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Geochemical constraints on the origin of the Permian Baimazhai mafic–ultramafic intrusion, SW China

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Abstract

The ∼260 Ma Baimazhai mafic–ultramafic intrusion is considered to be part of the Emeishan large igneous province and consists of orthopyroxenite surrounded by websterite and gabbro. The intrusion is variably mineralized with a massive sulfide ore body (∼20 vol.%) in the core of the intrusion. Silicate rocks have Ni/Cu ratios ranging from 0.3 to 46 with majority less than 7 and are rich in LREE relative to HREE and show Nb and Ta anomalies in primitive mantle-normalized trace element patterns, with low Nb/Th (1.0–4.5) and Nb/La (0.3–1.0) ratios. Their ɛ Nd(t) values range from −3.3 to −8.4. Uniform Pd/Pt (0.7–3.5) and Cu/Pd (100,000–400,000) ratios throughout the intrusion indicate that all the sulfides in the rocks were formed in a single sulfide-saturation event. Modeling suggests that the Baimazhai rocks were formed when an Mg-rich magma became crustally contaminated in a deep-seated staging chamber. Crustal contamination (up to ∼35%) drove the magma to S-saturation and forced orthopyroxene (Opx) onto the liquidus. The crystal-bearing magma forced out of the staging chamber was migrated by flow differentiation and consequently, the denser sulfide melt and the Opx crystals became centrally disposed in the flowing magma to form the Baimazhai intrusion.

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Acknowledgments

This study was substantially supported by research grants from the Research Council of Hong Kong, China (HKU 7056/03P and HKU 7057/05P), an outstanding young researcher award from the National Nature Science Foundation of China (40129001) and a matching fund from the University of Hong Kong. The study was also partially supported by SEG 2005 Student Research Grants. The Baimazhai Mine Company is thanked for the assistance of field trip and the collection of drill core samples. We thank Mr L. Qi, Ms X. Fu and Ms Y. Liu for help with sample analyses. Thoughtful reviews by Dr C. Li and an anonymous referee helped to clarify the final version of this paper and are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Christina Yan Wang & Mei-Fu Zhou

  2. Mineral Exploration Research Centre, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ONT, Canada

    Reid R. Keays

  3. VIEPS, School of Geosciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Reid R. Keays

Authors
  1. Christina Yan Wang
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  2. Mei-Fu Zhou
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  3. Reid R. Keays
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Correspondence to Christina Yan Wang.

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Communicated by T. L. Grove

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Wang, C.Y., Zhou, MF. & Keays, R.R. Geochemical constraints on the origin of the Permian Baimazhai mafic–ultramafic intrusion, SW China. Contrib Mineral Petrol 152, 309–321 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-006-0103-6

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