Genesis of Pb–Zn Mineralization Beneath the Xiangshan Uranium Orefield, South China: Constraints from H–O–S–Pb Isotopes and Rb–Sr Dating

Abstract

The volcanic-hosted Xiangshan uranium orefield is the largest uranium deposit in South China. Recent exploration has discovered extensive Pb–Zn mineralization beneath the uranium orebodies. Detailed geological investigation reveals that the major metallic minerals include pyrite, sphalerite, galena, and chalcopyrite, whilst the major non-metallic minerals include quartz, sericite, and calcite. New δ18Ofluid and δDfluid data indicate that the ore-forming fluids were mainly derived from magmatic, and the sulfide δ34S values (2.2–6.9‰) suggest a dominantly magmatic sulfur source. The Pb isotope compositions are homogeneous (206Pb/204Pb = 18.120–18.233, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.575–15.698, and 208Pb/204Pb = 37.047–38.446). The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of sulfide minerals range from 0.7197 to 0.7204, which is much higher than volcanic rocks and fall into the range of metamorphic basement. Lead and strontium isotopic compositions indicate that the metallogenic materials probably were derived from metamorphic basement. Pyrite Rb–Sr dating of the ores yielded 131.3 ± 4.0 Ma, indicating that the Pb–Zn mineralization occurred in the Early Cretaceous.