Zircon Hf-Isotopic Mapping Applied to the Metal Exploration of the Sanjiang Tethyan Orogenic Belt, Southwestern China

Abstract

Zircon Hf-isotopic mapping can be regarded as a useful tool for evaluating the coupling relationship between lithospheric structure and metallic mineralization. Hence, this method shows important significance for mineral prediction. To explore this potential, the published granite zircon Hf isotope data from the Sanjiang Tethyan Orogen were systematically compiled. This study uses the Kriging weighted interpolation in the Mapgis software system to contour Hf isotopes, revealing a relation between the crustal structure and metallogenesis. The mapping results suggest that the Changning–Menglian suture zone is the boundary between ancient and juvenile crust, viz., the western terranes have ancient crust attributes, whereas the eastern terranes exhibit the properties of new juvenile crust. In addition, this study also found that the mineralization and element types in the Sanjiang Tethyan Orogen have a coupling relationship with the crustal structure. The distribution of porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits is mainly controlled by the new juvenile crust, whereas the magmatic-hydrothermal Sn-W and porphyry Mo-W(-Cu) deposits are closely related to the reworked ancient crust. The results of zircon Hf isotope mapping prove that the formation and spatial distribution of deposits are related to the composition and properties of the crust. Hf isotope mapping can reveal the regional metallogenic rules and explore metallogenic prediction and metallogenic potential evaluation.

Petrogenesis of the Eocene Yulong potassic intrusion in non‐subduction setting in the Sanjiang Tethys

“…The Sanjiang region has experienced a complex evolutionary process (Deng et al, 2012; Deng et al, 2018; Deng, Wang, & Leon, 2017; Du et al, 2016; Wang, Bagas, et al, 2018; Wang, Chen, et al, 2017; Wang, Deng, Carranza, & Lai, 2014; Wang, Deng, Carranza, & Santosh, 2014; Wang, Deng, Lu, et al, 2015; Wang, Deng, Santosh, et al, 2015; Wang, Yang, et al, 2018). During the Neoproterozoic (ca.…”

“…F I G U R E 1 (a) Simplified tectonic framework of the Sanjiang Orogen and its adjacent areas (modified after Metcalfe, 2002;Wang, Deng, Carranza, & Lai, 2014;Yan et al, 2020;Chen et al, 2022). (b) Sanjiang Orogen showing the distribution of early Palaeozoic to Cenozoic igneous rocks and major porphyry Cu(-Mo-Au) deposits (modified after Wang et al, 2016;Du, Yang, et al, 2022) Deng, Wang, Li, & Santosh, 2014;Fang & Zhang, 2022;He et al, 2016;Yang et al, 2017;Zhao et al, 2022;Zhu et al, 2009).…”

Chemical and Textural Peculiarities of Zircon from Peralkaline Granites and Quartz-Bearing Syenites

“…For its stability across a broad range of pT conditions and mineral-fluid interactions, zircon serves as a useful subject of several types of geochronological studies (review in [4]), as a geothermometer [5], or as a subject of provenance studies of clastic sediments [6]. Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotope systems in zircon [7,8] provide information on source lithologies of igneous complexes. Apart from all the above information potentially hidden in zircon, the shapes of zircon crystals [9] and trace-element spectra of igneous zircon [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] indicate geotectonic affiliation and grade of fractionation of magmatic suites.…”

Implications of Nd isotopic mapping for crustal composition and metallogenesis in the Sanjiang orogenic belt (SW China)

“…Several studies have focused on Lu-Hf isotopic mapping to suggest the terrane boundary and mineralization of porphyry Cu-Au, orogenic-Au, and rare earth element deposits (Wang et al, 2016;Xu et al, 2021). Du et al (2016) stressed that the mapping of ε Nd (t) and ε Hf (t) using the method of Kriging interpolation proposed that the Changning-Menglian suture was the boundary of two different regional terranes, and indicated the empirical correlation between Nd isotopic mapping and differential mineralization. For instance, the granite-related W-Sn deposits occur in low-ε Nd (t) and -ε Hf (t) areas, while the porphyry-skarn Cu-Mo mineralization is found in high positive ε Hf (t) and higher negative ε Nd (t) regions.…”