Magmatic volatiles and seawater contributions to the formation of the Huangtupo VMS deposit, Eastern Tianshan, NW China

IF 4.3 2区地球科学 Q1 GEOLOGY

Ore Geology Reviews Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-09 DOI:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2026.107155

Wendong Zhang, Xuebing Zhang, Xinran Gui, Jinghao Wang

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Abstract

The Huangtupo Cu–Zn deposit in the Eastern Tianshan, NW China, is a Paleozoic arc-related volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) system characterized by well-developed vertical and lateral metal zonation. Trace-element and sulfur isotope (δ³⁴S) variations in pyrite record temporal changes in sulfur sources, metal transport, and hydrothermal fluid evolution during formation of the Huangtupo VMS system.

Pre-ore massive pyrite (Py1) shows dominantly positive δ³⁴S values (+0.75‰ to +4.72‰) and relatively low median trace-metal contents, indicating precipitation from seawater-dominated hydrothermal fluids with minor magmatic overprinting. Syn-ore pyrite from massive and brecciated Cu–Zn ores (Py2a–Py2b) represents the principal ore-forming stage and is enriched in magmatic volatile–related metals (Cu, As, Se, Sb, Au, Tl, and Bi) together with the most negative δ³⁴S values (down to −3.49‰), reflecting strong magmatic volatile input and sulfur derived from SO₂ disproportionation, with subordinate seawater mixing. Syn-ore pyrite from silicified and barite-bearing disseminated ores (Py2c–Py2d) displays lower volatile-metal contents and uniformly positive δ³⁴S values (+0.53‰ to +1.92‰), indicating waning magmatic influence and increasing control of seawater-derived fluids.

Late epigenetic vein-type pyrite (Py3) is metal-poor, has the highest δ³⁴S values (+2.62‰ to +4.57‰), and exhibits anomalously high Co/Ni ratios (17.56–165.04) together with very low As contents. These features indicate precipitation from cooler, seawater-dominated and more oxidizing fluids, in which oxygen fugacity exerted a stronger control than temperature on trace-element partitioning, marking a waning and noneconomic stage of the hydrothermal system.

Overall, pyrite trace-element and sulfur isotope systematics document a progressive evolution from early seawater-dominated mineralization, through a magmatic volatile–driven main ore stage, to late oxidizing seawater overprinting, highlighting the critical role of magmatic degassing and seawater mixing in the formation of arc-related VMS systems.

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岩浆挥发物和海水对东天山黄土坡VMS矿床形成的贡献

东天山黄土坡铜锌矿床是一个古生代与弧相关的火山块状硫化物（VMS）系统，其垂直和横向金属分带发育。黄铁矿微量元素和硫同位素（δ34S）变化记录了黄土坡VMS系统形成过程中硫源、金属输运和热液流体演化的时间变化。矿前块状黄铁矿(Py1) δ34S值主要为正（+0.75‰~ +4.72‰），微量金属含量中值相对较低，表明成矿流体以海水为主，岩浆套印较少。斑状和角砾型铜锌矿（Py2a-Py2b）的正矿石黄铁矿为主要成矿阶段，富含岩浆挥发性相关金属（Cu、As、Se、Sb、Au、Tl、Bi）， δ34S值最负（低至- 3.49‰），反映岩浆挥发性输入强烈，硫来源于SO2的不化，海水混合次要。硅化和含重晶石浸染型矿石（Py2c-Py2d）的同矿黄铁矿挥发性金属含量较低，δ34S值均为正（+0.53‰~ +1.92‰），表明岩浆作用减弱，海水流体控制作用增强。晚后生脉状黄铁矿（Py3）贫金属，δ34S值最高（+2.62‰~ +4.57‰），Co/Ni比值异常高（17.56 ~ 165.04），As含量极低。这些特征表明，热液系统的沉淀来自温度较低、以海水为主、氧化性较强的流体，其中氧逸度对微量元素分配的控制作用强于温度，标志着热液系统处于衰退期和非经济阶段。总体而言，黄铁矿微量元素和硫同位素系统记录了从早期以海水为主的成矿作用，经过岩浆挥发驱动的主矿阶段，再到晚期氧化海水套印的渐进演化过程，突出了岩浆脱气和海水混合在弧相关VMS系统形成中的关键作用。

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来源期刊

Ore Geology Reviews 地学-地质学

CiteScore

6.50

自引率

27.30%

发文量

546

审稿时长

22.9 weeks

期刊介绍： Ore Geology Reviews aims to familiarize all earth scientists with recent advances in a number of interconnected disciplines related to the study of, and search for, ore deposits. The reviews range from brief to longer contributions, but the journal preferentially publishes manuscripts that fill the niche between the commonly shorter journal articles and the comprehensive book coverages, and thus has a special appeal to many authors and readers.