Oxidation state inherited from the magma source and implications for mineralization: Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous granitoids, Central Lhasa subterrane, Tibet

Arc magmas are more oxidized than mid-ocean ridge basalts; however, there is continuing debate as to whether this higher oxidation state is inherited from the source magma or developed during late-stage magmatic differentiation processes. Well-constrained Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous arc-relate...

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Main Authors: Cao, Mingjian, Qin, K., Li, G., Evans, Noreen, McInnes, Brent, Li, J., Zhao, J.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Springer 2017
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53122
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author Cao, Mingjian
Qin, K.
Li, G.
Evans, Noreen
McInnes, Brent
Li, J.
Zhao, J.
author_facet Cao, Mingjian
Qin, K.
Li, G.
Evans, Noreen
McInnes, Brent
Li, J.
Zhao, J.
author_sort Cao, Mingjian
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Arc magmas are more oxidized than mid-ocean ridge basalts; however, there is continuing debate as to whether this higher oxidation state is inherited from the source magma or developed during late-stage magmatic differentiation processes. Well-constrained Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous arc-related intermediate to felsic rocks derived from distinct magma sources provide us with a good opportunity to resolve this enigma. A series of granitoids from the western Central Lhasa subterrane were analyzed for whole-rock magnetic susceptibility, Fe2O3/FeO ratios, and trace elements in zircon. Compared to Late Jurassic samples (1.8 ± 2.0 × 10−4 emu g−1 oe−1, Fe3+/Fetotal = 0.32 ± 0.07, zircon Ce4+/Ce3+* = 15.0 ± 13.4), Early Cretaceous rocks show higher whole-rock magnetic susceptibility (5.8 ± 2.5 × 10−4 emu g−1 oe−1), Fe3+/Fetotal ratios (0.43 ± 0.04), and zircon Ce4+/Ce3+* values (23.9 ± 22.3). In addition, positive correlations among whole-rock magnetic susceptibility, Fe3+/Fetotal ratios, and zircon Ce4+/Ce3+* reveal a slight increase in oxidation state from fO2 = QFM to NNO in the Late Jurassic to fO2 = ∼NNO in the Early Cretaceous. Obvious linear correlation between oxidation indices (whole-rock magnetic susceptibility, zircon Ce4+/Ce3+*) and source signatures (zircon εHf(t), TDMC ages) indicates that the oxidation state was predominantly inherited from the source with only a minor contribution from magmatic differentiation. Thus, the sources for both the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous rocks were probably influenced by mantle wedge-derived magma, contributing to the increased fO2. Compared to ore-forming rocks at giant porphyry Cu deposits, the relatively low oxidation state (QFM to NNO) and negative εHf(t) (−16 to 0) of the studied granitoids implies relative infertility. However, this study demonstrates two potential fast and effective indices (fO2 and εHf(t)) to evaluate the fertility of granitoids for porphyry-style mineralization. In an exploration context for the west Central Lhasa subterrane, features indicative of potential fertility might include more oxidized, positive εHf(t), young rocks (<130 Ma).
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-531222018-02-28T03:08:46Z Oxidation state inherited from the magma source and implications for mineralization: Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous granitoids, Central Lhasa subterrane, Tibet Cao, Mingjian Qin, K. Li, G. Evans, Noreen McInnes, Brent Li, J. Zhao, J. Arc magmas are more oxidized than mid-ocean ridge basalts; however, there is continuing debate as to whether this higher oxidation state is inherited from the source magma or developed during late-stage magmatic differentiation processes. Well-constrained Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous arc-related intermediate to felsic rocks derived from distinct magma sources provide us with a good opportunity to resolve this enigma. A series of granitoids from the western Central Lhasa subterrane were analyzed for whole-rock magnetic susceptibility, Fe2O3/FeO ratios, and trace elements in zircon. Compared to Late Jurassic samples (1.8 ± 2.0 × 10−4 emu g−1 oe−1, Fe3+/Fetotal = 0.32 ± 0.07, zircon Ce4+/Ce3+* = 15.0 ± 13.4), Early Cretaceous rocks show higher whole-rock magnetic susceptibility (5.8 ± 2.5 × 10−4 emu g−1 oe−1), Fe3+/Fetotal ratios (0.43 ± 0.04), and zircon Ce4+/Ce3+* values (23.9 ± 22.3). In addition, positive correlations among whole-rock magnetic susceptibility, Fe3+/Fetotal ratios, and zircon Ce4+/Ce3+* reveal a slight increase in oxidation state from fO2 = QFM to NNO in the Late Jurassic to fO2 = ∼NNO in the Early Cretaceous. Obvious linear correlation between oxidation indices (whole-rock magnetic susceptibility, zircon Ce4+/Ce3+*) and source signatures (zircon εHf(t), TDMC ages) indicates that the oxidation state was predominantly inherited from the source with only a minor contribution from magmatic differentiation. Thus, the sources for both the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous rocks were probably influenced by mantle wedge-derived magma, contributing to the increased fO2. Compared to ore-forming rocks at giant porphyry Cu deposits, the relatively low oxidation state (QFM to NNO) and negative εHf(t) (−16 to 0) of the studied granitoids implies relative infertility. However, this study demonstrates two potential fast and effective indices (fO2 and εHf(t)) to evaluate the fertility of granitoids for porphyry-style mineralization. In an exploration context for the west Central Lhasa subterrane, features indicative of potential fertility might include more oxidized, positive εHf(t), young rocks (<130 Ma). 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53122 10.1007/s00126-017-0739-3 Springer restricted
spellingShingle Cao, Mingjian
Qin, K.
Li, G.
Evans, Noreen
McInnes, Brent
Li, J.
Zhao, J.
Oxidation state inherited from the magma source and implications for mineralization: Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous granitoids, Central Lhasa subterrane, Tibet
title Oxidation state inherited from the magma source and implications for mineralization: Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous granitoids, Central Lhasa subterrane, Tibet
title_full Oxidation state inherited from the magma source and implications for mineralization: Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous granitoids, Central Lhasa subterrane, Tibet
title_fullStr Oxidation state inherited from the magma source and implications for mineralization: Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous granitoids, Central Lhasa subterrane, Tibet
title_full_unstemmed Oxidation state inherited from the magma source and implications for mineralization: Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous granitoids, Central Lhasa subterrane, Tibet
title_short Oxidation state inherited from the magma source and implications for mineralization: Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous granitoids, Central Lhasa subterrane, Tibet
title_sort oxidation state inherited from the magma source and implications for mineralization: late jurassic to early cretaceous granitoids, central lhasa subterrane, tibet
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53122