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Explanation: From Lakange Mo (Cu) deposit to Jiama Cu polymetallic deposit to Bangpu Mo mineralization to Qulong Cu-Mo deposit to Bangpu Cu mineralization, the Cl contents in apatite gradually increase, but the F contents in apatite gradually decrease, and the S content is similar but variation. It indicates that the Mo-dominated porphyry deposit formed from F-S-rich magma, whereas the Cu-dominated porphyry deposit formed from Cl-S-rich magma. [Display omitted] • There are two different magmatic-hydrothermal systems that formed the Bangpu Mo-Cu deposit. • Cu and Mo mineralization contain zircon and apatite with different geochemical features. • Cu mineralization was related to Cl-rich porphyry system, whereas Mo-mineralization was related to F-rich porphyry system. The Bangpu deposit, located in the eastern part of the Gangdese Porphyry Copper Belt, Tibet, is a porphyry Mo-Cu deposit in a continental collisional orogenic belt. Cu and Mo mineralization occurred separately in the Bangpu deposit. Mo (Cu) mineralization occurred mainly in the monzogranite porphyry (MP), while Cu (Mo) mineralization occurred mainly in the diorite porphyry (DP). The cause of such spatial differences in Cu and Mo mineralization in the Bangpu deposit remains unclear. In this study, the mineral chemistry of apatite and zircon was investigated to reveal the differences in the nature of ore-forming magma between Cu (Mo) and Mo (Cu) mineralization in the Bangpu deposit. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of the apatite grains from the MP were enriched in LREEs with negative Eu anomalies, whereas those from the DP and biotite monzonitic granite (BM) had strong negative Eu anomalies with no obvious differentiation between LREEs and HREEs. The DP, MP, and BM have a low T TiZ range from 657 °C to 917 °C and a high AST range from 687 °C to 1079 °C. The zircon grains from the DP and MP had different Th/U ratios and T TiZ values, indicating that these porphyry samples probably experienced different magma crystallization or crystal fractionation histories. The zircon Ce4+/Ce3+ and Eu/Eu* ratios indicate that the ore-bearing DP and MP have higher oxygen fugacity than the BM. The F, Cl, and S contents in the apatite showed that the DP magmas were Cl- and S- rich, whereas the MP magmas magmas were F- and S- rich. The Bangpu porphyry Mo-Cu deposit results from two superimposed magmatic-hydrothermal systems. Mo was mainly partitioned into the F-rich magmatic-hydrothermal system released from the MP, and Cu was mainly partitioned into the Cl-rich magmatic-hydrothermal system released from the DP. Our results show that zircon and apatite geochemistry can be used to explain the spatial distribution of Cu and Mo mineralization in porphyry Cu-Mo systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Duolong district is located in the south Qiangtang terrane of Tibet and is the most significant ore cluster within the Bangongco-Nujiang metallogenic belt. Duolong contains one giant, three large and two medium to small-sized porphyry (±epithermal ± breccia) copper deposits and several other mineralized porphyry bodies. All deposits are closely associated with early Cretaceous (123–115 Ma) intermediate-felsic intrusions. Naruo is a poorly studied porphyry-breccia copper deposit in the north of the Duolong district. Hydrothermal alteration surrounding the ore-bearing granodiorite at Naruo is characterized by an inner potassic zone and an outer propylitic zone, overlapped locally by minor phyllic and argillic alteration assemblages. A detailed paragenetic study has identified five distinct hydrothermal veins (M, A, B, C, D) within the porphyry system. Hydrothermal B veins are strongly related to copper mineralization. Strong propylitic alteration is also observed throughout the hydrothermal breccias identified at Naruo. Sandstone breccia, diorite-bearing breccia and granodiorite-bearing breccia were identified according to the distribution and composition of clasts. U-Pb zircon dating has determined the ages of the ore-bearing granodiorite (121.6 ± 1.3 Ma) and a barren intrusion (115.5 ± 1.1 Ma) within the porphyry system, diorite clasts (122.3 ± 0.9 Ma) and later diorite matrix (120.5 ± 1.0 Ma) in the hydrothermal breccia system, suggesting that with the exception of the late barren intrusion, they all belong to the same mineralizing event at Duolong. The geological and geochemical evidence presented in this study suggest that the porphyry and breccia systems may have originated from the same magma source, but are now spatially independent. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Geological features were identified in the Naruo porphyry-breccia Cu deposit. • Five distinct hydrothermal veins and three kinds of breccias were identified in Naruo deposit. • Precise geochronology research on porphyries and the breccias, and redefine the magmatism and mineralization age. • The porphyry and breccia systems may have originated from the same magma source, but are now spatially independent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable Zn isotopes may be applied to trace the source of ore-forming metals in various types of Pb Zn deposits. To test this application, Zn and Pb isotope systematics for sulfides and associated basement rocks as well as Fe Mn carbonates (gangue) from the Zhaxikang Pb Zn deposit in South Tibet have been analyzed. The basement in this region includes metamorphosed mafic to felsic rocks (dolerite, quartz diorite, rhyolite porphyry, pyroclastics and porphyritic monzogranite). These rocks have similar δ 66 Zn values of 0.33 to 0.37‰, with an average value of 0.36 ± 0.03‰ (2σ), except for the more evolved porphyritic monzogranite that has a heavier value of 0.49‰. Fe Mn carbonates are present as hydrothermal veins and were probably precipitated from magmatic fluids. They have an average δ 66 Zn value of 0.27 ± 0.05‰, which is slightly lighter than the basement rocks, possibly representing δ 66 Zn isotopic compositions of the hydrothermal fluids. Sphalerite and galena have similar Zn isotopic compositions with δ 66 Zn ranging from 0.03 to 0.26‰ and 0.21 to 0.28‰, respectively. Considering the Zn isotope fractionation factor between sphalerite and fluids of − 0.2‰ at ~ 300 °C as reported in literature, hydrothermal fluids from which these sulfides precipitated will have δ 66 Zn values of ca. 0.39 ± 0.10‰, which are consistent with the values of basement rocks and the Fe Mn carbonates. This similarity supports a magmatic-hydrothermal origin of the Zhaxikang Pb Zn deposit. Both Pb and S isotopes in these sphalerite and galena show large variations and are consistent with being derived from a mixture of basement and sedimentary rocks in various proportions. Zn isotopic compositions of the sulfides significantly extend the range of regional basement rocks, suggesting that sedimentary rocks (e.g., shales) are also a significant source of Zn. However, the Zn isotopic compositions of sphalerite and galena differ from those of marine carbonates and those of typical SEDEX-type deposits (e.g. Kelley et al., 2009), confirming a magmatic-hydrothermal model. Combined with regional geological observations and the age constraints of ~ 20 Ma (Zheng et al., 2012, 2014), the results of our investigation indicate that the Zhaxikang Pb Zn deposit is most likely a magmatic-hydrothermal deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jiama deposit, located in the eastern part of the well-known Gangdese Metallogenic Belt on the Tibetan Plateau, is the largest porphyry Cu–polymetallic system in the region, with the largest exploration budget, and is economically viable in the Gangdese Belt to undergo large-scale development. The deposit is well preserved and has experienced little erosion. The proven resources of the deposit are 7.4 Mt Cu, 0.6 Mt Mo, 1.8 Mt Pb + Zn, 6.65 Moz Au, and 360.32 Moz Ag. The results presented in this paper are based on geological and tectonic mapping, geological logging, and other exploration work performed by members of the Jiama Exploration Project Team over a period of 6 years. We propose that the Jiama porphyry Cu–polymetallic system is composed of skarn Cu–polymetallic, hornfels Cu–Mo, porphyry Mo ± Cu, and distal Au mineralization. The development of skarn Cu–polymetallic orebodies at the Jiama deposit was controlled mainly by the contact zone between porphyries and marbles, an interlayer detachment zone, and the front zone of a gliding nappe structure. The hornfels Cu–Mo and porphyry Mo ± Cu orebodies were controlled mainly by a fracture system related to intrusions, and the distal Au mineralization resulted from late-stage hydrothermal alteration. On the basis of field geological logging, optical microscopy, and chemical analysis, we verify that the alteration zones in the Jiama deposit include potassic, phyllic, propylitic, and argillic alteration, with a local lithocap, as well as endoskarn and exoskarn zones. The endoskarn occurs mainly as epidote alteration in quartz diorite porphyry and granite porphyry, and is cut by massive andradite veins. The exoskarn includes garnet–pyroxene and wollastonite skarn, in which the mineralogy and mineral chemical compositions display an outward zonation with respect to the source porphyry. From the proximal skarn to the intermediate skarn to the distal skarn, the garnet/pyroxene ratio varies from > 20:1 to ~ 10:1 to ~ 5:1, the garnet color varies from red-brown to brown-green to green-yellow, and the average composition of garnet varies from Ad 80.1 Gr 18.9 (Sp + Py) 1.0 to Ad 76.3 Gr 23 (Sp + Py) 0.7 to Ad 59.5 Gr 39.5 (Sp + Py) 1.0 , respectively. The pyroxene is not as variable in composition as the garnet, and is primarily light green to white diopside with a maximum hedenbergite content of ~ 20% and an average composition of Di 88.6 Hd 8.9 Jo 2.5 . From the proximal skarn to the intermediate skarn to the distal skarn, the mineralization changes from Cu–Mo to Cu ± Mo to Pb–Zn ± Cu ± Au ores, respectively. The wollastonite skarn displays no zonation and hosts mainly bornite mineralization. The Cu and Mo mineralization is closely related to the potassic and phyllic zones in the porphyry–hornfels. Zircons from four mineralized porphyries yield U–Pb ages of 15.96 ± 0.5 Ma, 15.72 ± 0.14 Ma, 15.59 ± 0.09 Ma, and 15.48 ± 0.08 Ma. The Re–Os ages of molybdenite from the skarn, hornfels, and porphyry are 15.37 ± 0.15 Ma, 14.67 ± 0.37 Ma, and 14.66 ± 0.27 Ma, respectively. The present results are consistent with the findings of previous research on fluid inclusions, isotopes, and other such aspects. On the basis of the combined evidence, we propose a porphyry Cu–polymetallic system model for the Jiama deposit and suggest a regional exploration strategy that can be applied to prospecting for porphyry-skarn mineralization in the Lhasa area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Xiongcun district, located in the western segment of the Gangdese porphyry copper belt (GPCB), hosts the only known Jurassic mineralization in the GPCB, Tibet, PRC. The No. I deposit in the Xiongcun district is related to the Middle Jurassic quartz diorite porphyry (167–161 Ma) and the mineralization was formed at ca. 161.5 ± 2.7 Ma. Ore-bearing Middle Jurassic quartz diorite porphyry emplaced into the Early Jurassic volcano-sedimentary rock sequences of the Xiongcun Formation. Veinlets and disseminated mineralization developed within the Middle Jurassic quartz diorite porphyry and the surrounding metamorphosed tuff, hosting a measured and indicated resource of 1.04 Mt copper, 143.31 t gold and 900.43 t silver with an average grade of 0.48% copper, 0.66 g/t gold, and 4.19 g/t silver. The mineralization can be assigned to four stages, including three main stages of hypogene mineralization and one epigenetic stage. The main alteration associated with mineralization is potassic. Seven mineralization-related hydrothermal veins have been recognized, including quartz–sulfide, biotite–sulfide, magnetite–sulfide, quartz–molybdenite–sulfide, chalcopyrite–pyrite–pyrrhotite, pyrite and polymetallic veins. The S and Pb isotopic compositions of the ore sulfides and the Re contents of the molybdenite suggest a mantle source for the ore-forming materials with minor contamination from the subducted sediments. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope compositions of quartz in the ores suggest that both magmatic and meteoric waters were involved in the ore-forming process. The ore-bearing porphyry (167–161 Ma) and ore-forming (161.5 ± 2.7 Ma) ages of the No. I deposit correspond to the time of northward subduction of Neo-Tethys oceanic slab. The geochemical data of the ore-bearing porphyry indicate that the No. I deposit formed in an intra-oceanic island arc setting and the ore-bearing porphyry originated from the partial melting of mantle with limited contribution of subducted sediments. The genesis of the ore-bearing porphyry and No. I deposit is interpreted as being related to northward intra-oceanic subduction of Neo-Tethys oceanic slab in the Middle Jurassic time (167–161 Ma). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bangpu porphyry Mo–Cu deposit is a representative Mo-dominated deposit besides the Sharang porphyry Mo deposit in the Gangdese metallogenic belt. The Mo–Cu mineralization has a close relationship with the monzogranite porphyry and diorite porphyrite. We identify three stages during the ore formation: a pre-ore stage, a main-ore stage with Mo–Cu deposited dominantly, and a post-ore stage. In this study, He–Ar, H–O, S and Pb isotopic compositions of the Bangpu deposit were determined. Based on these determinations, integrated isotope geochemistry studies were performed to constrain the possible sources of the ore-forming fluids and metals. The 3 He/ 4 He and 40 Ar/ 36 Ar ratios of fluid inclusions exhibit a range of 0.12209–0.36370 Ra and 275.6–346.1, respectively. The 4 He and 40 Ar concentrations vary from 1.51 to 3.57 (10 −7 cm 3 STP g −1 ) and 0.49 to 9.31 (10 −7 cm 3 STP g −1 ), respectively. He–Ar isotopic compositions suggest dominantly crustal-derived fluid with minor amount of meteoric water in the main ore stage. The δ 18 O fluid and δD fluid values vary from −1.3‰ to 3.9‰ and −140.5‰ to −73.7‰, respectively, indicating that magma fluids mixed with meteoric water. The average δ 34 S value of the sulfides (0.3‰) in the main-ore stage is close to the ore-forming porphyries, indicating a magmatic source. The lead isotopic components of ore sulfides exhibit restricted ranges with 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb, and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb ratios of 18.450–18.728, 15.602–5.672, and 38.715–39.211, respectively and μ values in the range of and 9.46–9.58, indicating ore-forming metals of primarily an upper crust source with a small amount of mantle materials. Compared to the Bangpu deposit, the ore metals derived from mantle are even greater in the Jiama and Qulong deposits, which leads to Cu being the dominant mineralization in the Jiama and Qulong deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coexistence of aqueous fluid inclusions and silicate melt inclusions in quartz phenocrysts from porphyrites at the Bangpu porphyry Mo–Cu deposit, Tibet, China were examined to characterize the immiscibility processes during the magmatic to hydrothermal transition. The physical and chemical environment during crystallization of the magmas has been reconstructed on the basis of microthermometric experiments and trace element microanalysis. Compositions of melt and brine fluid phases are determined using Synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence analysis, SEM–EDS and Laser Raman spectroscopy analyses. Brine fluids were directly exsolved by a crystallizing melt, and the simultaneous entrapment of volatile-rich (brine fluid) and volatile-poor immiscible phases (silicate melt) occurred at 670–700 °C and 1.6–1.95 kbar when the magma had H 2 O contents between 5 and 6 wt% and crystal contents of 60–80%. A later low-density fluid with a higher Mo concentration exsolved after about 80–90% crystallization had occurred. This fluid contained significant concentrations of Cl, Na, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, and small amounts of Mn, Br and Pb. Immiscibility of magmatic fluids can lead to different metal partitioning behaviors between residual melt and volatile phases, which generate variable metal ratios. Copper was partitioned preferentially into the brine phase, in contrast to the behavior observed in other porphyry Cu deposits. Ore deposition by a dense brine could explain the partially deep Cu mineralization. Condensation of brine from a later low-density parental fluid could be an efficient mechanism to concentrate shallow Cu mineralization and broadly distributed Mo mineralization. The source of the Mo mineralizing fluids probably was a particularly large magma chamber that crystallized and fractionated at depth greater than upper continental crust level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The Xiongcun district present two middle Jurassic mineralizing episodes separated by 10m.y. [•] The porphyry mineralization in the Xiongcun district formed in island arc setting. [•] Four major metallogenic events existed in the Gangdese porphyry copper belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Zircon U–Pb dating indicates the emplacement of Ruocuo adakitic porphyries during the Early–Middle Jurassic (182–170 Ma). • Ruocuo adakitic porphyries were generated by the partial melting of the Neo-Tethys oceanic slab. • Formation of Early Mesozoic magmatic rocks in the southern Lhasa subterrane in a magmatic arc setting. • The northern Xigaze forearc basin has a potential for subduction-related porphyry Cu–Au mineralization. Abstract Jurassic adakitic rocks in the southern Lhasa subterrane are relatively rare, poorly documented, and their petrogenesis and geodynamic setting are unclear. To explore these issues, we present zircon U–Pb ages along with Hf isotopic, whole-rock geochemical, and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic data for hornblende quartz diorite porphyry (HQDP) and quartz diorite porphyry (QDP) in the Ruocuo area, southern margin of the Lhasa terrane, Tibet. Zircon U–Pb dating for these rocks indicates that they were emplaced in the Early–Middle Jurassic (182–170 Ma). Geochemically, HQDP and QDP both show characteristics of adakites, with intermediate SiO 2 (60.62–65.63 wt% and 57.46–60.04 wt%, respectively), relatively high Al 2 O 3 (14.23–18.23 wt% and 18.32–20.14 wt%, respectively) and Sr (344–571 ppm and 514–614 ppm, respectively), and low Y (9.12–13.0 ppm and 11.0–14.9 ppm, respectively) and Yb (0.93–1.31 ppm and 1.08–1.52 ppm, respectively). In addition, they show relatively low ratios of (87Sr/86Sr) i (0.7038–0.7045), (206Pb/204Pb) i (18.31–18.42), (207Pb/204Pb) i (15.56–15.66), and (208Pb/204Pb) i (38.36–38.77) and relatively high values of ε Nd (t) (+5.54 to +6.33) and ε Hf (t) (+11.8 to +17.3). The Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopes of HQDP and QDP are similar to those of the Yarlung Tsangpo ophiolites, indicating that they were predominantly generated by the partial melting of the subducted Neo-Tethys oceanic slab. The subducted Neo-Tethys oceanic slab-derived adakitic rocks that are present in the southern Lhasa subterrane provide strong evidence for proving the presence of oceanic subduction during the Early–Middle Jurassic. By combining our results with the previously reported results, we suggest that the Ruocuo adakitic rocks and Early Mesozoic (Late Triassic to Middle Jurassic) magmatic rocks in the southern Lhasa subterrane formed in a magmatic arc setting related to the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic slab, that the initial subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic slab occurred prior to the Early Jurassic, and that the upwelling asthenosphere, triggered by the roll-back of the subducted Neo-Tethys oceanic slab, provided the heat that was required for slab melting. However, contrasting these results with the geochemical characteristics of the No. 2 deposit in the Xiongcun Cu–Au district leads us to consider that the Early–Middle Jurassic subducted oceanic slab-derived adakitic porphyries contain a greater potential for porphyry Cu–Au mineralization than the Early Mesozoic normal magmatic rocks in the southern Lhasa subterrane. Furthermore, mineralized Jurassic porphyry has been reported in the Ruocuo area, adjacent to the northern Xigaze forearc basin, indicating that the northern Xigaze forearc basin also has the potential for subduction-related porphyry Cu–Au mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Leqingla and Xin'gaguo deposits are two representative skarn Pb–Zn polymetallic deposits of the Gangdese Pb–Zn polymetallic belt, Tibet, China. LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating of the mineralization-related biotite granites from both the Leqingla and Xin'gaguo deposits yielded weighted mean ages of 60.8 Ma and 56.5 Ma, respectively, which can be inferred as their mineralization ages. The Leqingla biotite granite is characterized by high Al 2 O 3 , total Fe, Na 2 O, and low K 2 O. In comparison, the Xin'gaguo biotite granite is characterized by relative higher K 2 O but lower Al 2 O 3 , total Fe, and Na 2 O. Geochemical and mineralogical characteristics indicate that the Leqingla and Xin'gaguo biotite granites are calc-alkaline I-type granite and High K calc-alkaline I-type granite, respectively. Both the Leqingla and Xin'gaguo biotite granites are enrichment in LREE and LILEs and depletion in HFSEs, and they were formed at the India–Asia collision stage. δ 18 O and δD values for the Leqingla and Xin'gaguo deposits are −8.8‰ to 5.3‰ and −140.4‰ to −90.1‰, −4.5‰ to 7.0‰ and −117.3‰ to −81.0‰, respectively, indicating magma fluids mixed with meteoric water in ore-forming fluids. δ 34 S values (−11.6‰ to −0.3‰) of ore sulfides from the Leqingla deposit show characteristics of biogenetic sulfur isotope compositions, suggesting sulfur for the Leqingla deposit were sourced from wall rocks of the Mengla and Luobadui Formation, which are rich in organic materials. δ 34 S values of ore sulfides from the Xin'gaguo deposits show bimodal distribution (−5.0‰ to −1.6‰ and 1.6–2.1‰), indicating sulfur in the Xin'gaguo deposit were derived from both wall rocks and magma. In the Leqingla deposit, most ore sulfides have the similar Pb isotopic compositions with that of the mineralization-related biotite granite, suggesting the biotite granite supplied most of the ore-forming metals. Pb isotopic compositions of ore sulfides and Hf isotopic compositions of biotite granite show that the majority of ore-forming metals are derived from mantle components of partial melting of the Neo-Tethys Ocean slab, with some upper crust materials of the Lhasa terrane. Pb isotopic compositions of ore sulfides from the Xin'gaguo deposit are similar to that of the Leqingla deposit, indicating they have the similar sources of ore-forming metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Chalcopyrite, bornite, pyrite and pyrrhotite are not low-level highly radiogenic. [•] No Re–Os isochron age of these sulfides is geologically meaningful. [•] Re–Os isotope system is sensitive and disturbed due to hydrothermal alteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]