Zircon U-Pb geochronology and geochemistry of the intrusions associated with the Jiawula Ag-Pb-Zn deposit in the Great Xing’an Range, NE China and their implications for mineralization

Abstract

Located in the eastern section of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, the Jiawula Ag-Pb-Zn deposit is classified as a volcanic to subvolcanic related vein-type ore deposit. New U-Pb zircon geochronology, whole-rock geochemistry, mineral chemistry, and Sr-Nd isotope data are presented for the intrusions in the Jiawula deposit in order to evaluate the timing, petrogenetic type of the granitoid rocks, origin and evolution of magmatism, geodynamics, and to establish its relationship with lead-zinc mineralization. Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb analyses yield weighted mean ages of 150.1±1.8Ma for quartz porphyry, 148.8±2.2Ma for syenite porphyry, and 145.3±1.9Ma for monzonite porphyry, indicating a Late Jurassic (Yanshanian) magmatic event. An earlier magmatic event (Indosinian) occurred during the Late Permian to Early Triassic from ca. 254Ma to ca. 247Ma and is represented by granodiorite (254±2Ma), dacite porphyry (252.9±4.8Ma), and diorite porphyry (278±4.1Ma). Both the Indosinian and Yanshanian igneous rocks are classified as I-type granitoids. The late Jurassic intrusions are highly fractionated and characterized by negative anomalies of Eu, Sr, P, and Ti. The hypabyssal intrusions have initial 87Sr/86Sr values between 0.70458 and 0.70522, and εNd(t) values of −3.4 to −0.2, indicating relatively older crust in Jiawula among more juvenile crust in this area. Magma generation in Jiawula is linked to juvenile lower crustal and slightly enriched mantle sources. The ∼250Ma magmatic episode in Jiawula might be related to the subduction of the Mongol-Okhotsk oceanic plate towards the south beneath the Erguna massif. The ∼150Ma magmatic event occurred after the closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean followed by the change in subduction direction of the Paleo-Pacific plate. Varying temperature, stronger fractionation and higher oxygen fugacity related to the magmatic-hydrothermal transition caused Pb-Zn mineralization.