Abstract:
The argillaceous rocks of the Wangpo Member of the Wujiaping Formation in the Hanzhong area, northern margin of the Yangtze Block, were previously considered to be a set of mudstones and shales deposited in a littoral−shallow marine to swamp environment during the Middle to Late Permian.
Objective This study aims to determine the genetic type of these argillaceous rocks and to explore its intrinsic relationship with lithium mineralization.
Methods Comprehensive analyses including petrography, X−ray diffraction (XRD), whole−rock geochemistry, zircon morphology, and chronology were carried out on the rocks of the Wangpo Member.
Results It is believed that the mud rocks in this member exhibits characteristics of volcaniclastic minerals and have undergone relatively complete devitrification, which are actually a set of altered tuff rocks. The source is medium−acidic volcanic ash/dust formed by the eruption of volcanic activities related to the Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP) between 265 Ma and 252 Ma or the continental arc system of the same period.
Conclusions The determination of the genesis of the altered tuff rocks in the Wangpo Member of the Wujiaping Formation is of great significance for the study of the material source and mineralization mechanism of lithium in sedimentary clay type lithium deposits on the northern margin of the Yangtze Block, and points out the direction for searching for high enriched lithium deposits.
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