Correlations between trace elements in pyrite and gold mineralization of gold deposits on the North China platform

By studying both the microscopic physical and chemical typomorphic characteristics of typical mineral pyrite samples associated with representative gold deposits on the north-central margin of the North China Platform,this paper seeks to identify macroscopic metallogenic mechanisms of gold deposits and to reveal the formation mechanism of lattice gold in pyrite.Typomorphic characteristics of pyrite reveal that pyrite grain size has a negative correlation with gold content.Cubic pyrite,as the dominant crystal form,contains more gold than pentagonal dodecahedral pyrite.Both pyrite crystal forms and chemical compositions indicate that the replacement style of gold deposit formed in a low saturability,low sulfur fugacity,and at temperatures either much higher or much lower than its best forming temperature;comparatively,that of the quartz vein style of gold deposit occurred under conditions with the best temperature,rich in sulfur,and with high sulfur fugacity.The Au/Ag ratios of the pyrites show that both the replacement and quartz vein styles of deposits are mesothermal and hypothermal,while the Co/Ni ratios of the pyrites indicate that the quartz vein style is of magmatic-hydrothermal origin.The X-ray diffraction intensity of pyrite rich in gold is lower than that of pyrite poor in gold at the quartz vein style.In general,with an increase in gold content in pyrite,the total sum intensityΣI decreases.The pyroelectricity coefficient has a negative correlation trend with the values of(Co+Ni+Se+Te)-As and(Co+Ni+Se+Te)/As.The pyrite pyroelectricity of the replacement style is N-type,indicating that it formed under low sulfur fugacity,while that of the quartz vein style is a mixture of P-N types,indicating that it formed under high sulfur fugacity.On the pyroelectricity-temperature diagram,pyrite of the replacement style is mainly distributed between 200 and 270°C,while that of the quartz vein style varies between 90–118 and274–386°C,demonstrating a multistage forming process.In contrast to previous researchers'conclusions,the authors confirm the existence of lattice gold in pyrites through the use of an electron paramagnetic resonance(EPR)test.Au in the form of Au~+,entering pyrite as an isomorph and producing electron–hole centers,makes the centers produce spin resonance absorption and results in EPR absorption peak II.The intensity of auriferous pyrite absorption peak II has certain direct positive correlations with pyrite gold content.The#I and#III absorption peaks of pyrites possibly result from the existence of Ni^(2+)and/or Cu^(2+).γ1,γ2,andγ3 are the strongest and most typical absorption peaks of the infrared spectra of the pyrites.Generally,with the increase in gold content in the pyrite samples,γ1,γ2,andγ3 tend to shift to higher wavenumbers,and the gold content in the pyrite samples has a positive correlation with their relative absorbance.

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.

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.

Rare Earth Element Geochemistry on Magmatic Rocks and Gold Deposits in Shizishan Ore-Field of Tongling, China

REE geochemical characteristics of the magmatic rocks and gold deposits in Shizishan ore-field of Tongling were studied. Three types of the magmatic rocks have almost the same chondrite-normalized REE patterns, Eu and Ce anomalous values, and ∑REE, ∑LREE/∑HREE regular changes, which indicates that their magmas come from the same source and their digenetic mechanism is fractional crystallization. In three gold deposits, the mineral ores and related altered rocks have similar chondrite-normalized REE patterns and sharp Eu positive anomalous values. The REE contents reduced from the magmatic rocks to skamization or alteration magmatic rocks, skam type ores, sulphide type ores, wall-rocks limestone or marble. The REE geochemical characteristics of the ores and related rocks show that primary fluids originated from magmatic differentiation in lower pressure of shallow crust, ore-forming hydrothermal solutions gained REE and mineralization elements further from leaching the magmatic rocks, then superimposed and reformed the limestones or marbles and deposited ore-forming material.

A Preliminary Review of Metallogenic Regularity of Gold Deposits in China

Gold is one of the most important mineral resources in China with its rich mineral resources. In recent years, significant progress has been made on the process of gold resource exploration. Some large and giant gold deposits were newly found and some important expansions in the main mining regions were also been completed. Studies on metailogenic regularity of gold deposits in China also have made achievements with a long-term work. This review aims to conclude the achievements of research on gold metallogenic regularity in China. Based on the data of about 2000 gold deposits and other ore （mineralized） occurrences, gold deposits in China were classified into five prediction types： gold deposits genetically related to granite-greenstone formation, gold deposits related to sedimentary formation （including the Carlin type and the metamorphosed clastic rock related vein gold deposit）, gold deposits genetically related to volcanic rocks （including the continental and marine types）, gold deposits genetically related to intrusions （including the porphyry type and the inner intrusion and contact zone related gold deposit）, gold deposits of supergenesis （including fracture zone-altered rock gold deposit, placer gold deposit, gossan type gold precise chronology data of gold deposits indicate deposit and soil type gold deposit）. Statistics on that there occurred 5 main periods of gold- mineralization in geological history of China. They were Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic, Meso- Neoproterozoic, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic. Gold deposits in China mainly formed in the Mesozoic and the Cenozoic. On the studies of the spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of gold deposits, 53 gold-forming belts were delineated in China. The metallogenic regularity of gold deposits was preliminarily summarized and 71 gold metallogenic series were proposed in China. This suggests that it is necceary to deepen the study on metallogenic regularity of gold deposits and to provide the theory guide for the ore-prospecting for gold resources in China.

The Palaeomagnetic Study of the MineralizationAge of Gold Deposits in the Xiong' ershan Area,Henan Province

Based on palaeomagnetic studies of the Precambrian gold deposits in the Xiong'ershan area, Henan Province, the authors infer that the ore-forming processes of the Beiling alteration-type gold ore deposit and the Dianfang breccia-type gold ore deposit started in the Proterozoic, and was superimposed by later mineralization, whereas the mineralization age of the Jiguanshan quartz- vein type gold ore deposit is Yanshanian.

Province-scale commonalities of some world-class gold deposits:Implications for mineral exploration

Discovery rates for all metals, including gold, are declining, the cost per significant discovery is increasing sharply, and the economic situation of the industry is one of low base rate. The current hierarchical structure of the exploration and mining industry makes this situation difficult to redress. Economic geologists can do little to influence the required changes to the overall structure and philosophy of an industry driven by business rather than geological principles, However, it should be possible to follow the lead of the oil industry and improve the success rate of greenfield exploration, necessary for the next group of lower-exploration-spend significant mineral deposit discoveries. Here we promote the concept that mineral explorers need to carefully consider the scale at which their exploration targets are viewed. It is necessary to carefully assess the potential of drill targets in terms of terrane to province to district scale, rather than deposit scale, where most current economic geology research and conceptual thinking is concentrated. If orogenic, IRGD, Carlin-style and IOCG gold-rich systems are viewed at the deposit scale, they appear quite different in terms of conventionally adop- ted research parameters. However, recent models for these deposit styles show increasingly similar source-region parameters when viewed at the lithosphere scale, suggesting common tectonic settings. It is only by assessing individual targets in their tectonic context that they can be more reliably ranked in terms of potential to provide a significant drill discovery. Targets adjacent to craton margins, other lithosphere boundaries, and suture zones are clearly favoured for all of these gold deposit styles, and such exploration could lead to incidental discovery of major deposits of other metals sited along the same tectonic boundaries.

Two Super-Large Gold Deposits Have Been Discovered in Jiaodong Peninsula of China

During 2015, gold prospecting in Laizhou City of Shandong Peninsula in China has achieved a major breakthrough. Deposits containing 470 and 389 tons of gold metal were discovered in the northern sea area of Sanshandao and the Shaling area, respectively. As a result, the gold prospective resources in the entire Jiaodong Peninsula have now exceeded 4000 tons, fully indicative of the super-large prospecting potential of the Jiaojia-type deposits.

Remote Sensing Technology for Identification of Alteration Information of Gold Deposits in the Eastern Tianshan Area, Xinjiang

Based on specific well-exposed rocks useful for high-quality remote sensing interpretation in the gold-prospecting area in the eastern Tianshan, this paper gives a detailed description of a remote sensing model for metallogenic prediction. The model reveals that multi-spectral remote sensing data are integrated with high-resolution remote sensing data, and enhanced extraction and visual description of weak remote sensing information are used for prospecting. This model has tested in the given gold deposit, and used successfully in Au-Cu prospecting in the Kalatage area.

Sedimentological Characterization of Alluvial Gold Deposits of Betrare-Oya and Its Surroundings (Cameroon Eastern Region)

Sedimentological methods such as granulometry, morphoscopy and heavy minerals analysis have been carried out to characterize alluvial gold deposits of Betare-Oya and its surroundings, with the aim to determine their origin and conditions in which they are formed and also to determine the mineralogical content of these deposits, their nature and distribution. It came out from this study the following: The alluvial deposits studied are sand, constituting of coarse fraction (grains), medium grains in abundant and fine grains. The average values of sorting index (S0) and coefficient of asymmetry (A) are respectively 2.53 and 0.73. These values indicate that the sand is poorly arranged and poorly sorted with a better classification or arrangement in the coarse fraction (grains). These are sediments that are deposited together by high competent currents. It would therefore probably be torrential deposits and or streams from short transport. Unused grains are dominating (80.5%) which translate a proximal source of the sediments. So it would be probably from the dismantling of the surrounding landforms. The heavy minerals studied revealed the presence of the following minerals;zircon, gold, sphene, green hornblende, tourmaline, rutile, augite, hypersthene, sillimanite, glau-cophane, biotite, staurotide, and the opaque. These minerals belong to the cortege of plutonic and metamorphic rocks from a single proximal distributing province.

Exploring Placer Gold Deposits through Integrated Geophysical and Geochemical Techniques at the Confluence of the Indus and Kabul Rivers,NW Pakistan

Analysis of the anomalous magnetic mineral intensities and geochemistry for placer gold deposits are presented for those of the Attock area at the confluence of the Indus and Kabul rivers in northwestern Pakistan.Two grids covering an area of 10 x18 m2 and 8 x10 m2 were analyzed using a G-858 Cesium Vapor Magnetometer.The anomalous zones obtained were plotted on contour maps,2 D and 3 D magnetic intensity maps.Based on the magnetic anomalies,grid-1 of the study area was sampled at three different anomalous zones for geochemical analysis.These zones contain gold concentrations,ranging from 2.11 ppm to 6.109 ppm with an average of 4.01 ppm.Increase in gold concentration in the subsurface within the anomalous zones indicates that magnetometer survey followed by a geochemical analysis can potentially narrow down the gold-bearing anomalous zones.

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.

Beiya Gold Deposit,Heqing County,Yunnan——One of China's Ten Biggest Gold Deposits

The Beiya gold polymetallic ore district covers an area of 22.06 km2 and is located 47.5 km away in the direction 172° from Heqing county seat of northwestern Yunnan. Its geographical coordinates are 100° 11 ′15″-100° 13′00″ E and 60°07′30″26°10′30″ N. Since its discovery in 1999 until November 31st 2013, it has had accumulative proven （111b＋122b＋331 ＋332＋333） gold metal amounts of 258.475 t at an average grade of 2.61 g/t. This deposit contains 88.98 million tons of paragenetic and associated iron ores, with TFe grade varying from 9% to 36%; metal amounts are： gold 27 t; copper 0.6188 million tons; silver 5439 t; lead 1.35 million ton; zinc 0.31 million ton; and sulfur content is 10.09 million ton. Beiya is one of the top ten largest gold deposits discovered in recent years in China.

Formation Mechanism of the Tongyu Gold Deposit,Shaanxi——A Discussion of a Model for the Formation of Syntectonic Gold Deposits

The formation of the Tongyu gold deposit, controlled by regional polyphase deformation-metamorphism.is closely related to the regional composite antiform-shear slip fracture zone. Late-stage reworking of theTaihua Group accounts for the enrichment of ore substances. It is a typical syntectonic gold deposit. The formation and evolution of the deposit involved four stages: (Ⅰ) the state of preparation of ore sub-stances, in which primary source beds originated: (Ⅱ) the stage of remobilization of ore substances, in whichregional progressive metamorphism and migmatization and thermodynamic-chemical differentiation led toremobilization of gold and its initial local concentration: (Ⅲ) the stage of gold deposit formation, in which re-gional folding produced concordant and cross shear-slip fractures and under the dynamic action gold was sepa-rated and migrated in a certain direction and concentrated to form a gold deposit: (Ⅳ) the stage ofsuperpositon, reworking and exposure of orebodies, in which the block uplifted and the deposit againunderwent reworking through faulting and mechanical differentiation.Thermodynamic mineralization played adominant role in the formation of the deposit.

Unconventional Geochemical Exploration for Gold Deposits

Conventional geochemical exploration for gold deposits has not always been very satisfactory, especially for buried and blind ones. New considerations and methodology in sampling, analysis and interpretation have been developed in China during the past decade. Important considerations for unconventional gold exploration in this paper are that (1) gold is active in surface environments; (2) gold occurs not only as discrete grains, but also as ultrafine particles (submicron?to nanometer-sized particles of gold) and other complex forms; (3) regional low anomalies and superimposed anomalies over buried gold deposits are produced by ultrafine gold grains and other complex forms of gold. The methodology based on these considerations has been developed both in regional and in local geochemical exploration for gold. Examples of the preliminary application of these methods in two areas covered by transported overburden are given.

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.

THE GEOLOGY AND GENESIS OF THE Q1YUGOU EXPLOSIVE BRECCIA TYPE GOLD DEPOSITS,HENAN PROVINCE

The Qiyugou explosive breccia type gold deposits of northwestern Songxian, Henan Province is situated at the East Qinling, on the southern margin of the North China Platform.The basement rocks are the Archean Taihua Group gneisses which were overlaid by the Proterozoic Xionger Group metaandesites. NW-and NE-trending folds and fractures are well developed. Nlagmatism of the Mid-Late Yanshan Epoch led to the formation of the Huashan granite batholith and a variety of acid/alkali dykes, meanwhile more than thirty explosive breccia bodies had been brought about. The most important deposit type is the explosive breccia type represented by the Qiyugou deposit, meanwhile there are structure fracture altered rock type,the goldbearing quartz vein type, as well as porphyry-breccia type. All these types are the terminal products of the evolution and differentiation of the syntectic magma originated from lower crust or upper mantle. They are controlled by a unified structural pattern occurred in the same

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.