Abstract
The break-up of the supercontinent Rodinia in the late Neoproterozoic led to the formation of the Nanhua rift basin within the South China Block. The Datangpo-type manganese deposit, which developed in the Nanhua rift basin, is one of the most important types of manganese deposits in South China. Although it is widely accepted that deep sedimentary structures significantly affect the manganese ore system, the relationship between the manganese deposits in South China and the Nanhua rifting process is still unclear. The origin of the manganese ore layer remains controversial. In this paper, we integrated the audio-frequency magnetotelluric (AMT) data, gravity data, and comprehensive geological and borehole data analysis to characterize the structure of the Datangpo-type manganese deposit in Songtao, Guizhou Province. The resistivity and density models produced an inclined layered structure, which correlated well with the coeval sediment strata of the Nanhua rift basin. A high-resistivity cap was observed from the surface to a depth of 800 m, corresponding to the Cambrian Loushanguan (ϵ3−4ls) and Palang dolomite formation (ϵ2p), which has helped the storage of the manganese ore. The most significant low-resistivity anomaly (25–40 Ω·m) resides at a depth of 1400 m in the Nantuo (Nh3n) gravel sandstone and Datangpo (Nh2d) silty and carbonaceous shale, corresponding to the ore-forming layer. This distinct low-resistivity layer was possibly produced by aqueous fluids and pyrite in the syn-sedimentary fault and alteration zone. The accumulations of sulfide minerals in the rock samples suggest a possible anoxic-euxinic deposition environment during the manganese mineralization and precipitation. The fault revealed in the resistivity models is perhaps a previous fault zone produced by extension in the Nanhua rifting process, which provided migration and upwelling channels for ore-forming minerals. Based on our resistivity models, density models, and geological survey, the manganese ore-forming model was derived, which can help to provide geophysical evidence for the origin of the Datangpo-type manganese deposit.
Highlights
The break-up of Rodinia began around 750 Ma and led to rift systems on the margins of Laurentia, Australia, and the Yangtze Block [1]
Our resistivity models discovered a low-resistivity anomaly (25–40 Ω·m) that resided at a depth of 1200 m in the Nantuo formation (Nh3n) and Datangpo formation (Nh2d), corresponding to the manganese-ore-forming layer
The manganese-ore-forming layer was near the interface between low-density layer and basement in the density model
Summary
The break-up of Rodinia began around 750 Ma and led to rift systems on the margins of Laurentia, Australia, and the Yangtze Block [1]. Manganese mineralization mainly occurs along syn-sedimentary faults, which developed in an extensional tectonic setting in the Nanhua rift during the break-up of Rodinia. Yang et al [10] studied the carbon and sulfur isotopes of Songtao manganese deposits and found that the deep faults and fluids in this area have provided a large amount of Mn2+, whereas the CO2 that helped to produce MnCO3 originated from the high volume of CO2 in the atmosphere after the global Sturtian ice age in 700–695 Ma. In addition, Zhou et al [11] discovered a large number of ancient leakage structures of natural gas, with low carbon and extremely high contents of sulfur in the rhodochrosites, and a new model incorporating Neoproterozoic rifting and natural gas leakage was suggested [11,12,13]. TThheeggeeooeelelecctrtircicsstrtirkikeeddirireecctitoionnsshhoouuldldbbeeddeeteterrmminineeddbbeeffoorree22DDiinnvveerrssiioonn..TThheenn, ,ththee AAMMTTddaatatanneeeeddtotobbeerroottaatteeddttootthheeggeeooeelleeccttrricicssttrriikkeeddiirreeccttiioonn..TThheemmeeththooddooffmmuultlti-i-ssititee mmuultlit-if-rfereqquueennccyyimimppeeddaanncceeddeeccoommppoossitiitoionnwwaassuusseedd[2[266––2288]]. .AAccccoorrddininggtotoththeessttaattisistticicaall rdlsoeeurdesosficeutslrfgisretseurgrisgtcuecklrigttetctclirerseitkstiiossisktcdeootinteornisifndirnftogkdterighotfrcieithkerfethttdeiehechtoagctiheagdtrnieteoteietimo.orhnctomeTehnteielicadheeoiltadrdeedcindreoicrtdlemrietneiamlirnfaecleiaoilcletnnnardlhwnedsndwites,irhiidoierttdsieohehtnchsehncdteiahaeintialeolnipeailloetnailloeyteapnlsywrocmesompwtironrifidanifniptcnderthtiaahttpmhieherlm(etpetaesahdrt(attdlshaerorlfoerietrss(rkaesaepefa(enperqteandegeu1drdtqgire0eiasi1uer,a0stng0,eertcg–cr0crcuno1raiut–occean0im1cniotsm,seut00nsisous,sr0is0fsr(etao0eF(0et1lfFteon0Hi–et1gnine1tngH–zutn0gwdu1)rw0dz0rsetii)shesH0tit2htiiota2hHsszbobbtb))aptzhbo,)cehb),reetuhoeo3htctahr3fihuDerenNDeleatg.egggn.gN4LieewoigL0eooos4neo°oacen0ssaecaEslia◦ellagsl.eldcilEgnvTgcgteve.airtnhtefroaiTreiioceiirclfirchaoliamsgocaetsgtnaietgrtioiigtnroinciolkniceteyaeknleaso-ld,yesl-, to be N40◦ E
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
