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In situ Analysis of Major Elements, Trace Elements and Sr Isotopic Compositions of Apatite from the Granite in the Chengchao Skarn-Type Fe Deposit, Edong Ore District: Implications for Petrogenesis and Mineralization

  • Petrology and Mineral Deposits
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Abstract

Major elements, trace elements and Sr isotopic compositions of apatite from the granite in the Chengchao skarn-type Fe deposit of Edong ore district of Middle–Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt were measured using EMPA (electron microprobe), LA-ICP-MS (laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer) and LA-MC (multicollector)-ICP-MS methods in order to reveal the petrogenetic and metallogenic significance of the skarn-type iron deposits. The results show that the apatite in Chengchao granite is fluorapatite, which displays slight variation in major elements. The REE distribution pattern of the apatite is similar to that of the whole rocks, with strong negative Eu anomaly and low Sr/Y ratio. The concentration of Mn in apatite is low (140 ppm–591 ppm) and the Sr isotopic composition shows a limited variation from 0.706 9 to 0.708 2. The high oxygen fugacity of the Chengchao granite, implied by the low Mn content in apatite, is possibly attributed to contamination of the gypsum from sedimentary rock strata, which has long been thought to be an important factor that controls the Fe mineralization in the Middle–Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt. This study also proves that the Eu/Eu* value and Sr/Y ratio in apatite can be effectively used to identify the adakitic affinity. The in situ Sr isotope analysis of apatite is in consistent with the bulk rock analysis, which indicates that the apatite Sr isotope can represent the initial Sr isotopic compositions of the magma. The Sr isotope and negative Eu anomaly in apatite imply that the Chengchao granite is likely sourced from crust-mantle mixed materials.

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Acknowledgments

The field sampling was supported and assisted by Drs. Shanggang Jin and Ketao Wei from the First Geological Team in southeastern Hubei Province. Undergraduate students of China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), including Cheng Bai, Ziqi Chen and Mingyu Cao helped during the field work. Sample analysis was performed in the State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources and the Shandong Geological Testing Center. Prof. Kuidong Zhao and Dr. Yaoming Xu provided helps for data processing and interpretation. Two anonymous reviewers provided valuable comments and suggestions to improve this manuscript significantly. This study was supported by the National Key R & D Program of China (No. 2016YFC0600206) and the China Geological Survey (No. 12120114051801). The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-018-0837-x.

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  1. School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Zhenghan Li

  2. Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploration of Strategic Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Zhenghan Li, Dengfei Duan, Shaoyong Jiang & Ying Ma

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

    Dengfei Duan, Shaoyong Jiang & Ying Ma

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

    Shaoyong Jiang

  5. The First Geological Brigade of Hubei Geological Bureau, Huangshi, 435100, China

    Hongwei Yuan

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Li, Z., Duan, D., Jiang, S. et al. In situ Analysis of Major Elements, Trace Elements and Sr Isotopic Compositions of Apatite from the Granite in the Chengchao Skarn-Type Fe Deposit, Edong Ore District: Implications for Petrogenesis and Mineralization. J. Earth Sci. 29, 295–306 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-018-0837-x

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