The Aksug Porphyry Cu–Mo Ore-Magmatic System (Northeastern Tuva): Sources and Formation of Ore-Bearing Magma

Abstract ––Two stages are recognized in the evolution of the Aksug ore-magmatic system (OMS): (1) formation of the Aksug granitoid pluton and (2) emplacement of small ore-bearing intrusions. Intrusive bodies of the two stages are composed of rocks of the same type and bear copper mineralization: poor dispersed and large-scale veinlet-disseminated, respectively. The pluton and small intrusions are formed by gabbroid and granitoid rocks, with similar petrogeochemical characteristics of igneous rocks of the same type. The plutonic gabbroic association includes gabbro, gabbrodiorites, and pyroxene–amphibole diorites/quartz diorites. The small subvolcanic gabbroic intrusions are gabbrodiorite and diorite porphyrites. The trace element patterns of the gabbroids are similar to those of igneous rocks in subduction zones. The gabbroids are characterized by isotope parameters εNd(500) = +6.1 to +7.2 and (87Sr/86Sr)500 = 0.7022–0.7030 and model age TNd(DM) = 0.85–0.74 Ga. As follows from the geochemical parameters, the depleted mantle metasomatized by subduction fluids was the source of basaltic magma. The plutonic granitoid association includes tonalites, plagiogranites, and amphibole diorites/quartz diorites; the small subvolcanic granitoid intrusions are tonalite porphyry and quartz diorite porphyrites. The trace element patterns and Nd and Sr isotope compositions of the granitoids are much similar to those of the gabbroids. According to the geochemical parameters, tonalitic and plagiogranitic magmas formed through the melting of juvenile mafic crust, and dioritic magma resulted from the mixing of basaltic and tonalitic/plagiogranitic magmas. In the course of the OMS formation, metals and volatiles were introduced by basaltic and granitoid magmas from the metasomatized mantle and juvenile mafic crust. The compression setting during the pluton formation hampered the separation of ore-bearing fluids, which led to poor dispersed mineralization. The extension setting during the emplacement of small intrusions favored the intense separation of ore-bearing fluids. The interaction of magma and fluids of the small intrusions with rocks of the pluton was accompanied by the removal of metals from the latter and their involvement in the ore-forming process. This increased the ore potential of the magmatic system and favored the formation of rich mineralization at the final stage of its evolution.