Abstract:
Objective The pegmatite−type Li−Be deposits in Qinghai Province are mainly concentrated in the Zongwulong tectonic belt and the northern segment of the Sanjiang region. Whether the East Kunlun region has the potential to form hard−rock type rare metal deposits remains unclear. Recently, beryllium−mineralized pegmatites have been discovered in the Adatan Gounao area of the North Qimantag tectonic belt in the western segment of the East Kunlun Mountains, suggesting that this area has the potential for prospecting beryllium rare metal deposits.
Methods This paper carries out apatite and zircon U−Pb geochronological, petrological and geochemical studies on the beryl−bearing pegmatites in Adatan Gounao, and discusses the formation age and tectonic setting of the beryl−bearing pegmatites.
Results The host lithology of beryllium mineralization is mainly beryl−, tourmaline−, and garnet−bearing albitized muscovite granite pegmatite, which is characterized by high SiO2 (74.19%~79.46%), Al2O3(12.45%~14.91%), enrichment in Na2O (4.54%~6.35%) and K2O (1.15%~4.46%), extremely low total rare earth elements (ΣREE=2.60×10−6~7.70×10−6), slight enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREE/HREE=4.27~6.17, (La/Yb)N=9.37~12.07), strong negative Eu anomaly (δEu=0.29~0.57), and the chondrite−normalized REE distribution patterns show a slightly right−inclined W−type tetrad effect. The average Nb/Ta ratio is 4.81, Zr/Hf=9.36~20.55, Rb and Be elements are obviously enriched, with distinct highly differentiated characteristics. The peak zircon U−Pb age is 375 Ma, and the apatite U−Pb age is 423.8±4.1 Ma.
Conclusions Comprehensive studies suggest that the beryl−bearing pegmatites in Adatan Gounao formed in the Late Silurian and are products of the local extensional stage under the syn−collisional compressional tectonic setting in the North Qimantag tectonic belt of the western segment of the East Kunlun Mountains. The discovery of the Late Silurian ore−bearing (beryl−bearing) pegmatites in Adatan Gounao, western segment of the East Kunlun Mountains, clarifies that in addition to Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era also has broad Li−Be metallogenic potential in northern Qinghai−Xizang Plateau, providing a scientific basis for the deployment of regional prospecting work.