Liwu Cu-Zn deposit, Jiulong County, Garzê Autonomous Prefecture (Ganzi Autonomous Prefecture), Sichuan, Chinai

Regional Level Types
Liwu Cu-Zn deposit	Deposit
Jiulong County	County
Garzê Autonomous Prefecture (Ganzi Autonomous Prefecture)	Prefecture
Sichuan	Province
China	Country

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VHMS-type copper-zinc deposit.
The exposed strata in the mining area are dominated by the Mesoproterozoic Liwu Group, with minor occurrences of Cenozoic unconsolidated deposits. The Liwu Group represents the main ore-hosting formation. Based on lithological assemblages, it is subdivided into the middle member (Pt1L2) and the upper member (Pt1L3), among which the third lithologic unit of the middle member constitutes the principal ore-bearing horizon. The mineralization type in the study area is mainly structural–hydrothermal filling and metasomatism, characterized by multi-stage and multi-genetic processes, and generally belongs to a medium- to high-temperature hydrothermal system. Mineralization is closely associated with wall-rock alteration, including biotitization, silicification, albitization, chloritization, garnetization, tourmalinization, and sericitization.
The ore bodies in the Heiniudong mining area occur within a structural–stratigraphic unit dominated by quartz schist and quartzite. The ore-bearing zone is located below the staurolite zone within the garnet (coarse-grained) contact metamorphic zone. A total of four economically significant ore bodies have been identified in the Heiniudong mining area, namely II4, I3, I1, and III1 from top to bottom, while the others are striped and disseminated occurrences located above and below the main ore bodies. Ore body II4 is distributed parallel above ore body I3 and is a concealed ore body, with a vertical spacing of generally 40–60 m. The ore body is mostly stratiform, striking northwest and dipping southwest, with dip angles ranging from 30° to 35°. The measured extension along dip is 250 m, and along strike is 150 m, with measured elevations ranging from 3320 m to 3450 m. The copper grades range from 0.41% to 0.83%, with an average of 0.62%, and the zinc grades range from 0.47% to 9.96%, with an average of 1.38%.

The deposit contains more than 0.8 ×106 t of Cu, 0.5 ×106 t of Zn, 133 t of Ag and 1300 t of Co. The deposit has an average Cu grade of 0.51%–2.50%, an average Zn grade of 0.29%–1.64%, an average Ag grade of 10×10−6–46×10−6 and an average Co grade of more than 0.01%. The Liwu copper-rich deposit is composed of several ore blocks, such as Liwu, Heiniudong, Zhongzui, Wajingou, Baixianglin and Sunyelin, which are produced around the Mesoproterozoic dome structure and their distribution is controlled by the dome structure.

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.

Mineral List

26 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded