Structural geometry of orogenic gold deposits： Implications for exploration of world-class and giant deposits

With very few exceptions, orogenic gold deposits formed in subduction-related tectonic settings in accretionary to collisional orogenic belts from Archean to Tertiary times. Their genesis, including metal and fluid source, fluid pathways, depositional mechanisms, and timing relative to regional structural and metamorphic events, continues to be controversial. However, there is now general agreement that these deposits formed from metamorphic fluids, either from metamorphism of intra-basinal rock sequences or de-volatilization of a subducted sediment wedge, during a change from a compressional to transpressional, less commonly transtensional, stress regime, prior to orogenic collapse. In the case of Archean and Paleoproterozoic deposits, the formation of orogenic gold deposits was one of the last events prior to cratonization. The late timing of orogenic gold deposits within the structural evolution of the host orogen implies that any earlier structures may be mineralized and that the current structural geometry of the gold deposits is equivalent to that at the time of their formation provided that there has been no significant post-gold orogenic overprint. Within the host volcano-sedimentary sequences at the province scale, world-class orogenic gold deposits are most commonly located in second-order structures adjacent to crustal scale faults and shear zones, representing the first-order ore-forming fluid pathways, and whose deep lithospheric connection is marked by lamprophyre intrusions which, however, have no direct genetic association with gold deposition. More specifically, the gold deposits are located adjacent to ～10°-25° district-scale jogs in these crustal-scale faults. These jogs are commonly the site of arrays of ～70° cross faults that accommodate the bending of the more rigid components, for example volcanic rocks and intrusive sills, of the host belts. Rotation of blocks between these accommodation faults causes failure of more competent units and/or reactivation and dilation of pre-existing structures, leading to deposit-scale focussing of ore-fluid and gold deposition.Anticlinal or antiformal fold hinges, particularly those of ＇locked-up＇ folds with ～30° apical angles and overturned back limbs, represent sites of brittle-ductile rock failure and provide one of the more robust parameters for location of orogenic gold deposits.In orogenic belts with abundant pre-gold granitic intrusions, particularly Precambrian granitegreenstone terranes, the boundaries between the rigid granitic bodies and more ductile greenstone sequences are commonly sites of heterogeneous stress and inhomogeneous strain. Thus, contacts between granitic intrusions and volcano-sedimentary sequences are common sites of ore-fluid infiltration and gold deposition. For orogenic gold deposits at deeper crustal levels, ore-forming fluids are commonly focused along strain gradients between more compressional zones where volcano-sedimentary sequences are thinned and relatively more extensional zones where they are thickened. World-class orogenic gold deposits are commonly located in the deformed volcano-sedimentary sequences in such strain gradients adjacent to triple-point junctions defined by the granitic intrusions, or along the zones of assembly of micro-blocks on a regional scale. These repetitive province to district-scale geometrical patterns of structures within the orogenic belts are clearly critical parameters in geology-based exploration targeting for orogenic gold deposits.

Metallogenesis and Geodynamic Setting of the Early Paleozoic Orogenic Gold Deposits in the North Altyn

The North Altyn has underwent a complex tectonic history in the Early Paleozoic and formed a number of orogenic gold deposits controlled by ductile to brittle shear zones adjacent to the southern side of the Northern Altyn Tagh fault e.g. the Dapinggou, Beiketan and Xiangyun. The Dapinggou gold deposit, a typical orogenic gold deposit in North Altyn, is predominantly hosted in the Precambrian carbonate and Cambrian volcano- sedimentary rocks which were strongly deformed and were subjected to low-grade metamorphism. The ore bodies occurred in K-feldspar quartz veins and hydrothermally altered mylonite within the ductile shear belt. Hydrothermal alteration including silicification, pyritization.

Fluid Inclusions of Orogenic Gold Deposits in the Zhongchuan Area,Western Qinling and Their Geological Significance

Orogenically-derived gold deposits of the Zhongchuan area in the western Qinling are distributed in the exo-contact thermal metamorphic zone. The country rocks hosting the deposits are predominantly of Devonian age with low-grade metamorphism and strong deformation with the ore deposits directly controlled by multi-level tectonic systems. Three types of inclusions from these deposits have been recognized: CO2-H2O, CO2-rich, and aqueous. The ore-forming fluids were mainly CO2-NaCl-H2O type characterized by rich CO2, low salinity, high temperature and immiscibility. Incorporated with earlier isotopic data, the regional geological setting and features of diagenesis and metallogeny, it can be concluded that the ore-forming fluids were derived from deep magma and mixed with meteoric and metamorphic water. The deposits formed during an intra-continent collisional orogeny, and some of the materials derived from the deep might have been involved in the ore-forming process.

Corrigendum to“Structural geometry of orogenic gold deposits:Implications for exploration of world-class and giant deposits”[Geoscience Frontiers 9,(2018)1163e1177]

Fig.8e in our paper(Groves et al.,2018)was incorrectly ascribed to Caddey et al.(1995).It is actually taken from Figure 3 in Morelli et al.(2010).In turn,this was derived from Bell(2013).The authors apologise for this unintentional error.

M agmatic Gold Mineralization in the Western Qinling Orogenic Belt: Geology and Metallogenesis of the Baguamiao,Liba and Xiaogouli Gold Deposits

The superlarge Baguamiao, large Liba and Xiaogouli gold deposits represent three typical gold deposits different from the Carlin type in the western Qinling Orogenic Belt. Based on Ar-Ar dating of quartz from ores, U-Pb dating of single zircon from granite, tracing of H and O isotopes and studies on the mineralogy and texture of spots and bleached alteration developed in wall rocks, this paper focuses the relations between gold deposits and granite to clarify the origin of gold deposits and the metallogenesis in the tectonic evolution of the Qinling Orogenic Belt. The comprehensive studies show that the age of the granite (148.1-244 Ma) is identical with that of the gold deposits (131.91-232.56 Ma). It is suggested that the granite has close temporal, spatial and genetic relationship with the gold deposits. The granite provides a heat source, water source and considerable amount of ore-forming material. Finally, it is concluded that the orogeny by collision, emplacement of the granite and positioning of the gold deposits represent a successive process. Both the granite and gold deposits resulted from the syn-orogeny and post-orogeny tectonic evolution.

Nitrogen isotope and content record of Mesozoic orogenic gold deposits surrounding the North China craton

As an effective tracer, nitrogen isotopes have been used to determine the source of ore materials in recent years. In this study, the nitrogen isotopes and contents were measured on K-feldspar and sericite of gold deposits and some related granitic intrusions in Jiaodong, Xiao-qinling-Xiong’ershan, west Qinling, the west part of North Qilian and the Zhangjiakou-Xuanhua district around the North China craton (NCC). Although the gold deposits around the NCC are hosted in Precambrian metamorphic rocks, Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks, mafic volcanic rocks or granite, comparison of which with the nitrogen contents and isotope data of previous studies on mantle-derived rocks, granites, metamorphic rocks and gold deposits indicates that those deposits are closely related to granitic rocks. In addition, mantle-derived materials may have been involved in the ore-forming processes to a certain degree. This conclusion is consistent with the result of previous hydrogen, oxygen and carbon isotopic studies of those gold deposits.

Research on the Application of Electromagnetic Method in the Exploration of Altered Rock-type Gold Deposits in the East Kunlun Metallogenic Belt

Introduction The East Kunlun Orogenic Belt is located in the northeastern part of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau(Li et al.,2007),stretching from the East Kunlun to the Elashan area in an east–west direction(Guo et al.,2018).It is an important part of the Central Orogenic Belt(Xiong et al.,2023).It is considered one of the important gold mineralization regions in the Tethys tectonic domain(Norbu et al.,2023)and an essential potential base for mineral resources in China.Wulonggou and Gouli gold mines have been discovered successively,earning the reputation of the"Golden Belt of Qinghai Province"(Feng et al.,2004;He et al.,2023).

Intrusion-related Gold Deposits in Egypt

Intrusion-related gold deposits(IRGDs)occur in the Eastern Desert(ED)of Egypt within magmatic districts that are exploited for tungsten and tin mineralization.IRGDs and intrusion-related rare metal deposits(IRRMDs)are almost invariably linked with the late to post collisional Younger Granites(YGs)that have three successive phases(Ⅰ,ⅡandⅢ).At~635–630 Ma,the ED underwent a transition in deformation style from compressional to extensional and a switch from subduction with crustal thickening to delamination with crustal thinning.This transition was concurrent with the emplacement of a short magmatic pulse(~635–630 Ma)that represents a transition between orogenic gold deposits and IRGDs.K-rich calc alkaline granites(phaseⅠandⅡof the YGs)hosting IRGDs like the Hangalia deposit were emplaced during the time span 630–610 Ma.Alkaline magmatism began at 610 Ma,coexisting with the K-rich calc-alkaline magmatism over the 610–590 Ma time span,where the Fawakhir(598±3 Ma)and Um Had(596±2 Ma)granites that host the IRGDs were emplaced.In time,the alkaline magmatism became more alkaline giving rise to phaseⅢof the YGs that hosts IRRMDs.A distinct metallogenic epoch comprising both IRGDs and IRRMDs,was undergoing extreme growth at~600 Ma.

Mineralization during Collisional Orogenesis and Its Control of the Distribution of Gold and Other Deposits in the Junggar Orogen, Xinjiang, China

The Junggar orogen, Xinjiang, China, is an important part of the Ural-Mongolian orogen.The collisional orogenesis in this region occurred primarily in the Carboniferous and Permianwith an evolutional process of early compression and late extension. Mineralization of gold andother metals in the Junggar orogen occurred mainly in the Permian and in a few cases in theLate Carboniferous. The deposits are largely distributed in areas where collisional orogenesiswas intensive and formed in a transitional stage from compression to extension. Therefore, goldmineralization in the Junggar orogen is fully consistent with the collisional orogenesis in time,space and geodynamic setting. This indicates that the mineral deposit model of collisionalorogenesis is applicable to prospecting and study of ore deposits in the Junggar orogen.Furthermore, the factual distribution of gold and other deposits in this region is just the same asthe collisional orogenic model presents.

Source and possible tectonic driver for Jurassic-Cretaceous gold deposits in the West Qinling Orogen, China

The West Qinling Orogen(WQO) in Central China Orogenic Belt contains numerous metasedimentary rock-hosted gold deposits(>2000 t Au), which mainly formed during two pulses: one previously recognized in the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic(T3 - J1) and one only recently identified in the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous(J3 - K1). Few studies have focused on the origin and geotectonic setting of the J3 - K1 gold deposits.Textural relationships, LA-ICP-MS trace element and sulfur isotope compositions of pyrites in hydrothermally altered T3 dykes within the J3 - K1 Daqiao deposit were used to constrain relative timing relationships between mineralization and pyrite growth in the dykes, and to characterize the source of ore fluid. These results are integrated with an overview of the regional geodynamic setting, to advance understanding of the tectonic driver for J3 - K1 hydrothermal gold systems. Pyrite in breccia-and dykehosted gold ores at Daqiao have similar chemical and isotopic compositions and are considered to be representative of J3 - K1 gold deposits in WQO. Co/Ni and sulfur isotope ratios suggest that ore fluids were derived from underlying Paleozoic Ni-and Se-rich carbonaceous sedimentary rocks. The geochemical data do not support the involvement of magmatic fluids. However, in the EQO(East Qinling Orogen), J3 - K1 deposits are genetically related to magmatism. Gold mineralization in WQO is contemporaneous with magmatic deposits in the EQO and both are mainly controlled by NE-and EWtrending structures produced by changes in plate motion of the Paleo-Pacific plate as it was subducted beneath the Eurasian continent. We therefore infer that the J3 - K1 structural regime facilitated the ascent of magma in the EQO and metamorphic fluids in the WQO with consequent differences in the character of contemporaneous ore deposits. If this is correct, then the far-field effects of subduction along the eastern margin of NE Asia extended 1000's of km into the continental interior.

Discovery of scheelite in the Zaozigou gold deposit of West Qinling Orogen,Northwest China and its implications for ore genesis

1.Objective The West Qinling Orogen extends east-west over 1500 km and is endowed with dozens of large-super large scale gold deposits.The Zaozigou gold deposit has a proven reserve of 134 t with an average grade of 3.08 g/t thus is one of the largest deposits in the West Qinling Orogen.However,whether the fluid type is metamorphic or magmatichydrothermal and ore-formation processes of the Zaozigou gold deposit are equivocal.Scheelite is a ubiquitous accessory mineral in geologically diverse ore-deposit types and attested to be a strong indicator of ore-forming conditions and oredeposit genesis.

The conjunction of factors that lead to formation of giant gold provinces and deposits in non-arc settings

It is quite evident that it is not anomalous metal transport,nor unique depositional conditions,nor any single factor at the deposit scale,that dictates whether a mineral deposit becomes a giant or not.A hierarchical approach thus is required to progressively examine controlling parameters at successively decreasing scales in the total mineral system to understand the location of giant gold deposits in non-arc environments.For giant orogenic,intrusion-related gold systems（IRGS） and Carlin-type gold deposits and iron oxide-copper-gold（IOCG） deposits,there are common factors among all of these at the lithospheric to crustal scale.All are sited in giant gold provinces controlled by complex fundamental fault or shear zones that follow craton margins or,in the case of most Phanerozoic orogenic giants,define the primary suture zones between tectonic terranes.Giant provinces of IRGS,IOCG,and Carlin-type deposits require melting of metasomatized lithosphere beneath craton margins with ascent of hybrid lamprophyric to granitic magmas and associated heat flux to generate the giant province.The IRGS and IOCG deposits require direct exsolution of volatile-rich magmatic-hydrothermal fluids,whereas the association of such melts with Carlin-type ores is more indirect and enigmatic.Giant orogenic gold provinces show no direct relationship to such magmatism.forming from metamorphic fluids,but show an indirect relationship to lamprophyres that reflect the mantle connectivity of controlling first-order structures.In contrast to their province scale similarities,the different giant gold deposit styles show contrasting critical controls at the district to deposit scale.For orogenic gold deposits,the giants appear to have formed by conjunction of a greater number of parameters to those that control smaller deposits,with resultant geometrical and lithostratigraphic complexity as a guide to their location.There are few giant IRGS due to their inferior fluid-flux systems relative to orogenic gold deposits,and those few giants are essentially preservational exceptions.Many Carlin-type deposits are giants due to the exceptional conjunction of both structural and lithological parameters that caused reactive and permeable rocks,enriched in syngenetic gold,to be located below an impermeable cap along antiformal ＂trends＂.Hydrocarbons probably played an important role in concentrating metal.The supergiant Post-Betze deposit has additional ore zones in strain heterogeneities surrounding the pre-gold Goldstrike stock.All unequivocal IOCG deposits are giant or near-giant deposits in terms of gold-equivalent resources,partly due to economic factors for this relatively poorly understood,low Cu-Au grade deposit type.The supergiant Olympic Dam deposit,the most shallowly formed deposit among the larger IOCGs,probably owes its origin to eruption of volatile-rich hybrid magma at surface,with formation of a large maar and intense and widespread brecciation,alteration and Cu-Au-U deposition in a huge rock volume.

Genesis of the Bangbu Orogenic Gold Deposit, Tibet： Evidence from Fluid Inclusion, Stable Isotopes, and Ar-Ar Geochronology

The Bangbu gold deposit is a large orogenic gold deposit in Tibet formed during the AlpineHimalayan collision. Ore bodies（auriferous quartz veins） are controlled by the E-W-trending Qusong-Cuogu-Zhemulang brittle-ductile shear zone. Quartz veins at the deposit can be divided into three types： pre-metallogenic hook-like quartz veins, metallogenic auriferous quartz veins, and postmetallogenic N-S quartz veins. Four stages of mineralization in the auriferous quartz veins have been identified：（1） Stage S1 quartz＋coarse-grained sulfides,（2） Stage S2 gold＋fine-grained sulfides,（3） Stage S3 quartz＋carbonates, and（4） Stage S4 quartz＋ greigite. Fluid inclusions indicate the oreforming fluid was CO_2-N_2-CH_4 rich with homogenization temperatures of 170–261°C, salinities 4.34–7.45 wt% Na Cl equivalent. δ^（18）Ofluid（3.98‰–7.18‰） and low δDV-SMOW（-90‰ to-44‰） for auriferous quartz veins suggest ore-forming fluids were mainly metamorphic in origin, with some addition of organic matter. Quartz vein pyrite has δ^（34）SV-CDT values of 1.2‰–3.6‰（an average of 2.2‰）, whereas pyrite from phyllite has δ^（34）SV-CDT 5.7‰–9.9‰（an average of 7.4‰）. Quartz vein pyrites yield 206Pb/204 Pb ratios of 18.662–18.764, 207Pb/204 Pb 15.650–15.683, and ^（208）Pb/204 Pb 38.901–39.079. These isotopic data indicate Bangbu ore-forming materials were probably derived from the Langjiexue accretionary wedge. 40Ar/39 Ar ages for sericite from auriferous sulfide-quartz veins yield a plateau age of 49.52 ± 0.52 Ma, an isochron age of 50.3 ± 0.31 Ma, suggesting that auriferous veins were formed during the main collisional period of the Tibet-Himalayan orogen（-65–41 Ma）.

Laumontitization as an Exploration Indicator of Epithermal Gold Deposits: A Case Study of the Axi and Other Epithermal Systems in West Tianshan, China

In the light of field investigation, microscopic study, X\|ray phase analysis and mineral infrared spectral analysis, it is considered that laumontitization is of extensive occurrence in the Axi gold orefield. The development of laumontitization and its relationship to mineralization show that the laumontitization appeared mainly at the top of and in the periphery of orebodies, and occurred at the edge of the epithermal system or at the late stage of epithermal system evolution. Therefore, laumontitization can be used as an exploration indicator of epithermal gold deposits. The fluids responsible for laumontitization in the Axi gold orefield are similar to those producing hot spring\|type gold deposits or those from modern geothermal fields. Epithermal mineralization of the Axi gold deposit was dated at Carboniferous, indicating that the West Tianshan of China is a region favorable to epithermal\|type gold mineralization and preservation. Hence the West Tianshan of China is a target area for exploring epithermal gold deposits.

Alteration and mineralization styles of the orogenic disseminated Zhenyuan gold deposit, southeastern Tibet: Contrast with carlin gold deposit

Orogenic disseminated and Carlin gold deposits share much similarity in alteration and mineralization.The disseminated orogenic Zhenyuan Au deposit along the Ailaoshan shear zone,southeastern Tibet,was selected to clarify their difference.The alteration and mineralization from the different lithologies,including meta-quartz sandstone,carbonaceous slate,meta-(ultra)mafic rock,quartz porphyry and lamprophyre were researched.According to the mineral assemblage and replacement relationship in all types of host rocks,two reactions show general control on gold deposition:(1) replacement of earlier magnetite by pyrite and carbonaceous material;(2) alteration of biotite and phlogopite phenocrysts in quartz porphyry and lamprophyre into dolomite/ankerite and sericite.Despite the lamprophyre is volumetrically minor and much less fractured than other host rocks,it contains a large portion of Au reserve,indicating that the chemically active lithology has played a more important role in gold precipitation compared to structure.LA-ICP-MS analysis shows that Au mainly occurs as invisible gold in fine-grained pyrite disseminated in the host rocks,with Au content reaching to 258.95 ppm.The diagenetic core of pyrite in meta-quartz sandstone enriched in Co,Ni,Mo,Ag and Hg is wrapped by hydrothermal pyrite enriched in Cu,As,Sb,Au,Tl,Pb and Bi.Different host rock lithology has much impact on the alteration and mineralization features.Carbonate and sericite in altered lamprophyre show they have higher Mg than those developed in other of host rocks denoting that the carbonate and sericite incorporated Mg from phlogopite phenocrysts in the primary lamprophyre during alteration.The ore fluid activated the diagenetic pyrite in meta-quartz sandstone leading the hydrothermal pyrite enriched in Cu,Mo,Ag,Sb,Te,Hg,Tl,Pb and Bi,but the hydrothermal pyrite in meta-(ultra)mafic rock is enriched in Co and Ni as the meta-(ultra)mafic rock host rock contain high content of Co and Ni.However,Au and As shear similar range in both types of host rocks indicating that these two elements most likely come from the deep source fluid rather than the host rocks.It was shown in the disseminated orogenic gold deposit that similar hydrothermal alteration with mineral assemblage of carbonate (mainly dolomite and ankerite),sericite,pyrite and arsenopyrite develops in all types of host rocks.This is different from the Nevada Carlin type,in which alteration is mainly dissolution and silicification of carbonate host rock.On the other hand,Au mainly occur as invisible gold in both disseminated orogenic and Carlin gold deposits.

Geochemistry of hydrothermal gold deposits:A review

Mineral assemblages formed during hydrothermal alteration reflect the geochemical composition of ore-forming fluids. Gold is mainly transported in solution as Au-CI and Au-S complexes. The change of physicochemical conditions such as temperature, pressure, oxygen fugacity, and sulfur fugacity are effective mechanisms for gold precipitation. Gold tends to be concentrated in the vapor phase of fluids at high temperatures and pressures. Au-As and Au-Sb associations are common in gold deposit. Native antimony and/or arsenic -- native gold assemblages may precipitate from hydrothermal fluids with low sulfur fugacity. Hydrothermal fluids forming epithermal gold deposits are Au-saturated in most cases, whereas fluids of Carlin-type are Au-undersaturated. Quasi-steady As-bearing pyrite extracts solid solution Au from hydrothermal fluids through absorption. The capability of As-bearing pyrite to absorb An from under-saturated fluid is the key to the formation of large-scale Carlin-type deposits. With increasing new data, studies on the geochemistry of gold deposits can be used to trace the origin of ore-forming fluids, the source of gold, and the transporting form of Au and other ore-forming elements, such as Si, S, F, Cl, As and Ag.

Metallogenesis of Precambrian gold deposits in the Wutai greenstone belt:Constrains on the tectonic evolution of the North China Craton

The Wutai greenstone belt in central North China Craton(NCC) hosts a number of Precambrian gold deposits and ore occurrences. Based on the host rock association, these can be divided into Banded Iron Formation(BIF), meta-volcano-sedimentary and meta-conglomerate types. The two former types formed during ~2.5-2.3 Ga and the third one at ~1.85 Ga. The characteristics of these Precambrian gold deposits are broadly similar with those of the orogenic gold deposits. Based on available geochronological data, here we reconstruct the major tectonic events and their relationship with gold mineralization in the Wutai-Hengshan-Fuping region during Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic as follows.(1)~2.6-2.5 Ga: widespread intrusion of tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite(TTG) magmas in the Hengshan terrane and Fuping continental arc, formation of the Wutai volcanic arc in the southern margin of Hengshan terrane with granitoids emplacement, and the Hengshan-Wutai intra-oceanic arc accretion to the Fuping arc at the end of Neoarchean.(2) ~ 2.5-2.3 Ga: the subduction of Hengshan arc from north leading to persistent magmatism and orogenic gold mineralization.(3)~2.2-2.1 Ga:extension leading to the formation of graben structure in the Wutai and Fuping region, deposition of the Hutuo and Wanzi Group sediments, formation of placer gold through erosion of the orogenic gold deposits.(4)~2.2-2.0 Ga: widespread magmatism in the Wutai-Hengshan-Fuping region.(5)~1.95-1.8 Ga: regional metamorphism associated with collision of the Western and Eastern Blocks of the NCC and associated orogenic gold deposits. The multiple subduction-accretion-collision history and subsequent deep erosion has significantly affected most of the Precambrian gold deposits in the Wutai greenstone belt.

The Isotopic Composition of Noble Gases in Gold Deposits and the Source of Ore-Forming Materials in the Region of North Hebei, China

The source of ore\|forming materials has long been a controversial focus both in metallogenic theory and in ore\|searching practice. This study deals with the helium and argon isotopic characteristics of pyrites from 11 gold deposits and some country rocks in the gold mineralization\|concentrated areas within the three mantle\|branch structures in the region of North Hebei Province. It is indicated that \{\}\+3He/\+4He ratios in the gold deposits are within the range of \{0.93×10\+\{-6\}\}-\{7.3×10\+\{-6\}\}, with an average of \{3.55\} ×10\+\{-6\}; R/Ra=\{0.66\}-\{4.93\}, averaging \{2.53\}; \{\{\}\+\{40\}Ar/\+\{39\}Ar\} ratios vary between 426 and 2073, with the average value of \{\}\+\{40\}Ar being \{8.32\}; and the average of \{\}\+4He/\{\}\+\{40\}Ar ratios is 2.17. \{\}\+3He/ \{\}\+4He ratios in gneiss and granite in the periphery of the mining district are within the range of \{0.001×10\+\{-6\}\}-\{0.55×10\+\{-6\}\}, reflecting significant differences in their sources. \{\}\+3He and \{\}\+4He fall near the mantle, as is shown in the He concentration diagram. Studies have shown that the ore\|forming materials in this region should come from the deep interior of the Earth. With the multi\|stage evolution of mantle plume, ore\|forming fluids in the deep interior were moving upwards to shallow levels (crust). Under such circumstances, there would be inevitably occur crust/mantle fluid mixing, so their noble gas isotopic characteristics are intermediate between the mantle and the crust.

Red Clay Type Gold Deposits in China

Red clay type gold deposits,located in the south of China,are situated not only in orogenic belts,but also in inner cratons,where climate is tropical-subtropical with clear arid and humid.The lateritic weathering crust often can be divided into five zones,including topsoil,siliceous duricrust zone,multi-color zone(or red clay zone in some deposits),pallid zone and saprolite zone from surface to the base rock,several of which are absent in some deposits.The base rocks are composed mainly of carbonate rocks with minor clastic rocks,intermediate-basic volcanic rocks and intermediate-acid and alkalic intrusions.The orebodies are mainly located in the multi-color zone with part of them in the pallid and saprolite zones.The ore sources include orebodies of Carlin-type gold deposits and porphyry gold deposits,as well as gold-rich base rocks.The red clay type gold deposits experienced early-stage endogenic gold mineralization and laterization during the Tertiary and Quaternary.The areas with endogenic gold deposits,especially Carlin-type gold deposits and porphyry gold deposits in karst depressions on the plateau,structual erosional platforms in the middle-lower mountains,and intermountain basins in southern China are well worth studying to trace red clay type gold deposits.

Genetic Types and Metallogenic Model for the Polymetallic Copper–Gold Deposits in the Tongling Ore District, Anhui Province, Eastern China

The Tongling ore district is one of the most economically important ore areas in the Middle–Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt, eastern China. It contains hundreds of polymetallic copper–gold deposits and occurrences. Those deposits are mainly clustered(from west to east) within the Tongguanshan, Shizishan, Xinqiao, Fenghuangshan, and Shatanjiao orefields. Until recently, the majority of these deposits were thought to be skarn-or porphyry–skarn-type deposits; however there have been recent discoveries of numerous vein-type Au, Ag, and Pb-Zn deposits that do not fall into either of these categories. This indicates that there is some uncertainty over this classification. Here, we present the results of several systematic geological studies of representative deposits in the Tongling ore district. From investigation of the ore-controlling structures, lithology of the host rock, mineral assemblages, and the characteristics of the mineralization and alteration within these deposits, three genetic types of deposits(skarn-, porphyry-, and vein-type deposits) have been identified. The spatial and temporal relationships between the orebodies and Yanshanian intrusions combined with the sources of the ore-forming fluids and metals, as well as the geodynamic setting of this ore district, indicate that all three deposit types are genetically related each other and constitute a magmatic–hydrothermal system. This study outlines a model that relates the polymetallic copper–gold porphyry-, skarn-, and vein-type deposits within the Tongling ore district. This model provides a theoretical basis to guide exploration for deep-seated and concealed porphyry-type Cu(–Mo, –Au) deposits as well as shallow vein-type Au, Ag, and Pb–Zn deposits in this area and elsewhere.