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Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) results are reported for newly identified silver–bearing minerals from the Xinhua deposit, Yunkaidashan area, South China. The Xinhua deposit is a hydrothermal vein–type Pb–Zn deposit and is hosted in the Pubei Complex, which consists of a cordierite–biotite granite with a U–Pb zircon age of 244.3 ± 1.8–251.9 ± 2.2 Ma. The mineralization process is subdivided into four mineralization stages, characterized by the following mineral associations: mineralization stage I with quartz, pyrite, and sphalerite; mineralization stage II with siderite, galena, and tetrahedrite; mineralization stage III with quartz and galena; and mineralization stage IV with quartz, calcite, and baryte. Tetrahedrite series minerals, such as freibergite, argentotetrahedrite, and tennantite are the main Ag–bearing minerals in the Xinhua deposit. The greatest concentration of silver occurs in phases from mineralization stage II. Microscopic observations reveal close relationship between galena and tetrahedrite series minerals that mostly occur as irregular inclusions within galena. The negative correlation between Cu and Ag in the lattices of tetrahedrite series minerals suggests that Cu sites are occupied by Ag atoms. Zn substitution for Fe in argentotetrahedrite and Cd substitution for Pb in tetrahedrite are also observed. Micro–thermometric data reveal that both homogenization temperatures and calculated salinities of hydrothermal fluids decrease progressively from the early to the later mineralization stages. The metal ions, such as Ag+, Cu+, Pb2+, and Zn2+, are transported as chlorine complex ions in the early mineralization stage and as bisulfide complex ions in the late mineralization stage, caused by changes in oxygen fugacity, temperature, and pH of the hydrothermal fluids. Because of the varying solubility of different metal ions, Pb2+, Zn2+, and Cu2+ ions are initially precipitated as galena, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite, respectively. With decreasing temperature of the fluids, Pb2+ ions are incorporated along with Cu+, Sb3+, and As3+ ions into sulfosalt minerals, and Ag+ ions are coprecipitated with Cu+, Sb3+, and As3+ ions forming tetrahedrite series minerals or replacing earlier sulfides and sulfosalts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gaojiacun mafic-ultramafic intrusive complex in the Yanbian area, Sichuan Province, is a stratiform intrusive body that has undergone intensive magmatic differentiation. This intrusive body involves two magmatic accumulating cycles. Systematic U-Pb dating of single zircon grains and 40Ar/39Ar dating of hornblende were conducted, and the results showed that the age of hornblende gabbro, which was formed at the main phase of intrusion of the Gaojiacun intrusive complex, is 840 ± 5 Ma, casting doubt on the concept of "Yanbian Ophiolite". It is believed that the formation of the Gaojiacun intrusive complex seems to be related to a super-mantle plume underneath the super-continent Rodinia. The above research results are helpful for us to get a better understanding of the characteristics of Neoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the Yanbian area in Sichuan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]