Distribution, types and metallogenic regularity of antimony deposits in Tibet

This paper is the result of mineral exploration engineering.

Objective Antimony (Sb) is one of the strategic minerals in China, thus it is imperative to construct a new antimony resource base. This study analyzes and summarizes the geological characteristics, deposit types, spatial and temporal distribution, and ore−forming sources of Sb、Sb−Au、Sb−Pb−Zn deposits in Tibet, and preliminarily summarizes the metallogenic laws of antimony deposits in Tibet, which is of great significance for guiding the new round of ore prospecting breakthroughs.

Methods This paper collected and investigated the data of Sb deposits in Tibet from published literatures around the world, and combined with the latest regional geological survey results, to clarify the relationship between the mineralization of Sb deposits (prospects) in Tibet and the formation and evolution of the Tibetan Plateau from factors of geological characteristics, genetic types and geochemistry.

Results The Sb deposits in Tibet are mainly of hydrothermal type. The ore bodies are mainly endowed in clastic rocks and carbonate rocks. The mantle materials have contributions to the Sb mineralization. The mineralization age is mainly from the Early Cretaceous to the Miocene (about 20 Ma). The Sb mineralization is mainly related to the collisional granitic magmatism and the post−collisional extensional magmatism. The distribution of Sb deposits in Tibet is controlled by various layered structures, faults, folds and other tectonic structures, and the ore−bearing strata are late Triassic and Jurassic−Cretaceous strata.

Conclusions The Sb deposits in Tibet have the characteristics of zonal distribution, which can be divided into four major Sb metallogenic belts from west to east: western Tibet, southern Tibet, northern Tibet and eastern Tibet. The Cenozoic era is the most important metallogenic period of Sb deposits in Tibet, and the intracontinental extensional background after the strong uplift of the Tibetan Plateau is conducive to the Sb mineralization. According to the metallogenic characteristics of Sb deposits in Tibet, an applicable exploration model is proposed to provide a scientific basis for the prospecting breakthrough of Sb deposits.