Magmatic sulfide and fe-ti oxide deposits associated with mafic-ultramafic intrusions in China

Major occurrences of orthomagmatic sulfide and Fe-Ti oxide deposits in China fall into two distinct groups based on the dominant ore minerals and commodities: magmatic sulfide deposits that produce Ni, Cu, and in some cases platinum-group elements, and magmatic oxide deposits that produce Fe, Ti, and in some cases V and P. Many of the deposits are associated with major episodes of intracontinental magmatism giving rise to large igneous provinces, although some of them appear to have formed without the involvement of mantle plumes. Substantial effort has been made in the last decade to investigate petrogenetic and ore genetic processes using the deposits as natural laboratories. The Chinese magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) sulfide deposits represent dynamic magma plumbing systems. Magmatic Fe-Ti-(V)-(P) oxide deposits remain more enigmatic in terms of ore genesis, and the long-lasting debate over whether oxide accumulated as crystalline Fe-Ti spinel or immiscible Fe-Ti oxide melt does not appear to be resolved.