Fe–Cu Isotope Characteristics and Geological Significance of the Yushui Seafloor Massive Sulfide Deposit in the Late Paleozoic Marine Depression, Eastern Guangdong Province
The Yong’an-Meixian Late Paleozoic Hercynian depression, located in western Fujian-eastern Guangdong, is an important metallogenic belt in China. The Yushui copper-polymetallic massive sulfide deposit from the middle part of the depression, with extremely high copper grades, has attracted considerab...
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| author | Yi Huang Yan Wang Zhongwei Wu Xiaoming Sun Fan Yang Guiyong Shi Yao Guan Zhengxin Yin |
| author_facet | Yi Huang Yan Wang Zhongwei Wu Xiaoming Sun Fan Yang Guiyong Shi Yao Guan Zhengxin Yin |
| author_sort | Yi Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Yong’an-Meixian Late Paleozoic Hercynian depression, located in western Fujian-eastern Guangdong, is an important metallogenic belt in China. The Yushui copper-polymetallic massive sulfide deposit from the middle part of the depression, with extremely high copper grades, has attracted considerable attention and research interest from geologists for years. In most previous research, the ore-forming material source and metallogenic process were inferred from indirect evidence (i.e., using H-O-C-S isotopic systematics as geochemical tracers). In this paper, the ore-forming process of the Yushui deposit has been studied directly by using nontraditional stable (Fe–Cu) isotopes for the first time, providing new evidence for the genesis of this deposit. The results show that there is a relatively negative Fe-Cu isotopic composition in the Yushui deposit, with δ<sup>56</sup>Fe values ranging from −0.519 to −1.063‰ and δ<sup>65</sup>Cu values ranging from −1.539 to −1.609‰, respectively. The fractionation of Fe isotopes is primarily attributed to hydrothermal leaching of the basement strata by ore-forming fluids, along with rapid precipitation of sulfides during the ore-forming process. On the other hand, the fractionation of Cu isotopes is probably controlled by the relatively low temperature of ore formation, sulfide precipitation and the involvement of organic matter in mineralization. Combining our findings with previous studies, the ore-forming materials of the Yushui deposit are likely derived from the basement ore-bearing strata (pre-Devonian strata) through leaching by hydrothermal fluids. Moreover, some of the ore bodies might have been locally overprinted by late-stage hydrothermal reworking and alteration. |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:42:59Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-bd946cda668d48fca86223b31fb0db932023-11-19T02:21:16ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2023-08-01138107110.3390/min13081071Fe–Cu Isotope Characteristics and Geological Significance of the Yushui Seafloor Massive Sulfide Deposit in the Late Paleozoic Marine Depression, Eastern Guangdong ProvinceYi Huang0Yan Wang1Zhongwei Wu2Xiaoming Sun3Fan Yang4Guiyong Shi5Yao Guan6Zhengxin Yin7South China Sea Institute of Planning and Environmental Research, State Oceanic Administration, Guangzhou 510300, ChinaSouth China Sea Institute of Planning and Environmental Research, State Oceanic Administration, Guangzhou 510300, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, ChinaSouth China Sea Institute of Planning and Environmental Research, State Oceanic Administration, Guangzhou 510300, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, ChinaFourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai 536000, ChinaSouth China Sea Marine Survey and Technology Center, State Oceanic Administration, Guangzhou 510300, ChinaThe Yong’an-Meixian Late Paleozoic Hercynian depression, located in western Fujian-eastern Guangdong, is an important metallogenic belt in China. The Yushui copper-polymetallic massive sulfide deposit from the middle part of the depression, with extremely high copper grades, has attracted considerable attention and research interest from geologists for years. In most previous research, the ore-forming material source and metallogenic process were inferred from indirect evidence (i.e., using H-O-C-S isotopic systematics as geochemical tracers). In this paper, the ore-forming process of the Yushui deposit has been studied directly by using nontraditional stable (Fe–Cu) isotopes for the first time, providing new evidence for the genesis of this deposit. The results show that there is a relatively negative Fe-Cu isotopic composition in the Yushui deposit, with δ<sup>56</sup>Fe values ranging from −0.519 to −1.063‰ and δ<sup>65</sup>Cu values ranging from −1.539 to −1.609‰, respectively. The fractionation of Fe isotopes is primarily attributed to hydrothermal leaching of the basement strata by ore-forming fluids, along with rapid precipitation of sulfides during the ore-forming process. On the other hand, the fractionation of Cu isotopes is probably controlled by the relatively low temperature of ore formation, sulfide precipitation and the involvement of organic matter in mineralization. Combining our findings with previous studies, the ore-forming materials of the Yushui deposit are likely derived from the basement ore-bearing strata (pre-Devonian strata) through leaching by hydrothermal fluids. Moreover, some of the ore bodies might have been locally overprinted by late-stage hydrothermal reworking and alteration.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/8/1071Fe–Cu isotopesmineralization processore-forming material sourcemassive sulfideYushui deposit |
| spellingShingle | Yi Huang Yan Wang Zhongwei Wu Xiaoming Sun Fan Yang Guiyong Shi Yao Guan Zhengxin Yin Fe–Cu Isotope Characteristics and Geological Significance of the Yushui Seafloor Massive Sulfide Deposit in the Late Paleozoic Marine Depression, Eastern Guangdong Province Minerals Fe–Cu isotopes mineralization process ore-forming material source massive sulfide Yushui deposit |
| title | Fe–Cu Isotope Characteristics and Geological Significance of the Yushui Seafloor Massive Sulfide Deposit in the Late Paleozoic Marine Depression, Eastern Guangdong Province |
| title_full | Fe–Cu Isotope Characteristics and Geological Significance of the Yushui Seafloor Massive Sulfide Deposit in the Late Paleozoic Marine Depression, Eastern Guangdong Province |
| title_fullStr | Fe–Cu Isotope Characteristics and Geological Significance of the Yushui Seafloor Massive Sulfide Deposit in the Late Paleozoic Marine Depression, Eastern Guangdong Province |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fe–Cu Isotope Characteristics and Geological Significance of the Yushui Seafloor Massive Sulfide Deposit in the Late Paleozoic Marine Depression, Eastern Guangdong Province |
| title_short | Fe–Cu Isotope Characteristics and Geological Significance of the Yushui Seafloor Massive Sulfide Deposit in the Late Paleozoic Marine Depression, Eastern Guangdong Province |
| title_sort | fe cu isotope characteristics and geological significance of the yushui seafloor massive sulfide deposit in the late paleozoic marine depression eastern guangdong province |
| topic | Fe–Cu isotopes mineralization process ore-forming material source massive sulfide Yushui deposit |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/8/1071 |
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