Diagenetic and mineralization age of the Hehuaping tin-polymetallic orefield, Hunan province

The Helmaping tin deposit is a large deposit found in recent years during geological surveys. The discovered tin deposit includes not only rock-alteration type deposits in fault zones, but also deposits developed in interstratified rupture zones between Devonian carbonate rocks (Qiziqiao Formation) and sandstone (Tiaomajian Formation). The finding of tin deposits of the latter type has greatly enriched tin-mineralization types in the famous Nanling polymetallic metallogenetic region and may provide us with a new potential orientation for prospecting of tin deposits in the region. It is commonly believed that the forming of the tin deposits in the Nanling region should be related to the Yanshanian instead of Indosinian granitic magmatism. Systematical zircon U-Pb SHRIMP dating in this paper shows that tin mineralizations have endured at least two stages. The early stage should be related to the intrusion of the main body of the Wangxianling granite, which was emplaced during the Indosinian period with a diagenetic and mineralized age of 224.0 +/- 1.9 Ma (MSWD=0.54), and the late stage should be related to the intrusion of Yanshanian granitic porphyry that took place after 142 3 Ma (MSWD=0.5).