U-Pb SHRIMP Dating of Zircon from Quartz Veins of the Yangshan Gold Deposit in Gansu Province and Its Geological Significance

The Yangshan gold deposit is a super-large fine-grained disseminated gold deposit located in southern Gansu Province. Its metallogenic age has been determined by using the cathodoluminescence image and ion probe U-Pb dating techniques. It is found that zircons from quartz veinlet of the fine-grained disseminated gold ore show characters of magmatic origin with prism idiomorphism, oscillatory zoning and dominant Th/U ratios of 0.5-1.5. Three main populations of zircons are obtained, giving average 206Pb/238U ages of 197.6±1.7 Ma, 126.9±3.2 Ma and 51.2±1.3 Ma respectively. The first age corresponds to the K-Ar age of the plagiogranite dike, while the latter two ages indicate that buried Cretaceous and Tertiary intrusives exist in the orefield, suggesting that the Yangshan gold deposit was genetically related to the three magmatic hydrothermal activities. By contrast, zircons from coarse gold-bearing quartz vein in the mining area are much older than the host rock, indicating that the vein was formed earlier and was not contaminated by later magmatic fluids. It is concluded that the coupling of multiperiodic hydrothermal activities in the mining area has contributed a lot to mineralization of the Yangshan gold deposit.

Isotopic Chronological Study of the Huangsha-Tieshanlong Quartz Vein-Type Tungsten Deposit and Timescale of Molybdenum Mineralization in Southern Jiangxi Province,China

The Huangsha-Tieshanlong quartz-vein tungsten polymetallic ore deposit, located in the northern Pangushan-Tieshanlong tungsten ore field in eastern Ganxian-Yudu prospecting areas of the Yushan metallogenic belt, is a well-known tungsten deposit in southern Jiangxi province, China. SHRIMP-determined dating of zircons from the Tieshanlong granite yields ages of 168.1±2.1 Ma （n=11, MSWD-1.3）. Rhenium and osmium isotopic dating of molybdenite from the Huangsha quartz-vein tungsten deposit determined by ICP-MS yields a weighted average ages of 153-3 Ma and model ages of 150.22.1 Ma - 155.4-2.3 Ma. The age of the Huangsha tungsten deposit is 10 to 15 Ma later than the Tieshanlong granite, which shows that there might have been another early Late Jurassic magmatic activity between 150 and 160 Ma, a process which is closely related with tungsten mineralization in this area. The Tieshanlong granite, the Hnangsha tungsten deposit and the Pangushan-Tieshanlong ore field were all formed around 150-170 Ma, belonging to products of a Mesozoic second large-scale mineralization. According to the collected molybdenite Re-Os dating results in southern Jiangxi province, the timescale of the associated molybdenum mineralization is 2-6 Ma in the tungsten deposit and the timescale of independent molybdenum mineralization is 1-4 Ma, implying the complexity of tungsten mineralization. Times of molybdenum mineralization are mainly concentrated in the Yanshanian, which includes three stages of 133-135 Ma, 150-162 Ma, and 166-170 Ma, respectively. The 150-162 Ma-stage is in accordance with ages of large-scale WoSn mineralization, which is mainly molybdenum mineralization characterized by associated molybdenum mineralization with development of an even greater-intensity independent molybdenum mineralization. Independent molybdenum mineralization occurred before and after large-scale W-Sn mineralization, which indicates that favorable prospecting period for molybdenum may be in Cretaceous and early late Jurassic.

Geology of the Structurally Controlled Quartz Vein Gold Mineralization in the Dikko Area, Part of Zungeru—Minna—Birnin Gwari Schist Belt, NW Nigeria

Dikko area, Niger State, North Central Nigeria falls within the Pan-African thermo-tectonic event which occurred in Nigeria as in other parts of West Africa with widespread effect on the mineralization of rejuvenated basement and geosynclinal trough deposits. The Pan-African Belt in Nigeria forms part of the Benin-Nigeria (Dahomeyan) shield which is regarded as the southern prolongation of the circumcratonic Pan-African belt of the West African Craton. Structurally controlled, gold-bearing quartz veins were measured and studied in the area from an extensive geological ground investigation. Field and petrographical studies indicate that the Neoproterozoic rocks constitute gneisses, amphibolite schist, amphibolites and migmatites. The amphibolites are intruded by pegmatites. The associated quartz veins are generally concordant with the main N-S regional structural trend. The lithological and structural studies carried out in these areas have demonstrated the relationship between structures and mineralization and/or lithology. The main characteristics of the gold mineralization in the area appear to indicate hydrothermal mineralization in connection with shear zones. This study allows us to predict that quartz veins in the amphibolite can be mined at a profit and a detailed geochemical and resource valuation needs to be carried out for the Au and associated Galena and Ag mineralization to fully exploit their economic potential.

A new type of Mo-bearing quartz vein by acid leaching:evidence from Dahu-Qinnan Mine,northern belt of the Xiaoqinling gold province,central China

Dahu-Qinnan molybdenum deposit,located in the northern part of the Xiaoqinling gold province,belongs to the Xiaoqinling-Waifangshan sub-zone of the eastern Qinling Mo-W metallogenic belt,central China.Molybdenite mineralization is associated with Au-bearing quartz veins.This paper is based on field observations and PIMA analytical data on the occurrences,and details textures and alteration patterns of Mo-bearing quartz veins in Dahu-Qinnan region.The Mo-bearing quartz veins exhibit friable with cream colored,vuggy,infilling texture and brecciated texture.The breccia clasts within Mo-bearing quartz veins are dominated by gneissic rocks of the Taihua Supergroup,and Mesozoic porphyritic granite dyke with stockwork and disseminated molybdenite mineralization.The breccias are replaced by clay minerals.Alteration associated with molybdenite-bearing quartz veins is characterized by K-feldspar(only in the breccias),sericite,sillicification(residual silica),kaolinite,smectite and anhydrite.Molybdenite with other sulfide minerals infills fissures and pore spaces in the quartz veins.As the results of above,and according to the observed geological events in the area and taking into account the geological setting,molybdenite-bearing quartz veins are likely to have been affected by late acid leaching.The precursor porphyry Mo ore,associated with porphyry granite dyke formed probably at ca.245--211 Ma during the continent-continenl collision of Qinling orogeny.

Gold Behavior in Weathering Products of Quartz Vein in Mintom Area South Cameroon(Central Africa)

Gold mineralization in Mintom area, south Cameroon was studied in a tropical forest setting using X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP/AES) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) respectively for the mineralogical and chemical data. The mineralization occurs in quartz veins in the archean Ntem complex of the vast Congo Craton in Central Africa. Gold distribution patterns were vertically studied in the different horizons of the weathering profile and in the different grain-size fractions of the materials sampled in the pit on down slope of the interfluve where the mineralization exists. The weathering profile consists of an upper, thin loose sandy-clayey horizon (P6) covered by a light humic horizon, a nodular horizon with lateritic nodules or blocks (P5), a gravel horizon (P4), a thin spotted horizon (P3) and a saprolite (P2) up to 1.4 m thick. The specific geochemical signature of the bedrock is not recognized in each horizon of the weathering profile. Some groups of elements, e.g., high SiO2 and low REE characterize quartz vein while Cr-Ni characterizes a basic rock like gabbro. The residual gold is concentrated at the base of weathering profile. Its concentration increases from the saprolite up to the gravel horizon and decreases in the surface horizons. However, the evolution of visible Au distribution is not the same for all grain-size fractions: 1) in the finest fraction, the Au content is only regular in spotted and gravel horizons;2) in the medium size fractions, the Au is in high content and greatly decreases from saprolite up to the spotted horizon and disappears in the upper horizons;3) in the coarsest fraction, Au content is found in the saprolite and the maximum Au content of the weathering profile is found in this layer just above the mineralized quartz vein. This observation shows that the Mintom residual gold comes from the quartz vein.

Subduction channel fluid-rock interaction:Indications from rutile-quartz veins within eclogite from the Yuka terrane,North Qaidam orogen

High-pressure(HP)or ultrahigh-pressure(UHP)rutile-quartz veins that form at mantle depths due to fluid-rock interaction can be used to trace the properties and behavior of natural fluids in subduction zones.To explore the fluid flow and the associated element mobility during deep subduction and exhumation of the continental crust,we investigated the major and trace elements of Ti-rich minerals.Additionally,U–Pb dating,trace element contents,and Lu–Hf isotopic composition of zircon grains in the UHP eclogite and associated rutile-quartz veins were examined in the North Qaidam UHP metamorphic belt,Yuka terrane.The zircon grains in the rutile-quartz veins have unzoned or weak oscillatory zonings,and show low Th/U ratios,steep chondrite-normalized patterns of heavy rare earth elements(HREEs),and insignificant negative Eu anomalies,indicating their growth in metamorphic fluids.These zircon grains formed in 431
3 Ma,which is consistent with the 432
2 Ma age of the host eclogite.As for the zircons in the rutile-quartz veins,they showed steep HREE patterns on one hand,and were different from the zircons present in the host eclogite on the other.This demonstrates that their formation might have been related to the breakdown of the early stage of garnet,which corresponds to the abundance of fluids during the early exhumation stage.The core-rim profile analyses of rutile recorded a two-stage rutile growth across a large rutile grain;the rutile core has higher Nb,Ta,W,and Zr contents and lower Nb/Ta ratios than the rim,indicating that the rutile domains grew in different metamorphic fluids from the core towards the rim.The significant enrichment of high field strength elements(HFSEs)in the rutile core suggests that the peak fluids have high solubility and transportation capacity of these HFSEs.Furthermore,variations in the Nb vs.Cr trends in rutile indicate a connection of rutile to mafic protolith.The zircon grains from both the rutile-quartz veins and the host eclogite have similar Hf isotopic compositions,indicating that the vein-forming fluids are internally derived from the host eclogite.These fluids accumulated in the subduction channel and were triggered by local dehydration of the deeply subducted eclogite during the early exhumation conditions.

Auriferous Quartz Veins from the Dongping Gold Deposit, NW Hebei Province and Metallogenesis—Fluid Inclusion Rb-SrIsochron Evidence

The Dongping gold deposit, situated on the northern margin of the North China Platform, is a composite deposit composed of auriferous quartz vein-type and altered rock-type ore bodies. It is hosted in the inner contact zone of an alkaline intrusion which was intruded into Archean metamorphic rocks and was formed not later than the Hercynian peried. Auriferous quartz veins of the deposit are dated with the fluid inclusion Rb-Sr isochron method at 103 ±4Ma, indicating that the gold deposit was formed in the Yenshanian period. 87Sr/86Sr sourcetracing shows the ore-forming materials came dominantly from alkaline intrusions. These results, combined with other isotope and REE data, suggest that the Dengping gold deposit is not a traditional magmatic hydrothermal deposit, but a reworked hydrothermal deposit related to heated and evoved meteoric water.

Fluid Inclusions in the Gold-Bearing Quartz Veins at Um Rus Area, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Fluid inclusions in the gold-bearing quartz veins at the Um Rus area are of three types: H\-2O, H\-2O-CO\-2 and CO\-2 inclusions. H\-2O inclusions are the most abundant, they include two phases which exhibit low and high homogenization temperatures ranging from 150 to 200℃ and 175 to 250℃, respectively. The salinity of aqueous inclusions, based on ice melting, varies between \{6.1\} and 8 equiv. wt% NaCl. On the other hand, H\-2O-CO\-2 fluid inclusions include three phases. Their total homogenization temperatures range from 270 to 325℃, and their salinity, based on clathrate melting, ranges between \{0.8\} and \{3.8\} equiv. wt% NaCl. CO\-2 fluid inclusions homogenize to a liquid phase and exhibit a low density range from \{0.52\} to \{0.66\} g/cm\+3. The partial mixing of H\-2O-CO\-2 and salt H\-2O-NaCl fluid inclusions is the main source of fluids from which the other types of inclusions were derived. The gold-bearing quartz veins are believed to be of medium temperature hydrothermal convective origin.

Rb-Sr Isotopic Chronology of the Au-Bearing Quartz Veins in Gold Deposits in the Eastern Part of North China Platform

In the eastern part of China there had occurred large\|scale gold mineralization during the Mesozoic, resulting in a large number of important gold ore\|concentrated areas. In this paper we have selected some isotope data (including four gold deposits previously studied and two gold deposits in this work) of Au\|bearing quartz veins of the representative gold deposits in six important gold ore\|concentrated areas in the periphery of the North China Platform and calculated their metallogenic ages using the method of Ludwig (2.90 version). The results show that the representative gold deposits in the six gold ore\|concentrated areas were formed during the Mesozoic.

Genesis and mineralization of gold-bearing quartz veins in the Xiao Qinling area,central China

Gold-bearing quartz veins of the Taihua Group consisting of Archean metavolcanic rocks are a main gold deposit type in the Xiao Qinling area,one of the three biggest gold production areas in China.The quartz veins experienced strong alteration characterized by a typical mesothermal hydrothermal altered mineral assemblage.The grade of gold is affected by the contents of sulphides,e.g.galena,pyrite and chalcopyrite.Results of minor elements analysis for the of gold-bearing quartz veins indicate higher contents of Au and high contents of Ag,Pb,Cu,Cd,W,and Mo.Abundant fluid inclusions were found in the gold-bearing quartz veins.Three types of fluid inclusions were identified:(1) aqueous inclusions;(2) CO 2-bearing inclusions;and(3) daughter crystal-bearing fluid inclusions.Homogenization temperatures ranged from 110 to 670℃ with low and high peaks appearing at 160 180℃ and 280 300℃,respectively.The salinity of aqueous inclusions varies between 1.8 wt% and 38.2 wt% NaCl.The homogenization temperature and salinity show a positive correlation.The H and O isotopes of fluid inclusions in the gold-bearing quartz veins indicate that magmatic solution and metamorphic hydrothermal solution,together with meteoric water,were involved in the formation of gold-bearing fluid.Mesozoic magma activities related to granite intrusions should be the main source of CO 2 fluid with higher temperature and salinity.

PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE ORE-FORMING CONDITIONS OF THE Au-Pb-QUARTZ VEIN TYPE ORE DEPOSIT,CHINA

PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE ORE-FORMING CONDITIONS OFTHE Au-Pb-QUARTZ VEIN TYPE ORE DEPOSIT, CHINAHe Zhili, Xu Jiuhua, Yang Zhenlin and Du Jafeng(Dept. of Geol., Univ. of Scie. and Tech. Beijing, 100083 Beijing, China)Ore-forming condition, Au-Pb-quartz vein, ore deposit, ChinaThere are few Au-Pb-Quartz vein type ore deposits in other countries except China. It might be related to the geohistory and geotectonic background. However, this kind of ore deposit has an important economical significance in China. Its formation is due to the dis-tinctive geological conditions of china. Wendong Au-Pb-Quartz type ore deposit including Wenyu and Dongchuang in Xiaoqinling gold field is the most typical. It is a polygenetic and compound ore deposit, Jintongcha and other deposits lying to the west of it in Xiaoqinling area are Au-Pb-Quartz vein type ore deposits. Others of this area lying to the east of Jintongcha are Au-Quartz vein type. This phenomenon stems from the zonnal distribution of minernal de-posits

Characters of fluid inclusions in quartz veins in pyroclastic rock of Budate Group, Hailar Basin

It was adopted that the fluorescence microscope, Gas-Flow Heating/Freezing System, Laser-Raman Spect-roscopy, etc. are the multimedia techniques for analysing fluid inclusions of quartz veins in Budate Group, Hailar Basin. The results show that fluid inclusions in quartz veins are small(1～5 μm)monophase, two-phase(liquid+vapour)aqueous inclusions; the two-phase aqueous inclusions homogeniese to the liquid phase between 120～180℃, two dominant types for oil inclusions were determined in quartz veins:① the primary inclusions, almostly gas, measurement by Laser-Raman Spectroscopy show that both gas phase are enriched in CH4(94.50%～99.25%)and C6H6(0.75%～2.70%), under these conditions, inclusions may have come from juvenile fliud followingly the quartz veins formation. While the quartz veins exhibiting different striking luminescence has been proved by cathodoluminescence, it would be impossible to come from the deep magmas and strata. ② aqueous, liquid and two-phase(liquid+vapour)oil inclusions, belong to secondary hydrocarbon inclusions. The oil inclusions of this stage represent mainly the large scale of oil accumulation, located within the quartz microfracture.

Deformation behavior and fluid action of quartz veins in the Xuelongshan metamorphic complex,Western Yunnan

The Xuelongshan metamorphic complex underwent Cenozoic sinistral strike-slip shearing and exhumation from deep to shallow in the southeast margin of the Tibet Plateau.We studied the deformation behavior and fluid action of quartz veins in the metamorphic complex in depth based on macroscopic observation,electron backscatter diffraction fabric,and fluid inclusion analysis.The mylonitic samples are characterized by strongly elongated and orientated porphyroclasts and a finegrained matrix with a shear strain of 2.4.The ultramylonitic samples are characterized by a strongly fine-grained matrix with a shear strain of 5.8.The{m}glide controls the quartz deformation in the mylonites and ultramylonites.As the dominant recovery mechanism,subgrain rotation dynamic recrystallization reduces the grain size and promotes rheological weakening.The porphyroclasts restrict the crystal orientation of the recrystallized quartz matrix.The mylonitic quartz veins have abundant single-phase and two-phase fluid inclusions.However,the ultramylonitic quartz veins have a few fluid inclusions,most of which are small and irregular toward the grain boundaries.The temperature and pressure of fluid activity in quartz veins are 550–500℃and 391–218 MPa for ultramylonitic quartz veins,with a depth of 14.2–7.9 km and 450–400℃and 236–91 MPa for mylonitic quartz veins,with a depth of 8.6–3.3 km.The deformation process changes the shape of fluid inclusions from mylonitization to ultramylonitization and causes fluid leakage,an increase in local fluid pressure at the boundary,and hydrolysis weakening,promoting lattice dislocation glide and recrystallization,which is directly related to regional continuous shear deformation and exhumation.

The Potential of Quartzitic Veins in SW Cameroon for High-Purity Quartz

High-purity quartz (HPQ), the prime source of silica, is increasingly considered a strategic mineral in the world market because it is the raw material for special applications in high-tech industries owing to its unique physical and chemical properties. The expected growth in demand for HPQ implies that more sources have to be found. This is the primary motivation for this study which targets the Supe area, SW Region of Cameroon. The structural occurrences of quartz veins were mapped and samples collected. The chemical nature and textural features of these samples were subsequently analyzed by X-ray tomography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA). Three deformation events, D1 - D3 are recorded. D1 is marked by the development of the strong S1 foliation defined by the gneissic layering and schistosity. D2 is a NE-SW ductile to brittle sinistral shear that controlled the formation of tension gashes that served as subsequent pathways for quartz-rich hydrothermal fluids to circulate and eventually precipitate quartz. The presence of rutile, tourmaline, and mica inclusions in the Supe veins affects the purity of the quartz. However, quartz can be treated to improve its quality. Taking into consideration the nine determinant trace elements used to classify HPQ, three (Li, P, and B) are below detection limits, Al concentrations are within the HPQ, quartz market standard, and average natural abundance;Ti values are high above all three standards in all except one sample, while Na, Ca, K, and Fe values fluctuate, thus classifying one of the samples as high purity quartz and the others as low purity quartz. These veins define tension gashes which usually occur in an echelon arrangement covering a large surface area, suggesting that more of such veins probably exist in the Supe area. Consequently, the quality and potential quantity of HPQ veins in this area suggest a high potential for HPQ exploration in the region.

^(40)Ar-^(39)Ar dating and geological implication of auriferous altered rocks from the middle-deep section of Q875 gold-quartz vein in Xiaoqinling area, Henan,China

The 40Ar-39Ar age method is employed in this work to analyze the auriferous altered rocks from the middle-deep section of the Q875 gold-quartz vein in the Xiao-qinling area, and the results show that the main gold deposition of the Q875 occurred in ca. 128-126 Ma. As a typical gold-bearing quartz vein in this gold-rich area, the age data obtained from the Q875 also constrain on the metallogenic time of the lode gold deposits developed in the same geological settings. This geochronological study supplies new evidence for further understanding the timing of gold mineralization, the genesis of gold deposits and the geodynamic settings in Xiaoqinling area.

Dual origins of Xiaoqinling gold-bearing quartz veins:Fluid inclusion evidence

Fluid inclusion research in Archean metamorphic rocks, Yanshanian granite and gold-bearing quartz veins shows that regional metamorphic fluids are high temperature and high saline, Yanshanian post-granitic fluids are CO2-bearing low saline, and ore-forming fluids are also CO2-rich low saline. In gold-barren/free parts of quartz veins in gold deposits, daughter mineral-bearing high saline inclusions related with metamorphic fluids remained. This proclaims quartz veins hosting gold ores might have been formed in early metamorphism, and overlapped or mineralized by late Yanshanian gold-bearing fluids.

An oxygen isotope study of quartz veins within eclogites from the Dabie terrane

The oxygen isotope composition of minerals from quartz veins and host eclogites in the Dabie terrane was measured in order to place geochemical constraints on the origin and transport of metamorphic fluid. The results are discussed together with structural and petrological relationships between quartz vein and wallrock. The quartz veins can be temporally classified into three groups: (1) synmetamorphic vein which would be formed prior to eclogite-facies recrystallization when they were exhumated from mantle depths to deep crustal levels; (2) early retrogressive vein which was formed in the early stage of eclogite exhumation subsequent to the recrystallization, the vein-forming fluid is still relevant to the eclogites; (3) late retrogressive vein which was formed in the late stage of eclogite exhumation from deep crustal to upper crustal levels, oxygen isotope fractionation between vein quartz and host eclogite significantly deviates from equilibrium values and the vein-forming fluid was principally derived from granitic gneiss hosting the eclogites. For the synmetamorphic vein, it appears that local advective transport of fluid is the predominant mechanism in the processes of vein precipitation; the scale of oxygen isotope homogenization within the veins is much larger than that within the associated eclogites. The vein-forming fluid would be derived from the exsolution of dissolved hydroxyls within eclogite minerals due to significant pressure decrease. Fluid flow prior to the eclogite-facies recrystallization and the early retrogression may occur mainly along pressure gradients.

The Bulong Gold Deposit-a Quartz-Barite Vein Type Gold Deposit in Xinjiang:Geological Characteristics and S, He and Ar Isotopic Compositions

The Bulong gold deposit, located in the southwest Tianshan in China, occurs in the Upper Devonian finegrained clastic rocks. The gold orebodies are controlled by an gently inclined interlayer fractured zone. They are hosted only in quartz-barite veins though there are barite veins and quartz veins in the ore district. The δ34S values of pyrite in the ores range from 14.6‰ to 19.2‰ and those of barite from 35.0‰ to 39.6‰, indicating that the sulfur was derived from the strata. 3He/4He ratios of fluid inclusions in pyrite are 0.24-0.82 R/Ra, approximating to that of the crust. The 40Ar/39Ar ratios range from 338 to 471, slightly higher than that of the atmosphere. 40Ar /4He ratios of ore fluids range from 0.015 to 0.412 with a mean of 0.153. Helium and argon isotope compositions of fluid inclusions show that the ore fluids of the Bulong gold deposit were mainly derived from the crust.

REE geochemistry of auriferous quartz carbonate veins of Neoarchean Ajjanahalli gold deposit,Chitradurga schist belt,Dharwar Craton,India

REE composition of the carbonates of the auriferous quartz carbonate veins（QCVs） of the Neoarchean Ajjanahalli gold deposit.Chitradurga schist belt.Dharwar Craton,is characterized by U-shaped chondrite normalized REE patterns with both LREE and HREE enrichment and a distinct positive Eu anomaly.As positive Eu anomaly is associated with low oxygen fugacity,we propose that the auriferous fluids responsible for gold mineralization at Ajjanahalli could be from an oxygen depleted fluid.The observed positive Eu anomaly is interpreted to suggest the derivation of the auriferous fluids from a mantle reservoir.The location of Ajjanahalli gold deposit in a crustal scale shear zone is consistent with this interpretation.

The metallogenic models of gold deposits of quartz vein type and altered rock type

Metallogenic models of gold deposits of quartz vein type and altered rock type will be dis-cussed in this note. They are considered to be closely related to granite spatially andgenetically.