Geology and Geochemistry of K‐feldspar Veins in Lamprophyre at the Zhenyuan Gold Deposit, Yunnan, Southwest China: Implications for Gold Mineralization

Abstract

Lamprophyres typically appear in hydrothermal gold deposits. The relationship between lamprophyres and gold deposits is investigated widely. Some researchers suggest that the emplacement of lamprophyres triggers gold mineralization, whereas others hypothesize that the formation of lamprophyres increases the fertility of mantle sources and ore‐forming fluids. K‐feldspar veins, with ages between those of lamprophyres and gold deposits, appear in lamprophyres in Zhenyuan. Therefore, K‐feldspar veins are ideal for investigating the relationship between lamprophyres and gold deposits. Phlogopite in K‐feldspar veins has lower Mg#, Ni, and Cr contents and higher TiO2, Li, Ba, Sr, Sc, Zr, Nb, and Cs contents than phlogopite in lamprophyres. The in‐situ Sr isotopic values of apatites (0.7063‐0.7066) in K‐feldspar veins are within the range for apatites (0.7064–0.7078) from lamprophyres. High large‐ion lithophile element concentrations and low Nb and Ta concentrations in phlogopite from lamprophyres, in addition to high (87Sr/86Sr)i values of apatite (0.7064–0.7078), indicate that the magma parental to these phlogopite and apatite crystals is derived from an enriched mantle. K‐feldspar veins are genetically correlated with lamprophyres, whereas sulfide mineral assemblage and trace element compositions of pyrite in K‐feldspar veins suggest that K‐feldspar veins in lamprophyres are not directly related to gold mineralization in Zhenyuan.