REE and Sr-Nd isotope geochemistry for Yixian fluorite deposit, western Liaoning Province, China, and its geological implications

Abstract

Up to now, there were no systematic studies of geochemistry and isotopic age for the Yixian (义县) fluorite deposit, western Liaoning (辽宁) Province, China. Based on the analysis of metallogenic geological setting, we studied the REE, Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopes. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of fluorite are characterized by moderate LREE depletion (LREE/HREE=0.95–3.57, (La/Yb)^N=0.08–2.84) and enrichment of Sr (146×10⁻⁶-596×10⁻⁶) and moderately positive Eu anomalies (δEu=1.10–1.34), which are similar to those of the host Mesoproterozoic carbonate rocks. The fluorite display (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) _t=−0.708 5, (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd) _t=−0.511 785, and ε _Nd(t)=−12.8, which are similar to those of the host Mesoproterozoic carbonate rocks and volcanic rocks of Middle Jurassic Lanqi (蓝旗) Formation. The REE and Sr-Nd isotope geochemistry suggest that the source of the ore-forming material may be the volcanic rocks of Lanqi Formation and host carbonate rocks. The Sm-Nd isochron age of 154±14 Ma (MSWD=0.23) indicates that the Yixian fluorite mineralization nearly corresponds to the period of Lanqi Formation. Based on the integrated geological and geochemical studies, coupled with previous studies, we suggest that Yixian fluorite deposit formed in the extension setting of postcollisional stage and may be attributed to the partial melting of ancient basaltic rocks in the lower crust induced by underplating of basic magma and to the reaction between the F-rich ore-forming fluids and the host carbonate rocks.

Keywords

REE / Sr-Nd isotope geochemistry / isochron age / Yixian fluorite deposit / western Liaoning Province

References

[1] Chen F., Hegner E., Todt W.. Zircon Ages, Nd Isotopic and Chemical Compositions of Orthogneisses from the Black Forest, Germany—Evidence for a Cambrian Magmatic Arc. International Journal of Earth Sciences, 2000, 88(4): 791-802.

[2] Chen F., Siebel W., Satir M., . Geochronology of the Karadere Basement (NW Turkey) and Implications for the Geological Evolution of the Istanbul Zone. International Journal of Earth Sciences, 2002, 91(3): 469-481.

[3] Chen Y. X., Chen W. J.. Mesozoic Volcanic Rocks in Western Liaoning and Its Adjacent Area: Chronology, Geochemistry and Tectonic Settings, 1997, Beijing: Seismic Press 164-165.

[4] Chesley J. T., Halliday A. N., Scrivener R. C.. Samarium-Neodymium Direct Dating of Fluorite Mineralization. Science, 1991, 252(5008): 949-951.

[5] Chesley J. T., Halliday A. N., Kyser T. K., . Direct Dating of Mississippi Valley-Type Mineralization: Use of Sm-Nd in Fluorite. Economic Geology, 1994, 89: 1192-1199.

[6] Deng J., Liu W., Sun Z. S., . Evidence of Mantle-Rooted Fluids and Multi-level Circulation Ore-Forming Dynamics: A Case Study from the Xiadian Gold Deposit, Shandong Province, China. Science in China (Series D), 2003, 46(Suppl.): 138-142.

[7] Deng J., Wang Q. F., Wan L., . Random Difference of the Trace Element Distribution in Skarn and Marbles from Shizishan Orefield, Anhui Province, China. Journal of China University of Geosciences, 2008, 19(4): 319-326.

[8] Deng J., Yang L. Q., Ge L. S., . Research Advances in the Mesozoic Tectonic Regimes during the Formation of Jiaodong Ore Cluster Area. Progress in Nature Science, 2006, 16(8): 777-784.

[9] Halliday A. N., Shepherd T. J., Dickin A. P., . Sm-Nd Evidence for the Age and Origin of a Mississippi Valley Type Ore Deposits. Nature, 1990, 344(6261): 54-56.

[10] Hofmann A. W.. Mantle Geochemistry: The Message from Oceanic Volcanism. Nature, 1997, 385(6613): 219-229.

[11] Jahn B. M., Wu F. Y., Lo C. H., . Crust-Mantle Interaction Induced by Deep Subduction of the Continental Crust: Geochemical and Sr-Nd Isotopic Evidence from Post-Collisional Mafic-Ultramafic Intrusions of the Northern Dabie Complex, Central China. Chemical Geology, 1999, 157(1–2): 119-146.

[12] Li C. J., Jiang X. L.. Strontium Isotope Geochemistry of Fluorite Deposits in Wuyi-Dongyang Area, Zhejiang Province. Mineral Deposits, 1989, 8(3): 65-74.

[13] Li W. P., Li X. H., Lu F. X.. Genesis and Geological Significance for the Middle Jurassic High Sr and Low Y Type Volcanic Rocks in Fuxin Area of West Liaoning, Northeastern China. Acta Petrologica Sinica, 2001, 17(4): 523-532.

[14] Liaoning Bureau of GeologyMineral Resources Regional Geology of Liaoning Province, 1989, Beijing: Geological Publishing House 317-520.

[15] Ludwig, K. R., 2001. Isoplot/Ex, rev. 2.49: A Geochronological Toolkit for Microsoft Excel. Berkeley Geochronology Center, Special Publication No. 1a, 56

[16] Ma Y. S., Cui S. Q., Zhao Y., . The Transformation Process of Mesozoic-Cenozoic Tectonic Regime in the North of North China. Journal of Geomechanics, 2002, 8(1): 15-25.

[17] Mao J. W., Xie G. Q., Zhang Z. H., . Mesozoic Large-Scale Metallogenic Pulses in North China and Corresponding Geodynamic Settings. Acta Petrologica Sinica, 2005, 21(1): 169-188.

[18] Marguerite M., Wayne R. P., Pierre C. R.. Sm-Nd Dating of Fluorite from the World Class Montroc Fluorite Deposit, Southern Massif Central, France. Mineralium Deposita, 2005, 39(8): 970-975.

[19] Meng Q. R., Zhang G. W.. Geologic Framework and Tectonic Evolution of the Qinling Orogen, Central China. Tectonophysics, 2000, 323(3–4): 183-196.

[20] Nie F. J., Jiang S. H., Liu Y., . Sm-Nd Isotopic Dating of Fluorite Seperates from Dongqiyishan Fluorite Deposit, Alxa, Western Inner Mongolia. Mineral Deposits, 2002, 21(1): 10-15.

[21] Peng J. T., Hu R. Z., Jiang G. H.. Samarium-Neodymium Isotope System of Fluorites from the Qinglong Antimony Deposit, Guizhou Province: Constraints on the Mineralizing Age and Ore-Forming Materials’ Sources. Acta Petrologica Sinica, 2003, 19(4): 785-791.

[22] Peng Y. D., Zhang L. D., Zhang C. J., . Chemistry of Volcanic Rocks of Tiaojishan Formation in Beipiao-Yixian, Western Liaoning, China. Geology and Resources, 2003, 12(3): 177-184.

[23] Peng Y. D., Zhang L. D., Chen W., . ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and K-Ar Dating of the Yixian Formation Volcanic Rocks, Western Liaoning Province, China. Geochimica, 2003, 32(5): 427-435.

[24] Peng Y. D., Zhang L. D., Zhang C. J., . Petrochemistry of Volcanic Rocks of the Yixian Volcanic Cycle in the Beipiao-Yixian Area, Western Liaoning. Geology in China, 2004, 31(4): 356-364.

[25] Qi L., Grégoire D. C.. Determination of Trace Elements in Twenty-Six Chinese Geochemistry Reference Materials by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. Geostandards Newsletter, 2000, 24: 51-63.

[26] Ruiz J., Kesler S. E., Jones L. M.. Strontium Isotope Geochemistry of Fluorite Mineralization Associated with Fluorine-Rich Igneous Rocks from the Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico: Possible Exploration Significance. Economic Geology, 1985, 80: 33-42.

[27] Ruiz J., Richardson C. K., Patchett P. J.. Strontium Isotope Geochemistry of Fluorite, Calcite, and Barite of the Cave-in-Rock Fluorite District, Illinois. Economic Geology, 1988, 83: 203-210.

[28] Sallet, R., Moritz, R., Fontiginie, D., 1999. Sr and Nd Isotope Systematics at the Santa Catarina Fluorite District, Southern Brazil. In: Stanley, C. J., ed., Proceedings of the 5th Biennial SGA ant the 10th Quadrennial IAGOD Meetings. Balkema, Rotterdam. 1149–1152

[29] Sallet R., Moritz R., Fontiginie D.. The Use of Vein Fluorite as Probe for Paleofluid REE and Sr-Nd Isotope Geochemistry: The Santa Catarina Fluorite District, Southern Brazil. Chemical Geology, 2005, 223(4): 227-248.

[30] Schilling J. G., Hanan B. B., McCully R. H., . Influence of the Sierra Leone Mantle Plume on the Equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge: A Nd-Sr-Pb Isotopic Study. Journal of Geophysical Research, 1994, 99(B6): 12005-12028.

[31] Sun X.. Prediction of Fluorite Deposit in Yixian Based on Fuzzy-Neural Network. Journal of China University of Geosciences, 2007, 18(Suppl.): 279-281.

[32] Sun X., Yang Z. R., Liu J. D., . REE Geochemistry of Fluorite from Yixian Fluorite Deposit and Its Geological Implications. Mineral Deposits, 2008, 27(5): 579-586.

[33] Sun X., Yang Z. R., Wang Y. C., . Study of Sr Isotopic Composition and Genesis in Yixian Fluorite Deposit. Geological Science and Technology Information, 2009, 28(1): 81-86.

[34] Taylor S. R., McLennan S. M.. The Continental Crusts: Its Composition and Evolution, 1985, Oxford: Blackwell

[35] Wang W. L., Zhang H., Zhang L. J., . Mesozoic Stratigraphy and Paleontology of Western Liaoning, 1989, Beijing: Geological Publishing House 1-168.

[36] Xu D. D., Wang W. W., Wang S. Z., . The Relationship of Structure and Ore-Forming on Fluorite Deposit in Yixian, Liaoning. Geology of Chemical Minerals, 2004, 26(2): 92-96.

[37] Xu D. Q., Nie F. J., Liu Y., . Sr, Nd and Pb Isotopic Geochemistry of Fluorite from Obotu Fluorite Deposit, Inner Mongolia. Mineral Deposits, 2008, 27(5): 543-558.

[38] Xu G. Z., Bian Q. T., Wang Y. F.. Tectonic Evolution and Metallization of the Erguna Orogenic Belt. Chinese Journal of Geology, 1998, 3(1): 84-92.

[39] Yang L. Q., Deng J., Zhang J., . Decrepitation Thermometry and Compositions of Fluid Inclusions of the Damoqujia Gold Deposit, Jiaodong Gold Province, China: Implications for Metallogeny and Exploration. Journal of China University of Geosciences, 2008, 19(4): 378-390.

[40] Yang W., Li S. G.. Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Mesozoic Volcanic Rocks in Western Liaoning: Implications for Lithospheric Thinning of the North China Craton. Lithos, 2008, 102(1–2): 88-117.

[41] Zhang H., Liu X. M., Li Z. T., . Early Cretaceous Large-Scale Crustal Thinning in the Fuxin-Yixian Basin and Adjacent Area in Western Liaoning. Geological Review, 2005, 51(4): 360-372.

[42] Zhao Y.. The Mesozoic Orogenies and Tectonic Evolution of the Yanshan Area. Geological Review, 1990, 36(1): 1-21.

[43] Zuo, J., Kong, Q. R., 1984. The Geological Features and the Formation Causes of the Mineral Deposits of Dizangsi Fluorite Mine in Yi County. Land & Resources, (4): 350–360 (in Chinese)