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Fluid mixing leads to main-stage cassiterite precipitation at the Xiling Sn polymetallic deposit, SE China: evidence from fluid inclusions and multiple stable isotopes (H–O–S)

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Abstract

The Xiling Sn deposit in eastern Guangdong Province comprises the Fengdishan Sn and the Saozhoudi Sn–Pb–Zn ore blocks and has long been regarded as a volcanic–subvolcanic system related to Sn polymetallic mineralization. Here, we present fluid inclusion microthermometric data from different ore stages and H–O–S isotope data of hydrothermal minerals to constrain the genesis of the Xiling deposit. Fluid inclusions from stage I have Th values from ~ 340 to 420 °C and salinities from ~ 15 to 17 wt% NaCl equivalent, while homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions from stages II to V range from ~ 150 to 320 °C, and salinities range between ~ 1 and 6 wt% equivalent. The oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition of quartz and cassiterite (δDfluid − 65‰; δ18Ofluid 3.6 to 6.3‰) suggest that the ore-forming fluids from stage I have a distinct magmatic signature, whereas those from stage II through stage IV (δDfluid from − 80 to − 49‰; δ18Ofluid from − 3.7 to 2.5‰) show characteristics of mixing between meteoric and magmatic fluids. Moreover, δ34S values for sulfides from the Fengdishan ore block have a narrow range of 0.6 to 2.5‰ with a mean close to 0‰, consistent with a magmatic sulfur source. By contrast, δ34S values for ore minerals from the Saozhoudi ore block range from 3.4 to 11.5‰, suggesting involvement of a sedimentary sulfur source. In addition, a previous geochronological study has shown that the volcanic–subvolcanic host rocks have an age of 160–170 Ma, while the Sn polymetallic mineralization has an age of about 145 Ma. Our data support a model of mixing of magmatic brine from a hidden granitic intrusion with meteoric water. The S isotope data and the observed temperature gradient of the fluid system suggest that the Sn mineralization is developed in the central part of the ore system, while the Sn–Pb–Zn and Pb–Zn mineralization occurs in the distal part. This finding might have important implications for exploration in the region.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the editors Shaoyong Jiang and Bernd Lehmann and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions. We also would like to thank Cornel E.J. de Ronde for improvements on the early manuscript. We appreciate the help from Huishou Ye and Zengjie Zhang for their technical assistance with the fluid inclusion, oxygen and hydrogen isotope analyses. We are also grateful to Xutao Chen, Shaobin Li, and Xiaojian Zeng from No. 2 Party of the Geology Bureau for Guangdong Province, for their assistance during field work.

Funding

This research was jointly funded by the National Key R&D Plan (Grant No.2017YFC0601403), National Natural Science Foundation of China Projects (41902072, 41820104010), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (300102279301, 300102279401), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Institutions (JYYWF20180601), and MNR Key Laboratory of Metallogeny and Mineral Assessment open Foundation (ZS1903).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth Science and Resources, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710054, China

    Peng Liu & Jingwen Mao

  2. Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Key Laboratory of Metallogeny and Mineral Assessment, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (CAGS), Beijing, 100037, China

    Jingwen Mao & Wei Jian

  3. Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA, 16652, USA

    Ryan Mathur

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  1. Peng Liu
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Correspondence to Peng Liu or Wei Jian.

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Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1.

Photographs and photomicrographs of volcanic–subvolcanic rocks and the biotite granite. A. Crystal–fragment tuff. B. Crystal–fragment tuff (under crossed polarized light). C. Tuffaceous lava. D. Tuffaceous lava (under crossed polarized light). E. Rhyolite porphyry. F. Rhyolite porphyry (under crossed polarized light). Abbreviations: Qtz = quartz. (JPG 1633 kb)

ESM 2.

Photomicrographs of representative fluid inclusions. A and B. Fluid inclusions in cassiterite from cassiterite–feldspar–quartz (Stage I). C. Fluid inclusions in quartz from cassiterite–quartz–muscovite (Stage II). D. Fluid inclusions in quartz from sulfide–cassiterite (Stage III). E. Fluid inclusions in quartz from quartz–sulfide–chlorite Stage IV). F. Fluid inclusions in calcite from calcite–chlorite–quartz (Stage V). (JPG 990 kb)

Table A1.

Summary of microthermometric measurements made for the Xiling deposit. (XLSX 15 kb)

Table A2.

Oxygen and hydrogen isotopic data for the Xiling deposit. (XLSX 10 kb)

Table A3.

Sulfur isotopes of sulfides for the Xiling deposit. (XLSX 10 kb)

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Liu, P., Mao, J., Jian, W. et al. Fluid mixing leads to main-stage cassiterite precipitation at the Xiling Sn polymetallic deposit, SE China: evidence from fluid inclusions and multiple stable isotopes (H–O–S). Miner Deposita 55, 1233–1246 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-019-00933-0

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