Geological and geochemical characteristics of the Duobaoshan carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposit in the Karakorum Range, NW China

• Detailed petrography, trace element and S-Pb isotopes of sulfides at Duobaoshan Pb-Zn deposit. • Cd, As, Ge, TI, Zn are enriched in galena, Ni, TI, Cd, As are enriched in sphalerite, and Mn, Ni, As, Zn, Tl, Pb are enriched in pyrite. • Mesozoic strata (Triassic to Jurassic) strata were the main sulfur and metals source. • Geological and geochemical features of Duobaoshan resemble those of MVT deposits worldwide. The Duoshaoshan Pb-Zn deposit (0.25 Mt. @ 5.9 wt% Pb and 3.1 wt% Zn) is hosted in Upper Cretaceous limestone in the Karakorum Range, NW China. Pb-Zn mineralization is characterized by veinlet and stockworks ores that are cut by later vein ores. Four stages of mineralization are recognized: (I) galena stage, (II) galena-sphalerite-pyrite stage, (III) galena-smithsonite-cerussite stage, and (IV) quartz-calcite stage. Trace elements (Cd, As, Ge, TI, Zn) enriched in galena, (Ni, TI, Cd, As) enriched in sphalerite, and (Mn, Ni, As, Zn, Tl, Pb) enriched in pyrite, which are consistent with those of MVT deposits. Sphalerite GGIMFis geothermometers (56–127 °C; average 108 °C) indicate that the Pb-Zn mineralization under a low-temperature condition. In situ δ 34 S values of galena (–17.3 to 3.6 ‰), sphalerite (–9.4 to 3.42 ‰), and pyrite (–27.3 to –4.7 ‰) suggest sulfur sources from the bacterial sulfate reduction in local sedimentary rocks. In situ Pb isotope ratios ( 206 Pb/ 204 Pb = 18.751–18.768, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb = 15.715–15.728, and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb = 39.140–39.183) of galena align with those for the regional MVT Pb-Zn deposits, indicating that the underlying Triassic strata supplied substantial metals for the studied Pb-Zn deposit, whereas the host Cretaceous carbonates did not contribute significant metals. The mineralization styles, sulfides geochemistry, and sulfur-metal sources suggest that the Duobaoshan deposit represents a Mississippi Valley-type Pb-Zn deposit. This study provides important insights into the geochemical features and metal sources of carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposits in the Karakorum Range.