The Zhijiadi Ag-Pb-Zn deposit is located in the central North China Craton. Fluid inclusions (FIs) studies indicate three types of FIs, including aqueous, aqueous-carbonic, and daughter mineral-bearing multiphase inclusions. The daughter minerals in FIs are mainly composed of marcasite, chalcopyrite, calcite, and dolomite. Microthermometric data show that the homogenization temperature and salinity of FIs decrease gradually from early to late stages. Homogenization temperatures from early to main to late stages span from 244 to 334°C, from 164 to 298°C, and from 111 to 174°C, respectively, while their salinities are 4.0–9.9 wt.% NaCl equiv., 0.5–12.7 wt.% NaCl equiv., and 0.2–8.8 wt.% NaCl equiv., respectively. Trapping pressures drop from 203–299 MPa (the early stage) to 32–158 MPa (the main stage). The dropping of pressure and temperature and mixing and/or dilution of ore-forming fluids result in the formation of ore deposit. Combined with C-O-S-Pb isotopic compositions, the initial ore-forming fluids and materials were likely derived from a magmatic system. As a whole, we proposed that this deposit belongs to medium-low temperature hydrothermal deposit related to volcanic and subvolcanic magmatism strictly controlled by the fault zones.
The Wangjiadashan Cu–Au deposit is a vein‐type deposit controlled by the secondary faults of the Wushan Fault zone in the Suizao area of Hubei Province. Three hydrothermal stages are identified, namely, (I) barren quartz stage, (II) the quartz‐sulphide stage, and (III) quartz‐carbonate stage. Six types of fluid inclusions occur in quartz: (a) liquid‐rich aqueous fluid inclusions (L + V), (b) vapour‐rich aqueous‐carbonic fluid inclusions (V + L), (c) water‐rich aqueous‐carbonic fluid inclusions (L + V + CO 2 ), (d) CO 2 ‐rich aqueous‐carbonic fluid inclusions (V + L + CO 2 ), (e) pure carbonic fluid inclusions (pure CO 2 ), and (f) daughter mineral‐bearing multiphase inclusions (S‐type) with three subclasses (S 1 , S 2 , and S 3 subtype). Two types of fluid inclusions occur in calcite: (a) liquid‐rich aqueous fluid inclusions (L + V) and (b) pure carbonic fluid inclusions (pure CO 2 ). The S‐type fluid inclusions include halite (NaCl), calcite (CaCO 3 ), and chalcopyrite (CuFeS 2 ). The fluid system is composed of CO 2 –NaCl–H 2 O. The homogenization temperatures of the three stages are 295°C to 390°C, 245°C to 280°C, and 200°C to 241°C, with salinities of 7.3–19.8 wt% NaCl equiv. (except for several high values of 33.8 to 44.3 wt% NaCl equiv.), 7.7–13.7 wt% NaCl equiv., and 5.6–10.1 wt% NaCl equiv., respectively. Fluid immiscibility occurred in stage I that accounts for the high‐salinity fluids, but the dominant ore precipitation occurred afterward during temperature drop. In situ sulphur isotope analysis indicates a δ 34 S value around 0 (+1.1% to +2.2%) for the chalcopyrite, suggesting that the sulphur likely derived from the deep‐seated magma. Pyrites show δ 34 S values from −0.5‰ to +6.5‰ in stage II, from +0.7‰ to +6.6‰ in country rock of marble, but significantly higher from +12.8‰ to +21.7‰ in country rock of greenschist. These results indicate the sulphur for pyrite in stage II likely derived from the mixing of deep‐seated magma and country rocks. From stages I to II, a slightly increase of δD (from −86‰ and −73‰ to −59‰ and −56‰) and a decrease of δ 18 O (from 8.9‰ and 7.1‰ to 1.3‰ and 3.4‰) indicate that an increasing involvement of meteoric water. The carbon isotopes of fluid inclusions CO 2 in quartz of stage I (−11.0‰ to −13.0‰) indicate a major magmatic or metamorphic carbon source mixed with minor sedimentary sourced carbon, but a major organic carbon source (−32.0‰ to −35.0‰) for stage II fluids. In conclusion, the Wangjiadashan Cu–Au deposit belongs to the orogenic type.
Abstract The ages of Zn-Pb deposits are exceptionally challenging to determine owing to the lack of suitable mineral chronometers and techniques. Here we present the first result for in situ LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of carbonates and barite from a Mississippi Valley– type (MVT) Zn-Pb deposit in South China. Hydrothermal dolomite in close textural and paragenetic association with Zn-Pb sulfides, and calcite and barite cement from the breccia ores, yield ages of 473.4 ± 2.7 Ma and 368.7 ± 3.1 Ma, respectively. Together with new in situ S-Pb-Sr isotope values, these data reveal an epigenetic Zn-Pb mineralization history, agreeing well with a model involving basinal brine accumulation and MVT Zn-Pb sulfide precipitation. Because carbonate is a common mineral in Zn-Pb deposits worldwide, and other minerals in such deposits suitable for isotope dating are generally absent, in situ U-Pb dating of gangue carbonates opens a new window for better defining the ore genesis of this globally important Zn-Pb deposit type and for tracking hydrothermal fluid flow in sedimentary basins.
Table S1: U and Pb concentrations (ppm) in carbonate and barite samples from the Jiulingzi Zn-Pb deposit by LA-ICP-MS. Table S2: U-Pb data for carbonates and barite from the Jiulingzi Zn-Pb deposit. Table S3: In situ LA-MC-ICP-MS sulfur isotope data for sulfides and sulfate from the Jiulingzi Zn-Pb deposit. Table S4: In situ Sr isotopic compositions for carbonate and barite from the Jiulingzi Zn-Pb deposit. Table S5: Pb isotopic composition of sulfides from the Zn-Pb deposits in the Mayuan district.