The Huangshaping polymetallic deposit is located in southeastern Hunan Province, China. It is a world-class W–Mo–Pb–Zn–Cu skarn deposit in the Nanling Range Metallogenic Belt, with estimated reserves ...of 74.31Mt of W–Mo ore at 0.28% WO3 and 0.07% Mo, 22.43Mt of Pb–Zn ore at 3.6% Pb and 8.00% Zn, and 20.35Mt of Cu ore at 1.12% Cu. The ore district is predominantly underlained by carbonate formations of the Lower Carboniferous period, with stocks of quartz porphyry, granite porphyry, and granophyre. Skarns occurred in contact zones between stocks and their carbonate wall rocks, which are spatially associated with the above-mentioned three types of ores (i.e., W–Mo, Pb–Zn, and Cu ores).
Three types of fluid inclusions have been identified in the ores of the Huangshaping deposit: aqueous liquid–vapor inclusions (Type I), daughter-mineral-bearing aqueous inclusions (Type II), and H2O–CO2 inclusions (Type III). Systematic microthermometrical, laser Raman spectroscopic, and salinity analyses indicate that high-temperature and high-salinity immiscible magmatic fluid is responsible for the W–Mo mineralization, whereas low-temperature and low-salinity magmatic-meteoric mixed fluid is responsible for the subsequent Pb–Zn mineralization. Another magmatic fluid derived from deep-rooted magma is responsible for Cu mineralization.
Chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns and trace element features of calcites from W–Mo, Pb–Zn, and Cu ores are different from one another. Calcite from Cu ores is rich in heavy rare earth elements (187.4–190.5ppm), Na (0.17%–0.19%), Bi (1.96–64.60ppm), Y (113–135ppm), and As (9.1–29.7ppm), whereas calcite from W–Mo and Pb–Zn ores is rich in Mn (>10.000ppm) and Sr (178–248ppm) with higher Sr/Y ratios (53.94–72.94). δ18O values also differ between W–Mo/Pb–Zn ores (δ18O=8.10‰–8.41‰) and Cu ores (δ18O=4.34‰–4.96‰), indicating that two sources of fluids were, respectively, involved in the W–Mo, Pb–Zn, and Cu mineralization.
Sulfur isotopes from sulfides also reveal that the large variation (4‰–19‰) within the Huangshaping deposit is likely due to a magmatic sulfur source with a contribution of reduced sulfate sulfur host in the Carboniferous limestone/dolomite and more magmatic sulfur involved in the Cu mineralization than that in W–Mo and Pb–Zn mineralization. The lead isotopic data for sulfide (galena: 206Pb/204Pb=18.48–19.19, 207/204Pb=15.45–15.91, 208/204Pb=38.95–39.78; sphalerite: 206Pb/204Pb=18.54–19.03, 207/204Pb=15.60–16.28, 208/204Pb=38.62–40.27; molybdenite: 206Pb/204Pb=18.45–19.21, 207/204Pb=15.53–15.95, 208/204Pb=38.77–39.58 chalcopyrite: 206Pb/204Pb=18.67–19.38, 207/204Pb=15.76–19.90, and 208/204Pb=39.13–39.56) and oxide (scheelite: 206Pb/204Pb=18.57–19.46, 207/204Pb=15.71–15.77, 208/204Pb=38.95–39.13) are different from those of the wall rock limestone (206Pb/204Pb=18.34–18.60, 207/204Pb=15.49–15.69, 208/204Pb=38.57–38.88) and porphyries (206Pb/204Pb=17.88–18.66, 207/204Pb=15.59–15.69, 208/204Pb=38.22–38.83), suggesting Pb206-, U238-, and Th 232-rich material are involved in the mineralization. The Sm–Nd isotopes of scheelite (εNd(t)=−6.1 to −2.9), garnet (εNd(t)=−6.8 to −6.1), and calcite (εNd(t)=−6.3) from W–Mo ores as well as calcite (εNd(t)=−5.4 to −5.3) and scheelite (εNd(t)=−2.9) from the Cu ores demonstrate suggest more mantle-derived materials involved in the Cu mineralization.
In the present study we conclude that two sources of ore-forming fluids were involved in production of the Huangshaping W–Mo–Pb–Zn–Cu deposit. One is associated with the granite porphyry magmas responsible for the W–Mo and then Pb–Zn mineralization during which its fluid evolved from magmatic immiscible to a magmatic–meteoritic mixing, and the other is derived from deep-rooted magma, which is related to Cu-related mineralization.
•Huangshaping deposit is a W-Mo-Cu-Pb-Zn deposit in South China.•It concluded that two sources of ore-forming fluids were involved in production of the Huangshaping W-Mo-Pb-Zn-Cu deposit.
The degree to which warming of the planet will alter Asia's water resources is an important question for food, energy, and economic security. Here we present geological evidence, underpinned by ...radiometric dating and dendrochronology, and bolstered by hydrological modeling, indicating that wetter-than-present conditions characterized the core of the inner Asian desert belt during the Little Ice Age, the last major Northern Hemispheric cold spell of the Holocene. These wetter conditions accompanied northern mid-latitude cooling, glacier expansion, a strengthened/southward-shifted boreal jet, and weakened south Asian monsoons. We suggest that southward migration of grasslands in response to these wetter conditions aided the spread of Mongol Empire steppe pastoralists across Asian drylands. Conversely, net drying over the 20th century has led to drought that is unprecedented for the past ∼830 years, and that could intensify with further heating of the Asian continent.
•The Tarim Basin was wetter than today for most of the past 830 yrs.•Wet conditions correspond to Little Ice Age cooling.•Southward migration of rangelands facilitated spread of Mongol Empire.•Current warming could cause northward expansion of interior Asian deserts.
Hydrothermal vein-type fluorite deposits are the most important metallogenic type of fluorite deposits in South China, most of which are closely related to granitoid in space; however, the genetic ...relationship between granitoid and fluorite mineralization remains controversial. The Shuanghuajiang fluorite deposit in northern Guangxi of South China is a typical vein-type fluorite deposit hosted in a granite pluton, with the orebodies occurring within brittle faults. Zircon U-Pb dating of the hosting Xiangcaoping granite yields an emplacement age of 228.04 ± 0.76 Ma (MSWD = 0.072). Fluorite Sm-Nd dating yields an isochron age of 185 ± 18 Ma. The new age data indicate that the fluorite deposit was precipitated significantly later than the emplacement of the hosting Xiangcaoping granite pluton. The fluorite and granite exhibit similar rare earth element (REE) patterns with negative Eu anomalies, suggesting that fluorine (F) was derived from the granite. The fluorite fluid inclusions show a homogeneous temperature mainly ranging between 165 °C and 180 °C. Salinity is typically less than 1% NaCl eqv, while the δ18OV-SMOW and δDV-SMOW values are between −5.2‰–−6.1‰ and −17.35‰–−23.9‰, respectively. These indicate that the ore-forming fluids were a NaCl-H2O system with medium-low temperature and low salinity, which is typical for meteoric water. Given the combined evidence of geochronology, REE, and fluid geochemistry, the mineralization of the Shuanghuajiang fluorite deposit is unrelated to magmatic-hydrothermal activity but achieved via hydrothermal circulation and leaching mechanisms. Our study presents a genetic relationship between the fluorite deposit and granitoids based on an example of northern Guangxi, providing a better understanding of the genesis of hydrothermal vein-type fluorite deposits in granitoids outcropping areas.
It is unclear whether the South China blocks have an affinity with continental Gondwana due to a lack of direct Pan‐African magmatic and metamorphic features. In this study, we conducted U‐Pb ...geochronological and Lu‐Hf isotopic analyses for detrital zircons from a sandstone of the Chang'an Formation of the Nanhua Group in the Longsheng region of northern Guangxi, with the aim of constraining the timing of sedimentation and information as to its source, as well as seeking evidence for Pan‐African events in the South China blocks. The results show that the ages of detrital zircons peaked at 654.7 ± 6.2 Ma, 773.2 ± 4.1 Ma and 821.9 ± 6.5 Ma, with some at 920–870 Ma; the youngest age indicates the existence of the Pan‐African thermal event. The ∊Hf(t) and TDM2 values demonstrate that the study area has experienced three stages of crustal growth at 3.0–2.4 Ga, 2.1–1.5 Ga and 1.3–0.9 Ga. With intensively distributed Neoproterozoic mafic‐ultramafic and granitic plutons emplaced at 830–810 Ma along the southwestern section of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt and positive ∊Hf(t) values from a large group of zircon grains, it is proposed that the sediments of the Chang'an Formation (of Nanhua Group) were largely sourced from the southeastern margin of the Yangtze block. Comparison with the zircon age spectra of the Cathaysian block shows that about 79% of the Pan‐African aged detrital zircon grains that have TDM2 = 1352–1031 Ma and ∊Hf(t) = 3.68–8.79, were sourced from the recycled Grenvillian crust of the Cathaysian block, suggesting that the Cathaysian block had a close connection with Gondwana.
Location of the southwestern suture zone between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks remains a controversial issue in South China tectonic research. This paper presents new LA-ICP-MS U–Pb geochronological ...and Hf isotopic data of detrital zircons obtained from the Nanhua System in Yingyangguan region of northeastern Guangxi and discusses their provenance and sedimentary tectonic setting of the Nanhua System. By comparison with the recently published detrital zircon geochronological and Hf isotopic data of the coeval Nanhua System in Longsheng region of northern Guangxi along the southeastern margin of the Yangtze Block and of the Neoproterozoic strata in Cathaysia block, this study attempts to constrain the southwestern suture zone or the boundary between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks. The Nanhua System in Yingyangguan region includes Tianzidi and Zhengyuanling formations. The U–Pb ages of 107 grains from Tianzidi Formation are peaked at 0.65–0.72 Ga, 0.72–0.80 Ga, 0.90–1.30 Ga, 1.40–2.25 Ga, and 2.35–2.94 Ga. The U–Pb ages of 106 grains from the Zhengyuanling Formation are peaked at 0.65–0.72 Ga, 0.72–0.90 Ga, 0.90–1.30 Ga, 1.40–2.10 Ga, and 2.40–2.92 Ga. Most of the U–Pb ages of detrital zircon grains cluster at 0.90–1.30 Ga, demonstrating a remarkable difference from the coeval Nanhua System in Longsheng region, and suggesting the Cathaysia Block as a major source of sediments for the Nanhua System in the Yingyangguan region. The
ε
Hf
(
t
) values of the detrital zircon grains from the Nanhua System of the Yingyangguan region are mostly positive (0–10); they are different from those of the Longsheng region of northern Guangxi where they are mainly negative (− 10 to − 2), but similar to the Cathaysia Block (− 3 to 5). Based on the new detrital zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotopic data, it is suggested that the southwestern suture zone or the boundary between Cathaysia and Yangtze blocks is located in the area between Yingyangguan and Longsheng area of Guangxi.
Applications of remote sensing are important in improving potato production through the broader adoption of precision agriculture. This technology could be useful in decreasing the potential ...contamination of soil and water due to the over-fertilization of agriculture crops. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of active sensors (Crop Circle™, Holland Scientific, Inc., Lincoln, NE, USA and GreenSeeker™, Trimble Navigation Limited, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) and passive sensors (multispectral imaging with Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs)) to predict total potato yield and phosphorus (P) uptake. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications and six P treatments, ranging from 0 to 280 kg P ha−1, as triple superphosphate (46% P2O5). Vegetation indices (VIs) and plant pigment levels were calculated at various time points during the potato growth cycle, correlated with total potato yields and P uptake by the stepwise fitting of multiple linear regression models. Data generated by Crop Circle™ and GreenSeeker™ had a low predictive value of potato yields, especially early in the season. Crop Circle™ performed better than GreenSeeker™ in predicting plant P uptake. In contrast, the passive sensor data provided good estimates of total yields early in the season but had a poor correlation with P uptake. The combined use of active and passive sensors presents an opportunity for better P management in potatoes.
The Xinlu Sn‐polymetallic ore field is located in the western Nanling Polymetallic Belt in northeastern Guangxi, South China, where a number of typical skarn‐, hydrothermal vein‐type tin deposits ...have developed. There are two types of Sn deposits: skarn‐type and sulfide‐quartz vein‐type. The tin mineralizations mainly occur on the south side of the Guposhan granitic complex pluton and within its outer contact zone. To constrain the Sn mineralization age and further understand its genetic links to the Guposhan granitic complex, a series of geochronological works has been conducted at the Liuheao deposit of the ore field using high‐precision zircon SHRIMP U‐Pb, molybdenite Re‐Os, and muscovite Ar‐Ar dating methods. The results show that the biotite‐monzogranite, which is part of the Xinlu intrusive unit of the Guposhan complex pluton, has a SHRIMP U‐Pb zircon age of 161.0 ± 1.5 Ma. The skarn‐type ore has a 40Ar‐39Ar muscovite plateau age of 160 ± 2 Ma (same as its isochron age), and the sulfide‐quartz vein‐type ore yields an Re‐Os molybdenite isochron age of 154.4 ± 3.5 Ma. The magmatic‐hydrothermal geochronological sequence demonstrated that the hydrothermal mineralization took place immediately following the emplacement of the monzogranite, with the skarn metasomatic mineralization stage predating the sulfide mineralization stage. Geochronologically, we have compared this ore field with 26 typical Sn deposits distributed along the Nanling Polymetallic Belt, leading to the suggestion of the magmatic‐metallogenic processes in the Xinlu ore field (ca. 161–154 Ma) as a component of the Early Yanshanian large‐scale Sn‐polymetallic mineralization event (peaked at 160–150 Ma) in the Nanling Range of South China. Petrogenesis of Sn‐producing granite and Sn‐polymetallic mineralization were probably caused by crust–mantle interaction as a result of significant lithospheric extension and thinning in South China in the Late Jurassic.
Compared with 26 typical Sn deposits show that the magmatic‐metallogenic processes in the Xinlu ore field (ca. 161‐154 Ma) as a component of the Early Yanshanian large‐scale Sn‐polymetallic mineralization event (peaked at 160‐150 Ma) in the Nanling Range of South China.
Sanshui basin is one of the typical Mesozoic–Cenozoic intra-continental rift basins with voluminous Cenozoic volcanic rocks in southeastern China. Thirteen cycles of volcanic eruptions and two ...dominant types of volcanic rocks, basalt and trachyte–rhyolite, have been identified within the basin. Both basalt and trachyte–rhyolite members of this bimodal suit have high values of εNd (+2.3 to +6.2) and different Sr isotopic compositions (initial
87Sr/
86Sr ratios are 0.70461–0.70625 and 0.70688–0.71266 for basalts and trachyte–rhyolite, respectively), reflecting distinct magma evolution processes or different magma sources. The results presented in this study indicate that both of the trachyte–rhyolite and basaltic magmas were derived from similar independent primitive mantle, but experienced different evolution processes. The trachyte-rhyolitic magma experienced significant clinopyroxene and plagioclase fractionational crystallization from deeper magma chamber with significant crustal contamination, while the basaltic magmas experienced significant olivine and clinopyroxene fractionational crystallization in shallower magma chamber with minor crustal contamination. New zircon U–Pb dating confirms an initial volcanic eruption at 60
Ma and the last activity at 43
Ma. Geologic, geochemical, and geochronological data suggest that the inception of the Sanshui basin was resulted from upwelling of a mantle plume. The Sanshui basin widened due to subsequent east–west extension and the subsequent volcanism constantly occurred in the center of the basin. Evidence also supports a temporal and spatial association with other rift basins in southeastern China. The upwelling mantle plume became more active during late Cenozoic time and most likely triggered opening of other basins, including the young South China Sea basin.