Huoshaoyun
Karakorum, Hotan County, Xinjiang, China
OtherZn-Pb
- Type
- Carbonate-hosted non-sulfide smithsonite-cerussite deposit (debated origin, supergene or exhalative)
The world's largest carbonate-hosted zinc-lead deposit, at 5500 m elevation in the Jurassic Linjitang basin; smithsonite holds 85 % of the resources (16 Mt zinc in orebody III-1). The authors propose exhalative smithsonite sedimentation at about 195 Ma, with feeder veins, rather than oxidation of a former MVT. Smithsonite δ66Zn, heavier than sphalerite, fits poorly with simple sulfide oxidation. Individual data in the article supplement. Indicative coordinates.
δ66Zn in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : JMC 3-0749L
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.01 / 0.21 ‰ | 22 | orebody III smithsonite Published range for 22 samples (discussion). Veins near the caldera: +0.15 to +0.21 ‰; massive smithsonite near the vent: +0.13 ‰; distal stratiform: +0.05 ‰; recrystallised and sulfide-associated: lighter. | Ke et al. (2024), Anatomy and genesis of the world's largest carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb depos… | |
| 0.15 / 0.21 ‰ | primary vein smithsonite near the caldera Heaviest values of the deposit. Range published in the text, individual data in the supplement (Table B4). | Ke et al. (2024), Anatomy and genesis of the world's largest carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb depos… | ||
| −0.05 ‰ | −0.09 / 0.04 ‰ | sulfides (sphalerite, galena) Published sphalerite mean (-0.05 ‰), taken as the initial fluid composition in the Rayleigh model. Range published in the text, individual data in the supplement (Table B4). | Ke et al. (2024), Anatomy and genesis of the world's largest carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb depos… | |
| 0.17 / 0.33 ‰ | unaltered host limestone Heavier than altered limestone: alteration lowers δ66Zn. Range published in the text, individual data in the supplement (Table B4). | Ke et al. (2024), Anatomy and genesis of the world's largest carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb depos… | ||
| 0.14 / 0.17 ‰ | altered limestone and mudstone Range published in the text, individual data in the supplement (Table B4). | Ke et al. (2024), Anatomy and genesis of the world's largest carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb depos… |
δ18O in ‰ (per mil) Values of the same system
Standard : V-SMOW
| Value | Range | n | Mineral or matrix | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20.4 / 28.3 ‰ | smithsonite Feeder veins +26.5 to +28.3 ‰; near the caldera +26.3 to +26.5 ‰; stratiform +22.0 to +22.1 ‰; sulfide veins +20.4 to +22.1 ‰. Close to the limestones: oxygen inherited from limestone. Carbonate δ18O converted from V-PDB (Coplen et al., 1983). | Ke et al. (2024), Anatomy and genesis of the world's largest carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb depos… | ||
| 10.4 / 14.8 ‰ | cerussite Published range. Carbonate δ18O converted from V-PDB (Coplen et al., 1983). | Ke et al. (2024), Anatomy and genesis of the world's largest carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb depos… | ||
| 22.9 / 26.7 ‰ | unaltered host limestone Published range. Carbonate δ18O converted from V-PDB (Coplen et al., 1983). | Ke et al. (2024), Anatomy and genesis of the world's largest carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb depos… | ||
| 20 / 20.3 ‰ | altered limestone Published range. Carbonate δ18O converted from V-PDB (Coplen et al., 1983). | Ke et al. (2024), Anatomy and genesis of the world's largest carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb depos… | ||
| 1.14 / 2.23 ‰ | quartz associated with vein smithsonite (SIMS) Published range, interpreted as magmatic by the authors; data in the supplement (Table B5). Unusually low values for quartz, use with caution; the discussion also gives -5.40 to -5.99 ‰ (massive smithsonite quartz, -5.99 to -4.06 ‰ in the results) and -12.6 to -10.0 ‰ (stratiform smithsonite). | Ke et al. (2024), Anatomy and genesis of the world's largest carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb depos… | ||
| −14 / −10.7 ‰ | quartz associated with sulfides (SIMS) Published range, interpreted as meteoric by the authors; data in the supplement (Table B5). Unusually low values for quartz, use with caution; the discussion also gives -5.40 to -5.99 ‰ (massive smithsonite quartz, -5.99 to -4.06 ‰ in the results) and -12.6 to -10.0 ‰ (stratiform smithsonite). | Ke et al. (2024), Anatomy and genesis of the world's largest carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb depos… |
Deposits of the same type
- Zankan China
- Dunde China
- Lithium-rich salt lakes of the Qaidam Basin (Dongtai, Xitai, Yiliping, Qarhan) China
- Dezong Mahai (Balun Mahai basin clay-type lithium) China
- Anning (carbonate-hosted clay-type lithium) China
- Datangpo-type manganese (Gaolou, Minle, Zhenxing) China
- Angouran Iran
- Deep lithium-bearing brines of the Jiangling Basin China
Cite this page
IsoFind Atlas (2026). Huoshaoyun, isotope signatures. https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/huoshaoyun/ (accessed 2026-10-13).
@misc{isofind2026huoshaoyunisotopesignatures,
title = {Huoshaoyun, isotope signatures},
author = {{IsoFind Atlas}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.isofind.tech/isotopes/en/deposits/huoshaoyun/},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13}
}Updated : 2026-10-13