Metallogenesis of the giant Maoping carbonate‐hosted lead–zinc deposit, southwestern Yangtze Craton: New insights from structural geology and whole‐rock geochemistry

• Published in: Geological journal (Chichester, England) England), 2022-06, Vol.57 (6), p.2235-2254
• Main Authors: Zhao, Wei‐Ce, Jiang, Bin‐Bin, Zhu, Xin‐You, Liu, Zi, Guan, Yu‐Chun, Zhao, De‐Shun, Mao, Rong‐Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Carbonates; carbonate‐hosted Pb–Zn deposit; Carboniferous; Cratons; Deformation; Deposits; Devonian; Faults; Fractures; Geochemistry; Geology; Heavy metals; Interlayers; Lead; Maoping deposit; Metallogenesis; Metals; Mineral deposits; Mineralization; Regional analysis; Rocks; southwestern Yangtze Craton; Spatial distribution; Structural geology; Structures; Trace elements; whole‐rock geochemistry; Zinc
• ISSN: 0072-1050; 1099-1034
• DOI: 10.1002/gj.4405

The southwestern Yangtze Craton hosts more than 400 carbonate‐hosted Pb–Zn deposits, and is well endowed with enormous base metals. The giant Maoping deposit is one of the most representative deposits, and the mineralization mainly occurs in the Devonian to Carboniferous dolomitic rocks. Its metallogenesis has been thoroughly discussed from many perspectives by previous studies, but it remains controversial, especially about the relationship between the structural process and the Pb–Zn mineralization. In this paper, we conducted large‐scale structural mapping and whole‐rock geochemical analysis to investigate the structural process and its control on the mineralization at Maoping. Three stages of deformation have been recognized, including the NE–SW‐striking folds and thrusts (D1), the N–S‐striking transtensional faults (D2), and the NW–SE‐striking transpressional structures (D3). The geochemical analysis shows relatively higher contents of the ore‐related trace elements in the tectonites from the N–S‐striking faults, indicating a close relationship between the N–S‐striking faults and the mineralization. Combined with field evidence and geochemical analysis, we propose that the N–S‐striking transtensional faults are likely the major ore‐conducting structures, and the NE–SW‐striking interlayer fractures serve as the assistant structures at the deposit scale. The regional NE–SW‐striking fold‐and‐thrust belts are suggested to dominate the spatial distribution and location of the Pb–Zn deposits in northeastern Yunnan at the regional scale. Our study enhances the understanding of the metallogenesis at Maoping and provides new insights into the Pb–Zn prospecting at both the regional scale and the deposit scale. The giant Maoping carbonate‐hosted Pb–Zn deposit in the southwestern Yangtze Craton has three stages of deformation: NE–SW‐striking thrust‐and‐fold structures (D1), N–S‐striking transtensional faults (D2), and NW–SE‐striking transpressional structures (D3). D2 deformation predominantly controls the Pb–Zn mineralization, and NE–SW‐striking interlayer fractures serve as assistant ore‐controlling structures.