Phanerozoic magmatic evolution and metallogenesis in the Eastern Jilin and Heilongjiang Provinces, China

Abstract

ABSTRACT The eastern Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces in China are located at the junction between the Paleo-Asian Ocean and Circum-Pacific metallogenic domains, and have been affected by the temporal transition between these domains and their superposition, resulting in intensive and complicated mineralization events. This paper provides a progress in exploration for, and geological research into, endogenic metal deposits and related magmatite in the eastern Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces. Four richly mineralized areas are recognized: (1) the Lesser Xing’an–Zhuangguangcai Range metallogenic belt; (2) the Jiamusi–Khanka metallogenic belt; (3) the Yanbian metallogenic belt; and (4) the Wandashan metallogenic belt. Four temporal peaks in magmatism and metallogenesis are identified: (1) Hercynian orogenic Au deposits (260–250 Ma) show a close relationship with magmatism related to a transitional syn- to post-collisional tectonic setting; (2) Indosinian orthomagmatic ore deposits (230–210 Ma) show a close relationship to mafic–ultramafic magmatism in a post-collision extensional setting; (3) porphyry Mo deposits and skarn deposits of the Late Triassic to the Early Jurassic (200–170 Ma) formed in a continental arc setting, triggered by slab subduction; and (4) late Yanshanian large-scale mineralization was caused by tectonic extension at 133–106 Ma. Yanshanian felsic magmatism shows clear metallogenetic specialization; i.e. each rock type hosts a different type of deposit. Graphic abstract