Fine-grained Granite Research Articles

New insights on the origin for rapakivi granites: U-Pb and Lu-Hf in zircon from Alto Candeias Intrusive Suite, Amazonian Craton, Brazil

The Southwestern Amazonian Craton, in Rondônia state, Brazil, comprises multiple orogens with ages ranging from 1.8 to 1.0 Ga, where successive magmatic, metamorphic, and deformational processes reworked ancient rocks and produced new complexes and juvenile continental crust. Identification of the geochronological and petrographic characteristics of granitoids and terranes generated during such events is crucial for the recognition and distinction of their magma sources. A total of 64 samples collected from the Alto Candeias Intrusive Suite outcrops in Rondônia state recognized four different groups: (1) Monte Negro unit (rapakivi granites), (2) Buriti unit (equigranular to porphyritic granodiorites), (3) Campo Novo unit (medium to coarse-grained charnockites), and (4) Jacilândia unit (fine-grained granites). U-Pb geochronological data were obtained for each unit, with the following ages: 1350 ± 5 Ma (Monte Negro unit), 1350 ± 2 Ma (Buriti unit), 1349 ± 3 Ma (Campo Novo unit), 1348 ± 3 Ma, and 1349 ± 1 Ma (Jacilândia unit). The ages of the four granitic units are the same within error. Lu-Hf isotopic results presented in this study indicate that the Alto Candeias Intrusive Suite has the mantle as the magmatic source and that the continental crust coeval to the subduction process. This process led to the formation of I-type granitoids generated in the SW margin of the Amazonian Craton around 1350 Ma during San Ignacio orogeny.

Two-stage mineralization of the Jinkeng Sn-Cu deposit in Eastern Guangdong, Southeast China: Response to magmatic activities and tectonic transformation

The Jinkeng Sn-Cu polymetallic deposit in South China consists of two different types of orebodies: 1) NE-striking skarn- and vein-type Cu-Pb-Zn-Sn orebodies in volcanic rocks suffering subsequent ductile shear deformation, and 2) NW-striking quartz-cassiterite-sulfide veins filled in the faults at the porphyritic granodiorite outward from the fine-grained granite which does not exhibit deformation. The relationships among Sn-Cu polymetallic mineralization, regional magmatism, and deformation metamorphism are still controversial. To address it, the geochronological, whole-rock and mineral geochemical research along with the detailed field investigation were conducted in this study. Our zircon U-Pb dating results show that the volcanic rocks formed at 158–162 Ma, earlier than the porphyritic granodiorite which yields the emplacement age of 146–147 Ma. In-situ LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of cassiterite from the deformed skarn ores indicates the early-stage mineralization occurred at 146 ∼ 148 Ma, which is similar to the emplacement age of the porphyritic granodiorite, but earlier than the formation of quartz-cassiterite-sulfide veins and the fine-grained granite (141∼144 Ma). Further, the whole-rock and biotite geochemistry, and zircon Hf isotope compositions suggest that the porphyritic granodiorite exhibits a lower degree of magma differentiation, higher oxygen fugacity, higher Cl and lower F contents than the fine-grained granite. The porphyritic granodiorite might provide the most Cu-Pb-Zn budget accompanied by minor Sn for early-stage mineralization. Overall, our study suggests that the Jinkeng Sn-Cu polymetallic deposit formed in two scenarios where the early dominated Cu-Pb-Zn and minor Sn mineralization related to the emplacement of the porphyritic granodiorite is superimposed by the late vein-type Sn-dominated mineralization related to the emplacement of the fine-grained granite. The two isolated mineralizing events (∼147 Ma and ∼141 Ma, respectively) in Jinkeng were probably responded to the regional magmatic activities triggered by the tectonic transformation where two extensional tectonic events were separated by a short contractional event (147–144 Ma).

Influence of Heat Treatment on the Mechanical Properties of Fine-Grained Granite under Dynamic Impact Loading

In order to study the influence of heat treatment on the dynamic properties of fine-grained granite, an improved split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) system was used to conduct impact compression tests on the granite specimens treated at 20~1000 °C under three loading rates. The experimental results show that the shape of the impact stress–strain curve is affected by the loading rate and heat treatment temperature. Under the same loading rate, the average strain rate, peak strain, and maximum strain of granite specimen exhibit a trend of “slow increasing (20~200 °C)—slow decreasing (200~400 °C)—slow increasing (400~500 °C)”. The peak stress and elastic modulus show the opposite trend. The average strain rate, peak strain, and maximum strain of the granite specimen treated at 600 °C increase significantly. The peak stress and elastic modulus decrease significantly. Within the heat treatment temperature range of 600~800 °C, the dynamic properties of granite deteriorate slowly. The average strain rate, peak strain, and maximum strain of the granite specimens treated at 900 °C and 1000 °C increase sharply, while the peak stress decreases sharply. Within the heat treatment temperature range of 600–1000 °C, the elastic modulus of the granite specimen shows an approximately linear decreasing trend. There are no changes in the mineral composition of granite within the heat treatment temperature range of 20–1000 °C. After heat treatment at 600 °C, the width of internal cracks in granite increases significantly. The width of internal cracks in the heat-treated granites at 900 °C and 1000 °C increases sharply. The change in the dynamic properties of granite is determined by the internal microstructure of the heat-treated granite at different temperatures.

Dynamic slip behavior and off-fault damage of tension-induced fractures constrained by different grain sizes in granite

The mineralogy and texture of granite have been found to have a pronounced effect on its mechanical behavior. However, the precise manner in which the texture of granite affects the shear behavior of fractures remains enigmatic. In this study, fine-grained granite (FG) and coarse-grained granite (CG) were used to create tensile fractures with surface roughness (i.e. joint roughness coefficient (JRC)) within the range of 5.48–8.34 and 12.68–16.5, respectively. The pre-fractured specimens were then subjected to direct shear tests under normal stresses of 1–30 MPa. The results reveal that shear strengths are smaller and stick-slip behaviors are more intense for FG fractures than for CG fractures, which is attributed to the different conditions of the shear surface constrained by the grain size. The smaller grain size in FG contributes to the smoother fracture surface and lower shear strength. The negative friction rate parameter a – b for both CG and FG fractures and the larger shear stiffness for FG than for CG fractures can account for the more intense stick-slip behaviors in FG fractures. The relative crack density for the post-shear CG fractures is greater than that of the FG fractures under the same normal stress, both of which decrease with the distance away from the shear surface following the power law. Moreover, the damage of CG fracture extends to a larger extent beneath the surface compared with the FG fracture. Our findings demonstrate that the grain size of the host rock exerts a significant influence on the fracture roughness, and thus should be incorporated into the assessment of fault slip behavior to better understand the role of mineralogy and texture in seismic activities.

Fluid-driven fault nucleation, rupture processes, and permeability evolution in oshima granite — Preliminary results and acoustic emission datasets

This study investigated the fault nucleation and rupture processes driven by stress and fluid pressure in fine-grained granite by monitoring acoustic emissions (AEs). Through detailed analysis of the spatiotemporal distribution of the AE hypocenter, P-wave velocity, stress-strain, and other experimental observation data under different confining pressures for stress-driven fractures and under different water injection conditions for fluid-driven fractures, it was found that fluid has the following effects: 1) complicating the fault nucleation process, 2) exhibiting episodic AE activity corresponding to fault branching and the formation of multiple faults, 3) extending the spatiotemporal scale of nucleation processes and pre-slip, and 4) reducing the dynamic rupture velocity and stress drop. The experiments also show that 1) during the fault nucleation process, the b-value for AEs changes from 1 to 1.3 to 0.5 before dynamic rupture, and then rapidly recovers to around 1–1.2 during aftershock activity and 2) the hydraulic diffusivity gradually increases from an initial pre-rupture order of 0.1 ​m2/s to 10–100 ​m2/s after dynamic rupture. These results provide a reasonable fault pre-slip model, indicating that hydraulic fracturing promotes shear slip before dynamic rupture, as well as laboratory-scale insights into ensuring the safety and effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing operations related to activities such as geothermal development, evaluating the seismic risk induced by water injection, and further researching the precursory preparation process for deep fluid-driven or fluid-involved natural earthquakes. The publicly available dataset is expected to be used for various purposes, including 1) as training data for artificial intelligence related to microseismic data processing and analysis, 2) predicting the remaining time before rock fractures, and 3) establishing models and assessment methods for the relationship between microseismic characteristics and rock hydraulic properties, which will deepen our understanding of the interaction mechanisms between fluid migration and rock deformation and fracture.

Understanding the evolution mechanism and classification criteria of tensile -shear cracks in rock failure process from acoustic emission (AE) characteristics

This study aimed to investigate the crack evolution and failure mechanism of rocks by conducting uniaxial compression tests (UCT) and Brazilian indirect tension tests (BITT) using four categories of rock specimens. Real-time acoustic emission (AE) signals were detected and recorded during rock failure processes by an AE monitoring system. The study focused on the accumulative AE hits curves, stress–strain curves, and other AE energy characteristics to divide the failure process into five stages, and determine the stress thresholds. Furthermore, the transition trend of rock crack types was analyzed based on RA-AF data. A novel classification criterion of crack types based on clustering and statistical theory was proposed, and the crack boundaries of the four rocks were determined. Additionally, the tension to shear ratios of the rocks in descending order were fine-grained granite, granite, yellow sandstone, and white sandstone. Finally, the crack development trend and failure characteristics of the rock were analyzed using the crack scale and crack dividing line. The study found that the failure mode of the rock could be predicted accurately by AE parameter analysis at Unstable Crack Growth (Stage-IV).

Research on the evaluation method of rock brittleness characteristics based on stress-strain curve

Abstract In this study, not only the variability of the internal texture of rocks is considered in the in-depth investigation of the brittle fracture properties of rocks, but also the effects of different stress states and temperature factors on the fragility of rocks are focused on. Through experimental studies and data analysis of various types of rocks under different stress conditions and temperature environments, this study found that the plasticity of marble is positively related to stress. Under other stress states of 5, 15, 25, and 35 MPa, the stress-strain curves become flatter with increasing stress. Under uniaxial stress condition, the fragile strengths of different rocks are sandstone, red sandstone, granite, marble, chert, and cement mortar in that order. Whereas, under triaxial stress condition, the fragility of the rock samples was in the order of fine-grained granite, coarse-grained granite, sandstone, tuff, and marble. It was further found that the rock specimens after different high-temperature water-cooling treatments exhibited four different stages of brittle fracture, and the peak of the first stage of the rock was higher as the temperature decreased. The inclination of the peak was inversely proportional to the temperature. This study provides an essential scientific basis for the in-depth understanding of the brittle fracture characteristics of rocks and their engineering applications.

Characteristic stress and strain precursor information for fine-grained granite during failure process under triaxial loading and unloading conditions

The unloading effect by excavation may cause irreversible and severe damage to the surrounding rock masses in underground engineering. In this paper, both conventional triaxial compression (CTC) tests and triaxial unloading confining pressure (TUCP) tests were conducted on fine-grained granite to study its triaxial compression failure processes due to unloading. Based on the crack volumetric strain (CVS) method, the crack axial strain (CAS) method and crack radial area strain (CRAS) method were proposed to identify the failure precursor information (including stress thresholds and axial strain at the initiation point of crack connectivity stage) during the rock failure processes. The results of the CTC tests show that the stable crack development stress σsd, unstable crack development stress σusd, and crack connectivity stress σct identified by the CAS method are 6%, 74%–84%, and 86%–97% of the peak stress, respectively. For the TUCP cases, as the confining pressure increases, the stress thresholds, axial pressure at failure and axial strain at the start of the crack connectivity stage increase, while the time ratio of the crack connectivity stage to the entire unloading stage decreases. This indicates that fine-grained granite is prone to generate more cracks and leads to fail suddenly under high confining pressure. Furthermore, this new method demonstrates that the point at which the derivative of the radial crack area strain transitions from stable to a sudden increase or decrease is defined as the precursor point of rock failure. The results of axial strain at the starting point of the crack connectivity stage are very close to those predicted by the AE method, with β1 no more than 11%.

Petrogenesis of the Mesozoic granitoids from the Yuanlinzi Sn-Cu deposit, Northeast China: Implications for Cu-rich Sn mineralization

Granite-related hydrothermal Sn deposits are commonly expected to contain little or no Cu because Cu and Sn have markedly different geochemical properties. However, examples of Sn deposits rich in Cu are well-known in many Sn belts worldwide. So far, the magmatic processes of ore-related rocks and genesis of Cu-rich Sn deposits remain controversial. The newly discovered Yuanlinzi Sn-Cu deposit is located in the southern Great Xing’an Range (SGXR), Northeast China. It is a typical Cu-rich Sn deposit in the SGXR. This contribution reports new cassiterite and zircon U-Pb ages, geochemical compositions, and Sr-Nd isotopic data for the granitoids in the Yuanlinzi deposit to decipher the genesis of Cu-rich Sn deposit. Cassiterite U-Pb dating reveals that the Sn mineralization at Yuanlinzi was formed at ∼ 138 Ma. Zircon U-Pb dating of the granitoids yielded two age clusters: Early Triassic (247.6–246.3 Ma) for the granodiorite, and Early Cretaceous (145.3–141.9 Ma) for the granites, including K-feldspar granite (145.3 ± 0.5 Ma), granite porphyry (143.6 ± 0.9 Ma), fine-grained granite (142.8 ± 1.1 Ma) and albite granite (141.9 ± 1.3 Ma). The Early Cretaceous granites have geochemical affinities for A-type granites, for example, A/CNK = 0.98–1.07, high TFeO/(TFeO + MgO) ratios, total alkali (Na2O + K2O), and Ga/Al ratios. The Early Triassic granodiorite have relatively low (87Sr/86Sr)i values of 0.7034–0.7041, whereas the Early Cretaceous granite has slightly variable and higher (87Sr/86Sr)i values, varying from 0.7020 to 0.7065. The Early Triassic granodiorite and Early Cretaceous granites have similar bulk-rock εNd (t) values and TDM2 ages, ranging from + 1.89 to + 3.53 and 732 to 845 Ma, respectively. The geochemical data and Sr-Nd isotopes indicate that the Early Cretaceous granites were derived from partial melting of the juvenile middle-upper crust. This study further suggests that the 145.3–141.9 Ma granites are associated with back-arc extension environment during the low-angle subduction of Paleo-Pacific plate. In addition, the whole-rock and zircon compositions show that the Cu-Sn magma is characterized by relatively oxidized and less evolved features compared to the Cu-poor Sn deposits in the region. The rapid increase of oxygen fugacity of the latest episode of the Early Cretaceous magma is supposed to have initiated by the injection of mafic magma, which supported the Cu source for the deposit. Our studies suggest that the Cu-bearing mafic magma/fluid injection plays a key role on the formation of Cu-rich Sn deposit.

Study on the Evolution of Physical Parameters and Dynamic Compression Mechanical Properties of Granite after Different Heating and Cooling Cycles

The study of the evolution law of basic physical parameters and dynamic compression performance of deep granite under the environment of the heating-cooling cycle is of great significance for the stability evaluation of deep underground engineering and the development of deep resources. In this study, heating-cooling cycle tests and dynamic compression tests were conducted on a large number of fine-grained granite specimens with heating temperatures from 200 to 600 °C and times from one to twenty times using a box-type high-temperature muffle furnace and Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) test system, and the evolution law of basic physical parameters and dynamic compression mechanical properties of fine-grained granite were studied using theoretical and fitting analysis. The test results showed that: the changes of the basic physical parameters of granite have obvious temperature effect; 600 °C is a threshold value for the changes of each physical parameter of granite; the sensitivity of each physical parameter to the number of heating and cooling cycles is small before 600 °C; and the sensitivity of each physical parameter to the number of heating and cooling cycles significantly increases at 600 °C. The dynamic compressive strength and elastic modulus of granite decreased with the increase in heating and cooling cycles, and the maximum decrease rate was 89.1% and 85.9%, respectively, and the strain rate linearly increased with the increase in heating and cooling cycles, and the maximum strain rate was 123 s-1. The temperature, the number of heating and cooling cycles, and the impact air pressure, all had significant effects on the damage mode and crushing degree of granite.

Geochemical and geological characteristics indicate the wolframite mineralization for seeking the type of wolframite mine in Vau village and ajacent area (Dong Giang district, Quang Nam province)

Wolfram mineralization in the area of Vau village (Dong Giang district, Quang Nam province) is distributed along the small stream together with other sulfide mineralizations in the form of small to large boulders. Ore minerals are mainly sheelite, pyrhotite, arsenopyrite a little of chalcopyrite and pyrite. The ore is distributed in stockwork type in the gray, light gray metamorphic sedimentary rocks with quartz - mica composition alternated with quartz feldspar mica schist, sericite schist and sericitized schist of the A Vuong formation (Sequene 3). Sheelite exists in the area manifested by hornflization and bezeritization. Ajacent area have weak skarnation. They have manifestations of the wolframite deposit of skarn type. Geochemical characteristics: W in the ore reaches 2,323 ppm (0.023%), As - 110,366 ppm (1.10%), Co - 212.3 ppm, related granite (Ba Na block’s granite) reaching 1,517 ppm wofram situated at the edge of the magma block (fine-grained alaskite, similar to the composition of boulders in the ore strip). There is small-grained granite with a content of 794 ppm at the center of mass. Thus, the two granite types have high level of metallogical specialization of wolframite (Ktt = 397 is fine-grained granite and Ktt = 758.7 is alaskite Granite). Besides, this rock has metallogical specialization of As (277.4 ppm in fine-grained granite, 29.9 ppm in alaskite).

Combined mica and apatite chemical compositions to trace magmatic-hydrothermal evolution of fertile granites in the Dachang Sn-polymetallic district, South China

Tin mineralization in the Dachang Sn-polymetallic district, South China, is inferred to be associated with the Late Cretaceous Longxianggai pluton, which is primarily composed of porphyritic and equigranular (from medium-grained, to medium- to fine-grained, and then fine-grained textures) biotite granites. However, the magmatic and post-magmatic evolution that may exert an essential role in determining metal fertility of granitic intrusions remains poorly constrained. A comprehensive investigation on chemical compositions of mica (magmatic biotite and hydrothermal muscovite) and apatite in the Longxianggai biotite granites is employed to trace magmatic-hydrothermal processes and their potential role in the formation of fertile granites and hydrothermal Sn mineralization.Magmatic biotite shows variable compositions from Fe-biotite to protolithionite in the porphyritic and equigranular granites. Increasing AlVI and Mn, and decreasing Mg and Ti with increasing XFe in biotite from the porphyritic to medium-grained, and then medium- to fine-grained granites are consistent with compositional variation trends expected during magmatic differentiation, accompanying with progressive enrichment of Li, F, Rb, Cs, Nb, Ta, W and Sn. However, an obvious depletion of Sn, Nb and Cl occurs in magmatic biotite from the more evolved fine-grained granite, with hydrothermal muscovite containing higher Sn and lower Nb contents. Tin depletion in biotite possibly reflects preferential portioning of Sn in Cl-bearing fluids exsolved from the differentiated granitic magmas prior to biotite crystallization. Likewise, the decoupling of Nb with Ta in biotite may attribute to extraction of Nb by exsolved fluids to form secondary Nb-rich rutile and CGMs (columbite-group minerals) in the granite matrix. The relatively high mobility/solubility of Nb in fluids compared to Ta is also consistent with elevated Nb/Ta ratios in hydrothermal muscovite. Compared with apatite in the porphyritic granite, apatite in the medium- to fine-grained granite generally develops fluid inclusions and micro-fractures/pores (often filled with quartz, zircon and monazite), and possesses tetrad REE patterns with variable Eu anomalies, in favor of its crystallization in fluid-saturated fractionated melts. The mineralogical data indicate that equigranular granites have experienced a higher degree of magmatic fractionation than porphyritic granites, with fluid exsolution occurring in late stage of granite solidification. The prolonged fractional crystallization followed by late fluid exsolution may play an important role in hydrothermal mineralization in the Dachang district. A compilation of mica and apatite elemental compositions from Dachang and other Sn-W-related granites demonstrates that high Sn contents and high Fe/(Fe + Mg + Mn) ratios in magmatic biotite, and elevated F, Fe, Mn and Sn contents in apatite, could be geochemical indicators for granitic rocks with high Sn-W mineralization potential.

Mineralogical, Geochronological, and Geochemical Characteristics of Early Cretaceous Granite in South China: Implications for Tectonic Evolution and REE Mineralization

One of the most important geological features of South China are the widespread Mesozoic igneous rocks that play a key role in revealing the tectonic evolution of South China. Due to the thick covering of vegetation and Quaternary sediments, the early Cretaceous magmatism in southwestern South China is still not well constrained. In this paper, we report newly identified early Cretaceous granites in Guangxi, South China. Zircon U–Pb dating results showed that representative fine-grained and coarse-grained granites in northeastern Guangxi indicate the early Cretaceous ages of 141 ± 3 Ma and 141 ± 4 Ma, respectively. Geochemically, both fine-grained and coarse-grained granites had high 10,000 × Ga/Al ratios and belonged to A-type granite. They had undergone high degrees of magma differentiation, as evidenced by extremely negative Sr, Ba, and Eu anomalies. They had high REE (rare earth elements) contents (>451 ppm). The fine-grained granites were characterized by higher HREE (heavy rare earth elements) contents, lower LREE (light rare earth elements) contents, and lower LREE/HREE ratios than the coarse-grained granites. Integrated with regional geological data, the early Cretaceous granites were likely formed in a back-arc extensional environment in response to the increased subduction angle of the Paleo-Pacific plate. Different REE contents in the fine- and coarse-grained granites may be a result of fractional crystallization. Magma differentiation and hydrothermal alteration might have played an important role in REE mineralization of the early Cretaceous granites in Guangxi.

Deciphering deep-seated, highly fractionated, and reduced granitic magma systems associated with world-class scheelite skarn ores: A case study of the Zhuxi deposit, South China

The Zhuxi deposit, with 3.44 million tons (Mt) WO3 at 0.54%, is a world-class reduced scheelite skarn deposit and is spatially associated with highly fractionated and highly mineralized dikes, i.e., scheelite-bearing anorthite rock and albitite dikes. These scheelite-bearing dikes share similar rare earth element (REE) and Sr–Nd isotope compositions but display major element compositions distinct from those of the causative biotite monzogranite pluton associated with the Zhuxi deposit. The average compositions of apatite grains from anorthite rock, albitite, and the granitic pluton display roughly subparallel chondrite-normalized REE patterns. Additionally, subparallel chondrite-normalized REE patterns are displayed between the edges of scheelite grains from altered fine-grained granite and the cores of scheelite grains from albitite as well as between the edges of scheelite grains from albitite and scheelite grains from anorthite rock. Moreover, the in situ titanite (150.04 ± 0.39 Ma) and apatite (150.8 ± 1.7 Ma) U–Pb ages of the anorthite rock and the apatite U–Pb age (152.2 ± 2.6 Ma) of the albitite are consistent with the rock- and ore-forming ages (∼150 Ma) of the Zhuxi deposit. Furthermore, the water- and alkali-rich intergranular melt, which was extracted from the magma system, predated its solidification entirely and formed widespread intergranular albite rims surrounding plagioclase grains in the biotite monzogranite pluton where myrmekite is widespread.The scheelite-bearing anorthite rock and albitite dikes represent the products of highly fractionated melts that were saturated with volatiles and extracted from deep granitic magma reservoirs, which later crystallized to form the granitic pluton. Because W is highly incompatible and enriched in residual granitic magmas, large-tonnage W mineralization occurred above deep-seated causative granitic intrusions during the extraction of residual granitic melts if the parental magma exhibited metallogenic potential. Extensive W mineralization is directly associated with highly fractionated dikes rather than with granitic plutons, and these dikes could indicate pathways for W-bearing fluids.The exploration potential for reduced scheelite skarn deposits in deeply emplaced intrusions should not be confined to areas where granites are exposed at the surface but should include areas where granitic intrusions are possibly present at depth, particularly in regions with widespread, highly fractionated, highly mineralized discrete felsic dikes. If the causative granitic intrusions are exposed at the surface, most W orebodies and their spatially associated dikes could have been completely eroded. This is the reason for the disappearance of economic W orebodies adjacent to highly fractionated granitic plutons that share similar geochemical characteristics with granitic dikes surrounded by economic W orebodies. Thus, caution should be applied when assessing the W metallogenic potential of highly fractionated granitic rocks primarily according to their geochemical characteristics.

Age, Genesis and Tectonic Setting of the Sayashk Tin Deposit in the East Junggar Region: Constraints from Lu–Hf Isotopes, Zircon U–Pb and Molybdenite Re–Os Dating

The Sayashk tin (Sn) deposit is located within the southern part of the Eastern Junggar orogenic belt in Xinjiang Province and forms part of the Kalamaili alkaline granite belt. There are many Sn polymetallic deposits in the area. To constrain the age, genesis, and tectonic setting of the Sayashk tin deposit in the East Junggar region, we conducted a bulk-rock geochemical analysis of the granite porphyry (SR1) and medium- to fine-grained granite (SR2) hosts of the deposit, LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating and Lu–Hf isotopic analysis, as well as molybdenite Re–OS dating and combined our results with the metallogenic conditions and other geological characteristics of the deposit. The results show that the Sayashk Sn deposit is indeed spatially, temporally, and genetically closely related to the granite porphyry and medium-fine-grained granite. Both zircon U–Pb ages are 308.2 ± 1.5 Ma and 310.9 ± 1.5 Ma, respectively. The isochron age of molybdenite is 301.4 ± 6.7 Ma, which represents the crystallization age of the granite porphyry and medium-fine-grained granite. Therefore, all of them formed in the late Carboniferous epoch. The medium-fine-grained granites and granite porphyry are characteristically rich in Si and alkali, poor in Ca and Mg, rich in high field-strength elements (HFSE, e.g., Zr, Hf) and Ce, and deficient in Ba, Sr, Eu, P, and Ti. They are typical A-type granites, showing the characteristics of a mixed crustal mantle source. The εHf(t) values of the zircon from the granite porphyry (SR1) range from 10.27 to 16.17 (average 13.71), εHf(t) values of the zircon from the medium-fine-grained granites (SR2) are between 5.72 and 9.21 (average 7.08), and the single model ages (TDM1) and two-stage model ages (TDM2) of the granite porphyry (SR1) fall within the ranges of 319~535 Ma and 339~644 Ma. The single model ages (TDM1) and two-stage model ages (TDM2) of the medium-fine-grained granites (SR2) fall within the ranges of 346~479 Ma and 309~557 Ma. There is little difference between their two-stage model ages and zircon U–Pb ages, indicating that the Sayashk granite may be the product of partial melting of juvenile crustal. Combined with previous research results, the Sayashk Sn deposit formed in a post-collision extensional tectonic setting after the late Carboniferous in the Kalamaili area.

Fluid Inclusions and Stable Isotope Geochemistry of Gold Mineralization Associated with Fine-Grained Granite: A Case Study of the Xiawolong Gold Deposit, Jiaodong Peninsula, China

The Xiawolong gold deposit, located in the Muping–Rushan gold metallogenic belt (eastern Jiaodong Peninsula), is a newly discovered deposit that developed in the late Early Cretaceous as fine-grained granite. Gold mineralization, which mainly occurs in the middle of fresh fine-grained granite dikes, consists of stockwork-style and disseminated ores. They are characterized by middle-high-temperature mineral assemblages, such as molybdenite and magnetite, associated with gold-bearing pyrite. Four types of primary fluid inclusions, contained within the quartz grains from the gold-bearing disseminated and stockwork-style fine-grained granitic ores, were identified based on microthermometry and Raman spectroscopy. The types identified were type 1 aqueous inclusions with middle-high temperature (201 to 480 °C) and middle-low salinity of 0.18 to 17.00 wt.% NaCl equiv.; type 2 H2O–CO2 inclusions, which show middle-high temperatures (218 to 385 °C), middle-low salinities (1.23 to 13.26 wt.% equiv. NaCl), and variable XCO2 (0.031 to 0.044); type 3 daughter mineral-bearing inclusions with high temperature (416 to 446 °C) and relatively constant and high salinity (28.59 to 32.87 wt.% NaCl equiv.); and type 4 CO2 fluid inclusions, which possess a bulk density of 0.405 to 0.758 g/cm3 and a constant XCO2 (0.952 to 0.990) (according to the decreasing abundance of fluid inclusions). The δ18Owater range is between 3.4 and 5.9‰, and the range of the δD is from −97.1 to −77.4‰, which indicates that the ore-forming process is of a magmatic water origin. The δ34S values possess a narrow range between 4.5 and 9.3‰, indicating the source of the Mesozoic Kunyushan granitoids. The Pb isotopic compositions of pyrite show that the Mesozoic Kunyushan granitoids are the main lead source for pyrites. Types 1, 2, and 3 fluid inclusions coexist in the same view field of the quartz grain, which are suggested to occur as the result of fluid immiscibility because of the boiling of a single homogeneous NaCl-CaCl2-KCl-CO2-H2O system. The fluid immiscibility, rather the fluid mixing and wall-rock sulfidation, is the mechanism of gold precipitation in the Xiawolong deposit. Compared with both the “Linglong-type” and “Jiaojia-type” gold deposits in the Jiaodong Peninsula in terms of geological–petrographic evidence and all of the available geochemical data, it can be concluded the Xiawolong gold deposit is of magmatic hydrothermal origin, having a genetic relation to the fine-grained granite.

Mafic magma-driven magmatic processes and compositional variation in granitic pluton construction: The Buya intrusion of West Kunlun, Northwestern China

Abstract To investigate the direct evidence for a number of physico-chemical processes related to pluton construction and growth, we examine the Buya pluton of West Kunlun in Northwestern China, which emplaced within the 455–460 Ma time frame. Field observations, geochemical data, and thermodynamic modeling show that mafic dikes of the Buya pluton were conduits for magma chamber replenishment during pluton construction. These mafic inputs, and the enclaves that resulted from them, induced compaction of the semi-consolidated, crystal-rich, felsic mushes below them. The accumulation of highly silicic, fine-grained granite at the top of the Buya pluton is the result of episodic melt segregation events from these mushes. This sequence of events may reflect a common process that promotes compositional variation in granite suites. Combined geochemical and Hf- and Nd-isotopic data suggest that parental magmas of the mafic sheet and enclave are similar to sanukitoid, which is potentially consistent with a mantle peridotitic source metasomatized by slab melts. These mafic magmas intruded the lower crust where the original magma was modified by mafic lower-crust melt. Following emplacement at shallow crustal levels of the mafic inputs (~3.7 kbar, ~5.3 km, constrained by amphibole geobarometry), the felsic mush evolved through the extraction of interstitial melts driven by hybridization with episodic inputs of mafic magmas as well as crystal consequent accumulation and fractional crystallization of plagioclase, hornblende, and accessory phases such as allanite, apatite, and zircon. This fractional crystallization process may also provide an explanation for the apparently high Sr/Y features in some silicic high-K, calc-alkaline magmas.

Effects of thermal treatment on the macroscopic physical properties and microstructure of Beishan fine-grained granite

Effects of thermal treatment on the macroscopic physical properties and microstructure of Beishan fine-grained granite

A new methodology inspired from the Theory of Critical Distances for determination of inherent tensile strength and fracture toughness of rock materials

Measuring the intrinsic fracture properties of quasi-brittle materials like rocks is of great importance and at the same time a major issue for engineers. In this study, we explore the ability of the Theory of Critical Distances (TCD) to determine accurately both the tensile strength and fracture toughness. To this end, we conduct ring tests and semi-circular bend tests on four rock types including a red sandstone, a white coarse-grained marble, a fine-grained granite and a coarse-grained granite. This selection covers sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rock types with different grain sizes. The experimental data are analysed using a new methodology developed from the so-called Point Method (PM), a particular form of the TCD, from which we infer the intrinsic tensile strength and the fracture toughness of the studied rock materials. Our results are compared with those obtained from ISRM suggested methodology that is modified to take into account the finite notch root radius used in our experiments. The comparison is successful, supporting that the newly developed methodology is suitable to determine the intrinsic tensile strength and fracture toughness of rock materials.

Mineralogy and Geochemistry of JingFenCui (Rhodonite Jade) Deposit from Beijing, China

JingFenCui is a type of rhodonite jade from the Changping district of Beijing, China, which is a manganese skarn deposit formed through the metasomatism of the granite aplite and Cambrian limestone. The pink color of JingFenCui is richer and brighter than that of rhodonite jade from other deposits. The surface of JingFenCui exhibits dendritic iron and manganese oxides, which is the outstanding advantage of rhodonite jade for carving works. The zoning pattern of mineralogy between the contact zone with the wallrock is obvious. The main skarn minerals consist mainly of spessartine, diopside, augite, manganotremolite, clino-suenoite, rhodonite, galena, etc. Compared with rhodonite jade from the Makeng in Fujian and the Luziyuan in western Yunnan, vittinkiite (MnSiO3) is more concentrated in the rhodonite of the JingFenCui Deposit as a Mn-Ag-Pb-Zn-Fe polymetallic deposit. There is a good agreement among the rhodonite, amphibole, and galena in the spider diagrams of the trace elements. The results of trace elements and REE analysis show that the metallogenic fluids of the JingFenCui deposit are mainly from magma related to the Heixiongshan granite. It is suggested that the JingFenCui deposit is a manganese skarn deposit formed through the metasomatism of the manganese-bearing limestone and fine-grained granite of the Heixiongshan.