Magmatic-hydrothermal evolution of the Dangba rare-metal granitic pegmatites in the Songpan–Ganzê orogenic belt, Eastern Tibet: Insights from muscovite and columbite-group minerals
{"title":"Magmatic-hydrothermal evolution of the Dangba rare-metal granitic pegmatites in the Songpan–Ganzê orogenic belt, Eastern Tibet: Insights from muscovite and columbite-group minerals","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.gexplo.2024.107559","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Rare-metal granitic pegmatites are commonly considered to be the results of a combination of magmatic and hydrothermal processes. Although magmatic crystallization and fractionation, and magmatic-hydrothermal transition have been extensively investigated, the processes related economically valuable mineralization of rare-metals and strong fractionation of geochemical twins remain controversial. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the geochemical evolution of rare-metal mineralized pegmatites, focusing on the mineral chemistry of muscovite and columbite-group minerals (CGM) from the Dangba rare-metal granitic pegmatites in the Songpan–Ganzê orogenic belt. Our findings suggest that the random orientation growth of spodumene crystals and widespread distribution of disordered columbite-group minerals crystals are indicative of lithium saturation in the initial melt at the Dangba No. VII dike. Magmatic fractionation is indicated by gradually increasing ratios of alkali metals (K/Rb ratios) and Ta# (Ta/(Ta + Nb)) in muscovite and CGM, and is proposed to be an important factor for enrichment of rare-metals. During the magmatic-hydrothermal transition, muscovite from metasomatism of spodumene exhibits similar or slightly higher levels of Li, Rb, and Cs, compared to primary muscovite, but shows strong depletion of Ta, Nb, Sn, and W. Alteration of primary minerals (e.g., spodumene, alkali feldspar, and columbite-group minerals) results in the release of these elements into the reactive media (melt/fluid) during the metasomatism. This process ultimately leads to the depletion of rare metals in the early crystallized minerals. However, this process is advantageous for the subsequent mineralization of Ta and Nb, as well as their fractionation. The chemical compositions of exsolved aqueous fluid are influenced by the mineralogy of pegmatites and the partitioning behavior between melt and fluid. Furthermore, pervasive albitization serves as an exploration criterion for Li–Ta–Nb in the Ke'eryin Orefield.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":16336,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Geochemical Exploration","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.4000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Geochemical Exploration","FirstCategoryId":"89","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0375674224001754","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"GEOCHEMISTRY & GEOPHYSICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Rare-metal granitic pegmatites are commonly considered to be the results of a combination of magmatic and hydrothermal processes. Although magmatic crystallization and fractionation, and magmatic-hydrothermal transition have been extensively investigated, the processes related economically valuable mineralization of rare-metals and strong fractionation of geochemical twins remain controversial. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the geochemical evolution of rare-metal mineralized pegmatites, focusing on the mineral chemistry of muscovite and columbite-group minerals (CGM) from the Dangba rare-metal granitic pegmatites in the Songpan–Ganzê orogenic belt. Our findings suggest that the random orientation growth of spodumene crystals and widespread distribution of disordered columbite-group minerals crystals are indicative of lithium saturation in the initial melt at the Dangba No. VII dike. Magmatic fractionation is indicated by gradually increasing ratios of alkali metals (K/Rb ratios) and Ta# (Ta/(Ta + Nb)) in muscovite and CGM, and is proposed to be an important factor for enrichment of rare-metals. During the magmatic-hydrothermal transition, muscovite from metasomatism of spodumene exhibits similar or slightly higher levels of Li, Rb, and Cs, compared to primary muscovite, but shows strong depletion of Ta, Nb, Sn, and W. Alteration of primary minerals (e.g., spodumene, alkali feldspar, and columbite-group minerals) results in the release of these elements into the reactive media (melt/fluid) during the metasomatism. This process ultimately leads to the depletion of rare metals in the early crystallized minerals. However, this process is advantageous for the subsequent mineralization of Ta and Nb, as well as their fractionation. The chemical compositions of exsolved aqueous fluid are influenced by the mineralogy of pegmatites and the partitioning behavior between melt and fluid. Furthermore, pervasive albitization serves as an exploration criterion for Li–Ta–Nb in the Ke'eryin Orefield.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Geochemical Exploration is mostly dedicated to publication of original studies in exploration and environmental geochemistry and related topics.
Contributions considered of prevalent interest for the journal include researches based on the application of innovative methods to:
define the genesis and the evolution of mineral deposits including transfer of elements in large-scale mineralized areas.
analyze complex systems at the boundaries between bio-geochemistry, metal transport and mineral accumulation.
evaluate effects of historical mining activities on the surface environment.
trace pollutant sources and define their fate and transport models in the near-surface and surface environments involving solid, fluid and aerial matrices.
assess and quantify natural and technogenic radioactivity in the environment.
determine geochemical anomalies and set baseline reference values using compositional data analysis, multivariate statistics and geo-spatial analysis.
assess the impacts of anthropogenic contamination on ecosystems and human health at local and regional scale to prioritize and classify risks through deterministic and stochastic approaches.
Papers dedicated to the presentation of newly developed methods in analytical geochemistry to be applied in the field or in laboratory are also within the topics of interest for the journal.