rh, Pd, Pt, the total platinum group elements and Ag reach as high as 66.72%～74.79%, revealing that under supergene condition, platinum group elements and Ag can migrate along with water; the ratios of Ag/Au, Pd/Ru, Pt/Ir and(Pt+Pd)/(Ru+Rh+Ir) are remarkably decreased, displaying that Pt and Pd relative to Ru, Rh and Ir, Ag relative to Au bear more active mobility. The noble metal elements in the black rock series near Zhongnan Village might be mobilized and migrate under the procession of "cold water" rich in [SO4]2- with pH value being about 2.4 at a temperature below 50 ℃.     

Zircon U-Pb and Hf isotopes of volcanic rocks from the Batamayineishan Formation in the eastern Junggar Basin

An internal structural study was conducted to investigate U-Pb age, trace elements and Hf isotopes of basaltic zircons from the Batamayineishan Formation. The basalt was obtained from drill well San-Can 1 on the eastern Luliang uplift within the Junggar Basin. Trace element data of zircons show that all samples are magmatic, with similar REE patterns, including positive Ce (δCe=5.06–134), but negative Eu (δEu=0.06⦒0.55) anomalies and enrichment in heavy rare earth elements. Among 25 grains, the concordant ages were subdivided into three groups; ages of 300.4±1.3 Ma (n=11), 339.2±2.7 Ma (n=3) and 392.0±1.7 Ma (n=8). Three remaining grains were nearly concordant, with ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 510±7, 488±6 and 453±6 Ma, respectively. The youngest concordant age (i.e., 300.4±1.3 Ma) could be interpreted as the formation age of the studied basaltic rock; this is consistent with the sampling position at the upper part of the Batamayineishan Formation. On the other hand, ages such as Ordovician and early Devonian are consistent with the ages of island-arc volcanic rocks (enrichment in Pb) or ophiolites around the basin. Moreover, the positive ɛ _Hf(t) values of the early and middle Paleozoic zircons (+3.6–+10.5) may suggest that the basement traversed by the studied volcanic rocks may be Paleozoic in age, formed from the residual oceanic crust and island-arc complex. The ɛ _Hf(t) values (+4.2–+17.1) of the late Paleozoic (∼300.4 Ma) zircons suggest that the basaltic magmas were derived from partial melting of the asthenospheric mantle or depleted lithospheric mantle. These magmas were slightly contaminated by the existence of early-middle Paleozoic materials. The late Carboniferous basalts represent direct eruption of mantle-derived magmas at the upper crustal level during a post-collisional tectonic setting. We therefore consider that extensive vertical growth of the continental crust to have occurred before the late Carboniferous.     

Adakite-type sodium-rich rocks in Awulale Mountain of west Tianshan: Significance for the vertical growth of continental crust

The sodium-rich dacites and albite porphyries of Permian in the Awulale Mountain of west Tianshan have unique chemical and trace element signatures identical to adakite. These intermediate-acidic igneous rocks are characterized by high Na2O, Al₂O₃ and Sr contents and high Sr/Y and La/Y ratios (＞40 and ＞20, respectively), and low Y and Yb contents, and strong depletion in HREE, and positive Eu anomaly. The (^{143Nd/₁₄₄Nd)_i} is in the range from 0.51236 to 0.51248 and the e_Nd(t) is positive value (+0.79—+3.11); the (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)^_i is in the range from 0.7052 to 0.7054. These Nd and Sr isotopic composition features indicate that the source rocks of these adakite-type rocks are from a weakly depleted mantle, or a depleted mantle, but was contaminated by the crustal materials. These adakite-type rocks were most likely derived from the partial melting of new underplated basaltic rocks under the conditions of amphibolite to eclogite transition in the postcollisional environment of North Xinjiang during the Permian Period. They are not only the Phanerozoic juvenile crust materials, but also are probably animportant symbol of the underplating of mantle- derived basaltic magmas and the vertical growth of continental crust in the west Tianshan area during the postcollision of Late Paleozoic.     

He-Ar isotope geochemistry of the Yaoling-Meiziwo tungsten deposit,North Guangdong Province: Constraints on Yanshanian crust-mantle interaction and metallogenesis in SE China

Isotopic abundances and ratios of He and Ar found in inclusion fluids in pyrites formed in the Yaoling-Meiziwo tungsten miner-alization epoch show that the concentration of 4He varies widely,from 1.54×10-7 cm3 STP/g to 2609×10-7 cm3 STP/g.3He is 0.759×10-12 cm3 STP/g-3.463×10-12 cm3 STP/g.3He/4He is 0.0043-4.362 Ra,varying from crustal to mantle values.The concen-tration of 40Ar ranges from 0.624×10-7 cm3 STP/g to 8.89×10-7 cm3 STP/g.The 40Ar/36Ar varies extensively,from 330 to 2952,between atmospheric and crustal or mantle radiogenic values.Mantle-derived He is present in ore-forming fluids and the calcu-lated average proportion of the mantle He is 22%;the maximum is 67%.Our research results show that mantle-derived fluids play a significant role in tungsten mineralization.The fractionation of He and Ar indicate that there was 4He-enriched air-saturated water(MSAW) in the ore-forming fluid.The ore-forming fluid was a mixture of mantle fluid,crustal magmatic fluid and MSAW.The occurrence of a mantle component in ore-forming fluid indicates the large-scale W and Sn mineralization,including Yaol-ing-Meiziwo,in southeastern China was the result of crust and mantle interaction.The underplating or intrusion of voluminous basaltic magma formed by partial melting of the upper mantle provided the necessary heat to cause partial melting of the crust and the generation of voluminous S-type granitic magmas.Crustal magmatic fluid and mantle fluid with high 3He/4He were released from magma crystallization and fractionation,mixed with the circulating modified air-saturated water,and filled the extensional tectonic fractures,leading to the formation of world-class W and Sn deposits in southeastern China.     

Trace-element of Tuoyun clinopyroxene: Implication for the deep processes of lithospheric mantle beneath the southwest Tianshan, West China

Based on the LAM-ICPMS analytic results on the trace elements of clinopyroxenes in peridotitic xenoliths occurring in early-Cretaceous basalts from western Xinjiang, the properties and the deep processes, including partial melting and mantle metasomatism, of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath the Tuoyun Basin are analyzed. In the northern edge of the Tarim Basin (southwest Tianshan), the Mesozoic subcontinental lithosphere which has experienced the effect of partial melting (<10%) and intricate mantle metasomatism is characterized by Phanerozoic ‘ocean-type’ mantle. The superposed influence of SiO₂-unsaturated silicate melt and carbonate melt probably results in the metasomatic medium which resembles the hydrous silicated carbonate melt in some aspects. By comparing Tuoyun mantle with Cenozoic main mantle beneath eastern China, the properties are similar, while the former shows finer grain and higher diopside content of the peridotites and more conspicuous modal metasomatism.     

Magma mixing in upper mantle: Evidence from high Mg<Superscript>#</Superscript> olivine hosted melt inclusions in MORBs near East Pacific Rise 13°N

Early formed high-Mg^# olivine phenocrysts during evolution of MORB magmas usually host melt inclusions, which record im-portant information about the early-stage evolution of magma. Five MORB samples from near East Pacific Rise (EPR) 13°N vary little in K/Ti (0.07–0.12), Tb/Lu (1.72–1.84) and Sm/Nd (0.310–0.332) and have similar REEs patterns, indicating that depleted upper mantle has similar mineral composition. Sixty-five initial melt inclusions derived by correcting olivine fractionation and “FeO-Loss” show averagely higher MgO contents than their host rocks. Melt inclusions have higher CaO/Al₂O₃ ratios than their host rocks, and these CaO/Al₂O₃ ratios are positively and negatively correlated with MgO and Na₂O respectively, suggesting that these magmas have experienced high pressure crystallization of clinopyroxene. Average crystallization pressure, which is calculated based on the pressure dependence of clinopyroxene crystallization, is 0.83–0.25 GPa, and implys that these melt inclusions are averagely trapped in mantle depth of ~24 km. These melt inclusions show negative correlations of Ca₈/Al₈ and Na₈ with Fe₈, and wider ranges of Ca₈/Al₈, Na₈, Fe₈ and K/Ti than their host rocks, suggesting that these melt inclusions formed by mixing magmas of different melting degrees and depths. According to the average value and ranges of Ca₈/Al₈, Na₈, Fe₈ and K/Ti, these magmas would necessitate other mixing ends in shallow crust except in upper mantle. The compositional diversity of melt inclusions in MORBs phenocrysts cannot always be used to indicate magma mixing and crystallization in shallow crust, and melt inclusions in high Mg^# olivine formed under mantle pressure must be excluded in study of the magma process at crustal level. This study shows that, in EPR, MORBs have experienced mixing of magmas formed by different melting degrees and depths in the mantle.