Direct Isotope Dating of W(−Y) Mineralization at Kyzyltau (Mongolian Altai): Preliminary Results

Abstract

Absolute ages of granite magmatism, as well as of tungsten mineralization, are poorly constrained in the Mongolian Altai and adjacent areas. There are no reports focusing on special isotopic investigations of the tungsten deposits. For the deposits in the Achit nuur and the Zagaan-Shibetin tectonic zones, two concepts that are discussed in the literature assume Paleozoic or Mesozoic ages for mineralization and related granite magmatism. We report the first results of a combined Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotope investigation of rocks and vein minerals of the Ulaan uul tungsten deposit at Kyzyltau; the results suggest Paleozoic ages for vein mineralization and for albitization of the host granite. The Sm-Nd isotope system, and the structure of vein minerals used for isotopic dating, were only slightly affected by late alteration processes. Sm-Nd mineral isochrons for wolframite and fluorite from the veins define an age of 303 ± 17 Ma (MSWD = 1.8, ϵNd = +0.9 ± 0.2). The Rb-Sr isotope system of the vein-hosting granite was strongly influenced by alteration processes. The Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron (282.2 ± 2.4 Ma, Sri = 0.70667 ± 0.00032, MSWD = 0.53) is interpreted as a mixing line and the age so defined has no direct geological meaning. Nevertheless, using Rb-Sr model ages and data on the degree of alteration of the samples, an age somewhat below 316 Ma can be estimated for albitization of the vein-hosting granite. This age estimation is in good agreement with the Sm-Nd isochron age for the vein mineralization. High ϵNd values obtained for wolframite and fluorite from the ore veins indicate an important role for material derived from the upper mantle in the ore formation processes.