Age, fluid inclusion, and H–O–S–Pb isotope geochemistry of the Baiyinchagan Sn–Ag–polymetallic deposit in the southern Great Xing'an Range, NE China

Abstract

The superlarge Baiyinchagan Sn–Ag–polymetallic deposit of Inner Mongolia is located in the west slope of the southern Great Xing'an Range, NE China. The vein orebodies of the deposit occur in the NEE-trending fault zones. The mineralization process at the deposit can be divided into four stages: quartz–fluorite–cassiterite–sphalerite stage (stage I), quartz–fluorite–cassiterite–sulfide stage (stage II), quartz–calcite–sulfide stage (stage III), and quartz–stibnite stage (stage IV). Cassiterite U–Pb dating indicates that the Baiyinchagan deposit formed approximately 140 Ma ago, and zircon U–Pb dating for granite porphyry in the Baiyinchagan deposit yielded an age of 140.8 Ma. Two types of fluid inclusions (FIs), including liquid-rich and gas-rich inclusions, have been distinguished in quartz and fluorite veins. The homogenization temperature of the FIs in the stage I ranges from 318 °C to 351 °C with salinities of 1.2–3.8 wt% NaCl eqv. The homogenization temperature of the FIs in the stage II is 262–276 °C with salinities of 1.8–3.4 wt% NaCl eqv. The homogenization temperature of the FIs in the stage III ranges from 174 °C to 233 °C with salinities of 1.8–3.0 wt% NaCl eqv. The homogenization temperature of the FIs in the stage IV is in the range of 136–168 °C, and the salinity is 0.8 wt% to 2.4 wt% NaCl eqv. The ore-forming fluid of the Baiyinchagan deposit is characterized by medium–high temperature and low salinity. The δ18Owater and δD values of ore-forming fluid range from −13.5 ‰ to 9.5 ‰ and −119 ‰ to −84 ‰, respectively, indicating that the ore-forming fluid was dominantly derived from magmatic fluid mixed with meteoric water. The calculated δ34SH2S values range from −12.3 ‰ to −6.2 ‰, implying that the sulfur mainly came from granitic magma, but magmatic degassing occurred during mineralization. The 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 208Pb/204Pb values of the sulfides are in the ranges of 18.180–18.339, 15.525–15.643, and 38.005–38.477, respectively. The Pb isotopic compositions of sulfides indicate that the Pb mainly derived from granitic magma that may be formed by partial melting of orogenic materials. Fluid immiscibility and mixing were the two primary mechanisms for mineral precipitation.