Gold mineralization in Jiaodong Peninsula and destruction of North China Craton:Insights from Mesozoic granite

Large-scale tectonic magmatism and extensive gold mineralization have occurred in the eastern North China Craton(NCC)(Jiaodong and Liaodong peninsulas)since Mesozoic,which indicated that the region experienced decratonization process.The genesis type of granites evolved from S-type to I-type and A-type during Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous,and thus reflects the evolution of geodynamics in the Late Mesozoic,indicating the varied subduction process of the Paleo-Pacific Plate(PPP)and the craton destruction.The evolution of geochemical features shows that the mantle beneath the Jiaodong Peninsula evolved from EM-II in Jurassic to EM-I in Early Cretaceous,demonstrating that the mantle switched from enriched to depleted.The gold of decratonic gold deposits in Jiaodong Peninsula mainly comes from the lithospheric mantle domains metasomatized by fluids derived from the metamorphism and dehydration of the subducted slab in the mantle transition zone.The rapid decomposition of minerals leads to the concentrated release of ore-forming fluids,and this process leads to the explosive gold mineralization during the craton destruction.Extensive magmatic uplift and extensional structures,triggered by the craton destruction in Early Cretaceous formed the extensional tectonic system,providing space for the decratonic gold deposits in Jiaodong Peninsula.

Summary of technology for a comprehensive geophysical exploration of gold mine in North China Craton

The North China Craton is the oldest continental block,and has suffered from large-scale lithospheric thinning and destruction,which in turn led to gold deposits in northern China.The decratonic gold deposits in the North China Craton became the most important gold deposits in China,and geophysical methods are key means to detect and discover gold deposits there.In this paper,based on the geological and petrophysical characteristics of the North China Craton,the geological model of the decratonic gold deposits is transformed into a geophysical model.At present,two methods of geophysical exploration of decratonic gold deposits are in use:rapid and efficient exploration on the scale of the ore concentration area,and large depth exploration on the scale of the deposit area.In detail,the airborne electromagnetic,magnetic and gravity methods are used to detect the shallow(1,500 m)anomaly area on the scale of the ore concentration area.Through the ground-controlled source electromagnetic and ground magnetotelluric methods,explorations for targets at significant depth(5,000 m)are carried out in the mining area.Then,taking the Liaodong ore concentration area as an example,geophysical methods are used to discover two prospecting areas around the Jianshanzi Fault in the Qingchengzi ore concentration area,Baiyun-Xiaotongjiapuzi deep prospecting area,and Qingchengzi deep prospecting area.Next,three prospecting areas are delineated around the Jixingou Fault in the Wulong mining area,Wulong deep prospecting area,Weishagou deep prospecting area,and Chang’an deep prospecting area.The anomalies in the ore concentration area and mining area are revealed by means of three-dimensional exploration methods,thereby providing technical support for the exploration of metal minerals such as decratonic gold deposits.