The Crustal and Uppermost Mantle Vs Structure of the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt: Implications for Metallogenic Process

Yongqian Zhang, Qingtian Lü*, Danian Shi, Yingjie Yang*, Juan Carlos Afonso, Yao Xu, Jiayong Yan, Xuejing Gong, Tao Xu

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
90 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River metallogenic belt (MLYMB) is one of the most important Fe-Cu polymetallic belts in China. However, the mechanism and deep geodynamical process for the formation of this belt are still controversial. Here, we obtain the crustal and the uppermost mantle structures using ambient noise data from a dense seismic profile. A low velocity zone is revealed beneath the Moho of MLYMB, interpreted as the source of the deep mineralization materials. In addition, a low velocity layer (LVL) and a high velocity layer (HVL) are observed in the crust of the southern segment of the profile. The LVL is interpreted as a tectonic detachment layer between the upper and the lower crust, and the HVL is interpreted as the aggregation zone for mineralizing melts or crystallized magma chambers. Based on the observed velocity features, we propose a three-stage model for the formation of ore deposits in MLYMB. Our model suggests that an upwelling of asthenosphere triggered by the delamination of a previously thickened lithosphere leads to the partial melting of upper mantle rocks, which eventually ponders under the Moho. The magma then infiltrates through the ductile lower crust and reaches a depth of ∼7–13 km, forming a minerals-enriched magma chamber. Minerals-rich hot fluids originating from the magma chamber continue to move upward along the pre-existent faults and the minerals finally precipitate in dense veinlets when reaching shallow depths, forming the ore deposits in and around the MLYMB.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2023JB026817
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth
Volume128
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2023

Keywords

  • 2024 OA procedure
  • Metallogenic belt
  • Metallogenic model
  • Middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River
  • Shear wave velocity
  • Ambient noise tomography
  • ITC-ISI-JOURNAL-ARTICLE

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Crustal and Uppermost Mantle Vs Structure of the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt: Implications for Metallogenic Process'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this