Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Mamupu Cu‐Au Polymetallic Deposit, Eastern Tibet: Implications for Eocene Cu Metallogenesis in the Yulong Porphyry Copper Belt

Abstract

AbstractThe Mamupu skarn‐type Cu‐Au polymetallic deposit represents the first discovery of a medium deposit in the southern Yulong porphyry copper belt (YPCB), eastern Tibet. The Cu‐Au mineralization mainly occurs as chalcopyrite in breccia, within the plate‐like carbonate interlayer, being closely related to chloritization (e.g., chlorite, magnetite and epidote) and skarnization (e.g., diopside, tremolite and garnet). The ore‐related quartz syenite porphyry (QSP) and granodiorite porphyry (GP) were emplaced at 40.1 ± 0.2 Ma and 39.9 ± 0.3 Ma, respectively. The QSP of Mamupu is an alkaline‐rich intrusion, relatively enriched in LREE, LILE, depleted in HFSE, with no significant negative Eu and Ce anomalies, slightly high (87Sr/86Sr)i, low ∊Nd(t), uniform (206Pb/204Pb)i and ∊Hf(t) values, which indicates that the porphyry magma may be caused by both the mixing of metasomatized EM II enriched mantle and thickened juvenile lower crust. The QSP in the Mamupu deposit shares a similar genesis of petrology to other ore‐related porphyries within the YPCB. High oxygen fugacity and water content of the magmas are essential for the formation of porphyry and skarn Cu deposits. The QSP has similar high magmatic oxidation states and water content to the Yulong deposit, which indicates that the Mamupu has a high prospecting potential. Differences in the geological characteristics and scale of mineralization between the Mamupu and other YPCB deposits may be due to the different emplacement depths of ore‐related intrusions, as well as differences in the surrounding rocks.