Mineralization related to Large Igneous Provinces
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    Abstract:

    Formation of Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) are important events during geological history, with a huge amount of magma accumulation and endowment of abundant mineral resources. According to their relationship with LIPs, mineralization can be divided into two main types: 1) those which are both temporally and genetictally related to LIPs. The mineral deposits can be considered to be a part of LIPs; 2) those that have indirect genetic link to LIPs with an obvious temporal gap. The former type contains both magmatic and hydrothermal deposits associated with LIPs. The magmatic deposits were predominantly formed by fractional crystallization and/or liquid immiscibility which facilitates concentration of metals during the formation and differentiation of magmas, and consist of (1) V Ti Fe oxide and Cu Ni ( PGE) deposits hosted in large and small mafic ultramafic intrusions, respectively; (2) Ni deposits associated with ultramafic lavas, including Archean komatiitic lavas, and ferropicritic lavas outcrop at the top of magma plumbing system; (3) REE Nb P deposits associated with carbonatites; (4) Diamond deposits (xenocrysts entrapped en route to surface) associated with kimberlite (lamporite or aillikite in some cases). The hydrothermal deposits were formed by magmatism and metamorphism during the formation of LIPs, which can be further divided into two sub types: 1) post magmatic type which are related to intermediate acid magmas, e.g., IOCG, porphyry and epithermal deposits; 2) metamorphic type, mainly includes lode gold deposits hosted in Archean granites and greenstones. Mineralization which have indirect genetic link to LIPs were formed apparently later than that of LIPs. However, the LIPs still could provide tremendous metals, favourable environment and space for precipitation. These deposits include (1) weathering crust type, which were predominantly formed in tropical area, and are strongly related to protolith, including bauxite, Ni (Co), Nb Ta REE and Nb P deposits; (2) hydrothermal modification type. Metals enriched in the primary rocks formed during LIPs will be further concentrated by hydrothermal processes. These deposits are composed of natural Cu deposits in basalts and Calin type gold deposits; (3) banded iron formation (BIF) and manganese deposits. The metals are mainly sourced from the large scale Precambrian submarine volcanism related to the formation LIPs; (4) bedded deposits hosted by sedimentary rocks related to rift; (5) oil and gas deposits. In summary, LIPs could provide favourable environment for both metal and energy deposits. Moreover, as the research further develops, more and more deposits are recognized to be both directly and indirectly related to LIPs. At the end of the paper, we also highlight several unresolved key problems.

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Zhang Zhaochong, Hou Tong, Cheng Zhiguo.2022. Mineralization related to Large Igneous Provinces[J]. Acta Geologica Sinica,96(1):131-154

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History
  • Received:September 17,2021
  • Revised:September 24,2021
  • Adopted:October 07,2021
  • Online: October 14,2021
  • Published: