Geological features and prospecting direction of Tungsten deposits in the Min-Li metallogenic belt, Gansu Province

This study carried out a detailed comparative analysis of geological features and mineralization-related intrusion or dykes in the Zhaishang tungsten deposit and the Xuepinggou tungsten deposit, both of which are distributed along the Min-Li metallogenic belt in West Qinling. In conjunction with the regional geological features, metallogenic characteristics of rocks and related dykes were discussed to better understand the prospecting direction of tungsten mineralization in this area. The results show that the two deposits belong to the broken alteration rock type and cryptoexplosive breccia type tungsten deposits respectively, with ore-forming material derived from post-magma hydrothermal fluids. Their genesis was closely related to contemporaneous rocks or dykes in terms of time and space. The two deposits should be the products of magmatic activities during the Late Triassic(220～210 Ma). “Five Golden Flowers” intrusion group belongs to W-rich S-type granite, with similar geochemical characteristics and homology. In addition, its distribution is in agreement with anomalous areas of W, Sn, Mo, Bi and Be element combination, indicating that the intrusion group should be the preferential target for prospecting tungsten deposits in the Min-Li metallogenic belt. Therefore, this study suggests that prospecting should be concentrated on tungsten anomalous fields in the Changjiashan and Meichuan areas containing intrusions(dykes)so as to search new orebodies or deposits.