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Multiple Mesozoic mineralization events in South China—an introduction to the thematic issue

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Abstract

Mesozoic mineral deposits in South China include world-class deposits of W, Sn and Sb and those that provide the major sources of Ta, Cu, Hg, As, Tl, Pb, Zn, Au and Ag for the entire country. These deposits can be classified into polymetallic hydrothermal systems closely related to felsic intrusive rocks (Sn–W –Mo granites, Cu porphyries, polymetallic and Fe skarns, and polymetallic vein deposits) and low-temperature hydrothermal systems with no direct connection to igneous activities (MVT deposits, epithermal Au and Sb deposits). Recent studies have shown that they formed in the Triassic (Indosinian), Jurassic–Cretaceous (Early Yanshanian), and Cretaceous (Late Yanshanian) stages. Indosinian deposits include major MVT (Pb–Zn–Ag) deposits and granite-related W–Sn deposits. Early Yanshanian deposits are low-temperature Sb–Au and high-temperature W–Sn and Cu porphyry types. Many Late Yanshanian deposits are low-temperature Au–As–Sb–Hg and U deposits, and also include high-temperature W–Sn polymetallic deposits. The formation of these deposits is linked with a specific tectonothermal evolution and igneous activities. This special issue brings together some of the latest information in eight papers that deal with the origins and tectonic environments of mineral deposits formed in these stages. We anticipate that this issue will stimulate more interests in these ore deposits in South China.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all the authors for their contributions to this special issue and Wang Yue-Jun, Tao Yan, Gao Jian-Feng, Huang Zhi-Long, Li Xiao-Feng, Su Wen-Chao, Qi You-Qiang, and Zhao Xin-Fu for help with preparation. We are grateful for the financial support from the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (2007CB411400). Thanks are also due to reviewers and particularly the handling editors for their constructive comments on the manuscripts. Bernd Lehmann is gratefully acknowledged for his patience and great support that made this special issue possible.

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  1. State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550002, China

    Rui-Zhong Hu

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Mei-Fu Zhou

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Correspondence to Rui-Zhong Hu.

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Hu, RZ., Zhou, MF. Multiple Mesozoic mineralization events in South China—an introduction to the thematic issue. Miner Deposita 47, 579–588 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-012-0431-6

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