Geochemistry and Re–Os geochronology of the organic-rich sedimentary rocks in the Jingtieshan Fe–Cu deposit, North Qilian Mountains, NW China

• Re–Os age of 1308 ± 100 Ma from the ORS in the Jingtieshan Group.
• Source rocks of the ORS were felsic volcanic units which underwent intense weathering.
• Submarine hydrothermal activities contributed to the Jingtieshan BIF deposition.

The Jingtieshan Group in the North Qilian Mountains, NW China, is dominantly composed of banded iron formations (BIFs), copper deposits and organic-rich sedimentary rocks (ORS, carbonaceous phyllite). X-ray diffraction analysis of the ORS shows the mineral assemblage to be quartz + clay minerals. The total organic carbon contents show a range of 0.44–1.72%. Here we present the results of the geochemistry and Re–Os geochronology of the ORS from the Jingtieshan Group. The high values of Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA), Chemical Index of Weathering (CIW), Plagioclase Index of Alteration (PIA), and Th/U ratio, indicate intense weathering. The Al2O3/TiO2, Zr/Sc, Th/Sc, La/Th ratios, high rare earth elements abundances, light rare earth elements enrichment (normalized to chondrite), and distinctly negative Eu anomalies, suggest that the Jingtieshan Group ORS were derived mainly from felsic volcanic units. The new Re–Os isochron age of 1308 ± 100 Ma (2σ, n = 6, MSWD = 23) broadly overlap with the previous published ages determined using Sm–Nd and U–Pb isotope systems. The new age represents the depositional age of the Jingtieshan Group, as well that of BIF in the Jingtieshan area. Furthermore, the initial 187Os/188Os ratios (0.44 ± 0.07) indicate that the Os in the seawater was dominantly derived from hydrothermal fluids (∼75%). The Ce anomaly (Ce/Ce∗ = 0.95–1.00) and V/(V + Ni) ratios (0.71–0.86), as well as the lack of enrichment in redox-sensitive trace elements such as U, V, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cr, Co and Mn, together with the presence of overlying BIF, suggest that the Jingtieshan area represents a ferruginous deep-water succession. This, and intense submarine hydrothermal activities contributed to the deposition of the Jingtieshan BIF.