Regional metallogeny of Tungsten-tin-polymetallic deposits in Nanling region, South China

Abstract

The Nanling region gains its reputation for abundant mineral resources, especially W, Sn, Sb, Bi, Pb, Zn, Li, Be, Ta, Nb and ion-adsorption REE within weathering crust as well as uranium. These dominant mineral resources are mainly formed in the Yanshanian period with intimate genetic relationship to Yanshanian granitoids. Spatially, tungsten and tin deposits separately occurred in the eastern and western parts of Nanling region respectively. The complicated genetic relationships between tungsten-tin polymetallic deposits and Nanling granitoids demonstrate a regularity for mineralization (we named this “metallogenic specialization”), reflected in the aspects of specialized metallogenic compositions, age, spatiality, alteration and its geological background. The metallogenic specialization (regional metallogeny) is important to discover mineralization lay the foundation. A new exploration model (named “Five Levels + Basement”) was proposed in this paper. Now, it became a prospecting guidance in Nanling region. Recently, the ongoing prospecting of large tungsten deposits in Nanling and its adjacent region using this model indicates a northward expanding for tungsten deposits in the south part of study area and westward expanding for that in the eastern part. In practice, the model also can be used in deep prospecting (e.g., deep-seated bedded or bed-like orebodies) as well as, not limited to tungsten deposits, other mineral deposits.