The Dinggye region, in the central part of the Himalayan orogenic belt, includes the southern part of the Xainza-Dinggye rift and the Mabja Gneiss Dome with leucogranite cores. Previous studies of gneiss domes in this region report the existence of channel flow processes or tectonic exhumation, in addition to partial melting of orogenic mid-crust. However, the relationship between the crustal migration of materials and the north-south-trending normal rifts remains largely unexplored. In this work, we generate a new 3-D electrical resistivity model from an array of magnetotelluric data in the Dinggye region and examine it in addition to other electrical resistivity models to the north and east from previous works. By comparing the geophysical models with available geological and geochemical evidence, we find a clear relationship between the electrical resistivity structure, the presence of gneiss domes, north-south-trending normal rifting, and deep plunging subduction which is related to the source of Helium isotopes (crustal or mantle origin). Overall, the results suggest that the southern migration of lithospheric materials likely contributed to the evolution of the rifts in the Tethys-Himalaya terrane, which also may have been influenced by uplifting and cooling of gneiss domes. The models are consistent with tearing of the Indian lithosphere beneath the Xainza-Dinggye rift and other adjacent rifts. Additionally, the difference in the electrical structure related to the Indian crust along the east-west direction likely results from the exhumation of the continental slab, metamorphism in the Tethys-Himalaya terrane, and southern extrusion of materials in the Lhasa terrane.@en

Some of the largest and most significant Miocene porphyry copper systems in China are within the Gangdese metallogenic belt on the southern Tibetan Plateau. It has been recognized that the crustal architecture and rheology, derived from regional tectonic events, has direct implications for the evolution and transport of fluids and magmas, and thus for the metallogenesis and prospectivity. Using data from a magnetetolluric array, which intersects the Lhasa–Mozugongka district of the Gangdese metal belt, a 3-D electrical resistivity model was generated, with the goal of investigating the tectonic and rheological controls on the magmatic mineral system. The lithospheric temperature distribution was estimated by applying the Arrhenius equation to conductivity profiles generated from 1-D Monte-Carlo models of long-period magnetotelluric data. The conductivity of partial melts in the lower and middle crust (30–60 km depth) was estimated for local conditions by applying the experimentally-derived equation of X. Guo et al. (2018). Subsequently, we estimated the melt fraction required to explain the observed bulk resistivity in each part of the study area. Variations in the effective viscosity of the lower and middle crust were constrained by the electrical resistivity model by applying the empirical relation of Liu and Hasterock (2016). Beneath the Miocene Cu–Mo deposits in the Lhasa terrane, conductive features in the lower and middle crust are attributed to partial melt fractions of more than 5% and viscosity reductions of 1–2 orders of magnitude. These conductive features may represent the signatures of (ore-controlling) melt/fluid migration channels and deeper melt/fluid source regions in the form of extensive crustal reservoirs of partial melt. Based on the interpretations of the geophysical model, and other available geological and geochemical evidence, a model of the metallogenic dynamics of the Miocene porphyry Cu–Mo deposits is proposed. Overall, the study highlights the applicability of electromagnetic geophysical methods to reliably link resistivity structures to melt/fluid transport channels and sources within a mineral system and supports the hypothesis that crustal rheology exerts a major control on the distribution of ore deposits.@en

Some of the largest and most significant Miocene porphyry copper systems in China are within the Gangdese metallogenic belt on the southern Tibetan Plateau. It has been recognized that the crustal architecture and rheology, derived from regional tectonic events, has direct implications for the evolution and transport of fluids and magmas, and thus for the metallogenesis and prospectivity. Using data from a magnetetolluric array, which intersects the Lhasa–Mozugongka district of the Gangdese metal belt, a 3-D electrical resistivity model was generated, with the goal of investigating the tectonic and rheological controls on the magmatic mineral system. The lithospheric temperature distribution was estimated by applying the Arrhenius equation to conductivity profiles generated from 1-D Monte-Carlo models of long-period magnetotelluric data. The conductivity of partial melts in the lower and middle crust (30–60 km depth) was estimated for local conditions by applying the experimentally-derived equation of X. Guo et al. (2018). Subsequently, we estimated the melt fraction required to explain the observed bulk resistivity in each part of the study area. Variations in the effective viscosity of the lower and middle crust were constrained by the electrical resistivity model by applying the empirical relation of Liu and Hasterock (2016). Beneath the Miocene Cu–Mo deposits in the Lhasa terrane, conductive features in the lower and middle crust are attributed to partial melt fractions of more than 5% and viscosity reductions of 1–2 orders of magnitude. These conductive features may represent the signatures of (ore-controlling) melt/fluid migration channels and deeper melt/fluid source regions in the form of extensive crustal reservoirs of partial melt. Based on the interpretations of the geophysical model, and other available geological and geochemical evidence, a model of the metallogenic dynamics of the Miocene porphyry Cu–Mo deposits is proposed. Overall, the study highlights the applicability of electromagnetic geophysical methods to reliably link resistivity structures to melt/fluid transport channels and sources within a mineral system and supports the hypothesis that crustal rheology exerts a major control on the distribution of ore deposits.@en

New evidence worldwide has linked the surface locations of mineral deposits and their crustal-scale electrical conductivity footprint. We examine the relationship between the Gangdese Miocene porphyry copper deposits, Tibetan Plateau, and the electrical conductivity signature from a three-dimensional model generated from 311 magnetotelluric measurements. The distribution of electrical resistivity throughout the crust and the conductance within the mid-lower crust (depth range of 25–70 km) is analyzed. The results clearly show that the large and ultra-large Miocene porphyry copper deposits coincide spatially with conductive zones and areas of very-high conductance (>10,000S) in the mid-lower crust. Computations are undertaken to determine the influence of water-bearing silicate melts and alkali-bearing (Na+ and K+) fluids on conductivity. Based on this, the bulk conductivity is interpretated to be caused by a system of alkali-rich volatile-rich partial melt. The alkali-rich volatile-rich magmatic-hydrothermal fluids facilitate the migration and concentration of metal ions originating in deep areas. The volumes necessary are much less than partial melt alone and can thus help to reconcile large conductivity variations with small seismic velocity variations. The electrical structure indicates the magma source area of anatexis in the lower crust, a multi-stage magmatic system with large mid-crustal and small upper-crustal magma reservoirs, and complex pathways related to rift zones. We determine that the conductive zones in the mid-lower crust have an influence on the development of the mineralization and the location of the mineral belt.@en

The Xainza-Dinggye rift, an approximately north-south trending Cenozoic fault zone across the Lhasa Terrane, is an ideal location to investigate extensional mechanisms in the upper crust and lithospheric deformation caused by the subducting Indian Plate beneath the central-southern Tibetan Plateau. The 3-D electrical resistivity structure was obtained by modeling magnetotelluric data from an array across the rift zone. Using the temperature distribution throughout the crust combined with the pressure and water content, we compute the pure melt conductivity. This enables estimation of the partial melt fraction of large-area conductive zones imaged throughout the crust, and thus allows their rheology and strength to be evaluated. The heterogeneous distribution of high melt fraction areas in the crust has implications for the local continuous migration of fluids in the east-west direction. The electrical structure also reveals a dipping resistive zone beneath the Tethys-Himalaya terrane that represents the subducted Indian Plate. Significantly, its depth is observed to vary substantially from east (deeper) to west (shallower), which may indicate tearing of the plate. We suggest that the cause of extension and the formation of the crustal rift zone is related to tearing of the plate directly below this location, and the subsequent partial melting of the mid-lower crust. Furthermore, the ascent of deep hydrothermal fluids, and heating of the shallow subsurface, likely led to the formation of the congruent Xainza-Dinggye Thermal Belt. Additionally, the emplacement of numerous adjacent magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits is also likely related to partial melting and hydrothermal fluid migration in the crust.@en

The Xainza-Dinggye rift, an approximately north-south trending Cenozoic fault zone across the Lhasa Terrane, is an ideal location to investigate extensional mechanisms in the upper crust and lithospheric deformation caused by the subducting Indian Plate beneath the central-southern Tibetan Plateau. The 3-D electrical resistivity structure was obtained by modeling magnetotelluric data from an array across the rift zone. Using the temperature distribution throughout the crust combined with the pressure and water content, we compute the pure melt conductivity. This enables estimation of the partial melt fraction of large-area conductive zones imaged throughout the crust, and thus allows their rheology and strength to be evaluated. The heterogeneous distribution of high melt fraction areas in the crust has implications for the local continuous migration of fluids in the east-west direction. The electrical structure also reveals a dipping resistive zone beneath the Tethys-Himalaya terrane that represents the subducted Indian Plate. Significantly, its depth is observed to vary substantially from east (deeper) to west (shallower), which may indicate tearing of the plate. We suggest that the cause of extension and the formation of the crustal rift zone is related to tearing of the plate directly below this location, and the subsequent partial melting of the mid-lower crust. Furthermore, the ascent of deep hydrothermal fluids, and heating of the shallow subsurface, likely led to the formation of the congruent Xainza-Dinggye Thermal Belt. Additionally, the emplacement of numerous adjacent magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits is also likely related to partial melting and hydrothermal fluid migration in the crust.@en

The Xainza-Dinggye rift, an approximately north-south trending Cenozoic fault zone across the Lhasa Terrane, is an ideal location to investigate extensional mechanisms in the upper crust and lithospheric deformation caused by the subducting Indian Plate beneath the central-southern Tibetan Plateau. The 3-D electrical resistivity structure was obtained by modeling magnetotelluric data from an array across the rift zone. Using the temperature distribution throughout the crust combined with the pressure and water content, we compute the pure melt conductivity. This enables estimation of the partial melt fraction of large-area conductive zones imaged throughout the crust, and thus allows their rheology and strength to be evaluated. The heterogeneous distribution of high melt fraction areas in the crust has implications for the local continuous migration of fluids in the east-west direction. The electrical structure also reveals a dipping resistive zone beneath the Tethys-Himalaya terrane that represents the subducted Indian Plate. Significantly, its depth is observed to vary substantially from east (deeper) to west (shallower), which may indicate tearing of the plate. We suggest that the cause of extension and the formation of the crustal rift zone is related to tearing of the plate directly below this location, and the subsequent partial melting of the mid-lower crust. Furthermore, the ascent of deep hydrothermal fluids, and heating of the shallow subsurface, likely led to the formation of the congruent Xainza-Dinggye Thermal Belt. Additionally, the emplacement of numerous adjacent magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits is also likely related to partial melting and hydrothermal fluid migration in the crust.@en