Plagiogranite Porphyry Research Articles

Continental crustal growth and differentiation in intraoceanic arcs: Insights from plagiogranites in the forearc ophiolite of the southeastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt, China

Oceanic plagiogranites in subduction initiation zones record key information of continental crustal growth and differentiation. However, their petrogenesis remains controversial, due to the lack of complete subduction initiation records in most of ophiolites. In this study, we report a newly recognized plagiogranite suite (including intrusive plagiogranite porphyries and extrusive rhyolites) from the Diyanmiao forearc ophiolite in Inner Mongolia, southeastern section of the Centra Asian Orogenic Belt, where a relatively complete forearc magmatic succession is preserved. In the Diyanmiao suite, the plagiogranite porphyries, occur as small irregular dykes or pods intruding pillowed transitional lavas, and rhyolite lavas within or overlying the upper boninitic lavas, from bottom to top. Zircon UPb dating of two plagiogranite porphyry samples and one rhyolite sample yields mean ages of 322.5 ± 3.6, 319.9 ± 1.9, and 319.6 ± 2.6 Ma respectively. Similar to other oceanic plagiogranites, the plagiogranite porphyries and rhyolites in our study exhibit high SiO2 and Na2O contents and low K2O. They have chondrite-normalized flat to slightly depleted rare earth element patterns, and significantly negative Nb, Ta, and Ti anomalies similar to arc magmatic rocks. They also display high positive εHf(t) values (+12.5 − +18.7) and εNd(t) values (+6.9 − +10.0), comparable to the values of their host rocks. Petrographic characteristics and Rhyolite-MELTS modeling suggest that the plagiogranite porphyries and rhyolites were generated by high degree of crystal fractionation from parent tholeiitic basalt magmas. Our results suggest that melt migration triggered by fractional crystallization of mafic magmas played a vital role in the growth of continental crust in intraoceanic arcs in the southeastern Paleo-Asian Ocean.

Mineralization of the Tuwu Porphyry Cu Deposit in Eastern Tianshan, NW China: Insights From In Situ Trace Elements of Chlorite and Pyrite

The Tuwu porphyry copper deposit is located on the Dananhu-Haerlik island arc in eastern Tianshan, NW China. Based on geology, petrology, and in situ trace element studies of pyrite and chlorite, we redefined the characteristics of hydrothermal fluids and the following three mineralization stages: premineralization stage (stage Ⅰ), porphyry metallogenic stage (stage Ⅱ), and superimposed transformation stage (stage Ⅲ). Pyrite stage Ⅰ (Py-I) has the highest Co/Ni ratios, and the precipitation crystallization of chlorite (Chl-I2) has the similar rare earth element distribution patterns with those of volcanic rocks Carboniferous Qieshan (CQ), indicating intense volcanic hydrothermal activity. The Co/Ni ratios of Py-II1 and Py-II2 (stage Ⅱ) tend to decrease over time. Moreover, the rare earth element (REE) distribution patterns of Chl-II have similar LREE enrichment, and the Eu anomalies in Chl-II1, Chl-II2, and Chl-II3 range from positive to negative. The initial ore-forming fluid was mainly magmatic hydrothermal fluid, and with the late-stage addition of meteoric water and continuous sulfide precipitation, the trace element composition of the fluid changed, and the whole system became more oxidizing. Py-III (stage Ⅲ) has the lowest Co/Ni ratios, and the REE distribution pattern of Chl-III is characterized by LREE enrichment. Moreover, the Chl-III shows obvious shear deformation characteristics. The results indicate that the host rocks experienced intensely superimposed reformation. By combining and integrating our results with the regional evolution processes in the eastern Tianshan, we propose that the Tuwu porphyry deposit has undergone magmatic hydrothermal and metamorphic hydrothermal processes. Volcanism (stage Ⅰ) provided the space and initial conditions for the emplacement of the metallogenic body. With the emplacement of the plagiogranite porphyry (stage Ⅱ), the main copper mineralization occurred in the porphyry and surrounding rocks. After porphyry mineralization (stage Ⅲ), regional ductile shearing and collisional compression led to a copper reaction, and its accumulation along the faults formed an ore shoot.

Mineralization age, tectonic setting and ore genesis of the Wuxing Pt–Pd-rich magmatic Cu-Ni sulfide deposit, Northeast China

• Wuxing deposit with age of 516.7 Ma is reported. • Wuxing intrusive rocks experienced independent diagenetic processes. • The Wuxing deposit was formed in a post–collision extensional setting. The Wuxing deposit in Northeast China, tectonically located in the Jiamusi–Khanka Block, is a Pt–Pd-rich Cu-Ni sulfide deposit related to mafic–ultramafic rocks. The zircon U–Pb ages of pyroxenites , gabbros , porphyritic granites , and leucogranits in the mining area are 516.7 ± 2.6, 513.8 ± 2.0, 505.4 ± 2.3 and 499.5 ± 2.9 Ma, respectively, indicating that the diagenesis and metallogenesis of the Wuxing deposit occurred during the Cambrian. The ore-forming complex is cut by quartz diorite porphyritic and plagiogranite porphyry dikes. Zircon U–Pb ages of the quartz diorite porphyrite and plagiogranite porphyry are 206.6 ± 2.1 and 201.6 ± 1.3 Ma, respectively. The U–Pb ages indicate the metallogenic age constraint of 516.7 ± 2.6 Ma for the Wuxing deposit, rather than Cambrian and Triassic magmatic activities. The Hf isotopic composition ε Hf (t) of zircons in the pyroxenites and gabbros are −11.5 to −7.7 and −5.8 to −2.5, with the two–stage model ages (t DM2 ) of 2198–1958 and 1841–1633 Ma, respectively. Geochemically, the mafic–ultramafic complexes are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREE) and large ion lithophile elements (LILE), and depleted in high-field strength elements (HFSE), indicating these rocks originated from the enriched mantle. The porphyritic granites are high-K calc-alkaline rocks (Rittman index δ = 1.92–2.00), and the leucogranites are low-K alkaline rocks ( δ = 4.76–4.86) with ε Hf (t) and t DM2 of −9.2 to +0.8 and 2037–1411 Ma, respectively. The porphyritic granites and leucogranites are characterized by low A/CNK values (0.91–1.05), 10,000 Ga/Al values (1.76–2.36), and Zr saturation temperature (731–823 ℃) similar to those of I-type granites. Along with contemporaneous intrusions, the Wuxing deposit is inferred to have formed in a post-collisional extension environment. Consequently, the origin of the Wuxing deposit is likely related to the evolution of enriched mantle magma during the Cambrian post-collision extensional setting of the Jiamusi–Khanka Block.

Multiple mineralization events of the Paleozoic Tuwu porphyry copper deposit, Eastern Tianshan: evidence from geology, fluid inclusions, sulfur isotopes, and geochronology

The Tuwu porphyry Cu deposit, located in Eastern Tianshan, NW China, is hosted by a plagiogranite porphyry and Carboniferous Qi’eshan Group volcanic rocks. Based on crosscutting relationships and mineral assemblages, hydrothermal alteration and mineralization processes at Tuwu can be divided into four stages: early propylitic alteration (stage I), porphyry mineralization (stage II), overprinting mineralization (stage III), and post-mineralization (stage IV). The porphyry mineralization stage (stage II) contributed to the majority of the Cu–Mo resource, with Cu mineralization occurring mainly as quartz-chalcopyrite veins. Stage III also produced minor Cu mineralization, characterized by chalcopyrite–anhydrite–chlorite–calcite assemblages. Fluid inclusion (FI) study reveals that stage II is characterized by a high-temperature, high-salinity, highly oxidized, and K-rich H2O–NaCl–CaCl2 fluid. Fluid boiling and mixing likely occurred during the porphyry mineralization stage, leading to the precipitation of chalcopyrite and pyrite. Alteration and mineralization in stage III were derived from a S-rich H2O–NaCl–CaCl fluid, with fluid boiling leading to the precipitation of chalcopyrite. The δ34S values of chalcopyrite from stages II and III are − 0.8–0.6 ‰ and 1.1–1.3 ‰, respectively, suggesting magmatic sources for the ore-forming components of both stages. 40Ar/39Ar dating indicates that stage II likely occurred at 328.1 ± 1.4 Ma, around the age emplacement of the causative plagiogranite porphyry (ca. 337.7–330.3 Ma). We suggest the overprinting mineralization event occurred at ca. 323 Ma, spatially and genetically related to the emplacement of the quartz albite porphyry at 323.6 ± 2.5 Ma.

Overprinting mineralization in the Paleozoic Yandong porphyry copper deposit, Eastern Tianshan, NW China—Evidence from geology, fluid inclusions and geochronology

The Yandong porphyry copper deposit is located in the southern part of the Dananhu-Tousuquan Island Arc belt in Eastern Tianshan (Xinjiang, NW China). The Dananhu-Tousuquan belt contains a number of large and medium Cu deposits, among which the Yandong deposit (∼2.0 Mt Cu @ 0.67%) is the largest. The Yandong Cu deposit is hosted by plagiogranite porphyry and the Carboniferous Qi’eshan Group mafic to intermediate calc-alkaline volcanic and pyroclastic rocks. According to the crosscutting relationships and mineral assemblages, the alteration and mineralization processes at Yandong comprise three episodes: the porphyry mineralization episode (including potassic, propylitic, early phyllic and late phyllic stages), the overprinting mineralization episode (including main- and post-mineralization stages) and lastly supergene alteration episode. Fluid inclusions (FIs) in quartz from the potassic, early/late phyllic and post-mineralization stages, and anhydrite from the main-/post-mineralization stages include four types: 1) vapor-liquid two phases (W-type), 2) daughter mineral-bearing (S-type), 3) pure liquid (PW-type), and 4) pure vapor (PV-type). The potassic stage contains W-, S- and PV-type FIs, which yielded homogenization temperatures of 304–445°C (mainly 340–400°C) and salinities of 3.1–16.4 (mainly 4.0–10.0)wt% NaCl eqv. At the early phyllic stage, three types of FIs are identified, i.e., the W-, S-, and PV-type. The S-type and W-type FIs homogenized at 213–441°C (mainly 280–300°C) and 241–352°C (mainly 300–320°C), respectively, with corresponding salinities of 33.1–52.0 (mainly 34.0–40.0)wt% NaCl eqv. and 0.9–15.9 (mainly 0.9–4.0)wt% NaCl eqv., respectively. The late phyllic stage contains W-, S- and PW-type FIs, which homogenized at 146–248°C (mainly 160–180°C), with salinities ranging from 3.9 to 18.2 (mainly 4.0–8.0)wt% NaCl eqv.Mineralization depths calculated from FIs are: 0.8–1.2km (Stage I), 0.6–1.8km (Stage IIIA) and 0.4–0.7km (Stage IIIB). Fluid boiling and mixing likely occurred during the porphyry mineralization period, leading to the precipitation of pyrite and chalcopyrite. During the overprinting mineralization, the W- and PV-type FIs occur in the main-mineralization anhydrite, with homogenization temperatures and salinities being 248–421°C (mainly 300–340°C) and 5.3–13.8 (mainly 8.0–10.0)wt% NaCl eqv., respectively. The post-mineralization quartz and anhydrite homogenized at 105–195°C (mainly 120–140°C), with salinities of 0.5–13.6 (mainly 8.0–10.0)wt% NaCl eqv. The ore-forming fluids may have predominantly been entrapped at 0.8–1.6km (Stage IV) and 0.3–0.6km (Stage V). The decreasing temperature may have led to the sulfides and sulfate precipitation and enrichment.Sericite 40Ar/39Ar dating of the altered plagiogranite porphyry yielded a plateau age of 332.8±3.8Ma, consistent with the age of the early ore-forming plagiogranite porphyry (339–332Ma). Re–Os dating of molybdenite, coexisting with chalcopyrite-anhydrite-chlorite-calcite assemblage, yielded an age of 324.3±2.7Ma (weighted mean), consistent with the late quartz albite porphyry age (zircon U-Pb: 323.6±2.5Ma).Consequently, we propose that at least two mineralization episodes may have occurred at Yandong, with the second episode contributing to the majority of the Cu-Mo resources. Such overprinting mineralization style at Yandong may represent a good example of the Paleozoic Cu deposits in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.

Genesis of the Fuxing porphyry Cu deposit in Eastern Tianshan, China: Evidence from fluid inclusions and C–H–O–S–Pb isotope systematics

The Fuxing porphyry Cu deposit is a recently discovered deposit in Eastern Tianshan, Xinjiang, northwestern China. The Cu mineralization is associated with the Fuxing plagiogranite porphyry and monzogranite, mainly presenting as various types of hydrothermal veins or veinlets in alerted wall rocks, with potassic, chlorite, phyllic, and propylitic alteration developed. The ore-forming process can be divided into four stages: stage I barren quartz veins, stage II quartz–chalcopyrite–pyrite veins, stage III quartz–polymetallic sulfide veins and stage IV quartz–calcite veins. Four types of fluid inclusions (FIs) can be distinguished in the Fuxing deposit, including hypersline (H-type), vapor-rich two-phase (V-type), liquid-rich two-phase (L-type), and trace amounts of pure vapor inclusions (P-type), but only the stage I quartz contains all types of FIs. The stages II and III quartz have two types of FIs, with exception of H- and P-types. In stage IV quartz minerals, only the L-type inclusions can be observed. The FIs in quartz of stages I, II, III and IV are mainly homogenized at temperatures of 357–518°C, 255–393°C, 234–322°C and 145–240°C, with salinities of 1.9–11.6wt.% NaCl equiv., 1.6–9.6wt.% NaCl equiv., 1.4–7.7wt.% NaCl equiv. and 0.9–3.7wt.% NaCl equiv., respectively. The ore-forming fluids of the Fuxing deposit are characterized by high temperature, moderate salinity and relatively oxidized condition. Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions of quartz indicate that the ore-forming fluids were gradually evolved from magmatic to meteoric in origin. Sulfur and lead isotopes suggest that the ore-forming materials were derived from a deep-seated magma source. The Cu mineralization in the Fuxing deposit occurred at a depth of ~1km, and the changes of oxygen fugacity, decompression boiling, and local mixing with meteoric water were most likely critical for the formation of the Fuxing Cu deposit.

Carboniferous magmatism and mineralization in the area of the Fuxing Cu deposit, Eastern Tianshan, China: Evidence from zircon U–Pb ages, petrogeochemistry, and Sr–Nd–Hf–O isotopic compositions

The newly discovered Fuxing porphyry Cu deposit is located in the Dananhu–Tousuquan arc, adjacent to the Tuwu–Yandong Cu deposits of Eastern Tianshan, in the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The Fuxing deposit is hosted by volcanic rocks (basalt and dacite) in the Early Carboniferous Qi'eshan Group and Carboniferous felsic intrusions (plagiogranite porphyry, monzogranite, and quartz diorite). New SIMS zircon U–Pb dating indicates that the plagiogranite porphyry and monzogranite emplaced at 332.1±2.2Ma and 328.4±3.4Ma, respectively. The basalts are characterized by low SiO2 contents (47.47–54.90wt.%), a lack of Eu anomalies, strong depletion of Na, Ta, and Ti elements but positive Sr, U, and Pb anomalies, high Y (20.8–28.2ppm) and HREE concentrations (Yb=2.23–3.06ppm), and relatively low (La/Yb)N (2.20–3.92) values; the dacite samples have high SiO2 contents (66.13–76.93wt.%), clearly negative Eu anomalies, high Mg# values (36–51), and high Y (41.8–54.9ppm) and Yb (5.76–8.98ppm) concentrations. The basalts and dacites exhibit similar signatures as normal arc rocks, and were considered to be derived from partial melting of mantle-wedge peridotite that was previously metasomatized by slab melts. In contrast, the plagiogranite porphyry, monzogranite, and quartz diorite show the same geochemical affinity with modern adakites, which are characterized by high SiO2 contents (67.55–79.00wt.%), minor negative to positive Eu anomalies, strong depletion of heavy rare earth elements (Yb=0.17–1.19ppm) and Y (1.86–10.1ppm), positive K, Rb, Sr, and Ba but negative Nb, Ta, Th, and Ti anomalies, and high (La/Yb)N ratios and Mg# values. Moreover, these adakitic felsic intrusions display relatively high positive zircon εHf(t) values (+11.4 to +18.3), low 87Sr/86Sr (0.706080–0.711239), high 143Nd/144Nd (0.512692–0.512922) ratios, and consistent zircon δ18O values (4.41‰–5.48‰), suggesting that their parental magma were most likely derived from partial melting of the subducted oceanic crust followed by mantle peridotite interaction. Based on the whole-rock geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf–O isotopic data, as well as detailed petrographic analyses, we further suggest that the Fuxing igneous rocks and associated porphyry Cu mineralization were generated by the northward subduction of the paleo-Tianshan oceanic plate beneath the Dananhu–Tousuquan island arc during the Early Carboniferous.

Magmatic evolution of the Tuwu–Yandong porphyry Cu belt, NW China: Constraints from geochronology, geochemistry and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopes

The Tuwu–Yandong porphyry Cu belt is located in the Eastern Tianshan mountains in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Petrochemical and geochronological data for intrusive and volcanic rocks from the Tuwu and Yandong deposits are combined with previous studies to provide constraints on their petrogenesis and tectonic affinity. New LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb ages of 348.3±6.0Ma, 339.3±2.2Ma, 323.6±2.5Ma and 324.1±2.3Ma have been attained from intrusive units associated with the deposits, including diorite, plagiogranite porphyry, quartz albite porphyry and quartz porphyry, respectively. The basalt and andesite, which host part of the Cu mineralization, are tholeiitic with high Al2O3, Cr, Ni and low TiO2 contents, enriched LREEs and negative HFSE (Nb, Ta, Zr, Ti) anomalies consistent with arc magmas. Diorites are characterized by low SiO2 content but high MgO, Cr and Ni contents, similar to those of high-Mg andesites. The parental magma of the basalt, andesite and diorite is interpreted to have been derived from partial melting of mantle-wedge peridotite that was previously metasomatized by slab melts. The ore-bearing plagiogranite porphyry is characterized by high Na2O, Sr, Cr and Ni contents, low Y and Yb contents, low Na2O/K2O ratios and high Sr/Y ratios and high Mg#, suggesting an adakitic affinity. The high εNd(t) (5.02–9.16), low ISr (0.703219–0.704281) and high εHf(t) (8.55–12.99) of the plagiogranite porphyry suggest they were derived by a partial melting of the subducted oceanic crust followed by adakitic melt-mantle peridotite interaction. The quartz albite porphyry and quartz porphyry are characterized by similar Sr–Nd–Hf isotope but lower Mg# and whole-rock (La/Yb)N ratios to the plagiogranite porphyry, suggesting they were derived from juvenile lower crust, and negative Eu anomalies suggest fractionation of plagioclase. We propose that a flat subduction that started ca. 340Ma and resulted in formation of the adakitic plagiogranite porphyry after a period of “steady” subduction, and experienced slab rollback at around 323Ma.

The Ust-Belaya ophiolite terrane, West Koryak Orogen: Isotopic dating and paleotectonic interpretation

The Ust-Belaya ophiolite terrane in the West Koryak Orogen, which is the largest in northeastern Asia, consists of three nappe complexes. The upper Ust-Belaya Nappe is composed of a thick (>5 km) sheet of fertile peridotites and mafic rocks (remnants of the proto-Pacific lithosphere); its upper age boundary is marked by Late Neoproterozoic plagiogranites. In the middle Tolovka-Otrozhny Nappe, the Late Precambrian lherzolite-type ophiolites are supplemented by fragments of tectonically delaminated harzburgite-type ophiolites, which make up the Tolovka rock association. The isotopic age of metadacite (K-Ar method, whole-rock sample) and zircons from plagiogranite porphyry (U-Pb method, SHRIMP) determines the upper chronological limit of the Tolovka ophiolites as 262–265 Ma ago. It is suggested that igneous rocks of these ophiolites were generated in a backarc basin during the Early Carboniferous and then incorporated into the fold-nappe structure in the Mid-Permian. This was the future basement of the Koni-Taigonos arc, where the Early Carboniferous ophiolites together with Late Neoproterozoic precursors were subject to low-temperature metamorphism and intruded by plagiogranite porphyry dikes in Permian-Triassic. The polymicte serpentinite melange, which was formed in the accretionary complex of the Koni-Taigonos arc comprises rock blocks of the upper units of Late Precambrian ophiolites (in particular, plagiogranite), the overlying Middle to Upper Devonian and Early Carboniferous deposits, as well as Early Carboniferous (?) Tolovka ophiolites and meta-ophiolites. Melange of this type with inclusions of Late Precambrian “oceanic” granitoids also developed in the lower Utyosiki Nappe composed of Middle Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous sedimentary and volcanic sequences, the formation of which was related to the next Uda-Murgal island-arc systems.

New data on the age and geodynamic position of copper-porphyry mineralization in the Main Uralian fault zone (South Urals)

1317 In this communication, we discuss new data on the radiological age and composition of parental rocks of the Voznesenskoe deposit and Karagaikul occurrence of the copper-porphyry type localized in the melange zone of the Main Uralian fault in the northwestern part of the Magnitogorsk megazone of the South Urals (Fig. 1). The Main Uralian fault zone represents here a system of steep eastwarddipping tectonic slices, which include serpentinites, serpentinite melange, pyroxenites, gabbrods, and blocks of volcanogenic, volcanosedimentary, and sedimentary (siliceous shales, limestones) variousage rocks deformed into synand antiform folds (7). The Voznesenskoe copper-porphyry deposit is located in a dikeshaped massif of diorite-quartz diorites steeply westwarddipping and extending in the NNE direction for a distance of 2.5 km. Its stringer-dis� seminated sulfide mineralization is developed in the northeastern endocontact of the massif being mostly confined to plagiogranite-porphyry dikes that intrude diorites parallel to their contact with host ser� pentinites (10). We have investigated the microelemental composi� tion of diorites and plagiogranite-porphyries with variable degrees of metasomatic alterations and have conducted U-Pb dating of zircons from quartz dior� ites. The Sm-Nd method was used for dating altered plagiogranite-porphyries. The microelemental composition of rocks from the productive intrusive body (Fig. 2) indicates all the ana� lyzed rock varieties belong to island arc calcalkaline magmatites. This is evident from negative Nb and Zr and positive Sr anomalies, low TiO 2 concentrations (0.03-0.16%), and plots illustrating the REE distribu� tion (Fig. 2b). By the distribution patterns and con� centrations of trace elements, REE included, plagiog� ranite-porphyries are similar to diorites from the Voznesenka massif. This implies their common origin and that they belong to different phases of formation of the massif.

Chalcophile elemental compositions and origin of the Tuwu porphyry Cu deposit, NW China

The Tuwu porphyry Cu deposit in the eastern Tianshan Orogenic Belt of southern Central Oceanic Orogen Belt contains 557Mt ores at an average grade of 0.58wt.% Cu and 0.2g/t Au, being the largest porphyry Cu deposit in NW China. The deposit is genetically related to dioritic and plagiogranitic porphyries that intruded the Carboniferous Qieshan Group. Ore minerals are dominantly chalcopyrite, pyrite and enargite. Porphyric diorites have Sr/Y and La/YbN ratios lower but Y and Yb contents higher than plagiogranites. Diorites have highly variable Cu but nearly constant PGE contents (most Pd=0.50–1.98ppb) with Cu/Pd ratios ranging from 10,900 to 8,900,000. Plagiogranites have PGEs that are positively correlated with Cu and have nearly uniform Cu/Pd ratios (5,100,000 to 7,800,000). Diorites have concentrations of Re (0.73–15.18ppb), and 187Re/188Os and 187Os/188Os ratios lower but common Os contents (0.006–0.097ppb) higher than plagiogranites. However, both the diorites and plagiogranites have similar normalized patterns of rare earth elements (REE), trace element and platinum-group elements (PGEs). All the samples are characterized by the enrichments of LREE relative to HREE and display positive anomalies of Pb and Sr but negative anomalies of Nb and Ta in primitive-mantle normalized patterns. In the primitive mantle-normalized siderophile element diagrams, they are similarly depleted in all PGEs but slightly enriched in Au relative to Cu.Our new dataset suggests that both the diorite and plagiogranite porphyries were likely evolved from magmas derived from partial melting of a wet mantle wedge. Their parental magmas may have had different water contents and redox states, possibly due to different retaining time in staging magma chambers at the depth, and thus different histories of magma differentiation. Parental magmas of the diorite porphyries are relatively reduced with less water contents so that they have experienced sulfide saturation before fractional crystallization of silicate minerals, whereas the relatively more oxidized parental magmas with higher water contents of the plagiogranite porphyries did not reach sulfide saturation until the magmatic-hydrothermal stage. Our PGE data also indicates that the Cu mineralization in the Tuwu deposit involved an early stage with the enrichments of Au, Mo and Re and a late stage with the enrichment of As but depletion of Au–Mo. After the formation of the Cu mineralization, meteoric water heated by magmas penetrated into and interacted with porphyritic rocks at Tuwu, which was responsible for leaching Re from hosting rocks.

Volcanic-sedimentary complex of Otrozhnaya sheet in the Ust-Belaya Terrane, western Koryakia

New data on the structure and composition of the rock complexes making up the Otrozhnaya sheet of the UstBelaya Terrane are discussed. This sheet is curre ntly regarded as a complete section of the Early Devonian oceanic crust. The U-Pb age of zircon (547 ± 17 Ma) from plagiogranite porphyry that cuts through the ultrama� fic-gabbroic complex indicates that the country rocks are much older. Basalts of volcanic complex are similar to MORBtype rocks. The contact between volcanic and volc anosedimentary complexes is tectonic. No volcanic- cherty association of rocks typical of ophiolites has been established at the base of the sedimentary sequence. The U-Pb age of detrital zircons from the base of this section is 571 Ma. As follows from the composition of terrigenous rocks and the suprasubduction origin of andesitic lavas and tuffs, the rocks of the lower part of volcanosedimentary complex were deposited at the marginal part of the basin near convergent boundary. The remains of conodont ele� ments make it possible to estimate the age of the upper part of the volcanosedimentary complex as Late Devonian. The composition of terrigenous rocks shows that the provenance has abruptly changed. Sporadic rock fragments evidence the erosion of ophiolitic sections. Silurian rocks became the main source of clastic material. This is cor� roborated by redeposited microfauna species and U-Pb age of detrital zircons (~432 Ma). The geochemistry of dacite pebbles from conglomerate indicates that this volcanic rock was formed in a suprasuduction setting. The Ordovician-Silurian island arc could have been a source.

Petrography, geochemistry and geochronology of the host porphyries and associated alteration at the Tuwu Cu deposit, NW China: a case for increased depositional efficiency by reaction with mafic hostrock?

Tuwu is the largest porphyry copper deposit discovered in the Eastern Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China. A newly recognized volcanic complex in the Early Carboniferous Qi’eshan Group at Tuwu consists of basalt, andesite, and diorite porphyry. The plagiogranite porphyry was emplaced into this complex at 332.8±2.5 Ma (U–Pb zircon SIMS determination). Whole-rock element geochemistry shows that the volcanic complex and plagiogranite porphyry formed in the same island arc, although the complex was derived by partial melting of the mantle wedge and the plagiogranite porphyry by partial melting of a subducting slab. The diorite and the plagiogranite porphyries have both been subjected to intense hydrothermal alteration and associated mineralization, but the productive porphyry is the plagiogranite porphyry. Three alteration and mineralization stages, including pre-, syn- and post-ore stages, have been recognized. The pre-ore stage formed a barren propylitic alteration which is widespread in the volcanic complex. The syn-ore stage is divided into three sub-stages: Stage 1 is characterized by potassic alteration with chalcopyrite + bornite + chalcocite; Stage 2 is marked by chlorite–sericite–albite alteration with chalcopyrite ± pyrite ± bornite; Stage 3 is represented by phyllic alteration with chalcopyrite + pyrite ± molybdenite. The post-ore stage produced a barren argillic alteration limited to the diorite porphyry. A specific feature of the Tuwu deposit is that the productive porphyry was emplaced into a very mafic package, and reaction of the resulting fluids with the ferrous iron-rich hostrocks was a likely reason that Tuwu is the largest porphyry in the district.

Yandong porphyry Cu deposit, Xinjiang, China—Geology, geochemistry and SIMS U–Pb zircon geochronology of host porphyries and associated alteration and mineralization

The Yandong porphyry copper deposit, located in the Eastern Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China, is part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The Yandong deposit is hosted by a volcanic complex in the Early Carboniferous Qi’eshan Group and a felsic intrusion. The complex consists of andesite, basalt, diorite porphyry, and porphyritic quartz diorite. The felsic intrusion is a plagiogranite porphyry emplaced within the complex. The diorite porphyry and plagiogranite porphyry yield SIMS zircon U–Pb ages of 340.0±3 and 332.2±2.3Ma, respectively. Element geochemistry shows that both the complex and plagiogranite porphyry formed in the Dananhu–Tousuquan island arc, a Carboniferous magmatic arc.The diorite porphyry and plagiogranite porphyry are host porphyries, but the plagiogranite porphyry is a productive porphyry. It caused the porphyry-style Cu mineralization and associated alteration. The alteration assemblages include early potassic and propylitic assemblages. These were overprinted by a chlorite–sericite assemblage, which in turn was overprinted by a late phyllic assemblage. The phyllic alteration is associated with the highest Cu grades. The mineralization is recognized to include three stages, from early to late: stage 1, a potassic alteration associated with a chalcopyrite+pyrite assemblage; stage 2, represented by chlorite–sericite alteration with a chalcopyrite+pyrite assemblage; and stage 3, the main-ore stage that is marked by phyllic alteration with chalcopyrite+pyrite±molybdenite and producing more than 70% of the total copper production at Yandong. Yandong may represent a common scenario for Paleozoic porphyry Cu systems in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.

Microscopic Studies of Gold Deposit of Southern Ashaly in Eastern Kazakhstan

The gold-sulfide deposit Southern Ashaly is localized in carbonaceous terrigenous formation (black shale strata) of the middle carboniferous (Bukon suite, which is the ore-hosting for super large deposit Bakyrchik). The Southern Ashaly is at the exploration stage and according to preliminary estimates of the expected resources belongs to a large deposit in scale. Ore gold mineralization of such level as Southern Ashaly in southwestern Kalba is found for the first time and gives hope for the discovery of such objects in the Boko Vassilyevskoye ore field. Ore-hosting at the field Southern Ashaly is carbonaceous terrigenous formation of the middle carboniferous, with no visible signs of volcanic formations. But, it was revealed, at microscopic research by us, paragenetic relation of the gold mineralization with small intrusions of plagiogranites and zones of plagiogranite porphyry dykes and found volcano-sedimentary rocks (aleuritic tuffsandstone, tuff breccia) which have undergone hydrothermal-metasomatic changes. The vein-disseminated gold-sulfide mineralization is associated with beresitizated plagiogranites and plagigranite-porphyries and hydrothermally altered tuff sandstones, tuff breccia and carbonaceous shales. Southern Ashaly unlike Bakyrchik deposit which contains invisible gold in sulfides, all the gold is concentrated in the pyrite mainly in the form of micro-sized (1-5 µm or less) in arsenopyrite is noted rarely.

Palaeozoic porphyry Cu–Au and ultramafic Cu–Ni deposits in the eastern Tianshan orogenic belt: temporal constraints from U–Pb geochronology

During late Palaeozoic time, extensive magmatism and associated ore deposits were developed in the eastern Tianshan orogenic belt (ETOB), Northwest China, which is part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. To understand the petrogenesis of the intrusions in this area, we performed in situ zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic analyses on the Tuwu–Yandong (TW–YD) stocks and the Xianshan, Hulu, Luodong, and Poshi batholiths. Two major suites of intrusive rocks have been recognized in the ETOB: (1) 338–339 Ma plagiogranite porphyries and 265–300 Ma ultramafic and mafic rocks, of which the former are associated with 323 Ma porphyry Cu–Mo deposits and have enriched radiogenic Hf isotopic compositions (ϵHf(t) = +11.5 to +15.6), which were derived from a depleted mantle source, whereas the latter are associated with 265–300 Ma magmatic Ni–Cu deposits and have variable Hf isotopic compositions (ϵHf(t) = −10.3 to +14.3), indicating an origin via the hybridization of depleted mantle magma and variable amounts of ancient lower-crustal components. The proposed magma sources, combined with the geochemical differences between these two suites of intrusive rocks, indicate that in the lower to middle Carboniferous, a N-dipping subduction zone beneath the Dananhu arc triggered the emplacement of granitic porphyries in the Tousuquan and Dananhu island arc belt in the east Tianshan, leading to the formation of the TW and YD porphyry Cu–Mo deposits. In the Upper Carboniferous to Lower Permian, large mafic–ultramafic complexes were emplaced during the closure of the ancient Tianshan Ocean, resulting in the formation of several magmatic Cu–Ni sulphide deposits.

U-Pb isotopic age, composition, and sources of the plagiogranites of the Kalba range, Eastern Kazakhstan

Of special importance in the evolution of the Paleoasian ocean is the Carboniferous‐Permian stage, which reflects the closure of the oceanic basin and formation of the structure of the Central Asian fold belt (CAFB) in its present-day form [1]. This is also the time (320‐280 Ma) when the largest Angara‐Vitim granitoid batholith and conjugate synplutonic basite dikes in Transbaikalia, granitoid intrusions and bimodal basalt‐rhyolite series of the Gobi‐Tien Shan zone of South Mongolia, and the Kalba‐Narym and ZharmaSaur batholithic bodies and preceding subalkaline gabbroids, picritoids, high-Al plagiogranitoids, and paleovolcanic structures of the central type in Eastern Kazakhstan were formed. Unlike the Permian‐Triassic stage, which was proved to be related to the Siberian superplume [2], the geodynamic nature of the Carboniferous‐Permian magmatism of the CAFB remains controversial. The plume model was proposed for the Angara‐Vitim batholith [3], and break-off of lithospheric plates in the collision zone between the Kazakhstan and Siberian paleocontinents was suggested for the batholithic belts of Eastern Kazakhstan [4]. These models believe that the collision-related mantle was supplied either with autonomous plumes or with asthenospheric fingers produced by mantle extinction at the divergent margins of lithospheric plates. The solution of this problem consists in studying key magmatic complexes (composition, structure, age), with a special emphasis on the sources of magmatic melts. One such key complex is the plagiogranite of the Kalba Range traditionally distinguished in the Kunush Complex. One group of researchers suggested an Early Carboniferous age and island arc affinity [5], while others consider them as collision-related Late Carboniferous rocks [6, 7], or as products of the Tarim plume [8]. The analysis of the tectonic position of the magmatic complexes of Great Altai (according to N.A. Eliseev) and their correlation with sources [8, 9] sheds no light on this controversary. This article is aimed at accurate dating of the plagiogranites of the Kalba‐Narym zone for refining their position in the magmatic scheme, as well as for estimating the formation conditions and sources of plagiogranite magmas based on their composition and geochemical modeling of the protolith‐melt system. We studied the plagiogranites from the Zhilandy and Tochka massifs (Fig. 1). The Zhilandy Massif forms an isometric body, with medium-grained biotite granites in the central part and fine-grained porphyritic varieties and plagiogranite porphyry dikes in the marginal parts. The plagiogranites consist of large biotite, short-prismatic zoned andesine‐oligoclase, and single grains of orthoclase‐microperthite and green hornblende. The Tochka Massif is made up of NW-extended minor bodies and dikes of fine-grained porphyritic biotite plagiogranites and plagiogranite porphyries. The plagiogranites of the Tochka Massif differ macroscopically from the Zhilandy rocks owing to superimposed processes of mylonitization; however, microscopically, they have similar petrographic and mineral composition. The dikes of plagiogranite porphyries of both the massifs contain phenocrysts of short-prismatic zoned plagioclase, quartz, and biotite embedded in the microcrystalline groundmass. In both cases, the plagiogranites intrude black shales of the Takyr Formation ( D 3 –C 1 ) and are cut by the Early Permian granitoids of the Kalba batholithic belt [5‐7, 10].

The adakite connection of the Tuwu–Yandong copper porphyry belt, eastern Tianshan, NW China: trace element and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope geochemistry

The Tuwu–Yandong porphyry copper belt lies in the eastern Tianshan mountains, eastern section of the Central Asian orogenic belt. The copper mineralization is mainly hosted in plagiogranite porphyries intruded into early Carboniferous volcanic rocks of the Paleozoic Dananhu island arc between the Tarim and Siberian plates. The plagiogranite porphyries have contents of 65–73 wt% SiO2, 14–17 wt% Al2O3, 0.9–2.2 wt% MgO, 3–16 ppm Y, 0.4–1.40 ppm Yb, 347–920 ppm Sr, and positive Eu anomalies. The rocks also exhibit positive ɛNd(t) values (+5.0 to +9.4) and low initial 87Sr/86Sr values (0.70316–0.70378). Such features are similar to those of adakites derived from partial melting of a subduction-related oceanic slab. The mineralization age is early Carboniferous (350–320 Ma), which is close to that of the porphyries. The close relationship between the Cu mineralization and the porphyry is also indicated by their similar Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions. We suggest that the copper porphyry (magma) system in the Dananhu island arc was formed by direct melting of an obliquely subducting early Carboniferous oceanic slab.

Geological characteristics and genesis of the Tuwu porphyry copper deposit, Hami, Xinjiang, Central Asia

The Tuwu copper deposit, located in the Dananhu–Tousuquan island arc between the Kazakhstan–Junggar and Tarim plates, is one of the largest porphyry copper deposits in western China. Ore-hosting rocks consist of Early Carboniferous (333 ± 2 Ma) granodiorite- and plagiogranite-porphyries. Both the porphyries are elongate. The orebodies, consisting of veinlet-disseminated mineralization within the porphyries, grade range from 0.30% to 1.50% Cu. Mineralization can be assigned to six stages. Wall-rock alteration associated with the mineralization include silicification, chloritization, epidotization, sericitization and carbonatization. Three alteration zones have been recognized: phyllic zone, chlorite–biotite zone and propylitic zone. Re–Os dating indicates a 322.7 ± 3 Ma age for the deposit. δ 34S values of the ore sulfides range from − 0.9‰ to + 1.3‰, with a mean of 0.11‰, reflecting a deep sulfur source. δ 18O values of quartz in the ores range from 7.70‰ to 9.70‰, and the δ 18O value of chlorite in the ores is 6.62‰. Calculated δ 18O water values of quartz and chlorite range from − 5.37‰ to + 6.62‰ and the δD values range from − 48‰ to − 63‰, suggesting that the ore fluids were mainly magma-derived in the early stage of mineralization. However, values for the late mineralization stage decrease, suggesting the addition of meteoric waters during the mineralization. Fluid inclusions within quartz grains are generally 3 to 30 μm in size, with gas proportions ranging from 5% to 60%, mostly from 10% to 15%. Homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions are relatively low, bracketed between 101 and 409 °C, mostly between 100 and 200 °C. Salinities exhibit a wide range from 0.35 to 14.61 wt.% NaCl equiv., with a mean of 7.72 wt.% NaCl equiv., suggesting that ore fluids have low to moderate salinity. The ore-bearing plagiogranite porphyries show a strong depletion in heavy rare-earth elements, with average values of Yb and Y of 0.65 and 5.90 ppm, respectively, this being a characteristic geochemical signature for adakite. The geochemical signature of the adakites within the granitoid rocks represents a characteristic guide for further exploration for copper porphyry-type ore deposit in Eastern Tianshan.

Geochronological constraints on the emplacement history of an anorthosite ? rapakivi granite suite: U?Pb zircon and baddeleyite study of the Korosten complex, Ukraine

U−Pb zircon/baddeleyite ages obtained for the Korosten anorthosite-rapakivi granite complex, Ukrainian shield, suggest that different magmatic phases were emplaced during a period of ca. 30 million years as a series of distinct igneous episodes. The earliest 1789.1±2.0 Ma anorthosites were followed by 1781.3±3.2 Ma dykes of plagiogranite porphyries. The emplacement of a major rapakivi granite phase took place at 1767.4±2.2 Ma, and was followed by emplacement of layered intrusions of anorthosites, gabbronorites, diabases and ultrabasic rocks between 1761 and 1758 Ma. The minimum duration of magmatism of about 30 million years, the 6–15 million years interval between igneous pulses, and alternation of discrete episodes of basic and felsie magmatism are common features of major anorthositemangerite-charnockite-rapakivi granite complexes. Temporal distribution of igneous activity in the Korosten complex shows that the gabbro-anorthosites and the granites are not comagmatic, although they are possibly cogenetic, and that at least four portions of granitic and basic magmas were generated during a relatively long period of at least 30 million years. The time gap of about 20–25 million years between early basic and later and more voluminous granitic magmatism, characteristic of the Korosten pluton, Wiborg and Salmi batholiths, probably reflects the duration of extensional processes before the generation of large volumes of magma in the lower crust.