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(A) The mining pit of the Changshagou gold deposit. (B) Joint fissures in hosting rock: quartz syenite porphyry. (C) The potassic altered rock in porphyry episode is overprinted by silicification in orogenic episode. (D) The boundary of hosting rocks and potassic altered rocks. (E) The hosting rock, potassic altered, silicified and overprinted rocks from the Changshagou gold deposit.

The sampling location of the fluid inclusions study and isotope analysis for the Changshagou gold deposit.

(A) Quartz phenocryst with cataclastic texture in the quartz syenite porphyry. (B) Gold occurs as inclusion in pyrite with cataclastic texture. (C) Potassic altered porphyry is cut by chlorite veinlets in stage IV. (D) Quartz phenocryst is cut by chlorite veinlets in stage IV.

(A, B) Secondary fluid inclusions with low temperature occur in trail. (C, D) Fluid inclusions affected by post-entrapment modification. (E, F) Heterogeneous entrapped V-type fluid inclusions with high homogenization temperatures.

The Kalaxiange’er porphyry copper ore belt is situated in the eastern part of the southern Altai of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt and forms part of a broad zone of Cu porphyry mineralization in southern Mongolia, which includes the Oyu Tolgoi ore district and other copper–gold deposits. The copper ore bodies are spatially associated with porphyry intrusions of granodiorite, quartz diorite, quartz syenite, and quartz monzonite and have a polygenetic (polychromous) origin (magmatic porphyry, hydrothermal, and supergene). The mineralized porphyries are characterized by almost identical REE and trace element patterns. The Zr/Hf and Nb/Ta ratios are similar to those of normal granite produced through the evolution of mantle magma. The low initial Sr isotope ratio ISr, varying within a narrow range of values (0.703790–0.704218), corresponds to that of primitive mantle, whereas the εNd(T) value of porphyry varies from 5.8 to 8.4 and is similar to that of MORB. These data testify to the upper-mantle genesis of the parental magmas of ore-bearing porphyry, which were then contaminated with crustal material in an island-arc environment. The isotopic composition of sulfur (unimodal distribution of δ34S with peak values of −2 to −4‰) evidences its deep magmatic origin; the few lower negative δ34S values suggest that part of S was extracted from volcanic deposits later. The isotopic characteristics of Pb testify to its mixed crust–upper-mantle origin. According to SHRIMP U–Pb geochronological data for zircon from granite porphyry and granodiorite porphyry, mineralization at the Xiletekehalasu porphyry Cu deposit formed in two stages: (1) Hercynian “porphyry” stage (375.2 ± 8.7 Ma), expressed as the formation of porphyry with disseminated and vein–disseminated mineralization, and (2) Indosinian stage (217.9 ± 4.2 Ma), expressed as superposed hydrothermal mineralization. The Re–Os isotope data on molybdenite (376.9 ± 2.2 Ma) are the most consistent with the age of primary mineralization at the Xiletekehalasu porphyry Cu deposit, whereas the Ar–Ar isotopic age (230 ± 5 Ma) of K-feldspar–quartz vein corresponds to the stage of hydrothermal mineralization. The results show that mineralization at the Xiletekehalasu porphyry Cu deposit was a multistage process which resulted in the superposition of the Indosinian hydrothermal mineralization on the Hercynian porphyry Cu mineralization.

The western margin of Yangtze Craton is known as a significant sediment-hosted base-metal aggregate cluster, especially for Pb–Zn deposits in China, e.g. Jinding, Daliangzi, Tianbaoshan, Kuangshanchang and Qinlinchang deposits. In comparison with the classic MVT deposits in the world, based on the basic geology of the sediment-hosted Pb-Zn deposits, this paper focuses on temporalspatial distribution of this deposit to further discuss its large scale mineralization and tectonic evolution history. In the SW Sanjiang Thethys, Jinding deposit is typically thrust fault-controlled and hosted mainly in the sandstones and breccia-bearing sandstones, whereas MVT-type deposits are controlled by lithology and faulting/fracturing with a strong preference for carbonate-hosted rocks. Most importantly, Jinding Pb–Zn deposit differs from the other types of sediment-hosted Pb–Zn deposits in which it was formed in a strongly deformed foreland basin within a continental collision zone. In the Kangdian area, the sediment-hosted Pb–Zn deposits were formed in the extensional basin on the side of the continental orogenic belt along the Yangtze Craton. Compared with classic MVT deposits, the Pb–Zn deposits in the Kangdian area belong to MVT deposits. This paper is significant not only for interpretation of the genesis of sediment-hosted Pb–Zn deposits but also for exploiting large base metal deposits in large sedimentary target areas.

Based on the complex structure and material resources, the complex geological setting of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic continent of China controlled four kinds of dynamic mechanisms of the continental tectonic-mineralization pattern, i.e. the dynamic mechanisms related to (1) underthrusting or collision, (2) activation of old tectonic belts or activity of new tectonic belts, (3) upwelling of mantle material and heat, and (4) interaction between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and lithosphere. The four dynamic factors are related to and interact with each other; and the mantle-crust interaction leads to the regular time-space zonation of endogenetic deposits on a regional scale. The Meso-Cenozoic mineralization pattern in China can be outlined as the network tectono-metallogenic pattern constructed by NNE- and E-W-trending tectonics in eastern China, and multi-layer ring tectono-metallogenic pattern in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and its northern and eastern neighbouring areas.

There are giant mineral deposits, including the Jinding Zn-Pb and Baiyangping Ag-Co-Cu, and other important mineral deposits (e.g., Baiyangchang Ag-Cu, Jinman Cu deposits, etc.) in the Lanping Mesozoic-Cenozoic Basin, Yunnan Province, China. The tabular ore-bodies and some veins hosted in terrestrial clastic rocks of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic age and no outcropping of igneous rocks in the giant deposits lead to the proposal of syngenetic origin, but the giant mineral deposits are not stratabound (e.g. MVT, sandstone- and Sedex-type). They formed in a continental red basin with intense crust movement. The mineralization is controlled by structures and lithology and occurs in different strata, and no sedimentary nature and no exhalative sediments are identified in the deposits. The deposits show some relations with organic matter (now asphalt and petroleum) and evaporates (gypsum). The middle-low-temperature (mainly 110°C to 280°C) mineralization took place at a depth of about 0.9 km to 3.1 km during the early Himalayan (58 to 67 Ma). The salinity of ore-forming fluids is surprisingly low (1.6% to 18.0 wt% (NaCl)eq). Affected by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, the mantle is disturbed under the Lanping Basin. The large-scale mineralization is closely linked with the geodynamics of the crust movement, the mantle and mantle-flux upwelling and igneous activity. Giant mineral deposits and their geodynamic setting are unique in the Lanping Basin.

Many Cenozoic metal deposits have been found during the past decade. Among them, the Fuwan Ag deposit in Guangdong is the largest Ag deposit in China. Besides, the largest Cu deposit of China in Yulong, Tibet, the largest Pb-Zn deposit of China in Jinding, Yunnan, and the largest Au deposit of China in Jinguashi, Taiwan, were also formed in the Cenozoic. Why so many important “present” deposits formed during such a short period of geological history is the key problem. The major reason is that different tectonic settings control different kinds of magmatic activity and mineralization at the same time. In southwestern China, porphyry-type Cu deposits such as Yulong were formed during the early stage of the Himalayan orogeny, sediment-hosted Pb-Zn deposits such as Jinding were formed within intermontane basins related to deep faults, and carbonatite-related deposits such as the Maoniuping REE deposit and alkalic magmatic rock-related deposits such as the Beiya Au deposit originated from the mantle source. In southeastern China, the Fuwan Ag deposit was related to continental rifting which was triggered by the mantle plume. In Taiwan, the Jinguashi Au deposit was formed during the subduction process of an oceanic plate beneath a continental plate. Besides, the features such as the diversification, inheritance, large size, deep source of metals and fluids of the Cenozoic (Present or Recent) mineralization can be used as a key to the search for past deposits.

The Jinding superlarge lead and zinc deposit has attracted the attention of geologists of the world and its metallogenesis has long been in dispute. This paper takes the Jinding deposit and the Baiyangping Cu-Ag-Co deposit which was recently found at about 30 km north of Jinding as one ore belt, and, based on researches on the helium, argon, and xenon isotopic compositions of primary inclusions in ore-forming solutions of the main stage, the authors have found that the 3He/4He ratio of the ore-forming fluid is 2.7×10−6 (varying from 0.19 to 1.97 Ra), the 4He/40Ar ratio (0.24–3.12) is close to the mantle characteristic ratio, and the xenon isotopic composition and evolution show characters of the mantle xenon. The above results reveal the characteristics of mantle source and crust-mantle fluid mixing (mantle helium reaching 32%) and the metallogenic contributions of the deep processes in the Jinding-Baiyangping ore belt.

Lead isotopic analytic data of 30 ores gathered from the Zhuanmiao boron deposit, Wengquangou boron (iron) deposit and its Dongtaizi Ore Member constitute three isochrons, the corresponding ages of which are 1902 ± 12 Ma, 1852 ± 9 Ma and 1917 ± 48 Ma. Lead isotopic analyses of marble from the Xiquegou Member of the Qingchenzi orefield yield a Pb-Pb isochron age of 1844 ± 27 Ma. 40Ar-39Ar quick neutron activation dating of phlogopites and microclines coexisting with ore minerals in the Wengquangou boron (iron) and Zhuanmiao boron deposits shows that: (1) the phlogopite from the Wengquangou has a plateau age of 1923 ± 1.5 Ma and an isochron age of 1924 ± 2.5 Ma; (2) the microcline from the Wengquangou has the plateau age of 1407 ± 5.4 Ma and 220 ± 12 Ma and an isochron age of 1403 ± 19 Ma; (3) the phlogopites from the Zhuanmiao yield a plateau age 1918 ± 1.3 Ma and an isochron age of 1918 ± 2.9 Ma; (4) the microclines from the Zhuanmiao yield the plateau age of 1420 ± 16 Ma and 250 ± 8 Ma and an isochron age of 1425 ± 19 Ma and 269 ± 16 Ma. These ages indicate that the eastern Liaoning area happened around 1900 Ma, an important tectonomagmatic event, which is consistent with the worldwide Mid-Proterozoic tectonomagmatic event. During this period, the Proterozoic Liaohe Group was folded and underwent strong normal metamorphism, and the (hydrothermal) sedimentary boron deposits (or source beds) formed earlier were strongly superimposed by mineralization, resulting in enrichment of boron; later regional geological processes made little contribution to the formation of the boron deposits. Lead isotopic components show that the U-Pb and Th-Pb isotopic system reached homogenization in the ores whereas only the U-Pb isotopic system reached homogenization in the marble from the Xiquegou district, which indicates that the boron deposits superimposed in the studied area endured a relatively strong process of hydrothermal migmatization during the end phase of early Proterozoic metamorphism.

A lot of new gold deposits have been found on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the past two decades. Among them, three main types of gold deposits have been recognized, including quartz-vein-type, shearzone-type and porphyry-type. The former two types of gold deposits are mainly hosted within metamorphic rocks, while the latter is related to Cenozoic magmatism. Although all of these gold deposits are believed to have been formed during the uplift process of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the Cenozoic era (Wang et al., 2002b), precise isotopic age constraints have still been lacking until quite recently. This paper presents new 40Ar/39Ar data of some gold deposits on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which indicate that gold mineralization in the region occurred in response to the episodic stages of the orogenies. Recently obtained 40Ar/39Ar data on quartz and feldspars from several gold deposits, such as the Sandiao deposit, the Baijintaizi deposit, the Pusagang deposits, provide new constraints on gold mineralization on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Geochronological studies of gold deposits along the Daduhe River indicate that there are three stages of gold mineralization. The early two stages occurred as early as 65.1 Ma in the Shuibaiyang deposit and 58.95 Ma in the Ruoji deposit, while the latter stage occurred as late as 25.35 Ma in Baijintaizi and 24.70 Ma in Sandiao. Isotopic dating of three plagioclases from the Beiya deposit, Zhifanggou deposit and Luobodi deposit and a K-feldspar from the Jinchangqing deposit in Yunnan Province indicates that these deposits were formed at two stages. The Zhifanggou and Jinchangqing deposits have early stage records as old as 58.82 Ma in Zhifanggou and 55.49 Ma in Jinchangqing, but all of the above four deposits in Yunnan have late stage records of 23.18 Ma in Jinchangqing, 24.54 Ma in Zhifanggou, 24.60 Ma in Luobodi and 24.56 Ma in Hongnitang. The above results suggest that the gold deposits on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were formed concentratedly at two main episodes, i.e. the end of the Paleocene (about 58 Ma) and the boundary between the Paleogene and the Neogene (about 25 Ma). The later episode appears to be looks like more important and was coupled with the Sichuan movement, which was extensively activated at that period. The beginning of the Cenozoic Era (about 65 Ma) might be another episode of gold mineralization, but only one deposit (Shuibaiyang) in this study has been proved to have been be formed at this stage and might be earlier than the initial collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasia Plate. In view of geology, the above three episodes of gold mineralization are associated with three events of tectonic-magmatism and/or fluid events. Even though the gold deposits (for example, the Shuibaiyang deposit, Ruoji deposit and Pusagang deposit) were formed at different episodes, all of them are genetically related to tectonic movements in large-scale shear zones. It looks like theat tectonic events (including large-scale strike-slip) between Paleogene and Neogene had a wide influence upon gold mineralization, with new deposits formed and old deposits enriched or superimposed to be a higher grade by new stage of mineralization. The above data suggest that gold deposits were not only concentrated in some areas, but also formed mainly at different boundaries of geological times, indicating that there existed some peak stages of gold mineralization (metallogenic episodes), and that the gold deposits were formed mainly by episodic mineralization.

Electron-microprobe analyses of muscovite, biotite, and feldspar are reported for the stratiform Yindongzi—Daxigou Pb—Zn—Ag and Fe deposits of Qinling, northwestern China. The micas are characterized by high Ba levels in banded albite-carbonate rocks that host the deposits. The biotite is also rich in Cl, as is biotite in the nearby Tongmugou Pb-Zn deposit, although biotite and muscovite from this deposit lack Ba enrichment. It is likely that the Ba-rich micas in the Yindongzi-Daxigou deposits formed contemporaneously from the diagenesis and/or regional metamorphism of hydrothermally altered clay minerals, with the barium being derived from entrained pore fluids that may represent relict hydrothermal fluids associated with ore deposition. During the formation of coexisting muscovite and biotite, barium is preferentially partitioned into muscovite and chloride into biotite. Together with the presence of baryte rocks in the bedded ores, these data suggest that ore deposition in the Yindongzi—Daxigou deposits took place in a more oxidising environment than in the nearby Tongmugou deposit. This difference is attributed to the contrasting sedimentary environments of the two deposits, with the Yindongzi—Daxigou deposits having formed under shallow, oxic conditions and the Tongmugou deposit under deeper, anoxic conditions.

Coexisting scapolite, biotite and hornblende in scapolite-biotite rocks from the Tongmugou Pb-Zn deposit, Qinling, northwestern China are characterized by high levels of chlorine. Scapolite composition varies from EqAn27 to EqAn47 with 47–80 wt.% Cl. The scapolite composition is a sensitive indicator of the NaCl activity in coexisting hydrothermal fluid. Biotite contains 0.3–1.2 wt. % Cl and also has high F contents (0.2–0.7 wt.%). The hornblende is a Cl-rich hastingsite with Cl>3.5 wt.% and high (Na2O + K2O) contents (3.2–3.9 wt. %), high Xk [= K/(K + Na)] values (0.45–0.55) and high XFc [= Fe/(Fe + Mg)] values (0.76–0.79). The chlorine within these minerals is thought to be derived from evolved seawater. The scapolite-biotite rocks are products of Cl-rich alteration of volcanoclastic sedimentary rocks during submarine hydrothermal processes. Multiple-stage hydrothermal activity culminated with the circulation of a high-NaCl fluid that was also responsible for the formation of the massive sulphide deposits.