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Lithological and Si–O–S isotope geochemistry: constraints on the origin and genetic environment of the selenium (Se)-rich siliceous rocks in Enshi, Hubei Province, China

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Abstract

Se-rich black rock series of the Middle and Late Permian system is widely distributed in Enshi Prefecture with an exposed area of 850 km2, among which the unique Yutangba black rock series independent selenium deposit with industrial mining significance in the world is produced. However, the source and metallogenic mechanisms of Se are still controversial. In general, terrestrial weathering and submarine hydrothermal processes are the main source end members of Si and Se, and the related siliceous rocks record the deposition process of Si and Se from different sources. The study of lithofacies and paleogeography shows that western Hubei belongs to the near east–west turn of the Yangzi platform in the Middle and Late Permian and becomes an inter-platform basin with nearly north–south direction. Therefore, the comparative study of the Yutangba deposit and the selenium-rich black rock series in the northern Shadi with high selenium content is expected to reveal the provenance evolution of the two sections in space, and further restrict the Se mineralization mechanism in the Enshi basin. From the element geochemistry study, the black rock series in two study areas may have formed in a transitional position of either the continental margin or continental slope, in the process of sedimentary, more terrigenous clastic materials entered. They are rich in lithophile elements V and Cr. δU > 1.0, U/Th and V/(V + Ni) ratio indicate that the Se-rich strata of black rock series in the Enshi areas occurred in an anoxic reducing environment and formed in an environment between the ocean basin and the continental margin. From Si–O isotope geochemistry, the original Si source of the study area is thought to relate to a volcanic eruption, which leads to the enrichment of Si in the seawater. The determined values of S isotope in the black rock series of the two study areas both show the characteristics related to organic reduction/biogenic.

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Acknowledgements

The research is supported by the General Project of Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province (2020JM-423). We are grateful for the assistance in the Field of Professor Jianming Zhu of China University of Geosciences (Bei**g) and Youqiang Qi, an associate researcher of the Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. We also acknowledge the help of the State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences for assistance with the geochemical work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics and Department of Geology, Northwest University, **’an, 710069, China

    Caixia Feng & Shen Liu

  2. Solid Earth Studies Laboratory, Department of Geology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada

    Ian M. Coulson

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  1. Caixia Feng
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Correspondence to Caixia Feng.

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Feng, C., Liu, S. & Coulson, I.M. Lithological and Si–O–S isotope geochemistry: constraints on the origin and genetic environment of the selenium (Se)-rich siliceous rocks in Enshi, Hubei Province, China. Acta Geochim 40, 89–105 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-020-00442-2

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