The Nuocang Pb-Zn deposit is a newly discovered polymetallic skarn deposit in the southern Lhasa subterrane, western Gangdese, Tibet. The skarn occurs at the contact between the limestone of Angjie Formation and the Linzizong volcanic rocks of Dianzhong Formation (LDF), and the subvolcanic granite porphyry intruding those formations; the contact metasomatic skarn is well zoned mineralogically and texturally, as well as geochemically. The skarn minerals predominantly consist of an anhydrous to hydrous calc-silicate sequence pyroxene–garnet–epidote. The endoskarn mainly consists of an assemblage of pyroxene, garnet, ilvaite, epidote, and quartz, whereas the exoskarn is characterized proximal to distally, by decreasing garnet, and increasing pyroxene, ilvaite, epidote, chlorite, muscovite, quartz, calcite, galena, and sphalerite. Geochemical analyses suggest that the limestone provided the Ca for all the skarn minerals and the magmatic volatiles were the main source for Si (except the skarnified hornfels/sandstone, and muscovite-epidote-garnet-pyroxene skarn possibly from the host sandstones), with Fe and Mn and other mineralizing components. During the hydrothermal alteration, the garnet-pyroxene skarn and pyroxene-rich skarn gained Si, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, and Sn, but lost Ca, Mg, K, P, Rb, Sr, and Ba. However, the skarnified hornfels/sandstone, and muscovite-epidote-garnet-pyroxene skarn gained Fe, Ca, Mn, Sr, Zr, Hf, Th, and Cu, but lost Si, Mg, K, Na, P, Rb, Ba, and Li. The REEs in the skarn were sourced from magmatic fluids during the prograde stage. Skarn mineral assemblages and geochemistry indicate the skarn in the Nuocang deposit were formed in a disequilibrated geochemical system by infiltrative metasomatism of magmatic fluids. During the prograde stage, garnet I (And_97.6Gro_1.6) firstly formed, and then a part of them incrementally turned into garnet II (And_64.4Gro_33.8) and III (And_70.22Gro_29.1). The subsequent substitution of Fe for Al in the garnet II and III indicates the oxygen fugacity of the fluid became more reduced, then resulted in formation of significant pyroxene. However, the anisotropic garnet IV (And_38.5Gro_59.8) usually replaced the pyroxene. In the retrograde stage, the temperature decreased and oxygen fugacity increased, but hydrolysis increased with epidote, ilvaite, chlorite I, and muscovite forming with magnetite. The continuing decreasing temperature and mixing with meteoric water lead to Cu, Pb, and Zn saturation as sulfides. After the sulfides deposition, the continued mixing with large amounts of cold meteoric water would decrease its temperature, and increase its pH value (neutralizing), promoting the deposition of significant amounts of calcite and chlorite II. The geological, mineralogical, and geochemical characteristics of Nuocang skarn, suggest that the Nuocang deposit is of a Pb-Zn polymetallic type. Compared to the other typical skarn-epithermal deposits in the Linzizong volcanic area, it indicates that the Nuocang deposit may have the exploration potential for both skarn and epithermal styles of mineralization.

The 1500 km-long Gangdese magmatic belt is a crucial region for copper polymetallic mineralization, offering valuable insights into collisional porphyry copper systems. This study focuses on the Demingding deposit, a newly identified occurrence of molybdenum–copper (Mo-Cu) mineralization within the eastern segment of the belt. While the mineralization age, magmatic characteristics, and tectonic context are still under investigation, we examine the deposit’s petrology, zircon U-Pb geochronology, whole-rock chemistry, and Re-Os isotopic data. The Demingding deposit exhibits a typical alteration zoning, transitioning from an inner potassic zone to an outer propylitic zone, which is significantly overprinted by phyllic alteration closely associated with Mo and Cu mineralization. Zircon U-Pb dating of the ore-forming monzogranite porphyries reveals crystallization ages ranging from 21 to 19 Ma, which is indistinguishable within error from the mean Re-Os age of 21.3 ± 0.4 Ma for Mo veins and veinlets hosted by these porphyries. This alignment suggests a late Miocene magmatic event characterized by Mo-dominated mineralization, coinciding with the continuous thickening of the continental crust during the collision of the Indian and Asian continents. The ore-forming porphyries range in composition from granodiorite to monzogranite and are classified as high-K calc-alkaline with adakite-like features, primarily resulting from the partial melting of subduction-modified thickened mafic lower crust. Notably, the ore-forming porphyries exhibit higher fO₂ and H₂O levels than barren porphyries in this area during crustal thickening, highlighting the significant contributions of hydrous and oxidized fluids from their source to the Mo-Cu mineralization process. Regional data indicate that the Gangdese porphyry metallogenic belt experienced concentrated Cu-Mo mineralization between 17 and 13 Ma. The formation of Mo-dominated deposits such as Demingding and Tangbula in the eastern segment of the belt, with slightly older ages around 20 Ma, underscores the presence of a significant porphyry Mo metallogenic event during this critical post-collision mineralization period.

The Gangdese metallogenic belt (GMB), spanning nearly 2000 km across central Tibet, represents the primary copper–polymetallic metallogenic belt in Tibet and a world-class porphyry copper province. However, extreme high-altitude conditions, ecological fragility, and limited accessibility in western GMB have significantly constrained the efficacy of conventional exploration methods. Identifying effective mineralogical indicators and rapidly delineating mineralization–hydrothermal centers within this metallogenic system remain critical challenges for exploration geologists. This study integrates multispectral remote sensing (MSRS; Sentinel-2) with short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectral analysis to establish mineral spectroscopic exploration indicators for the periphery of the Zhunuo porphyry copper ore-concentrated area. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and band ratio techniques were employed to delineate remote sensing alteration anomalies, followed by SWIR spectral features to identify mineralization–hydrothermal centers. Hydrothermal alteration in the study area is dominated by sericite, chlorite, and epidote, with subordinate carbonate and sulfate minerals. Multispectral anomalies (Al-OH, ferric contamination, and carbonate alterations) in the Dingyang area exhibit intensity and compositional patterns comparable to those of the Cimabanshuo, Beimulang, and Zhigunong deposits, indicating high mineralization potential. SWIR analysis identified sericite-based exploration indicators (Pos2200 < 2203 nm, Dep2200 > 0.3, SWIR-IC > 1.6). A Spectral Feature-Based Geological Content Method (SFGCM) model was developed to delineate mineralization–hydrothermal centers, revealing new malachite and azurite mineralization in the Dingyang area. The MSRS-SWIR provides a novel perspective for applying spectroscopy to rapidly identify porphyry copper mineralized hydrothermal centers in high-altitude, ecologically fragile areas.