Geochemistry and Geochronology of granites from the Dashishan skarn Deposit: Implications for Sn-Pb-Zn metallogenic potential in the southern Great Xing’an Range, NE China

• Dashishan skarn mineralization occurred at the Early Cretaceous. • The magma derived from the mixing of juvenile crust and mantle-derived materials. • The Southern Great Xing’an Range has great prospecting potential for Sn-Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization. Since the initiation of China’s Prospecting Breakthrough Strategic Action in 2011, the southern Great Xing’an Range (SGXR) has become a significant tin mineralization belt, with tin reserves exceeding 770,000 tons. A newly identified Sn-Pb-Zn skarn deposit in the SGXR hosts irregular veins within the skarn zones located at the interfaces between granites and limestone, hosts 95,204 tons of lead and 95,849 tons of zinc, with average grades of 2.11 % Pb and 2.48 % Zn. Concordant zircon ages from Dashishan granite samples (DSS-5 and DSS-6) are 140.2 ± 0.5 Ma and 140.3 ± 0.5 Ma, aligning with regional magmatic events and the Sn-Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization period. The granites are calc-alkaline and strongly peraluminous, showing enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREE) and pronounced fractionation between light and heavy rare earth elements (HREE). Isotopic values for the granites indicate 87 Sr/ 86 Sr i ratios between 0.70242 and 0.70381, ε Nd(t) ratios ranging from + 0.49 to −0.70, and T DM(Nd) ages between 709 and 1007 Ma. Additionally, zircon ε Hf(t) values vary from 4.7 to 3.3, with T DM2 model ages from 980 to 896 Ma, and δ 18 O values spanning 7.58 ‰ to 6.72 ‰. Geochemical and Sr-Nd-Hf-O isotopis suggest that the Dashishan granite is classified as an A-type granite, likely formed from the melting of juvenile crust with contributions from mantle-derived materials. This SGXR shows significant potential for Sn-Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization, warranting further exploration.