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Metallogenic and Metamorphic Age of the H ongtoushan Copper–Zinc Massive Sulfide Deposit, L iaoning Province, C hina
Author(s) -
Qian Ye,
Sun Fengyue,
Zhang Yajin,
Huo Liang
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
resource geology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1751-3928
pISSN - 1344-1698
DOI - 10.1111/rge.12023
Subject(s) - gneiss , geology , geochemistry , plagioclase , metamorphism , felsic , metamorphic rock , amphibole , biotite , mafic , quartz , paleontology
Abstract The H ongtoushan copper–zinc deposit is the only large A rchean volcanogenic massive sulfide ( VMS ) deposit in C hina. This paper presents new information on the timing of metallogenesis and metamorphism of the deposit, including new cathodoluminescence ( CL ) images, and T h U −1 and LA – ICP – MS U – P b dating on zircons of the biotite–plagioclase gneiss and plagioclase–amphibole gneiss that host the deposit. The CL images and T h U −1 ratios indicate that the zircons within the gneiss are of metamorphic origin. LA – ICP – MS dating of the plagioclase–amphibole gneiss yielded the upper intercept ages of 2549 Ma, and the biotite–plagioclase gneiss yielded the upper intercept ages of 2552 Ma and 2550 Ma correspondingly, indicating that the mineralization of the deposit occurred at around 2550 Ma. The rims of zircons within these host rocks yielded younger U – P b ages at 2529, 2520 and 2515 Ma, identical to the age of felsic intrusive rocks in the study area. This suggests that the H ongtoushan VMS deposit underwent initial metamorphism and deformation at around 2520 Ma by the intrusion of granite magmas.