The giant Carlin gold province: a protracted interplay of orogenic, basinal, and hydrothermal processes above a lithospheric boundary

Northern Nevada hosts the only province that contains multiple world-class Carlin-type gold deposits. The first-order control on the uniqueness of this province is its anomalous far back-arc tectonic setting over the rifted North American paleocontinental margin that separates Precambrian from Phanerozoic subcontinental lithospheric mantle. Globally, most other significant gold provinces form in volcanic arcs and accreted terranes proximal to convergent margins. In northern Nevada, periodic reactivation of basement faults along this margin focused and amplified subsequent geological events. Early basement faults localized Devonian synsedimentary extension and normal faulting. These controlled the geometry of the Devonian sedimentary basin architecture and focused the discharge of basinal brines that deposited syngenetic gold along the basin margins. Inversion of these basins and faults during subsequent contraction produced the complex elongate structural culminations that characterize the anomalous mineral deposit “trends.” Subsequently, these features localized repeated episodes of shallow magmatic and hydrothermal activity that also deposited some gold. During a pulse of Eocene extension, these faults focused advection of Carlin-type fluids, which had the opportunity to leach gold from gold-enriched sequences and deposit it in reactive miogeoclinal host rocks below the hydrologic seal at the Roberts Mountain thrust contact. Hence, the vast endowment of the Carlin province resulted from the conjunction of spatially superposed events localized by long-lived basement structures in a highly anomalous tectonic setting, rather than by the sole operation of special magmatic or fluid-related processes. An important indicator of the longevity of this basement control is the superposition of different gold deposit types (e.g., Sedex, porphyry, Carlin-type, epithermal, and hot spring deposits) that formed repeatedly between the Devonian and Miocene time along the trends. Interestingly, the large Cretaceous Alaska–Yukon intrusion-related gold deposits (e.g., Fort Knox) are associated with the northern extension of the same lithospheric margin in the Selwyn basin, which experienced an analogous series of geologic events.     

Thallium in the Carlin-type gold deposits

Five Carlin-type sediment-hosted precious metals deposits from the western United States have been analyzed for Tl, Rb, K, Sr, Au, and Ag, and the relationship between Tl, Rb, and K in mineralized and unmineralized rocks has been studied. The Carlin-type gold deposits studied include Carlin, Alligator Ridge, and Jerritt Canyon deposits of Nevada, Mercur deposit of Utah, and North Moccassin deposits of Montana.The mineralized rocks of all five deposits contain significantly high contents of Tl and low K/Tl and high Tl/Sr ratios. The oxidized mineralized rocks of the Carlin and Mercur deposits have higher contents of Tl than carbonaceous rocks while siliceous rocks from most of the deposits contain the lowest Tl concentrations.The K/Tl ratio and the relationship between Tl, Rb, and K can be used to separate mineralized and unmineralized rocks into two distinct populations in order to outline, successfully, potential mineralized areas. The data presented in this paper suggest that Tl is probably a more useful indicator element than Au and other associated elements, at least under certain situations.     

扬子克拉通前寒武纪基底对中生代大面积低温成矿的制约

大面积低温成矿主要见于扬子克拉通和美国中西部,且扬子克拉通比美国中西部具有更多的矿床类型,在全球极具特色,是建立大面积低温成矿理论的理想区域。前人对扬子克拉通中生代大面积低温矿作用进行了较系统的研究,在矿床地质特征、矿床物质组成、成矿流体特征、成矿时代和成矿动力学背景等方面,已取得重要进展。进一步的研究表明,扬子低温成矿域不同矿种的矿床组合(Pb-Zn、Au-Hg-Sb-As、Au-Sb等)在地理位置上是分区产出的,而这种不同矿床组合的分区对应着不同类型的前寒武纪基底。初步证据显示,扬子克拉通前寒武纪基底(含寒武纪)富含低温成矿元素,深循环流体浸取基底岩石中的成矿元素发生了大面积低温成矿,而基底岩石成矿元素组成的空间不均一分布则控制了不同区域矿床组合的差异。应指出的是,由于成矿金属元素来源示踪的复杂性,大面积低温成矿的物质基础尚需更系统的研究进一步证实。     

秦岭卡林型金矿床及相关问题探讨

鉴于目前对沉积岩型金矿、卡林型金矿概念和类型划分存在分岐,该文在对秦岭沉积岩区浸染状金矿研究基础上,主张将沉积岩为容矿岩石的金矿床划分为广义和狭义两类：沉积岩型金矿床是具有广义内涵的一类金矿,包容了从沉积－轻微改造,到沉积－强烈改造的一类热液金矿;可划分四种亚类：卡林型、变质细碎屑岩型、热水沉积岩型、脉状体型。卡林型金矿床是狭义内涵的金矿类型,属于沉积岩型金矿类型中的重要亚类;在区域金成矿密集区内,可构成卡林型矿床地球化学系列。建议不要将沉积岩型金矿和卡林型金矿相互代替使用或等同起来。秦岭沉积岩区卡林型金矿与美国卡林典型矿床有较好的类比性。矿床具有沉积－轻微改造的中—低温热液成因特征。     

广西中酸性岩浆岩风化区风化矿床类型及成矿作用研究

广西区内139个主要风化矿床(点)中有近4成集中分布于中酸性岩浆岩风化区。新近纪以来新构造运动活跃,东亚季风盛行产生了湿热气候,致使近2.0×105 km 2不同时代、不同岩性的中酸性岩浆岩广泛出露并遭受强烈风化,大面积的厚层风化壳在低山丘陵地貌景观区得以保存,这为风化矿床的发育提供了得天独厚的气候、地质、构造和地貌等条件。广西中酸性岩浆岩风化作用形成的矿床主要包括残积型(以钛铁砂矿为代表)、淋积型(以离子吸附型稀土矿为代表)和残余型(以高岭土矿和膨润土矿为代表)三个类型。这些不同类型的风化矿床在成矿条件上表现出显著的母岩专属性和风化环境偏在性,二者联合约束了风化矿床的成矿作用及成矿类型。风化过程中复杂的水岩反应(淋积作用、残积作用和残余作用)是导致中酸性岩浆岩风化形成各类矿床的内在机制。     

Nature, diversity of deposit types and metallogenic relations of South China

The South China Region is rich in mineral resources and has a wide diversity of deposit types. The region has undergone multiple tectonic and magmatic events and related metallogenic processes throughout the earth history. These tectonic and metallogenic processes were responsible for the formation of the diverse styles of base and precious metal deposits in South China making it one of the resource-rich regions in the world. During the Proterozoic, the South China Craton was characterised by rifting of continental margin before eruption of submarine volcanics and development of platform carbonate rocks, and the formation of VHMS, stratabound copper and MVT deposits. The Phanerozoic metallogeny of South China was related to opening and closing of the Tethyan Ocean involving multiple orogenies by subduction, back-arc rifting, arc–continent collision and post-collisional extension during the Indosinian (Triassic), Yanshanian (Jurassic to Cretaceous) and Himalayan (Tertiary) Orogenies. The Late Palaeozoic was a productive metallogenic period for South China resulting from break-up and rifting of Gondwana. Significant stratabound base and precious metal deposits were formed during the Devonian and Carboniferous (e.g., Fankou and Dabaoshan deposits). These Late Palaeozoic SEDEX-style deposits have been often overprinted by skarn systems associated with Yanshanian magmatism (e.g., Chengmenshan, Dongguashan and Qixiashan). A number of Late Palaeozoic to Early Mesozoic VHMS deposits also developed in the Sanjiang fold belt in the western part of South China (e.g., Laochang and Gacun).South China has significant sedimentary rock-hosted Carlin-like deposits, which occur in the Devonian- to Triassic-aged accretionary wedge or rift basins at the margin of the South China Craton. They are present in a region at the junction of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi Provinces called the ‘Southern Golden Triangle’, and are also present in NW Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi, in an area known as the ‘Northern Golden Triangle’ of China. These deposits are mostly epigenetic hydrothermal micron-disseminated gold deposits with associated As, Hg, Sb + Tl mineralisation similar to Carlin-type deposits in USA. The important deposits in the Southern Golden Triangle are Jinfeng (Lannigou), Zimudang, Getang, Yata and Banqi in Guizhou Province, and the Jinya and Gaolong deposits in Guangxi District. The most important deposits in the Northern Golden Triangle are the Dongbeizhai and Qiaoqiaoshang deposits.Many porphyry-related polymetallic copper–lead–zinc and gold skarn deposits occur in South China. These deposits are related to Indosinian (Triassic) and Yanshanian (Jurassic to Cretaceous) magmatism associated with collision of the South China and North China Cratons and westward subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific Plate. Most of these deposits are distributed along the Lower to Middle Yangtze River metallogenic belt. The most significant deposits are Tonglushan, Jilongshan, Fengshandong, Shitouzui and Jiguanzui. Au–(Ag–Mo)-rich porphyry-related Cu–Fe skarn deposits are also present (Chengmenshan and Wushan in Jiangxi Province and Xinqiao, Mashan-Tianmashan, Shizishan and Huangshilaoshan in Anhui Province). The South China fold belt extending from Fujian to Zhejiang Provinces is characterised by well-developed Yanshanian intrusive to subvolcanic rocks associated with porphyry to epithermal type mineralisation and mesothermal vein deposits. The largest porphyry copper deposit in China, Dexing, occurs in Jiangxi Province and is hosted by Yanshanian granodiorite. The high-sulphidation epithermal system occurs at the Zijinshan district in Fujian Province and epithermal to mesothermal vein-type deposits are also found in the Zhejiang Province (e.g., Zhilingtou). Part of Shandong Province is located at the northern margin of the South China Craton and the province has unique world class granite-hosted orogenic gold deposits. Occurrences of Pt–Pd–Ni–Cu–Co are found in Permian-aged Emeishan continental flood basalt (ECFB) in South China (Jinbaoshan and Baimazhai in Yunnan Province and Yangliuping in Sichuan Province). South China also has major vein-type tungsten–tin–bismuth–beryllium–sulphide and REE deposits associated with Yanshanian magmatism (e.g., Shizhuyuan and Xihuashan), important world class stratabound base metal–tin deposits (Dachang deposit), and the large antimony deposits (Xikuangshan and Woxi). During the Himalayan Orogeny, many giant deposits were formed in South China including the recently emerging Yulong and Gangdese porphyry copper belts in Tibet and the Ailaoshan orogenic gold deposits in Yunnan.     

我国主要金矿类型中黄铁矿"电子-空穴心"特征及影响因素

通过对我国主要金矿类型中黄铁矿导电类型的分析表明，黄铁矿“电子。空穴心”与金矿床的成因类型具有密切的联系，华北地台太古代变基性火山岩中的金矿床(绿岩带型)、热水淋滤型(卡林型)金矿床，黄铁矿多为单一的“电子心”型导电。大多数产于中生代岩体中的中深脉状金矿、火山次火山岩中的金矿床，黄铁矿为“电子心”、“空穴心”混合型导电，个别的为单一的“空穴心”导电。黄铁矿的“电子．空穴心”受杂质成分As、Co、Nl在成矿背景中的丰度，进入黄铁矿品格中的替代能力的差异、补偿类质同象现象、成矿时温度以及．f(S2)等多种因素的耦合制约。     

黔西南岩溶构造容矿金矿床特征及成矿机理--以安龙戈塘金矿床为例

本文以安龙戈塘金矿床为例叙述了以岩溶构造为容矿空间的金矿床的地质特征,初步探讨了其成矿机理,简要阐述了安龙戈塘地区卡林型金矿与红土型金矿之间的关系。     

黔西南中部卡林型金矿床冲断褶皱构造的地震 勘探证据及意义

地震勘探资料对黔西南中部卡林型金矿赋存层位上二叠统龙潭组煤系地层、东吴不整合面和广西不整合面显示良好。该地区卡林型金矿主要受冲断褶皱构造的控制。在地震剖面上,根据卡林型金矿在冲断褶皱构造中的位置,可以将其划分为两类,即断层控制型金矿和断层伴生型金矿。在断层控制型金矿床中,断层 “上陡下缓”,为低角度逆冲断层,断层上盘常发育不对称背斜构造,断层向下在上二叠统龙潭组煤系地层、“大厂层”凝灰岩和东吴运动形成的不整合面间滑脱,金矿体产于低角度逆冲断层中,在浅部为脉状矿体,在深部渐变为缓斜穿层矿体。断层伴生型金矿床发育于由高角度断层引起的层间滑动带,呈似层状。印支晚期华南古特提斯洋的相继闭合是形成北西向和北东向两组主要冲断褶皱构造的主控因素。地震勘探资料揭示,黔西南中部还存在与已经发现卡林型金矿的冲断褶皱构造带类似的构造,找矿前景较好。     

西天山地区金矿床主要成因类型及找矿方向

西天山地区地处古亚洲构造域天山-兴蒙成矿带的西段，经历了漫长复杂的构造演化过程，尤其是海西期强烈的构造岩浆活动，为金成矿创造了有利的条件．近几年，本区找金工作取得了突破性的进展，相继发现了阿希、望峰、大山口等金矿床，显示了良好找金前景．根据前人和笔工作，讨论了本区主要金矿化类型浅成低温热液型(又进一步划分为冰长石-绢云母型和硅化岩型)斑岩型、韧性剪切带型穆龙套型等的成矿特征，在综合分析基础上，指出找矿方向．     

阿尔金成矿带主要金属矿床地质地球化学特征及成因初探

本文简要介绍了阿尔金成矿带近年来发现的主要金属矿床的地质地球化学特征,研究了矿床S、Pb、H、O等同位素地球化学,测定了部分矿床的流体包裹体成分和温度,并在此基础上讨论了矿床的成因。该带主要矿床类型有火山喷流块状硫化物铅锌铜多金属矿床(喀腊大湾)、叠加改造型铅锌铜多金属矿床(更新沟和拉配泉)、斑岩型铜矿床(索拉克)、卡林型金矿床(祥云和盘龙沟)、与火山作用有关的浅成低温热液金矿床(采石沟)、韧性剪切带型金矿床(红柳沟)、与钾长花岗岩侵入作用有关的热液金矿床(大平沟)等。     

东安金矿开采技术条件

东安金矿区地下水以构造裂隙水为主,未来开采矿坑涌水量不大;矿体及围岩坚硬稳固,工程地质条件简单;区域地块稳定,地貌地质条件不易引发地质灾害,也无其它不良环境地质现象,矿床开采技术条件为简单型。     

Mineral formation in an acid pit lake from a high-sulfidation ore deposit: Kirki, NE Greece

Open pit mining of base-metals from the high-sulfidation epithermal type deposit of Kirki (Thrace, NE Greece) resulted in the formation of an acid pit lake by infilling of the open cast by rain and draining waters after mine closure. The high toxic metals content of the ore, the limited buffering capacity of host rocks and the direct exposure of the ore zone to weathering result in an intense release of metals into the pit lake. The acidic and oxidative pit lake waters show high concentrations of trace metals. A mineral precipitate, covering the floor of the pit lake, comprises secondary anglesite, several species of the jarosite-group, rozenite, melanterite, wroewolfeite, gypsum, bukovskyite, beaverite, scorodite and minor goethite. The mineral precipitate presents a significant heavy metal content indicating effective removal of metals from the acid waters. Compared to other pit lakes in high-sulfidation type deposits it has a higher metal load, consistent with the mineralogy and grade of ore in pit walls.     

Evidence for a magmatic origin for Carlin-type gold deposits: isotopic composition of sulfur in the Betze-Post-Screamer Deposit, Nevada, USA

We report here new sulfur isotope analyses from the Betze-Post-Screamer deposit, the largest Carlin-type gold deposit in the world. Carlin-type deposits contain high concentrations of arsenic, antimony, mercury, tellurium and other elements of environmental interest, and are surrounded by large volumes of crust in which these elements are also enriched. Uncertainty about the source of sulfur and metals in and around Carlin-type deposits has hampered formulation of models for their origin, which are needed for improved mineral exploration and environmental assessment. Previous studies have concluded that most Carlin-type deposits formed from sulfide sulfur that is largely of sedimentary origin. Most of these studies are based on analyses of mineral separates consisting of pre-ore diagenetic pyrite with thin overgrowths of ore-related arsenian pyrite rather than pure, ore-related pyrite. Our SIMS spot analyses of ore-related pyrite overgrowths in the Screamer zone of the Betze-Post-Screamer deposit yield δ³⁴S values of about −1 to 4‰ with one value of about 7‰. Conventional analyses of realgar and orpiment separates from throughout the deposit yield δ³⁴S values of about 5–7‰ with one value of 10‰ in the Screamer zone. These results, along with results from an earlier SIMS study in the Post zone of the deposit and phase equilibrium constraints, indicate that early arsenian pyrite were formed from fluids of magmatic origin with variable contamination from sulfur in Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. Later arsenic sulfides were formed from solutions to which sulfur of sedimentary origin had been added. The presence of Paleozoic sedimentary sulfur in Carlin-type deposits does not require direct involvement of hydrothermal solutions of sedimentary origin. Instead, it could have been added by magmatic assimilation of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks or by hydrothermal leaching of sulfur from wall rocks to the deposit. Thus, the dominant process delivering sulfur, arsenic, gold and mineralizing fluids to Carlin-type systems and their surrounding country rocks was probably separation of fluids from a magmatic source. Editorial handling: G. Beaudoin     

通化二密铜矿周边中生代火山岩系基本特征及找矿方向

通化地区是吉林省中生代火山岩广泛发育的地区之一,伴随着火山作用形成的矿产资源十分丰富,尤以贵金属和多金属矿产居多,二密铜矿即是其中典型矿床之一,其周边地区相关火山岩系可划分为三期火山事件,并具有钙碱性向碱性火山岩系演化特点。事实上整个火山作用过程亦是一个成矿过程,但晚期火山事件的成矿作用应引起重视,是进一步找矿的主要方向之一。     

Thermal and isotopic profiling of the Pipeline hydrothermal system: Application to exploration for Carlin-type gold deposits

New exploration techniques are vital to the search for new orebodies in mature terranes, as well as for extensions of existing orebodies. This research focused on application of low-temperature dating techniques (primarily apatite fission-tracks) and stable isotope measurements (carbon and oxygen in carbonate rocks) in and around the Pipeline deposit, a Carlin-type gold system. The primary purpose of the project was to assess whether these techniques could provide exploration vectors that might be used in conjunction with other geologic, geochemical, and geophysical techniques to determine the locus of fossil hydrothermal fluid flow, and the attendant possibility of finding economic mineral deposits.At Pipeline, measurements of apatite fission-tracks and (U − Th) / He geochronometry yield a clear indication of the elevated temperatures associated with the fossil hydrothermal system. The pattern is one of a central target (Pipeline deposit) with decreasing thermal effects as far as several kilometers laterally from the known ore zone. Because of the irregular nature of fluid flow through fractures, a significant number of samples are required to discern this pattern, but the pattern is quite clear from the 32 samples in and around the Pipeline pit.Stable isotope measurements of carbonate rocks yield patterns centered on the Pipeline pit area. Oxygen isotopes in particular are shifted toward lower values as the result of interaction between the hydrothermal fluids and carbonate rocks. Carbon isotopes show a pattern, but it is somewhat more difficult to interpret than the oxygen isotope pattern. As with the geochronometric patterns, isotopic indications of fluid flow are present several kilometers from the ore zone at Pipeline. Also as with the geochronometric data, a relatively large sample set is required to see the pattern. At Pipeline, the patterns are evident in approximately 45 surface samples and very clearly in the cross-sections containing approximately 100 samples.From these data, it is clear that thermal and stable isotopic measurements on rocks at a significant distance from the known Pipeline hydrothermal system record the passage of hot fluids through the rock. Both techniques provide a footprint of the Pipeline system that is several diameters larger than the ore zone (as presently known). Therefore, thermochronologic and stable isotopic measurements can be utilized in conjunction with other techniques as part of an overall exploration strategy for Carlin-type deposits. Although these techniques do not provide a direct indication of the metal content of the fossil hydrothermal fluids, they do provide an indication of the robustness of fluid flow and the potential size of a hydrothermal system.     

我国卡林型金矿研究现状

卡林型金矿是我国重要的金矿类型之一,通过对比研究前人有关卡林型金矿的资料发现,我国卡林型金矿产出于具有拉张-沉积-碰撞造山地史演化的地区,为中低温热液矿床,主要赋矿岩石为不纯的碳酸盐岩,其余为浅变质岩、火山碎屑岩等。流体包裹体及同位素组成揭示了我国卡林型金矿成矿热液来源的多样性和复杂性,其不仅仅是前人认为的来自于赋矿地层中。     

幔-壳地球化学演化和岩浆期后金属富集成矿的历程

系统论述了岩浆期后金属矿床成矿作用整个发展过程及其与地球壳幔物质分异演化的关系。笔者认为,岩浆侵位冷却结晶过程或随后金属矿床形成的时间相对于地球元素演化富集的历史是很短暂的。金属成矿的演化历史开始于元素的幔壳分异,其后成矿物质伴随全球性板块运动,经历了地壳不同构造环境和物理化学条件下的迁移演化,最终到达和定位于现今矿床的位置。因此,地壳中金属矿床的时空分布和成因类型的划分与成矿元素所经历的区域地质构造演化环境有关。文中还论证了应用矿床中的热液黑云母和岩体中的岩浆成因黑云母的ｘ（Ｆ）／ｘ（ＯＨ）和ｘ（Ｍｇ）／ｘ（Ｆｅ）等成分指标,由此可识别岩浆源岩性质和岩浆冷却结晶的物理化学环境。     

Water quality in pit lakes in disseminated gold deposits compared to two natural, terminal lakes in Nevada

 Within the next 10–15 years, over 35 mines in Nevada will have a lake in their open pit mines after dewatering and cessation of mining. Of the ten past or existing pit lakes at eight different gold mines for which temporal data are available, most had near neutral pH, yet most had at least one constituent (e.g., As, SO₄, TDS) that exceeded drinking water standards for at least one sampling event. Most samples from pit lakes had TDS exceeding drinking water standards, but lower than that in the natural Pyramid (TDS≈5,500 mg/l) and Walker (TDS≈14,000 mg/l) Lakes. In the past century, salinity increased in both natural, terminal lakes, in part due to irrigation withdrawals and evapoconcentration. The salinity in the pit lakes may also increase through time via evapoconcentration. However, water balance models indicate that up to 132% (Walker Lake) of the total yearly inflow evaporates from the terminal lakes, whereas steady-state may be reached in the pit lakes modelled, where evaporative losses account for only ≈6% of the total pit lake volume annually and ≈100% of the net inflow (groundwater inflow minus outflow, precipitation and runoff into the lake). The effects of evapoconcentration are expected to be less significant at most pit lakes than at the natural, terminal lakes because (1) evaporation rates are lower at many pit lakes because they are located at higher elevations than the terminal lakes, and (2) the surface area to depth ratio of the pit lakes is >1000 times smaller than that of the terminal lakes. Received: 1 March 1999 · Accepted: 13 April 1999