Geochemistry and petrogenesis of Triassic mineralized porphyries in the Geza of the Sanjiang orogenic belt, southwestern China

<p>The Geza Andean-type arc is located in the southwestern Sanjiang tectonic belt (i.e. Jinsha, Lancang, and Nujiang River) of SW China, which is a product of the subduction of the Garzê–Litang oceanic crust beneath Zhongdian landmasses in the Late Triassic (235–204 Ma). The Geza Andean-type arc is an important belt of Cu-rich polymetallic mineralization that was recently discovered in China. Prolonged regional tectono-magmatic activity and several episodes of rich mineralization throughout the tectonic evolution of the Andean-type arc produced the super-large Pulang porphyry Cu deposits, the large Xuejiping porphyry Cu deposits, and the large Hongshan skarn-porphyry Cu polymetallic deposits. Here we report new LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb age of Songnuo and Qiansui intrusive rocks, and whole-rock major and trace element compositions of the Late Triassic mineralized porphyries from Geza in this region. Zircon U–Pb dating of the Qiansui quartz diorite porphyrite revealed a crystallization age of 220.3 ± 0.66 Ma, for the Songnuo quartz monzonite porphyry, a crystallization age of 204.7 ± 0.72 Ma. The Geza Andean-type arc granitic belt can be divided into three porphyry subzones based on the stage of Andean-type arc orogenic development and the distribution, composition, and geochemical characteristics of the intrusive rocks. Lithogeochemical characteristics show that the porphyry and Andean-type arc granite are of the same rock series (high-K calc-alkaline) and genetic type (I-type granite). The trace element geochemistry of these rocks is similar to that of Andean-type arc granite, which is enriched in Ba, Rb, La, Hf, chalcophile elements (Cu, Pb), and siderophile elements (Mo, Ni), and depleted in Nb, Ta, P, and Ti. In the Geza Andean-type arc, similarities in the major element, REE, and trace element compositions between porphyry and local acidic volcanic rocks suggest that they have the same or similar magmatic source rocks. The petrological characteristics of granite in the Geza Andean-type arc are similar to those of adakitic rocks, and the formation of porphyry and porphyry-related deposits resulted from magmatic hydrothermal fluids that originated in the upper mantle and lower crust. The porphyry Cu mineralization was probably produced from the accumulation and migration of ore-forming hydrothermal fluids and the resultant alteration of host rocks.