Metallogenic Reqularities And Explorational Foreground Of Major Types Of Ore Deposits In The Wutai Montain Minerallization Subbelt Of Shanxi Province

The Wutai Mountain metallogenic zone is very important in Shanxi Province. A great number of Fe, Au, Mo and Cu deposits are distributed in this zone. A detailed study has been carried out on the geological background for regional metallogeny and major characteristics of typical deposits, with a focus on analysis of ore deposit type, ore-controlling factor, metallogenic series, mineralization regularity, and exploration foreground.The key types of ore deposits are sedimentary-metamorphic Fe, granite-greenstone Au, magmatic hydrothermal Au, and porphyry Mo-Cu ore deposits, and the corresponding typical deposits include Shanyangping Fe, Dongyaozhuang Au, Yixingzhai Au, and Houyu Mo-Cu ore deposits. The sedimentary-metamorphic Fe and granite-greenstone Au deposits are controlled restrict by strata, and major host horizons are the Jingangku and Baizhiyan Formations of the Wutai Group of the Upper Archeozoic in the former, and the Hongmenyan Formation of the Wutai Group in the latter. In contrast, the magmatic hydrothermal Au and porphyritic Mo-Cu deposits are closely related to mineralizing plutons, and major ore-controlling bodies are the Yanshanian intermediate-acidic intrusions.The metallogenic series of Fe, Au, Mo and Cu deposits in the Wutai Mountain metallogenic zone include:(1) metallogenic series of Cu, Au, Ag, Mn, Mo, fluorite deposits related to the Mesozoic intermediate-acidic volcanic-subvolcanic formations,(2) metallogenic series of Fe, Cu, V, Ti, Au, S deposits related to the Upper Archeozoic-Lower Proterozoic volcanic-sedimentary formations of arc-basin series, and (3) metallogenic series of Au, Fe, Cu deposits related to the Upper Archeozoic-Lower Proterozoic volcanic-sedimentary formations of arc-basin series. Based on difference in regional tectonic characteristics, the Wutai Mountain metallogenic zone can be divided into five subzones, including Hengshan Au, rutile, Fe and fluorite, Yunzhongshan Fe, Pb, Zn, Mo, REE and Au, Wutaishan Fe, Mo, Au, Cu, Ag, S and apatite, Xizhoushan coal and bauxite, and Qidongshan Cu and S deposits subzones.The volcanism-sedimentation in the Wutai period played a key role in the formation of belted Fe deposits. Distribution of this type of deposits was controlled by lithofacies and paleogeography in some degree. Regional metamorphism was responsible not only for the formation of initial ore deposits, but also for the formation of new metamorphosed ore deposits through metamorphic modification of initial sedimentary deposits resulting in evident variation of their quality and size. The Mesozoic intermediate-acidic volcanic-subvolcanic activities lead to the formation of Au-Cu-Mo polymetallic ore deposits.Based on geological, geophysical, geochemical and remote sensing characteristics,8potential areas for prospecting of ore deposits are defined in the Wutai Mountain metallogenic zone, and classified into A, B and C types according to their amount of potential resources, importance of ore types, and traffic and economic conditions. Yixingzhai in Fanshi County and Fanshi-Daixian are A type area, Hengjian in Fanshi County, Duyu in Lingqiu County, and Jingangku in Wutai County are B type area, and Santiaoling in Yingxian County, Xiaguang in Lingqiu County and Shenyanhe in Yuanping County are C type area.