Different Types Of Mineralization Research Articles

A giant porphyry-skarn-epithermal Mo-W-Cu-Zn-Pb-Ag metallogenic system in the Nannihu ore field, southern North China Craton: Constraints from new geochronological and pyrite geochemical data

The southern North China Craton owns substantial Mo, W, Zn, Pb, Cu, and Ag resources, and most of them are hosted in hydrothermal deposits that may co-exist in the same ore field. However, the relationship between the different types of deposits is not well-constrained. To better understand this, here we present a comprehensive geological, geochronological, and pyrite geochemical study on the Nannihu ore field in the Luanchuan district. The Nannihu ore field is largely represented by the Nannihu Mo-W deposit, Luotuoshan Zn-Cu-W deposit, and Lengshuibeigou Pb-Zn-Ag deposit. Mo-W mineralization at Nannihu occurs in the contact zone between the Nannihu intrusion and the wall rocks, showing typical characteristics of the porphyry-type deposit. Three paragenetic stages are recognized at Nannihu, including quartz-potassium feldspar stage, quartz-sulfide stage, and quartz-carbonate stage. The Zn-Cu-W orebodies at Luotuoshan are mainly layered or lens-like, occurring within the skarn zones in the Luanchuan Group. Skarn stage, polymetallic sulfide stage, and carbonate stage are revealed at Luotuoshan. Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization at Lengshuibeigou is characterized by banded sulfide veins that are hosted in the NNE-trending fault zone. Three paragenetic stages are developed at Lengshuibeigou: quartz-pyrite stage, quartz-polymetallic sulfide stage, and quartz-carbonate stage. New geochronological data confirm that the Nannihu intrusion was formed by at least two phases of magmatism including the granite porphyry (zircon U-Pb age of 145 ± 2 Ma) and the porphyritic monzogranite (zircon U-Pb ages of 142 ± 1 Ma and 140 ± 1 Ma), which accompanied by two episodes of Mo mineralization at the Nannihu deposit identified by molybdenite Re-Os dating (144.9 ± 0.7 Ma and 142.8 ± 0.6 Ma). The Luotuoshan deposit and Lengshuibeigou deposit formed at 141 ± 1 Ma to 140 ± 1 Ma and 140 ± 3 Ma to 139 ± 3 Ma revealed by U-Pb dating of garnet and monazite, respectively, which are contemporaneous with the late episode of the Nannihu intrusion and Mo mineralization. Pyrite grains of the three deposits have Co/Ni ratios higher than 1, suggesting a unified magmatic-hydrothermal origin for them. Pyrite from Nannihu and Luotuoshan is enriched in Co, Ni, Se, Mo, Mn, and Bi, whereas pyrite from Lengshuibeigou contains high Zn, Pb, As, Cu, Ag, and Au. The regular elemental distribution of pyrite in the Nannihu ore field is consistent with that of typical porphyry-related systems worldwide.Collectively, the Early Cretaceous magmatic rocks and diverse deposits in the Nannihu ore field make up a giant magmatic-hydrothermal Mo-W-Cu-Zn-Pb-Ag metallogenic system, with the porphyry, skarn, and epithermal types of mineralization displaying a zonation from inside to outside. The multi-episode magmatism and mineralization could result in the remarkable enrichment of mineral resources. The close spatial relationship among different types of mineralization in the Nannihu ore field has a significant implication for porphyry-related mineral prospecting in the southern NCC.

Stacking: A novel data-driven ensemble machine learning strategy for prediction and mapping of Pb-Zn prospectivity in Varcheh district, west Iran

Various ensemble machine learning techniques have been widely studied and implemented to construct the predictive models in different sciences, including bagging, boosting, and stacking. However, bagging and boosting concentrate on minimizing variance or bias, stacking techniques aimed at reducing both by identifying the optimal integration of base learners. Moreover, while most ensemble methods simply combine identical machine learning models, stacking utilizes a meta-machine learning model to combine different base learning models, aiming to enhance the overall accuracy of generalization. Therefore, this research showed the utilization of stacking, an ensemble approach, to develop mineral prospectivity models for Pb-Zn mineralization in the Varcheh District, west Iran. To end this, various exploration evidence layers, including geochemical data, remote sensing data, geological and tectonic controls were used to construct the stacking structure. In the following, a set of five base learners were applied, containing support vector regression (SVR) using RBF, linear and polynomial kernels, the K-nearest neighbor (KNN), and linear regression. Ridge, SVR-RBF and XGBoost were used as a meta-learner to integrate the outputs of basic learners. To measure how well each model performed, ROC, F1-score and Precision metrics was carried out. Moreover, compared to the separate algorithms, the stacking-based ensemble model showed a better prediction accuracy. The findings of this study demonstrated that the ensemble model based on stacking achieved a 95% prediction rate for Pb-Zn deposits, covering only 9% of the study area. As a result, this model holds promise as an effective tool for predicting mineral prospectivity in other study areas, regardless of whether they exhibit similar or different types of mineralization.

Tectonics and gravity field structure of Central Kazakhstan

Purpose. Identification of the nature of the manifestation of tectonic elements of different ages in Central Kazakhstan in gravitational fields based on the results of the calculation of regional, intra-crustal and local transformants. Methodology. Synthesis and analysis of the data on integrated interpretation and modeling of gravitational, geomagnetic, geothermal fields, the latest movements of the Earth’s crust and parameters of the seismic regime, tectonics and stratigraphy of rocks. Findings. Regional, intra-crustal and local heterogeneities in the lithosphere manifest themselves differently in blocks of Precambrian rocks, Early and Late Caledonides, Early and Late Hercynides. They may be associated with the processes of Paleozoic intracontinental rifting, with the rise of mantle matter and its emplacement into the Earth’s crust, followed by the manifestation of Late Paleozoic orogenesis, doubling of the thickness of the Earth’s crust, outpourings of magmatic formations. Originality. It is established that large gravitational minima are distinguished in areas with Hercynian folding, characterized by abnormally high amplitudes in the movement of the Earth’s crust. In the regions of the Caledonian folding, the values of gravity field anomalies of intermediate intensity and increased amplitudes of the latest movements of the Earth’s crust are manifested. Areas with Pre-Paleozoic folding have relative maxima of gravitational anomalies and minimum values of the latest movements of the Earth’s crust. Earthquake sources are concentrated in the consolidated crust at the junction of areas with different ages of basement consolidation, in gradient zones of geothermal, geomagnetic and gravitational anomalies. According to the variations of the intra-crustal transformant, it was found that a wide range of changes in the values of the gravitational field corresponds to areas with minimal temperature values, whereas in areas with increased temperature values, the range of changes in the values of gravity anomalies is reduced. The distribution of the local transformant of the gravitational field indicates the existence of highly variable anomalies, which reflects the high-frequency gravitational effect of near-surface objects of the Earth’s crust. Practical value. The distribution of inhomogeneities in the lithosphere with various density, geomagnetic and geothermal anomalies of geophysical fields, the nature of the seismic regime and the latest movements of the Earth’s crust predetermined the formation of geostructures with different types of mineralization, each of which is recommended to be searched and explored by a specific rational set of geophysical methods.

The Jurassic Gangmei Mo-W deposit in Guangdong Province and its implication for Mo-W mineralization in South China

South China developed large-scale Mesozoic magmatism and polymetallic mineralization, especially Jurassic W-Sn and Mo-W mineralization. Compared with W-Sn deposits, Mo-W deposits in South China have received less attention. The recently discovered Gangmei Mo-W deposit, which occurred in Guangdong Province, is the southernmost Jurassic Mo-W mineralization in South China. Here, we report the molybdenite Re-Os isotopic age of the Gangmei deposit and compile the Mo-W- and W-Sn-associated deposits in South China and their Re concentrations in molybdenites, aiming at constraining the ore-forming age of the Gangmei deposit, the scope of Mo-W mineralization in South China and the possible controlling factors of different mineralization types. Four molybdenite samples from the Gangmei deposit were chosen for Re-Os isotopic dating. The Re-Os model ages vary from 162.6 ± 1.6 Ma to 164.1 ± 1.6 Ma with a weighted mean age of 163.1 ± 1.4 Ma and yield an isochron age of 162.2 ± 4.1 Ma (MSWD = 1.01), consistent with the emplacement age of the Gangmei intrusion, indicating a genetic relationship between magmatic activity and mineralization. This age also agrees well with the large-scale Jurassic Mo-W- and W-Sn-associated mineralization in South China, suggesting that the scope of Jurassic Mo-W-associated mineralization can reach the southernmost part of South China. Rhenium concentrations in molybdenites from Jurassic Mo-W-associated and W-Sn-associated deposits in South China suggest that their magma sources are different, and Mo-W-associated deposits may involve more mantle-derived materials. In addition, oxygen fugacity may be another factor controlling different types of mineralization in South China.

Sulfide Ore Formation of the Kalatongke Ni-Cu Deposit as Illustrated by Sulfide Textures

Abstract The Kalatongke magmatic Ni-Cu deposit features high Ni-Cu grades compared with other Ni-Cu deposits in the Central Asian orogenic belt. The sulfides, mainly hosted by olivine norite and gabbronorite, are characterized by high Cu/Ni ratios. There is wide variety of textural relationships in the mineralized rocks, including globular, sulfide matrix, emulsion, disseminated, net-textured, and semimassive to massive textures. Quantitative textural measurements reveal that more than 65 vol % of the total sulfide volume in disseminated ore (defined as containing 4–10 vol % sulfide) and more than 90 vol % of the total sulfide volume in net-textured ore (typically 16 vol % sulfide) are hosted in few interconnected networks with equivalent sphere diameters (ESDs) larger than 6 mm. This illustrates that sulfide coalescence is a critical process. The remaining sulfide blebs define two groups of log-linear particle size distribution (PSD), i.e., a finer group (ESD of 0.080–<0.529 mm) and a coarser group (ESD of 0.529–4.084 mm). The PSD of the finer group differs slightly among different types of mineralization. The origin of this group of sulfides is attributed to sulfide nucleation simultaneously with crystallization of the olivine-orthopyroxene-plagioclase phases from the ore-forming magma in the current magma chamber. The PSD of the coarser group from net-textured ores is parallel to that from the disseminated ore but has lower intercept values. Modeling results show that aggregation of ~40–70% sulfide blebs of different grain size from the disseminated ore into the networks can generate the coarser group sulfide PSD of net-textured ore. In addition, monosulfide solution (MSS, pyrrhotite component)-enriched sulfide globules are commonly located close to sulfide matrix ore breccias and emulsion-textured ores, rimming the net-textured and massive orebodies. These globules are different from the sulfide component that was in equilibrium with the mafic magma, suggesting they were formed by mechanical remobilization of a cumulus MSS-enriched component from a previously segregated and partially crystallized sulfide pool. These observations, combined with the ubiquitous chilled margin xenoliths in the high-grade ores, suggest that the Kalatongke deposit was the result of voluminous magma flow through the current location accompanied by sulfide reworking and percolation. All these textural characteristics could be explained by emplacement within a laterally propagating bladed dike. Moreover, the deformation recorded in the emulsion-textured and massive ores suggests the fault system remains active during magma solidification, driving downward migration of sulfide from the sulfide pool at magmatic temperature to form vein-type massive ore. We suggest that the Kalatongke deposit formed by magma pulses injecting into the current location and that the tectonic movement remains active during the solidification of the intrusion. The syntectonic emplacement model, which may be a common feature in the Central Asian orogenic belt Ni-Cu deposits, indicates that the fault systems beneath the intrusion are of great exploration interest for high-grade ores.

New insights on the Escoural Orogenic gold district (Ossa-Morena Zone, SW Iberia): Geochemistry, fluid inclusions and stable isotope constraints from the Monfurado gold prospect

The Escoural gold district belongs to the Montemor-Ficalho metallogenic belt which is part of the Portuguese section of Ossa-Morena Zone (OMZ), at the SW of Iberia. The Escoural gold district includes twelve gold prospects and/or deposits largely controlled by the NW-SE Montemor-o-Novo Shear Zone (MNSZ) and associated fault zones, extending for approximately 30 km. Ubiquitously, gold-arsenopyrite-loellingite assemblages hosted in quartz-sericite-chlorite veins are found in most deposits, although, in the Monfurado prospect, the gold-bearing assemblages are more complex. This prospect is located in the vicinity of a Cambrian SEDEX-VMS iron deposit, from which massive and disseminated iron-ores hosted in marbles and calcsilicate rocks, were exploited. The interplay of the gold mineralizing processes with the iron-rich host rocks has favored gold deposition at the Monfurado prospect. Selected samples from six drill cores allowed to define two mineralizing events: the pre-ore and ore stages. Two types of gold mineralization characterize the ore-stage: i) massive sulfide horizons in which gold (Au = 85.6–86.3 wt%; Ag = 13.1–13.6 wt%) is hosted in arsenopyrite and pyrite or, seldomly, gold particles (Au = 91.8 wt%; Ag = 7.1 wt%) found in an arsenopyrite-rich layer; and ii) quartz-chlorite-pyrite veins crosscutting acid metavolcanic rocks with rhyolite-rhyodacite affinities, in which gold (Au = 80.5–82.9 wt%; Ag = 16.8–18.7 wt%) is found as fracture filling in pyrite, sometimes accompanied by Bi-Te phases. Arsenopyrite geothermometer suggests that for type i the overall deposition temperature falls within the range of 188 °C to 372 °C. Type ii mineralization lacks arsenopyrite, and for this reason, thermodynamic constraints were gathered from fluid inclusions and chlorite geothermometer. CH4-rich fluid inclusions are ubiquitous in transgranular fluid inclusion planes, suggesting that reduced fluids percolated the rocks that host type ii mineralization. The reduced fluids support the transport of gold in sulfide complexes, such as AuHS- and Au(HS)-2. Furthermore, secondary H2O-NaCl fluid inclusions (Lw2) were found, with mean salinities of 6.0 eq. w(NaCl) and mean homogenization temperature of 226 °C, with corresponding pressures of 3.0 MPa, thus suggesting late hydrostatic regimes. Chlorite geothermometer results are in the range of 229 °C and 309 °C, agreeing with the fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures for Lw2 fluids.Sulfur isotope (δ34S) analysis of representative sulfide phases collected from both mineralization types, revealed signatures ranging from 8.5 ‰ and 10.6 ‰, indicating a single sulfur source. The gathered results suggest that although fluid transport is structurally controlled by MNSZ activity, the sulfidation reactions promoted by fluid-rock interactions are the main control on gold deposition from type i mineralization. It is further suggested that a coeval gold-event can lead to the deposition of two different types of mineralization, related to distinct gold deposition mechanisms.The tectonic and geodynamic settings in which the Escoural gold district developed correlate it to worldwide Palaeozoic orogenic gold deposits, with the Monfurado prospect being an example of the complexity of such geological settings.

The mineral diversity of the Urdini Lakes and the glacial valley of the Urdina River (Rila Mountain) – an overview

An overview of different types of mineralization in the area of the Urdini Lakes and the glacial valley of the Urdina River (northwestern Rila Mountain) has been made. Currently, it is the only protected area for minerals in Bulgaria. In this area, mainly pegmatite, but also skarn and alpine-type mineralizations, have been found to date. Of particular interest are the hybrid desilicified type pegmatites containing emerald, aquamarine and chrysoberyl crystals and the extremely rare native aluminum. The skarn mineralizations from this area are characterized by wollastonite, diopside, garnet (grossular, andradite), zoisite, clinozoisite, scapolite, vesuvianite and others. In the alpine-type mineralizations, well-formed crystals of quartz, adular, epidote and pyrite, as well as nests of almandine with albite, were observed as recrystallization of the minerals previously formed in the cavities of the host rocks. These cavities may also occasionally contain zeolites.

Complex, multi-stage mineralization processes in the giant Bayan Obo REE-Nb-Fe deposit, China

The Bayan Obo REE-Nb-Fe deposit with giant rare earth reserves, still has no unified understanding of the REE and Nb-bearing mineral evolution and the division of mineralization stages, due to the complicated metallogenic process and the huge controversy on the important issues such as the origin of ore-hosting dolomite. In this work, the whole process of carbonatite magma solidification and mineralization is divided into six stages: coarse dolomitic facies, fine dolomitic facies, disseminated mineralization, banded mineralization, massive mineralization and vein mineralization. The mineralogical composition and paragenesis of various types of rocks and ores have been systematically studied using the automatic mineral analysis technology-Advanced Mineral Identification and Characterization System (AMICS), supplemented by optical microscopy and cathodoluminescence. In order to establish the internal relationship between different stages, trace elements of six kinds of rocks and ores were analyzed. The mineralogical studies show that the rare earth minerals appear in the order of transition from the phosphate minerals in the brine-melt stage (fine dolomitic facies), through the fluorcarbonate minerals in the hydrothermal stage (disseminated, banded and massive mineralization), to the Ba-fluorcarbonate minerals in the Paleozoic vein mineralization, and all of these are generally associated with apatite, baryte, fluorite, aegirine and quartz. The distribution of niobium minerals in all kinds of ores is in the form of disseminated grains, and there is no obvious paragenetic relationship with other minerals, which indicate that niobium mineralization may only be related to the content of niobium in hydrothermal solution. The geochemical data show that all types of rocks and ores have positive anomalies of Ba and Nb, negative anomalies of U, Ta, Sr, Zr and Y. From coarse dolomitic facies to massive mineralization, the content of REE, Nb and Th increases, the content of Sr decreases, and the ratio of (La/Yb)N and (La/Nd)N increases, all of which change continuously. Vein mineralization has similar (La/Nd)N and (La + Ce + Pr)N/REE ratios compared with coarse dolomitic facies and has a wide range of Sr, Th, Nb and REE compositions, and elemental ratio and content of vein mineralization are within the distribution range of ore-hosting dolomite and different types of mineralization. Based on the above, it is considered that the main mineralization body at Bayan Obo was formed in the process of auto-metasomatism of Mesoproterozoic igneous carbonatite, while vein mineralization was the product of homogenization and re-precipitation of early ore-forming material by the Paleozoic fluids, without the addition of exogenous metallogenic materials.

Features of structural tectonics and geochemistry of Tomulakh metamorphism zone

The methods of geological and geochemical modeling for prospecting of mineralization in areas associated with the deposits of the Talnakh ore-forming system are considered. The geological and geochemical model is based on the geological and structural analysis of the spatial relationships of geochemical anomalies, which allows us to quantify the geochemical types of halos caused by both the multi-stage formation of deposits and the presence of different types of mineralization, which contributes to solving the forecasting problems. The subject of the study is the anomalous Tomulakh metamorphism zone (TMZ), the tectonic conditions of its formation, the material composition of metamorphic and metasomatic formations and facies, and their geochemical expression. The TMZ, located in the north of the ore-bearing Kharaelakh intrusive of the Talnakh ore-magmatic system, is traced along the Axial-Dyangin fault. The high density of faulting and the composition of the tectonic breccias in the upper exocontact zone ensure propagation of metamorphosing fluids over a considerable distance in the vertical and lateral directions. Within the TMZ, which is the flank part of the fluid-magmatic system, fluids evolve in space and time from alkaline to acidic. Alkaline and acidic near-fracture metasomatites developing along tectonic breccias are marked by the geochemical associations Y-Mo-Zr and Be-Mo-Zr. Ore mineralization in the form of rare scattered inclusions of pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, and sphalerite is mapped by the Zn-Cu-Ni-Co specialization. The development of ore mineralization in the contact-metamorphosed rocks of the upper Devonian TMZ is considered as a continuation of the contact halo of the Ni-Cu-Co specialization of the Kharaelakh intrusive. Calciteanhydrite metasomatites (americophile) and anhydrite marble in the top exocontact TMZ occur in the zone of dispersed mineralization and Sr anomalies traceable along the Axial-Dyingin fault and being the extension of the contact envelope of the Kharaelakh intrusion. It is assumed that the TMZ is formed under the influence of the fluid-magmatic Talnakh ore-forming system.

Evolution of the magmatic–hydrothermal system and formation of the giant Zhuxi W–Cu deposit in South China

The Zhuxi deposit is a recently discovered W–Cu deposit located in the Jiangnan porphyry–skarn W belt in South China. The deposit has a resource of 3.44 million tonnes of WO3, making it the largest on Earth, however its origin and the evolution of its magmatic–hydrothermal system remain unclear, largely because alteration–mineralization types in this giant deposit have been less well-studied, apart from a study of the calcic skarn orebodies. The different types of mineralization can be classified into magnesian skarn, calcic skarn, and scheelite–quartz–muscovite (SQM) vein types. Field investigations and mineralogical analyses show that the magnesian skarn hosted by dolomitic limestone is characterized by garnet of the grossular–pyralspite (pyrope, almandine, and spessartine) series, diopside, serpentine, and Mg-rich chlorite. The calcic skarn hosted by limestone is characterized by garnet of the grossular–andradite series, hedenbergite, wollastonite, epidote, and Fe-rich chlorite. The SQM veins host high-grade W–Cu mineralization and have overprinted the magnesian and calcic skarn orebodies. Scheelite is intergrown with hydrous silicates in the retrograde skarn, or occurs with quartz, chalcopyrite, sulfide minerals, fluorite, and muscovite in the SQM veins.Fluid inclusion investigations of the gangue and ore minerals revealed the evolution of the ore-forming fluids, which involved: (1) melt and coexisting high–moderate-salinity, high-temperature, high-pressure (>450 °C and >1.68 kbar), methane-bearing aqueous fluids that were trapped in prograde skarn minerals; (2) moderate–low-salinity, moderate-temperature, moderate-pressure (~210–300 °C and ~0.64 kbar), methane-rich aqueous fluids that formed the retrograde skarn-type W orebodies; (3) low-salinity, moderate–low-temperature, moderate-pressure (~150–240 °C and ~0.56 kbar), methane-rich aqueous fluids that formed the quartz–sulfide Cu(–W) orebodies in skarn; (4) moderate–low-salinity, moderate-temperature, low-pressure (~150–250 °C and ~0.34 kbar) alkanes-dominated aqueous fluids in the SQM vein stage, which led to the formation of high-grade W–Cu orebodies. The S–Pb isotopic compositions of the sulfides suggest that the ore-forming materials were mainly derived from magma generated by crustal anatexis, with minor addition of a mantle component. The H–O isotopic compositions of quartz and scheelite indicate that the ore-forming fluids originated mainly from magmatic water with later addition of meteoric water. The C–O isotopic compositions of calcite indicate that the ore-forming fluid was originally derived from granitic magma, and then mixed with reduced fluid exsolved from local carbonate strata. Depressurization and resultant fluid boiling were key to precipitation of W in the retrograde skarn stage. Mixing of residual fluid with meteoric water led to a decrease in fluid salinity and Cu(–W) mineralization in the quartz–sulfide stage in skarn. The high-grade W–Cu mineralization in the SQM veins formed by multiple mechanisms, including fracturing, and fluid immiscibility, boiling, and mixing.

Scheelite of the Bystrinsky skarn-porphyry Cu-Au-Fe deposit (Eastern Transbaikalia, Russia): genetic implications

The first results of the study (methods of mineragraphy, cathodoluminescence (CL), electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA) and laser-ablation inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS)) of scheelite from quartz-molybdenite and quartz-carbonate-sulfide vein-veinlet (porphyry type) are considered, as well as the magnetite-sulfide massive, veinlets and disseminated (skarn type) mineralization of the skarn-porphyry Cu-Au-Fe deposit of Bystrinskoye (East Transbaikalia) one of the largest gold-copper porphyry ore-fields in Russia. It has been established that scheelite, being not the main mineral of the deposit ores, is found almost everywhere, which makes it possible to identify its key features reflecting the specific features of the genesis, both of different types of mineralization and the deposit as a whole. It is shown that scheelite from different types of ore mineralization has clearly determined individual characteristics, differing in prevalence, ensembles of associated minerals, color of CL and fluorescence in the UV-light, composition and concentrations of macro- and microelements, as well as the nature of REE-spectra. These distinctive features testify to a significant difference in the conditions for the formation of the studied ore types and reveal the dependence on the physicochemical and compositional parameters of the mineral-forming medium, which makes it possible to consider scheelite as a fundamentally important genetic indicator of the evolution of mineral formation patterns. Concentrations of Mo in scheelite, the type and form of REE-spectra, which are generally, determined both by the inheritance of the mineral-forming fluid chemistry and the peculiarities of isomorphic occurrence of REE in the structure of the mineral, and variations in the redox properties of the mineral-forming fluid, are of key importance.

Scheelite of the Bystrinskoe Skarn-Porphyry Cu–Au–Fe Deposit, Eastern Transbaikal Region, Russia: Genetic Implications

The first results of the study (methods of mineragraphy, cathodoluminescence (CL), electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA) and laser-ablation inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS)) of scheelite from quartz-molybdenite and quartz-carbonate-sulfide vein-veinlet (porphyry type) are considered, as well as the magnetite-sulfide massive, veinlets and disseminated (skarn type) mineralization of the skarn-porphyry Cu-Au-Fe deposit of Bystrinskoye (East Transbaikalia) – one of the largest gold-copper porphyry ore-fields in Russia. It has been established that scheelite, being not the main mineral of the deposit ores, is found almost everywhere, which makes it possible to identify its key features reflecting the specific features of the genesis, both of different types of mineralization and the deposit as a whole. It is shown that scheelite from different types of ore mineralization has clearly determined individual characteristics, differing in prevalence, ensembles of associated minerals, color of CL and fluorescence in the UV-light, composition and concentrations of macro- and microelements, as well as the nature of REE-spectra. These distinctive features testify to a significant difference in the conditions for the formation of the studied ore types and reveal the dependence on the physicochemical and compositional parameters of the mineral-forming medium, which makes it possible to consider scheelite as a fundamentally important genetic indicator of the evolution of mineral formation patterns. Concentrations of Mo in scheelite, the type and form of REE-spectra, which are generally, determined both by the inheritance of the mineral-forming fluid chemistry and the peculiarities of isomorphic occurrence of REE in the structure of the mineral, and variations in the redox properties of the mineral-forming fluid, are of key importance.

The Genetic Association between Quartz Vein- and Greisen-Type Mineralization at the Maoping W–Sn Deposit, Southern Jiangxi, China: Insights from Zircon and Cassiterite U–Pb Ages and Cassiterite Trace Element Composition

The large-scale Maoping W–Sn deposit in the Gannan metallogenic belt of the eastern Nanling Range, South China, spatially associated with the Maoping granite pluton, hosts total ore reserves of 103,000 t WO3 and 50,000 t Sn. Two different types of mineralization developed in this deposit: Upper quartz vein-type mineralization, mostly within the Cambrian metamorphosed sandstone and slate, and underneath greisen-type mineralization within the Maoping granite. Cassiterites from both types of mineralization coexist with wolframite. Here we report for the first time in situ U–Pb data on cassiterite and zircon of the Maoping deposit obtained by LA-ICP-MS. Cassiterite from quartz vein and greisen yielded weighted average 206Pb/238U ages of 156.8 ± 1.5 Ma and 156.9 ± 1.4 Ma, respectively, which indicates that the two types of mineralization formed roughly at the same time. In addition, the two mineralization ages are consistent with the emplacement age of the Maoping granite (159.0 ± 1.5 Ma) within error, suggesting a close temporal and genetic link between W–Sn mineralization and granitic magmatism. The two types of mineralization formed at the same magmatic-hydrothermal event. Cassiterite from both types of mineralization shows high Fe, Ta, and Zr contents with a low Zr/Hf ratio, suggesting that the ore-forming fluid should be derived from the highly differentiated Maoping granite pluton. Cassiterite in greisen has higher contents of Nb and Ta but a lower concentration of Ti compared with that in quartz vein, indicating that the formation temperature of greisen-type mineralization is little higher than that of quartz-vein-type mineralization.

The mineralization of the Kalatage arc, Eastern Tianshan, NW China: Insights from the geochronology of the Meiling Cu-Zn(-Au) deposit

The Kalatage area, located in the middle of the Dananhu arc in the Eastern Tianshan, NW China, contains abundant and different types of mineralization, e.g. volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) Cu-Zn deposits, porphyry Cu (-Au) deposits and volcanic hydrothermal vein Cu (-Au) deposits, represents an integral component of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The Meiling hydrothermal Cu-Zn (-Au) deposit is located in the core of the Kalatage area and can be studied to better understand the processes of Paleozoic Cu mineralization in the Kalatage area. This deposit hosted in the intermediate-felsic volcanic, volcanoclastic and subvolcanic rocks. The subvolcanic rocks controlled the Cu mineralization and the distributions of the orebodies. The alteration developed along the volcanic structures, where the NW-SE, NNW-SSE, NE-SW and E-W-trending faults controlled the distribution of ores. The ores mainly occur as quartz sulfide veins and stockwork quartz sulfide veins, which contain pyrite, chalcocite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, quartz, sericite, and/or minor calcite/gypsum/barite. Here, we report new zircon U-Pb, sericite Ar-Ar and sulfide Rb-Sr ages to constrain the geochronological framework of the Meiling deposit. The mineralization-related quartz porphyry yields a weighted mean age of 298.7 ± 2.9 Ma; the sericite from the phyllic alteration zone of the M2 orebody yields a plateau age of 265 ± 17 Ma and a consistent inverted isochron age of 261 ± 10 Ma; and the syngenetic sulfides of the M1 and M12 orebodies yield Rb-Sr isochron ages of 299 ± 3 Ma and 301 ± 4 Ma, respectively. All of these ages indicate that the metallogenic epoch of the Meiling deposit occurred in the late Carboniferous (300 Ma). Furthermore, combined with the mineralization ages of the early Silurian Honghai VMS deposit and the middle Devonian Yudai porphyry deposit, our data suggest that the the Kalatage island arc is a long-lived arcs and controls to formed the VMS-type deposit in the immature arc during the Early Silurian, the adakitic intrusions related porphyry-type deposit in the mature arc during the Middle Devonian, and the subvolcanic intrusions related volcanic hydrothermal vein-type Cu(Zn/Au) deposits in the shallow crust of the mature arc during the late Carboniferous.

EDTA conditioning of circumpulpal dentine induces dentinogenic events in pulpotomized miniature swine teeth.

To investigate pulp responses after pulpotomy and EDTA conditioning of pulp chamber dentinal walls with or without the placement of a collagenous scaffold in the experimental model of miniature swine teeth. Forty-two fully developed permanent premolars and molars of healthy miniature swines were used. After preparation of pulp exposures through Class I cavities, the tissue of the pulp chamber was completely removed. The haemorrhage was controlled, and the root pulp was protected using a polyurethane film. The circumpulpal pulp chamber dentine was treated for 3min with normal saline (group 1), or 17% EDTA solution (groups 2 and 3). The film was removed, and the pulp chamber cavities were left empty (groups 1 and 2), or filled with swine collagenous sponge (group 3). The access cavities were restored with a Teflon disc and glass ionomer. Teeth were evaluated histo-morphologically after 10weeks. Data were compared using the nonparametric Fisher's exact test. Teeth after treatment of dentine with saline (group 1) were associated with no or only traces of hard tissue formation along the root canal walls. Atubular tertiary dentine deposition in the form of matrix deposition along root canal walls, or dentine bridge formation at the orifice of root canals or complete pulp canal obliteration, was found after treatment of dentine with EDTA in both experiments (groups 2 and 3). Significantly different types of mineralization in the root canals of groups 2 and 3 were seen (P=0.001). Tissue changes in the pulp cavity, characterized by soft tissue growth and osteodentine or atubular tertiary dentine formation, were only seen after EDTA conditioning of dentine, in 6.2% of the teeth without scaffold and 64.7% of the teeth with scaffold application. Newly deposited mineralized matrix in the pulp chamber was always in continuation with hard tissue deposited in the root canals. The EDTA conditioning of pulp cavity dentinal walls after pulpotomy induced dentinogenic events in the root pulp. Application of collagenous scaffold in the pulp chamber enhanced soft tissue growth and mineralized tissue formation along the treated circumpulpal dentine.

Noble-metal mineralization of the Adycha-Taryn metallogenic zone: Geochemistry of stable isotopes, fluid regime, and ore formation conditions

The regional geologic setting of the Adycha-Taryn metallogenic zone, one of the areas most productive for noble-metal mineralization in northeastern Russia, is discussed. The intricate metallogenic history of the zone and the prolonged geodynamic activity of its ore-hosting structures are documented. Different types of mineralization, such as hydrothermal-metamorphogenic, gold-bismuth, gold-quartz, gold-antimony, and silver-antimony, are described. New data on the isotopic compositions of oxygen in quartz, sulfur in sulfides, and oxygen and carbon in carbonates from different mineralization types are presented. The early metamorphogenic quartz beyond the ore zones has δ18O = +20.1 ± 2.0‰. At the gold-bismuth deposits, the δ18O values of quartz are within the narrow range of +12.5 ± 0.4‰. Quartz from the gold-quartz mineralization shows much wider variation in δ18O values, from +14.2 to +19.5‰. A similar range (δ18O = +16.1 to +19.2‰) is observed for the gold-antimony mineralization. Cryptograined quartz from the silver-antimony mineralization is enriched in light oxygen isotopes (δ18O = -3.2 to +4.7‰). The following δ34S values (‰) have been established in sulfides of mineralization of different types: gold-bismuth -3.7 to -2.2 (Apy) and -6.7 to -6.8 (Py); gold-quartz -2.1 to +2.4 (Apy), -6.6 to +5.4 (Py), and -6.1 to +4.2 (St); gold-antimony -2.0 to +1.6 (Apy), -3.5 to +2.1 (Py), and -5.3 to +0.2 (St); and silver-antimony -2.0 to -1.9 (Apy), -2.2 ± 0.1 (Py), and -5.7 to -5.6 (St). The δ13C and δ18O values are contrasting in the studied types of mineralization, varying respectively from -6.9 to -5.9‰ and from +2.1 to +5.7‰ (gold-bismuth), from -9.1 to -6.1‰ and from +12.4 to 18.7‰ (gold-quartz), from -12.1 to -9.5‰ and from +15.0 to +16.3‰ (gold-antimony), from -11.6 to -11.1‰ and from +1.5 to +4.7‰ (silver-antimony). Metamorphogenic calcites are rich in both heavy C (-1.1 to -1.7‰) and heavy O (+20.3 to +20.5‰) isotopes. Microthermometric study and crush-leach analysis of fluid inclusions have revealed differences in the composition of ore-forming fluids and formation conditions for different types of mineralization. The isotopic compositions of O, C, and S of mineral-forming fluids suggest a significant input of magmatic fluids to the formation of gold-bismuth and gold-antimony deposits, the contribution of metamorphic fluids increases at gold-quartz deposits, and meteoric water is involved in the formation of silver-antimony deposits.

The 40Ar/39Ar dating of quartz: new insights into the metallogenic chronology of the Jinchang gold deposit and its geological significance

The Jinchang gold deposit has been extensively studied, but precise dates for its formation are debated. Native gold mainly occurs as inclusions within pyrite and quartz. In this study, we analysed quartz crystals coeval with gold precipitation from two different types of mineralization using the ArgusVI multi-collector noble gas mass spectrometer by the stepwise crushing technique to resolve the timing and genesis of gold mineralization. 40Ar/39Ar dating of quartz samples (J12Q) from breccia ore yields a plateau age of 109.87 ± 0.86 Ma, and an inverse isochron age of 109.87 ± 0.88 Ma. Quartz samples (J18Q) from vein ore yields a slightly younger plateau age of 107.76 ± 0.85 Ma, with an inverse isochron age of 107.76 ± 0.92 Ma. These dates place the ore-forming age of the Jinchang gold deposit at 107~110 Ma, much younger than previously published radiometric ages, suggesting the gold mineralization is spatio-temporally associated with the granite porphyry. The formation of the Jinchang gold deposit is consistent with the regional late Mesozoic porphyry-epithermal gold mineralization event in the Yanbian-Dongning area. Finally, our study shows that 40Ar/39Ar of quartz can be used as a powerful tool to date the formation ages of hydrothermal ore deposits.

Timing and structural controls on skarn-type and vein-type mineralization at the Xitian tin-polymetallic deposit, Hunan Province, SE China

Xitian tin-polymetallic deposit, located in the eastern Hunan Province, SE China, hosts quartz vein and skarn in the contact zone between carbonate and two stages granites. Critical geodynamic questions for South China are whether different types of mineralization form in the same time and how the magmatism–tectonic system controls the ore-forming process. Based on the distribution of the orebodies, six cassiterite samples from different types of mineralization are collected for dating. In-situ LA-MC-ICP-MS U–Pb isotopic data yielded concordia low intercept ages between 154 and 157 Ma, indicating that different types of mineralization belong to the same magmatism–mineralization system. Coupled with the study of the kinematic indicators, it suggests that the structural control of the wall rocks constrain the types of mineralization. These results provide further evidence of a close temporal link between the structure and the tin-polymetallic mineralization in Xitian deposit. Considering the structure in the district, granite dome plays an important role in the ore-forming process. The age and structural signatures in Xitian deposit are the response to the subduction of Pacific Plate.

Magnesium bioavailability from mineral waters with different mineralization levels in comparison to bread and a supplement

ABSTRACTThe aim of the present study was to compare the magnesium bioavailability from four mineral waters with different types of mineralization (e.g. SO42-, HCO3−, calcium) with the magnesium bioavailability from bread and from a magnesium supplement. A single-center, randomized, controlled trial with a crossover design with 22 healthy men and women was conducted at the Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany. The participants consumed the six test products providing 100 mg of magnesium each on six examination days with a one-week washout phase in between. The primary outcome variables were the 24 h urinary magnesium excretion, the 24 h urinary magnesium/creatinine ratio, and the area under the curve of serum magnesium levels for 10 h (AUC0-10h). No significant differences among groups were observed for either 24 h urinary magnesium excretion or 24 h urinary magnesium/creatinine ratio. Likewise, statistical group comparisons of AUC0-10h for serum magnesium levels revealed no significant differences among the treatment groups. Accordingly, given equivalent magnesium availability from all test products, neither SO42- content nor the content of HCO3− or of calcium influenced the bioavailability of magnesium. Thus, mineral water with higher concentrations of magnesium constitutes a calorie-free magnesium source that contributes to optimal magnesium supply.

Geochronological and petrogeochemical constraints on the skarn deposits in Tongshanling ore district, southern Hunan Province: Implications for Jurassic Cu and W metallogenic events in South China

Southern Hunan Province, South China, is located in the central part of the Qin–Hang metallogenic belt and is characterized by abundant Cu–Pb–Zn and W–Sn polymetallic ore deposits. The Cu–Pb–Zn deposits are associated with Jurassic granodiorite porphyries whereas the W–Sn deposits occur within Jurassic granite porphyries. Here we present geochronologic and geochemical data for the Tongshanling Cu–(Mo)–Pb–Zn deposit and the Weijia W deposit in the district of Tongshanling, southern Hunan. Zircon U–Pb dating and molybdenite Re–Os geochronology indicate that the emplacement of the Tongshanling granodiorite porphyry and the associated Cu mineralization occurred at 162–160Ma, slightly earlier than the formation of the Xianglinpu granite porphyry and associated W mineralization at 159–158Ma. The Tongshanling granodiorite is high-K calc-alkaline, weakly peraluminous, and weakly fractionated with zircon εHf(t) values of −15.1 to −5.6. In contrast, the Xianglinpu granite is alkaline, peraluminous, and highly fractionated, with εHf(t) values of −9.5 to 0.9. Our data indicate that the Tongshanling granodiorite is relatively oxidized and was formed by the partial melting of Paleoproterozoic crustal material with inputs of mafic magma which was derived from a subduction-modified lithospheric mantle. In contrast, the Xianglinpu granite porphyry is relatively reduced and was formed by direct interaction between the crust and asthenospheric mantle. The difference in magma generation and tectonics is considered to have resulted in the different types of mineralization associated with these two intrusive bodies.