Editorial for Special Issue “Genesis and Metallogeny of Non-Ferrous and Precious Metal Deposits, 2nd Edition”
1
College of Earth Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China
2
School of Earth Science, Institute of Disaster Prevention, Beijing 101601, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Minerals 2025, 15(11), 1161; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111161
Submission received: 20 September 2025
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Revised: 7 October 2025
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Accepted: 31 October 2025
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Published: 4 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genesis and Metallogeny of Non-ferrous and Precious Metal Deposits, 2nd Edition)
1. Introduction
In recent years, the number of non-ferrous metal and precious metal deposits has been widely developed. However, for a long time, scientific issues such as controversies over ore genesis, unclear mineralization ages, and unclear ore-forming fluids and material sources hindered exploration in this area.
This Special Issue focuses on advanced analytical techniques such as fluid inclusion research, isotope geochemistry (H-O-S-Pb), zircon U-Pb dating, molybdenite Re-Os isotopic dating, and in situ trace element analysis, aiming to determine the mineralization ages of deposits, clarify ore-forming fluid evolution processes, identify the sources of ore-forming materials, and provide theoretical support for prospecting and exploration. The Special Issue includes a total of 18 articles.
2. Highlights from the Special Issue
Wang et al. (2024) (article 1 in the list) studied the Weilasituo Li-polymetallic deposit, located on the western slope of the southern segment of the Great Xing’an Range in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Using 40Ar/39Ar dating of zinnwaldite and in situ trace element analysis of quartz and mica, this study shows that the Weilasituo deposit was formed in an extensional setting during the Early Cretaceous (132.45 ± 1.3 Ma) and was closely related to the magmatic activity in the Great Xing’an Range triggered by the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate.
Liu et al. (2025) (article 15 in the list) conducted molybdenite Re-Os dating, in situ S isotope, and trace element analysis of sphalerite on the Xulaojiugou medium-scale Pb-Zn deposit in the Lesser Xing’an Range, Heilongjiang Province. They constrained the mineralization age to the Early Jurassic (184.6 ± 3.0 Ma) and confirmed that the sulfur source of this deposit originated from a deep magmatic system. This deposit is a skarn-type Pb-Zn deposit related to magmatic–hydrothermal activity, and its mineralization process was associated with the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate.
Li et al. (2025) (article 16 in the list) conducted fluid inclusion and H-O-S-Pb isotope research on the Cuyu gold deposit located in the northwestern region of the Jiapigou-Haigou gold belt (JHGB). They propose that fluid immiscibility is the main factor for the deposition of gold. Ore-forming fluids were mainly derived from the magmatic water, while a large amount of meteoric water was mixed in the late stage. The ore-forming materials were mainly derived from the Middle Jurassic diorite porphyrite dykes. The Cuyu gold deposit was a mesothermal hydrothermal vein-type gold deposit, and the mineralization mechanism was similar to that of the gold deposits distributed in the JHGB. This indicates that the JHGB has significant exploration potential in the central Jilin Province.
Yang et al. (2025) (article 17 in the list) studied the Haigou gold deposit, located in the southeastern region of Jilin Province, Northeast China. By conducting LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating and whole-rock major and trace element analysis on the monzonite granite and pyroxene diorite porphyrite veins associated with quartz-vein-type gold mineralization, they confirmed that the monzonite granite has a closer relationship with gold mineralization. The study shows that the mineralization process occurred in the Late Carboniferous and was influenced by the subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean Plate toward the northern margin of the North China Craton.
Li et al. (2025) (article 18 in the list) conducted fluid inclusion analysis and H-O-S-Pb isotope analysis on the Shabaosi gold field in the western margin of the Mohe Basin. They suggest that the ore-forming materials were mainly derived from a deep magmatic system, and the magmatic–hydrothermal fluids were gradually diluted by meteoric water during the mineralization process. The Shabaosi gold field was formed in the late-stage extensional tectonic setting of the Mongol-Okhotsk orogenic belt.
3. Conclusions
Based on studies of various non-ferrous metals and precious metal deposits in this Special Issue, it is suggested that future research should focus on supplementing the temporal and spatial correlation of regional metallogenic belts, mechanisms of deep fluid–rock interactions, and establishing a unified prospecting model. New theoretical research will provide guidelines for exploration.
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, Q.Y. and Y.R.; writing—original draft preparation, Q.Y.; writing—review and editing, Q.Y.; visualization, Q.Y.; supervision, Y.R.; project administration, Q.Y.; funding acquisition, Q.Y. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
This work was financially supported by Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province (20230101089JC), Jilin Provincial Department of Education Science Foundation (JJKH20241294KJ), National Natural Science Foundation of China (42202070), and China Postdoctoral Science Foun-dation (2025T180125).
Acknowledgments
The guest editors of this Special Issue would like to sincerely thank all the authors. We also appreciate the constructive review comments from the peer reviewers, which have effectively refined the details of the papers and significantly enhanced the overall scientific level of the Special Issue. We are also deeply grateful to the editorial team for their professional support throughout the entire publication process. Finally, we extend our respect to the broader community of researchers in mineral resources and earth sciences, who continue to provide new insights into the complex mineralization mechanisms of non-ferrous and precious metal deposits, injecting inexhaustible energy into the expansion of research in this field.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
List of Contributions
- Wang, X.; Wang, K.; Gao, Y.; Chen, J.; Xue, H.; Li, H. 40Ar/39Ar Dating and In Situ Trace Element Geochemistry of Quartz and Mica in the Weilasituo Deposit in Inner Mongolia, China: Implications for Li–Polymetallic Metallogenesis. Minerals 2024, 14, 575. https://doi.org/10.3390/min14060575.
- Dolníček, Z.; Ulmanová, J.; Vrtiška, L.; Malý, K.; Krejčí Kotlánová, M.; Koutňák, R. Mineralogy and Origin of Vein Wolframite Mineralization from the Pohled Quarry, Havlíčkův Brod Ore District, Czech Republic: Interaction of Magmatic and Basinal Fluids. Minerals 2024, 14, 610. https://doi.org/10.3390/min14060610.
- Sun, Y.; Yang, Z.; Wang, M.; Xie, C.; Chen, X.; Meng, F. Overprinting Mineralization in the Huoluotai Porphyry Cu (Mo) Deposit, NE China: Evidence from K-Feldspar Ar-Ar Geochronology and S-Pb Isotopes. Minerals 2024, 14, 859. https://doi.org/10.3390/min14090859.
- Kong, J.; Qiao, K.; Huo, X.; Zhang, G.; Chen, X.; Yao, L. Geochronology and Geochemical Characteristics of Granitoids in the Lesser Xing’an–Zhangguangcai Range: Petrogenesis and Implications for the Early Jurassic Tectonic Evolution of the Mudanjiang Ocean. Minerals 2024, 14, 941. https://doi.org/10.3390/min14090941.
- Li, M.; Yu, H.; Tian, Y.; Yue, H.; He, Y.; Yu, Y.; Sun, Z. Genesis and Tectonic Implications of Early Cretaceous Granites in the Haobugao Area, Southern Great Xing’an Range: Insights from Zircon U–Pb Geochronology, Hf Isotopic Composition, and Petrochemistry. Minerals 2024, 14, 1139. https://doi.org/10.3390/min14111139.
- Ivashchenko, V. Ore Formation and Mineralogy of the Alattu–Päkylä Gold Occurrence, Ladoga Karelia, Russia. Minerals 2024, 14, 1172. https://doi.org/10.3390/min14111172.
- Shang, Q.; Ren, F.; Yang, Q.; Wang, B. In Situ Compositional and Sulfur Isotopic Analysis of Sphalerite from the Erdaodianzi Gold Deposit in Southern Jilin Province, Northeast China. Minerals 2025, 15, 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15010057.
- Gao, S.; Pei, X.; Pei, L.; Li, Z.; Li, R.; Zhao, S.; Wang, M.; Qin, L.; Wang, X. Origin of Diorites and Coeval Mafic Microgranular Enclaves in the Liuba Region, South Qinling Orogen, Central China: Insights from Petrography, Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Geochemistry. Minerals 2025, 15, 77. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15010077.
- Li, M.; Pei, X.; Pei, L.; Li, Z.; Li, R.; Zhao, S.; Qin, L.; Wang, M.; Wang, X. Late Triassic Felsic and Mafic Magmatism in the South Qinling Orogen, Central China: Insights from the Petrology, Zircon U-Pb Geochronology, and Geochemistry of the Huoshaodian Pluton. Minerals 2025, 15, 120. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15020120.
- Song, J.; Pei, X.; Li, Z.; Li, R.; Pei, L.; Chen, Y.; Liu, C. The Initial Subduction Time of the Proto-Tethys Ocean in the Eastern Section of the East Kunlun Orogen: The Constraints from the Zircon U-Pb Ages and the Geochemistry of the Kekesha Intrusion. Minerals 2025, 15, 127. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15020127.
- Xu, Z.; Niu, X.; Shi, B.; Yang, Z.; He, H.; Fan, W.; Gu, G.; Wang, Y.; Yang, N. Deep Exploration Porphyry Molybdenum Deposit in Dasuji, Inner Mongolia: Insight from Aeromagnetism and Controlled-Source Audio-Magnetotellurics. Minerals 2025, 15, 166. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15020166.
- Yang, H.; Wang, K.; Ye, B. Genesis of the Xiangluwanzi Gold Deposit, Northeastern China: Insights from Fluid Inclusions and C-H-O Isotopes. Minerals 2025, 15, 250. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15030250.
- Tang, C.; Xu, Z.; Duan, M.; Meng, L.; Liu, H.; Wei, J.; Zhang, C.; Zhao, L. Genetic Model of the Luhai Sandstone-Type Uranium Deposit in the Erlian Basin, Inner Mongolia. Minerals 2025, 15, 294. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15030294.
- Zhang, Z.; Dong, Y.; Du, X.; Qi, K.; Xia, Y.; Sun, F.; Li, G. Application of High-Precision Magnetic Measurement in the Exploration of Deep Fluorite Deposits in Ore Concentrations. Minerals 2025, 15, 351. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15040351.
- Liu, G.; Ren, Y.; Li, J.; Xu, W. Origin of the Xulaojiugou Pb–Zn Deposit, Heilongjiang Province, NE China: Constraints from Molybdenite Re–Os Isotopic Dating, Trace Elements, and Isotopic Compositions of Sulfides. Minerals 2025, 15, 441. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15050441.
- Li, H.; Yang, Q.; Zhang, L.; Ren, Y.; Li, M.; Li, C.; Wang, B.; Chen, S.; Peng, X. Ore-Forming Fluid Evolution and Ore Genesis of the Cuyu Gold Deposit in Central Jilin Province, NE China: Constraints from Geology, Fluid Inclusions, and H–O–S–Pb Isotope Studies. Minerals 2025, 15, 535. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15050535.
- Yang, Z.; Zhao, Y.; Zhang, C.; Ren, C.; Yang, Q.; Zhang, L. Metallogenic Age and Tectonic Setting of the Haigou Gold Deposit in Southeast Jilin Province, NE China: Constraints from Magmatic Chronology and Geochemistry. Minerals 2025, 15, 582. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15060582.
- Li, X.; Liu, Z.; Bai, L.; Wang, J.; Liu, S.; Wang, G. Genesis of the Shabaosi Gold Field in the Western Mohe Basin, Northeast China: Evidence from Fluid Inclusions and H-O-S-Pb Isotopes. Minerals 2025, 15, 721. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15070721.
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Yang, Q.; Ren, Y. Editorial for Special Issue “Genesis and Metallogeny of Non-Ferrous and Precious Metal Deposits, 2nd Edition”. Minerals 2025, 15, 1161. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111161
AMA Style
Yang Q, Ren Y. Editorial for Special Issue “Genesis and Metallogeny of Non-Ferrous and Precious Metal Deposits, 2nd Edition”. Minerals. 2025; 15(11):1161. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111161
Chicago/Turabian StyleYang, Qun, and Yunsheng Ren. 2025. "Editorial for Special Issue “Genesis and Metallogeny of Non-Ferrous and Precious Metal Deposits, 2nd Edition”" Minerals 15, no. 11: 1161. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111161
APA StyleYang, Q., & Ren, Y. (2025). Editorial for Special Issue “Genesis and Metallogeny of Non-Ferrous and Precious Metal Deposits, 2nd Edition”. Minerals, 15(11), 1161. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111161
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