Zircon U–Pb geochronology, geochemistry, S–Pb–Hf isotopic compositions, and mineral chemistry of the Xin'gaguo skarn Pb–Zn deposit, Tibet, China

Abstract

The Xin'gaguo deposit is representative of the skarn Pb–Zn polymetallic zone in the northern Gangdese porphyry metallogenic belt, Tibet. Pb–Zn mineralization is hosted in the Take'na formation skarn. The Xin'gaguo ore‐forming process can be divided into prograde skarn, retrograde skarn and quartz‐sulfides. Skarn minerals include garnet, diopside, and epidote, with minor wollastonite, actinolite, and chlorite. Metallic minerals are mainly sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, magnetite, and pyrrhotite, with minor arsenopyrite, marcasite, native bismuth, cosalite, and gersdorffite. The LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb age of the diorite is 59.66±0.52 Ma. Diorite samples are characterized by fractioned REE patterns with marked positive Eu anomalies, enriched LILEs (Rb, Ba, Th, U, and K) and depleted HFSEs (Ta, Nb, Zr, Hf, and Ti), belong to the calc‐alkaline series and have metaluminous compositions. Zircon εHf(t) values of the diorite are positive (5.7–11) and lie between the chondrite and mantle values. These geochemical characteristics suggest that the diorite was formed by the partial melting of a young metasomatized asthenospheric mantle wedge deriving basaltic rocks. The δ34S values of sulfides range from −4.7 to 4.5‰ and show a bimodal distribution, indicating interactions of magma‐derived ore fluid with biogenic sulfide minerals from the Take'na formation. The 206Pb/204Pb (18.5–18.629), 207Pb/204Pb (15.599–15.704), and 208Pb/204Pb (38.616–38.975) of sulfides show that ore‐forming metals were derived from mixed sources, in part from the Lhasa Terrane basement. Skarn mineral compositions imply that the ore‐forming environment was variable, and underwent at least three changes in oxidation‐reduction state. The geochemical characteristics of diorite indicate that the Xin'gaguo deposit formed within the Indo‐Asian continental collision tectonic setting.