Advances in Magmatic Ni–Cu–(PGE) Sulphide Deposits and Their Constraints on Neoproterozoic Tectonic Settings of China Huidong Yu, Haoran Chen, Huawen Cao, Nuru Said, Changcheng Huang, Zihan Ma, Bin Xiao, Haifeng Chen, Hao Zou Geological Journal, 2025 Magmatic Ni–Cu–(PGE) sulphide deposits are the primary global sources of nickel, copper and platinum group elements (PGE). The study of these deposits is critical for mineral exploration and holds important economic implications. This paper reviews recent advances in understanding magmatic Ni–Cu–(PGE) sulphide deposits and their related magmatism. Findings reveal that these deposits have an uneven global distribution and a wide range of classifications. The Proterozoic era represents the main period of mineralisation, and the mineralisation setting is closely related to continental rifts, mantle plumes and collision orogenic belts. An ongoing debate exists between the ‘magma conduit’ and ‘deep‐multiple magma chamber segregation’ models, which differ in mineralisation location, magma intrusion mechanisms and the role of external sulphur addition. The primary mechanisms of sulphide segregation include rapid cooling, crystal differentiation and crustal contamination. Furthermore, this paper examines the spatial–temporal distribution and mineralisation dynamic settings of Neoproterozoic magmatic Ni–Cu–(PGE) sulphide deposits in China and their relationship to the convergence and breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent. These Neoproterozoic deposits are located along the margins of the Yangtze, North China and Tarim blocks. They formed in five different stages, 1000–960, 900–850, 830–800, 760–740 and 650–620 Ma, corresponding to the following tectonic settings, respectively: (1) a back‐arc extensional setting before the convergence of the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks; (2) a post‐orogenic extensional setting following the convergence between the Yangtze and North China blocks; (3) a rift setting related to the first Neoproterozoic mantle plume event (830–795 Ma) within the Yangtze Block or North China Block; (4) a rift setting related to the second Neoproterozoic mantle plume event (780–745 Ma) within the Tarim Block and (5) an intraplate rift setting within the Yangtze Block. The evolving mineralisation dynamic settings of these deposits indicate that their mineralisation is directly related to large‐scale mafic–ultramafic magmatism during the Neoproterozoic and the convergence and breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent.
The origin and tectonic implications of the ca. 406 Ma magmatic activity in the western Yangtze Block, South China Chun-Mei Liu, Hao Zou, Hai-Feng Chen, Chen-Wei Li, Nuru Said, Chang-Cheng Huang, Xing-Xing Mao, Hui-Dong Yu, Hua-Wen Cao, Xin-Yu Liu Solid Earth Sciences, 2024 In this study, we report for the first time a new gabbro diorite, forming in an intraplate extensional environment during the Early Devonian, in the Shimian of the western margin of the Yangtze Block. Zircon SIMS U–Pb dating indicates that the gabbro diorite formed at ca. 406 Ma. This gabbro diorite belongs to low-K tholeiite and has enriched in Rb, Ba, K, Pb, negative anomalies of Nb, Ta, depletion of flat LREE patterns, negative εHf(t) (−1.1 to −11.7), and high δ18O (8.83 ± 0.21‰) ratios, showing that the magma formed by partial melting of N-MROB-type mantle and indicating that the magma underwent crustal contamination during emplacement. The magma is formed in the extensional environment, which provides evidence for the extensional environment in the western margin of the Yangtze. The geochemical characteristics and emplacement time of the rocks are similar to those in the early Paleozoic post-orogenic mafic rocks in South China, suggesting that the gabbro diorite may be influenced by the early Paleozoic orogeny in South China.
The Paleo-Tethys subduction and related mineralization in the SW Yangtze Block: Evidence from the Zhesang Carlin-type gold deposit Hui-Dong Yu, Li-Ming Yu, Nuru Said, Chang-Cheng Huang, Jiang-Han Wu, Chun-Mei Liu, Hai-Feng Chen, Hao Zou Geosystems and Geoenvironment, 2024 The Zhesang gold deposit is a Carlin-type gold deposit located in the “Golden Triangle” structural belt of Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi. Pyrite and arsenopyrite are important gold-bearing minerals of the deposit. In order to understand the typomorphic characteristics of pyrite and arsenopyrite and the enrichment mechanism of gold, morphological and structural features of these sulphides and the occurrence state of gold were investigated by using reflected light microscope and electron probes (EPMA). The results show that pyrites are characterized mainly by medium-fine broken pentagonal-dodecahedron crystal forms. Most of the arsenopyrites display needle and columnar crystal forms. Compositionally, pyrite is depleted in both Fe and S, whereas arsenopyrite is As-depleted but S-enriched. The w(Co)/w(Ni) of pyrite is between 1.731 and 3.215 (i.e., within the range of ratio of the hydrothermal pyrite, which is between 1 and 5). The crystal forms and compositional features of pyrite and arsenopyrite indicate that the Zhesang gold deposit is typical of medium-low temperature hydrothermal origin. The positive correlation between As and Au and the Au/As (mol%) ratio are lower than the solubility limit of Au in arsenic pyrite. Combined with previous studies, our data suggest that gold is likely to exist in the form of Au+ complex. Arsenic pyrite and arsenopyrite condensed Au in unsaturated ore-forming hydrothermal fluids relative to Au0 through surface voids and/or defects and the As content, forming a Zhesang Carlin-type gold deposit. Based on the age data of the Mesozoic polymetallic deposits in South China, it can be concluded that the age of the Zhesang gold deposit (215.3 ± 1.9 Ma), is consistent with the age of the main body of the Mesozoic polymetallic deposits (230-200 Ma) in South China Plate and the age of the granites (230-200 Ma) related to tungsten-tin mineralization in the Cathaysian Block. Therefore, we believe that the Zhesang gold deposit is the product of the subduction regime of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in the Middle-Late Triassic.
The gold mineral systems of the West Qinling orogen, central China: New insight from the Baguamiao gold deposit Hui-Dong Yu, Yu-Zhen Fu, Xin-Yu Liu, Nuru Said, Hua-Wen Cao, Chun-Mei Liu, Wei-Xuan Fang, Jia-Jun Liu, Hao Zou Ore Geology Reviews, 2023 The Baguamiao gold deposit is the first large deposit discovered in the West Qinling orogen in central China in the 1990s. However, the occurrence of invisible gold in the deposit has not been reported. There is also no consensus on whether magmatic activity is involved in the gold mineralization, the style of mineralization, and the mechanism of gold precipitation. In this study, the in-situ trace elements, and chemical mapping of pyrite and pyrrhotite in the Baguamiao gold deposit were carried out for the first time. These data combined with the C-H-O isotope data of quartz, ankerite and calcite were used to determine mineralization process. In the Baguamiao gold deposit, five types of pyrite (Py0 to Py4) and pyrrhotite (Po0 to Po4) were identified, corresponding to the sedimentary-diagenetic period and four stages of mineralization (Stage I to Stage IV), respectively. From stage I to stage IV, gold mineralization in pyrite and pyrrhotite occurs as either visible or invisible crystals. The latter occurs dominantly as lattice-bound solid solutions (Au+) and is related to the content of Cu and Te. Co and Ni contents and Co/Ni ratios indicate that pyrite and pyrrhotite are magmatic-hydrothermal origin and affected by fluid-rock interaction. The change of Se and Te concentrations in pyrite and pyrrhotite indicates that oxygen fugacity (ƒO2) was increased from stage I to stage II, and then decreased during stage III and stage IV. In addition, the δ18O values of quartz, calculated δ18OH2O values of the ore-forming fluids and δ13C values range from 16.9 to 20.3 ‰, 7.7 to 12.9 ‰, and −19.3 to +0.2 ‰, respectively. Such isotopic signature records typical characteristics of orogenic gold deposit. The ore-forming fluid is a mixed hydrothermal solution involving metamorphic water, magmatic water, and meteoric water, and mixed with marine carbonate and sedimentary organic matter. Gold was precipitated by phase separation, fluid-rock interaction, and fluid mixing. Combined with the tectono-magmatic evolution, metamorphic deformation, and gold mineralization age of the West Qinling orogen, it can be concluded that with the closure of the Mianlue portions of the East Paleo-Tethys Ocean, the Baguamiao gold deposit was formed in the post-collisional extensional environment between the South China Block and the North China Block in the Late Triassic and is an orogenic gold deposit reference to the crustal continuum model.
The origin of Ediacaran phosphogenesis event: New insights from Doushantuo Formation in the Danzhai phosphorite deposit, South China Li-Ming Yu, Ming-Xin Liu, Yong Dan, Nuru Said, Jiang-Han Wu, Ming-Cai Hou, Hao Zou Ore Geology Reviews, 2023 The Ediacaran-early Cambrian period is not only the key period of global climate and life evolution, but also recorded the occurrence of the second large-scale phosphogenesis event in history of the Earth. South China records a large number of phosphorus-forming events of that period, which the late Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation (Doushantuo Fm.) is the most important example. Although the Ediacaran Doushantuo Fm. of China contains only 5 % of global reserves, it accounts for 45 % of the world’s phosphorous (P) production. Therefore, the study on the formation of phosphorite in the Ediacaran Doushantuo Fm., South China will help in our better understanding of the role of the phosphorus-forming event in that period. Here, we present a detailed study of geology, petrology, and geochemistry and CO isotopes of the Doushantuo Fm. phosphorite, shale and dolomite samples at Danzhai, southwest Guizhou. The rare earth element + Y (REY) signature of phosphorites display a “hat-shaped” post-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS)-normalized REY distributions, with systematically lower Ce/Ce* ranging from −0.56 to −0.60 (average −0.58, n = 4). The δ13CVPDB δ18OVPDB and δ18OV-SMOW values range from −12.88 to 4.39 ‰, −10.3–7.18 ‰, and 20.29 – 23.51 ‰, respectively. Our field, petrologic, geochemical and isotopic data suggest that: (1) The ore-forming materials of the Danzhai phosphorite deposit may have an input of marine hydrothermal and the organic-rich water brought by up-welling; (2) The Ce/Ce* and pyrite speciation data suggest that the Danzhai phosphorite deposit was formed in a suboxic-oxic conditon; (3) The phosphogenesis of the late Doushantuo phosphate deposit is mainly the result of growth and mineralization of microorganisms, accompanied by the mechanical dynamic action of seawater.
Stratigraphic Characteristics and Sediment-Filling Process of the Early Permian Fengcheng Formation in the Northwestern Margin of the Junggar Basin, Northwest China Dongming Zhi, Mingxin Liu, Xinwei Chen, Nuru Said, Wenbin Tang, Chenhui Hu, Zhijun Qin, Hao Zou, Deyu Gong Frontiers in Earth Science, 2022 The Permian Fengcheng Formation in the Mahu sag of the Junggar Basin is a crude oil reservoir and source rock. However, its stratigraphic characteristics, the boundary marks of the three members (lower, middle, and upper), and the sediment-filling processes are unclear. This study presents the sedimentary systems and sediment-filling processes in an intracontinental rift basin of this area using sedimentary-faces analysis, sequence stratigraphy, well logs, and two-dimensional seismic interpretations. The results show that the Fengcheng Formation consists of three third-order sequence stratigraphy (SQf1, SQf2, and SQf3). The lowest member of the Fengcheng Formation is composed of gray to dark gray thin middle layers of tuff, lacustrine dolomitic mudstone, and argillaceous dolomite near the depocenter. Tuff, siltstone, a small amount of fan–delta glutenite, volcanic breccia, and basalt are present near the fault zone. The logging curve is characterized by a high gamma-ray (GR) value, high amplitude, wavelength growth, and medium frequency. Near the depocenter, the middle member of the Fengcheng Formation comprises gray and gray–black thin layers of lacustrine muddy dolomite and dolomitic mudstone and thin sandstone and mudstone interbedded between tuff and gravel near the orogenic belt. The logging curve displays high-to-low GR values, high amplitude, short wavelength, and high frequency. The upper member of the Fengcheng Formation is not characterized by lesser tuffaceous and dolomitic components but by an increased fan–delta sandy content. Next, the bottom of the upper member is composed of lacustrine mudstone and siltstone interbedded between dolomitic mudstones; whereas, the top of the upper member is dominated by fan–delta coarse sandstone and sandy conglomerate. The logging curve shows low GR values, small amplitude, and continuous stability. The sediment-filling process of the Fengcheng Formation is controlled by fault activity. Overall, the lower and middle members of the Fengcheng Formation expand during the sediment-filling process of the lake basin of the Mahu sag; whereas, the upper member contracts. The strong uplift of the Horst near the Baiquan and Mahu orogenic belts led to an increase in provenance supply, resulting in a contraction of the southwestern margin of the lake basin during the sedimentation period from lower member to upper member of Fengcheng Formation.
Geochemistry, geochronology, and zircon hf isotopes of late jurassic–early cretaceous granitoids in the xing'an massif, ne china: Implication for the late mesozoic tectonic evolution and crustal growth Hai‐Na Li, Jun Han, Nuru Said, Zhi‐Gang Yin Island Arc, 2021 This paper presents new zircon U–Pb geochronological, Hf isotopic and whole‐rock geochemical data for the granitic plutons in the Xing'an Massif, Northeast China, to constrain the Late Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the Mongol‐Okhotsk Ocean and the Paleo‐Pacific Ocean. The zircon U–Pb ages indicate that the granitoids emplaced during the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous. The granodiorites show an adakitic affinity with high Sr/Y ratios and low Yb (< 1.30 μg/g) contents. The monzogranites exhibit high SiO2, low MgO contents, enrichment in LILEs (Rb, K, and Th), and depletion in HSFEs (Ta, Nb, Zr, P, and Ti). Petrological and geochemical features of these monzogranites suggest that they are highly fractionated I‐type granitoids. In addition, the zircon εHf(t) values and two‐stage model ages (TDM2) are in the range of +2.6 to +8.1 and 669–1011 Ma, respectively, indicating that primary magma was generated by partial melting of juvenile lower‐crustal materials, and there was a significant crustal growth in the Phanerozoic in the Northeast China. Combined with the coeval granitoids widely exposed in the Xing'an Massif, we conclude that the Late Jurassic magma in Northeast China was generated in an extensional setting related to the closure of the Mongol‐Okhotsk Ocean, but the Early Cretaceous magma was related to the subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate.
