Early Cretaceous <scp>W</scp> – <scp>Nb</scp> – <scp>Ta</scp> Mineralisation in the Southeastern Xingmeng Orogenic Belt, <scp>NE</scp> China: Geochronological Evidence From the Jiabusi <scp>Nb</scp> – <scp>Ta</scp> and Narewula <scp>W</scp> Deposits

ABSTRACT The Xianghuangqi region in the southeastern section of the Xingmeng Orogenic Belt (XMOB) has gained attention for its potential rare mineral yield, particularly from multiple W and Nb–Ta deposits. However, limited geochronological data limits our understanding of their origin and progress in W–Nb–Ta exploration. We thus performed 40 Ar/ 39 Ar muscovite and U–Pb wolframite, cassiterite and columbite dating on the Jiabusi Nb–Ta and Narenwula W deposits within the Xianghuangqi region. Our findings revealed that the 40 Ar/ 39 Ar plateau age of muscovite from the Jiabusi deposit (135.17 ± 1.34 Ma) aligns with that of the Narenwula W deposit (135.83 ± 1.43 Ma). This consistency is further supported by U–Pb dating of wolframite, cassiterite and columbite in Jiabusi, at 136.4 ± 2.0, 132.1 ± 3.1 and 136.0 ± 3.5 Ma, respectively. These data suggest that mineralisation of W–Nb–Ta in the Xianghuangqi area occurred during the Early Cretaceous, probably in association with the late‐stage evolution of intrusions within the granite complex. Zircon U–Pb dating of Jiabusi albite granites yielded an age of 137.5 ± 1.2 Ma, indicating later formation than the Kusigui biotite granites, which date at approximately 149 Ma in the same region. The geochronological data highlight a regional Early Cretaceous event of W–Nb–Ta mineralisation around 135 Ma, influenced by tectonic interactions between the Mongolia–Okhotsk Ocean and the Paleo‐Pacific Plate. We conclude that, most probably, W–Nb–Ta ore deposits of the southeastern segment of the XMOB in the Xianghuangqi area were emplaced during the Early Cretaceous.