Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2024, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (3): 170-198.DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2023.2.78

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Metallogenic characteristics and ore deposit model of porphyry copper-epithermal gold system in the Duobaoshan ore field, eastern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

BAI Chenglin1(), XIE Guiqing1,2,3,*(), ZHAO Junkang4, LI Wei1, ZHU Qiaoqiao2   

  1. 1. School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
    2. Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
    3. MNR Key Laboratory for Exploration Theory & Technology of Critical Mineral Resources, Beijing 100083, China
    4. Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Zijin Mining Group Co., LTD, Xiamen 361000, China
  • Received:2023-02-02 Revised:2023-07-18 Online:2024-05-25 Published:2024-05-25

Abstract:

The Duobaoshan ore field, situated in the eastern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), represents the largest porphyry Cu (Mo)-epithermal Au metallogenic system with an ancient mineralization age (477-470 Ma) in Northeast China. The reserves of copper, molybdenum, and gold resources have been preliminarily estimated to be over 5 Mt, 0.16 Mt, and 130 t, respectively. Despite this, the metallogenic characteristics and ore deposit model of this system remain unclear. This study comprehensively analyzes the geological, geochemical characteristics, and timing of the deposit. It suggests the presence of two mineralization events in the metallogenic system: the primary episode, occurring in the early Ordovician, and a subsequent superimposed mineralization event in the late Triassic. The mineralization exhibits spatial zonation, with explosive brecciated copper mineralization in the lower part, vein copper mineralization in the middle part, and gold mineralization in the upper part. Wall-rock alteration progresses from the center to both sides or from early to late, transitioning through potassic-biotite, propylitic, clay, carbonate, phyllic, and silicification alteration zones. The ore-forming fluids are identified as magmatic water, transitioning from porphyry copper to epithermal gold deposits or from Duobaoshan to Zhengguang deposits, with a trend of increasing proportions of meteoric water. The high Ce4+/Ce3+ ratios (174-461; average 290) and high f O 2 characteristics of the adakitic magma suggest a main mineralization related to crust-mantle mixed-sourced magmatism linked to the subduction of the Paleozoic Paleo-Asian Ocean. Mineralization is controlled by ancient volcanic mechanisms, and the increase in metallogenic depth from northwest to southeast is associated with denudation levels. The presence of the Tongshan reverse fault influences mineralization, indicating the south of the Tongshan fault as a promising exploration target. Furthermore, an ore deposit model for the Paleozoic porphyry copper-epithermal gold system in this region is proposed to guide future mineral exploration efforts.

Key words: porphyry copper-epithermal gold metallogenic system, Paleozoic large-scale mineralization, metallogenic characteristics, ore deposit model, Duobaoshan ore field, eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt

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