An intracontinental extensional full-temperature metallogenic model: its application to prospecting breakthroughs in the Shuikoushan ore field
Abstract
Objective The central Nanling metallogenic belt is a representative region of intracontinental magmatic-hydrothermal mineralization in South China. Large Pb–Zn–Fe–Cu–Au–Ag deposits are concentrated in this belt, with the Shuikoushan ore field as a prominent example. However, after more than a century of mining, shallow resources are becoming increasingly depleted, and the identification of replacement resources at depth has become increasingly challenging. Methods This study systematically analyzes metal sources, ore-controlling factors, temperature-dependent hydrothermal zonation, mineralization styles, and metal associations as well as their spatiotemporal relationships across the material, structural, thermal, and metallogenic domains. Results The material domain reveals that magmas derived from different crustal levels and having undergone different degrees of differentiation carry distinct metal inventories. Highly differentiated S- and A-type granites are enriched in W, Sn, Li, Be, Nb, and Ta, whereas weakly differentiated and oxidized I-type granodiorites are enriched in Fe, Cu, Au, Pb, and Zn. The structural domain shows that the intersections of deep faults and reversed folds, together with the calcareous–siliceous interfaces, serve as the principal conduits and traps for ore-forming fluids. The thermal domain indicates that ore-forming metals are unloaded sequentially with decreasing temperature away from the intrusion. W, Sn, Mo, and Bi precipitate in the high-temperature proximal zone, together with Fe and Cu in the medium-to-high-temperature zone, Pb, Zn, and Au in the medium-temperature zone, and Au and Ag in the low-temperature distal zone. The metallogenic domain integrates these three domains into a coherent framework, which can be summarized as one center, two structures, three systems, and multiple metals. This framework explains why distinct mineralization styles are superimposed within a single ore field. Conclusions On this basis,an intracontinental extensional full-temperature metallogenic model is established. This model emphasizes that magmas from different crustal levels and with variable differentiation were collectively emplaced at the intersections of deep faults and reversed folds. They successively formed high-temperature Li-Be-Nb-Ta pegmatite-greisen (400~600 °C), medium-to-high temperature W–Sn–Fe–Cu skarn-porphyry (250~550 °C), medium-temperature Pb–Zn skarn (200~450 °C), medium-to-low-temperature hydrothermal Pb–Zn–Au–Ag veins (150~350 °C), and epithermal Au–Ag (100~300 °C) mineralization. Distinct metallogenic systems can overlap at the same period. The application of this model to the Shuikoushan ore field achieved three prospecting breakthroughs. First, an IV-3 orebody cluster was newly identified east of the F22 fault in the Kangjiawan mining area, guided by the "anticline + N faults" model. Second, high-temperature Cu–Au mineralization was identified at depth in the overturned limb of the Kangjiawan structure, based on the understanding that concealed intrusions can independently develop mineralization across the full temperature range. Third, skarn-type Cu–Fe orebodies and indications of porphyry-type Cu–Au mineralization were identified at depth in the Laoyachao–Yagongtang area, guided by the concept that mineralization in different temperature domains can serve as mutual prospecting indicators. Significance These results suggest that South China still holds extensive exploration potential for nonferrous and rare metals. The intracontinental extensional full-temperature metallogenic model can provide new exploration strategies and target directions within mature mining districts.
Related
- Geochemical fingerprinting of typical giant deposits in the Central Asian metallogenic domain: case studies of the Muruntau gold deposit and the Almalyk porphyry copper deposit
- Advances in intelligent extraction and identification of metallogenic information for mineral prospectivity mapping
- Tungsten and tin mineralization in the northern Jiangxi–southern Anhui metallogenic belt, eastern Jiangnan Orogen, China
- A preliminary exploration of Extremal-Entropy Mineralization Theory for Jiaodong gold deposits: proposal of two metallogenic end members and thermodynamic constraints on their formation mechanisms
- Constraining the early stage of the post-orogenic extensional tectonics in central Italy: New evidence from a long sediment core from the tectonically active L’Aquila Basin
BibTeX
@article{jionghui2026intracontinental,
title = {{An intracontinental extensional full-temperature metallogenic model: its application to prospecting breakthroughs in the Shuikoushan ore field}},
author = {WANG Jionghui},
journal = {Dizhi lixue xuebao},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2026126},
url = {https://doi.org/10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2026126},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - An intracontinental extensional full-temperature metallogenic model: its application to prospecting breakthroughs in the Shuikoushan ore field
AU - WANG Jionghui
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Dizhi lixue xuebao
DO - 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2026126
UR - https://doi.org/10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2026126
AB - Objective The central Nanling metallogenic belt is a representative region of intracontinental magmatic-hydrothermal mineralization in South China. Large Pb–Zn–Fe–Cu–Au–Ag deposits are concentrated in this belt, with the Shuikoushan ore field as a prominent example. However, after more than a century of mining, shallow resources are becoming increasingly depleted, and the identification of replacement resources at depth has become increasingly challenging. Methods This study systematically analyzes metal sources, ore-controlling factors, temperature-dependent hydrothermal zonation, mineralization styles, and metal associations as well as their spatiotemporal relationships across the material, structural, thermal, and metallogenic domains. Results The material domain reveals that magmas derived from different crustal levels and having undergone different degrees of differentiation carry distinct metal inventories. Highly differentiated S- and A-type granites are enriched in W, Sn, Li, Be, Nb, and Ta, whereas weakly differentiated and oxidized I-type granodiorites are enriched in Fe, Cu, Au, Pb, and Zn. The structural domain shows that the intersections of deep faults and reversed folds, together with the calcareous–siliceous interfaces, serve as the principal conduits and traps for ore-forming fluids. The thermal domain indicates that ore-forming metals are unloaded sequentially with decreasing temperature away from the intrusion. W, Sn, Mo, and Bi precipitate in the high-temperature proximal zone, together with Fe and Cu in the medium-to-high-temperature zone, Pb, Zn, and Au in the medium-temperature zone, and Au and Ag in the low-temperature distal zone. The metallogenic domain integrates these three domains into a coherent framework, which can be summarized as one center, two structures, three systems, and multiple metals. This framework explains why distinct mineralization styles are superimposed within a single ore field. Conclusions On this basis,an intracontinental extensional full-temperature metallogenic model is established. This model emphasizes that magmas from different crustal levels and with variable differentiation were collectively emplaced at the intersections of deep faults and reversed folds. They successively formed high-temperature Li-Be-Nb-Ta pegmatite-greisen (400~600 °C), medium-to-high temperature W–Sn–Fe–Cu skarn-porphyry (250~550 °C), medium-temperature Pb–Zn skarn (200~450 °C), medium-to-low-temperature hydrothermal Pb–Zn–Au–Ag veins (150~350 °C), and epithermal Au–Ag (100~300 °C) mineralization. Distinct metallogenic systems can overlap at the same period. The application of this model to the Shuikoushan ore field achieved three prospecting breakthroughs. First, an IV-3 orebody cluster was newly identified east of the F22 fault in the Kangjiawan mining area, guided by the "anticline + N faults" model. Second, high-temperature Cu–Au mineralization was identified at depth in the overturned limb of the Kangjiawan structure, based on the understanding that concealed intrusions can independently develop mineralization across the full temperature range. Third, skarn-type Cu–Fe orebodies and indications of porphyry-type Cu–Au mineralization were identified at depth in the Laoyachao–Yagongtang area, guided by the concept that mineralization in different temperature domains can serve as mutual prospecting indicators. Significance These results suggest that South China still holds extensive exploration potential for nonferrous and rare metals. The intracontinental extensional full-temperature metallogenic model can provide new exploration strategies and target directions within mature mining districts.
SN - 1006-6616
ER -