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Genesis of Pb–Zn-Ag-Sb mineralization in the Tethys Himalaya, China: Early magmatic-hydrothermal Pb–Zn(-Ag) mineralization overprinted by Sb-rich fluids

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Abstract

Determining the association of Pb–Zn(-Ag) mineralization with granite is crucial for understanding metallogeny and identifying exploration targets. The genesis of Pb–Zn-Ag-Sb deposits and their genetic association with Sb(-Au) deposits and granite-associated Sn-W deposits in the Tethys Himalaya of southern Tibet, China, remains controversial. Our comprehensive study of in situ element compositions and sulfur isotopes of sulfides, together with in situ quartz oxygen isotopes for the Zhaxikang Pb–Zn-Ag-Sb deposit, sheds light on this issue. LA-ICP-MS analyses of early sulfides in manganosiderite veins, coupled with C-O isotopes of manganosiderite, indicate that the early fluids were enriched in Pb, Zn, Ag, Sb, Sn, and Cu, originating from magmatic fluids mixing with meteoric water. The early formed sulfides underwent fluid-mediated remobilization and dissolution, releasing many metallic elements (e.g., Pb, Zn, and Ag) into later As-Sb-rich fluids. These elements reprecipitated as Fe-poor sphalerite, As-rich pyrite, and abundant Sb-Pb sulfosalts with minor Ag-bearing minerals. Oxygen isotopes of quartz indicate that the later fluids were derived from pulsed releases of magmatic fluids mixing with meteoric water. In situ sulfur isotopes of three generations of pyrite indicate that early Pb–Zn(-Ag) sulfide precipitation was linked to magmatic sulfur, whereas precipitation of the later sulfosalts and stibnite involved external sulfur with relatively lower sulfur isotopes compared with early mineralization. We argue that Pb–Zn-Ag-Sb deposits in the Tethys Himalaya resulted from two distinct mineralization pulses. The early Pb–Zn(-Ag) mineralization was associated with crustal magmatic rocks (e.g., leucogranite), followed by the overprinting of later Sb-rich magmatic fluids. Notably, the later magmatic fluids responsible for Zhaxikang Pb–Zn-Ag-Sb mineralization were also associated with the regional Sb(-Au) deposits in the Tethys Himalaya.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Lejun Zhang and B. Lehmann for handling and insightful comments, and thank two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments that have greatly improved the manuscript. Xiang Sun would like to acknowledge the Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Facility, AuScope, the Science and Industry Endowment Fund, and the State Government of Western Australian for contributing to the Ion Probe Facility at the Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis at the University of Western Australia, and thank Heejin Jeon for help in SHRIMP analyses of sulfur isotopes. Xu Zheng was thanked for help in analyses of LA-ICP-MS sulfide composition data.

Funding

This study received financial support from the National Key Research and Development Project of China (2022YFC2903304), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (92155305, 92162215), and the 111 Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology (BP0719021).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, School of Earth Science and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Xiang Sun, Ru-Yue Li, Hao-Yu Sun, M. Santosh & Jun Deng

  2. MNR Key Laboratory for Exploration Theory & Technology of Critical Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Xiang Sun

  3. Frontiers Science Center for Deep-Time Digital Earth, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Jun Deng

  4. Centre for Ore Deposit and Earth Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    Paul H. Olin

  5. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia

    M. Santosh

  6. Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China

    Bin Fu

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  1. Xiang Sun
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  2. Ru-Yue Li
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  3. Hao-Yu Sun
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  4. Paul H. Olin
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  6. Bin Fu
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  7. Jun Deng
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Contributions

Xiang Sun played a pivotal role in data analyses, conducting fieldwork, preparing and writing the manuscript. Ru-Yue Li and Hao-Yu Sun were instrumental in the plotting of diagrams. Paul H. Olin contributed his expertise in LA-ICP-MS analyses of sulfides. M. Santosh offered valuable comments and engaged in the review process. Bin Fu help SHRIMP analyses of oxygen isotopes, facilitating a deeper understanding of the isotopic compositions. Supervision, discussion and valuable comments were conducted by Jun Deng.

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Correspondence to Xiang Sun or Jun Deng.

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Sun, X., Li, RY., Sun, HY. et al. Genesis of Pb–Zn-Ag-Sb mineralization in the Tethys Himalaya, China: Early magmatic-hydrothermal Pb–Zn(-Ag) mineralization overprinted by Sb-rich fluids. Miner Deposita (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-024-01264-5

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