（1）Phase transition and physico-chemical properties of minerals by x-ray synchrotron radiation and Raman Spectrum 

（2）Experimental simulation of migration and enrichment of ore-forming metal elements

（3）Metallogenic mechanisms and location prediction of ore deposits related to mafic-ultramafic rocks 

（4）Simulation of Natural Gas Generation Process of Typical Organic Matter in the Yacheng-Sanya formations of the South China Sea

06/2017--10/2018: Postdoc in University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Research about High-temperature and high-pressure experiments

12/2016--05/2017:  Postdoc in University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Research about High-temperature and high-pressure experiments

09/2010--07/2015: Ph.D in Economic Geology—Exploration technology (Geology, Geophysical, Geochemistry methods), China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)

09/2006--07/2010: Bachelor in Economic Geology, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)

04/2020-present: CAS Key Laboratory for Experimental Study under Deep-sea Extreme Conditions, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Position: Associate Researcher

09/2015-03/2020: Key Laboratory for the Study of Focused Magmatism and Giant Ore Deposits, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xi'an Center of China Geological Survey

work：Exploration about the magmatic Cu-Ni-Co deposit, Mn deposit, volcanic massive sulfide deposit

Yongbao Gao, Leon Bagas,  Yuegao Liu*( Corresponding author.), Wenyuan Li, Keiko Hattori, Dominic Papineau, Delong Jing, Denghui Chen, Jiaxin Teng, Yongkang He, Min Zhao, Long Zhang, Zhe Zhao. 2024. Discovery of Late Carboniferous high-grade carbonate-hosted manganese mineralization in the Maerkansu area of the Western Kunlun Orogen, Northwest China. Gondwana Research, 133: 129–147(IF = 7.2)

Key viewpoint of the article：

Manganese is a scarce energy metal. Modern oceanic manganese nodules are mainly MnO2, and very few MnCO₃ (rhodochrosite) nodules have been found; while the main component of China's terrestrial manganese ore is MnCO₃. So the manganese mineral is very different between the sea and the land. To deeply understand the formation mechanism of manganese ore and facilitate the exploration of marine and terrestrial manganese ore, the Aoertuokenashi large MnCO₃ ore deposit in the Maerkansu area of West Kunlun was analyzed.

The Aoertuokenashi large MnCO₃ ore deposit was formed in the back-arc basin environment of the northward subduction of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. We found that its mineralization age is 302 ± 9 Ma through Re-Os dating of fresh manganese ore organic matter, which is the world's first high-grade rhodochrosite deposit in the Late Carboniferous. During this period, the Qaidam terrane and the North China plate had a back-arc basin environment where the Paleo-Tethys Ocean was subducted northward, but no carbonate manganese ore was discovered. This work explains the above phenomenon as follows: the activity of the Tarim mantle plume promoted the formation of the rhodochrosite deposit in West Kunlun. The reasons are as follows: (1) The mineralization age of the manganese ore is consistent with the start time of the Tarim mantle plume in the northern part of West Kunlun (the age of the Tarim kimberlite of 300.5 ± 4.4 Ma is considered to represent the onset time of the mantle plume (Zhang et al., 2013); (2) Re-Os isotopes show that mantle materials are involved in the rhodochrosite deposit; (3) There is a Tarim mantle plume in the northern part of West Kunlun, and there is evidence of mantle plume activity in the North Qiangtang terrane in the southern part of West Kunlun in the Early Permian (Zhang and Zhang, 2017), so the West Kunlun area sandwiched in the above two areas should also be affected by the mantle plume. Various pieces of evidence show that there is a strong hot-water activity in the mining area. It is speculated that the main influence of the mantle plume is to strengthen hydrothermal activity in the back-arc basin and provide a manganese source.

The discovery of strawberry-shaped pyrite, authigenic quartz, and low sulfur isotope values (d 34S = -38.7‰) indicates that microorganisms play a role in manganese ore. Based on the petrographic analysis of multiple geological profiles in the field and the results of indoor identification, it is found that the back-arc basin where the deposit is located has the characteristics of a hungry basin, and this environment usually enhances the mineralization of microorganisms. On the rare earth standardization diagram, the carbonate manganese ore in the mining area has a positive Ce anomaly of modern oceanic manganese nodules, and the V/(V+Ni) mass ratio of the ore is about 0.39, indicating that the manganese ore has experienced an oxidizing environment stage (Cycle I) in which it is deposited in the form of Mn⁴⁺, and microorganisms may have played a role in the enrichment of Mn⁴⁺. It is calculated that the oxygen fugacity environment in this stage is about FMQ + 6.4 (FMQ = oxygen fugacity during the symbiosis of fayalite-magnetite-quartz, unit log fo₂).

The pristane/phytane ratio (Pr/Ph) of the ores is less than 0.8, representing a highly anoxic environment, indicating that the manganese ore has undergone a reduction stage (Cycle II), which transfers Mn⁴⁺ into Mn²⁺. The oxygen fugacity at this stage is about FMQ + 4.5. The ¹³C_V-PDB value of the whole rock (from -19.5‰ to -8.2‰) is more negative than the ¹³C_V-PDB value of the surrounding rock (from -5.3‰ to +4.2‰), while the ¹³C_V-PDB value of kerogen in manganese ore (about -29‰) is significantly lower than that of the whole rock. It is speculated that the reduction function of organic matter plays a key role in converting Mn⁴⁺ to Mn²⁺ (Cycle II).

The study ultimately pointed out that under extensional tectonic structures, with the influence of mantle plumes, a hungry basin and strong hydrothermal activity are the priority locations for rhodochrosite enrichment and mineralization. 

Yuegao Liu, Chao Cai, Shengcai Zhu, Zhi Zheng, Guowu Li, Haiyan Chen, Chao Li, Yanan Yu, Haiyan Sun, I-Ming Chou, Shenghua Mei*, Liping Wang*. 2024. Enhanced hydrogen evolution catalysis of pentlandite due to the increases in coordination number and sulfur vacancy during cubic-hexagonal phase transition. Small, 202311161. (IF = 13.3)  https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202311161。

The main contribution of this article:

 A new mineral was discovered: sulfur-vacancy enriched P6₃/mmc hexagonal pentlandite, which can efficiently catalyze water decomposition to produce hydrogen. Pentlandite, as an important accessory mineral of peridotite, promotes the serpentinization of olivine to produce hydrogen. Green hydrogen is produced by water decomposition through electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar energy and wind energy. To date, commercial catalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions are mainly platinum group metals and their compounds, which is an important reason for the high cost of green hydrogen production. Pentlandite is much cheaper than platinum group metals. This study provides an "economically applicable" catalyst.

Yuegao Liu, I-Ming Chou, Jiangzhi Chen, Nanping Wu, Wenyuan Li, Bagas Leon, Minghua Ren, Zairong Liu, Shenghua Mei*, Liping Wang*, 2023, Oldhamite: A new link in upper mantle for C-O-S-Ca cycles and an indicator for planetary habitability: National Science Review, 10: nwad159. (IF =20.3) https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwad159

The main contribution of this article:

Until now, oldhamite (CaS) has not been reported to occur in mantle rock. However, in this paper we show the formation of oldhamite through the reaction between sulfide-bearing orthopyroxenite and molten CaCO3 at 1.5 GPa/1510 K, 0.5 GPa/1320 K, and 0.3 GPa/1273 K. Importantly, this reaction occurs at oxygen fugacities within the range of upper mantle conditions, 6 orders of magnitude higher than that of the solar nebula mechanism. Oldhamite is easily oxidized to CaSO₄ or hydrolyzed to produce calcium hydroxide. The low oxygen fugacity of magma, the extremely low oxygen content of the atmosphere, and the lack of a large amount of liquid water on the planet’s surface are necessary for the widespread existence of oldhamite on the surface of a planet; otherwise, anhydrite or gypsum will exist in large quantities. The article points out that oldhamite may exist in the mantle beneath the mid-ocean ridge, and it may be the precursor of some calcium sulfate in black smokers. This mechanism supplements the mechanism proposed by Bischoff and Seyfried (1978) that the sulfate at the mid-ocean ridge is due to the decrease in the solubility of Ca and SO₄^2- in seawater with increasing temperature. Additionally, oldhamites may have been a contributing factor to the early Earth's atmospheric hypoxia environment, and the transient existence of oldhamites during the interaction between reducing sulfur-bearing magma and carbonate could have had an impact on the changes in atmospheric composition during the Permian-Triassic Boundary.

The article defines two oxygen fugacity buffers: oxygen fugacity at CaS-CaO-S equilibrium (OLS oxygen fugacity meter) and oxygen fugacity at CaS-CaSO4 equilibrium (OA oxygen fugacity meter).

Oxygen fugacity buffer at CaS-CaO-S equilibrium (OLS oxygen fugacity buffer), the calculation formula is:

lgfo₂ = –21.1162 + 3.65342 × 10⁷/T³ – 6205.07/ T² + (–16237.94 – 0.11450P) /T + 0.43722× 10^–3T + 11.13544lgT + lgfs₂

Oxygen fugacity when CaS-CaSO₄ equilibrium (OA oxygen fugacity buffer), the calculation formula is:

 lgfo₂ = 2.19144 + 1.09305 × 10⁻⁴ T – 25137/T – 1551.42/T² + 1.5305 × 10⁷/T³ + 0.04777P/T + 2.7838lgT

The unit of P is bar, and T is in K.

At 0.5 GPa/1320 K, OA = FMQ + 2.21 = IW + 6.05 (lgfo2 = –7.83), OLS = FMQ – 0.52 = IW + 3.30 (lgfo2 = –10.57), which essentially determines the oxygen fugacity when S^2-/S⁰ equilibrium and S^2-/S⁶⁺ equilibrium, providing important convenience for the study of planetary sulfur cycle and mineral deposits. As long as magmatic gypsum appears in the mining area, the OA oxygen fugacity meter can constrain the lower limit of oxygen fugacity.

Yuegao Liu,  Jiangwei Zhang*, Zhixing Feng, Shunlong Yang, Yizhong Wang, Jiqing Li, Zhiyi Zhao, Zhian Wang, Shulei Li, Houfang Wang. 2024. Exploration and research progress of magmatic copper-nickel-cobalt sulfide deposits in the north-eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.  Geology in China. doi:10.12029/gc20230128003

Key viewpoints of this paper:

Viewpoint 1:

In addition to ophiolites, there are two stages of island arc mafic or mafic-ultramafic rocks in the East Kunlun in the Phanerozoic: (1) mafic rocks formed in the Late Ordovician-Early Silurian under the background of the northward subduction of the Proto-Tethys Ocean; (2) mafic-ultramafic rocks formed by the subduction of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in the Middle Permian-Early Triassic; Correspondingly, there are two stages of post-collision extensional mafic-ultramafic rocks in the East Kunlun: (1) Middle-Late Silurian-Early-Middle Devonian, and (2) Middle-Late Triassic.

Viewpoint 2:

In northwestern China, nickel ore bodies (Ni＞0.4 wt%) in the peridotite phase can be distributed in the middle, middle-lower part, lower part, and edge (top and bottom) of the lithofacies; high-grade ore in the pyroxenite facies is mainly concentrated at the bottom. Although the location varies, there is a basic principle: ore bodies are more likely to be produced in the place where the facies is consolidated the latest. Of course, there are special cases, such as the ZK4001 nickel ore body (Ni＞0.4%) in the Shitoukengde deposit, which appears in the place with the highest Fo. This is explained as: the intermediate lithofacies has less crustal contamination, and the contamination of the surrounding rock happens to inhibit sulfide saturation. Therefore, the location of the lithofacies where the ore body is more inclined to be located needs to be comprehensively considered in combination with the inhibitory or promoting effect of the surrounding rock contamination on sulfide saturation and the early or late crystallization sequence. But in general, ore bodies with a nickel grade greater than 0.7 wt% are more likely to appear in the middle and lower part or bottom of the lithofacies.

Viewpoint 3:

The source properties of magmatic copper-nickel deposits and their relationship with high-pressure-ultrahigh-pressure eclogites and proto-paleo-Tethys evolution are summarized. A comprehensive information exploration (structure, age, lithofacies, mineralogy, geochemistry, geophysics) model for magmatic copper-nickel-cobalt sulfide deposits in the East Kunlun orogenic belt is established.

Yuegao Liu, Xinbiao Lü *, Banxiao Ruan, Xiao Liu, Shuang Liu, Jing Feng, Gang Deng, Heng Wang, Huadong Zeng, Peng Wang, Wei Wang, Qiang Lu. 2019. A comprehensive information exploration model for magmatic Cu-Ni sulfide deposits in Beishan, Xinjiang. Mineral Deposits, 38, 644–666. (In Chinese with English Abstract)

The main contribution of this article:

Contribution 1:

A comprehensive information exploration model for the Early Permian copper-nickel deposits in Beishan Rift, Xinjiang was established. First, the 1:200,000 and 1:50,000 exploration geochemical data can be used to determine the Cu, Ni, Co, and Cr anomaly areas; the polarization and upward extension map of the 1:50,000 aeromagnetic data (focus on high magnetic anomalies) and the Bouguer gravity anomaly of the 1:50,000 gravity data (focus on the area with △G_B>−142×10 g.u) can be used to delineate the mineralization target area in the region and preliminarily evaluate the mineralization potential of mafic-ultramafic rocks. The malachite alteration, jarosite, and annabergite on the surface are important clues for finding copper-nickel ores. Olivine with high MgO and CaO and low FeO, MnO, and NiO contents and pyroxene with low Fe and Ca contents are the preferred lithofacies for prospecting. Transient electromagnetic (TEM) and controlled source acoustic magnetotelluric (CSAMT) can be used to infer the location of ultramafic lithofacies and magma channels, which is an important method for deep verification.

Contribution 2:

The view that "calcareous marble contamination inhibits the sulfide saturation of mantle-derived magma" was proposed. The concept of "harmful crustal contamination" for sulfide saturation was proposed for the first time in the world, and the impact of crustal contamination on sulfide saturation was more dialectically evaluated.

Yuegao Liu*( Corresponding author.), Zhengguo Chen, Wenyuan Li*, Xunhui Xu, Xin Kou, Qunzi Jia, Zhaowei Zhang, Fang Liu, Yalei Wang, Minxin You. 2019. The Cu-Ni mineralization potential of the Kaimuqi mafic-ultramafic complex and the indicators for the magmatic Cu-Ni sulfide deposit exploration in the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, Northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 198, 41−53. 

Yuegao Liu*( Corresponding author.), Wenyuan Li, Qunzi Jia, Zhaowei Zhang*, Zhian Wang, Zhibing Zhang, Jiangwei Zhang, Bing Qian. 2018. The Dynamic Sulfide Saturation Process and a Possible Slab Break-off Model for the Giant Xiarihamu Magmatic Nickel Ore Deposit in the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, Northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. Economic Geology 113, 1383−1417.

The main contribution of this article:

Contribution 1:

Based on the field borehole recording of nearly 10,000 meters and 112 thin-sections observations, the lithofacies distribution and ore body distribution map of the giant Xiarihamu Ni-Co ore deposit were determined, and the magmatic stages were divided.

Contribution 2:

The giant Xiarihamu Ni-Co ore deposit is the largest nickel deposit in the world's orogenic belt. Ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic eclogites were discovered in the East Kunlun orogenic belt, and their retrograde metamorphic age is the same as the mineralization age of the Xiarihamu nickel-cobalt deposit, 411 Ma. The Xiarihamu mining area produces both magmatic nickel deposits and ultrahigh-pressure eclogites. We found that the Xiarihamu eclogites were affected by the shallow aqueous fluids in the subduction zone, while the Xiarihamu ultramafic rocks were mainly affected by the deep hydrous melts in the subduction zone. The model of slab break-off and exhumation-asthenospheric magma upwelling can well explain the phenomenon. This study points out that searching for mafic-ultramafic rocks with the same age as the retrograde metamorphic age of UHP metamorphic eclogites in different orogenic belts may be a direction for the exploration of magmatic copper-nickel-cobalt deposits.

Contribution 3:

For the first time in the world, the effects of crustal sulfur contamination and crystallization differentiation on the sulfide saturation of mantle-derived magma were quantitatively analyzed. The quantitative analysis showed that the contribution of crustal sulfur to the total sulfur was about 40-60%, although the crustal contamination was about 10-15%. We pointed out that the crustal contamination was not equal to the crustal sulfur contamination. The contribution of crystallization differentiation to the total sulfur of the Xiarihamu Ni-Co ore deposit was 3.3-6%. Therefore, crustal sulfur contamination is the decisive factor in the Xiarihamu mineralization. During the crystallization differentiation process, the decrease in temperature and the change in magma composition will affect the sulfide saturation. Through model deduction, we found that: during the crystallization differentiation process, the decrease in temperature is the main factor promoting sulfide saturation, while the change in magma composition is a secondary factor and can be ignored. This denies the traditional understanding that "the consumption of FeO in the magma melt by the crystallization differentiation of olivine and chromite is a major reason for sulfide saturation."

Contribution 4:

We summarized that: The Fe³⁺/∑Fe (molar ratio) of chromite in the world's typical Alaskan-type magma is greater than 0.3; while the Fe³⁺/∑Fe of chromite in the post-collision extension magmatic copper-nickel deposit is less than 0.3, which is completely different from the Alaskan-type magma. This index can help distinguish between basic-ultramafic magma in the island arc background and mafic-ultramafic intrusion in the post-collision extension background. 

Zhaowei Zhang, Yalei Wang, Bing Qian, Yuegao Liu*( Corresponding author.), Dayu Zhang, Pengrui Lü, Jun Dong. 2018. Metallogeny and tectonomagmatic setting of Ni-Cu magmatic sulfide mineralization, Number I Shitoukengde mafic-ultramafic complex, East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, NW China. Ore Geology Reviews 96, 236−246.

 The main contribution of this article:

Calcium-carbonate contamination hindered the sulfide saturation of mantle-derived magma.

Yuegao Liu, Wenyuan Li, Xinbiao Lü*, Yanrong Liu, Banxiao Ruan, Xiao Liu. 2017. Sulfide saturation mechanism of the Poyi magmatic Cu-Ni sulfide deposit in Beishan, Xinjiang, Northwest China. Ore Geology Reviews 91, 419−431.

The main contribution of this article:

Contribution 1:

Based on the detailed field recording of 20,000 meters of drillcore and the observations of nearly 200 thin-sections observations, the most accurate lithofacies distribution and ore body distribution map of the main exploration line of Poyi Cu-Ni deposit nickel mine was determined, and the magmatic stages were divided. (The result of 95 days of signal-free field work in Lop Nur)

Contribution 2:

The view that "some crustal contamination can inhibit the sulfide saturation of mantle-derived magma" was proposed, which is different from the view that "crustal contamination promotes the sulfide saturation of mantle-derived magma" proposed by predecessors. A mineralization model was proposed that deep contamination of Archean strata promotes sulfide saturation, but shallow calcareous marble contamination inhibits sulfide saturation, and crystal differentiation promotes the formation of sulfide in the late crystallization period. The evidence is as follows: the whole-rock nickel grade is inversely proportional to the olivine Fo, indicating that sulfide is gradually formed and increases in magma during the crystallization of olivine. Crystal differentiation plays a role in promoting sulfide saturation. The ore body exists in the central part of the peridotite. The rocks near the edge of the mafic-ultramafic complex are highly contaminated, while the core of the complex is less contaminated. The contamination of the surrounding calcareous marble inhibits sulfide saturation. The Δ³³S value of the sulfide of the Poyi copper-nickel deposit is between 0.004 and 0.221‰, while the δ³⁴S value is between -0.8 and -3.5‰. High-Ni ores appear in hornblende peridotite, which has the highest Δ³³S value of 0.221‰ and the lowest δ³⁴S value of -3.5‰, indicating that the Poyi Cu-Ni deposit was contaminated by Archean strata sulfides.

Yuegao Liu, Xinbiao Lü, Chunming Wu*, Xiaoguang Hu, Zhen Peng Duan, Gang Deng, Heng Wang, Xikui Zhu, Huadong Zeng, Peng Wang, Wei Wang, Qiang Lu. 2016. The migration of Tarim plume magma toward the northeast in Early Permian and its significance for the exploration of PGE-Cu-Ni magmatic sulfide deposits in Xinjiang, NW China: As suggested by Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes, sedimentology and geophysical data. Ore Geology Reviews, 72(1): 538–545.

The main contribution of this article:

Based on a comprehensive analysis of the Tarim Basin's magnetism, gravity, lithofacies, and paleogeography, and the Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes of the Early Permian mafic-ultramafic rocks, we proposed that the center of the Tarim mantle plume may be in the Bachu area in the northwest of the Tarim Basin, but the mantle plume magma tends to flow northeastward under the Tarim Basin.

At the beginning of each year, the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) 

will provide scholarships for foreign students to study in various research institutes of  the Chinese Academy of Sciences (including our institute) to obtain a master's degree or a PhD degree. 

Please see the link. http://www.anso.org.cn/programmes/talent/scholarship/

Welcome international students to China to work together.

If international students want to carry some natural samples about mafic-ultramfic rocks 

related to Ni-Co-PGE deposit, chromite deposit, diamond deposit, REE deposit, and VMS deposit to China, 

I can help to do some specially  analysis about dataing, isotopes, and so on.

My institute is located in Sanya city, Hainan Free Trade Port, China. 

We have different experimental simulation devices

（1）High-pressure Optical Cell; HPOC （pressure range 0–160 MPa ，work temperature：-190 to 500℃）；

（2）Fused Silica Capillary Capsule; FSCC （pressure range 0–100 MPa ，work temperature：-190 to 500℃）

（3）Hydrothermal Diamond-anvil Cell; HDAC (pressure range; 0.5–3.0 GPa，work temperature: 25–1000℃）；

（4）Cold-sealed Pressure Vessel; CSPV (highest Ppressure：300 MPa， work temperature can reach 900℃)

（5）Rotational Diamond Anvil Cell，rDAC (highest Ppressure：300 MPa，work temperature can reach 1000℃；

（6）Dynamic Diamond Anvil Cell，dDAC，

（7）piston cylinder press （Pressure range 0.5–4 GPa，work temperature:25–1300℃)

(1) The first prize of the Innovative Practice Competition of the National Geoscience Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center,  Ministerial level, 2012

(2) "The New Star of South China Sea" of Hainan Provincial Party Committee, 2023