The ore genesis model for the Dachang Sn-polymetallic ore deposit has long been in dispute, and the major debate focuses on whether the stratiform and massive orebodies formed during the Yanshanian magmatic-hydro-thermal event or they were products of Devonian syn-sedi-mentary exhalative-hydrothermal event. This note presents new helium isotope data from fluid inclusions of four pyrites and one fluorite. The pyrites were collected from the stratiform and massive orebodies in the deposit, and their 3He/4He ratios are significantly higher than 1, ranging from 1.7 to 2.5 Ra, which indicates a mantle component in the responsible hydrothermal fluids. It is suggested that the ore-forming fluids were a mixture of deep circulating seawater and a mantle-derived fluid, which are similar to many of those modern submarine hydrothermal fluids. In contrast, the fluorite, collected from a granite-related hydrothermal vein in the deposit, shows a low 3He/4He ratio of 0.7 Ra, which indicates no mantle component involveme
The ore genesis model for the Dachang Snpolymetallic ore deposit has long been in dispute, and the major debate focuses on whether the stratiform and massive orebodies formed during the Yanshanian magmatic-hydrothermal event or they were products of Devonian syn-sedimentary exhalative-hydrothermal event. This note presents new helium isotope data from fluid inclusions of four pyrites and one fluorite. The pyrites were collected from the stratiform and massive orebodies in the deposit, and their3He/4He ratios are significantly higher than 1, ranging from 1.7 to 2.5 Ra, which indicates a mantle component in the responsible hydrothermal fluids. It is suggested that the ore-forming fluids were a mixture of deep circulating seawater and a mantle-derived fluid, which are similar to many of those modern submarine hydrothermal fluids. In contrast, the fluorite, collected from a granite-related hydrothermal vein in the deposit, shows a low3He/4He ratio of 0.7R a, which indicates no mantle component involvement in the fluids. Hence, the helium isotope data indicate that the two kinds of fluids from the Dachang deposit may have different origins. Together with other geological and geochemical evidence, it is suggested that the stratiform and massive ore formation has no genetic relation to the Yanshanian granite. Rather, they were likely formed during Devonian submarine exhalative-hydrothermal processes.