The role of mantle melting in granite-associated hydrothermal systems: He–Ar isotopes in fluids responsible for Sn–Ag–Pb–Zn mineralization in northeast China

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Zhenhua Zhou
  • Jingwen Mao
  • Finlay M. Stuart
  • Xinkai Chen
  • Simon A. Wilde
  • Hegen Ouyang
  • Xu Gao
  • Jiaqi Zhao

Research Organisations

External Research Organisations

  • Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (CAGS)
  • University of Glasgow
  • Curtin University
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1421-1443
Number of pages23
JournalMineralium deposita
Volume58
Issue number8
Early online date10 Jul 2023
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2023

Abstract

The relationship between Sn–Ag mineralization and mantle magmatism is a topic of high interest in current ore deposit research. Here, we investigate porphyry-, skarn-, and cassiterite-sulfide type Sn-polymetallic deposits associated with granitoids and vein-type Ag–Pb–Zn deposits hosted in sub-volcanic rocks in the southern Great Xing’an Range (SGXR), northeast China, as a case example. We use He, Ar, and S isotopes and isotopic end-member simulation calculations to determine the contribution of mantle-derived fluids/melts to the ore mineralization. Our He–Ar isotope data demonstrate that the ore-forming fluids are mixtures of shallow crust-derived fluid containing radiogenic 4He but no radiogenic 40Ar and magmatic fluids with mantle-derived 3He and 40Ar. The Pb–Zn–Ag deposits have a higher contribution of magmatic volatiles than the Sn-polymetallic deposits. Sulfide δ34S values of − 2.7 to − 0.6‰ in the Pb–Zn–Ag deposits are consistent with a magmatic sulfur source, whereas sulfides with δ34S values of − 12.2 to − 0.15‰ in the Sn-polymetallic deposits signal a possibly bimodal source of sulfur, i.e., crustal light sulfur mixed with magmatic sulfur. The noble gas compositions of the ore fluids are controlled by crustal thickness, high 3He fluxes (24 to 404 at/s/cm2), and low residence time (1 to 18 Myr) of He in the asthenosphere below the SGXR. Non-equilibrium open-system magma degassing is evidenced by the range of elevated values of 4He/40Ar* ratios (4.8–127). The 3He/heat ratio of the ore fluids from the Sn and Pb–Zn–Ag deposits overlap (0.01–0.76 × 10−2 cm3 STP J−1 (cubic centimeter at standard temperature and pressure per joule) and 0.02–1.08 × 10−2 cm3 STP J−1, respectively), indicating a consequence of conduction of mantle-derived heat across the magma-hydrothermal interface. Furthermore, an increasing abundance of Sn reserves in the SGXR deposits can be equated with an increase in the mantle-derived He component in the ore fluids. These findings suggest that a continuous flux of mantle-derived fluids/melts plays an essential role in Sn–Ag–Pb–Zn mineralization.

Keywords

    He fluxes, Fluid mixing, He–Ar isotope, Mantle-derived fluids, Northeast China, Sn–Ag–Pb–Zn deposits

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cite this

The role of mantle melting in granite-associated hydrothermal systems: He–Ar isotopes in fluids responsible for Sn–Ag–Pb–Zn mineralization in northeast China. / Zhou, Zhenhua; Mao, Jingwen; Stuart, Finlay M. et al.
In: Mineralium deposita, Vol. 58, No. 8, 11.2023, p. 1421-1443.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Zhou Z, Mao J, Stuart FM, Chen X, Wilde SA, Ouyang H et al. The role of mantle melting in granite-associated hydrothermal systems: He–Ar isotopes in fluids responsible for Sn–Ag–Pb–Zn mineralization in northeast China. Mineralium deposita. 2023 Nov;58(8):1421-1443. Epub 2023 Jul 10. doi: 10.1007/s00126-023-01186-8
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title = "The role of mantle melting in granite-associated hydrothermal systems: He–Ar isotopes in fluids responsible for Sn–Ag–Pb–Zn mineralization in northeast China",
abstract = "The relationship between Sn–Ag mineralization and mantle magmatism is a topic of high interest in current ore deposit research. Here, we investigate porphyry-, skarn-, and cassiterite-sulfide type Sn-polymetallic deposits associated with granitoids and vein-type Ag–Pb–Zn deposits hosted in sub-volcanic rocks in the southern Great Xing{\textquoteright}an Range (SGXR), northeast China, as a case example. We use He, Ar, and S isotopes and isotopic end-member simulation calculations to determine the contribution of mantle-derived fluids/melts to the ore mineralization. Our He–Ar isotope data demonstrate that the ore-forming fluids are mixtures of shallow crust-derived fluid containing radiogenic 4He but no radiogenic 40Ar and magmatic fluids with mantle-derived 3He and 40Ar. The Pb–Zn–Ag deposits have a higher contribution of magmatic volatiles than the Sn-polymetallic deposits. Sulfide δ34S values of − 2.7 to − 0.6‰ in the Pb–Zn–Ag deposits are consistent with a magmatic sulfur source, whereas sulfides with δ34S values of − 12.2 to − 0.15‰ in the Sn-polymetallic deposits signal a possibly bimodal source of sulfur, i.e., crustal light sulfur mixed with magmatic sulfur. The noble gas compositions of the ore fluids are controlled by crustal thickness, high 3He fluxes (24 to 404 at/s/cm2), and low residence time (1 to 18 Myr) of He in the asthenosphere below the SGXR. Non-equilibrium open-system magma degassing is evidenced by the range of elevated values of 4He/40Ar* ratios (4.8–127). The 3He/heat ratio of the ore fluids from the Sn and Pb–Zn–Ag deposits overlap (0.01–0.76 × 10−2 cm3 STP J−1 (cubic centimeter at standard temperature and pressure per joule) and 0.02–1.08 × 10−2 cm3 STP J−1, respectively), indicating a consequence of conduction of mantle-derived heat across the magma-hydrothermal interface. Furthermore, an increasing abundance of Sn reserves in the SGXR deposits can be equated with an increase in the mantle-derived He component in the ore fluids. These findings suggest that a continuous flux of mantle-derived fluids/melts plays an essential role in Sn–Ag–Pb–Zn mineralization.",
keywords = "He fluxes, Fluid mixing, He–Ar isotope, Mantle-derived fluids, Northeast China, Sn–Ag–Pb–Zn deposits",
author = "Zhenhua Zhou and Jingwen Mao and Stuart, {Finlay M.} and Xinkai Chen and Wilde, {Simon A.} and Hegen Ouyang and Xu Gao and Jiaqi Zhao",
note = "Funding Information: This work was financially supported by the Science & Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program (Grant No. 2022YF101900 and No. 2022YF101901), the CAGS Research Fund (Grant No. KK2208), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41772084). ",
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Download

TY - JOUR

T1 - The role of mantle melting in granite-associated hydrothermal systems

T2 - He–Ar isotopes in fluids responsible for Sn–Ag–Pb–Zn mineralization in northeast China

AU - Zhou, Zhenhua

AU - Mao, Jingwen

AU - Stuart, Finlay M.

AU - Chen, Xinkai

AU - Wilde, Simon A.

AU - Ouyang, Hegen

AU - Gao, Xu

AU - Zhao, Jiaqi

N1 - Funding Information: This work was financially supported by the Science & Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program (Grant No. 2022YF101900 and No. 2022YF101901), the CAGS Research Fund (Grant No. KK2208), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41772084).

PY - 2023/11

Y1 - 2023/11

N2 - The relationship between Sn–Ag mineralization and mantle magmatism is a topic of high interest in current ore deposit research. Here, we investigate porphyry-, skarn-, and cassiterite-sulfide type Sn-polymetallic deposits associated with granitoids and vein-type Ag–Pb–Zn deposits hosted in sub-volcanic rocks in the southern Great Xing’an Range (SGXR), northeast China, as a case example. We use He, Ar, and S isotopes and isotopic end-member simulation calculations to determine the contribution of mantle-derived fluids/melts to the ore mineralization. Our He–Ar isotope data demonstrate that the ore-forming fluids are mixtures of shallow crust-derived fluid containing radiogenic 4He but no radiogenic 40Ar and magmatic fluids with mantle-derived 3He and 40Ar. The Pb–Zn–Ag deposits have a higher contribution of magmatic volatiles than the Sn-polymetallic deposits. Sulfide δ34S values of − 2.7 to − 0.6‰ in the Pb–Zn–Ag deposits are consistent with a magmatic sulfur source, whereas sulfides with δ34S values of − 12.2 to − 0.15‰ in the Sn-polymetallic deposits signal a possibly bimodal source of sulfur, i.e., crustal light sulfur mixed with magmatic sulfur. The noble gas compositions of the ore fluids are controlled by crustal thickness, high 3He fluxes (24 to 404 at/s/cm2), and low residence time (1 to 18 Myr) of He in the asthenosphere below the SGXR. Non-equilibrium open-system magma degassing is evidenced by the range of elevated values of 4He/40Ar* ratios (4.8–127). The 3He/heat ratio of the ore fluids from the Sn and Pb–Zn–Ag deposits overlap (0.01–0.76 × 10−2 cm3 STP J−1 (cubic centimeter at standard temperature and pressure per joule) and 0.02–1.08 × 10−2 cm3 STP J−1, respectively), indicating a consequence of conduction of mantle-derived heat across the magma-hydrothermal interface. Furthermore, an increasing abundance of Sn reserves in the SGXR deposits can be equated with an increase in the mantle-derived He component in the ore fluids. These findings suggest that a continuous flux of mantle-derived fluids/melts plays an essential role in Sn–Ag–Pb–Zn mineralization.

AB - The relationship between Sn–Ag mineralization and mantle magmatism is a topic of high interest in current ore deposit research. Here, we investigate porphyry-, skarn-, and cassiterite-sulfide type Sn-polymetallic deposits associated with granitoids and vein-type Ag–Pb–Zn deposits hosted in sub-volcanic rocks in the southern Great Xing’an Range (SGXR), northeast China, as a case example. We use He, Ar, and S isotopes and isotopic end-member simulation calculations to determine the contribution of mantle-derived fluids/melts to the ore mineralization. Our He–Ar isotope data demonstrate that the ore-forming fluids are mixtures of shallow crust-derived fluid containing radiogenic 4He but no radiogenic 40Ar and magmatic fluids with mantle-derived 3He and 40Ar. The Pb–Zn–Ag deposits have a higher contribution of magmatic volatiles than the Sn-polymetallic deposits. Sulfide δ34S values of − 2.7 to − 0.6‰ in the Pb–Zn–Ag deposits are consistent with a magmatic sulfur source, whereas sulfides with δ34S values of − 12.2 to − 0.15‰ in the Sn-polymetallic deposits signal a possibly bimodal source of sulfur, i.e., crustal light sulfur mixed with magmatic sulfur. The noble gas compositions of the ore fluids are controlled by crustal thickness, high 3He fluxes (24 to 404 at/s/cm2), and low residence time (1 to 18 Myr) of He in the asthenosphere below the SGXR. Non-equilibrium open-system magma degassing is evidenced by the range of elevated values of 4He/40Ar* ratios (4.8–127). The 3He/heat ratio of the ore fluids from the Sn and Pb–Zn–Ag deposits overlap (0.01–0.76 × 10−2 cm3 STP J−1 (cubic centimeter at standard temperature and pressure per joule) and 0.02–1.08 × 10−2 cm3 STP J−1, respectively), indicating a consequence of conduction of mantle-derived heat across the magma-hydrothermal interface. Furthermore, an increasing abundance of Sn reserves in the SGXR deposits can be equated with an increase in the mantle-derived He component in the ore fluids. These findings suggest that a continuous flux of mantle-derived fluids/melts plays an essential role in Sn–Ag–Pb–Zn mineralization.

KW - He fluxes

KW - Fluid mixing

KW - He–Ar isotope

KW - Mantle-derived fluids

KW - Northeast China

KW - Sn–Ag–Pb–Zn deposits

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