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Re–Os and U–Pb geochronology of the Laochang Pb–Zn–Ag and concealed porphyry Mo mineralization along the Changning–Menglian suture, SW China: implications for ore genesis and porphyry Cu–Mo exploration

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Abstract

Numerous polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS), vein, and replacement deposits are distributed along the Changning–Menglian suture zone in Sanjiang Tethyan metallogenic province, SW China. Laochang is the largest Pb–Zn–Ag vein and replacement deposit in this area, with a proven reserve of 0.51 Mt Pb, 0.34 Mt Zn, and 1,737 t Ag. Its age and relationship to magmatic events and VMS deposits in the region, however, have long been debated. In this paper, we present pyrite Re–Os and titanite U–Pb ages aiming to provide significant insights into the timing and genesis of the Pb–Zn–Ag mineralization. Pyrite grains in textural equilibrium with galena, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite from stratabound Pb–Zn–Ag and Cu-bearing Pb–Zn–Ag orebodies have a Re–Os isochron age of 45.7 ± 3.1 Ma (2σ, mean square weighted deviation (MSWD) = 0.45), whereas titanite grains intergrown with sulfide minerals yield a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 43.4 ± 1.2 Ma (2σ, n = 8). A Mo-mineralized granitic porphyry intersected by recent drilling below the Laochang Pb–Zn–Ag ores yields a zircon U–Pb age of 44.4 ± 0.4 Ma (2σ, n = 12). Within analytical uncertainties, the ages of the Pb–Zn–Ag deposit and the concealed Mo-mineralized porphyry are indistinguishable, indicating that they are products of a single magmatic hydrothermal system. The results show that Laochang Pb–Zn–Ag deposit is significantly younger than the host mafic volcanic rock (zircon U–Pb age of 320.8 ± 2.7 Ma; 2σ, n = 12) and Silurian VMS deposits along the Changning–Menglian suture zone, arguing against its origin as a Carboniferous VMS deposit as many researchers claimed. The initial 187Os/188Os ratio (0.540 ± 0.012) obtained from the pyrite Re–Os isochron suggests that metals were likely derived from the granitic porphyry that formed from a hybrid magma due to mixing of crustal- and mantle-derived melts, rather than from the mafic volcanic host rocks as previously thought. Our results favor that the Laochang Pb–Zn–Ag deposit is the shallow product of a porphyry Mo system. Thus, there is potential for discovery of porphyry Mo or Cu–Mo deposits below Laochang and similar Pb–Zn–Ag deposits in the Changning–Menglian suture zone.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Jianpei Lu, Suxin Zhang, Lu Wang, and Zhaochu Hu for their help during sample preparation, SEM, CL, and LA-ICP-MS analysis, respectively. We also thank Albert Hofstra at the USGS for his constructive review. Thomas Bissig, Jingwen Mao, and Bernd Lehmann provided detailed reviews and useful suggestions that helped improving presentation of the manuscript. This research was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (grants 41202053, 41325007), the International Postdoctoral Exchange Fellowship Program from China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, and the MOST special fund from the GPMR lab (MSFGPMR201304).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Xiao-Dong Deng, Jian-Wei Li & Xin-Fu Zhao

  2. Faculty of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Xiao-Dong Deng, Jian-Wei Li & Hong-Qiang Wang

  3. State Key Lab of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550002, China

    Liang Qi

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  1. Xiao-Dong Deng
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Table S1 LA-ICP-MS U–Pb isotope data for titanite and zircon from the Laochang deposit. (DOC 172 kb)

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Deng, XD., Li, JW., Zhao, XF. et al. Re–Os and U–Pb geochronology of the Laochang Pb–Zn–Ag and concealed porphyry Mo mineralization along the Changning–Menglian suture, SW China: implications for ore genesis and porphyry Cu–Mo exploration. Miner Deposita 51, 237–248 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-015-0606-z

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