Fluid inclusion and H-O-S-Pb isotopic evidence for the Dongxiang Manto-type copper deposit, South China

- Ore bodies in sandstone and shale occur as stratoid and lenticular massive sulfide.
- Ore-forming fluids are derived from magmatic waters.
- Fluid boiling induced metal precipitation from hydrothermal solutions.
- It is a Jurassic manto-type deposit instead of a Carboniferous Sedex deposit.

The Dongxiang copper deposit is located in northeastern Jiangxi Province, South China. Ore bodies in the Zishan Formation of this province are primarily stratoid and lentiform and show a close spatial association with Jurassic intrusive rocks. The current debates generally concentrate on whether the Dongxiang copper deposit is a Carboniferous sedimentary deposit or, alternatively, a Jurassic porphyry-skarn deposit. Three stages of mineralization can be observed in this deposit: the pre-ore, main ore, and post-ore stages. The massive sulfide ore bodies are identified as the main ore stage, whereas the pyrite-quartz veins and barren quartz veins are identified as pre-ore and post-ore stages, respectively. Three fluid inclusion types were recognized: two-phase vapor-rich fluid inclusions (type 1), two-phase liquid-rich fluid inclusions (type 2), and halite-bearing fluid inclusions (type 3). All three of these types of inclusions are present in the main copper mineralization stage, but only type 2 inclusions occur in both the pre-ore and post-ore stages. Type 2 inclusions in the pre-ore stage display homogenization temperatures (Th) of 349-392 °C, with salinities of 1.4-8.1 wt.% NaCl equivalent. In the main ore stage, types 1 and 3 inclusions show similar Th at 289-346 °C and 273-348 °C but contrasting salinities of 0.4-4.5 and 29.4-41.9 wt.% NaCl equivalent, respectively. In the post-ore stage, type 2 inclusions have Th of 144-228 °C and salinities of 0.4-6.0 wt.% NaCl equivalent. The coexisting types 1 and 3 inclusions in the main ore stage have similar Th ranges but contrasting salinities, which indicates that fluid boiling occurred. The determined hydrogen and oxygen isotopic values for these fluids (δD from − 42‰ to − 69‰; δ18OH2O 5.04‰ to 9.01‰), based on analysis of fluid inclusions and host quartz, imply that the inferred ore fluids were principally derived from magmatic water. The lead isotopic compositions of sulfides from the ores and plagioclases from the adjacent porphyry indicate that they share a common origin. The sulfides from the ores show δ34S values of 0.3-3.2‰, also suggests a magmatic source. As the fluid inclusions and isotopic compositions strongly suggest a magmatic origin, this argues against a SEDEX origin for this deposit. In addition, the presence of stratoid and lentiform ore bodies and the absence of skarn alteration minerals suggest that the Dongxiang copper deposit is best described as a Manto-type rather than a porphyry-skarn deposit.