Integrated U–Pb, Lu–Hf and (U–Th)/He analysis of zircon from the Banxi Sb deposit and its implications for the low-temperature mineralization in South China

Low-temperature Sb (Au–Hg) deposits in South China account for more than 50% of the world's Sb reserves, however, their genesis remains controversial. Here we report the first study that integrates U–Pb and Lu–Hf analysis by LA-(MC)-ICPMS and conventional (U–Th)/He analysis, all applied to sing...

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Main Authors: Li, H., Danišík, Martin, Zhou, Z.K., Jiang, W.C., Wu, J.H.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: CHINA UNIV GEOSCIENCES, BEIJING 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP160102427
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90782
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author Li, H.
Danišík, Martin
Zhou, Z.K.
Jiang, W.C.
Wu, J.H.
author_facet Li, H.
Danišík, Martin
Zhou, Z.K.
Jiang, W.C.
Wu, J.H.
author_sort Li, H.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Low-temperature Sb (Au–Hg) deposits in South China account for more than 50% of the world's Sb reserves, however, their genesis remains controversial. Here we report the first study that integrates U–Pb and Lu–Hf analysis by LA-(MC)-ICPMS and conventional (U–Th)/He analysis, all applied to single zircon crystals, in an attempt to constrain the origin and timing of world-class Sb (Au–Hg) deposits in Banxi (South China). Zircon separated from a quartz-stibnite ore and an altered country rock samples revealed similar U–Pb age spectra defining two major populations – Paleoproterozoic (~1900–2500 ​Ma) and Neoproterozoic (~770 ​Ma), which are characterized by variable εHf(t) values (–10.7 to 9.1 and –16.5 to 11.2, respectively) and Hf crustal model ages (TDMC) (2.48 to 3.24 ​Ga and 0.97 to 2.71 ​Ga, respectively). The U–Pb age and Hf isotopic features of the zircons are consistent with the Banxi Group in the region, indicating that the zircons involved in the low-temperature hydrothermal system were originally from the Banxi Group country rocks. Thirty-three mineralization-related zircon crystals yielded a mean (U–Th)/He age of 123.8 ​± ​3.8 ​Ma, which is interpreted to represent the timing of the latest low-temperature mineralization stage of the Banxi Sb deposit. The combined U–Pb, Lu–Hf and (U–Th)/He data suggest that Precambrian basement rocks were the major contributors to the low-temperature mineralization, and that Early Cretaceous (130–120 ​Ma) could be the most important ore-forming epoch for the Sb deposits in South China. This study also demonstrates the analytical feasibility of integrated U–Pb - Lu–Hf - (U–Th)/He “triple-dating”, all applied to single zircon crystals. This approach reveals the full evolution of zircon, from its origin of the magmatic source, through its crystallization and low-temperature cooling. Although this study demonstrates the usefulness of this integrated approach in dating low-temperature mineralization, it has great potential for zircon provenance and other studies that may benefit from the large amount of information that can be extracted from single zircon crystals.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-907822023-04-20T05:26:18Z Integrated U–Pb, Lu–Hf and (U–Th)/He analysis of zircon from the Banxi Sb deposit and its implications for the low-temperature mineralization in South China Li, H. Danišík, Martin Zhou, Z.K. Jiang, W.C. Wu, J.H. Science & Technology Physical Sciences Geosciences, Multidisciplinary Geology Sb (Au-Hg) deposits U-Pb - Lu-Hf - (U-Th)/He triple-dating Basement rocks Fluid circulation Zircon NEOPROTEROZOIC SEDIMENTARY-ROCKS PLASMA-MASS SPECTROMETRY PORPHYRY COPPER-DEPOSIT ND ISOTOPIC COMPOSITION ANTIMONY DEPOSIT WESTERN HUNAN GUIZHOU PROVINCE JIANGNAN OROGEN THERMAL HISTORY GOLD DEPOSIT Low-temperature Sb (Au–Hg) deposits in South China account for more than 50% of the world's Sb reserves, however, their genesis remains controversial. Here we report the first study that integrates U–Pb and Lu–Hf analysis by LA-(MC)-ICPMS and conventional (U–Th)/He analysis, all applied to single zircon crystals, in an attempt to constrain the origin and timing of world-class Sb (Au–Hg) deposits in Banxi (South China). Zircon separated from a quartz-stibnite ore and an altered country rock samples revealed similar U–Pb age spectra defining two major populations – Paleoproterozoic (~1900–2500 ​Ma) and Neoproterozoic (~770 ​Ma), which are characterized by variable εHf(t) values (–10.7 to 9.1 and –16.5 to 11.2, respectively) and Hf crustal model ages (TDMC) (2.48 to 3.24 ​Ga and 0.97 to 2.71 ​Ga, respectively). The U–Pb age and Hf isotopic features of the zircons are consistent with the Banxi Group in the region, indicating that the zircons involved in the low-temperature hydrothermal system were originally from the Banxi Group country rocks. Thirty-three mineralization-related zircon crystals yielded a mean (U–Th)/He age of 123.8 ​± ​3.8 ​Ma, which is interpreted to represent the timing of the latest low-temperature mineralization stage of the Banxi Sb deposit. The combined U–Pb, Lu–Hf and (U–Th)/He data suggest that Precambrian basement rocks were the major contributors to the low-temperature mineralization, and that Early Cretaceous (130–120 ​Ma) could be the most important ore-forming epoch for the Sb deposits in South China. This study also demonstrates the analytical feasibility of integrated U–Pb - Lu–Hf - (U–Th)/He “triple-dating”, all applied to single zircon crystals. This approach reveals the full evolution of zircon, from its origin of the magmatic source, through its crystallization and low-temperature cooling. Although this study demonstrates the usefulness of this integrated approach in dating low-temperature mineralization, it has great potential for zircon provenance and other studies that may benefit from the large amount of information that can be extracted from single zircon crystals. 2020 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90782 10.1016/j.gsf.2020.01.004 English http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP160102427 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ CHINA UNIV GEOSCIENCES, BEIJING fulltext
spellingShingle Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Geology
Sb (Au-Hg) deposits
U-Pb - Lu-Hf - (U-Th)/He triple-dating
Basement rocks
Fluid circulation
Zircon
NEOPROTEROZOIC SEDIMENTARY-ROCKS
PLASMA-MASS SPECTROMETRY
PORPHYRY COPPER-DEPOSIT
ND ISOTOPIC COMPOSITION
ANTIMONY DEPOSIT
WESTERN HUNAN
GUIZHOU PROVINCE
JIANGNAN OROGEN
THERMAL HISTORY
GOLD DEPOSIT
Li, H.
Danišík, Martin
Zhou, Z.K.
Jiang, W.C.
Wu, J.H.
Integrated U–Pb, Lu–Hf and (U–Th)/He analysis of zircon from the Banxi Sb deposit and its implications for the low-temperature mineralization in South China
title Integrated U–Pb, Lu–Hf and (U–Th)/He analysis of zircon from the Banxi Sb deposit and its implications for the low-temperature mineralization in South China
title_full Integrated U–Pb, Lu–Hf and (U–Th)/He analysis of zircon from the Banxi Sb deposit and its implications for the low-temperature mineralization in South China
title_fullStr Integrated U–Pb, Lu–Hf and (U–Th)/He analysis of zircon from the Banxi Sb deposit and its implications for the low-temperature mineralization in South China
title_full_unstemmed Integrated U–Pb, Lu–Hf and (U–Th)/He analysis of zircon from the Banxi Sb deposit and its implications for the low-temperature mineralization in South China
title_short Integrated U–Pb, Lu–Hf and (U–Th)/He analysis of zircon from the Banxi Sb deposit and its implications for the low-temperature mineralization in South China
title_sort integrated u–pb, lu–hf and (u–th)/he analysis of zircon from the banxi sb deposit and its implications for the low-temperature mineralization in south china
topic Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Geology
Sb (Au-Hg) deposits
U-Pb - Lu-Hf - (U-Th)/He triple-dating
Basement rocks
Fluid circulation
Zircon
NEOPROTEROZOIC SEDIMENTARY-ROCKS
PLASMA-MASS SPECTROMETRY
PORPHYRY COPPER-DEPOSIT
ND ISOTOPIC COMPOSITION
ANTIMONY DEPOSIT
WESTERN HUNAN
GUIZHOU PROVINCE
JIANGNAN OROGEN
THERMAL HISTORY
GOLD DEPOSIT
url http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP160102427
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90782