Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2020, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (3): 239-253.DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2020.4.3

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Fluid evolution of iron oxide-Cu-Au (IOCG) deposits in the basin inversion setting, North Xinjiang: constraints from halogen and noble gas composition of fluid inclusions

LIANG Pei1,2(), CHEN Huayong2,*(), ZHAO Liandang3, Kendrick MARK4, JIANG Hongjun2,5, ZHANG Weifeng6, WU Chao2, XIE Yuling1   

  1. 1. Civil and Resource Engineering School, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
    2. Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
    3. School of Earth Science and Resources, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710064, China
    4. Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Acton 2601, Australia
    5. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    6. Wuhan Center of China Geological Survey, Wuhan 430205, China
  • Received:2019-10-11 Revised:2020-03-10 Online:2020-05-20 Published:2020-05-20
  • Contact: CHEN Huayong

Abstract:

Represented by the Laoshankou, Qiaoxiahala and Heijianshan deposits, the northern margin of East Junggar and the Yamansu belt of East Tianshan are two important potential belts for iron oxide Cu-Au (IOCG) mineralization in North Xinjiang. All IOCG deposits in these two regions formed in a basin inversion setting and show significant two-stage mineralization. In this study, we used halogen and noble gases as reliable tracers to track the fluid sources and evolution of these deposits. The results showed that three different fluid end members are mainly involved in the mineralization processes of the three deposits: (1) the magmatic hydrothermal fluid, with I/Cl, Br/Cl and 40Ar/36Ar ratios of (16.3-18.0)×10-6, (1.03-1.06)×10-3 and 352-437, respectively, in the magnetite stage of the Heijianshan deposit; (2) surface-derived basin brine by seawater evaporation, with I/Cl, Br/Cl and 40Ar/36Ar ratios of (77.1-87.7)×10-6, (1.53-1.80)×10-3and 672-883, respectively, in the copper-gold stage of the Laoshankou deposit; and (3) basin brine or formation water by water-rocks reaction and evaporate dissolution, with I/Cl, Br/Cl and 40Ar/36Ar ratios of (477-26 301)×10-6, (0.39-1.28)×10-3and 288-510, respectively, as the main mineralizing fluids in the magnetite stage of the Laoshankou and Qiaoxiahala deposits and for the Cu-Au mineralization of the Qiaoxiahala and Heijianshan deposits. The obvious multi-stage mineralization and involvement of Ca-rich hypersaline non-magmatic brines in the Cu-Au stage in the iron oxide Cu-Au deposits in North Xinjiang resemble the characteristics of other IOCG type deposits in the world.

Key words: fluid evolution, iron oxide-Cu-Au deposit, halogen, noble gas, North Xinjiang

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