Late Mesozoic oxidized magma for porphyry Ag mineralization: A comparative study from mineralized and barren granite porphyries in the Lengshuikeng Ag-(Pb-Zn) deposit, South China

Abstract

The Lengshuikeng Ag-(Pb-Zn) deposit (LSKD) is one of the largest independent porphyry silver deposits in China. Its silver mineralization is related to the Late Mesozoic granite porphyry, but the oxidizing hydrous conditions of the associated magma are still unclear. This study focuses on the associated granite porphyry (GP) and barren K-feldspar granite porphyry (KFGP) to constrain their oxidizing hydrous conditions. New zircon U-Pb dating shows the GP emplaced at 155.8 ± 1.9 Ma and 158.5 ± 2.3 Ma for GP, and the KFGP emplaced at 136.6 ± 1.9 Ma. Both granites are peraluminous with A/CNK ratios of 1.09–3.01 (mean = 1.48), similar to that of typical S-type granites. They are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE), with large (La/Yb)N (7.0–19.1 for the GP and 1.8–34.3 for the KFGP) and negative Eu anomalies (0.29–0.67 for the GP and 0.02–0.05 for the KFGP). The GP has εNd(t) values ranging from − 10.0 to − 9.7 with TDM2 ages of 1688–1915 Ma, while the KFGP has higher εNd(t) values ranging from − 7.5 to − 7.6 with younger TDM2 ages of 1538–1548 Ma. The initial Pb isotopic ratios for (206Pb/204Pb)i, (207Pb/204Pb)i and (208Pb/204Pb)i are 17.647–17.952, 15.555–15.604 and 37.851–38.541, respectively. Our new chemical and isotopic data suggest that both granites were dominantly derived from dehydration melting of the Proterozoic meta-sedimentary rocks, with more dehydration fluids for the GP and relatively more mantle contribution to the KFGP. Both granites underwent fractional crystallization of plagioclase, K-feldspar and ilmenite/magnetite followed by minor assimilation of the upper crust. Comparative study on the relative water content, oxidation state and melting temperature of magma have shown relatively moderate oxidation state and water content in the associated magma probably played more important roles in porphyry silver mineralization than other factors in porphyry Cu deposit. This study helps deepen the understanding of silver mineralization.