Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Xianghualing Granitic Rocks: Insights into Multi-Stage Sn-Polymetallic Mineralization in South China

Multi-stage magmatic events associated with large tungsten-tin polymetallic deposits in the Nanling Range have been subject of extensive research spanning many years. In this paper we report results a systematic study petrology, whole-rock geochemistry, zircon U-Pb chronology, and trace element geochemistry granite bodies exposed Xianghualing ore field. They show that granites area are characterized by high SiO2 (63.83%–75.29%), Al2O3 (13.12%–18.87%), Rb (565–3260 ppm), Nd (67.3–113.5 ppm) Ta (23.2–129.0 low MgO (0.02%–0.22%), TiO2 (0%–0.02%), Sr (5.3–80.5 Ba (7.9–66.4 ppm). The rocks highly differentiated A-type peraluminous granite, which originated an extensional within-plate tectonic setting. Based on dating analysis, following multi-stage magma-hydrothermal were identified: (1) Paleozoic (~347 Ma) Triassic (~206 stages (initial enrichment epochs ore-forming elements), (2) Jurassic (~161 magmatic-hydrothermal stage (mineralization epoch), (3) Cretaceous hydrothermal overprinting (with peaks Early ~120 Ma Late ~80 Ma). From economic point view, appears to great potential for mineralization. Zircon indicates fluids related tin mineralization from crust underwent evolutionary processes under relatively reducing conditions. This emphasizes metallogenic provides essential basis new ideas further tin-tungsten exploration.