Zircon and garnet U-Pb dating reveals the mineralization history of volcanic-related skarn iron deposits

The genesis of skarn garnet in volcanic-related skarn iron deposits is controversial because of the absent or ambiguous spatiotemporally related intrusions. In this study, we present combined LA-ICP-MS garnet U-Pb and SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages to determine the spatiotemporal relationship between skarn garnet and a potentially related intrusion or causative volcanic rock. Three types of garnet (Grt1, Grt2, and Grt3) are identified in the Yamansu deposit, and Grt1 yields a lower intercept age of 326 ± 9 Ma (n = 32, MSWD = 0.3). SHRIMP zircon U-Pb dating of the associated volcanic rock yields a weighted mean age of 327 ± 3 Ma (n = 10, MSWD = 1.4), suggesting an isochronous relationship between the volcanic rock and Grt1. Grt2 and Grt3 yield lower intercept ages of 316 ± 6 Ma (n = 22, MSWD = 1.4) and 315 ± 6 Ma (n = 35, MSWD = 1.5), respectively. However, the zircon U-Pb weighted mean age of 252 ± 4 Ma (n = 5, MSWD = 0.8) obtained from the associated intrusion is obviously younger than the skarn age and the previously reported ore-forming age, implying no temporal relationship between mineralization and the intrusion. More significantly, precise ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U weighted mean ages of 325 ± 9 Ma (n = 15, MSWD = 0.3), 316 ± 8 Ma (n = 11, MSWD = 0.4), and 319 ± 7 Ma (n = 12, MSWD = 0.5) were obtained from Grt1, Grt2, and Grt3, respectively, and we find that andradite-rich garnet with high U and ΣREE concentrations has the potential to yield the more precise U-Pb ages. The combined garnet and zircon U-Pb ages reveal that the hydrothermal skarn and mineralization in volcanic-related skarn iron deposits are related to volcanic activity rather than intrusions. Multiple episodes of volcanic-related hydrothermal activity may have caused multiple phases of skarn formation and mineralization in volcanic-related skarn iron deposits.