Distribution, types, metallogenic regularity and exploration potential analysis of zirconium deposit in China

Distribution, types, metallogenic regularity and exploration potential analysis of zirconium deposit in China

ABSTRACT: Zirconium, prized for its exceptional corrosion resistance, high melting point, and unique nuclear properties, plays a critical role in multiple industrial sectors globally. Zirconium deposits are categorized into endogenetic and exogenetic types in China. Endogenetic deposits – including...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qiong-wen Liang, Yong-shen Li, Ying-cai Sun, De-gao Zhai, Hai-rui Sun, Shi-xu Zhou, Bang-lu Zhang, Xin Lü, Jin-chi Xu, Xue-feng Li, Yi-lun Du
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-04-01
Series:China Geology
Subjects:
Zirconium deposit
Metallogenic regularity
Critical mineral resources
Prospecting potential
Geological survey engineering
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2096519225000783
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:ABSTRACT: Zirconium, prized for its exceptional corrosion resistance, high melting point, and unique nuclear properties, plays a critical role in multiple industrial sectors globally. Zirconium deposits are categorized into endogenetic and exogenetic types in China. Endogenetic deposits – including alkaline rock-, alkaline granite-, and pegmatite-type mineralizations – predominantly occur along the Tarim Craton's northern margin, the North China Craton, the southern Greater Khingan metallogenic belt, and the Yangtze Craton's western margin. Exogenetic deposits, comprising clastic sedimentary, weathering crust, and fragmentation types, are concentrated in South China's coastal zones. Endogenetic mineralization formed during Permian-Cretaceous magmatic-hydrothermal events linked to evolved alkaline granitic systems, while exogenetic deposits developed in Quaternary periods through weathering of zirconium-rich protoliths. However, economic extraction of endogenetic deposits remains constrained by rare earth element (REE) associations and radioactive complexities. Currently, China's most economically significant reserves derive from clastic sedimentary systems, particularly coastal placer deposits. This study systematically synthesizes the spatial distribution and metallogenic mechanisms of Chinese zirconium deposits, offering strategic insights for resource exploration and sustainable utilization.
ISSN:2589-9430

Similar Items