scholarly journals Age and Origin of the Dongping Au-Te Deposit in the North China Craton Revisited: Evidence from Paragenesis, Geochemistry, and In Situ U-Pb Geochronology of Garnet

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gao-Hua Fan ◽  
Jian-Wei Li ◽  
Xiao-Dong Deng ◽  
Wen-Sheng Gao ◽  
Si-Yuan Li
Keyword(s):  
North China Craton ◽  
North China ◽  
Compositional Data ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Alkaline Complex ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
The North ◽  
Alkaline Intrusion

Abstract Dongping is the largest Au-Te vein deposit (~120 t Au) in the North China craton, but its age, origin, and setting remain unsolved. Here, we integrate paragenesis, geochemistry, and in situ U-Pb geochronology of garnet to constrain the timing and possible origin of the Dongping Au-Te deposit. Gold mineralization at Dongping is hosted in the Shuiquangou alkaline complex (ca. 401–390 Ma) and dominated by quartz-sulfide veins with minor ores in adjacent alteration envelopes. Andradite to grossular garnets are recognized in pre-, syn-, and post-ore quartz veins as well as mineralized alteration envelopes and are closely associated with a variety of ore and gangue minerals, mainly including K-feldspar, quartz, specularite, magnetite, pyrite, tellurides, epidote, and calcite. The paragenetic, textural, fluid inclusion, and compositional data suggest that garnets precipitated directly from a low-salinity fluid at 302° to 383°C and 90 to 330 bar. Garnets from various veins and alteration envelopes have similar U contents ranging from 0.80 to 13.89 mg/kg and yield reproducible U-Pb dates of 142 ± 5 to 139 ± 6 Ma (1σ) by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry. The dating results suggest that gold mineralization at Dongping occurred in the Early Cretaceous and thus preclude a genetic link between Au-Te mineralization and the ore-hosting alkaline intrusion as commonly suggested. When combined with independent geologic, geochemical, and geochronological studies, the new garnet U-Pb dates allow us to classify the Dongping Au-Te deposit as an oxidized intrusion-related gold deposit, with the causative magma likely derived from melting of an ancient enriched lithospheric mantle source due to destruction of the subcontinental lithospheric keel beneath the North China craton—a catastrophic event induced by the westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate. This study highlights garnet U-Pb dating as a potential robust geochronometer for gold vein deposits elsewhere.

PRECISE AGES FOR LODE GOLD MINERALIZATION IN THE XIAOQINLING GOLD FIELD, SOUTHERN MARGIN OF THE NORTH CHINA CRATON: NEW CONSTRAINTS FROM IN SITU U-Pb DATING OF HYDROTHERMAL MONAZITE AND RUTILE

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junchen Liu ◽  
Yitian Wang ◽  
Jingwen Mao ◽  
Wei Jian ◽  
Shikang Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North China Craton ◽  
North China ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Late Mesozoic ◽  
The North ◽  
Southern Margin ◽  
Lithospheric Extension ◽  
Gold Producer ◽  
Gold Bearing

Abstract The Xiaoqinling gold field, located along the southern margin of the North China craton, is the second largest gold producer in China, which comprises more than 1,200 auriferous quartz veins with a proven gold reserve of at least 800 tons. Previously, the absolute age of the gold metallogenesis in this area has not been well defined due to the lack of suitable dating minerals. This study presents new in situ laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry U-Pb ages of coexisting hydrothermal monazite and rutile for the Fancha gold deposit in this area, which yielded 206Pb/238U ages of 127.5 ± 0.7 Ma (n = 65, mean square of weighted deviates [MSWD] = 1.8) and 129.7 ± 4.3 Ma (n = 37, MSWD = 1.4), respectively. Both ages overlap within analytical uncertainty at the 2σ level of significance, suggesting that both gold-bearing veins were emplaced at ca. 128 Ma. Mineralogical observations indicate that the monazite and rutile precipitated simultaneously with gold from the hydrothermal fluid. Our new data, combined with recently published monazite age, define a more precise gold episode, demonstrating that the gold endowment of the Xiaoqinling area was formed during a relatively brief period at ca. 130 to 127 Ma. We suggest that auriferous fluids were generated as a result of interactions between the enriched mantle and the lower crust, which was driven by westward flat slab subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate during the late Mesozoic. The peak of lithospheric thinning during the postsubduction may have led to the rapid release of gold from the fertilized mantle. Consequently, the large number of gold-bearing veins in the Xiaoqinling area may ultimately be related to the tectonic evolution and mantle fluid processes that occurred during Early Cretaceous lithospheric extension.

Refertilization of lithospheric mantle beneath the North China Craton in Mesozoic: Evidence from in situ Sr isotopes of Fuxin peridotite

Lithos ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 364-365 ◽  
pp. 105478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongya Zou ◽  
Hongfu Zhang ◽  
Xiaoqi Zhang ◽  
Huiting Zhang ◽  
Benxun Su
Keyword(s):  
North China Craton ◽  
Lithospheric Mantle ◽  
North China ◽  
Sr Isotopes ◽  
The North

scholarly journals Provenance analysis of the Late Triassic Yichuan Basin: constraints from zircon U-Pb geochronology

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianghong Meng ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Duoyun Wang ◽  
Xue Zhang
Keyword(s):  
North China Craton ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
North China ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Provenance Analysis ◽  
Qinling Orogen ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
The North ◽  
Plasma Mass Spectrometry

AbstractLaser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb dating has been performed on detrital zircons from the Chunshuyao Formation sandstone of Yichuan Basin. The ages of 85 detrital zircon grains are divided into three groups: 252-290 Ma, 1740-2000 Ma, and 2400-2600 Ma. The lack of Early Paleozoic and Neoproterozoic U-Pb ages indicates that there is no input from the Qinling Orogen, because the Qinling Orogen is characterized by Paleozoic and Neoproterozoic material. In combination with previous research, we suggest that the source of the Chunshuyao Formation is most likely recycled from previous sedimentary rocks from the North China Craton. In the Late Triassic, the Funiu ancient land was uplifted which prevented source material from the Qinling Orogen. Owing to the Indosinian orogeny, the strata to the east of the North China Craton were uplifted and eroded. The Yichuan Basin received detrital material from the North China Craton.

Thermoluminescence of quartz from Shihu gold deposit, western Hebei province, China: some implications for gold exploration

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ye Cao ◽  
Shengrong Li ◽  
Meijuan Yao ◽  
Huafeng Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
North China Craton ◽  
North China ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
The North ◽  
Indicator Mineral ◽  
Gold Bearing

AbstractThermoluminescence (TL) of monomineralic separates have been widely used in various geosciences fields in order to trace the thermal history and aid in prospecting for gold deposits. Quartz is a ubiquitous mineral in the Shihu gold deposit, which is situated in the northern part of the Taihang orogenic belt in the North China craton (NCC). The deposit is hosted by ductile-brittle faults within an Archean metamorphic core complex of the Fuping Group. This deposit is characterized by gold-bearing quartz-polymetallic sulfides and quartz veins. New TL results have been obtained for quartz, in which four type-TL glow curves were identified. The gold-bearing quartz present type III glow curves that consist of two peak glow curves at the middle and high peak temperatures with the similar TL intensity. In addition, the cross-sections of peak temperatures and TL intensity highlight the valuable area where the Au-bearing quartz present weak TL intensity and low-middle peak temperatures. Our results significantly enhance the usefulness of quartz in metallogenic studies of the North China craton and as an indicator mineral in mineral exploration of the Taihang Mountain region.

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