Ore Genesis of the Kuergasheng Pb–Zn Deposit, Xinjiang Province, Northwest China: Constraints from Geology, Fluid Inclusions, and H–O–C–S–Pb Isotopes

Abstract

The Kuergasheng Pb–Zn deposit is located in the Western Tianshan Orogen, Xinjiang Province, China. The ore bodies are mainly hosted in sandstone of the Tuosikuertawu Formation and are controlled by NW-trending faults. Three paragenetic stages were identified: early pyrite–chalcopyrite–quartz veins (stage 1), middle galena–sphalerite–quartz veins (stage 2), and late sulfide-poor calcite–quartz veins (stage 3). Fluid inclusions (FIs) include liquid-rich aqueous (LV-type), vapor-rich aqueous (VL-type), halite-bearing (S-type), and monophase liquid aqueous (L-type). Homogenization temperatures for FIs from stages 1–3 are 221–251, 173–220, and 145–172 °C, respectively. Stage 1 fluids in LV-, VL-, and S-type FIs yield salinities of 6.2–9.6, 1.7–3.1, and 32.7–34.9 wt % NaCl equiv., respectively. Stage 2 fluids in LV- and S-type FIs have salinities of 5.1–7.9 and 31.9–32.1 wt % NaCl equiv., respectively. Stage 3 fluids in LV- and L-type FIs have salinities of 3.4–5.9 wt % NaCl equiv. Oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon isotopic data (δ18OH2O = −7.7 to 1.7‰, δDH2O = −99.2 to −83.1‰, δ13CH2O = −16.6 to 9.1‰) indicate that the ore-forming fluids have a hybrid origin —an initial magmatic source with input of meteoric water becoming dominant in the later stage. Sulfur and lead isotopic data for galena (δ34S = 5.6 to 6.9‰, 206Pb/204Pb = 18.002–18.273, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.598–15.643, 208Pb/204Pb = 38.097–38.209) reveal that the ore-forming materials were mainly derived from the Beidabate intrusive body and the Tuosikuertawu Formation.

Keywords

• fluid inclusion
• isotope geochemistry
• epithermal
• Pb–Zn deposit
• Western Tianshan