Fluid inclusion and stable isotope constraints on the source and evolution of ore-forming fluids in the Bailongshan pegmatitic Li-Rb deposit, Xinjiang, western China

Abstract

The newly discovered Bailongshan pegmatitic lithium–rubidium (Li–Rb) deposit in West Kunlun–Karakorum (western China) is a world-class Li deposit. In this paper, we present detailed field observations and fluid inclusion (FI) data for four major mineral zones at Bailongshan; i.e., the fine albite (FAZ), blocky feldspar (BFZ), quartz–muscovite (QMZ), and spodumene–quartz (SQZ) zones. FIs are abundant in quartz and spodumene, and include four types: (1) two-phase L-type, (2) two-phase V-type, (3) three-phase S-type, and (4) three-phase (CO2–H2O–NaCl) or two-phase (CO2-rich) C-type. Quartz contains all four FI types, whereas spodumene contains mainly C-type FIs. Microthermometric measurements show that the L-type FIs in the FAZ, BFZ, and SQZ homogenised at 283–338, 156–224, and 223–421 °C, respectively, with corresponding salinities of 15.4–26.5, 4.4–10.4, and 10.5–30.6 wt% NaCl equivalent. The S-type FIs in the FAZ and SQZ homogenised at 183–285 and 214–298 °C, respectively. The C-type FIs in spodumene and quartz homogenised at 256–321 and 234–286 °C, with corresponding salinities of 4.4–18.1 and 4.4–12.6 wt% NaCl equivalent, respectively. The ore-forming fluids were of medium–low-temperature and medium–low-salinity, and no systematic fluid compositional variations were identified in each zone. The average CO2 densities and trapping pressures were estimated at 0.72–0.91 g/cm3 and 3.00–3.75 kb, respectively, corresponding to mineralisation depths of 9–11 km. Supercritical fluids likely contributed to the concentration of ore-forming elements in the fluids, and fluid boiling may have led to CO2 degassing and Li ore deposition. H–O isotope data show that quartz grains from all four zones have δ18OV-SMOW values of 8.6‰–10.2‰ and δDV-SMOW values of −38‰ to 107‰. The ore-forming fluids were likely sourced from pegmatitic magmas.