A genetic linkage between subduction- and collision-related

porphyry Cu deposits in continental collision zones

Zengqian Hou1,2*, Zhiming Yang1, Yongjun Lu2, Anthony Kemp2, Yuanchuan Zheng3, Qiuyun Li1, Juxing Tang4, Zhusen
Yang4, and Lianfeng Duan1
1
Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, P.R. China
Centre for Exploration Targeting and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems (CCFS),
2

University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia

3
China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100082, P.R. China
4
Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, P.R. China

ABSTRACT India-Asia collision during the Cenozoic pro-

The genesis of continental collision-related porphyry Cu deposits (PCDs) remains contro- duced a 1500-km-long trans-Himalayan Mio-
versial. The most common hypothesis links their genesis with magmas derived from subduc- cene igneous belt along the southern margin of
tion-modified arc lithosphere. However, it is unclear whether a genetic linkage exists between the Lhasa terrane (Miller et al., 1999), and led to
collision- and subduction-related PCDs. Here, we studied Jurassic subduction-related Cu-Au crustal thickening (as much as 80 km) in south
and Miocene collision-related Cu-Mo porphyry deposits in south Tibet. The Jurassic PCDs Lhasa (Chung et al., 2009).
occur only in the western segment of the Jurassic arc, which has depleted mantle-like isotopic Porphyry-type mineralization in the Lhasa
compositions [e.g., (87Sr/86Sr)i = 0.7041–0.7048; eNd(t) as high as 7.5, and eHf(t) as high as 18]. By terrane is linked to two distinct magmatic
contrast, no Jurassic PCDs have been found in the eastern arc segment, which is isotopically suites. These are the Jurassic arc suites asso-
less juvenile [e.g., (87Sr/86Sr)i = 0.7041–0.7063, eNd(t) < 4.5, and eHf(t) ≤ 12]. These results imply that ciated with Cu-Au deposits (e.g., Xiongcun,
incorporation of crustal components during underplating of Jurassic magma induced copper Laze, and Zemoduola; Tafti et al., 2009), and
accumulation as sulfides at the base of the eastern Jurassic arc, inhibiting PCD formation the Miocene post-collisional suites associated
at this time. Miocene PCDs are spatially confined to the Jurassic arc, and the giant Miocene with Cu-Mo deposits (e.g., Qulong, Jiama,
PCDs cluster in its eastern segment where no Jurassic PCDs occur. This suggests that the arc Tinggong, and Chongjiang; Hou et al., 2009).
segment barren for subduction-related PCDs could be fertile for collision-related PCDs. Mio- Numerous 184–158 Ma granitoids and associ-
cene ore-forming porphyries have young Hf model ages and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions ated Jurassic volcanic rocks form a 600-km-
overlapping with those of the Jurassic rocks in the eastern segment, whereas contemporane- long Jurassic arc (JA) (Geng et al., 2005),
ous barren porphyries outside the Jurassic arc have abundant zircon inheritance and crust- onto which a >1000-km-long Cretaceous arc
like Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions. These data suggest that remelting of the lower crustal was subsequently superimposed (Fig. 1). This
sulfide-bearing Cu-rich Jurassic cumulates, triggered by Cenozoic crustal thickening and/or Jurassic arc is divided by a north-south–ori-
subsequent slab break-off, led to the formation of giant Miocene PCDs. The spatial overlap ented rift into a western segment (WSJA) and
and complementary metal endowment between subduction- and collision-related magmas an eastern segment (ESJA), which are domi-
may be used to evaluate the mineral potential for such deposits in other orogenic belts. nated by diorite intrusions with andesites, and
granitic intrusions with basalt and dacite,
INTRODUCTION collision-related PCDs, but it is unclear whether respectively. The giant Xiongcun PCD (219.8
Most porphyry Cu deposits (PCDs) form in a genetic linkage exists. Mt Cu resources averaging 0.43% Cu and 0.61
magmatic arcs worldwide and are associated with Here, we report new geological, geochemi- g/t Au; Tafti et al., 2009) with Re-Os molybe-
hydrous (>4 wt% H2O) calc-alkaline magmas, cal, and isotopic data for Jurassic subduction- denite age of 173 ± 5 Ma (Tang et al., 2010)
derived from an asthenospheric mantle wedge and Miocene collision-related PCDs in southern is associated with a Jurassic quartz diorite
metasomatized by slab fluids (Richards, 2003). Tibet. Our new evidence suggests that remelting porphyry in the WSJA (Fig. 1B). No Jurassic
Subduction processes are thought to ultimately of sulfide-bearing, lower crustal cumulates of PCDs have been found in the ESJA (Fig. 1B).
cause enrichment of metals (Cu, Au) and S (Grif- former arc magmas associated with subduction- The Miocene post-collisional magmas occur
fin et al., 2013) and the relatively high oxygen related PCDs could produce giant collision- as isolated stocks of porphyritic monzogranite
fugacity (fO ) and high H2O contents in arc mag- related PCDs. and minor granodiorite and granite. The miner-
2
mas (Kelley and Cottrell, 2009) that are critical alized porphyries developed in the Jurassic arc,
to the formation of PCDs. Recently, such PCDs SUBDUCTION- AND COLLISION- whereas contemporaneous barren ones were
have been found in collisional zones such as that RELATED PCDS IN SOUTH TIBET emplaced outside the arc (Fig. 1B). All porphy-
in Tibet, where they are associated with post-col- The India-Asia continental collision zone was ries have zircon U-Pb ages of 26–13 Ma with a
lisional magmas emplaced as isolated complexes built on a complex tectonic collage of terranes peak at 16 Ma (Hou et al., 2013a), and the asso-
within the Jurassic–Cretaceous magmatic arcs accreted onto the southern margin of the Asian ciated PCDs have molybdenite Re-Os ages of
(Hou et al., 2004). These magmas are thought to continent since the Mesozoic (Fig. 1A; Yin and 17–14 Ma (Hou et al., 2009), postdating subduc-
derive by remelting of a thickened juvenile mafic Harrison, 2000). The Lhasa terrane, bounded by tion-related Jurassic PCDs by at least 150 m.y.
lower crust (Hou et al., 2004) resulting from pre- the Meso-Tethyan Bangong-Nujiang suture and The Miocene PCDs show a close spatial rela-
vious arc magmatism (Richards, 2009; Hou et al., the Neo-Tethyan Indus-Yarlung Zangbo suture tionship with the Jurassic arc (Fig. 1B), despite
2009; Li et al., 2011) with subduction-associated (Fig. 1A), is composed of Precambrian crystal- being separated by a time interval of ~170–130
PCDs (Tafti et al., 2009). This model implies a line basement and Paleozoic–Mesozoic shallow m.y. For example, the giant Qulong deposit
spatial relationship between subduction- and marine clastic strata. Northward subduction of (1420 Mt at 0.5% Cu and 0.03% Mo; Yang et
the Neo-Tethyan Ocean beneath the Lhasa ter- al., 2009) is partly hosted by Jurassic dacitic
rane formed the Jurassic–Cretaceous volcano- lavas. The giant Jiama deposit is only 2 km from
*E-mail: houzengqian@126.com plutonic arcs (Fig. 1B; Chu et al., 2006). The the nearest outcrop of Jurassic volcanic succes-

GEOLOGY, March 2015; v. 43; no. 3; p. 247–250; Data Repository item 2015088  | doi:10.1130/G36362.1 |  Published online 5 February 2015
GEOLOGY  |  Volume
© 2015 Geological 43  | ofNumber
Society America. | www.gsapubs.org
3  Gold Open Access: This paper is published under the terms of the CC-BY license. 247
 (B) 0 50 100
sions (Fig. 1B). Other PCDs are ~20–50 km
N km away from Jurassic magmatic rocks (Fig. 1B).
SNM
Importantly, the coeval Miocene porphyry intru-
Lhasa Terrane sions emplaced outside of the Jurassic arc are all
30

R
barren (Fig. 1B).

YG
Jurassic Arc LZH
QL
NMQ DZK BR
Lhasa ML Linzhi
LZ
CJ
TG NM LKE JM GEOCHEMICAL AND ISOTOPIC
JC
IYZS
ZD TBC CHARACTERISTICS
XC NMB 29
94
Thirty-two key samples from the PCDs and
88 90 92
relevant magmatic rocks in south Tibet were
36 Jurassic arc volcanic rock Jurassic porphyry
(A) Tarim
Songpan
Qaidam
Cu-Au deposit analyzed for major and trace element chemistry
JSS -Ganzi Jurassic intrusion
giant, Au ≥ 100 t and bulk-rock Sr-Nd and zircon Hf isotopic com-
Qiangtang Cretaceous intrusion large, 50 ≤ Au ≤ 100 t positions (Tables DR1–DR3 in the GSA Data
BNS Fig.1b
32 Miocene barren porphyry Miocene porphyry Repository1). These data, combined with previ-
Yare Lhasa Ophiolitc melange Cu-Mo deposits ously published results, are presented in Figure 2
Mayum Lhasa
IYZS giant, Cu ≥ 5 Mt and in Figures DR1–DR3 in the Data Repository.
Suture zone
Kathmandu Himalaya large, 0.5 ≤ Cu < 5 Mt
Thimphu 28 The Jurassic arc rocks are mainly calc-alka-
Yadong-Gulu Rift (YGR) small, Cu < 0.5 Mt
80 90 line, and are characterized by enrichment in
Figure 1. A: Tectonic framework of Tibetan plateau (after Zhu et al., 2008). JSS—Jinsha large-ion lithophile elements (LILE; e.g., Rb,
suture; BNS—Bangonghu-Nujiang suture; IYZS—Indus-Yarlung Zangbo suture. B: Geo- Ba, Sr) and depletion in high field strength ele-
logical map of Lhasa terrane showing distribution of Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Miocene ments (HFSE; e.g., Nb, Ta, P, Ti) with flat heavy
magmatic rocks and associated porphyry Cu deposits (PCDs). Jurassic arc is delineated rare earth element (HREE) patterns (Fig. DR1),
by outcrops of Jurassic intrusive and volcanic rocks. SNM—Shiquanhe-Nam Tso mélange.
Jurassic PCDs: XC—Xiongcun; LZ—Laze; ZD—Zemoduola. Miocene PCDs: BR—Bairong; thus showing typical subduction-related geo-
CJ—Chongjiang; TG—Tinggong; NM—Nanmu; LKE—Lakang’e; QL—Qulong; JM—Jiama. chemical features (Hawkesworth et al., 1993).
Jurassic intrusive rocks: XC—Xiongcun; TBC—Tangbaicun; DZK—Dazhuka; NMB—Ni Mu However, the Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions
Bridge; QL—Qulong; JC—Jiacha; ML—Milin. Miocene barren stock: Yare, Mayum (in A); of rocks from the western and eastern segments
NMQ—Nanmuqie; LZH—Linzhi.
are distinct. Arc rocks from the WSJA have
(87Sr/86Sr)i varying from 0.7041 to 0.7048, eNd(t)
from +5.5 to +7.5, and zircon eHf(t) between +11
Figure 2. Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic MORB Jurassic magmatic rocks (A)
compositions of Jurassic 4 (eastern arc segment) and +18 (Fig. 2). Those from the ESJA have
and Miocene rocks in south higher (87Sr/86Sr)i, from 0.7041 to 0.7063, and
Jurassic Cu-Au-related porphyry
Tibet. A: Bulk-rock (87Sr/86Sr) 5%
(195~175 Ma) lower eNd(t) (+1.5 to +4.5; Fig. 2) with variable
versus eNd(t). Black curve Jurassic intrusion (western segment) zircon eHf(t) of +1 to +12 (Wei, 2014).
i
with ticks represents two-
0 10%
Ɛ Nd (t) (15 Ma)

Jurassic intrusion (eastern segment)

component mixing model
between melt derived from
mafic underplate (as isoto-
pically approximated by Ju-
rassic basalt sample YB5-1
from Zhu et al. [2008]) and
old lower crust in Tibet
(Miller et al., 1999). All data
are recalculated to 15 Ma
and listed in Table DR2 (see
footnote 1), and only the
least-altered samples with
87
Rb/86Sr < 1 are plotted. Mio-
cene ore-related porphyries
plot on mixing line, whereas
barren porphyries shift to-
ward upper crust (e.g., Amdo
orthogneiss). MORB—mid-
oceanic ridge basalt. B: Zir-
con eHf(t) values versus U-Pb
age. Dashed lines represent
Miocene Cu-Mo-related porphyry
The Miocene Cu-Mo–related porphyries are
20% mainly high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic (Hou
(17-15 Ma)
-4 Miocene barren porphyry (26-14 Ma) et al., 2004) with enrichment in LILE (e.g., Rb,
30% End member of mixing curve (YB5-1)
Ba, Sr) and depletion in HFSE (e.g., Nb, Ta, P,
Ti), similar to the Jurassic rocks (Fig. DR1).
-8 40%
Upper crust
These porphyries have large isotopic variations
50% (Amdo orthogneiss) with (87Sr/86Sr)t = 15Ma from 0.7048 to 0.7062, eNd(t
from -4.8 to +2.2, and zircon eHf(t) from +2
-12 = 15Ma)
60%
Lower crust [ ( 87Sr/86 Sr)i=0.7100, εNd(t) = -22 ]
to +12 (Fig. 2). In contrast, the barren Miocene
porphyries have higher (87Sr/86Sr)t = 15Ma (0.7063–
0.70 0.71 0.72
0.7101) and lower eNd(t = 15Ma) (-8.1 to -3.1) and
(87Sr/ 86 Sr)i (15 Ma)
zircon eHf(t) (-8 to +5; Fig. 2). In addition, these
20 barren porphyries yield relatively old crustal
Depleted mantle (B)
15 0.2 Ga arc crust Hf model ages (average ca. 1100 Ma) and have
abundant inherited zircons ranging in age from
10 st
Juvenile mafic lower cru 30 Ma to 2680 Ma (Table DR3; Fig. DR2).
(Jurassic arc cumulates
)
Compared with the Jurassic rocks, the Mio-
5 176Lu/ 177Hf = 0.022
cene Cu-Mo–related porphyries have higher
ƐHf (t)

evolution trend of Jurassic Mafic lower crust CHUR

Cu-Au–related porphyries 0 light REE and LILE contents, and lower HREE
(0.2 Ga arc crust) in western and HFSE contents with steeper HREE patterns
segment of Jurassic arc and -5 Jurassic dacite (eastern segment)
(Fig. DR1). They have Sr-Nd isotopic composi-
least-contaminated Jurassic Jurassic basalt (eastern segment) tions partly overlapping with those of the Juras-
basalts and granitic rocks -10 Inherited zircon in sic rocks and plot along a two-component mix-
in eastern segment, assum- Miocene barren porphyry
ing that unexposed comple- -15 ing array between Jurassic basalt and old lower
mentary mafic cumulates 0 50 100 150 200 crust in Tibet (Fig. 2A). Their zircon Hf isotopic
to these rocks have Lu/Hf Age (Ma)
ratio similar to that of global 1
GSA Data Repository item 2015088, Tables DR1–
mafic lower crust (176Lu/177Hf ratio ~0.022). Gray band shows that majority of Miocene ore- DR3 and Figures DR1–DR3, is available online at
related porphyries could derive by re-melting hydrous cumulates of Jurassic arc magmas, www.geosociety.org/pubs/ft2015.htm, or on request
isotopically equivalent to Jurassic rocks in eastern segment. Data are listed in Table DR3. from editing@geosociety.org or Documents Secre-
CHUR—chondritic uniform reservoir. tary, GSA, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO 80301, USA.

|  Volume 43  |  Number 3  |  GEOLOGY

248 www.gsapubs.org 
compositions plot within the inferred evolution
trend of the Jurassic rocks from the ESJA on
plot of eHf(t) versus age (Fig. 2B).
REMELTING OF JURASSIC MAFIC
UNDERPLATE
Geochemical and isotope data suggest that
the WSJA arc rocks associated with the sub-
duction-related PCDs derive from subduction-
modified asthenospheric mantle (Fig. 2; Fig.
DR1; Chu et al., 2006). However, the ESJA
barren rocks show Sr-Nd isotopic departure
from the depleted mantle toward the crust (Fig.
2), indicating the involvement of old crustal
components (<15 vol%), consistent with old
Hf model ages for these rocks (ca. 700–1500
Ma; Table DR3A).
The Miocene barren porphyries outside the
Jurassic arc have crust-like Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic
signatures and abundant zircon inheritance,
consistent with a source dominated by old con-
tinental crust (Fig. 2). By contrast, the Miocene
Cu-Mo–related porphyries are free of inherited
zircons, and have relatively “depleted” isoto-
pic compositions and younger Hf model ages
(average 800 Ma), suggesting a juvenile source
(Hou et al., 2004, 2013a).
Importantly, the Miocene Cu-Mo–related
porphyries are spatially confined to the Juras-
sic arc (Fig. 1B), and have overlapping Sr-Nd
isotopic compositions with those of the Juras-
sic rocks from the ESJA (Fig. 2A). The zircon
Hf data of the mineralized Miocene porphyries
also lie within the evolution trend of the Juras-
sic rocks from the ESJA (Fig. 2B). These obser-
vations are consistent with derivation of these
ore-related Miocene porphyries by remelting
of the juvenile mafic rocks underplated during
the Jurassic magmatism. The trend to lower eNd(t)
shown by some ore-related porphyries could
reflect mixing with lesser amounts (5%–30%)
of old lower crust (Fig. 2A). The remelting sce-
nario is also supported by the subduction-like
features of the Miocene ore-related porphyries
(such as Nb-Ta negative anomaly), which were
CONTROLS ON METAL ENDOWMENT
The lack of Miocene PCDs outside of the
Jurassic arc suggests that there are no sulfide-
bearing Jurassic cumulates to remelt there. In
contrast, localization of Miocene PCDs within
the Jurassic arc implies that metal-rich Jurassic
cumulates could release Cu into the Miocene
porphyry systems (Lee et al.., 2012). This is sup-
ported by the east-west spatial variation in the
average eHf(t) values of magmatic zircons from
the Jurassic and Miocene magmatic rocks (Fig.
DR3). The average zircon eHf(t) values of the
Jurassic rocks decrease significantly from the
WSJA (average +16) to the ESJA (average +6),
suggesting distinct intra-crustal magmatic pro-
cesses along the arc. High fO of the arc magma
2
in the WSJA, evidenced by appearance of mag-
matic anhydrite in the Xiongcun host porphyry
(Tang et al., 2010), suppressed the formation
of significant amounts of Cu-rich sulfides (e.g.,
Richards, 2009), which led to Cu enrichment
in the evolving magma, thus forming the Juras-
sic PCDs (Fig. 3). By contrast, incorporation of
older crust by the ESJA basaltic rock, indicated
by the lower and variable zircon eHf(t) (+1 to +12),
may be responsible for lowering magmatic fO
2
(e.g., Ripley and Li, 2013), thus inducing sulfide
saturation (Tomkins et al., 2012) and sequester-
ing Cu-rich sulfides (Nadeau et al., 2010) in the
Jurassic lower-crustal arc cumulates (Fig. 3). The
complementary metal endowment of the Jurassic
and Miocene magmatic suites (Fig. 1) suggests
W
Leuco
g ra n it e
N o rm
a l fa u
lt
E Co llis ion -re late
Indian
Continental
Crust
Moho
Man
tle li
that enrichment of Cu in the juvenile mafic lower
crust, though inhibiting the Jurassic PCD forma-
tion, could have provided abundant metals for
the Miocene giant PCDs by breakdown of the
host sulfides during post-collisional melting.
IMPLICATIONS FOR EXPLORATION
Our study highlights a spatial overlap and
genetic linkage between giant collision-related
PCDs and non-economic volcano-plutonic arcs.
This is applicable to other orogenic belts, where
former arc magmatism left sulfide-bearing metal-
rich cumulates at the base of the crust (e.g., Lee
et al., 2012), which provided abundant metals
and S for post-subduction or collision-related
PCDs during later remelting (e.g., Richards,
2009). Typical examples include: the Miocene
post-collisional Kerman porphyry Cu belt, occur-
ring within a non-economic Eocene magmatic
arc in Iran (Shafiei et al., 2009); the Cretaceous
giant PCDs, developed along the Mesozoic Qin-
ling orogen in central China (Dong et al., 2011);
and the Jurassic giant Dexing PCD, formed on a
Mesozoic intra-continental orogen in east China
(Hou et al., 2013b). Therefore, the spatial overlap
and complementary metal endowment between
subduction- and collision-related porphyry suites
could be used for predicting PCD occurrence and
assessing the mineralization potential of other
tectonically composite orogens.
Our data also demonstrate that in a given
magmatic suite the PCDs are associated with
Mio cen e barr en porp hyry
W
Jura ssic
sub duc tion -rela ted PCD
ZS U
C
IY
LC
ld
Mio cen e
O
d PC D
E
Reme lting
re

inherited from the Jurassic arc magmas (Rich- thos

he

pher
ards, 2009). In addition, the Miocene Cu-Mo– e
sp
ho

related porphyries have higher Sr/Y ratios (23– Upper crust (UC)
lit

186) and higher (La/Yb)N ratios (11–47) than

tle

Juvenile lower crust (LC)

an

the Jurassic rocks, showing geochemical affinity

Sulfide-bearing cumulates
M

with adakite (Hou et al., 2004). This suggests
that remelting of the Jurassic cumulates took
place in a thickened crust (>50–55 km) within
the amphibole and garnet stability field (Rapp
and Watson, 1995), consistent with Cenozoic
collision-induced crustal thickening in south
Tibet (Yin and Harrison, 2000). Pronounced
crustal thickening at 45–30 Ma (Chung et al.,
2009) and subsequent slab break-off (or tearing)
starting at 25 Ma (Hou et al., 2004) triggered
this remelting as isotherms rebounded and/or
hot asthenospheric melts infiltrated the litho-
sphere (Richards, 2009).
of former arc magmas
Asthenosphere
Sulfide-deficient cumulates
upwelling
of former arc magmas
Figure 3. Schematic illustration of genetic linkage between subduction- and collision-related
porphyry Cu deposits (PCDs). Underplating and crystallization of Jurassic arc magmas in
lower crust form hydrous cumulates, in which accumulation of Cu sulfides depends on redox
state of arc magmas. High oxygen fugacity (fO ) suppresses formation of significant amounts
2
of Cu-rich sulfide in cumulates, leading to Cu enrichment in evolving magma and generation
of subduction-related PCDs. Decreasing fO caused by magma-crust interaction leads to Cu
2
enrichment in cumulates, thus providing metal source for younger, collision-related Cu-Mo
porphyry systems. Collision-induced crustal thickening leads to prograde metamorphism of
juvenile mafic lower crust (cumulates), and upwelling of asthenosphere related to slab tear-
ing or/and breaking off (Hou et al., 2004) triggers remelting of Cu sulfide-bearing cumulates,
leading to formation of Miocene collision-related porphyry Cu deposits. Black arrow shows
underthrusting direction of the Indian continent. IYZS—Indus-Yarlung Zangbo suture.

GEOLOGY  |  Volume 43  |  Number 3  | www.gsapubs.org 249

the isotopically “primitive” magmas with high
bulk-rock eNd and zircon eHf values (Figs. 2 and
3). Hf isotopes might, therefore, be an impor-
tant tool for assessing the metallogenic fertility
of porphyry magmas (Fig. DR3). We suggest
that systematic zircon eHf measurement could
be effective in identifying the most prospective
areas during regional targeting of PCDs.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work was funded by National Basic Research
Program of China (2011CB403104), IGCP/SIDA-600,
National Science Foundation of China (41221061,
41320104004, and 41273051), and the Ministry of
Land and Resources of China (201011011). We thank
Chris Hawkesworth, Jeremy Richards, Rui Wang,
and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive
comments. This is contribution 383 from the CCFS
and the Innovation Center of Continental Tectonics,
Northwest University (China).
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Manuscript received 17 October 2014
Revised manuscript received 21 December 2014
Manuscript accepted 12 January 2015
Printed in USA