Superimposing mineralization in the Zhengguang Au-Zn deposit, NE China: Evidence from pyrite Re-Os geochronology, fluid inclusion, and H-O-S-Pb isotopes

Abstract

The Duobaoshan orefield is located in the eastern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) and underwent multiphase magmatism and mineralization. The Zhengguang deposit in the orefield is characterized by porphyry copper mineralization and intermediate-sulfidation (IS) epithermal gold mineralization. The porphyry-type veinlet-disseminated sulfide mineralization (~480 Ma) is hosted in granodiorite/tonalite porphyries and hydrothermal breccias, and is associated with widespread potassic (K-feldspar and biotite) alteration. Three porphyry-type mineralization stages have been identified: (I-1) quartz + medium-fine grained pyrite, (I-2) quartz + pyrite + chalcopyrite, and (I-3) quartz + calcite + minor pyrite. The IS epithermal vein/veinlet-disseminated mineralization occurs in andesite porphyry and fractures of the Duobaoshan Formation volcanic rocks, and is associated with extensive silicic, sericitic, and pyrite-sericitic-silicic alterations and minor propylitic alteration. Three IS epithermal-type mineralization stages are identified: (II-1) quartz + coarse-grained pyrite, (II-2) quartz + polymetallic sulfides, and (II-3) quartz + calcite + barren sulfides. Five stage II-2 pyrite samples yielded a Re-Os isochron age of 246.0 ± 6.4 Ma (MSWD = 0.85), suggesting a Triassic Au mineralization event after the Ordovician Cu mineralization. Stage I-1 fluid inclusions (FIs) are predominantly of VL- and LV-type and minor SL-type, with homogenization temperatures (Th) of 283–359 ℃ and salinities of 0.3–35.1 wt%. Stage I-2 is characteristically composed of VL- and LV-type inclusions with Th of 193–296 ℃ and salinities of 0.8–14.2 wt%. Only VL-type inclusions occur in stage I-3, II-1, II-2, and II-3 with Th of 149–216 ℃, 213–285 ℃, 169–236 ℃, and 125–176 ℃, and salinities of 2.4–7.9 wt%, 6.5–12.2 wt%, 3.4–8.8 wt%, and 2.1–6.3 wt%, respectively. H-O isotopic compositions for the mineralization (Ordovician: δ18OH2O = -9.9 to −0.5‰, δD = -86 to −75.6‰; Triassic: δ18OH2O = -8.4 to −2‰, δD = −134.1 to −88.5‰) indicate two different evolving fluid systems, both with an initial magmatic source and a later meteoric water incursion. Sulfur and lead isotope (Ordovician: δ34S (−3.1 to −0.7‰), 206Pb/204Pb (17.570–17.613), 207Pb/204Pb (15.427–15.441), 208Pb/204Pb (37.258–37.294); Triassic: δ34S (-5.4 to −2.5‰), 206Pb/204Pb (17.627–17.965), 207Pb/204Pb (15.466–15.534), 208Pb/204Pb (37.468–37.703)) values suggest a dominantly magmatic and a mixed magmatic-sedimentary source for the Ordovician and Triassic mineralization, respectively.