Geology and Geochemistry of the Hongnipo Copper Deposit, Southwest China

Abstract

The Hongnipo deposit, a newly discovered large copper deposit in the Kangdian Fe-Cu metallogenic belt of southwest China, is hosted in the Paleoproterozoic metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks of the Hekou group. The deposit comprises five strata-bound ore bodies and is associated with sporadically distributed gabbroic intrusions. Four stages of mineralization and alteration have been identified: sodic alteration (I), banded sulfide (II), magnetite (III), and sulfide vein/stockwork (IV). Extensive sodic alteration of stage I is confirmed by the composition of feldspars. Trace element analysis of magnetite suggests a formation temperature of 400 ± 50 °C and has a characteristic of IOCG deposits, while high δ18O values (8.3–11.0‰) of fluids from stage III indicate a magmatic water origin. Sulfide δ34SVCDT values from stages II and IV range from −2.6 to 10.9‰ and −1.5 to 9.9‰, respectively, suggesting a mixed sulfur source from magmatic H2S and reduced seawater sulfate. Chalcopyrite from Hongnipo shows a narrow δ65Cu range of −0.135 to 0.587‰, indicating formation at high temperatures. The lack of correlation between δ65Cu and δ34SVCDT values suggests distinct geochemical behaviors in mineralization. In summary, the Hongnipo deposit is classified as a Cu-rich section of a typical IOCG deposit.