Abstract Tonglvshan is the largest porphyry-skarn Cu polymetallic deposit in the Edong ore district, Eastern China, which has proven metal reserves of 86.3 Mt @1.78% Cu, 39.4% Fe, 0.94g/t Au, and 0.13% Mo. The ore bodies exhibit distinct sub-lateral metal zonation, from proximal intrusion to distal carbonate, i.e., porphyry-type Cu-Mo, to skarn-type Cu-Fe-Au, carbonate replacement-type Cu-Zn-Pb-(Au), and distal vein-type Cu-Pb-Zn mineralization. However, the genetic factors governing both the temporal and spatial metal zoning remain uncertain. Here, we present trace element and S isotope data for sulfide stage (early stage pyrite and late-stage sphalerite) across various ore types in a well-constrained paragenetic framework. The early-stage contains two distinct types of pyrite, including colloform Py0 and euhedral Py1. Py0, observed in both skarn- and carbonate replacement-type ores, is selectively enriched in Cu, Ag, Au, Pb, and Bi relative to later Py1, reflecting a steep temperature gradient process. By contrast, Py1 exhibits increasing concentrations of Co, Ni, As, and Se with increasing distance from the intrusion, but shows depletion in the most distal vein-type ore. Redox exert the dominant control on this spatial pattern, whereas temperature plays a subordinate role. Values of δ34Spy generally increase from −0.4‰ within the intrusion to 1.5‰ in skarn-type ore, following a decrease to −0.6‰ in carbonate replacement-type ore and −2.15‰ for distal vein-type ore, which is dominantly controlled by temperature. Late-stage sphalerite (Sp2) exhibits systematic spatial trends, with high Fe, Co, and Mn contents in skarn-type ores evolving to elevated Cd, Hg, and Sn concentrations in carbonate replacement- and distal vein-type ores. These trends are controlled by redox and temperature variations, as recorded by Mn/Sn and Fe/Cd ratios. These findings offer valuable insights into the spatial evolution of ore-forming fluids and metallogenic zonation from proximal porphyry to distal vein-type mineralization, providing a potential guide for future mineral exploration.
Wu et al. (Wed,) studied this question.