Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectonic evolution and metallogeny in Myanmar: Evidence from zircon/cassiterite U–Pb and molybdenite Re–Os geochronology.

Graphical abstract Highlights • Molybdenite Re–Os and zircon U–Pb ages indicate the Dapingba Mo–W deposit formed at Cretaceous (∼119 Ma and ∼114 Ma). • Cassiterite U–Pb ages of ∼60 Ma suggest the Bawapin and Kalonta Sn–W deposits in southern Myanmar formed at Paleocene. • Molybdenite Re–Os age for the Shangalon porphyry Cu–Au deposit indicates that this deposit formed at Eocene (∼39 Ma). • A comprehensive Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectono-magmatic and metallogenic model in Myanmar are proposed. Abstract It is well known that there are many Sn–W–Mo and Cu–Au metal resources in Myanmar. However, the absence of precise mineralization ages for these deposits significantly hinders to understand the close genetic relationship among metallogeny, ore-bearing intrusions, and tectonic evolution. In this study, two groups of consistent molybdenite Re–Os and zircon U–Pb ages indicate that the Dapingba Mo–W deposit in northern Myanmar (Tengchong terrane) formed at Early Cretaceous (∼119 Ma and ∼114 Ma). The Dapingba ore-bearing granitic magmas were mainly derived from melting of ancient Tengchong crust on the basis of zircon Hf isotopic compositions (εHf(t) = −9.3 to 2.5). Moreover, the first reported cassiterite U–Pb ages of ∼60 Ma for the Bawapin and Kalonta Sn–W deposits in southern Myanmar (western Sibumasu terrane) suggest that the two deposits formed at Paleocene. Whereas the precise molybdenite Re–Os age for the Shangalon porphyry Cu–Au deposit in the West Burma terrane indicates that this deposit formed at Eocene (∼39 Ma). Importantly, combined with previous studies on tectonic evolution and magmatic petrogenesis in Myanmar and southwest China, a comprehensive Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectono-magmatic and metallogenic model are proposed. Two periods of Early Cretaceous (∼120–114 Ma) and Late Cretaceous (∼75–70 Ma) crust-derived felsic melts and related Mo–Sn–W deposits from the Tengchong and western Sibumasu terranes likely formed in a continental arc during subduction of the Meso- and Neo-Tethys oceanic lithosphere, respectively. Subsequently, Paleocene-Eocene (∼60–50 Ma) Sn–W deposits and coeval ore-bearing granites in the western Sibumasu terrane possibly formed during roll-back of the Neo-Tethys oceanic slab. After ∼50 Ma India–Asia collision, Eocene (∼41–39 Ma) porphyry Cu–Au (West Burma terrane) and Sn–W deposits (western Sibumasu terrane) likely formed during the Neo-Tethys oceanic slab tear and break-off in a collisional setting. Whereas Miocene (∼19–14 Ma) high sulfidation epithermal Cu deposit in the West Burma terrane possibly formed in an arc setting during oblique subduction of the Indian oceanic lithosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]