Western Shandong Research Articles

The Crustal Structure of Western Shandong and the High‐Velocity Body in the Crust

AbstractThe crustal velocity structure of western Shandong is revealed by a 320 km long DSS profile from Liaocheng to Lianyungang. In this area, the upper crust has a two‐layer structure with a total thickness of 18~20 km and a velocity of 5.4~6.2 km/s; the lower crust is also divided into two layers with a total thickness of 13~15 km and a velocity of 6.4~6.7 km/s. The depth of Moho is from 33 km to 35 km. The Pn velocity in this region is 7.9 km/s. The velocity in the crust varies considerably laterally. The average velocity is from 6.2 km/s to 6.5 km/s, which is slightly higher than the normal value. In the crust there are two nearly upright high‐velocity blocks, extending from the lower crust to the upper crust till the bottom of the sedimentary basin. It is possible that a large amount of magma from the upper mantle rose up into the crust, making the local average velocity higher. The high velocity blocks are probably the channels of magma uprising. The study on the crustal structure of western Shandong is of certain significance for investigating the mechanism of disintegration and subsidence of ancient platform.

Zircon U-Pb dating on the Mesozoic volcanic suite from the Qingshan Group stratotype section in eastern Shandong Province and its tectonic significance

A geochronological study of zircon U-Pb on the volcanic rocks from the stratotype section of the Qingshan Group within the Jiaozhou Basin, eastern Shandong Province, is presented. The zircons were analyzed using the method of in situ ablation of a 193 nm excimer laser system coupled with an up to date ICP-MS system. Among the three formations of the Qingshan Group, zircons recovered from the lowest part of the Houkuang Fm. were dated at 106±2 Ma (95% confidence, the same below), whereas those from the lower and upper parts of the Shiqianzhuang Fm. were given ages of 105±4 Ma and 98±1 Ma, respectively. A spatially decreasing trend for the Mesozoic magmatic timing from west to east in the province is observed through comparing the data of this study with those by previous works on the Qingshan volcanic lavas occurring at western Shandong and within the Yishu fault zone. The Qingshan volcanic rocks are constituent of the ‘Shoshonite Province’ in East China. Exposed at most provinces of central East China along the Tan-Lu fault and the Yangtze fault zones, these volcanic suites are characterized by shoshonite and high-K calcalkalic rocks in lithology and thought to be correlated with the partial melting of continental mantle in genesis. It is also shown that the Qingshan potassic volcanic suite from eastern Shandong basins is distinctly younger than those from other areas of the shoshonite province. By contrary, ages of the Mesozoic to Cenozoic alkaline basalts, sourced by asthenospheric mantle, from both northern Huaiyan basin and northern Dabie belt along the Tan-Lu fault zone and from the Ningwu, Lishui and Luzong basins along the Yangtze fault zone are observably older than those occurring within eastern Shandong. The revealed temporal and spatial patterns in magmatism for the two types of volcanic suites make an important geochronological constraint on the Mesozoic to Cenozoic dynamic evolution model of the subcontinental lithosphere in East China.

LA-ICP-MS U–Pb zircon geochronology and geochemistry of Paleoproterozoic mafic dykes from western Shandong Province: Implications for back-arc basin magmatism in the Eastern Block, North China Craton

LA-ICP-MS U–Pb zircon geochronological, elemental and Sr–Nd isotopic data are presented for Paleoproterozoic mafic dykes in western Shandong Province to characterize the Paleoproterozoic tectonic process in the Eastern Block, North China Craton. These dykes are predominantly dolerite with a major mineral assemblage plagioclase + clinopyroxene and yield a LA-ICP-MS U–Pb zircon age of 1841 ± 17 Ma. They are geochemically low- to medium-potassium subalkaline basalts and basaltic andesites. ( 87Sr/ 86Sr)(i) ratios range from 0.702859 to 0.703706, and ɛ Nd( t) values are from +3.82 to +7.42, which are slightly enriched comparable to a MORB source. The arc-like signatures are revealed in these dykes by the enrichment in LILEs and LREEs and depletion in HFSEs and HREEs. Such signatures suggest an origination from a MORB-like source metasomatized by newly subduction-related fluids potentially via source contamination. The geochemical affinity to both MORB- and arc-like sources, together with incompatible elemental ratios (e.g., Zr/Y, Th/Yb, Ta/Yb, Th/Nb and Ba/La), appears to support a development of a Paleoproterozoic intra-continental extension or failed back-arc basin setting within the Eastern Block in response to an upwelling asthenosphere, accompanied by the amalgamation of the Western and Eastern Blocks along the Trans-North China Orogen at ∼1.85 Ga. Such a proposed tectonic setting might be analogue to modern back-arc basins along the western Pacific.

Komatiites from west Shandong, North China craton: Implications for plume tectonics

The Mengyin komatiites are located at the base of the Taishan Complex (∼ 2.7 Ga), in the western Shandong greenstone belt of the eastern block of North China craton. The Mengyin komatiites have high-magnesian, low-titanium, and aluminum-undepleted chemical characteristics. Although the ultramafic rocks underwent amphibolite to greenschist facies metamorphism, they preserve remnant igneous spinifex textures. Some komatiite samples even preserve rare fresh olivine. According to the mass equilibrium between the olivine and melt, the potential eruption temperature of the Mengyin komatiites at 1 atm is about 1270 °C which might indicate a plume tectonic setting. It is inferred that komatiites in Mengyin, west Shandong may be part of a plume-related global magmatic event related to the break-up of a supercontinent that included the eastern block of the North China craton.

Characteristics of mantle branch structure in western Shandong and its roles in mine-rogenesis and ore-controlling

This work deals with the characteristics of mantle branch structure in western Shandong Province, China, with respect to the distribution characteristics and ages of the regional strata, the development of ring-like and radial faults, the development of gently inclined detachment-slip structures in the axial part, mantle-source magmatic activities, regional petrology, petrochemistry and isotope geology. The study indicated that the N-W sharply plunged ductile shear zone in the region of western Shandong cuts through the mantle rocks detached from the deep-seated North China mantle sub-plume, hence leading to unloading in response to depressurization and thereafter the formation of anatexis magma. The intense and complete magmatic evolution series not only manifests a variation trend of alkalinity of magma from high to low and its intrusive depth from deep to shallow, but also reflects that the wall-rock alteration shows a general evolution trend from strong to weak. The evolution of mantle structure played an important role in controlling endo-mineralogenesis, accompanied with the rise of the country rocks. As a result, typical mantle branch structures were formed as observed in western Shandong. At the top of the mantle branch structure was developed an obvious detachment-tilt fault block, and some endogenic ores, at the same time, were uplifted onto the shallow levels.

Geology and geochemistry of telluride-bearing Au deposits in the Pingyi area, Western Shandong, China

Telluride-bearing gold deposits of the Pingyi area, western Shandong, China, are located on the southeastern margin of the North China Craton. There are two main types of deposits: (i) mineralized cryptoexplosive breccia, e.g., Guilaizhuang; and (ii) stratified, finely-disseminated mineralization hosted in carbonate rocks, e.g., Lifanggou and Mofanggou deposits. In Guilaizhuang, the cryptoexplosive breccia is formed within rocks of the Tongshi complex and Ordovician dolomite. The mineralization is controlled by an E–W-trending listric fault. Stratified orebodies of the Lifanggou and Mofanggou deposits are placed along a NE-trending, secondary detachment zone. They are hosted within dolomitic limestone, micrite and dolomite of the Early-Middle Cambrian Changqing Group. The mineralization in the ore districts is considered to be related to the Early Jurassic Tongshi magmatic complex that formed in a continental arc setting on the margin of the North China Craton. The host rocks are porphyritic and consist predominantly of medium- to fine-grained diorite and pyroxene (hornblende)-bearing monzonite. SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating of diorites give a 206Pb/238U weighted mean age of 175.7 ± 3.8 Ma. This is interpreted as representing the crystallization age of the Tongshi magmatic complex. Considering the contact relationships between the magmatic and host sedimentary rocks, as well as the genetic link with the deposits, we conclude that this age is relevant also for the formation of mineralization in the Pingyi area. We hence consider that the deposits formed in the Jurassic. The principal gold minerals are native gold, electrum and calaverite. Wall-rock alteration comprises pyritization, fluoritization, silicification, carbonatization and chloritization. Fluid inclusion studies indicate that all the analyzed inclusions are of two-phase vapor–liquid NaCl–H2O type. Homogenization temperatures of the fluid inclusions vary from 103 °C to 250 °C, and the ice melting temperatures range from −2.5 °C to −13.5 °C, corresponding to a salinity range of 4.65 to 17.26 wt.% NaCl equiv. The δ34S values of pyrite associated with gold mineralization exhibit a narrow range of −0.71 to + 2.99‰, implying that the sulfur was probably derived from the mantle and/or dioritic magma. The δ13CPDB values of the fluid inclusions in calcite range from −7.3 to 0.0‰. The δ18OSMOW values of vein quartz and calcite range from 11.5 to 21.5‰, corresponding to δ18Ofluid values of −1.1 to 10.9‰; δD values of the fluid inclusions vary between −70 and −48‰. The isotope data for all three deposits suggest mixing of ore-forming fluids derived from the mantle and/or magma with different types of fluids at shallow levels. Pressure release and boiling of the fluids, as well as fluid-rock interaction (Lifanggou and Mofanggou) and mixing of magmatically-derived fluids with meteoritic waters (Guilaizhuang) played an important role in the ore-forming processes.

Evolution, Migration, Controlling Factors and Forming Setting of Mesozoic Basins in Western Shandong

The distinctive topography in western Shandong province consists of several NW-WNW-trending mountain ranges and intervening basins. Basins, in which late-stage sediments to the south have progressively overlapped the earlier sediments and “basement” rocks of the hanging-wall block, are bounded by S-SW-dipping normal faults to the north. Basin analysis reveals the Jurassic-Cretaceous sedimentary rocks accumulated both within the area of crustal extension and during extensional deformation; they contain a record of a sequence of tectonic events during stretching and can be divided into four tectonic-sequence episodes. These basins were initially developed as early as ca. 200 Ma in the northern part of the study area, extending dominantly N-S from the Early Jurassic until the Late Cretaceous. Although with a brief hiatus due to changes in stress field, to keep uniform N-S extensional polarity in such a long time as 130 Ma requires a relatively stable tectonic controlling factor responsible for the NW- and E-W-extensional basins. The formation of the extensional basins is partly concurrent with regional magmatism, but preceded magmatism by 40 Ma. This precludes a genetic link between local magmatism and extension during the Mesozoic. Based on integrated studies of basins and deformation, we consider that the gravitational collapse of the early overthickened continental crust may be the main tectonic driver for the Mesozoic extensional basins. From the Early Jurassic, dramatic reduction in north-south horizontal compressive stress made the western Shandong deformation belt switch from a state of failure under shortening to one dominated by extension and the belt gravitationally collapsed and horizontally spread to the south until equilibrium was established; synchronously, the normal faults and basins were developed based on the model of simple-shear extensional deformation. This may be relative to the gravitational collapse of the Mesozoic plateau in eastern China.

SHRIMP Zircon U-Pb Dating of the Tongshi Magmatic Complex in Western Shandong and Its Geological Implications

Abstract The SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating result of the Tongshi magmatic complex in western Shandong is presented in this paper. The Tongshi magmatic complex comprises fine-grained porphyritic diorite and syenitic porphyry. Eighteen analyses for fine-grained porphyritic diorite gave two concordia ages, in which ten analyses constitute the young age group, giving 206Pb/238U ages ranging from 167.9 Ma to 183 Ma with a weighted mean age of 175.7±3.8 Ma, and the other eight yielded 207Pb/206Pb ages of 2502 Ma to 2554 Ma with a weighted mean 2518±11 Ma. Two analyses for syenitic porphyry gave ages of 2485 Ma and 2512 Ma, respectively. The age of 175.7±3.8 Ma indicates that the crystallization of the Tongshi magmatic complex occurred in the Middle Jurassic, whereas that of 2518±11 Ma is interpreted as the age of inherited magmatic zircons in the Neoarchean Wutai period.

The geochemical variations of mid-Cretaceous lavas across western Shandong Province, China and their tectonic implications

Major and trace element as well as Sr–Nd isotopic compositions of mid-Cretaceous lavas across western Shandong Province, China have been studied. These lavas can be generally divided into southern Shandong group (including Pingyi and Mengyin) and northern Shandong group (including Laiwu and Zouping) based on their geochemistry. The southern group lavas are characterized by extreme enrichment in LREE, large ion lithophile elements (LILE), and depletion in HFSE along with EMII-like Sr–Nd isotopic compositions, suggesting that the crustal involvements play a significant role in their petrogenesis. Comparing studies with Fangcheng basalts reveal that the Triassic continent–continent collision between the Yangtze craton (YC) and the North China craton (NCC), and subsequent extensive modification of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) beneath the south part of the NCC by silicic melts released from the subducted Yangtze lower crust, formed an enriched lithospheric mantle which was the source of the southern Shandong group lavas. In contrast, the northern Shandong group lavas are mildly enriched in LREE and LILE relative to those of the southern group lavas. The isotope compositions are also distinctive in that the Sr isotopic ratios are very low. Available geochemical evidence and comparing studies with spatially closed related mafic intrusions suggest that the SCLM feeding the northern group lavas seems to be linked to carbonatitic metasomatism and changed modal proportion of phlogopite and clinopyroxene in the mantle rather than subduction-related modifications. The contrasting geochemical characters of the mid-Cretaceous lavas across western Shangdong suggest that the SCLM of the NCC is spatially heterogeneous in Mesozoic.

K‐Ar Geochronology of Mesozoic Mafic Dikes in Shandong Province, Eastern China: Implications for Crustal Extension

Abstract Based on K‐Ar isotope analyses, Mesozoic mafic (and alkali ultramafic) dikes from western and eastern Shandong Province, China, are dated at 88.2±1.70 Ma to 169.5±3.7 Ma with the majority of ages ranging from 90 Ma to 140 Ma. The emplacement of the dikes suggests a major Yanshanian (Cretaceous) crustal extension in Shandong province. Together with other available age data, this study suggests four periods of crustal extension at about 80 Ma, 100 Ma, 120 Ma and 140 Ma, respectively. Besides the effect of collapse of the Yanshanian orogenic belt on the emplacement of the mafic dikes in Shandong in the Cretaceous, the mantle plume and the extensive left‐lateral advection and extension of the Tanlu fault also have controlled the crustal extension and the emplacement of the mafic dikes in eastern Shandong and western Shandong, respectively.

Early Cretaceous gabbroic complex from Yinan, Shandong Province: petrogenesis and mantle domains beneath the North China Craton

Sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) zircon U–Pb ages, geochemical and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic data are reported for the gabbroic complex from Yinan (Shandong Province) with the aims of characterizing the nature of the Mesozoic mantle beneath the North China Craton. The Yinan gabbros contain alkali feldspar and biotite, and are characterized by moderate Mg#, high SiO2, low FeO and TiO2 contents and a strong enrichment of light rare earth elements [(La/Yb)n=11–50], but no Eu anomaly. They have low Nb/La (0.07–0.29), radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr (0.710) and unradiogenic eNd(t) (−15 to −13). These “crustal fingerprints” cannot be attributed to crustal contamination, given the lack of correlation between isotopic ratios and differentiation indices and the unreasonably high proportion of crustal contaminant (>20%) required in modeling. Instead, compositional similarities to contemporaneous basalts from nearby regions imply that the Yinan gabbros were not significantly affected by crystal cumulation. Isotopic data available for the Mesozoic mafic magmas reveal two distinct mantle domains beneath Shandong. While the EM1-like domain (with low 87Sr/86Sr) is confined to western Shandong, the mantle beneath eastern Shandong is dominated by EM2-type (with high 87Sr/86Sr) affinities. This aerial distinction suggests that the EM2-like signature of the Yinan gabbros may have been inherited from westerly-subducted Yangtze crust during the Triassic North China-South China collision. Emplacement of the Yinan gabbros (127 Ma) is likely affiliated with the widespread and protracted extension during the late Mesozoic in this region.

Geochemical and isotopic investigation of the Laiwu–Zibo carbonatites from western Shandong Province, China, and implications for their petrogenesis and enriched mantle source

Major and trace element and Nd–Sr isotope data of the Mesozoic Laiwu–Zibo carbonatites (LZCs) from western Shandong Province, China, provide clues to the petrogenesis and the nature of their mantle source. The Laiwu–Zibo carbonatites can be petrologically classified as calcio-, magnesio- and ferro-carbonatites. All these carbonatites show a similarity in geochemistry. On the one hand, they are extremely enriched in Ba, Sr and LREE and markedly low in K, Rb and Ti, which are similar to those global carbonatites, on the other hand, they have extremely high initial 87Sr/ 86Sr (0.7095–0.7106) and very low ε Nd (−18.2 to −14.3), a character completely different from those global carbonatites. The small variations in Sr and Nd isotopic ratios suggest that crustal contamination can not modify the primary isotopic compositions of LZC magmas and those values are representatives of their mantle source. The Nd–Sr isotopic compositions of LZCs and their similarity to those of Mesozoic Fangcheng basalts imply that they derived from an enriched lithospheric mantle. The formation of such enriched lithospheric mantle is connected with the major collision between the North China Craton (NCC) and the Yangtze Craton. Crustal materials from the Yangtze Craton were subducted beneath the NCC and melts derived from the subducted crust of the Yangtze Craton produced an enriched Mesozoic mantle, which is the source for the LZCs and Fangcheng basalts. The absence of alkaline silicate rocks, which are usually associated with carbonatites suggest that the LZCs originated from the mantle by directly partial melting.

Crust-mantle interaction during the tectono-thermal reactivation of the North China Craton: constraints from SHRIMP zircon U–Pb chronology and geochemistry of Mesozoic plutons from western Shandong

Chronological, geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic analyses have been carried out on the Mesozoic plutons in western Shandong with the aim of characterizing crustal–mantle evolution during the tectono-thermal reactivation of the craton. Detailed SHRIMP zircon U–Pb dating reveals two main periods of Mesozoic activity with contrasting compositions. The older magmatic pulse is manifested by monzonites and monzodiorites from Tongshi for which zircon rims yield a concordant age of 177±4 Ma and the cores have a discordant age of ca. 2.5 Ga. Low MgO and Cr, high Na2O contents and especially their isotopic compositions (87Sr/86Sr 40 km) of the late Mesozoic high Sr and low Y granitoids from the same region. Distinctively different depths of crustal melting suggest dynamic thickening of the crust by magmatic underplating during the Jurassic and Cretaceous. The younger dioritic plutons from Laiwu and Yinan were emplaced at 132–126 Ma and show relatively high MgO and Cr contents and large isotopic variability. They were likely derived from enriched lithospheric mantle source and were subjected to crustal contamination during magma evolution. Early Cretaceous mantle melting is coeval with the widespread late Yanshanian granitic magmatism in North China. Early Cretaceous time may correspond to a critical period when a temperature increase due to lithospheric thinning allowed the intersection of the local geotherm and the wet peridotite solidus. While some mantle-derived magmas were erupted, most were trapped at variable crustal depths, triggering large-scale concomitant melting of the crust. Lithospheric thinning must have continued until the late Cretaceous because of the change in the source of mafic magmas from lithospheric to asthenospheric at that time. It is proposed that removal of the lithospheric keel beneath the North China craton may have been initiated as early as the Jurassic, but with the most intense period in the Cretaceous between 130–75 Ma. Such a relatively long timescale (~100 Ma) emphasizes the role of thermomechanical erosion by convective mantle in lithospheric thinning beneath this region.

Ultramafic xenoliths in mesozoic diorite in west shandong province

Ultramafic xenoliths are common in Tietonggou intrusion, Laiwu, Shandong Province. Peridotite xenoliths develop two-stage metasomatism popularly: (i) The early metasomatism is characterized by intergranular clinopyroxene and phlogopite; (ii) The later metasomatism is characterized by orthopyroxene veins with a few plagioclases and amphiboles. These ultramafic xenoliths are thought to be mostly from the crust-mantle transitional zone on the basis of their combination, mineral chemistry, equilibrium temperature, and metasomatic characteristics. Major elements, rare earth elements, and Sr-Nd isotopic composition of the ultramafic xenoliths indicate that there is a petrogenetic relationship between the silica-enriched xenoliths and their host diorites. We propose that such silica enrichment might be an indicator of melt-rock interactions in the Mesozoic lithosphere beneath western Shandong.

Discovery of dunite and pyroxenite xenoliths in Mesozoic diorite at Jinling, western Shandong and its significance

Abundant deeply-derived xenoliths are discovered in a Mesozoic diorite at Jinling, Zibo, western Shandong, which mainly consist of dunite and pyroxenite. The dunite can be further subdivided into two subtypes. The first type shows tabular texture and high Mg# values (93–94) in olivines. The second type is characterized by the metamorphic-deformation texture superimposed by later metasomatism and relatively low olivine Mg# values (86–87). The mineral chemical data indicate that the former could be derived from ancient lithospheric mantle and the latter could have resulted from silica-rich melt metasomatism. The exsolution texture and the high Mg# value in clinopyroxenes, together with the rather high equilibrium temperature, imply that the pyroxenite xenoliths could be the cumulates of mantle-derived magma in the uppermost mantle or near the crust-mantle boundary in the Mesozoic.

Discovery of dunite and pyroxenite xenoliths in Mesozoic diorite at Jinling, western Shandong and its significance

Discovery of dunite and pyroxenite xenoliths in Mesozoic diorite at Jinling, western Shandong and its significance

Potash-rich volcanic rocks and lamprophyres in western Shandong Province: 40Ar-39Ar dating and source tracing

Highly precise 40Ar-39Ar dating results demonstrate that the ages of potash-rich volcanic rocks in western Shandong Province are 114.7–124.3 Ma, and that of the lamprophyres is 119.6 Ma. The potash-rich volcanic rocks have relatively high (87Sr÷86Sr)i ratios (0.708715–0.711418) and distinctly negative end values (−11.47–−17.54), and are enriched in radiogenic lead (206Pb÷204Pb=17.341−17.622, 207Pb÷204Pb=15.525−15.538, 208Pb÷204Pb = 37.563−37.684). Similarly, the lamprophyres also have quite low end values (−11.57–−19.64). Based on the fact that the Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions of potash-rich volcanic rocks are very consistent with that of the clinopyroxene separates, and by integrating comprehensive analyses of their tectonic settings, and extensive comparisons of the Sr, Nd isotopic compositions with that of the related simultaneous rocks, it is concluded that the potash-rich volcanic rocks and lamprophyres in western Shandong Province were most possibly derived from the partial melting of enriched mantle which was caused by source contamination and metasomatism of subducted continental crustal materials.

Application of the geo-anomaly unit concept in quantitative delineation and assessment of gold ore targets in western Shandong uplift terrain, eastern China

A number of large and giant ore deposits have been discovered within the relatively small areas of lithospheric structure anomalies, including various boundary zones of tectonic plates. The regions have become the well-known intercontinental ore-forming belts, such as the circum-Pacific gold–copper, copper–molybdenum, and tungsten–tin metallogenic belts. These belts are typical geological anomalous areas. An investigation into the hydrothermal ore deposits in different regions in the former Soviet Union illustrated that the geologic structures of ore fields of almost all major commercial deposits have distinct features compared with the neighboring areas. These areas with distinct features are defined as geo-anomalies. A geo-anomaly refers to such a geologic body or a combination of bodies that their composition, texture–structure, and genesis are significantly different from those of their surroundings. A geo-anomaly unit (GU) is an area containing distinct features that can be delineated with integrated ore-forming information using computer techniques on the basis of the geo-anomaly concept. Herein, the GU concept is illustrated by a case study of delineating the gold ore targets in the western Shandong uplift terrain, eastern China. It includes: (1) analyses of gold ore-forming factors; (2) compilation of normalized regional geochemical map and extraction of geochemical anomalies; (3) compilation of gravitational and aeromagnetic tectonic skeleton map and extraction of gravitational and aeromagnetic anomalies; (4) extraction of circular and linear anomalies from remote-sensing Landsat TM images; (5) establishment of a geo-anomaly conceptual model associated with known gold mineralization; (6) establishment of gold ore-forming favorability by computing techniques; and (7) delineation and assessment of ore-forming units. The units with high favorability are suggested as ore targets.

Zonation in primary halos and geochemical prospecting pattern for the Guilaizhuang gold deposit, eastern China

The Guilaizhuang gold deposit, with an average grade of 8.10 g/t Au and reserves of over 30 mt, is a subvolcanic epithermal deposit. The deposit is hosted in Paleozoic carbonate rocks in the western Shandong metallogenic terrane of the littorine Pacific metallogenic domain, eastern China, and is associated spatially with an early Mesozoic subvolcanic alkalic intrusive complex (188–190 Ma). The orebody was discovered at the end of the 1980s based on anomalies of Au in stream sediment samples at a map scale of 1∶200,000. The ore is rich in Au, Ag, Te, V, F, As, Sb, Tl, W, and Mo but poor in Cu, Pb, and Zn. The ore is similar in its trace elements to Carlin-type Au deposits. The transverse element association zonation of the deposit is as follows: (on the hanging wall) F⟸ W−Mo−As−Tl⟸Se−Sb−Bi⟸Au−Ag−Te (orebody) ⟹ Se−Sb−Bi (on the foot wall). The axial zonation is as follows: Au⟹Ag⟹Sb⟹V⟹Zn ⟹W⟹F⟹Mo⟹Tl⟹As. Indexes such as (Au+Sb)d/ (As+Tl)d and (Au+ Ag)d/(As+Tl)d decrease with depth but dramatically increase at the level where the orebody pinches out, which indicates another orebody might exist at depth. Multivariate statistical analysis suggests that the ore (halo)-forming process can be divided into two stages: alteration and mineralization. The former includes: potash feldsparization, albitization, silicification, and fluoritization. The latter includes the following substages: arsenopyritization and scheelitization; pyritization, chalcopyritization, and sphaleritization; and native gold, electrum, and calaveritization. The last substage is considered to be the main ore-forming stage in the formation of the deposit.

Extension Model of Crustal Uplifting in Western Shandong

Abstract Block faults, as the dominant tectonic framwork of western Shandong, were formed by the linked extensional fault system through two extensional movements during the Meso‐Cenozoic. Both of the extensional movements experienced the same evloutional process: first, the upper crust was pulled apart to form faults; then the Tai‐Lu‐Yi (Taishan‐Lushan‐Yishan) fault block occurring in the footwall of the extensional fault was uplifted, which induced the shallow‐level detachment movement along the early Precambrian and Palaeozoic unconformity; the “branching” fault in the upper part of the deep‐level detachment layer propagated. As the shallow detachment moved towards the north and the deep one towards the south, the Tai‐Lu‐Yi fault block acted as the common footwall of both the southern and northern detachment systems. The Tai‐Lu‐Yi fault block rebounded and uplifted as the overlying material was pulled apart to cause an unloading. Sialic material of the mid‐crust below the deep detachment flowed to and accumulated in the free space below the rebounding uplifted body and thickened the body; whereas the mid‐crust thinned under the graben systems. The rebounding uplifted body cooled, and then the graben system was occluded, which resulted in the crust‐mantle isostatic adjustment and asthenospheric convection. As a result of the two extensional movements, the uplifted central Shandong block with the Tai‐Lu‐Yi area as the core stands highly above the surrounding plain characterized by graben systems. The present Mount Taishan forms the climax of the uplift.