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The Western Qinling Orogen (WQO) is characterized by voluminous distribution of Indosinian granitoids, the formation of which provides an important window to unravel the geochemical and geodynamic evolution and associated metallogeny. Here we investigate a group of intrusions termed “Five Golden Flowers” based on petrological, geochemical, zircon U–Pb geochronological and Lu–Hf isotopic studies on the granitoids and their mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs). Our results show that these intrusions are genetically divided into two types, namely, magma-mixing and highly fractionated. The Jiaochangba, Lujing, Zhongchuan, and Luchuba granitoids are biotite monzogranites (220 ​± ​0.8 ​Ma to 217 ​± ​2.6 ​Ma) with abundant coeval MMEs (220 ​± ​1.1 ​Ma to 217 ​± ​2.7 ​Ma). The rocks contain moderate to high SiO2, high MgO, Rb, Sr, Ba, and Th contents, but low TiO2, P2O5, and Sc values, A/CNK of

PurposeTo explore the clinical value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM), and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) based on diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) for predicting genotypes and prognostic factors of breast cancer.Materials and MethodsA total of 227 patients with breast cancer confirmed by pathology were reviewed retrospectively. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), IVIM, and DKI were performed in all patients. The corresponding ADC, true diffusion coefficient (D), perfusion-related diffusion coefficient (D*), perfusion fraction (f), mean diffusion rate (MD), and mean kurtosis value (MK) were measured. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy in predicting the Nottingham prognostic index (NPI), the expression of antigen Ki-67, and the molecular subtypes of breast cancer. The nomogram of the combined genotype-prediction model was established based on the multivariate logistic regression model results.ResultsD* and MK values were significantly higher in the high-grade Nottingham group (NPI ≥ 3.4) than the low-grade Nottingham group (NPI < 3.4) (p < 0.01). When D* ≥ 30.95 × 10−3 mm2/s and MK ≥ 0.69, the NPI tended to be high grade (with areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.712 and 0.647, respectively). The combination of D* and MK demonstrated the highest AUC of 0.734 in grading NPI with sensitivity and accuracy of 71.7% and 77.1%, respectively. Additionally, higher D*, f, and MK and lower ADC and D values were observed in the high Ki-67 than low Ki-67 expression groups (p < 0.05). The AUC of the combined model (D + D* + f + MK) was 0.755, being significantly higher than that of single parameters (Z = 2.770~3.244, p = 0.001~0.006) in distinguishing high from low Ki-67 expression. D* and f values in the Luminal A subtype were significantly lower than in other subtypes (p < 0.05). Luminal B showed decreased D value compared with other subtypes (p < 0.05). The HER-2-positive subtype demonstrated increased ADC values compared with the Luminal B subtype (p < 0.05). Luminal A/B showed significantly lower D, D*, MD, and MK than the non-Luminal subtypes (p < 0.05). The combined model (D + D* + MD + MK) showed an AUC of 0.830 in diagnosing the Luminal and non-Luminal subtypes, which is significantly higher than that of a single parameter (Z = 3.273~4.440, p < 0.01). f ≥ 54.30% [odds ratio (OR) = 1.038, p < 0.001] and MK ≥ 0.68 (OR = 24.745, p = 0.012) were found to be significant predictors of triple-negative subtypes. The combination of f and MK values demonstrated superior diagnostic performance with AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 0.756, 67.5%, 77.5%, and 82.4%, respectively. Moreover, as shown in the calibration curve, strong agreements were observed between nomogram prediction probability and actual findings in the prediction of genotypes (p = 0.22, 0.74).ConclusionDWI, IVIM, and DKI, as MR diffusion imaging techniques with different mathematical models showed potential to identify the prognosis and genotype of breast cancer. In addition, the combination of these three models can improve the diagnostic efficiency and thus may contribute to opting for an appropriate therapeutic approach in clinic treatment.

Sulfur isotopic composition is useful for tracing sources of ore-forming materials. In situ sulfur isotope analysis by laser ablation coupled with multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICPMS) has an advantage over traditional bulk analysis in tracing sources of sulfur in an ore deposit that has complex mineral types and multiple ore-forming processes. However, in using this method, matrix effects exist widely for sulfides from ore deposits. In this work, matrix effects of different sulfides were examined by matrix-unmatched tests, in which the δ34S values of different types of sulfides were calibrated against a laboratory pyrite standard. The results show that the δ34S values of pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, molybdenite, sphalerite, and arsenopyrite are in agreement with the reference values, suggesting that the matrix effect was negligible. However, a significant matrix effect occurred in the analyses of Ag2S and galena, leading to significant deviations in δ34S values of up to 1.2‰ and 3.2‰, respectively. The matrix effect occurred not only during the laser ablation stage but also during the transition of ions into the mass spectrometer, resulting in significant space charge effects caused by heavy-mass elements. Thus, pyrite can be used as an external bracketing standard for sulfides that do not have a heavy-mass matrix. Based on our matrix-effect study, the following available external standards were selected for the in situ sulfur isotope analysis of complex-type minerals from the Erlihe Zn-Pb deposit. The coarse-grained sphalerite grains (Sph1) and euhedral to subhedral pyrite grains (Py1) from massive ores have δ34S values ranging from 9.2‰ to 18.1‰. Such heavy sulfur isotopic compositions indicate the derivation of sulfur from the deposits of seawater sulfate, related to a thermochemical reducing process. Fine-grained sphalerite (Sph2) and pyrite (Py2) from vein and disseminated ores coexist with pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite, and have relatively light sulfur isotopic compositions, with δ34S values of about 7‰. The slightly positive δ34S values are similar to those of sulfides from sulfide-rich quartz veins, which contain δ34S values of about 4‰, and granodiorite rocks, with δ34S values of about 6‰. Based on previous studies, the light sulfur of the late-stage sulfides may have resulted from a metamorphic or magmatic hydrothermal event during the Indosinian orogeny. In situ sulfur analysis by LA-MC-ICPMS provides new evidence for sources of sulfur from each stage of mineralization in the Erlihe deposit, suggesting that this is a promising method for studying complex ore deposits.

To explore the clinical value of diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) and dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for predicting genotypes and prognostic factors of breast cancer.A total of 130 female patients with pathologically-confirmed breast cancer and DKI and DCE-MRI data were reviewed retrospectively. Two radiologists independently evaluated mean diffusivity (MD) and mean kurtosis (MK) for the DKI model and volume transfer constant (KMK, KK

To characterize the auditory and imaging markers of atypical enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA). 15 EVA cases (26 ears) confirmed via high-resolution MRI (HRMRI) that did not meet the Valvassori criterion on high-resolution CT (HRCT) were classified as atypical EVA. Another 21 EVA cases (40 ears) meeting the Valvassori criterion were randomly chosen as typical EVA. The hearing loss (HL), HRCT, and HRMRI findings were compared between the two groups. The difference of HL severity between atypical and typical EVA was not statistically significant (χ2 = 0.12, P > 0.05. The vestibular aqueducts (VA) of atypical EVA cases manifested as borderline dilation (n = 17), focal dilation (n = 3), and normal appearance (n = 6) on the HRCT. The midpoint width of atypical and typical EVA cases was 1.06 ± 0.18 mm and 2.10 ± 0.55 mm, respectively, exhibiting a significant difference (t = – 9.20, P

The Wenquan Mo deposit in Gansu Province, China, is one of the large porphyry Mo deposits in the Western Qinling Orogen that associated with the Triassic continental collision between the North China Block and South China Block. In this study, detailed fluid inclusions (FIs) analyses were performed on early stage quartz–biotite–K-feldspar veins, middle stage quartz–polymetallic sulfide veins and late stage sulfide–calcite veins. Four compositional types of FIs are observed, including pure CO2 (PC-type), CO2-H2O (C-type), H2O-NaCl (W-type), and daughter mineral-bearing polyphase (S-type, with no halite daughter mineral). The early stage quartz contains all the four types, which are mainly homogenized between 285 °C and 495 °C, with salinities ranging from 4.2 to 17.6 wt% NaCl eqv. However, in the middle stage, PC-type FIs are not observed, and S-, W- and C-types FIs yield homogeneous temperatures (Th) of 200–397 °C and salinities of 2.4–13.1 wt% NaCl eqv. Late stage quartz contains only W-type FIs with Th of 102–246 °C and salinities of 1.2–10.1 wt% NaCl eqv. Results indicate that the fluid-system evolved from an initial CO2-rich magmatic-hydrothermal fluid to a late CO2-poor meteoric fluid. In the early and middle stages, it is possible that heterogeneous FIs associations may have been trapped from a fluid immiscibility system. The dramatically decreasing percentage of PC- and C-types FIs in the ore stage indicates that CO2 escaped, which is possibly the result of earlier fluid immiscibility and phase separation. In addition, there are double peaks of Th in this stage that are obviously lower than in the early stage, showing that meteoric water flowed into and mixed with magmatic fluids, thereby cooling the hydrothermal system. These results suggest that metal precipitation resulted from fluid immiscibility, CO2 escape, and inflow of meteoric water occurred in the middle stage. The initial fluids of the Wenquan deposit are characterized by relatively high temperature, high salinity, high fO2, and are CO2-rich and NaCl-poor, indicating that the Wenquan deposit is a collisional-type porphyry Mo deposit. The oxygen fugacity (fO2) constrained by trace element compositions of zircons from the Wenquan Mo-bearing porphyry is uneven with ΔFMQ −10.3–+4.68 (average of −4.32), which could result from the input of mafic magma and its inhomogeneous mixing with felsic magma. Such values are still much higher than those of the adjacent contemporaneous Mo-barren Lujing, Baijiazhuang, Jiaochangba, Luchuba, and Zhongchuan granitic plutons, which confirms the affinity between Mo mineralization and the oxidized melt system and implies that the Wenquan porphyry has relatively high fO2 characteristics for its tectonic location and epoch. Fluid inclusion, initial mineralization depth (∼8.6 km), magma fO2, and the zircon high U/Yb ratio of the Wenquan Mo deposit strongly suggest that Mo mineralization was related to continental collision, rather than oceanic crust subduction. This study therefore proposes that the Wenquan Mo deposit was formed in a rapid crust uplifting setting caused by syn-orogenic crustal thickening followed by post-orogenic delamination of the lithospheric root during the Late Triassic.

Traditional metallogenic models posit that porphyry–skarn Cu systems form in subduction and collision zones. However, in eastern China, many important Late Mesozoic porphyry–skarn deposits have formed in intracontinental settings related to lithospheric break-up during the celebrated tectonothermal, Yanshanian event. The Xiaohekou Cu skarn deposit in the southern Qinling Orogen presents an ideal case study to describe such ore deposit geology, using mineral and fluid inclusion analysis, in addition to sulfide and granitoid S Pb isotope studies. A detailed metallogenic process model for the intracontinental skarn Cu deposit is proposed. The authors recognize four main paragenetic stages: (I) anhydrous skarn, (II) hydrous skarn–Fe oxide, (III) quartz–polymetallic sulfide, and (IV) carbonate–quartz. Stage I is characterized by high temperatures (346–547 °C), high to moderate salinities (6.74–49.2 wt% NaCleqv), together with acidic and oxidizing H2O-NaCl fluids. From early to late anhydrous skarn stage, un-zoned grossular (Adr24–31Gr68–74), a grossular–andradite alternation series with wide zones (Adr26–68Gr31–72) and diopside (Di73–91Hd8–24)–pure andradite with dense oscillation zones (Adr68–100Gr0–30) crystallized sequentially, representing a gradual shift toward higher fO2 conditions. Diopside-hosted fluid inclusions (FIs) contain halite-bearing three phase (H-type), liquid-rich two-phase (L-type), and vapor-rich two-phase (V-type) inclusions, suggesting such fluids were sourced from a silicate melt and stage I & II boiling of magmatic-hydrothermal fluids at lithostatic depths of 1.1–3.3 km.. The FIs in actinolite (stage II) are characterized by homogenization temperatures (Th) of 273–502 °C and salinities of 4.34–42.8 wt% NaCleqv. Cooling and dilution of the ore-forming hydrothermal fluid, as well as the high fO2 conditions were responsible for the hydrous skarn alteration in addition to magnetite and specularite deposition. Stage III constitutes the principal Cu mineralizing event. Quartz from this stage contains distinctive liquid-rich inclusions, with Th of 143–423 °C and salinity of 2.07–17.8 wt% NaCleqv. Their Th values include two populations (210–270 °C and 303–359 °C) suggesting a commingling of hot magmatic-hydrothermal fluid and meteoric water accompanied by a significant fO2 decrease and pH increase was a principal factor behind chalcopyrite-pyrite-pyrrhotite deposition. The fluids in stage IV (81–218 °C and 0.18–14.1 wt% NaCleqv) are likely be the chilled equivalent of fluid from the Cu mineralization stage which equilibrated with marble. S Pb isotopes reveal that the metals were derived from the granitic rocks and produced by hybrid (mantle+crust)-derived magmas. We propose hydrothermal fluids exsolved from the cooling granitic magma contributed the majority ore-forming materials. Whereas ore-forming fluids clearly interacted with country rocks affecting ore precipitation, skarn development and deposit geometry and emplacement. Devonian host rocks donated little if any of either sulfur or base metals to the mineralization process.

The western Qinling orogen (WQO) is one of the most important prospective gold provinces in China. The Maanqiao gold deposit, located on the southern margin of the Shangdan suture, is a representative gold deposit in the WQO. The Maanqiao deposit is hosted by the metasedimentary rocks of the Upper Devonian Tongyusi Formation. The EW-trending brittle-ductile shear zone controls the orebodies; they occur as disseminated, and auriferous quartz–sulfide vein. The ore-related hydrothermal alteration comprises silicification, sulfidation, sericitization, chloritization, and carbonatization. Native gold is visible and mainly associated with pyrite and pyrrhotite. Mineralization can be classified into the following three stages: bedding-parallel barren quartz–pyrite–(pyrrhotite) (early-stage), auriferous quartz–polymetallic (middle-stage), and carbonate–(quartz)–sulfide (late-stage). Detailed fluid inclusion (FI) studies revealed three types of inclusions in quartz and calcite: aqueous (W-type), CO2–H2O (C-type), and pure carbonic (PC-type) FIs. The primary FIs in the early-stage quartz are C- and PC-type, in the middle-stage quartz are mainly W- and C-type, and in the late-stage calcite are only W-type. During gold mineralization, the total FI homogeneous temperatures evolved from 189–375 °C (mostly 260–300 °C) to 132–295 °C (mostly 180–240 °C) to 123–231 °C (mostly 130–150 °C), and the salinities varied among 2.2–9.1 wt.% NaCl equiv. (mostly 5–8 wt.%) to 0.2–9.0 wt.% NaCl equiv. (mostly 3–6 wt.%) to 0.3–3.6 wt.% NaCl equiv. (mostly 2–4 wt.%). The ore-forming fluid was characterized as an H2O–NaCl−CO2−CH4–(N2) system with medium-low temperature and low salinity. The fluid immiscibility and fluid-rock interaction may be responsible for the precipitation of the sulfides and gold at the Maanqiao gold deposit. Three types of pyrite corresponding to the three mineralization stages, as well as pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite in the middle stage, are micro-analyzed for in-situ sulfur isotopic composition by LA-ICP-MS. Py1 yield near-zero δ34S values of −2.5‰ to 3.0‰, which are somewhat lower than that of the granite hosted pyrites (Py-g, 4.8‰ to 6.6‰). The result suggests a mixed sulfur source from magmatic-hydrothermal fluids and the metamorphism of diagenetic pyrite. Pyrite + pyrrhotite + arsenopyrite assemblages in the middle-stage have relatively higher δ34S values (6.6‰ to 12.3‰) and are mainly developed due to the metamorphism of the ore-host and underlying Devonian sedimentary sequences. The low δ34S values of the late-stage fracture-filled Py3 (−21.9‰ to −17.0‰) resulted from an increasing oxygen fugacity, which was caused by the inflow of oxidized meteoric waters. Based on our studies, the Maanqiao gold deposit is considered to be an orogenic type and closely related to the Indosinian Qinling orogeny.

Pb isotopes are considered an ideal tool for identifying material sources and tectonic settings of various petrogeneses and mineralizations. A high precision method for in-situ Pb isotopic analysis by femtosecond laser-ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (fsLA-MC-ICP-MS) was first established in China by the State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University. This new method has been used to measure Pb isotopic compositions for inclusions, minerals, glasses, metals, etc., because of its negligible element fractionation and well-corrected mass discrimination. However, Pb isotopic studies on typical deposits using fsLA-MC- ICP-MS have until now rarely been reported globally. The Tongyu copper deposit in the Shaanxi Province, China is one of the most important VHMS deposits with industrial value and is also a typical example of mineralization associated with subduction and metallogenesis during the Caledonian orogeny in the western part of the North Qinling Orogen. Previous studies of this deposit have focused mainly on geological features and ore-forming ages, but detailed isotopic geochemical studies on the ore-forming material sources and tectonic settings were lacking.

The recently-discovered Wenquan porphyry Mo deposit hosted in the Wenquan granite of the West Qinling Orogen has been recognized as a product of the Indosinian metallogenesis. Three generations of mineral assemblage for the deposit are identified as follows: (1) quartz–biotite–K-feldspar; (2) quartz–sulfide and (3) sulfide–calcite. Geochemical study shows that the mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) in the ore-bearing Wenquan granite have lower SiO 2 , and higher Mg# and Nb/Ta ratios than the host granite itself. Different from the granite which have zircon e Hf( t ) values of − 3.6–3.0 and T DM2 of 1234–890 Ma, the MMEs are characterized by the e Hf( t ) values of − 10.1–10.8 and T DM1 of 865–441 Ma. This can be interpreted to indicate a mixture origin of the Meso- and Neoproterozoic crust-derived component and Neoproterozoic SCLM-derived materials for the formation of the Wenquan granite, which played an essential role in the Mo mineralization. Comparative Pb isotopic data between ores and K-feldspar suggest that the Wenquan granitic magma originated from the middle-lower crust of the South China Block and the ore-forming materials were incorporated by hydrothermal fluid differentiated from the Triassic magmatic system, with minor contribution of sedimentary rocks. The δ 34 S values of 5.0–11.7‰ with a pronounced mode at 5.0 to 6.1‰ for the ores probably represent the sulfur incorporation of a typical magmatic hydrothermal fluid contaminated by heavy sulfur of Devonian sediments. The granite yielded the zircon U–Pb ages of 218 ± 2.4 Ma and 221 ± 1.3 Ma, as the same as the ages of 217 ± 2.0 Ma and 218 ± 2.5 Ma obtained for the MMEs. These ages are indistinguishable with the molybdenite Re–Os isochron age of 219 ± 5.2 Ma which is the timing for the Mo mineralization. Tectonically, the magmatic mixture processes of the Wenquan granite and the Mo mineralization to form the Wenquan Mo deposit contemporaneously occurred during the transition of tectonic regime from syn- to post-collision orogeny in the Qinling Orogen in the Late Triassic.

The Jinlongshan gold deposit, Shaanxi Province, central China, is a large deposit (>150 t Au) in the Southern Qinling Orogen. Gold mineralization is hosted in Upper Devonian to Lower Carboniferous carbonaceous clastic-carbonate sequences. Four stages of pyrite and paragenetic sulfides have been identified based on morphology and paragenesis. Laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) and laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–MC–ICP–MS) analyses were conducted to determine the chemical and S–Pb isotopic composition of the sulfides. Pre-ore stage pyrites (Py1 and Py2) contain relatively high concentrations of Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sb, and Pb exhibiting a wide range of δ34S values, ranging from –29.9‰ to +48.4‰. These two pyrites were formed by bacterial and thermochemical sulfate reduction of Upper Devonian marine sulfate, respectively. Main-ore stage pyrite (Py3) and arsenopyrite (Apy) contain high concentrations of Au, As, Cu, Sb, Hg, and Tl with restricted ranges of δ34S values from 9.6‰ to 15.3‰, which is interpreted as resulting from the underlying low-grade metamorphic Paleozoic sedimentary rocks by the decomposition of pyrite and/or inorganic reduction of sulfate. Late- or post-ore stage pyrite (Py4) is characterized by low concentrations of Au, Ag, Sn, Hg, and Bi and exhibited variable δ34S values, ranging from –4.4‰ to +27.7‰, that may reflect the mixing of metamorphic fluids with meteoric water. Similarly, the Pb isotope composition of ore-stage sulfides resembles those of underlying low-grade metamorphic Paleozoic sedimentary rocks whereas differs from Precambrian metamorphic basement rocks and granitoids around the basin, indicating that the metals of the Jinlongshan gold deposit were sourced from the underlying Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. Detailed fieldwork revealed that the deposit has mainly undergone four deformation events. The ore bodies developed in NE-trending dextral oblique-slip reverse faults of D3 that crosscut WNW-trending shear zones of D2. The timing and corresponding stress regimes of the D3 event suggest that it formed in a local extensional environment of Yanshanian intracontinental orogeny of Qinling orogenic belt. Gold metallogenesis of the Jinlongshan gold deposit occurred during the transition of tectonic setting from compression to extension, which reactivated the shear zones and migrated deep ore-bearing fluids to NE-trending brittle faults. The geological and geochemical features of the Jinlongshan gold deposit are more analogous to the Carlin-type deposits than other orogenic gold deposits worldwide; therefore, we propose it is a typical Carlin-type gold deposit in South Qinling Orogen.

The western Qinling, belonging to the western part of the Qinling–Dabie–Sulu orogen between the North China Block and South China Block, is one of the most important gold regions in China. Isotopic dates suggest that the Mesozoic granitoids in the western Qinling region emplaced during the Middle-Late Triassic, and the deposits formed during the Late Triassic. Almost all gold deposits in the western Qinling region are classified as orogenic, Carlin-type, and Carlin-like gold deposits, and they are the products of Qinling Orogenesis caused by the final collision between the North China Block and the South China Block. The early subduction of the Mian-Lue oceanic crust and the latter collision between South Qinling Terrane and the South China Block along the Mian-Lue suture generated lithosphere-scale thermal anomalies to drive orogen-scale hydrothermal systems. The collision-related magmatism also provided heat source for regional ore-forming fluids in the Carlin-like gold deposits. Orogenic gold deposits such as Huachanggou, Liziyuan, and Baguamiao lie between the Shang-Dan and Mian-Lue sutures and are confined to WNW-trending brittle-ductile shear zones in Devonian and Carboniferous greenschist-facies metasedimentary rocks that were highly-deformed and regionally-metamorphosed. These deposits are typical orogenic gold deposits and formed within a Late Triassic age. The deposits show a close relationship between Au and Ag. Ores contain mainly microscopic gold, and minor electrum and visible gold, along with pyrite. The ore-forming fluids were main metamorphic fluids. Intensive tectonic movements caused by orogenesis created fluid-migrating channels for precipitation locations. Although some orogenic gold deposits occur adjacent to granitoids, mineralization is not synchronous with magmatism; that is, the granitoids have no genetic relations to orogenic gold deposits. As ore-forming fluids converged into dilated fractures during the extension stage of orogenesis, changes of physico-chemical conditions resulted in fluid immiscibility that played a key role in gold and sulfide deposition. The geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of the Carlin-type deposits in the western Qinling region are similar to those in the Carlin trend, Nevada, USA. Gold deposits such as La’erma and Jinlongshan occur mostly in the southeastern margin of the western Qinling regionic region whereas some deposits occur in its eastern part. These deposits are hosted in slightly metamorphosed Cambrian to Triassic sedimentary rocks, showing structurally- and stratigraphically-controlled features. The deposits mainly contain submicroscopic and microscopic gold in arsenian pyrite and arsenopyrite, with characteristic ore-forming elements of Au–As–Sb–Ba. The ore-forming fluids are early-stocked formation water and later-recharged meteoric water. Meteoric water apparently evolved in ore-forming fluids by circulation, indicating the extensional setting, and led to the deposition of Au and other elements in cool reactive permeable rocks at shallow levels, forming the disseminated ores. Carlin-like gold deposits occur between the Shang-Dan suture and the Fengxian-Zhen’an fault. The host rocks are mainly sedimentary rocks that underwent reconstruction through reworking by structural metamorphism. These deposits are structurally controlled by brittle-ductile shear zone and occur adjacent to granitoid plutons. The most important characteristic that differ to the orogenic and Carlin-type gold deposits is the genetic relationship with the synchronous magmatism. Gold occurs mainly as microscopic gold. Pyrite and arsenian pyrite can be recognized as gold-bearing minerals. The ore-forming fluids are main magmatic water mixed with metamorphic and/or formation water. Similar to orogenic gold deposits, fluid immiscibility caused the deposition of gold Carlin-like gold deposits.

The Xiaohekou copper deposit is one of the few typical skarn-type, commercial deposits in the Zha-Shan ore cluster area in the eastern part of South Qinling. The ore-related granitoids in the Xiaohekou mining district include a number of small plutons of granodiorite porphyry and granite porphyry, as well as numerous dykes. They are characterized by relatively low SiO2 (65.9–73.3 wt%) and MgO (0.26–1.72 wt%) contents, variable Mg# (29.4–64.0) values, high K2O (3.11–5.75 wt%) content and negligible δEu (1.00–1.15) values. The samples also exhibit depletion in Cr, Ni, Nb, Ta, and Ti content, and high Sr/Y (46.6–64.7) and La/Yb (17.0–25.0) ratios. These features are similar to those of high-K calc-alkaline adakite-like magma formed by partial melting of thickened lower crust in continental collision zones or intracontinental settings. The majority of the samples have TDM2(Hf) of 1.5–1.2 Ga, corresponding to weakly negative eHf(t) values (−4.75 to −0.13) typical of crustal material, but more than one quarter have TDM1(Hf) of 0.80–0.71 Ga, corresponding to positive eHf(t) values of +0.07 to +2.45, indicating that the granitoids resulted from partial melting of Mesoproterozoic lower crustal rocks with significant input from enriched lithospheric mantle-derived magmas. Zircons from the Xiaohekou granitoids have ΔFMQ values concentrated around −0.62 to +5.54, most of which show the magma fO2 of FMQ to HM, in accordance with the widespread occurrence of magnetite, hematite and specularite in the Xiaohekou skarn system, which is an indicator of relatively high fO2 for a magmatic–hydrothermal system. The granitoids exhibit similar or even higher Ce4+/Ce3+ (average of 452) and Eu/Eu* (average of 0.72) values in comparison with those of fertile Cu deposits worldwide, indicating that the Xiaohekou granitoids may possess the potential to form a large magmatic–hydrothermal Cu deposit. Zircons of the granitoids show obvious positive correlations between oxidation indices (Ce and Eu anomalies, Ce4+/Ce3+ ratios, and ΔFMQ values) and eHf(t) values, implying the involvement of an oxidized mantle component which might have caused the fO2 elevation and played an important role in the formation of Cu deposits. The zircon U–Pb ages (141.3 ± 1.3 and 138.1 ± 2.0 Ma) of the Xiaohekou ore-related granitoids obtained in this study are similar to the zircon U–Pb and molybdenite Re–Os ages yielded from porphyry Mo mineralization at the Chigou and Lengshuigou deposits in the Zha-Shan ore district, indicating that they are possibly part of a single tectonic, magmatic, and metallogenic event in the Yanshan orogeny. The ore-related granitoids in the Xiaohekou area were formed in a post-collisional compression–extension transition regime during the Early Cretaceous Qinling intracontinental orogeny. The orogeny can be attributed to the far-field effect of a switch from pre-Mesozoic Tethyan tectonics to Late Mesozoic Pacific tectonics. This triggered a stress field transition from N–S to E–W trending and from intracontinental subduction thickening to large-scale lithospheric delamination and thinning.

The Liziyuan gold deposit, located on the northern margin of the western Qinling orogen (WQO), consists of five mineralized sites hosted by metavolcanic rocks, and one hosted by the Tianzishan monzogranite. Orebodies mainly occur as lenticular veins along NW-striking dextral ductile strike–slip shear zones. Major wall rock alteration includes silicification, pyritization, and carbonation, progressively increasing in intensity towards the orebodies. Ore minerals are dominated by pyrite, galena, and chalcopyrite; the major gangue minerals are quartz and calcite. Native gold is present chiefly as separate phases in sulphide and quartz microfractures. We recognize four stages of mineralization: (I) pyrite-quartz, (II) native gold-chalcopyrite-pyrite-quartz, (III) pyrite-freibergite-galena-quartz-carbonate, and (IV) carbonate stages. Fluid inclusion petrography and microthermometric results suggest that three types of primary fluid inclusions (carbonic, CO2–H2O, and aqueous) are present in the deposit. Microth...

The Zhongchuan district is an important component of the metallogenic belt in the Western Qinling. The Zhongchuan granite pluton occurring in the centre of the Zhongchuan metallogenic area has been poorly constrained, though the Triassic granite in Western Qinling has been well documented. In-situ zircon U–Pb ages, Hf isotopic compositions and whole-rock geochemical data are presented for host granite and mafic microgranular enclaves (MMES) from the Zhongchuan pluton, in order to constrain its sources, petrogenesis and tectonic setting of the pluton. The distribution of major, trace and rare earth elements apparently reflect exchange between the MMES and the host granitic rocks mainly due to interactions between coeval felsic host magma and mafic magma. The zircon U–Pb age of host granite (231.6 ± 1.5 to 235.8 ± 2.3 Ma) has overlapping uncertainty with that of the MMES (236.6 ± 1.3 Ma), establishing that the mafic and felsic magmas were coeval. The Hf isotopic composition of the MMES (eHf(t) = −13.4 to 4.0) is distinct from the host granite (eHf(t) = −15.7 to 0.0), indicating that both enriched subcontinental lithosphere mantle (SCLM) and crustal sources contributed to their origin. The zircons have two-stage Hf model ages of 1064 to 1798 Ma for the host granite and 858 to 1747 Ma for the MMES. This suggests that the granitic pluton was likely derived from partial melting of a Late Mesoproterozoic crust, with subsequent interaction with the SCLM-derived mafic magmas in tectonic affinity to the South China Block. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Liziyuan goldfield is located along the northern margin of the western part of the Qinling Orogen (WQO). The goldfield consists of five gold-only deposits hosted by metavolcanic rocks, and one polymetallic (Au–Ag–Pb) deposit hosted by the Tianzishan Monzogranite. As the Liziyuan goldfield appears to be spatially and temporally related to the Jiancaowan Porphyry, the study of the deposit provides a crucial insight into the relationship between tectonic-magmatic events and gold metallogenesis in the WQO. In this paper, we present whole-rock major and trace element geochemistry, and in situ zircon U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopic data from the Tianzishan Monzogranite and Jiancaowan Porphyry. The two granitic plutons are enriched in LILEs and LREEs, depleted in HFSEs and have zircon e Hf ( t ) values between −14.1 and −5.1 for the Tianzishan Monzogranite and between −21.0 and −8.4 for the Jiancaowan Porphyry. These characteristics indicate that the granites are derived from the crust. The Tianzishan Monzogranite has LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb ages of 256.1 ± 3.7 to 260.0 ± 2.1 Ma, which suggests that it was emplaced in the WQO during the convergence of the North and South (Yangtze) China cratons in the early stage of the Qinling Orogeny. In contrast, the porphyry has a LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb age of 229.2 ± 1.2 Ma, which is younger than the peak collision age, but corresponds to the widespread Late Triassic post-collisional granitic plutons in the WQO. The Tianzishan Monzogranite has somewhat higher Sr contents (196–631 ppm), lower Y (2.23–19.6 ppm) and Yb (0.20–2.01 ppm) contents, and a positive Eu/Eu* averaging 1.15. These characteristics suggest the pluton was derived from partial melting of the thickened crust. In contrast, the relatively higher MgO content (0.85–2.08 wt%) and Mg no. (43.4–58.2) of the Jiancaowan Porphyry indicates that insignificant amounts of subcontinental lithospheric mantle-derived mafic melts were involved in the generation of the magma. The Liziyuan goldfield is hosted by faults in greenschist-facies metamorphic rocks. Fluid inclusion studies suggest that gold was precipitated from CO 2 -rich, low-salinity and medium temperature fluids. This feature is consistent with the other orogenic gold deposits throughout the world. The field relationships and zircon U–Pb ages of the two granitic plutons suggest that gold mineralization is coeval with or slightly younger than the emplacement of the Jiancaowan Porphyry. Therefore, both the porphyry and deposit formed during the post-collisional stage of the Qinling Orogen.

The Dehe granitic pluton intruded the Xiahe Group which is in the core complex of the North Qinling Orogenic Belt (NQOB). It shows gneissic bedding and possesses typical S-type granite minerals such as muscovite and garnet. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb isotopic dating of the Dehe granite yielded a weighted average age of 925±23 Ma which represents the emplacement age of the pluton. Most of the ɛHf(t) values are negative, and the two-stage model ages are consistent with the age of the Qinling Group. The isotope data show that the Dehe granite was formed in the following geological setting: in the syn-collision setting of the NQOB in the Neoproterozoic, crustal thickening induced partial melting of materials derived from the Qinling complex, and then the maga upwelled and intruded into the Xiahe Group. The formation of the Dehe S-type granite implied the occurrence of a convergent event in the QOB during the Neoproterozoic.

East Qinling is the largest porphyry molybdenum province in the world; these Mo deposits have been well documented. In West Qinling, however, few Mo deposits have been discovered although granitic rocks are widespread. Recently, the Wenquan porphyry Mo deposit has been discovered in Gansu province, which provides an insight into Mo mineralization in West Qinling. In this paper we report Pb isotope compositions for K-feldspar and sulfides, S isotope ratios for sulfides, the results obtained from petrochemical study and from in situ LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating and Hf isotopes. The granitoids are enriched in LILE and LREE, with REE and trace element patterns similar to continental crust, suggesting a crustal origin. The Mg # (40.05 to 56.34) and Cr and Ni contents are high, indicating a source of refractory mafic lower crust. The e Hf( t ) values of zircon grains from porphyritic monzogranite range from − 2.9 to 0.6, and from granitic porphyry vary from − 3.3 to 1.9. The zircons have T DM2 of 1014 to 1196 Ma for the porphyritic monzogranite and 954 to 1224 Ma for the granitic porphyry, implying that these granitoids were likely derived from partial melting of a Late Mesoproterozoic juvenile lower crust. The Pb isotope compositions of the granitoids are similar to granites in South China, showing that the magma was sourced from the middle–lower crust in the southern Qinling tectonic unit. The Pb isotopic contrast between the Mo-bearing granitoids and ores shows that the Pb in the ore-forming solution was derived from fractionation of a Triassic magmatic system. δ 34 S values of sulfides are between 5.02 and 5.66‰, similar to those associated with magmatic-hydrothermal systems. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating yields crystallization ages of 216.2 ± 1.7 and 217.2 ± 2.0 Ma for the granitoids, consistent with a previously reported molybdenite Re-Os isochron age of 214.4 ± 7.1 Ma. This suggests that the Mo mineralization is related to the late Triassic magmatism in the West Qinling orogenic belt. In view of these geochemical results and known regional geology, we propose that both granitoid emplacement and Mo mineralization in the Wenquan deposit resulted from the Triassic collision between the South Qinling and the South China Block, along the Mianlue suture. Since Triassic granitoid plutons commonly occur along the Qinling orogenic belt, the Triassic Wenquan Mo-bearing granitoids highlight the importance of the Triassic tectono-magmatic belt for Mo exploration. In order to apply this metallogenic model to the whole Qinling orogen, further study is needed to compare the Wenquan deposit with other deposits.

To investigate the magnitude and origin of lead (Pb) pollution in the atmosphere of Xiamen, China, 40 aerosol samples were collected from the coast of Xiamen from January to December 2003. All these samples were measured for Pb isotopic compositions ((208)Pb/(206)Pb=2.10897 ± 0.00297, (207)Pb/(206)Pb=0.85767 ± 0.00159, n=40) using a Multi-collector-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICPMS). Thirty-five out of forty samples were also measured for Pb concentrations (79.1 ± 38.3 ng/m(3), n=35) by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The results indicate that the Pb concentrations display significant seasonal variations while Pb isotopic ratios remain relatively constant. The Pb concentrations were high in January and February, abruptly decreased in March, remained relatively constant (but low) from April to August, and then gradually increased from September to December. This corresponds to the rainless climate in winter and rain scavenging in summer. The higher Pb concentration of Xiamen aerosols in winter and spring may be also caused by long-range transferred anthropogenic Pb during the northeastern monsoon seasons. Although the use of leaded gasoline in Xiamen was banned in 2000, our new data indicate that the Pb annual concentrations of aerosols in Xiamen increased about 12% when compared to the data measured between 1991 and 1993. Thus, Pb pollution in the atmosphere of Xiamen has not receded even after the phase-out of leaded gasoline. Our results further confirm the previous studies' conclusion that the primary source of atmospheric Pb in China, especially in South China, is the vast combustion of lead-containing coal, not leaded gasoline.

Rapid economic development in East Asian countries has inevitably resulted in environmental degradation in the surrounding seas, and concern for the environment and its protection against pollutants is increasing. Identification of sources of contaminants and evaluation of current environmental status are essential to environmental pollution management, but relatively little has been done in the South China Sea (SCS). In order to investigate the abundance, distribution, and sources of Pb within the SCS, stable Pb isotopes and their ratios were employed to assess the contamination status and to differentiate between natural and anthropogenic origins of Pb in the surface sediments. The total Pb concentrations in sediments varied from 4.18 to 58.7 mg kg −1 , with an average concentration of 23.6 ± 8.9 mg kg −1 . The observed Pb isotope ratios varied from 18.039 to 19.211 for 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, 15.228 to 16.080 for 207 Pb/ 204 Pb, 37.786 to 39.951 for 208 Pb/ 204 Pb, 1.176 to 1.235 for 206 Pb/ 207 Pb, and 2.468 to 2.521 for 208 Pb/ 207 Pb. The majority of these ratios are similar to those reported for natural detrital materials. Combined with Pb enrichment factor values, our results show that Pb found within most of the SCS sediments was mainly derived from natural sources, and that there was not significant Pb pollution from anthropogenic sources before 1998. Further studies are needed to reconstruct deposition history and for trend analysis.

The Tongyu volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) copper deposit is located in the west part of the North Qinling (NQL), Shaanxi Province. Here we report geological features and trace elemental characteristics of ores, mineralized rocks, and volcanic host rocks of this deposit. We also conducted in situ zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf LA-ICP-MS dating and lithogeochemical study of the Meigou granodiorite, which is intruded in the south of the Tongyu mining district. It is inferred that the volcanic host rocks of the Tongyu Cu deposit belong to calc-alkaline island arc volcanic rocks, and the volcanic host rocks and the ore-forming materials share common material sources. During subduction of the Paleo-Qinling oceanic slab at around 472 Ma, high oxygen-fugacity aqueous fluid released by dehydration reaction of the subducting slab rose into the mantle wedge, leached Cu and other metal elements, and triggered partial melting of the mantle wedge. Associated with the ore-forming materials, the arc calc-alkaline magmas erupted and formed the Tongyu VHMS deposit. The weighted average zircon U-Pb age of the Meigou granodiorite is 439.3±3 Ma, suggesting its genesis is associated with the subduction event of the Paleo-Qinling oceanic plate around 440 Ma. In terms of the granitoid’s geochemical characteristics, the Mg#, Ni, and Cr contents are high. REE show strongly fractionated patterns with unobvious Eu anomalies. Sr contents are high while Y contents are low, resulting in high Sr/Y ratios. Two-stage zircon Hf model ages mostly range between 908 and 723 Ma, with eHf(t)>0. Therefore, we classify Meigou granodiorite as island arc granite with adakitic geochemical features. It was generated by interaction between mantle wedge and melt produced by partial melting of the subducted basaltic slab of the Paleo-Qinling Ocean. The Tongyu VHMS deposit was formed in the island arc tectonic setting during Ordovician-Silurian between 439.3±3 Ma and 472±11 Ma. The volcanic exhalation-sedimentation, which was contemporaneous with the submarine volcanics, produced the primary mineralization of the Tongyu Cu deposit. Afterward, the ore bodies and host rocks were reworked and overprinted intensively by structures corresponding with the overall collisional orogenic process of the Qinling Orogenic Belt during the Indosinian period. In contrast to classic VHMS deposits such as the Kuroko deposit in Japan, the Tongyu Cu deposit possesses the dual characteristics of island arc volcanic exhalation and sedimentation as well as structural reworking and overprinting. Therefore, the Tongyu VHMS Cu deposit is a volcanic exhalation and sedimentation-structural reworking and overprinting type deposit.

Simultaneous determinations of U–Pb dating and Hf isotopes on single zircon grains by excimer laser-ablation quadrupole and multiple-collector ICP-MS and petrologic and ore geochemical studies have been applied to the ore-bearing porphyry of the Jinduicheng porphyritic molybdenum deposit in East Qinling. Lithogeochemical data show that the porphyry is characteristic of high K2O, K-feldspar porphyritic calc-alkaline granitoids with 176Hf/177Hf=0.282020–0.282436 and eHf(t)=−23.7 to −8.9, which indicates its mixed origin involving a crustal and a mantle component. The weighted average U–Pb age from single zircon grains of the porphyry is 141.5±1.5 Ma. This age coincides with the oldest molybdenite Re-Os model age as dated by others, suggesting that the period of mineralization was almost simultaneous with the porphyry emplacement, or slightly later. The porphyry intrusion and the molybdenum mineralization occurred during the transition from compression to extension in the Jurassic – Cretaceous periods. The corresponding tectonic setting was the intracontinental orogenic and extension stage after collision and orogenesis between the Southern China plate and the Northern China plate. The Jinduicheng porphyry and the deposit's geochemical data indicate that the ore-forming material originated from a mixing of lower crust and upper mantle. When the molybdenum-enriched magma intruded into the upper crust along zones of structural weakness, ore-forming fluid generated by magma crystallization of the porphyry interacted with wall rock or mingled with meteoric water to form the deposit.

Single zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating and lithogeochemical studies have been performed on the Xianggou monzonitic granitic porphyry outcropped in the Ma’anqiao gold deposit. A weighted average U-Pb age of 242.0±0.8 Ma for Xianggou monzonitic porphyry has been obtained. This corresponds with the conclusions of previous studies indicating a syn-orogenic age (242±21 Ma) of the Qinling Orogenic Belt, suggesting that the formation of the Xianggou granite should be associated with the collisional event of the North China Plate and the Yangtze Plate in the Indosinian period. The Xianggou granite is characterized by the high silicon and alkali of high K calc-alkaline series granites. It is rich in Al (Al2O3=14.49%−15.61%) and Sr (457.10–630.82 ppm), poor in Y (

The Wenquan molybdenum deposit is associated with a Triassic granite in this area. The Wenquan granite is enriched in LILE and LREE, poor in HFSE, and has significantly higher contents of alkali (K2O+Na2O) and Sr, Ba than those of the island arc volcanic rocks. These geochemical characteristics are similar to post-collisional granites in high K calc-alkaline series. Studies of major elements, trace elements, REEs and chronology of the Wenquan pluton show that, in the geodynamic transition stage of continent-continent convergence to extension, the partial melting of the enriched lithospheric mantle generated the basaltic magma and triggered the partial melting of the thickened lower crust which produceded the acidic magma, and the Wenquan pluton was formed by mixing of the two magmas. Molybdenite Re-Os isotopic dating gave Os model ages of 212.7±2.6 Ma to 215.1±2.6 Ma with a weighted mean of 214.1±1.1 Ma, and an Re-Os isochron age of 214.4±7.1 Ma. These ages are close to K-Ar ages (223 to 226 Ma) and a SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age (223±7 Ma) for the Wenquan granite within the error range, but relatively younger. This implies that the Mo mineralization occurred in a late stage of the magmatic intrusion, and the metallogenesis took place in the transition stage from syn-collision to post-collision in the tectonic setting of the Qinling Orogenic Belt (QOB) after continental collision between the North China Block (NCB) and the South China Block (SCB). This process is also corresponding to the geological events of metamorphism and deformation in South Qinling, closure of the Mian-Lue oceanic basin, and exhumation of the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks. The large-scale continent-continent collision between NCB and SCB in the middle Triassic triggered significant crustal thickening and exhumation of subducted slab. In the late Triassic, the tectonic setting was transformed to the transition stage from collision to extension. Materials from the asthenospheric mantle would ascend into the root of the lower crust, which could induce partial melting of the lower crust and generate Mo-enriched granitic magma. The ore-forming elements enriched in the fluid derived from the condensation and fraction of the magma resulted in the Mo mineralization. The Mo deposits in the QOB are mainly formed in two episodes, namely 220± Ma and 140± Ma. The two episodes of metallogenesis were developed in the tectonic transition settings from compression to extension, but they were in the different stages of the tectonic evolution. The occurrence of the Wenquan Mo-bearing pluton indicates that the Triassic tectonic-magmatic belt of Western Qinling is another favorable region for Mo mineralization in the QOB. Therefore, it is significant to pay more attention to evaluation of the ore-forming potentiality in the Triassic granites in Western Qinling.

The helium and argon isotopic compositions of the ore-forming fluids from the molybdenum deposits such as Jinduicheng, Donggou, Shijiawan, and Sandaozhuang, which are located in the East Qinling molybdenum belt in south margin of North China Block (SMCNB), are reported in this paper. The origin and the evolution of the ore-forming fluids and their coupled-relationships with the intra-continental collision and orogenic process of Qinling Orogen in Mesozoic-Cenozoic have been discussed. The 3He/4He and 40Ar/36Ar values (3He/4He=1.38−3.64 R a, and 40Ar/36Ar=295.68−346.39, respectively) of the fluid inclusions in pyrite from the molybdenum deposits in East Qinling suggest that, the ore-forming fluid system is mixed by two end members. One is the high temperature deep-derived fluid congenetic with the porphyries generated by crust-mantle mixing, and the other is the low-temperature meteoric water which is rich in crustal radiogenic He with the component of atmospheric Ar. From the Pb isotopic composition, and ore-bearing potential of the porphyry and the regional stratum, we can conclude that the ore-forming materials of the deposits in the East Qinling molybdenum belt are derived from the deep source by the mixing of lower crust and upper mantle. Therefore, the formation of the molybdenum deposits in SMNCB can be related to the crust-mantle interaction, which is accompanied by the intra-continental orogenic and extension process in the post-collision period of Qinling Orogen. The granitic porphyries which are related to Mo mineralization are not simple crust-remelting type granites or S type granites, but belong to syntexis-type or mantle-derived granites, hence their formation has a profound and regional geodynamic background.

Rapid industrialization and economic take-off in coastal cities of China have placed great strain on the environment. In the this study, 40 aerosol samples were collected in the coast of Xiamen, Fujian province, west Taiwan Strait, P. R. China, from January to December 2003. The samples were analysed for the concentrations of elements (K, Ca, Na, Zn, Pb, W, Se, As, Ni, Ba, Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, Th, U, Sr, REEs, etc.). All the elements display significant seasonal variations. The concentrations of most of the elements (except Na and Se) were high in January and February, abruptly decreased in March, kept relatively constant but low from April to August, and then gradually increased from September to December. This corresponds to the rainless climate and the influence of biomass burning from Southeast Asia in the winter and rain scavenging and the diffusion of typhoon in the summer. Thus, most of the elements have a good negative correlation with the monthly precipitation. The SEM/EDX studies indicate that the aerosols of Xiamen mainly consisted of soot grains, clay minerals, feldspar, gypsum, quartz, and biological particulates. The calculated enrichment factors indicate that Na and Br are derived from ocean, Pb, Zn, As, Sb, Se, W, and Ni are anthropogenic elements mainly derived from coal combustion, vehicle exhaust, and mining, and the other elements (i.e., Zr, Fe, Cr, Co, Rb, Sr, Cs, Ba, Hf, Ta, Th, U, and REEs) are crustal elements derived from weathered rocks and soil dust. The elemental concentrations of aerosols in Xiamen were compared with other cities, and the results indicate that Xiamen, like other coastal cities such as Qingdao, Dalian, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, has much lower concentrations of the elements such as Pb, Zn, and Cr than Beijing. The elemental deposition fluxes in Xiamen were also compared to other cities. The comparisons indicate that the elemental deposition fluxes in these cities are influenced not only by climatic characteristics (e.g., the precipitation and the sandstorm), but also by the industrial facility denseness.