Geochronology of layered mafic intrusions from the Pan–Xi area in the Emeishan large igneous province, SW China

Abstract

The Panzhihua–Xichang (Pan-Xi) area hosts mafic/ultramafic intrusions, which are part of the Permian Emeishan large igneous province. Some of these intrusions host giant Fe–Ti–V deposits and minor Ni–Cu–PGE mineralization. In the present study, zircon U–Pb ages of 259.3±1.3 and 260.7±0.8 Ma have been obtained from the giant Fe–Ti–V ore-bearing Hongge and the unmineralized Binggu intrusions, respectively, by isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry method. In combination with the ages of other ore-bearing intrusions, this age shows that these mafic/ultramafic intrusions were emplaced at ca. 260 Ma. The Hongge and Binggu intrusions cut the lower part of the rapidly deposited Emeishan flood basalt sequence but no further into the upper volcanic sequence in the Pan-Xi area. Thus, emplacement and mineralization of the mafic/ultramafic intrusions were almost contemporaneous with the eruption of the Emeishan flood basalts during a relatively short time span.