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Article

Mineralogical Characterization and Provenance of Black Sand in the Xiahenan Area, Tarim Large Igneous Province

1
State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China
2
Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Genesis and Prospect for Strategic Minerals, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China
3
MNR Key Laboratory of Metallogeny and Mineral Assessment, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
4
Xinjiang Geological Explration Institute of China Metallurgical Geology Bureau, Urumqi 830000, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Minerals 2025, 15(8), 884; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15080884 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 15 July 2025 / Revised: 16 August 2025 / Accepted: 19 August 2025 / Published: 21 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralization and Metallogeny of Iron Deposits)

Abstract

The Tarim Large Igneous Province (TLIP) in NW China hosts abundant Fe–Ti–V oxide deposits associated with mafic–ultramafic intrusions. In the Xiahenan area, on the western margin of the TLIP, a distinct magnetic anomaly is linked to widespread surface accumulations of black sand. However, the genesis and origin of these black sand grains remain unclear. Based on mineral assemblages, this study classifies the grains of the black sand into three types: (i) plagioclase (An10–90)–ilmenite–olivine–magnetite assemblage (Sand I), (ii) plagioclase (An0–10)-fine-grained magnetite assemblage (Sand II), and (iii) hornblende–magnetite highly complex assemblage (Sand III). Mineral geochemical studies demonstrate that magnetite in Sand I and Sand II is of magmatic origin, with protolith being basaltic magma. Magnetite in Sand III was eroded from veins formed by hydrothermal processes at 300–500 °C. Ilmenite in Sand I contains a high FeTiO3 component, representing basaltic ilmenite. Olivine in Sand I has a low Fo content (43.86–47.27), belonging to hortonolite olivine. Research indicates that Sand I and Sand II share similar mineral assemblages and mineral geochemical characteristics with basalts in the Xiahenan area, suggesting they are weathering products of Xiahenan basalts or their cognate magmas. In contrast, the veined magnetite of Sand III formed during post-magmatic hydrothermal events.
Keywords: black sand; mineral chemistry; magnetite; Xiahenan area; Tarim Large Igneous Province black sand; mineral chemistry; magnetite; Xiahenan area; Tarim Large Igneous Province

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhang, S.; Zeng, R.; Duan, S.; Pan, J.; Liang, D.; Yan, J.; Wan, J.; Liu, Q.; Zhang, Y. Mineralogical Characterization and Provenance of Black Sand in the Xiahenan Area, Tarim Large Igneous Province. Minerals 2025, 15, 884. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15080884

AMA Style

Zhang S, Zeng R, Duan S, Pan J, Liang D, Yan J, Wan J, Liu Q, Zhang Y. Mineralogical Characterization and Provenance of Black Sand in the Xiahenan Area, Tarim Large Igneous Province. Minerals. 2025; 15(8):884. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15080884

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhang, Songqiu, Renyu Zeng, Shigang Duan, Jiayong Pan, Dong Liang, Jie Yan, Jianjun Wan, Qing Liu, and You Zhang. 2025. "Mineralogical Characterization and Provenance of Black Sand in the Xiahenan Area, Tarim Large Igneous Province" Minerals 15, no. 8: 884. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15080884

APA Style

Zhang, S., Zeng, R., Duan, S., Pan, J., Liang, D., Yan, J., Wan, J., Liu, Q., & Zhang, Y. (2025). Mineralogical Characterization and Provenance of Black Sand in the Xiahenan Area, Tarim Large Igneous Province. Minerals, 15(8), 884. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15080884

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