Lu Xiangyu , Sun Fengyue , Li Haoran , Zhang Yajing , Dong Shouye , Hui Chao
World Geology. 2026, 45(2): 175-196.
This study investigates the petrography, zircon U--Pb geochronology, and whole-rock geochemical
data of the No. 1 intrusion in the Hongqiling nickel deposit, determining its formation age, petrogenesis, and
tectonic setting. The Hongqiling ore cluster area hosts over 30 mafic-ultramafic intrusions of varying sizes, whose
distribution patterns are distinctly controlled by regional secondary faults, exhibiting an overall bead-like distribution
trending northwest. The currently proven nickel resources amount to 220 000 tons, among which the No. 1 intrusion
serves as one of the most important ore-forming intrusions in the study area. The intrusion is characterized by low
silicon [w(SiO2 ) =43. 62%--43. 01% ], low titanium [w(TiO2 ) = 0. 35%--0. 54% ], high magnesium [w(MgO) =
33. 04%--34. 49% ], and alkali depletion [w(Na2O + K2O) = 0. 96%--1. 03% ], belonging to the subalkaline series.
Its m/ f ratio ranges from 5. 39 to 5. 88, classifying it as mafic ultrabasic rock (m / f = 2. 0--6. 5). The chondritenormalized rare earth element distribution pattern of the rock exhibits light rare earth element enrichment, with
(La / Yb) N
ratios ranging from 1. 60 to 4. 28. The rock samples involved in the study exhibit distinct geochemical
enrichment characteristics of large ion lithophile elements (LILEs), specifically manifested by significantly elevated
mass fractions of elements such as Ba, Rb, Th, U, and K. In contrast, the high field strength element (HFSE)
group, including Nb, Ti, Zr, Hf, and P, generally shows relative depletion. The La / Nb, Th / U, Ce / Pb, and Nb / U
ratios of the intrusion indicate crustal contamination of the magma. This is further corroborated by the anomalously
high Pb mass fraction, the presence of 2 461. 3 Ma captured zircons, and the characteristics of ( Ta / Th) N
and
(Th / Yb) N
ratios, collectively confirming significant crustal material contamination during magma evolution. Zircon
Hf isotope analysis reveals that the olivine pyroxenite exhibits εHf (t) values ranging from 9. 8 to 12. 6, with TDM1
ages of 543--417 Ma, indicating that the magma source of this intrusion was primarily derived from depleted mantle.
The U--Pb age of No. 1 intrusion measured in this study is (236 ± 10) Ma, suggesting that its rock-forming and
mineralization epoch belongs to the Indosinian period. This study proposes that the fractional crystallization of olivine and
orthopyroxene, coupled with crustal contamination, served as the key mechanism driving the magma system to achieve
sulfur saturation. The intrusion formed in an extensional setting following the closure of the Paleo--Asian Ocean.