Abstract:
Multiple submarine volcanic mineralization formations developed in the Wuyishan metallogenic belt have received much concern in recent years’ mineral exploration. Based on the geological characteristics of the lead-zinc mineralized breccia layer of Late Carboniferous Jingshe Formation in the Longyan area, petrographical and lithogeochemical studies of cherts from the breccia layer have been carried out in order to understand element(Zn and Pb)sources and enrichment mechanism. The research suggests that cherts have negative correlation between SiO
2 and Al
2O
3, with most Fe
2O
3/FeO ratios less than 1 and positive Eu anomaly, which indicates a hydrothermal sedimentary genesis for cherts. The cherts have Al
2O
3/(Al
2O
3+TFe
2O
3)values of 0.73~0.80(averaging 0.77), Al
2O
3/(Al
2O
3+TFe
2O
3+MnO)of 0.60~0.65(averaging 0.62), and La
N/Ce
N of 0.86~2.49(averaging 1.52), which show that the cherts were influenced by continential materials. Finally, it can be concluded that the lead-zinc mineralized breccia layer of Late Carboniferous Jingshe Formation was the product of hydrothermal vent collapse on the seafloor. This study has significant implications for guiding mineral exploration in the Wuyishan metallogenic belt.