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Spatial-Temporal Distribution of Mesozoic Ore Deposits in South China and Their Metallogenic Settings

MAO Jing-wen1, XIE Gui-qing1, GUO Chun-li1, YUAN Shun-da1, CHENG Yan-bo2, CHEN Yu-chuan1   

  1. 1. MLR Key Laboratory of Metallogeny and Mineral Assessment, Institute of Mineral Resources,Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037,China;2. Faculty of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100029, China
  • Received:2008-12-20 Revised:2008-12-20 Online:2008-12-20 Published:2008-12-20

Abstract: Based on extensive field investigation and precise geochronological data we proposed Mesozoic metallic mineralization in South China can be grouped into three pulses, i.e. Late Triassic (230~210 Ma), Mid-Late Jurassic (170~150 Ma), and Early-Middle Cretaceous (134~80Ma). The mineralization elements in these three pulses are different. The Triassic mineralization is Peraluminous granite-related W-Sn-Nb-Ta. The Mid-late Jurassic mineralization can be further divided into 170~160 Ma porphyry and skarn Cu and I-type granite-related Pb-Zn-Ag, and 160~150 Ma paraluminous granite-related polymetallic W-Sn. Although the Cretaceous mineralization lasted about 54 Ma, its peak ranged from 100 Ma to 90 Ma. The major types of the mineralization are epithermal Au-Ag-Cu and granite-related polymetallic tin (tungsten). The Triassic peraluminous granite-related W-Sn-Nb-Ta is a response to the post-collisional process of the South China plate with the North China plate. The Izanagi plate started to subduct beneath the Eurasian continent at ca. 180 Ma and then the porphyry copper deposits and vein type Pb-Zn-Ag deposits and their related I-type granitoids or aidakitic rocks formed when the subducted plate was teared up in several locations at 170~160 Ma.After then a big window occurred in the Nanling area, triggering the asthenospheric substance got into the upper crust so that developed large-scale high fractionation paraluminous granite and related polymetallic W-Sn mineralization. It was a relatively quiet period of 150~135 Ma in South China except for the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Valley area located in the northeastern margin of the South China plate. Because starting to change motion-direction to northeast the subucted plate was teared up along the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Valley which used to be a foreland basin of the Triassic Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. A group of skarn-porphyry Cu-Mo-Au-Fe ore system and related I-type or aidakitic granites developed along the cross of the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Valley with the NE-trending faults at an age range of 145~135 Ma. From 135 Ma the subducted plate moved along several groups of regional-scale NE-striking fault zones comprising the Tan-Lu fault zone, which trigged the Eurasian continent to extensive extension. At the setting developed a lot of linear NE-trending Cretaceous faulting basins and metamorphic cores accompanied with volcanic rock eruption as well as epithermal Cu-Au-Ag ore system, granite-related polymetallic Sn (W) deposits and hydrothermal uranium deposits at age of 120~80 Ma with a peak of 100~90 Ma.