A review of the Cu–Ni sulphide deposits in the Chinese Tianshan and Altay orogens (Xinjiang Autonomous Region, NW China): Principal characteristics and ore-forming processes
Introduction
In the 1970s, Cu–Ni sulphide deposits (Kalatongke, Huangshan, Huangshandong, Xiangshan, Tudun, and Hulu) were discovered in the southeastern Altay Mountains and in the East Tianshan, Xinjiang, China. In recent years, exploration successes for magmatic Cu–Ni sulphide deposits include the discoveries of Baishiquan, Tianyu, and Tianxiang on the northern margin of the Central Tianshan, south of the Huangshan–Jing’erquan ore belt, and the Poshi, Poyi, and Luodong occurrences in the Pobei area, in the Paleozoic Beishan rift south of the Central Tianshan. More recently, the Tula’ergen Cu–Ni deposit was found at the eastern end of the Huangshan–Jing’erquan ore belt and the Hongling deposit was identified at the western end of this ore belt. Re–Os dating of sulphide ores and SHRIMP zircon U–Pb dating of related mineralized mafic intrusions indicate that these Cu–Ni sulphide deposits formed at 298–270 Ma (Li et al., 1998, Mao et al., 2002, Han et al., 2004, Zhou et al., 2004, Wu et al., 2005, Zhang et al., 2005) during post-collisional extensional tectonism.
In the past 20 years, many researchers have discussed the basic features of the Kalatongke, Baishiquan, Huangshan, and Huanshandong deposits (Wang et al., 1991, Pan and Wang, 1992, Yan et al., 2003). Wang et al., 1992, Li, 1996, and Wang et al. (2000) summarized the metallogenic characteristics of local districts in northern Xinjiang. Ni, 1992, Gao, 1992, Bai, 2000, Shen, 2003, Zhang et al., 2003, Zhou et al., 2004, Chai et al., 2006 discussed the mineralization associated with these mafic–ultramafic rocks. Based on previous research, combined with the new advances in current mineral exploration and prospecting, in this paper we summarize the main characteristics of these deposits, examine ore-forming processes, and attempt to understand the relationship of these deposits and host mafic–ultramafic rocks with the geodynamic evolution of the region and explore their possible link with mantle plume activity.
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Geological setting
In NW China (Xinjiang Province), the Altay Mountains, the lower mountains and hills of the East Junggar, Junggar basin, and the East Tianshan ranges, in northeastern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, are on the southern margin of the Altaid or Central Asia Orogenic Belt (Sengör et al., 1993, Jahn, 2004, Li et al., 2006b, Windley et al., 2007). The main tectonic features of NW China consist of Late Paleozoic NW- and nearly E–W-trending orogenic belts with inliers of pre-Sinian blocks (Li et al.,
Cu–Ni sulphide deposits
Northern Xinjiang is one of the regions in the world where Cu–Ni sulphide deposits are particularly numerous. Up to now, 19 Cu–Ni sulphide deposits and occurrences including Huangshan, Huangshandong, Xiangshan, Huangshannan, Tudun, Erhongwa, Kalatongke, Xingdi, and Qingbulake deposits were discovered in the 1970s and 1980s, with the Hongling, Baishiquan, Tianyu, Tianxiang, Tula’ergen, Poshi, Poyi, and Luodong deposits discovered in the past few years. The distribution of these deposits and
Main characteristics of Cu–Ni sulphide mineralization in the Chinese Tianshan and Altay orogens
Zhou et al. (2002) pointed out that the most important features that can explain the origin of Cu–Ni sulphide accumulations are the ore texture (massive vs. disseminated) and ore distribution (stratiform vs. stratabound), which are affected by sulphide saturation and intrusion dynamics (cumulate magma conduit vs. differentiated sill). Copper–Ni sulphide deposits in the Jueluotage (East Tianshan) mainly contain low-grade disseminated ore, while high-grade massive ore only occurs in Kalatongke
Acknowledgments
This research was jointly supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40402012), Geological Survey Project (Nos. 1212010561506, 1212010633911) and State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources (No. GPMR200627). We are grateful to the Xinjiang Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration and Development and its affiliated Nos. 6 and 4 geological parties and related leaders and staff members of the State 305 Project for their great logistical and moral
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