Hu Ruizhong

Collision belt between the Khanka block and the North China block in the Yanbian Region, Northeast China

The pre-Jurassic geotectonics in Northeast China and its adjacent regions are characterized by collision of microcontinental blocks. The Yanbian region lies between the North China block (NCB) and the Khanka block (KB). Along the Dashanzui-Antu-Kaishantun collision belt, the Yanbian pre-Jurassic fold belt can be divided into two parts. One part represents the western margin of the KB, which consists of Late Proterozoic metamorphic basement and a Permian active continental margin. The other one is located at the eastern margin of the NCB and is composed of Proterozoic passive margin deposits, where the Seluohe and Qinglongcun groups are developed, and rocks of the Permian passive margin. Collision of these two parts took place along the Dashanzui-Antu-Kaishantun collision zone during the Late Permian to Early Triassic, as evidenced by the emplacement of syncollision granites and A-type granites. In northeast China and adjacent regions, a series of microcontinental blocks collided with one other from the end of Early Paleozoic to the Early Triassic. The collision event that took place in the Yanbian region may represent the latest collision event in the Paleo-Asian oceanic domain

Tectonic setting and nature of the provenance of sedimentary rocks in Lanping Mesozoic-Cenozoic Basin: Evidence from geochemistry of sandstones

The geochemical composition of sandstones in the sedimentary basin is controlled mainly by the tectonic setting of the provenance, and it is therefore possible to reveal the tectonic setting of the provenance and the nature of source rocks in terms of the geochemical composition of sandstones. The major elements, rare-earth elements and trace elements of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic sandstones in the Lanping Basin are studied in this paper, revealing that the tectonic settings of the provenance for Mesozoic-Cenozoic sedimentary rocks in the Lanping Basin belong to a passive continental margin and a continental island arc. Combined with the data on sedimentary facies and palaeogeography, it is referred that the eastern part of the basin is located mainly at the tectonic setting of the passive continental margin before Mesozoic, whereas the western part may be represented by a continental island arc. This is compatible with the regional geology data. The protoliths of sedimentary rocks should be derived from the upper continental crust, and are composed mainly of felsic rocks, mixed with some andesitic rocks and old sediment components. Therefore, the Lanping Mesozoic-Cenozoic Basin is a typical continental-type basin. This provides strong geochemical evidence for the evolution of the paleo-Tethys and the basin-range transition.

The genesis of Lincang germanium deposit — A preliminary investigation

The mechanism of formation of the Lincang germanium deposit is discussed in the light of the spatial distribution of Ge-rich coal and siliceous rocks, the sulfur isotopic composition of pyrite in the Ge-rich coal, the variation of Ge abundance in the coal seams and the geochemical characteristics of the siliceous rocks. The results show that the siliceous rocks intercalated with the coal seams were deposited from a hydrothermal medium through which germanium was enriched in the coal beds. The primary source of germanium is thought to be the Ge-rich granite in the basement of the sedimentary basin.The mechanism of formation of the Lincang germanium deposit is discussed in the light of the spatial distribution of Ge-rich coal and siliceous rocks, the sulfur isotopic composition of pyrite in the Ge-rich coal, the variation of Ge abundance in the coal seams and the geochemical characteristics of the siliceous rocks. The results show that the siliceous rocks intercalated with the coal seams were deposited from a hydrothermal medium through which germanium was enriched in the coal beds. The primary source of germanium is thought to be the Ge-rich granite in the basement of the sedimentary basin.

REE and trace element geochemistry of Yinachang Fe-Cu-REE deposit, Yunnan Province, China

REE and other trace elements in ores, wall rocks, alkaline volcanic rocks and diabase dikes have been determined in the Yinachang Fe-Cu-REE deposit. Comparative studies of REE and trace element geochemical characteristics of these geological bodies indicate that the ores and alkaline volcanic rocks contain abundant REE and Y (65.9−4633) × 10−6, with higher abundances of As, Mo, Nb, Co and U than those of the crust. Their chondrite-normalized patterns show a strong enrichment of LREE and a positive Eu anomaly, in contrast to those of the dolomites which are characterized by slight LREE enrichment and moderate negative Eu anomaly. The REE patterns of ores are similar to those of hydrothermal sediment cores in the East Pacific Rise, whereas the REE patterns of dolomites are similar to those of PAAS (Post-Archean Average Shale). In combination with the geological setting of the deposit, the primary ore-forming fluids might have higher REE and volatile elements, and might have been derived from mantle degassing, or the alkaline volcanic magmas. The Yinachang Fe-Cu-REE ore deposit is considered to be of volcanic exhalation-hydrothermal sedimentary origin.

U-Pb Zircon Age, Geochemical, and Sr-Nd-Pb Isotopic Constraints on the Age and Origin of Mafic Dykes from Eastern Shandong Province, Eastern China

: U-Pb zircon age, geochemical, and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic data of mafic dykes from eastern Shandong Province, eastern China is reported herein. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb zircon analyses of two samples from the investigated mafic dykes yield consistent ages ranging from 121.9 Ma ± 0.47 Ma to 122.9 Ma ± 0.61 Ma. The mafic dykes are characterized by high (87Sr/86Sr)i ranging from 0.7087 to 0.7089, low eNd(t) values ranging from −16.9 to −17.8, 206Pb/204Pb = 17.15 to 17.17, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.45 to 15.47, and 208Pb/204Pb = 37.59 to 37.68. Results from the current study suggest that the mafic dykes are derived from partial melting of ancient lithospheric mantle that was variably hybridized by melts derived from foundered lower crustal eclogite. The mafic dykes may have been generated through subsequent insignificant crystal fractionation and very minor crustal contamination during magma ascent. Combined with previous studies, the current findings provide new evidence that the intense lithospheric thinning beneath the eastern Shandong Province of eastern China occurred at ∼120 Ma, and that this condition was caused by the removal of the lower lithosphere (mantle and lower crust).

Geochemistry of the Yutangba Se deposit in western Hubei, China

The Yutangba Se deposit is a rare high-Se deposit in the world and it is well known for its high contents of Se, which reach 8590 × 10−6. The ore-hosted rocks are dominated by cherts that have been well developed. Enrichment of selenium in Se-rich ores is obviously controlled by stratigraphic position and lithological character. The closer the rocks are to the Maokou Formation cherts, the more they contain selenium, but in case the stratigraphic horizons are close to one another, the enrichment of selenium would be controlled by lithological character. In the Se ores and abandoned stone coal pile at the Yutangba Se deposit there have been found large amounts of independent Se minerals, for instance, achavalite and a variety of forms of native selenium. Native selenium minerals present in the abandoned stone coal pile are the outcome of a combination of natural factors and anthropologie activities. For example, lime making will create a closed environment favoring the growth of native selenium, and the reduction of selenium will lead to its secondary enrichment. Starting with the study of ore-forming fluids. Systematic studies have been conducted on fluid inclusions separated from the main ore veins in the mining district for their homogenization temperatures, salinities and density, and the results show that fluid inclusions contained in ores from the Yutangba Se deposit are large in number and diverse in form, dominated by primary ones. The homogenization temperatures of two types of fluid inclusions are within the range of 173.2–247.5°C, individually up to 300°C or even higher; the salinities of fluids in fluid inclusions in quartz and calcite are 5.9%–10.1% and 3.9%–4.5%, respectively; their densities vary from 0.79–0.93 g/cm3. Extensive discovery of Se minerals due to secondary enrichment of selenium in the stone coal provides important clues to the improvements on the metallurgical and recovery technologies for selenium in the black shale series of China, and also is of great significance in expanding selenium reserves and relax the situation of lacking selenium resources on a global scale.

REE geochemistry of Early Cambrian phosphorites from Gezhongwu Formation at Zhijin, Guizhou Province, China

The Cambrian Gezhongwu Formation in Southwest China is the lowest Cambrian phosphorite unit. The Formation belongs to the Meishucun stage with small shelly fossils. Rare-earth element (REE) data from the Gezhongwu phosphorites of Zhijin documented the depositional conditions. The total REE concentrations are high in the Gezhongwu phosphorites, which are especially rich in yttrium. The PAAS-normalized REE patterns of the Gezhongwu phosphorites are characterized by negative Ce anomalies and slight enrichment of MREE, as being hat-shaped. The hat-shaped patterns suggest that the REE originated from depositional environments rather than from subsequent diagenesis. The negative Ce anomalies indicate that the depositional environments are oxic. The positive Eu anomaly, the high total REE and the hat-shaped REE pattern revealed contributions from the normal marine environment mixed with hydrothermal water to the REE budget of the Gezhongwu phosphorites.

Sedimentary-volcanic tuffs formed during the early Middle Triassic volcanic event in Guizhou Province and their stratigraphic significance

The sedimentary-volcanic tuff (locally called “green-bean rock”) formed during the early Middle Triassic volcanic event in Guizhou Province is characterized as being thin, stable, widespread, short in forming time and predominantly green in color. The green-bean rock is a perfect indicator for stratigraphic division. Its petrographic and geochemical features are unique, and it is composed mainly of glassy fragments and subordinately of crystal fragments and volcanic ash balls. Analysis of the major and trace elements and rare-earth elements (REE), as well as the related diagrams, permits us to believe that the green-bean rock is acidic volcanic material of the calc-alkaline series formed in the Indosinian orogenic belt on the Sino-Vietnam border, which was atmospherically transported to the tectonically stable areas and then deposited as sedimentary-volcanic rocks there. According to the age of green-bean rock, it is deduced that the boundary age of the Middle-Lower Triassic overlain by the sedimentary-volcanic tuff is about 247 Ma.

REE geochemistry of primitive ore fluids in Ailaoshan gold belt, Southwest China

The REE patterns of primitive ore solutions in the Ailaoshan gold belt are characterized by significant enrichment of LREE, a weak negative anomaly of Eu and a rather strong negative anomaly of Ce. In conjunction with the tension crust in the region, the ore solutions are thought to be originated from a CQ2-rich fluid as a result of mantle degassing.

Transport and deposition of uranium in hydrothermal ore fluids as exemplified by Uranium Deposit 302

Uranium Deposit 302 is a large hydrothermal uranium deposit occurring in fault zones within a granite. Pitchblende is the only primary uranium mineral found in the ore. The associated minerals include quartz, fluorite, hematite and pyrite.This paper focusses on the mechanism of transport and deposition of uranium in hydrothermal oreforming solutions responsible for the deposit. It is concluded that uranium might be not only oxidized in a relatively reducing environment, but also reduced in a relatively oxidizing environment, depending on the speciation of uranium in the solutions. The formation of pitchblende is closely related to uranium reduction at the stage of uranium mineralization.