Geology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of fault-controlled hydrothermal Cu–Au mineralization in the Shanmen Volcanic Basin, SE China

Abstract

The Yukeng–Banling deposit is a typical fault-controlled hydrothermal Cu–Au deposit in the Shanmen Volcanic Basin (SVB), SE China. Ore bodies commonly occur as lodes, lenses and disconnected pods dipping SW with vertical zonation of ore minerals. Ore-related hydrothermal alteration is well developed on both sides of the veins, dominated by silicification, sericitization, chloritization and argillation with a banded alteration zonation. The mineralization can be divided into three stages (stages I, II and III). Native gold is present as veinlets in fractures of fine-grained pyrite from stage II.Zircon U–Pb and Rb–Sr isochron ages indicate that the Cu–Au mineralization is coeval with the Caomen alkaline granite and Xiaokeng quartz-diorite, both emplaced at ca. 102Ma. Microthermometric measurements of fluid inclusions in quartz and sphalerite from stage II veins indicate that the Yukeng–Banling deposit is an epithermal deposit. Six ore-related quartz grains have δDH2O values of −69 to −43‰, and δ18OH2O values calculated using total homogenization temperatures that range from −2.0 to 0.7‰. All samples plot in an area between the magmatic field and the meteoric line, suggesting that the ore-forming fluids are derived from a mixed source of magmatic and meteoric waters. δ34S values for eight pyrite separates range from −2.1 to +4.1‰ with an average of +1.7‰, and δ34S values for galena and sphalerite are 2.3‰ and 2.2‰, similar to magmatic sulfur. Four alkaline granite samples have Pb isotopic ratios (206Pb/204Pb)t=18.175–18.411, (207Pb/204Pb)t=15.652–15.672 and (208Pb/204Pb)t=38.343–38.800. Three quartz-diorite samples have ratios (206Pb/204Pb)t, (207Pb/204Pb)t and (208Pb/204Pb)t of 18.277–18.451, 15.654–15.693 and 38.673–38.846, respectively. These age-calculated lead isotopic data for alkaline granite are similar to those for the analyzed sulfides. Co/Ni ratios for stage II pyrites range from 1.42 to 5.10, indicating that the Yukeng–Banling deposit records the past involvement of magmatic hydrothermal fluids. The isotope data, together with geological, mineralogical and geochronological evidence, favor a primary magmatic source for sulfur and metals in the ore fluids. Mixing of the Cu- and Au-rich fluids with meteoric water led to precipitation of the Cu–Au veins along NW-trending faults.The Yukeng–Banling deposit, the contemporaneous Caomen alkaline granite and Xiaokeng quartz-diorite in the SVB formed under an extensional setting, due to high-angle subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate. The extensional setting facilitated the formation of Cu- and Au-rich magmas which was derived from enriched mantle and lower crust.