Chemical and boron isotopic compositions of tourmaline at the Dachang Sn-polymetallic ore district in South China: Constraints on the origin and evolution of hydrothermal fluids

Abstract

The Dachang Sn-polymetallic ore district in South China is the second largest tin district in the world with a tin reserve of over one million tonnes. Zn-Cu skarn and stratiform, massive, and vein Sn-Pb-Zn ores are all present in this district. This has led to a debate as to whether the Sn orebodies were formed by Cretaceous magmatic-hydrothermal replacement or Devonian submarine exhalative-hydrothermal sedimentation. Here, we present a systematic investigation of the major, trace element, and boron isotopic compositions of different types of tourmaline in the Dachang ore district. Tourmaline disseminated in the Longxianggai granite and pegmatite veins belongs to the schorl series and has high contents of Li, Zn, and Ga. The δ 11 B value of primary magma of the Longxianggai granite is estimated to be about −13‰, close to the global average δ 11 B value (−11‰) for S-type granites. Tourmaline from quartz-tourmaline veins in the Longxianggai granite has similar chemical composition to the magmatic tourmaline and likely formed from hydrothermal fluids exsolved from the evolved granitic melt. The δ 11 B value of the initial hydrothermal fluids is also calculated to be about −13‰.Tourmalines from the skarn and sulfide ores in the Lamo deposit have higher Mg/(Mg+Fe) and lower Na/(Na+Ca) ratios and higher contents of Be, Ge, Sr, and Sn than magmatic tourmaline. These patterns likely reflect input of elements derived from the host Devonian limestone. The δ 11 B values of the hydrothermal fluidsre estimated to be between −13 and −10‰, suggesting evolved magmatic-hydrothermal fluids related to the Longxianggai granite. Tourmalines from the stratiform and vein ores in the Changpo-Tongkeng deposit are extremely Mg-rich and mostly belong to the dravite series. They have high contents of Sc, V, Cr, Sr, and Sn and show positive Eu anomalies. The δ 11 B values of these B-and Sn-rich fluids are estimated to be between −15 and −10‰, suggesting that the fluids also have a magmatic hydrothermal origin. These fluids are most likely derived from the same granitic magma source, but may have interacted with the Devonian volcanic rocks.

Gem Elbaite as a Recorder of Pegmatite Evolution: In Situ Major, Trace Elements and Boron Isotope Analysis of a Colour-Zoning Tourmaline Crystal

“…Jiang emphasized the effects of co-existing minerals that have a marked impact on REE concentrations and patterns in tourmaline, including zircon, xenotime and monazite [45]. It was verified by Zhao et al [30,46]. The recent study of Vereshchagin et al [47] confirmed that Eu 3+ and Nd 3+ occupy the 9coordinated X-site in the tourmaline structure.…”

Skarn Formation and Zn–Cu Mineralization in the Dachang Sn Polymetallic Ore Field, Guangxi: Insights from Skarn Rock Assemblage and Geochemistry

“…The widely developed minerals such as vesuvianite, axinite, fluorite, and tourmaline in the Dachang ore field indicate that the ore-forming fluid contained large amounts of volatiles F and B. Zhao et al [53] analyzed the trace elements B isotopes of tourmaline in the Longxianggai granitic pluton and the Dachang ore field and noted that the ore-forming fluid and volatile B were mainly from magmatic hydrothermal fluids.…”

Geochemical Characteristics of Garnet from Zinc–Copper Ore Bodies in the Changpo–Tongkeng Deposit and Its Geological Significance

“…Among them, tin polymetallic ore bodies have been well studied, and much work has been conducted on the deposit geology, metallogenic age, diagenetic age, fluid inclusion, mineralogy, isotopic geochemistry, etc. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. However, research on the lower zinc-copper ore bodies is relatively limited.…”