Elucidating the Genetic Mechanism and the Ore-Forming Materials of the Kaladawan Iron Deposit in the North Altyn Tagn, Western China

Yuyao Chen; Yuting Cao; Liang Liu; Chao Wang; Wenqiang Yang; Yongsheng Gai; Tianhe Xie; Lihao Song; Fei Xie

doi:10.3390/min14060589

Minerals (Jun 2024)

Elucidating the Genetic Mechanism and the Ore-Forming Materials of the Kaladawan Iron Deposit in the North Altyn Tagn, Western China

Yuyao Chen,
Yuting Cao,
Liang Liu,
Chao Wang,
Wenqiang Yang,
Yongsheng Gai,
Tianhe Xie,
Lihao Song,
Fei Xie

Affiliations

Yuyao Chen: Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Depositional Mineralization & Sedimentary Minerals, College of Earth Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
Yuting Cao: Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Depositional Mineralization & Sedimentary Minerals, College of Earth Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
Liang Liu: State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
Chao Wang: State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
Wenqiang Yang: State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
Yongsheng Gai: State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
Tianhe Xie: Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Depositional Mineralization & Sedimentary Minerals, College of Earth Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
Lihao Song: Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Depositional Mineralization & Sedimentary Minerals, College of Earth Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
Fei Xie: Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Depositional Mineralization & Sedimentary Minerals, College of Earth Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/min14060589
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 6
p. 589

Abstract

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The Kaladawan iron deposit is located in the North Altyn Tagh and exhibits occurrences of iron ore bodies at the contact zone between Ordovician magmatic rocks (basalts, rhyolite, and granodiorite) and marble. However, controversy persists regarding the genetic classification and metallogenic mechanism of this deposit. Through a field investigation, single mineral in situ geochemical analysis, whole-rock geochemical analysis, and Fe isotope determination, the following conclusions are made: (1) Ti-(Ni/Cr) and (V/Ti)-Fe diagrams indicate that the magnetite from all studied rocks underwent hydrothermal metasomatism, while (Ni/(Cr + Mn))-(Ti + V) and (Ca + Al + Mn)-(Ti + V) diagrams suggest a skarn origin for these magnetites. Therefore, it can be inferred that the Kaladawan iron deposit is skarn-type. (2) The iron ore exhibits similar rare-earth-element characteristics to the altered basalt. Additionally, the altered basalts (δ56Fe = 0.024~0.100‰) are more enriched in light Fe isotopes than the unaltered basalts (δ56Fe = 0.129~0.197‰) at the same location, indicating that the ore-forming materials of the Kaladawan iron ore are mainly derived from basaltic rocks. (3) According to the law of mass conservation and the intermediate Fe isotopic composition of the iron ore between the granodiorite and basalt, the hydrothermal fluid for the formation of iron ores was inferred to be derived from the late intrusive granodiorite.

Published in Minerals

ISSN: 2075-163X (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Geology: Mineralogy
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals

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