Metallogenic age of the world-class giant huoshaoyun non-sulphide Zn-Pb deposit in Karakoram Area, Xinjiang, Northwest China

Metallogenic geochronology plays a crucial role in the study of ore genesis and mineralization evolution. Unfortunately, accurately determining the metallogenic age of the non-sulphide Zn-Pb deposits is difficult. Herein, we employed Rb-Sr dating of smithsonite and Sm-Nd dating of coexisting calcite to explore the mineralization ages of the Huoshaoyun Zn-Pb deposit. The Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic ratios yield isochron ages of 26.6 +/- 1.7 and 27.5 +/- 7.6 Ma, respectively. These obtained ages are identified as the metallogenic age of the Huoshaoyun deposit. Moreover, investigations into carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb deposits in the East Tethys Metallogenic belt suggest they have formed in similar tectonic settings and yielded consistent Cenozoic ages. In sum, our research indicates that carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn metallogenic ages in the East Tethys Metallogenic belt are principally concentrated in the late Palaeogene, and directly related to the collisional orogeny of the Tibetan Plateau during 40-26 Ma.