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21 pages, 1505 KB  
Article
Timing and Petrogenesis of Early Devonian Intrusive Rocks in the Niukutoudong Area: New Constraints on Tectonic Evolution of the East Kunlun Orogen
by Yang Jin, Xiaoliang Li, Xingyu Xiao, Shoulin Cao, Wanhui Zhang, De Yang, Jun Yang, Shangwen Ji and Ye Qian
Minerals 2026, 16(8), 772; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16080772 - 24 Jul 2026
Viewed by 88
Abstract
The Niukutoudong deposit, in the Qimantage metallogenic belt, western East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, is a recently discovered cobalt-rich polymetallic deposit. This study integrates zircon U-Pb geochronology and whole-rock geochemistry of the ore-hosting intrusions to constrain their emplacement ages, petrogenesis, and tectonic setting, thereby [...] Read more.
The Niukutoudong deposit, in the Qimantage metallogenic belt, western East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, is a recently discovered cobalt-rich polymetallic deposit. This study integrates zircon U-Pb geochronology and whole-rock geochemistry of the ore-hosting intrusions to constrain their emplacement ages, petrogenesis, and tectonic setting, thereby constraining the Early Devonian tectonic evolution of the East Kunlun area. The geochronological results for four samples demonstrate that the granite porphyry, granite, granodiorite, and gabbroic diorite at Niukutoudong were emplaced in the Early Devonian (403.7–406.3 Ma). Geochemically, the granite, granodiorite, and gabbroic diorite are high-K calc-alkaline, metaluminous to weakly peraluminous I-type granitoids, characterized by consistent enrichment in LREEs, negative Eu anomalies, enrichment in LILEs, and depletion in HFSEs. The granite porphyry, by contrast, is a peraluminous A-type granite distinguished by elevated total REE contents, pronounced negative Eu anomalies, and high HFSE abundances. The regional source characteristics of coeval intrusions, integrated with key incompatible element ratios (e.g., Nb/Ta, Ba/Nb), imply that the Early Devonian Niukutoudong intrusions were probably generated through crust–mantle interaction. Integrated evidence indicates that the Niukutoudong intrusive rocks formed in a post-collisional extensional environment following the closure of the Proto-Tethys Ocean. The mixed crust–mantle signature common to both regional and local Early Devonian intrusive rocks indicates that the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt had already transitioned from syn-collisional crustal thickening into a post-collisional extensional stage by the Early Devonian, marked by lithospheric thinning, asthenospheric upwelling, and crust–mantle interaction. This magmatism records the tectonic regime shift and likely has a genetic link with the Niukutoudong Co-polymetallic mineralization, offering critical insights into the Qimantage metallogenic framework. Full article
21 pages, 5800 KB  
Article
Identification of E3 Ubiquitin Ligases Associated with Survival in Soft Tissue Sarcomas
by Zackary Bender, Hannah C. Beird, Peter Larsen and Gary S. Coombs
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(14), 6350; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27146350 - 17 Jul 2026
Viewed by 434
Abstract
Proteasome inhibitors are approved to treat multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. Recent reports suggest sarcomas also display proteasome addiction. Mechanistic explanations cite proteotoxic stress. In sarcoma patients, we analyzed the impacts of 377 human E3 ubiquitin ligases on sarcoma patient overall survival [...] Read more.
Proteasome inhibitors are approved to treat multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. Recent reports suggest sarcomas also display proteasome addiction. Mechanistic explanations cite proteotoxic stress. In sarcoma patients, we analyzed the impacts of 377 human E3 ubiquitin ligases on sarcoma patient overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS), identified substrates of E3 ligases with the most significant and robust effects, and performed enrichment analyses. High expression of 102 E3 ligases was associated with shortened OS. Thirteen of these shortened OS by >40 months, six with false-discovery rates (FDR) ≤ 5%. Nineteen showed correlation between increased expression and shortened RFS, two with FDR ≤ 5%. Overexpression of 73 E3 ligases significantly extended OS, with 18 extending OS by >40 months; six with FDR ≤ 5%. Elevated expression of 21 significantly extended RFS, one with FDR ≤ 5%. Enrichment analyses of substrates unique to the E3 ligases whose elevated expression most reliably shortened or extended OS by >40 months revealed non-overlapping functions: the E3 ligases associated with shortened OS uniquely targeted cell cycle, cell–cell communication, cellular responses to stimuli, chromatin organization, DNA repair, DNA replication, hemostasis, reproduction, and vesicle-mediated transport functions. Both OS-impacting E3 ligase sets targeted developmental biology, gene expression, immune system, metabolism of proteins, and signal transduction functions. Three specific functions were targeted by both groups. Functions uniquely targeted by each set of ligases could reveal therapeutic targets with a greater therapeutic index than the proteasome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solid Tumors: From Molecular Mechanisms to Targeted Therapies)
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20 pages, 12823 KB  
Article
Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Lu-Hf Isotopic Constraints on Early Cretaceous Volcanism and Zircon Provenance in the Dehui Graben, Southern Songliao Basin, NE China
by Yourong Wang, Ruifei Wang, Jiahao Liu, Jihang Shi, Xinyi Xu, Guangxin Gao, Yutong Guo and Junting Zhou
Minerals 2026, 16(7), 742; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16070742 - 16 Jul 2026
Viewed by 203
Abstract
The Lower Cretaceous volcanic–sedimentary succession in the Dehui Graben of the southern Songliao Basin preserves critical records of syn-rift volcanism and basin filling in NE China. This study presents an integrated dataset of zircon cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging, LA-ICP-MS U-Pb geochronology, trace-element geochemistry, and [...] Read more.
The Lower Cretaceous volcanic–sedimentary succession in the Dehui Graben of the southern Songliao Basin preserves critical records of syn-rift volcanism and basin filling in NE China. This study presents an integrated dataset of zircon cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging, LA-ICP-MS U-Pb geochronology, trace-element geochemistry, and LA-MC-ICP-MS Lu-Hf isotopic analyses for four representative Yingcheng Formation samples collected from three boreholes (D102, D21, and D83) in the Dehui Graben. Zircon grains from samples S1 (gray crystal-vitric tuff, Well D102, 3050.5 m) and S3 (gray tuff, Well D21, 2287 m) are predominantly euhedral to subhedral with well-developed oscillatory zoning, elevated Th/U ratios (>0.4), and chondrite-normalized REE patterns characterized by depletion in light REEs, enrichment in heavy REEs, and pronounced negative Eu anomalies, all of which are diagnostic of a magmatic origin. The 37 zircon analyses from S1 yield 206Pb/238U ages ranging from 109 to 122 Ma, with a KDE peak at ~116 Ma and two inherited grains at 158 Ma and 262 Ma, whereas the 43 analyses from S3 define a narrow age population between 110 and 123 Ma with a KDE peak at ~114 Ma and a single inherited grain at 145 Ma. Together, these ages constrain Yingcheng Formation felsic volcanism in the Dehui Graben to the Aptian stage of the Early Cretaceous. In marked contrast, the 54 zircon analyses from S2 (dark gray crystal-rich tuff, Well D21, 2288 m) exhibit a polymodal distribution dominated by an Early Jurassic population (KDE peak ~181 Ma), with subordinate Permian–Triassic (~251 Ma) and Carboniferous (~325 Ma) components and a complete absence of Cretaceous-aged zircons. We interpret this population entirely as inherited (xenocrystic) zircons entrained from conduit wall rocks during the incipient phase of volcanic eruption. Notably, S2 and S3 were collected from the same well at depths separated by only 1 m, yet they display fundamentally contrasting zircon age spectra. This abrupt vertical discontinuity is consistent with a two-phase eruptive model in which an early xenocryst-rich volcaniclastic unit (S2), possibly related to conduit-wall entrainment during the initial eruptive stage, was rapidly followed by a juvenile magma-derived tuff (S3). Sample S4 (gray coarse sandstone, Well D83, 3273 m) contains 84 detrital zircon grains spanning 112 to 440 Ma, with a dominant Early Jurassic peak (~179 Ma) that correlates with widespread granitoids in the Zhangguangcai Range and a youngest single-grain age of 110.5 Ma that constrains the maximum depositional age of the Yingcheng Formation. All 86 zircon Lu-Hf analyses yield positive εHf(t) values (+0.8 to +9.2), with two-stage Hf model ages (TDM2) clustering between 536 and 1100 Ma and peaking at ~700–800 Ma (Neoproterozoic). These data indicate that the parental magmas were predominantly derived from partial melting of Neoproterozoic juvenile crust extracted from a depleted mantle source. Among the four samples, S3 records the highest mean εHf(t) (+7.1) and the youngest mean TDM2 (~672 Ma), which may indicate a relatively stronger depleted-mantle affinity during the extensional stage at ca. 114 Ma. The positive εHf(t) values of the ~181 Ma S2 xenocrysts further imply that the Early Jurassic magmatic event in this region also sampled juvenile Neoproterozoic crust, which thus served as the common source basement for both episodes of magmatism. A regional compilation reveals a systematic north-to-south younging trend of syn-rift volcanism across the Songliao Basin (Yingtai ~119 Ma, Dehui ~115 Ma, Wangfu ~110 Ma), with the Dehui Graben occupying a critical intermediate position that is consistent with the southeastward migration of back-arc extension possibly related to Paleo-Pacific slab rollback. Full article
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20 pages, 8417 KB  
Article
Magmatic Controls on Contrasting Molybdenum Fertility of Caledonian Granitoids in Eastern Guangxi, South China
by Lian Mo, Yizhi Liu, Guicong Fang, Zonglin Jiang, Er Wu, Lei Qin and Bachtiar Wahyu Mutaqin
Minerals 2026, 16(7), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16070739 - 16 Jul 2026
Viewed by 308
Abstract
Caledonian hydrothermal vein-type Mo deposits are largely restricted to eastern Guangxi, South China, yet the magmatic controls on molybdenum (Mo) mineralization remain poorly constrained. The adjacent Guiling (Mo–mineralized) and Daning (Mo–barren) plutons in this region represent a natural pair for deciphering these issues. [...] Read more.
Caledonian hydrothermal vein-type Mo deposits are largely restricted to eastern Guangxi, South China, yet the magmatic controls on molybdenum (Mo) mineralization remain poorly constrained. The adjacent Guiling (Mo–mineralized) and Daning (Mo–barren) plutons in this region represent a natural pair for deciphering these issues. Zircon U–Pb dating, whole-rock geochemistry, and mineralogical characteristics indicate that the Daning pluton (~440 Ma) is an I-type granite, whereas the younger Guiling pluton (~425 Ma) is a more evolved I-type granite, with higher SiO2 contents (avg. 71.17 wt.% vs. 65.88 wt.%), stronger negative Eu anomalies (avg. 0.53 vs. 0.63), lower Nb/Ta ratios (avg. 6.5 vs. 9.9), and Zr/Hf ratios (avg. 30.6 vs. 33.4), as well as higher Rb/Sr ratios (avg. 3.6 vs. 1.1). Sr–Nd–Hf isotopes are consistent with a Paleoproterozoic crustal source for both plutons, whereas coeval mafic microgranular enclaves in the Guiling pluton exhibit positive εNd(t) values (+3.43 to +3.58), providing evidence for mantle input. Biotite geochemistry shows that the Guiling pluton is enriched in F and Cl, as reflected by lower log(ƒH2OHF)fluid values and higher log(ƒH2OHCl)fluid values. Our integrated study suggests that the Daning and Guiling plutons were emplaced in an intracontinental orogenic setting during the transition from compression to extension, but the more pronounced extension facilitated a greater input of mantle-derived heat and volatiles into the Guiling pluton, favoring Mo enrichment. However, the similar biotite crystallization temperatures and moderate oxygen fugacities of both plutons suggest that these factors were not the decisive factors. Collectively, we propose that the contrasting Mo fertility between the two plutons reflects the interplay of magmatic and structural factors. Magmatically, crust–mantle source mixing, high degrees of fractionation, and volatile enrichment promoted Mo concentration, whereas ductile shear zones likely served as fluid conduits that facilitated mineralization. Accordingly, the southwestern segment of the Yingyangguan (YYG) ductile shear zone between the Daning and Guiling plutons could be a prospective target for Mo prospecting in eastern Guangxi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geochemical Exploration for Critical Mineral Resources, 2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 37213 KB  
Article
The Carbon Sink in the Mesoproterozoic Ocean and Its Implications for Marine Carbon Storage Pathways
by Chaokun Zhang, Wei Tian and Yanxin He
Sustainability 2026, 18(13), 6851; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18136851 - 6 Jul 2026
Viewed by 265
Abstract
Anthropogenic CO2 emissions have perturbed the global carbon cycle and increased atmospheric carbon concentrations to critical levels, making carbon capture and storage (CCS) a key strategy for mitigating climate warming. Natural carbon sequestration has operated continuously in marine environments throughout Earth history. [...] Read more.
Anthropogenic CO2 emissions have perturbed the global carbon cycle and increased atmospheric carbon concentrations to critical levels, making carbon capture and storage (CCS) a key strategy for mitigating climate warming. Natural carbon sequestration has operated continuously in marine environments throughout Earth history. Here, we investigate the growth mechanisms and carbon-sink significance of calcite concretions in the Mesoproterozoic Xiamaling Formation from the Zhaojiashan section and the Zhenzhuquan section in the North China Craton, using petrographic, elemental geochemical and C-O-Re-Os isotopic evidence. The presence of erosional surfaces and local truncation of host-rock laminae suggests that these concretions formed synsedimentarily or during early diagenesis near the sediment-water interface. The δ13C values (−5.05‰ to 1.54‰) of samples, together with δ18O-δ13C relationships, indicate a marine carbonate affinity and suggest that dissolved inorganic carbon was the dominant carbon source. In addition, the concretions display initial 187Os/188Os ratios as low as 0.136, close to the mantle Os end-member, implying a contribution from mantle-derived material during concretion formation. The middle rare earth element and yttrium (MREYs)-enriched patterns and slight positive Ce anomalies further indicate that concretion growth occurred mainly within the Mn- and Fe-reduction zones. We estimate that the calcite-concretion-bearing interval of the Xiamaling Formation sequestered 70.24 Gt C, equivalent to 257.56 Gt CO2, serving as an archive of marine carbon burial in the Mesoproterozoic ocean. Microbially mediated carbonate precipitation may represent an effective carbon immobilization mechanism in marine sediments and has potential implications for the development of subseafloor carbon storage strategies, especially where biocatalysts and/or brine could accelerate seawater CO2 mineral trapping to industrially relevant rates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CO2 Capture and Utilization: Sustainable Environment)
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35 pages, 33536 KB  
Article
Fe–Pb–Zn Zonation and Overprinting in the No. VI Ore Block of the Galinge Skarn Deposit, East Kunlun: Constraints from Geochemistry of Two Intrusive Pulses and Ore-Mineral Trace Elements
by Zhi Wang, Hejun Tang, Guang Qi, Jiayong Yan, De Yang, Hua Li, Jiaze Wu and Ji Liu
Minerals 2026, 16(7), 683; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16070683 - 29 Jun 2026
Viewed by 562
Abstract
The No. VI ore block of the Galinge skarn system in the Qimantagh metallogenic belt, East Kunlun, contains proximal Fe-oxide mineralization and distal Pb–Zn sulfide mineralization that are spatially zoned and locally overprinted along faults and interlayer fracture zones. To constrain the controls [...] Read more.
The No. VI ore block of the Galinge skarn system in the Qimantagh metallogenic belt, East Kunlun, contains proximal Fe-oxide mineralization and distal Pb–Zn sulfide mineralization that are spatially zoned and locally overprinted along faults and interlayer fracture zones. To constrain the controls on Fe–Pb–Zn zonation and overprinting within this ore block, we integrated LA–ICP–MS zircon U–Pb dating, zircon Lu–Hf isotopes, whole-rock major and trace elements, and in situ trace elements of magnetite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, and arsenopyrite. Zircon U–Pb ages indicate two Indosinian intrusive pulses: an early granodiorite at 235.1 ± 0.51 Ma and a younger granodiorite–quartz diorite at 229.52 ± 0.46 Ma. Excluding the hydrothermally altered sample ZK26804-805, the intrusive rocks are metaluminous, medium- to high-K calc-alkaline I-type granitoids mainly derived from remelting of ancient crustal material, with a greater juvenile crustal or mantle contribution in the younger phase. Magnetite is generally Zn-rich and Pb-poor, whereas late pyrite and chalcopyrite are enriched in Pb, Ag, Cd, and Bi; local Sb–As anomalies in magnetite and arsenopyrite indicate late hydrothermal overprinting. The Fe and Pb–Zn mineralization is best interpreted as staged products of one multipulse magmatic–hydrothermal system controlled not only by intrusive pulses but also by inherited structural pathways, host-rock reactivity, and evolving redox-sulfidation conditions. The interpretation of Sb–As enrichment in magnetite is therefore used cautiously because these elements may occur as lattice substitutions and/or micro- to nano-inclusions introduced or modified during retrograde alteration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
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23 pages, 8992 KB  
Article
Interaction Between the Emeishan Mantle Plume and the Lithospheric Mantle: Evidence from Geochemistry and Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb Isotopes of Basalts from the Weng’an Area, Guizhou Province, China
by Bao-Hua Wang, Ying Liang, Long Xiao, Xi-Jun Liu, Guang-Da Huang, Xing-Zhou Jiang, Xiao Liu, Wen-Min Huang, Zheng-Lin Li and Jia-Hua Li
Minerals 2026, 16(7), 672; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16070672 - 25 Jun 2026
Viewed by 602
Abstract
The interaction between mantle plumes and the lithospheric mantle is critical for understanding the genesis of flood basalts. The Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP), composed predominantly of basalts with minor picritic rocks and radiating mafic dyke swarms, offers an exceptional natural laboratory for [...] Read more.
The interaction between mantle plumes and the lithospheric mantle is critical for understanding the genesis of flood basalts. The Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP), composed predominantly of basalts with minor picritic rocks and radiating mafic dyke swarms, offers an exceptional natural laboratory for studying this process. In this contribution, we present geochemical and Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb isotopic data for high-Ti basalts from Weng’an, at the easternmost margin of the ELIP. These basalts (TiO2 > 2.8 wt.%, Ti/Y > 500) are enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs: Ba, Th, U) and slightly depleted in high field strength elements (HFSEs: Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, Y). They exhibit initial (87Sr/86Sr)t ratios of 0.70594–0.70697, εNd(t) of +1.2 to +1.8, εHf(t) of +1.1 to +1.9, and (206Pb/204Pb)t of 18.11–18.51. Their geochemical signatures resemble those of other high-Ti ELIP basalts and ocean island basalts (OIB) but are distinct from those of depleted mantle sources. Trace element patterns and Pb–Pb isotope systematics indicate derivation from a garnet + spinel lherzolite source linked to the Emeishan mantle plume, with ~8–10% input from sub-continental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) metasomatized by slab-derived fluids during ascent. These results provide direct evidence for heterogeneous SCLM contributions to plume-derived magmas and highlight the role of lithospheric heterogeneity in shaping the composition of LIP magmatism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geochronology and Geochemistry of Alkaline Rocks)
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16 pages, 7964 KB  
Article
Ore Textures and the Late Exsolution of Troilite from Pyrrhotite, Iken Nickel Deposit, Kun-Manie Complex, Amur Oblast, Russian Far East
by Andrei Y. Barkov, Ivan I. Nikulin, Robert F. Martin and Boris M. Lobastov
Minerals 2026, 16(7), 665; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16070665 - 24 Jun 2026
Viewed by 231
Abstract
The magmatic Ni-Co-Cu mineralization in the Iken deposit in the central part of the Kun-Manie complex, Amur Oblast, Russia, hosted by an olivine-bearing websterite, is of a low-sulfide type. The fine-grained disseminations of base metal sulfides (BMS), dominantly pyrrhotite, pentlandite (a major source [...] Read more.
The magmatic Ni-Co-Cu mineralization in the Iken deposit in the central part of the Kun-Manie complex, Amur Oblast, Russia, hosted by an olivine-bearing websterite, is of a low-sulfide type. The fine-grained disseminations of base metal sulfides (BMS), dominantly pyrrhotite, pentlandite (a major source of Ni of industrial importance), and chalcopyrite, are followed by a scarce Pd-Pt-Ag mineralization. Elevated contents of Al in orthopyroxene (mean 2.78 wt.% Al2O3) along with Al–Na enrichment in clinopyroxene (diopside; mean 5.10 wt.% Al2O3) are associated with highly aluminous compositions of low-chromium members of the spinel–hercynite series. High levels of TiO2 in kaersutite and titanian phlogopite also reflect a pronounced degree of fractionation of the ore-forming melt. Minor portions of sulfide melt are distributed evenly as a result of immiscibility at advanced stages of orthopyroxene crystallization, after the formation of olivine. Differentiated grains of droplet-like BMS largely settled in situ close to grain boundaries of orthopyroxene or occupied interstitial spaces of pyroxenes and olivine in association with spinel–hercynite and fluorapatite. A combination of late saturation in S with relatively quick cooling rates of the hypabyssal body prevented the effective settlement and accumulation of sulfide droplets in the ore zone. The well-developed lamellae of troilite (Fe50S50) exsolved from the host pyrrhotite Fe48S52 during subsolidus cooling, as a consequence of a low-temperature reaction triggered by a sudden drop in fO2. An influx of mantle-derived fluid bearing CO2, CO, and CH4 with the rising magma could be the primary cause of the fO2 reduction. Also, graphite-bearing metasedimentary rocks could have been assimilated. Tiny grains of minerals of noble metals (moncheite and merenskyite with essential amounts of melonite component, sperrylite, hessite, alloy Au63.2Ag36.8, and argentopentlandite) deposited late in a fluid-enriched medium under submagmatic conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
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20 pages, 3386 KB  
Article
Petrogenesis and Geological Significance of the Jasacuo Monzogranite, Western Gangdese Belt, Southern Tibet: SIMS Zircon U-Pb Chronological and Whole-Rock Geochemical Constraints
by Wenwen Han, Qin Qin, Zhipen Liu, Yu Wu, Yunhe Liu and Wei Xu
Minerals 2026, 16(6), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16060644 - 18 Jun 2026
Viewed by 235
Abstract
Early Cretaceous magmatism in the western segment of the Gangdese belt is less well constrained than that in the central and eastern segments. This study presents petrography, whole-rock geochemistry, and SIMS zircon U–Pb geochronology for the Jasacuo monzogranite in Zhongba County, southern Tibet. [...] Read more.
Early Cretaceous magmatism in the western segment of the Gangdese belt is less well constrained than that in the central and eastern segments. This study presents petrography, whole-rock geochemistry, and SIMS zircon U–Pb geochronology for the Jasacuo monzogranite in Zhongba County, southern Tibet. Zircons are euhedral and show oscillatory zoning; 17 concordant analyses yield a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 101.4 ± 0.8 Ma (MSWD = 1.01), indicating crystallization in the late Early Cretaceous. The rocks are characterized by high SiO2 (63.73–77.11 wt.%), high K2O, low MgO, TiO2, and P2O5, and A/CNK values of 0.92–1.08, indicating metaluminous to weakly peraluminous, high-K calc-alkaline compositions with I-type affinity. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns show LREE enrichment and negative Eu anomalies, whereas primitive-mantle-normalized trace-element patterns display enrichment in Rb, U, Th, and Pb and depletion in Ba, Nb, Sr, Zr, and Ti. These features indicate that the Jasacuo monzogranite is an evolved felsic intrusion generated in a subduction-related continental-arc setting associated with northward subduction of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere. The magma was dominated by crustal components and underwent significant fractional crystallization, mainly involving feldspar, with minor biotite and amphibole. Full article
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23 pages, 12045 KB  
Article
Carboniferous Slab Rollback in the Eastern Tianshan, NW China: Insights from Basalts of the Qi’Eshan Group in the Dananhu Arc
by Jixiang Dai, He Yang, Hongming Cai, Yuyu Zong and Feng Gao
Minerals 2026, 16(6), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16060642 - 18 Jun 2026
Viewed by 431
Abstract
Volcanic rocks of the Qi’eshan Group, which are widely distributed in the Dananhu arc of the Eastern Tianshan, NW China, have long been debated in terms of their formation age and tectonic setting. In this study, we conducted an integrated study of U-Pb [...] Read more.
Volcanic rocks of the Qi’eshan Group, which are widely distributed in the Dananhu arc of the Eastern Tianshan, NW China, have long been debated in terms of their formation age and tectonic setting. In this study, we conducted an integrated study of U-Pb apatite geochronology, whole-rock major and trace element geochemistry, in situ major element analyses of clinopyroxene, and “Rhyolite-MELTS” thermodynamic modeling on the basalts from the Qi’eshan Group. Geochronological data show that the weighted mean of 206Pb/238U ages of apatite is 329 ± 10 Ma. The basalts belong to the tholeiitic series and are characterized by enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs), depletion in high field strength elements (HFSEs), and enrichment of light rare earth elements (LREEs) relative to heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) with weak negative Eu anomalies. They were derived by partial melting of garnet-spinel lherzolite in a depleted mantle source metasomatized by subduction-related fluids, followed by fractional crystallization of spinel, olivine, and clinopyroxene. Clinopyroxene is dominated by augite, characterized by high Mg and Ca contents and low Al and Na contents. Machine-learning-based thermobarometry indicates that clinopyroxene crystallized at temperatures of 1027–1033 °C and pressures of 1.1–1.6 kbar. “Rhyolite-MELTS” isobaric crystallization simulations suggest that mantle-derived magma, with an initial water content of 4 wt.% and oxygen fugacity of FMQ, can generate melts compositionally similar to the volcanic rocks of the Qi’eshan Group through fractional crystallization at a pressure of 1.5 kbar. Combined with previous studies, we propose that the Qi’eshan Group basalts formed in an extensional arc setting related to southward rollback of the northward-subducting Kanguer oceanic slab, which caused asthenosphere upwelling and lithospheric extension, thereby promoting partial melting of the subduction-metasomatized mantle. Our data provide new insights into the Carboniferous rollback of the Kanguer oceanic slab in the northern part of the Eastern Tianshan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology)
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21 pages, 6816 KB  
Article
Metallogenic Potential and Ore-Forming Fluid Evolution of the Dadonggou Molybdenum Deposit in Northwest Hebei, China: Geochemical and Isotopic Constraints
by Guanghuo Tao, Deyou Sun, Fenghao Li, Xingkang Zhang, Zhao Feng, Guang Wang and Xiaozhuo Jia
Minerals 2026, 16(6), 635; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16060635 - 15 Jun 2026
Viewed by 306
Abstract
The Dadonggou Mo deposit in Western Hebei, within the Yanshan–Liaoning Mo metallogenic belt, is a newly recognized medium-sized porphyry Mo system. Exploration has delineated 126 orebodies, most of which are blind, with identified resources of ~22,000 t Mo at an average grade of [...] Read more.
The Dadonggou Mo deposit in Western Hebei, within the Yanshan–Liaoning Mo metallogenic belt, is a newly recognized medium-sized porphyry Mo system. Exploration has delineated 126 orebodies, most of which are blind, with identified resources of ~22,000 t Mo at an average grade of 0.071% Mo. Integrated lithogeochemistry, zircon U-Pb chronology, molybdenite Re-Os geochronology, quartz fluid-inclusion microthermometry, and H-O-S isotope analyses constrain the mineralization age, ore-fluid evolution, and sources of ore-forming materials. The zircon U-Pb dating of the ore-bearing granite porphyry and quartz porphyry from the Dadonggou molybdenum deposit yields ages ranging from 135.8 Ma to 141.5 Ma. The low Ti content in zircons indicates that they are super-wet magmatic rocks. The magmatic evolution experienced a change in oxygen fugacity from oxidizing to reducing conditions, which facilitated the initial enrichment of molybdenum. Molybdenite yields a Re-Os isochron age of 135.9 ± 4.0 Ma and a weighted mean model age of 134.2 ± 1.6 Ma, indicating Early Cretaceous mineralization. Ore fluids evolved from an early CO2-H2O-NaCl system with relatively high temperature and salinity to a later H2O-NaCl system with lower temperature and salinity. Isotopic data indicate progressive meteoric-water incorporation into dominantly magmatic fluids. Sulfur isotopes and high Re contents in molybdenite indicate a mixture of mantle magma mixed with some seawater. Lower late-stage trapping pressures record post-ore depressurization and hydrothermal-system shallowing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
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24 pages, 8182 KB  
Article
Geochronology, Geochemistry, and Tectonic Implications of the Early Devonian Mafic Intrusions in the Southern Margin of the North China Craton
by Kekun Li, Ruidong Yang, Yazhou Fan, Jianhan Huang and Pengyuan Chen
Geosciences 2026, 16(6), 233; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences16060233 - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 383
Abstract
The Heilongtai–Maogudui (HM) mafic intrusions are exposed in the southern margin of the North China Craton (SNCC), which are contemporaneous with a variety of strategic metal/non-metal minerals (niobium, uranium, and high-purity quartz) and magmatic hydrothermal REE deposits. New geochronology and geochemistry of these [...] Read more.
The Heilongtai–Maogudui (HM) mafic intrusions are exposed in the southern margin of the North China Craton (SNCC), which are contemporaneous with a variety of strategic metal/non-metal minerals (niobium, uranium, and high-purity quartz) and magmatic hydrothermal REE deposits. New geochronology and geochemistry of these intrusions are examined and interpreted to decipher their petrogenesis and tectonic settings. Zircon LA–ICP–MS data formed a concordant cluster, yielding a mean 206Pb/238U age of 397.5 ± 3.5 Ma, which is interpreted as an Early Devonian crystallization age. The HM mafic intrusions have similar whole-rock geochemical compositions, containing 48.94–51.51 wt% SiO2, 1.26–1.61 wt% TiO2, 5.96–7.13 wt% MgO, and 11.00–12.48 wt% FeOt. The total alkali contents range from 1.61 wt% to 3.53 wt%, with Mg# values of 47.23–52.30. The petrographic and geochemical results suggest the fractional crystallization of mainly olivine, clinopyroxene, and minor Fe–Ti oxide in the mafic intrusions. Being of tholeiitic composition, these mafic rocks display relatively flat rare earth element (REE) and trace element patterns, which are similar to those of the normal mid-ocean ridge basalt (N–MORB) and the enriched mid-ocean ridge basalt (E–MORB). The HM mafic intrusions are proposed to originate in the continental extensional environment through 5–10% partial melting of the depleted spinel asthenosphere mantle source. This is attributed to the gravitational delamination of the lithospheric mantle and the upwelling of the hot asthenosphere, marking the end of the Paleozoic Proto–Tethyan orogenic cycle. The Paleozoic strategic mineral deposits are proposed to have formed under this specific tectonic regime. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Geochemistry)
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20 pages, 16810 KB  
Article
The Liuyuan Rift in the Beishan Area of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, Western China: Revisiting the Diverse Permian Igneous Assemblages
by Junyi Sun, Jiawei Cui, Zhaohua Luo and Yu Wang
Minerals 2026, 16(6), 610; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16060610 - 8 Jun 2026
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Abstract
The formation of tectonic–magmatic–sedimentary processes during the Permian in the Beishan region represents a highly debated research topic along the southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt and even globally: does it mark the final subduction and amalgamation of the Paleo-Asian Ocean, [...] Read more.
The formation of tectonic–magmatic–sedimentary processes during the Permian in the Beishan region represents a highly debated research topic along the southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt and even globally: does it mark the final subduction and amalgamation of the Paleo-Asian Ocean, or does it instead represent rifting superimposed upon an earlier orogen? New field observations combined with geochemical analyses reveal that the Liuyuan area is dominated by Early Permian basalts, associated with a rifting sedimentary sequence. During the Mid–Late Permian, gabbro–rhyolite associations were emplaced, accompanied by minor lacustrine sedimentation. The late stage was characterized by minor granitic intrusions or dikes with adakitic affinities, culminating in the emplacement of lamprophyre dikes. The basalts and gabbros in the Liuyuan area display mantle-derived geochemical signatures, with compositions intermediate between MORB and OIB. The exposed Permian basalt–rhyolite bimodal magmatic suite represents a genetically integrated rift-related rock series. Geochemical data from the Ordovician granites and schists within the belt reveal adakitic characteristics, implying that the Permian granitic rocks largely represent remelting products of these early granitic and schistose protoliths. Collectively, the lithological characteristics and magmatic associations clearly demonstrate that the tectonic setting during the Early Permian corresponded to a post-collisional extensional environment superimposed upon the early Paleozoic orogenic belt (Caledonian Huitongshan ophiolite–arc accretionary orogen), which subsequently underwent tectonic inversion to form the present-day orogenic structure. This paper proposes a theoretical model wherein the bimodal magmatic suite was generated by the upwelling of enriched asthenospheric mantle material, providing the driving mechanism for rifting. It formed within a post-collisional extensional environment developed over a complex pre-existing orogenic belt and was subsequently inverted, forming the current tectonic belt—a typical intracontinental Pyrenees-type orogeny. Full article
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20 pages, 7697 KB  
Article
The Nam Xan Gold Deposit, Laos: Evidence for a Distal Intrusion-Related Gold System in the Truong Son Fold Belt
by Bounheuang Phanpasert, Ruidong Yang, Jun Chen, Patthana Bounliyong, Yifan Wen and Xinzheng Li
Minerals 2026, 16(6), 600; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16060600 - 3 Jun 2026
Viewed by 659
Abstract
The Nam Xan gold deposit is located in the central Truong Son Fold Belt of Laos. It is a newly identified distal intrusion-related gold system (IRGS) in a continental arc setting. This study uses whole-rock geochemistry, Pb and S isotope systematics, and mineral-scale [...] Read more.
The Nam Xan gold deposit is located in the central Truong Son Fold Belt of Laos. It is a newly identified distal intrusion-related gold system (IRGS) in a continental arc setting. This study uses whole-rock geochemistry, Pb and S isotope systematics, and mineral-scale analyses to trace magmatic evolution and ore-forming processes. Whole-rock data indicate that the associated intrusive suite is a calc-alkaline volcanic-arc granite (VAG) series, derived from a subduction-modified mantle source with notable crustal contributions. Pb isotopes reveal mixing arrays rather than true isochrons. Monte Carlo modeling shows binary mantle–crust mixing for igneous rocks and ternary mixing with an additional radiogenic component in ore samples, indicating enhanced fluid–rock interaction during mineralization. Sulfur isotope data show a shift from magmatic sulfur (δ34S ≈ −5‰) in early skarn-stage pyrite to heavier values (δ34S ≈ +6‰) in gold-bearing stages, reflecting fluid evolution driven by cooling and redox changes. Mineral chemistry data demonstrate that gold is present both as invisible gold within arsenian pyrite and as free gold in late-stage fractures. Strong correlations between Au and As, along with elevated Co/Ni ratios and enrichments in Bi, W, and F, collectively support a magmatic-hydrothermal origin. These findings define a three-stage mineralization process: an initial phase involving high-temperature magmatic fluids, a main stage characterized by sulfidation and gold deposition, and a final stage marked by polymetallic overprinting. The Nam Xan deposit is therefore interpreted as the distal manifestation of a Permian arc-related magmatic system in which magmatic fluids migrated along structural conduits and precipitated gold through interaction with carbonate host rocks. The identification of these intrusions in the distal IRGS at Nam Xan informs regional exploration models in the Truong Son Fold Belt, demonstrating the potential of carbonate platforms near Permian intrusions for future mineral exploration. Full article
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21 pages, 13017 KB  
Article
Magma Petrogenesis and Evolution of Ultramafic Rocks in the Daaobaogou Ni-Cu Sulfide Deposit, Dunhuang Block, Gansu Province, China: Constraints from Major and Trace Elements and Sr-Nd-Pb Isotopes
by Xialin Wang, Biao Jiang, Haiyun Chen and Zhenzhong Gong
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(11), 5508; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16115508 - 1 Jun 2026
Viewed by 329
Abstract
This paper presents systematic petrological, whole-rock geochemical, and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic studies on the mafic–ultramafic rocks of the Daaobaogou Ni-Cu sulfide deposit in the Dunhuang Block, Gansu Province. This study aims to reveal the nature of its source region, parent magma composition, and magma [...] Read more.
This paper presents systematic petrological, whole-rock geochemical, and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic studies on the mafic–ultramafic rocks of the Daaobaogou Ni-Cu sulfide deposit in the Dunhuang Block, Gansu Province. This study aims to reveal the nature of its source region, parent magma composition, and magma evolution processes. The results indicate that the parent magma of the ore-bearing intrusion in Daaobaogou originated from an enriched lithospheric mantle metasomatized by Paleozoic subduction processes. It exhibits high-magnesium characteristics and represents the product of a certain degree of evolution from a primitive magma. The magma evolution underwent significant fractional crystallization, with olivine beginning to crystallize at 1328 °C, following the crystallization sequence: olivine, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, and orthopyroxene. Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes and trace elements indicate that the magma experienced intense crustal contamination (approximately 10–20% upper crust) during its ascent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Approaches in Applied Geochemistry)
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