Lead-zinc ore deposits hosted by carbonatic strata are the most important ore type of Pb–Zn resources in South China and have long been studied. Although their metallogenic timing has been well constrained recently to the Caledonian, our understanding of the metal sources and mineralization mechanism remains controversial. This study aims to provide new insights to these contexts via a new Pb isotope tracing of the Xiangshuidong deposit in the western Hunan Province. The Xiangshuidong deposit is one of the typical deposits in the Huayuan-Tongren Pb–Zn ore-concentrated area in South China. Both ore-forming sulfides and carbonates of the host strata were analyzed by in situ analysis using MC-LA-ICPMS. Along with compiled data of other typical deposits of the same type in South China, it is revealed that: the ore-forming sulfides were distinctively different from the carbonates of the host strata in Pb isotopic signatures; the ore-forming metals were sourced mainly by regional high-grade crystalline basements, rather than host rocks or adjacent strata; the ores display metallogenic characteristics typical of Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) Pb–Zn deposits, rather than reworked sedimentary deposits. A metallogenic model for the Caledonian Pb–Zn ores is accordingly proposed and a new guidance on further ore exploration is suggested.

碳酸盐岩地层中的铅锌矿床是华南地区最重要的铅锌矿床类型，长期以来一直在研究。尽管最近它们的成矿时间已被很好地限制在喀里多尼亚，但我们对金属来源和矿化机制的理解仍存在争议。这项研究旨在通过湘西湘水洞矿床的新Pb同位素示踪，为这些背景提供新的见解。响水洞矿床是华南铜源铅锌矿集中区的典型矿床之一。使用MC-LA-ICPMS进行原位分析，分析了基质的成矿硫化物和碳酸盐。连同华南其他同类的典型矿床的汇编数据，发现：形成矿的硫化物在Pb同位素特征上明显不同于宿主层的碳酸盐。成矿金属主要来自区域性高档结晶基底，而不是宿主岩或邻近地层。矿石显示出典型的密西西比河谷型（MVT）铅锌矿床的成矿特征，而不是返工的沉积矿床。相应地提出了喀里多尼亚铅锌矿的成矿模型，并提出了进一步勘探的新指导。而不是重新处理沉积物。相应地提出了喀里多尼亚铅锌矿的成矿模型，并提出了进一步勘探的新指导。而不是重新处理沉积物。相应地提出了喀里多尼亚铅锌矿的成矿模型，并提出了进一步勘探的新指导。