The shallow marine VMS copper deposit of Yushui, Eastern Guangdong, South China: evidence from geology, geochronology, and geochemistry

Many massive sulfide deposits have been discovered in the Upper Paleozoic rift-related volcaniclastic sequence in South China, among which the Yushui copper deposit is the most important due to its high grade. The deposit has been variably attributed as SEDEX (sedimentary exhalative) or MVT (Mississippi valley type). The Yushui copper deposit in Guangdong (South China) contains stratiform bornite-chalcopyrite orebodies (102.1 kt Cu @ 3.5%, 186.6 kt Pb @ 4.29%, 117.6 kt Zn @ 2.91%, and 339 t Ag @ 112 g/t) developed along the contact between Upper Carboniferous dolostone and Lower Carboniferous pebbly quartz sandstone, which indicates a shallow marine deposition environment. The Yushui deposit comprises an upper massive sulfide orebody and a lower stockwork orebody with intense alteration. In this study, we newly identified Carboniferous tuffs and syn-volcanic faults in the footwall, and exhalites in the hanging-wall. Hematite from the Cu ores yielded a U-Pb age of 320 ± 15 Ma (MSWD = 2.1, n = 57), and hydrothermal dolomite yielded a Sm-Nd isochron age of 308.1 ± 4.6 Ma (n = 7; MSWD = 0.94), which constrains the timing of mineralization at Yushui. These ages are coeval with the Carboniferous host rocks. Combining the evidence from the geological features (syn-volcanic faults, volcanic rocks, exhalites) and hematite trace element compositions, we suggest that the Yushui is a shallow marine VMS (volcanogenic massive sulfide) deposit. The Sr-Nd isotope composition of hydrothermal dolomite (ε_Nd ~−12) indicates that the ore-forming materials were originated from the crustal basement. The Yushui copper deposit was likely formed during the Late Carboniferous continental back-arc extension in eastern South China. The regional extension may have caused enhanced heat flow, which promoted fluid convection in the basement rocks. In addition, we suggest that volcanic rocks and disseminated chalcopyrite-pyrite mineralization in the Lower Carboniferous quartz sandstone and exhalites are good indicators for regional VMS prospecting.