A preliminary study on the volcanic intrusive complex type beryllium metallogenic belt from the southeast coast of China

Beryllium (Be) is one of the unsubstitutable key metals in strategic emerging industries and national defense industries, mainly originating from volcanogenic Be deposits. Thus, volcanogenic Be deposits have become important research objects of key metal deposits, with a focus on their occurrence, metallogenic mechanism, and resource distribution. In the southeast coast of China, the Late Mesozoic volcanic intrusive complex has a good Be metallogenic background, and strong Be mineralization occurs in some areas. Field geological investigation and analyses of samples from Southeast Zhejiang as well as Northeast and Southeast Fujian indicate that Be mineralization in the southeast coast of China is closely related to the hydrothermal processes in the volcanic intrusive complex. In Southeast Zhejiang, Be ore in the Qingtian area mainly occurs in granite porphyry, with the Be content reaching 939 ppm, while strong Be mineralization from Zhangji rhyolite porphyry in the Pingyang area contains up to 11400 ppm Be. In Xiapu County, Northeastern Fujian, the Dawan Be deposit is characterized by constituents of helvite and beryl. In Pinghe County, Southeastern Fujian, the Fulishi Be ore is a quartz vein beryl-type ore. These results suggest that the volcanic intrusive complex area in the southeast coast of China has a wide range of Be mineralization and better Be metallogenic potential, and it is expected to become an important Be metallogenic belt in China. Thus, we should thoroughly investigate the Be resources of granite porphyry, rhyolite porphyry, quartz porphyry, and quartz vein in this volcanic rock area, which can provide a theoretical basis for the exploration and guiding prospecting of volcanic intrusive complex Be deposits.