Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ore-forming elements diffusion and distribution in the altered host rock surrounding the Koktokay No. 3 pegmatite in the Chinese Altay

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Acta Geochimica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Petrography and geochemistry of the altered and unaltered host rocks surrounding the Koktokay No. 3 pegmatite revealed that the unaltered amphibolite is mainly composed of hornblende, plagioclase, and ilmenite. Beyond these primary components, the altered host rocks contain a few newly formed minerals, including biotite, tourmaline, chlorine, and muscovite. The alteration zone surrounding the Koktokay No. 3 pegmatite is limited to 2.0 m, characterized by biotitization, tourmalization, and chloritization. In the altered host rocks, the contents of SiO2, MgO, MnO, Na2O, and TiO2 did not vary greatly. However, Al2O3 showed a weak decreasing trend with the increasing distance from the pegmatite contact zone, while Fe2O3 and CaO showed an increasing trend. The contents of Li, Rb, and Cs in the altered host rocks were much higher than those in the unaltered host rocks, decreasing with distance from the contact. The chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) pattern of the altered and unaltered host rock was right-inclined from La to Lu, but enriched in light REEs over heavy REEs after hydrothermal alteration. An isocon plot shows that some oxides migrated in with an order of P2O5 > K2O > TiO2 > Al2O3 > SiO2 > MnO ≥ MgO, while others migrated out with an order of Na2O > CaO > Fe2O3. For REEs, the migration ratios are positive values with Cs > Rb > Li > Nb > Ta > Be, signifying that all REEs migrated from the exsolved magmatic fluid into the altered host rocks. It was concluded that diffusion was the only mechanism for migration of ore-forming elements in the alteration zone. The effective diffusion coefficients (D eff ) of LiF, RbF, and CsF were estimated under a fluid temperature of 500–550 °C. Using a function of concentration (C (x,t)) and distance (x), the order of migration distance was determined to be LiF > CsF > RbF, with diffusion times of (3.39 ± 0.35) × 106, (3.19 ± 0.28) × 105 and (6.33 ± 0.05) × 105 years, respectively.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beus AA, Berengilova VV, Grabovskaya LI, Kochemasov LA, Leonteva LA, Sitnin AA (1968) Geochemical prospecting for endogenous ore deposits of rare elements (e.g. for tantalum): Academy of Science USSR, Dept. of Geology of USSR, Institute of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Crystal Chemistry of Rare Elements, Moscow, USSR (Translated by the Department of the Secretary of State, Ottawa, Canada)

  • Breaks FW, Tindle AG (1997) Rare element exploration potential of the Separation Lake area: An emerging target for Bikita-type mineralization in the Superior province of northwest Ontario. In: Summary of field work and other activities 1997. Ontario Geological Survey, Miscellaneous Paper 168, pp 72–88

  • Breaks FW, Selway JB, Tindle AG (2003) Fertile peraluminous granites and related rare-element mineralization in pegmatites, Superior Province, northwest and northeast Ontario: Operation Treasure Hunt; Ontario Geological Survey. Open File Rep 6099:179

    Google Scholar 

  • Cai K, Sun M, Yuan C, Long X, Xiao W (2011a) Geological framework and Paleozoic tectonic history of the Chinese Altai, NW China: a review. Russ Geol Geophys 52:1619–1633

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai K, Sun M, Yuan C, Zhao G, Xiao W, Long X, Wu F (2011b) Geochronology, petrogenesis and tectonic significance of peraluminous granites from the Chinese Altai, NW China. Lithos 127:261–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Černý P (1989) Exploration strategy and methods for pegmatite deposits of tantalum. In: Moller P, Cerny P, Saupe F (eds) Lanthanides, tantalum, and niobium. Springer, New York, pp 274–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Che XD, Wu FY, Wang RC, Gerdes Axel, Ji WQ, Zhao ZH, Yang JH, Zhu ZY (2015) In situ U–Pb isotopic dating of columbite–tantalite by LA–ICP–MS. Ore Geol Rev 65:979–989

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J (2011) Geochemistry of the part of the plate of the Altai No. 3 Pegmatite and its Formation and Evolution. Dissertation, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (in Chinese with English abstract)

  • Chen Y, Zhang H, Zhao JY (2016) Altered country rock of No. 807 pegmatite vein in Kalu`an ore area, Xinjiang: ore-forming element diffusion model and its influencing factors. Geochimica 45(3):268–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Ejima T, Sato Y, Yaegashi S, Kijima T, Takeuchi E, Tamai K (1987) Visosity of molten alkali fluorides. J Jpn Inst Met 51(4):328–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galeschuk C, Vanstone P (2007) Exploration techniques for rare-element pegmatite in the Bird River greenstone belt, Southeastern Manitoba. In: Milkereit B (ed) Proceedings of exploration 07: fifth decennial international conference on mineral exploration, pp 823–839

  • Grant JA (1986) The isocon diagram: a simple solution to gresens equation for metasomatic alteration. Econ Geol 81(8):1976–1982

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo S, Ye K, Chen Y, Liu JB (2009) A normalization solution to mass transfer illustration of multiple progressively altered samples using the Isocon diagram. Econ Geol 104:881–886

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo S, Ye K, Chen Y, Liu JB, Zhang LM (2013) Introduction of mass-balance calculation method for component transfer during the opening of a geological system. Acta Petrol Sin 29(5):1486–1498

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessel R, Schmidt MW, Ulmer P, Pettke T (2005) Trace element signature of subduction-zone fluids, melts and supercritical liquids at 120–180 km depth. Nature 437(7059):724–727

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang Q, Jing H, Gregoire DC (2000) Determination of trace elements in granites by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Talanta 51(3):507–513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linnen RL, Van Lichtervelde M, Cerny P (2012) Granitic pegmatites as sources of strategic metals. Elements 8(4):275–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu CQ, Zhang H (2005) The lanthanide tetrad effect in apatite from the Altay No. 3 pegmatite, Xingjiang, China: an intrinsic feature of the pegmatite magma. Chem Geol 214:61–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu F, Zhang ZX, Li Q, Zhang Q, Li C (2014) New precise timing constraint for the Keketuohai No. 3 pegmatite in Xinjiang, China, and identification of its parental pluton. Ore Geol Rev 56(1):209–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • London D (1986) Holmquistite as a guide to pegmatitic rare metal deposits. Econ Geol 81:704–712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • London D, Morgan GB 6th, Wolf MB (1996) Boron in granitic rocks and their contact aureoles. Rev Mineral Geochem 33:299–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Long XP, Sun M, Yuan C, Xiao W, Lin S, Wu F, Xia X, Cai K (2007) U–Pb and Hf isotopic study of zircons from metasedimentary rocks in the Chinese Altai: implications for Early Paleozoic tectonic evolution. Tectonics 26:TC5015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long XP, Sun M, Yuan C, Xiao WJ, Cai KD (2008) Early Paleozoic sedimentary record of the Chinese Altai: implications for its tectonic evolution. Sed Geol 208(3–4):88–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long XP, Yuan C, Sun M, Xiao WJ, Zhao GC, Wang YJ, Cai KD (2010) Detrital zircon ages and Hf isotopes of the Early Paleozoic Flysch sequence in the Chinese Altai, NW China: new constraints on depositional age, provenance and tectonic evolution. Tectonophysics 180:213–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lou C (1999) Conductance measurements part 1 theory. Bioanalytical Systems Inc, pp 91–96

  • Lu H, Wang Z, Li Y (1996) Magma–fluid transition and genesis of pegmatite dike No. 3 at Altay, Xinjiang. Acta Mineral Sin 16(1):1–7 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Selway JB, Breaks FW (2005) A review of rare-element (Li–Cs–Ta) pegmatite exploration techniques for the Superior Province, Canada, and large world tantalum deposits. Explor Min Geol 14:1–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sengör AMC, Natalín BA, Burtman VS (1993) Evolution of the Altaid tentonic collage and Paleozoic crustal growth in Eurasia. Nature 364:299–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shearer CK, Papike JJ, Simon SB (1986) Pegmatite–wallrock interactions, Black Hills, South Dakota: Interaction between pegmatite-derived fluids and quarts-mica schist wallrock. Am Mineral 71:518–539

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun M, Yuan C, Xiao W, Long X, Xia X, Zhao G, Lin S, Wu F, Kröner A (2008) Zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic study of gneissic rocks from the Chinese Altai: progressive accretionary history in the Early to Middle Palaeozoic. Chem Geol 247:352–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun M, Long XP, Cai KD, Jiang YD, Wong PW, Yuan C, Zhao GC, Xiao WJ, Wu FY (2009) Early Paleozoic ridge subduction in the Chinese Altai: insight from the abrupt change in zircon Hf isotopic compositions. Sci China Ser D 39:1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Trčlková J (2005) Physical, mechanical and deformational properties of metabasalts, amphibolites and gneisses from KSDB-3 compared with surface analogues. Acta Geodyn Geomater 4(140):39–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Trueman DL (1978) Exploration methods in the Tanco mine area of southeastern Manitoba, Canada. Energy 3:293–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang DH, Chen YC, Li HY, Xu ZG, Li TD (1998) Mantle degassing of the Altai orogenic belt: insight from helium isotope study. Chin Sci Bull 43(23):2541–2544 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang T, Hong DW, Jahn BM, Tong Y (2006) Timing, petrogenesis, and setting of Paleozoic synorogenic intrusions from the Altai Mountains, Northwest China: implications for the tectonic evolution of an accretionary orogen. J Geol 114:735–751

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang T, Tong Y, Jahn BM et al (2007) SHRIMP U–Pb zircon geochronology of the Altai No. 3 pegmatite, NW China, and its implications for the origin and tectonic setting of the pegmatite. Ore Geol Rev 32:325–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang RC, Che XD, Zhang WL, Zhang AC, Zhang H (2009) Geochemical evolution and late re-equilibration of Na-Cs-rich beryl from the Koktokay #3 pegmatite (Altai, NW China). Eur J Mineral 21:795–809

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Windley BF, Kröner A, Guo J, Qu G, Li Y, Zhang C (2002) Neoproterozoic to Paleozoic geology of the Altai orogen, NW China: new zircon age data and tectonic evolution. J Geol 110:719–737

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Windley BF, Alexeiev D, Xiao WJ, Kröner A, Badarch G (2007) Tectonic models for accretion of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. J Geol Soc 164:31–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu SR, Zhao JY, Zhang X, Zhang H (2015) Magmatic-hydrothermal evolution of the Koktokay No. 3 Pegmatite, Altay, NW China: evidence from compositional variation of tourmaline. Acta Mineral Sin 35(3):299–308 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao WJ, Windley BF, Badarch G, Sun S, Li JL, Qin KZ, Wang Z (2004) Palaeozoic accretionary and convergent tectonics of the southern Altaids: implications for the growth of central Asia. J Geol Soc Lond 161:339–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan C, Sun M, Xiao WJ, Li XH, Chen HL, Lin SF, Xia XP, Long XP (2007) Accretionary orogenesis of the Chinese Altai: insights from Paleozoic granitoids. Chem Geol 242(1):22–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H (2001) The geochemical behaviors and mechanisms of incompatible trace elements in the magmatic-hydrothermal transition system: A case study of Altai No. 3 pegmatite, Xinjiang. Dissertation, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (in Chinese with English abstract)

  • Zhang AC (2005) Mineralogy of the Koktokay No.3 pegmatite, Xinjiang: record of magmatic-hydrothermal evolution, Department of Earth Sciences, Nanjing University, pp 56–63 (in Chinese with English abstract)

  • Zhang AC, Wang RC, Hu H, Chen XM (2004) Occurrences of foitite and rossmanite from the Koktokay No. 3 granitic pegmatite dyke, Altai, northwestern China: a record of hydrothermal fluids. Can Mineral 42:873–882

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu JC, Wu CN, Liu CS, Li FC, Huang XL, Zhou DS (2000) Magmatic-hydrothermal evolution and genesis of Koktokay No. 3 rare metal pegmatite dyke, Altai, China. Geol J China Univ 6:40–52 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu YF, Zeng YS, Gu LB (2006) Geochemistry of the rare metal-bearing pegmatite No. 3 vein and related granites in the Keketuohai region, Altay Mountains, northwest China. J Asian Earth Sci 27(1):61–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zou TR, Li QC (2006) Rare and rare earth metallic deposits in Xinjiang, China. Geological Publishing House, Beijing 1–284 (in Chinese with English abstract)

  • Zou TR, Zhang XC, Jia FY, Wang RC, Cao HZ, Wu PQ (1986) A discussion about contributing factor of the Altai No. 3 pegmatite. Mineral Depos 5:34–48 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zou TR, Cao HZ, Wu BQ (1989) Orogenic and anorogenic granitoids of Altay Mountains of Xinjiang and their discrimination criteria. Acta Geol Sin 2:45–64

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank engineer Maode Shen and engineer Fang Xia for their help in the sample collection. We are grateful to engineer Xianglin Tu for experimental assistance. This study was supported jointly by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41372104) and Research Project of Xinjiang Nonferrous Metals Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. (Grant No. YSKY2011-02).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of High-Temperature and High-Pressure Study of the Earth’s Interior, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China

    Jingyu Zhao, Hui Zhang, Yong Tang & Zhenghang Lü

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Jingyu Zhao

  3. Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Yang Chen

Authors
  1. Jingyu Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hui Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yong Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhenghang Lü
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yang Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hui Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhao, J., Zhang, H., Tang, Y. et al. Ore-forming elements diffusion and distribution in the altered host rock surrounding the Koktokay No. 3 pegmatite in the Chinese Altay. Acta Geochim 36, 151–165 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-017-0141-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-017-0141-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation