U–Pb geochronology of carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn ores reveals plate-tectonic evolution of eastern Asia during the early Paleozoic

Abstract The Mississippi Valley–type (MVT) deposits reached their maximum abundance during the final assembly of Pangea. The intense orogenic activity during this assembly in relatively low latitudes created abundant opportunities for the migration of sedimentary brines into the interior carbonate p...

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Main Authors: Bin Li, Wen-Dong Zhang, Jian-Xin Zhao, Peng Liu, Jing-Ping Feng, Yue-Xing Feng, Yang Xiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-10-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-76170-x
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author Bin Li
Wen-Dong Zhang
Jian-Xin Zhao
Peng Liu
Jing-Ping Feng
Yue-Xing Feng
Yang Xiao
author_facet Bin Li
Wen-Dong Zhang
Jian-Xin Zhao
Peng Liu
Jing-Ping Feng
Yue-Xing Feng
Yang Xiao
author_sort Bin Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The Mississippi Valley–type (MVT) deposits reached their maximum abundance during the final assembly of Pangea. The intense orogenic activity during this assembly in relatively low latitudes created abundant opportunities for the migration of sedimentary brines into the interior carbonate platforms landward of the orogenic belts, leading to the formation of MVT deposits. Thus, dating the MVT deposits can potentially aid in the reconstruction of the plate tectonic evolution during the assembly of Pangea. The Yangtze Craton hosts significant carbonate-hosted Zn–Pb deposits (> 60 Mt Pb + Zn metals), accounting for 30% of China’s Zn–Pb resources. However, determining the timing of zinc and lead mineralization in these reservoirs is challenging. This study employs LA-ICP-MS U–Pb geochronology on calcites to date Zn–Pb deposits hosted in Lower Cambrian limestone in the Huayuan orefield. Three generations of calcite formation were dated: the first recorded the pre-ore deposition of Lower Cambrian limestone at 517 ± 10 Ma, the second marked a hydrothermal event linked to stratiform sphalerite ore formation at 501.4 ± 8.4 Ma, and the third was associated with discordant breccia-hosted Zn–Pb mineralization at 397.5 ± 9.6 Ma. Our results indicate that Paleozoic carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn mineralization in the Yangtze Craton is linked to (1) the final assembly of Gondwana in the late Cambrian-early Ordovician (520–480 Ma); and (2) the intracontinental orogeny response to Jiangnan Uplift (420–400 Ma). This study highlights the temporal relationship between low temperature carbonate-hosted mineralization and orogenic events that are consistent with classic MVT models worldwide. It also contributes geochronological data for the reconstruction of plate-tectonic evolution during Pangea assembly. Furthermore, it demonstrates the potential of in situ U–Pb calcite geochronology to date ore deposits lacking syn-ore minerals suitable for traditional dating methods.
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spelling doaj-art-60fed096efa145e5987137bf0ac28ed92025-08-20T02:11:29ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-10-0114111710.1038/s41598-024-76170-xU–Pb geochronology of carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn ores reveals plate-tectonic evolution of eastern Asia during the early PaleozoicBin Li0Wen-Dong Zhang1Jian-Xin Zhao2Peng Liu3Jing-Ping Feng4Yue-Xing Feng5Yang Xiao6Key Laboratory of Metallogenic Prediction of Nonferrous Metals and Geological Environment Monitoring (Ministry of Education), School of Geosciences and Info-Physics, Central South UniversityKey Laboratory of Metallogenic Prediction of Nonferrous Metals and Geological Environment Monitoring (Ministry of Education), School of Geosciences and Info-Physics, Central South UniversityRadiogenic Isotope Facility, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of QueenslandDepartment of Geology, Northwest UniversityNatural Resources Survey Institute of Hunan ProvinceRadiogenic Isotope Facility, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of QueenslandSichuan Chuangyuan Microspectrum Technology Co., LtdAbstract The Mississippi Valley–type (MVT) deposits reached their maximum abundance during the final assembly of Pangea. The intense orogenic activity during this assembly in relatively low latitudes created abundant opportunities for the migration of sedimentary brines into the interior carbonate platforms landward of the orogenic belts, leading to the formation of MVT deposits. Thus, dating the MVT deposits can potentially aid in the reconstruction of the plate tectonic evolution during the assembly of Pangea. The Yangtze Craton hosts significant carbonate-hosted Zn–Pb deposits (> 60 Mt Pb + Zn metals), accounting for 30% of China’s Zn–Pb resources. However, determining the timing of zinc and lead mineralization in these reservoirs is challenging. This study employs LA-ICP-MS U–Pb geochronology on calcites to date Zn–Pb deposits hosted in Lower Cambrian limestone in the Huayuan orefield. Three generations of calcite formation were dated: the first recorded the pre-ore deposition of Lower Cambrian limestone at 517 ± 10 Ma, the second marked a hydrothermal event linked to stratiform sphalerite ore formation at 501.4 ± 8.4 Ma, and the third was associated with discordant breccia-hosted Zn–Pb mineralization at 397.5 ± 9.6 Ma. Our results indicate that Paleozoic carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn mineralization in the Yangtze Craton is linked to (1) the final assembly of Gondwana in the late Cambrian-early Ordovician (520–480 Ma); and (2) the intracontinental orogeny response to Jiangnan Uplift (420–400 Ma). This study highlights the temporal relationship between low temperature carbonate-hosted mineralization and orogenic events that are consistent with classic MVT models worldwide. It also contributes geochronological data for the reconstruction of plate-tectonic evolution during Pangea assembly. Furthermore, it demonstrates the potential of in situ U–Pb calcite geochronology to date ore deposits lacking syn-ore minerals suitable for traditional dating methods.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-76170-xAssembly of PangeaCarbonate-hosted Pb–Zn depositsCalcite U–Pb geochronologySouth China
spellingShingle Bin Li
Wen-Dong Zhang
Jian-Xin Zhao
Peng Liu
Jing-Ping Feng
Yue-Xing Feng
Yang Xiao
U–Pb geochronology of carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn ores reveals plate-tectonic evolution of eastern Asia during the early Paleozoic
Scientific Reports
Assembly of Pangea
Carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn deposits
Calcite U–Pb geochronology
South China
title U–Pb geochronology of carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn ores reveals plate-tectonic evolution of eastern Asia during the early Paleozoic
title_full U–Pb geochronology of carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn ores reveals plate-tectonic evolution of eastern Asia during the early Paleozoic
title_fullStr U–Pb geochronology of carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn ores reveals plate-tectonic evolution of eastern Asia during the early Paleozoic
title_full_unstemmed U–Pb geochronology of carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn ores reveals plate-tectonic evolution of eastern Asia during the early Paleozoic
title_short U–Pb geochronology of carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn ores reveals plate-tectonic evolution of eastern Asia during the early Paleozoic
title_sort u pb geochronology of carbonate hosted pb zn ores reveals plate tectonic evolution of eastern asia during the early paleozoic
topic Assembly of Pangea
Carbonate-hosted Pb–Zn deposits
Calcite U–Pb geochronology
South China
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-76170-x
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