Early Cretaceous magmatism and ore mineralization in Northeast China: examples from Taolaituo Mo and Aobaotu Pb–Zn deposits

These geochronological data indicate that these magmatic and hydrothermal activities occurred during the Early Cretaceous. The mineralogical and geochemical features of the Taolaituo and Aobaotu granitoids suggest they can be classified as A 1 -type within-plate anorogenic granites and I-type granites, respectively. The Pb isotopic compositions suggest a mixed crust–mantle origin of the granitoids in these two deposits.

The Taolaituo granitoids were formed by the partial melting of lower crust and crust–mantle interaction, with subsequent fractionation of apatite, feldspar, Ti-bearing phases and allanite or monazite. In contrast, the Aobaotu granites were derived primarily from lithospheric mantle that had been transformed or affected by the addition of subduction-related components. Combined with the regional geology, tectonic evolution and available age data from the literature, our results suggest that the Early Cretaceous (140–100 Ma) was likely to be the most important peak period for metallogenic mineralization in Northeast China.

The Taolaituo and Aobaotu deposits formed under an extensional environment at an active continental margin in response to subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific oceanic plate.