First Discovery of Gold Ore Bodies in the Lieryu Formation of the Liaohe Group in the Liaodong Area, China

Objective Numerous large deposits magnesite, and talc are Liaodong area, within of lead-zinc, gold, boron, distributed throughout the different layers of the Paleoproterozoic Liaohe Group. The Liaohe Group comprises five formations as follows （from bottom to top）. The Langzishan Formation consists of volcaniclastic rocks containing copper, cobalt, and iron deposits. The Lieryu Formation is a set of volcanic sedimentary facies accompanied by small amounts of continental-margin mixed volcanic sedimentary rocks containing boron and magnetite deposits. The Gaojiayu Formation consists of carbonaceous clay-bearing carbonate rocks and contains the most important graphite deposit. The Dashiqao Formation consists of carbonate rocks containing lead-zinc and magnesite deposits. The Gaixian Formation comprises clastic and volcaniclastic rocks, and contains the most important gold deposit. Historically, gold prospecting has focused on the Gaixian Formation; however, gold ore bodies have been discovered during iron ore mining in the Lieryu Formation （Dayinggou area）, indicating possible existence of larger gold deposits in the area.