Metallogenesis of superlarge gold deposits in Jiaodong region and deep processes of subcontinental lithosphere beneath North China Craton in Mesozoic

The study of ore-forming chronology indicates that the superlarge gold deposits in the Jiaodong region were formed in 120±10 Ma. Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions from typical gold deposits suggest that ore-forming materials were derived from the multisources, mantle component was partly involved in mineralization, the deep dynamic processes are the major geological background of large-scale metallogenesis in the Jiaodong region in Mesozoic. The deep processes mainly include the effect of post deep-subduction of continental crust of the central orogen belt and the distant effect of subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate underneath the Eurasian continent. However, lithosphere thinning, crust-mantle interaction, crustal extension and formation of large-type ore-controlling structures would be the comprehensive consequences of the above-mentioned geodynamic processes in the region.     

Conditions and processes leading to large-scale gold deposition in the Jiaodong province,eastern China

The gold deposits in the Jiaodong Peninsula constitute the largest gold mineralized province in China. The mineralization shows common characteristics in their tectonic setting, ore-forming fluid and metallogenic system. Sulfidation and fluid immiscibility are two important mechanisms controlling gold precipitation, both of which consume sulfur in the oreforming fluids. The escape of H_2S from the main ore-forming fluids and the decrease of total sulfur concentration not only lead to the efficient precipitation of gold, but also result in the crystallization of reducing minerals such as pyrrhotite and oxidizing minerals such as magnetite. Quartz solubility shows strong dependence on temperature, pressure, and CO_2 content. The dependence of quartz solubility on pressure is weak at low temperatures, and progressively stronger at higher temperatures.Similarly, the temperature dependence of quartz solubility is relatively low at low pressures, but becomes gradually stronger at high pressures. The results of solubility modeling can constrain the dissolution and reprecipitation behavior of quartz in the oreforming veins and the formation mechanism of different types of quartz veins. The multi-stage mineralization fluid activity resulted in the complex dissolution structure of quartz in the Jiaodong gold veins. Pyrite in the main metallogenic period in the Jiaodong gold deposits shows complex microstructure characteristics at single crystal scale. The trace elements(mainly the coupling of As-and Au-rich belt) and sulfur isotope composition also display a certain regularity. The As-rich fluids might have formed by the initial pulse of ore-forming fluids through As-rich metasedimentary strata, while the As-Au oscillation zone at the margin of pyrite grains is related to the pressure fluctuation caused by fault activity and the local phase separation of fluids. There is a temporal and spatial evolution of gold fineness in the Jiaodong gold deposits. Water/rock reaction(sulfidation) was the main ore-forming mechanism of early gold mineralization, forming relatively high fineness gold, while significant pressure drop in the shallow part accompanied by fluid phase separation promoted the late gold mineralization, forming low fineness gold. Under cratonic destruction setting, dehydration of the amphibolite and granulite facies metamorphic lower-crust resulted in the formation of Au-CO_2-rich ore-forming fluids, which rose along the deep fault and secondary structure, and formed the largescale fault-controlled gold deposits in Jiaodong.     

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

NH4 is the most common form of nitrogen found in rocks and may substitute for K in potas-sic minerals such as biotite, muscovite, and K-feldspar[1,2]. N2 has been observed in fluid inclu-sions, and thermodynamic calculations suggest that N2 is the most c…     

Large clusters of gold deposits and large-scale metallogenesis in the Jiaodong Peninsula, Eastern China

The Jiaodong Peninsula is the largest repository of gold in China based on the production in history. It covers less than 0.2% of China’s territory, but production of gold accounts for about one fourth of the whole country. Thus, the Jiaodong Peninsula is a typical area or case of large-scale metallogenesis and a large clusters of mineral deposits in China. It is characterized by the large clusters of gold deposits in large scale, high reserve and short mineralizing stage. In this study, we suggest that the eastern boundary of the large clusters of gold deposits is as same as that of North China Block, the gold deposits are hosted by Archean metamorphic rocks or Mesozoic granites, and the age of gold mineralization is 121.6 to 122.7 Ma. Gold and related ore-forming materials are derived from multisources, i.e. Archean metamorphic rocks, granites and intermediate-mafic dikes, especially, intermediate-mafic dikes and calc-alkaline granites. The metallogenic geodynamic process is constrained by the tectonic evolution of eastern North China Block during Late Mesozoic, and it is the result of the interaction between mantle and crust as the boundary plates are playing role on the block.     

Metallogenic geodynamic background of Mesozoic gold deposits in granite-greenstone terrains of North China Craton

The spatial distribution map of 65 mid-large gold-deposits hosted in the granite-greenstone terrains of the North China Craton is first drawn. These gold deposits mainly concentrate in the Mesozoic remobilized Yinshan-Yan-shan-Liaoning-Jilin intracontinental collisional orogenic belt, the northern Qinling and the Jiaodong Mesozoic collisional orogenic belts, and the Mesozoic intracontinental fault-magmatic belts developed along the Taihangshan and the Tan-Lu faults; their mineralizing time is predominantly Jurassic-Cretaceous, i. e. the Yanshanian. The metallogenic geodynamic background is exactly the compression-to-extension transition regime during continental collision. The results are partly from the project entitled “The main types of gold mineralizations in China and their metallogenic model” (89-El) supported by the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry of China, and projects “Geology and metallogenesis of the main type gold deposits in East Chinaⁿ” (Grant No. 9488010) and “Study on ore-forming fluids of the Wangfeng gold deposit, Xinjiang” supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 49672119).     

~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar and Rb-Sr isochron dating of the gold deposits on northern margin of the Jiaolai Basin,Shandong,China

The Shandong Peninsula (Jiaodong) is a very important gold producer of China. Over ten large and super-large quartz-vein type and shear zone-type gold deposits related to Yanshannian granite intrusions have been exploited in the northern part of the Jiaod…     

40Ar/39Ar and Rb-Sr isochron dating of the gold deposits on northern margin of the Jiaolai Basin, Shandong, China

The Pengjiakuang, Dazhuangzi and Fayunkuang gold deposits, located on the northern margin of the Mesozoic Jiaolai Basin, east of Shandong Province, are controlled by a low-angle normal fault. Gold ores are typically brecciated, veinlet and disseminated. The Ar-Ar and Rb-Sr isochron dating methods were adopted to date ores and lamprophyre dike. The results indicate that the age of the Pengjiakuang gold deposit is 117.33–118.42 Ma, that of the Dazhuangzi gold deposit is 117.39 Ma, and that of the Fayunkuang gold deposit is (128.49±7.2) Ma. The consistency in metallogenic age between the gold deposits on the margin of the Jiaolai Basin and the gold deposits (115–126 Ma) of the northern uplift area suggests that both were formed in the same metallogenic period. That is to say, the large-scale metallogeny of the Jiaodong region took place in late-Yanshannian ((120±10) Ma).     

Geochemistry of ore-forming fluids and geological significance

The Kuoerzhenkuola gold field (including the Kuoerzhenkuola and the Buerkesidai gold deposits) is the most important one in the Sawuer gold belt, northern Xinjiang, China. Isotopic studies including D, O, He, C, S, Pb and Sr reveal that the ore-forming fluids of the Kuoerzhenkuola and the Buerkesidai deposits shared the same source: the water of ore fluids was magmatic water and minor meteoric water; the mineralizers and ore materials derived mainly from mantle beneath the island arc, and partially from crust. The ore-forming fluids of two deposits are a mixture of mantle-derived fluids incorporated by crust-derived fluid, and meteoric water. Based on these results, combined with the consideration of the tectonic setting and geological features, we suggest that the two gold deposits in the Kuoerzhenkuola gold field, Sawur gold belt share the same genesis, and are volcanogenic hydrothermal gold deposits occurring in the same caldera.     

Geochemistry of ore-forming fluids and geological significance of the Kuoerzhenkuola gold field in Xinjiang, China

The Kuoerzhenkuola gold field (including the Kuo- erzhenkuola and the Buerkesidai gold deposits), lo- cated 68 km east of Jimunai County in northern Xing- jiang, China, is an important component of the Sawuer gold belt which is the eastward extending part of the Zarma-Sawur gold-copper belt in Kazakhstan. Some studies are concerned with the geology of the gold ores[1―3], the associated volcanic rocks[4], radiogenic isotope[5―8], and the ore-forming environment[8]. Most researchers inferr…     

The distribution,characteristics and fluid sources of lode gold deposits: An overview

Lode gold deposits are among the most economically important types of gold deposits in the world. Globally, they formed mainly in three time intervals, 2.8 to 2.5 Ga, 2.1 to 1.8 Ga, and 700 Ma to the present. Sources of ore-forming fluids and other components are of critical importance in a better understanding of the genesis and the geodynamic controls of these deposits. Although ore-forming fluids were mostly derived from devolatization of sedimentary and/or volcanic sequences during greenschist to amphibolite facies metamorphism associated with orogenic deformation, magmatic hydrothermal fluids have been increasingly shown to be important in many gold deposits in various regions. In this review paper, we summarize the major features of lode gold deposits, possible sources of ore-forming fluids, and mechanisms of gold mineralization. While we acknowledge the critical role of metamorphically derived fluids in the genesis of such deposits worldwide, we emphasize that mantle-or basaltic magma-derived fluids may have been much more important than commonly thought. We use the Liaodong peninsula of the North China Craton as an example to demonstrate the significance of mantle-derived fluids. Integrating earlier studies and new data, we show that some of the late Mesozoic lode gold deposits in the North China Craton may have formed from magmatic hydrothermal fluids due to the extension and partial melting of the hydrated, metasomatized subcontinental lithosphere mantle, as best exemplified by the Wulong gold deposit.     

Geological and geochemical characteristics of the Baogudi Carlintype gold district(Southwest Guizhou,China) and their geological implications

The newly discovered Baogudi gold district is located in the southwestern Guizhou Province,China,where there are numerous Carlin-type gold deposits.To better understand the geological and geochemical characteristics of the Baogudi gold district,we carried out petrographic observations,elemental analyses,and fluid inclusion and isotopic composition studies.We also compared the results with those of typical Carlin-type gold deposits in southwestern Guizhou.Three mineralization stages,namely,the sedimentation diagenesis,hydrothermal(main-ore and late-ore substages),and supergene stages,were identified based on field and petrographic observations.The main-ore and late-ore stages correspond to Au and Sb mineralization,respectively,which are similar to typical Carlin-type mineralization.The mass transfer associated with alteration and mineralization shows that a significant amount of Au,As,Sb,Hg,Tl,Mo,and S were added to mineralized rocks during the main-ore stage.Remarkably,arsenic,Sb,and S were added to the mineralized rocks during the late-ore stage.Element migration indicates that the sulfidation process was responsible for ore formation.Four types of fluid inclusions were identified in ore-related quartz and fluorite.The main-ore stage fluids are characterized by an H2O–NaCl–CO2–CH4±N2system,with medium to low temperatures(180–260℃)and low salinity(0–9.08%NaCl equivalent).The late-ore stage fluids featured H2O–NaCl±CO2±CH4,with low temperature(120–200℃)and low salinity(0–7.48%Na Cl equivalent).The temperature,salinity,and CO2and CH4concentrations of ore-forming fluids decreased from the main-ore stage to the late-ore stage.The calculated δ^13C,d D,and δ^18O values of the ore-forming fluids range from-14.3 to-7.0%,-76 to-55.7%,and 4.5–15.0%,respectively.Late-ore-stage stibnite had δ^34S values ranging from-0.6 to 1.9%.These stable isotopic compositions indicate that the ore-forming fluids originated mainly from deep magmatic hydrothermal fluids,with minor contributions from strata.Collectively,the Baogudi metallogenic district has geological and geochemical characteristics that are typical of Carlin-type gold deposits in southwest Guizhou.It is likely that the Baogudi gold district,together with other Carlin-type gold deposits in southwestern Guizhou,was formed in response to a single widespread metallogenic event.     

The big mantle wedge and decratonic gold deposits

The Circum-Pacific subduction zone is a famous gold metallogenic domain in the world, with two important gold metallogenic provinces, the North China Craton and Nevada, which are related to the destruction of the North China Craton and the Wyoming Craton, respectively. Their ore-forming fluids were possibly derived from the stagnant slab in the mantle transition zone. The oceanic lithospheric mantle usually contains serpentine layers up to thousands of meters thick. During plate subduction, serpentine is dehydrated at depths of 200 km and transformed into high-pressure hydrous minerals, known as Phases A to E, which carries water to the depth of 300 km. The overlying big mantle wedge is hydrated during the breakdown of these hydrous facies in the mantle transition zone. The dehydration of the subducted slab in the big mantle wedge releases sulfur-rich fluid, which extracts gold and other chalcophile elements in the surrounding rocks, forming gold-rich fluid. Because the cratonic geotherm is lower than the water-saturated solidus line of lherzolite, the fluid cannot trigger partial melting. Instead, it induces metasomatism and forms pargasite and other water-bearing minerals when it migrates upward to depths of less than 100 km in the cratonic lithospheric mantle, resulting in a water-and gold-rich weak layer. During the destruction of craton, the weak layer is destabilized, releasing gold-bearing fluids that accelerate the destruction. The ore-forming fluids migrate along the shallow weak zone and are accumulated at shallow depths, and subsequently escape along deep faults during major tectonic events, leading to explosive gold mineralization. The ore-forming fluids are rich in ferrous iron, which releases hydrogen at low pressure through iron hydrolysis. Therefore, decratonic gold deposits are often reduced deposits.     

初论华北东部中生代金成矿的地球动力学背景——以胶东金矿为例

山东金矿研究的最新成果表明 ,胶东众多金矿床 (无论矿化类型、产出空间、地质背景的不同)的成矿时代主要集中在 1 1 5± 1 5Ma(早白垩世 )前后这一狭短的时段内 ,暗示它们都受某一次统一的重大地质事件的制约 .金矿石中碳酸盐矿物的碳氧同位素组成显示成矿流体中的CO2 很可能来自深部 (岩石圈地幔甚或更深 ) .1 1 5± 1 5Ma(早白垩世 )前后正是华北东部中生代动力学体制转折的关键时段 ,此时古太平洋板块向欧亚大陆斜向快速俯冲、华北东部岩石圈剧烈减薄、郯庐断裂发生强烈左行走滑、区域构造应力场转变为强烈引张、火山 -岩浆活动也最为强烈、尤其是深源(幔源 )岩浆活动最为强烈 .同时 ,这也与部分学者提出的超级地幔柱的高潮时段 (1 2 5～ 1 0 0Ma)相吻合 ,暗示可能有深部物质 (不仅是上地幔物质 ,还可能包括下地幔物质 )和热能的大规模强烈上涌 .因此 ,胶东金矿 (以及华北东部的许多其它金矿床 )的形成有可能是 1 1 5± 1 5Ma前后华北东部动力学体制转折过程中一次大规模的深部物质和深部能量上涌的结果     

Three-dimensional distributed DC/IP method for altered tectonite-type gold ore deposits exploration: a case study of the Jiaojia gold metallogenic belt,Eastern China

To develop an effective method to identify ore-controlling faults, we studied the Jiaojia gold metallogenic belt, a most typical altered tectonite-type gold metallogenic belt in the Jiaodong Peninsula, China, and conducted experiments using the 3D distributed direct current-induced polarization (DC/IP) method. Firstly, we tested the ability of using 3D distributed DC/IP method to identify altered tectonite-type gold ore deposits by 3D synthetic modelling. We then collected real data of the Sizhuang gold deposit using the 3D distributed DC/IP method. The resistivity model obtained of this region is generally consistent with the known geological setting. Moreover, to obtain the information about the southern extension of the Jiaojia gold metallogenic belt, we conducted a 3D distributed DC/IP experiment in the Shijia area in the southern segment of the Jiaojia fault. The southern extension of the Jiaojia fault and tectonic evolution of shallow magma in this region were inferred from the 3D resistivity and chargeability models. Based on all the information above, we concluded that the 3D distributed DC/IP method has the advantages of 3D observations, high spatial resolution and great detection depth and will be one of the most effective methods for detecting altered tectonite-type gold ore deposits.     

Geological and geochemical character and genesis of the Jinlongshan-Qiuling gold deposits in Qinling orogen: Metallogenic mechanism of the Qinling-pattern Carlin-type gold deposits

The Qinling Carlin-type gold deposit belt is the second largest Carlin-type gold ore concentrated area in the world and occurs in Mesozoic intracontinental collisional orogen, contrasting to the Carlin-type gold deposits in the Basin and Range province in Cenozoic active continental margin of West America. With ore-forming ages focussed at the range of 197.45–129.45 Ma, its metallogenic geodynamic background was the decompression-pyrogenation regime at the transition stage from collisional compression to extension, indicating that gold mineralization synchronized with the Mesozoic continental collision. Geochemical studies discover that ore fluids and materials mainly came from the Hercynian-Indosinian tectonic layer. Mesozoic intracontinental subduction of Hercynian-Indosinian association along the Shuanghe-Gongguan fault led to the formation of Jinlongshan-Qiuling gold deposits. Accordingly, the tectonic metallogenic model is established for Qinling-pattern Carlin-type gold deposits.     

胶东地区晚中生代伸展构造与金成矿:短周期密集台阵背景噪声成像的启示

晚中生代以来,华北克拉通东部经历了以岩石圈减薄作用为主要特征的大规模岩石圈破坏.在此背景下,位于华北克拉通东部的胶东地区形成了大规模的伸展构造、广泛发育的花岗岩类侵入体和巨量的金矿化.为揭示胶东地区控矿构造在上地壳层次的发育特征及其与金成矿之间的联系,本文基于跨胶东半岛的NWW-SEE向短周期密集地震台阵剖面,开展了背景噪声成像研究,获得了胶东地区8km以浅的上地壳S波速度结构,其主要特征为:(1)胶东地区沉积层较薄,基底平均深度为1～2km左右;(2)垂向速度梯度显示胶西北基底/浅层高速间断面错断特征显著,与主要拆离断层对应关系良好,且相对速度扰动显示沿主要拆离断层发育SE倾向的条带状低速异常;(3)牟乳成矿带下方S波速度具有横向分块特征,与五莲—烟台等控矿断裂的陡倾特征吻合,且东部苏鲁造山带上地壳平均速度较胶西北地区明显偏高.综合本文成像结果及已有地质、地球物理资料,我们认为胶西北成矿带的控矿构造深部以大规模拆离断层为主要特征,而东部牟乳成矿带则以高角度的脆性(走滑)断裂为主,故控矿断裂构造的差异可能是胶东成矿区域性差异的主要控制因素.     

Study of tectonic layering motion and layering mineralization in the Tongling metallogenic cluster

TheTonglingarea,animportantmetallogeniccluster,isrichiniron,sulphurandgold.Mineralizationiscorrelatedcloselytotheevolutionofthestrata,magmatiteandtectonics[1—4].SkarnmineralizationdevelopedwellintheTonglingarea.ItappearsalongmainlyonseveralinterfacesofPe…     

Gold mineralization age of the Anjiayingzi gold deposit in Chifeng County,Inner Mongolia and implications for Mesozoic metallogenic explosion in North China

The Anjiayingzi gold deposit in Chifeng County, Inner Mongolia is located in the central part of the gold mineralization belt of the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC), and is adjacent to the Paleozoic Inner Mongolia-Da Hinggan Mountains orogenic belt in the north. The Chifeng-Kaiyuan fault, which separates the NCC from this orogenic belt, is considered to be a regional ore-controlling structure. The Anjiayingzi gold deposit is a mediate-size quartz lode-gold deposit and is hosted by the Anjiayingzi quartz monzonite that was emplaced into the basement composed of early Precambrian gneisses. Rhyolitic and porphyritic dikes are generally associated with the gold mineralization. Zircon U-Pb analyses suggest that the Anjiayingzi granite was emplaced from 132 Ma to 138 Ma, while the rhyolitic dikes that occupy the same fracture system as the gold-bearing quartz veins and locally crosscut the gold lodes crystallized from 125 Ma to 127 Ma. These results constrain the mineralization age between 126     

Metallogenesis of the Ertix gold belt, Xinjiang and its relationship to Central Asia-type orogenesis

The Ertix gold belt is located on the boundary of the Kalatongke arc and the Kelan back-arc basin of D-C1. Most scholars used to interpret the formation and distribution of the gold deposits in the Ertix tectonic belt in terms of the petrogenic and metallogenic models for active continental margins. However, enormous data of isotopic dating and geologic research show that the mineralization was obviously later than the oceanic subduction, whereas exactly simultaneous with the collisional orogenesis during C₂-P, especially at the transition stage from collisional compression to extension. Based on study of metallogenic time, tectonic background, ore geology, ore fluid nature, ore material source, etc., we reveal that all the gold deposits possess the character of orogenic deposits formed in collisional orogenic system, and that their ore-forming materials mainly have derived from the stratigraphic terranes south to individual deposits. Accordingly, the theoretical tectonic model for collisional metallogenesis and petrogenesis is employed to explain the formation of the Ertix gold belt and to determine the gold exploration directions.     

Carbon,oxygen and boron isotopic studies of Huangbai-shuwan witherite deposit at Ziyang and Wenyuhe witherite deposit at Zhushan

Since the 1980抯, with the improvement and sophistication of the methods of boron isotopic analysis, boron isotopes have been widely applied in the study of ore deposits. The research re-sults available have shown that boron isotopes are of great signific…