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Metallogenic Regularity and Metallographic Prediction of Strategic Deposits

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A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Deposits".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 7887

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Shanbao Liu

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Guest Editor

Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Interests: metallogenetic regularities and prediction of Cu-Au and Li-Be deposits

Dr. Chenghui Wang

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Guest Editor

Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Interests: metallogenetic regularities and prediction of Au and Li-Be-Nb-Ta deposits

Dr. Zheng Zhao

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Guest Editor

Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Interests: metallogenetic regularities and prediction of W-Sn and Co-Ni deposits

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, due to the rapid development of new energy sources, new materials and emerging industries, the demand for strategic metals has increased sharply. Some of these metals have strong correlations in mineralization processes, such as W-Sn, Co-Ni ,Li-Be and Cu-Au. Therefore, the metallogenic regularity of these strategic metals has become a frequently investigated topic in research due to the increasing investment of prospecting. This Special Issue aims to introduce the latest advances in metallogenic regularity and prospecting prediction of these strategic metals, including deposit geology, mineralogy, mineralization-related petrology, geochemistry, geochronology and metallogenesis, so as to help summarize the spatial–temporal distribution of strategic metal deposits worldwide and further search for areas with metallogenic potential.

This Special Issue focuses on the following topics related to strategic metals (such as W, Sn Li, Be, Nb, Ta, Co, Ni, Cu and Au): (1) the geological background, occurrence, and metallogenesis of strategic deposits; (2) the mineralogical, geochemical, and geochronological characteristics of strategic deposits; and (3) summaries of metallogenic regularity and prospecting potential evaluation of different types of strategic deposits.

Dr. Shanbao Liu
Dr. Chenghui Wang
Dr. Zheng Zhao
Guest Editors

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Keywords

strategic metals
metallogenic regularity and prediction
W-Sn deposit
Co-Ni deposit
Li-Be-Nb-Ta deposit

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 8943 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Micro-Topographic Controls on Rare Earth Element Accumulation and Fractionation in Weathering Profiles: Case Study of Ion-Adsorption Rare Earth Element Deposit in Hedi, Zhejiang Province, China

by Wenlin Guo, Zhi Zhao, Chengshan Wang, Denghong Wang, Xiaorong Chen, Xiaoliang Dang, Wei Zhang and Chenhui Zhao

Minerals 2024, 14(11), 1178; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14111178 - 20 Nov 2024

Viewed by 301

Abstract

Ion-adsorption rare earth element (REE) deposits are a major source of REEs and are found mainly in China. The formation of such deposits is affected by a combination of endogenic and exogenic factors. This study investigated the effect of micro-topography on the REE distribution in four weathering profiles at different topographic sites on a knoll in Hedi, Zhejiang Province, China. The weathering profile and REE accumulation are both most developed at mid-slope positions of the knoll. The intensity of chemical weathering decreases in the order of mid-slope > base > summit. As weathering progressed, REE enrichment initially increased but later decreased, with a progressive increase in light/heavy REE fractionation. REE fractionation is more pronounced on the north-facing slope than on the south-facing slope. Weathering degrees and clay mineral characteristics are key factors influencing the varying REE distributions on the knoll. Water leaching and the evolution of clay minerals towards higher maturity reduce REE adsorption capacity. Clay minerals also play a significant role in REE fractionation; the abundance of these minerals and the presence of illite enable the retention of more HREEs with minimal desorption. Taking into account water content, it is inferred that hydrological conditions, modulated by the micro-topography, strongly affect the depth and extent of REE accumulation, as well as fractionation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metallogenic Regularity and Metallographic Prediction of Strategic Deposits)

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21 pages, 5675 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genesis of the Ke’eryin Two-Mica Monzogranite in the Ke’eryin Pegmatite-Type Lithium Ore Field, Songpan–Garze Orogenic Belt: Evidence from Lithium Isotopes

by Xin Li, Hongzhang Dai, Shanbao Liu, Denghong Wang, Fan Huang, Jinhua Qin, Yan Sun and Haiyang Zhu

Minerals 2024, 14(7), 687; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14070687 - 29 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 974

Abstract

Previous studies on the Ke’eryin pegmatite-type lithium ore field in the Songpan–Ganzi Orogenic Belt have explored the characteristics of the parent rock but have not precisely determined its magma source area. This uncertainty limits our understanding of the regularity of lithium ore formation in this region. In this study, to address the issue of the precise source area of the parent rock of lithium mineralization, a detailed analysis of the Li isotope composition of the ore-forming parent rock (Ke’eryin two-mica monzogranite) and its potential source rocks (Triassic Xikang Group metamorphic rocks) was conducted. The δ⁷Li values of the Ke’eryin two-mica monzogranite, Xikang Group metasandstone, and Xikang Group mica schist are −3.3–−0.7‰ (average: −1.43‰), +0.1–+6.9‰ (average: +3.83‰), and −9.1–0‰ (average: −5.00‰), respectively. The Li isotopic composition of the Ke’eryin two-mica monzogranite is notably different from the metasandstone and aligns more closely with the mica schist, suggesting that the mica schist is its primary source rock. The heavy Li isotopic composition of the two-mica monzogranite compared to the mica schist may have resulted from the separation of the peritectic garnet into the residual phase during the biotite dehydration melting process. Moreover, the low-temperature weathering of the source rocks may have been the main factor leading to the lighter lithium isotope composition of the Xikang Group mica schist compared to the metasandstone. Further analysis suggests that continental crust weathering and crustal folding and thickening play crucial roles in the enrichment of lithium during multi-cycle orogenies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metallogenic Regularity and Metallographic Prediction of Strategic Deposits)

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25 pages, 6612 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Skarn Formation and Zn–Cu Mineralization in the Dachang Sn Polymetallic Ore Field, Guangxi: Insights from Skarn Rock Assemblage and Geochemistry

by Lei He, Ting Liang, Denghong Wang, Jianxin Zhang and Bosheng Liu

Minerals 2024, 14(2), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14020193 - 12 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1466

Abstract

The Dachang is a world-class, super-giant Sn polymetallic ore field mainly composed of Zn–Cu ore bodies proximal to the granitic pluton and Sn polymetallic ore bodies distal to the granitic pluton. In this study, we used petrographic studies and major and trace element geochemistry with calc-silicates from the Zn–Cu ore bodies to constrain the physicochemical conditions of hydrothermal fluids during skarn rock formation and the evolution of ore-forming elements. Two skarn stages were identified based on petrographic observations: Prograde skarn rocks (Stage I), containing garnet, vesuvianite, pyroxene, wollastonite, and retrograde skarn rocks (Stage II), containing axinite, actinolite, epidote, and chlorite. The retrograde skarn rocks are closely associated with mineralization. The geochemical results show that the garnets in the Dachang ore field belong to the grossular–andradite solid solution, in which the early generation of garnet is mainly composed of grossular (average Gro₇₂And₂₅), while the later generation of garnet is mainly composed of andradite (average Gro₃₉And₅₉); the vesuvianites are Al-rich vesuvianites; the pyroxenes form a diopside–hedenbergite solid solution with a composition of Di_3–86Hd_14–96; the axinites are mainly composed of ferroaxinite; and the actinolites are Fe-actinolite. The mineral assemblage of the skarn rocks indicates that the ore-forming fluid was in a relatively reduced state in the early prograde skarn stage. As the ore-forming fluid evolved, the oxygen fugacity of the ore-forming fluid increased. During the final skarn stage, the ore-forming fluid changed from a relatively oxidized state to a reduced state. The skarn rocks have evolved from early Al-rich to late Fe-rich characteristics, indicating that the early ore-forming fluid was mainly magmatic exsolution fluid, which may mainly reflect the characteristics of magmatic fluids, and the late Fe-rich characteristics of the skarn rocks may indicate that the late hydrothermal fluid was strongly influenced by country rocks. Trace element analyses showed that the Sn content decreased from the prograde skarn stage to the retrograde skarn stage, indicating that Sn mineralization was not achieved by activating and extracting Sn from prograde skarn rocks by hydrothermal fluids. The significant enrichment of Sn in the magmatic hydrothermal fluid is a necessary condition for Sn mineralization. There are various volatile-rich minerals such as axinite, vesuvianite, fluorite, and tourmaline in the Dachang ore field, indicating that the ore-forming fluid contained extensive volatiles B and F, which may be the fundamental reason for the large-scale mineralization of the Dachang ore field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metallogenic Regularity and Metallographic Prediction of Strategic Deposits)

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17 pages, 7779 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genesis of the Large-Scale Kamado Magnesite Deposit on the Tibetan Plateau

by Xuhui Yu, Guyue Hu, Yuchuan Chen, Ying Xu, Han Chen, Denghong Wang, Fan Huang, Shuisheng You, Haiyong Liu, Liang He and Yubin Li

Minerals 2024, 14(1), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14010045 - 29 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1516

Abstract

Lacustrine strata-bound magnesite deposits associated with Alpine-type ultramafic rocks are hydrothermal in origin. The magnesite ores of the Kamado deposit are unconformably underlain by mid-Jurassic marine carbonate and ultramafic rocks of the Bangong-Nujiang ophiolite suite and are in fault contact with hanging wall rocks composed of siliceous sinter. Three types of cryptocrystalline magnesite ores can be identified in Kamado: (1) strata-bound massive magnesites, representing the main ore type in the upper part; (2) banded ores in the lower part; and (3) some vein and stockwork ore in the ultramafic wall rocks. Integrated scanning electron microscopy, C–O isotope analysis, and geochemical analyses were carried out on the Kamado deposit. The results indicate that: (1) the orebody is composed of magnesite, with accessory minerals of aragonite, opal, and chromite; (2) the siliceous sinter and relatively high B (32.0–68.1 ppm) and Li (14.7–23.4 ppm) contents of the magnesite ores reflect long-term spring activity in Kamado; (3) the light carbon (δ¹³C_V-PDB: −4.7 ± 0.3‰ to −4.1 ± 0.6‰) and oxygen isotopic compositions (δ¹⁸O_V-SMOW: +12.3 ± 0.3 to +16.3 ± 0.1‰) of the stockwork ores in the foot wall rocks indicated that the carbon in fractures in the ultramafic rocks is from a mixture of marine carbonate and oxidized organic-rich sedimentary rocks, reflecting a typical “Kraubath-type” magnesite deposit; and (4) the relatively heavy carbon isotopic (δ¹³C_V-PDB: +8.7 ± 0.4‰ to +8.8 ± 0.3‰) composition of the banded magnesite ores in the lower segment may have formed from heavy CO₂ generated by anaerobic fermentation in the lakebed. Additionally, the carbon isotopic (δ¹³C_V-PDB: +7.3 ± 0.3‰ to +7.7 ± 0.7‰) composition of the massive magnesite ores in the upper segment indicates a decline in the participation of anaerobic fermentation. As this economically valuable deposit is of the strata-bound massive ore type, Kamado can be classified as a lacustrine hydrothermal-sedimentary magnesite deposit, formed by continuous spring activities under salt lakes on the Tibetan Plateau, with the Mg mainly being contributed by nearby ultramafic rocks and the carbon mainly being sourced from atmosphere-lake water exchange, with minor amounts from marine carbonate strata. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metallogenic Regularity and Metallographic Prediction of Strategic Deposits)

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27 pages, 20880 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geochemical Evidence for Genesis of Nb–Ta–Be Rare Metal Mineralization in Highly Fractionated Leucogranites at the Lalong Dome, Tethyan Himalaya, China

by Jiangang Fu, Guangming Li, Genhou Wang, Weikang Guo, Suiliang Dong, Yingxu Li, Hai Zhang, Wei Liang and Yanjie Jiao

Minerals 2023, 13(11), 1456; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13111456 - 19 Nov 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1522

Abstract

Leucogranites in the Lalong Dome are composed of two-mica granite, muscovite granite, albite granite, and pegmatite from core to rim. Albite granite-type Be–Nb–Ta rare metal ore bodies are hosted by albite granite and pegmatite. Based on field and petrographic observations and whole-rock geochemical data, highly differentiated leucogranites have been identified in the Lalong Dome. Two-mica granites, albite granites, and pegmatites yielded monazite ages of 23.6 Ma, 21.9 Ma, and 20.6 Ma, respectively. The timing of rare metal mineralization is 20.9 Ma using U–Pb columbite dating. Leucogranites have the following characteristics: high SiO₂ content (>73 wt.%); peraluminosity with high Al₂O₃ content (13.6–15.2 wt.%) and A/CNK (mostly > 1.1); low TiO₂, CaO, and MgO content; enrichment of Rb, Th, and U; depletion of Ba, Nb, Zr, Sr, and Ti; strong negative Eu anomalies; low εNd(t) values ranging from −12.7 to −9.77. These features show that the leucogranites are crust-derived high-potassium calc-alkaline and peraluminous S-type granites derived from muscovite dehydration melting under the water-absent condition, which possibly resulted from structural decompression responding to the activity of the South Tibetan detachment system (STDS). Geochemical data imply a continuous magma fractional crystallization process from two-mica granites through muscovite granites to albite granites and pegmatites. The differentiation index (Di) gradually strengthens from two-mica granite, muscovite granite, and albite granite to pegmatite, in which albite granite and pegmatite are highest (Di = 94). The Nb/Ta and Zr/Hf ratios of albite granite and pegmatite were less than 5 and 18, respectively, which suggests that albite granite and pegmatite belong to rare metal granites and have excellent potential for rare metal mineralization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metallogenic Regularity and Metallographic Prediction of Strategic Deposits)

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20 pages, 7601 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sources of Metallogenic Materials of the Saima Alkaline Rock-Hosted Niobium–Tantalum Deposit in the Liaoning Region: Evidence from the Sr-Nd-Pb and Li Isotopes

by Yue Wu, Nan Ju, Xin Liu, Lu Shi, Yuhui Feng and Danzhen Ma

Minerals 2023, 13(11), 1443; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13111443 - 15 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1266

Abstract

The Saima alkaline rock-hosted niobium–tantalum deposit (hereafter referred to as the Saima Deposit) is situated in the Liaodong Peninsula, which constitutes the eastern segment of the northern margin of the North China Craton. The rock types of the Saima Deposit include phonolite, nepheline syenite, and aegirine nepheline syenite, which hosts niobium–tantalum ore bodies. In this study, the primary niobium-bearing minerals identified include loparite, betafite, and fersmite. The Saima pluton is characterized as a potassium-rich, low-sodium, and peraluminous alkaline pluton. Trace element characteristics reveal that the metallization-associated syenite is enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs) such as K and Rb but is relatively depleted in high-field strength elements (HFSEs). As indicated by the rare earth element (REE) profile, the Saima pluton exhibits a high total REE content (∑REE), dominance of light REEs (LREEs), and scarcity of heavy REEs (HREEs). The Sr-Nd-Pd isotopic data suggest that aegirine nepheline syenite and nepheline syenite share consistent isotopic signatures, indicating a common origin. The Saima alkaline pluton displays elevated I_Sr values ranging from 0.70712 to 0.70832 coupled with low ε_Nd(t) values between −12.84 and −11.86 and two-stage model ages (t_DM2) from 1967 to 2047 Ma. These findings indicate that the metallogenic materials for the Saima Deposit derive from both an enriched mantle source and some crustal components. The lithium (Li) isotopic fractionation observed during the genesis of the Saima pluton could be attributed to the differential diffusion rates of ⁶Li and ⁷Li under non-equilibrium fluid–rock interactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metallogenic Regularity and Metallographic Prediction of Strategic Deposits)

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