Scheelite Sm-Nd dating and quartz Ar-Ar dating for Woxi Au-Sb-W deposit, western Hunan.

Reports on scheelite Sm-Nd and quartz Ar-Ar dating for the Woxi Au-Sb-W deposit in western Hunan. High level of Sm and Nd concentrations of scheelite; Finding that the disseminated scheelites demonstrate a good linear array, which corresponds to an isochron age of 402 ± 6 Ma; Indication that the Ar-Ar age spectra for 2 quartz samples show the saddle shape; Overlap in the minimum apparent age, plateau age and isochron age of each quartz sample; Suggestion that the minimum apparent ages of 420 ± 20 and 414 ± 19 Ma coincide with the scheelite Sm-Nd age; Assertion that the Au-Sb-W mineralization at Woxi district took place in the Late Caledonian period, which agrees with the tectonic evolution of the Xuefengshan district and with geochronological data available for Au, Sb and W deposits in this area; Inference from the low initial Nd isotope ratio of scheelites that the fluid responsible for Au-Sb-W mineralization is of deep crustal origin; Suggestion that it originated from the Archacan continental basement rather than the Proterozoic strata.