A 20 m.y. long-lived successive mineralization in the giant Dahutang W–Cu–Mo deposit, South China

Abstract

The connection between prolonged granitic magmatism and the formation of giant tungsten (W) polymetallic deposits has long been disputed. In this study, we present 6 mica Ar–Ar plateau ages and 22 molybdenite Re–Os model ages data on the newly discovered giant Dahutang W–Cu–Mo deposit in South China, which is one of the largest W deposits in the world. New and published zircon U–Pb, mica Ar–Ar, and molybdenite Re–Os age data reveal that the Mesozoic Dahutang magmatism and mineralization occurred in two major periods: (1) the Late Jurassic (ca. 153–147 Ma), forming the hydrothermal breccia, large wolframite-bearing quartz vein, and scheelite-dominated disseminated/veinlet type orebodies, which is mainly associated with the emplacement of porphyritic biotite granite; (2) the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (ca. 146–130 Ma), forming the Cu–Mo–W ± Sn mineralization overprinting the Late Jurassic W–Mo ± Cu orebodies, which is mainly related to the successively emplacement of the Early Cretaceous granites. We suggest that continuous accumulation of mineralization for a long period of time (151–130 Ma) have contributed to the formation of the giant Dahutang deposit.