Genesis of the Maanqiao gold deposit in the western Qinling orogen,central China: Constraints from fluid inclusions and in-situ sulfur isotopes

The western Qinling orogen (WQO) is one of the most important prospective gold provinces in China. The Maanqiao gold deposit, located on the southern margin of the Shangdan suture, is a representative gold deposit in the WQO. The Maanqiao deposit is hosted by the metasedimentary rocks of the Upper Devonian Tongyusi Formation. The EW-trending brittle-ductile shear zone controls the orebodies; they occur as disseminated, and auriferous quartz–sulfide vein. The ore-related hydrothermal alteration comprises silicification, sulfidation, sericitization, chloritization, and carbonatization. Native gold is visible and mainly associated with pyrite and pyrrhotite. Mineralization can be classified into the following three stages: bedding-parallel barren quartz–pyrite–(pyrrhotite) (early-stage), auriferous quartz–polymetallic (middle-stage), and carbonate–(quartz)–sulfide (late-stage).Detailed fluid inclusion (FI) studies revealed three types of inclusions in quartz and calcite: aqueous (W-type), CO₂–H₂O (C-type), and pure carbonic (PC-type) FIs. The primary FIs in the early-stage quartz are C- and PC-type, in the middle-stage quartz are mainly W- and C-type, and in the late-stage calcite are only W-type. During gold mineralization, the total FI homogeneous temperatures evolved from 189–375 °C (mostly 260–300 °C) to 132–295 °C (mostly 180–240 °C) to 123–231 °C (mostly 130–150 °C), and the salinities varied among 2.2–9.1 wt.% NaCl equiv. (mostly 5–8 wt.%) to 0.2–9.0 wt.% NaCl equiv. (mostly 3–6 wt.%) to 0.3–3.6 wt.% NaCl equiv. (mostly 2–4 wt.%). The ore-forming fluid was characterized as an H₂O–NaCl−CO₂−CH₄–(N₂) system with medium-low temperature and low salinity. The fluid immiscibility and fluid-rock interaction may be responsible for the precipitation of the sulfides and gold at the Maanqiao gold deposit. Three types of pyrite corresponding to the three mineralization stages, as well as pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite in the middle stage, are micro-analyzed for in-situ sulfur isotopic composition by LA-ICP-MS. Py1 yield near-zero δ³⁴S values of −2.5‰ to 3.0‰, which are somewhat lower than that of the granite hosted pyrites (Py-g, 4.8‰ to 6.6‰). The result suggests a mixed sulfur source from magmatic-hydrothermal fluids and the metamorphism of diagenetic pyrite. Pyrite + pyrrhotite + arsenopyrite assemblages in the middle-stage have relatively higher δ³⁴S values (6.6‰ to 12.3‰) and are mainly developed due to the metamorphism of the ore-host and underlying Devonian sedimentary sequences. The low δ³⁴S values of the late-stage fracture-filled Py3 (−21.9‰ to −17.0‰) resulted from an increasing oxygen fugacity, which was caused by the inflow of oxidized meteoric waters.Based on our studies, the Maanqiao gold deposit is considered to be an orogenic type and closely related to the Indosinian Qinling orogeny.     

As–Sb–Bi–Au mineralization in the Baogutu gold deposit,Xinjiang, NW China

Here we report the occurrence of some uncommon mineral assemblages including pääkönenite, aurostibite, native arsenic, native antimony, and native bismuth found in the Baogutu gold deposit in the western Junggar, Xinjiang, NW China. The mineralization could be generally subdivided into two types: the gold-bearing quartz-vein type mineralization and disseminated mineralization in the wall rocks. The sulfide minerals in gold lodes commonly include pyrite, arsenopyrite, marcasite, and stibnite. However, the L7 lode in No. 4 orebody and the L1 lode in No. 11 orebody of the Baogutu gold deposit are quite different in terms of their mineral assemblages. The L7 lode contains native arsenic–quartz veins in shallow levels and stibnite–quartz veins at depth. Gold-bearing minerals (electrum, native gold, and rarely aurostibite) mainly coexist with pääkönenite, stibnite, native arsenic, and native antimony. The crystallization of As- and Sb-bearing minerals was likely to have consumed H₂S from the hydrothermal fluid, which probably triggered the precipitation of native gold. The L1 lode consists of several discontinuous sulfide-dominated lensoid orebodies. The massive sulfide ores that produced most of the gold resource are characterized by an intimate association between native bismuth and native gold mineralization.     

Regional Metallogenesis of the Chang’an Gold Ore Deposit in Western Yunnan: Evidences from Fluid Inclusions and Stable Isotopes

<正>The Chang'an gold ore deposit in western Yunnan is located at the southern segment of the Ailaoshan metallogenic belt.The ore bodies are preserved in fractured Ordovician sedimentary clastic rocks.The gold-bearing minerals occur dominantly in sulfide-quartz veins.Fluid inclusion analysis shows that the Chang'an gold ore deposit is characterized by epithermal gold mineralization at temperatures between 200℃and 280℃at a shallow crustal level.The mineralizing fluids have intermediate to low salinity(6%-18%) and low densities(0.72-1.27 g/cm~3).The ore minerals haveδ~(34)S in a range from -13‰to 3.57‰,concentrated from -2.06‰to 3.57‰with an average of 1.55‰.The ~(206)Pb/~(204)Pb,~(207)Pb/~(204)Pb and ~(208)Pb/~(204)Pb values are 18.9977-19.5748,15.7093-15.784,39.3814-40.2004 respectively.These isotope data suggest that the ore-forming elements were mainly derived from mixed crustal and mantle sources.The Chang'an gold ore deposit and Tongchang Cu-Mo deposit are closely related to each other in their spatial distribution and age of formation.They have similar sources of mineralizing elements and identical ore-forming metal elements,and show a close relationship in physical and chemical conditions of mineralization.The two deposits constitute an epithermal-porphyry -skarn type Cu-Mo-Au mineralization system in the Tongchang-Chang'an area,which is related to the Cenozoic high-K alkaline magmatism.     

Geology and Metallogenesis of the Sawayaerdun Gold Deposit in the Southwestern Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China

The Sawayaerdun gold deposit, located in Wuqia County, Southwest Tianshan, China, occurs in Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian low‐grade metamorphic carbonaceous turbidites. The orebodies are controlled by a series of NE‐NNE‐trending, brittle–ductile shear zones. Twenty‐four gold mineralized zones have been recognized in the Sawayaerdun ore deposit. Among these, the up to 4‐km‐long and 200‐m wide No. IV mineralized zone is economically the most important. The average gold grade is 1–6 g/t. Gold reserves of the Sawayaerdun deposit have been identified at approximately 37 tonnes and an inferred resource of 123 tonnes. Hydrothermal alteration is characterized by silicification, pyritization, arsenopyritization, sericitization, carbonatization and chloritization. On the basis of field evidence and petrographic analysis, five stages of vein emplacement and hydrothermal mineralization can be distinguished: stage 1, early quartz stage, characterized by the occurrence of quartz veins; stage 2, arsenopyrite–pyrite–quartz stage, characterized by the formation of auriferous quartz veinlets and stockworks; stage 3, polymetallic sulfide quartz stage, characterized by the presence of auriferous polymetallic sulfide quartz veinlets and stockworks; stage 4, antimony–quartz stage, characterized by the formation of stibnite–jamesonite quartz veins; and stage 5, quartz–carbonate vein stage. Stages 2 and 3 represent the main gold mineralization, with stage 4 representing a major antimony mineralization episode in the Sawayaerdun deposit. Two types of fluid inclusion, namely H₂O–NaCl and H₂O–CO₂–NaCl types, have been recognized in quartz and calcite. Aqueous inclusions show a wide range of homogenization temperatures from 125 to 340°C, and can be correlated with the mineralization stage during which the inclusions formed. Similarly, salinities and densities of these fluids range for each stage of mineralization from 2.57 to 22 equivalent wt% NaCl and 0.76 to 1.05 g/cm³, respectively. The ore‐forming fluids thus are representative of a medium‐ to low‐temperature, low‐ to medium‐salinity H₂O–NaCl–CO₂–CH₄–N₂ system. The δ³⁴S_CDT values of sulfides associated with mineralization fall into a narrow range of ?3.0 to +2.6‰ with a mean of +0.1‰. The δ¹³C_PDB values of dolomite and siderite from the Sawayaerdun gold deposit range from ?5.4 to ?0.6‰, possibly reflecting derivation of the carbonate carbon from a mixed magmatic/sedimentary source. Changes in physico‐chemical conditions and composition of the hydrothermal fluids, water–rock exchange and immiscibility of hydrothermal fluids are inferred to have played important roles in the ore‐forming process of the Sawayaerdun gold–antimony deposit.     

南秦岭柞水-山阳矿集区王家坪金矿床地质特征及矿床成因探讨

王家坪矿床位于南秦岭柞水-山阳矿集区东部,金矿体主要产于上泥盆统星红铺组沉积地层中;金属矿物以黄铁矿为主,与金成矿关系密切的矿物为黄铁矿和雌黄.笔者利用LA-ICPMS和LA-MC-ICPMS对成矿期不同阶段硫化物进行微量元素及硫同位素研究,结果表明,该矿床成矿中阶段黄铁矿Co/Ni值为0.003～1.1,均小于1,暗...     

Gold deposit in the Butarny granitoid stock, Russian Northeast

The Butarny gold deposit is situated in the central part of the Khurchan-Orotukan Zone of tectonomagmatic activation, which is traced for 150 km in the near-meridional direction, and localized in the slightly eroded Late Jurassic granitoid stock of the same name. The explored orebodies are quartz veins and pinnate veinlets with low-grade pocket-disseminated sulfide (mainly arsenopyrite) mineralization containing native gold. The Bi-bearing gold-pyrite-arsenopyrite and the quartz-löllingite-arsenopyrite-stibnitejamesonite stages of the veined low-sulfide ore formation have been distinguished. The main mineral assemblage consists of arsenopyrite, native gold, and native bismuth. The minerals-carriers of gold were deposited during the final stage of ore-bearing quartz crystallization at 334?245°C from low-concentrated pneumatolytic-hydrothermal carbonated fluid containing CO₂ and CH₄ (5.8?2.2 and 1.6?0.5 mol/kg of solution, respectively). The ore-bearing fluid had variable salinity (5.3?2.2 wt % NaCl equiv). It is quite probable that the gas-saturated fluid participated in transport and precipitation of ore matter. Its density varies from 1.02 to 0.77 g/cm³. The pressure is estimated at 1600 to 780 bar. The fluid regime of ore formation at the Butarny deposit is similar to that of typical intrusion-related gold deposits. The Au tenor of beresitized granodiorite, numerous quartz veinlets, and extensive Au-bearing weathering mantle allow us to suggest stockwork mineralization.     

Gold–Silver mineralization in porphyry–epithermal systems of the Baimka trend,western Chukchi Peninsula,Russia

Mineralogical, fluid inclusion, and geochemical studies of precious metal mineralization within the Baimka trend in the western Chukchi Peninsula have been preformed. Porphyry copper–molybdenum–gold deposits and prospects of the Baimka trend are spatially related to monzonitic rocks of the Early Cretaceous Egdygkych Complex. Four types of precious metal-bearing assemblages have been identified: (1) chalcopyrite + bornite + quartz with high-fineness native gold enclosed in bornite, (2) low-Mn dolomite + quartz + sulfide (chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, tennantite-tetrahedrite) ± tourmaline with low-fineness native gold and hessite, (3) rhodochrosite + high-Mn dolomite + quartz + sulfide (chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, tennantite- tetrahedrite) with low-fineness native gold, electrum, acanthite, Ag and Au–Ag tellurides, and Ag sulfosalts, and (4) calcite + quartz + sulfide (chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena) with low-fineness native gold, Ag sulfides and selenides, and Ag-bearing sulfosalts. Study of fluid inclusions from quartz, sphalerite, and fluorite have revealed that hydrothermal ores within the Baimka trend precipitated from fluids with strongly variable salinity at temperatures and pressures ranging from 594 to 104°C and from 1200 to 170 bar, respectively. An indicator of vertical AgPbZn/CuBiMo geochemical zoning is proposed. The value range of this indicator makes it possible to estimate the erosion level of the porphyry–epithermal system. The erosion level of the Baimka deposits and prospects deepens in the following order: Vesenny deposit → Pryamoi prospect → Nakhodka prospect → Peschanka deposit → III Vesenny prospect.     

Copper–Gold Skarn Mineralization at the Karavansalija Ore Zone,Rogozna Mountain,Southwestern Serbia

Karavansalija ore zone is situated in the Serbian part of the Serbo‐Macedonian magmatic and metallogenic belt. The Cu–Au mineralization is hosted mainly by garnet–pyroxene–epidote skarns and shifts to lesser presence towards the nearby quartz–epidotized rocks and the overlying volcanic tuffs. Within the epidosites the sulfide mineralogy is represented by disseminated cobalt‐nickel sulfides from the gersdorfite‐krutovite mineral series and cobaltite, and pyrite–marcasite–chalcopyrite–base metal aggregates. The skarn sulfide mineralization is characterized by chalcopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, bismuth‐phases (bismuthinite and cosalite), arsenopyrite, gersdorffite, and sphalerite. The sulfides can be observed in several types of massive aggregates, depending on the predominant sulfide phases: pyrrhotite‐chalcopyrite aggregates with lesser amount of arsenopyrite and traces of sphalerite, arsenopyrite–bismuthinite–cosalite aggregates with subordinate sphalerite and sphalerite veins with bismuthinite, pyrite and arsenopyrite. In the overlying volcanoclastics, the studied sulfide mineralization is represented mainly by arsenopyrite aggregates with subordinate amounts of pyrite and chalcopyrite. Gold is present rarely as visible aggregate of native gold and also as invisible element included in arsenopyrite. The fluid inclusion microthermometry data suggest homogenization temperature in the range of roughly 150–400°C. Salinities vary in the ranges of 0.5–8.5 wt% NaCl eq for two‐phase low density fluid inclusions and 15–41 wt% NaCl eq for two‐phase high‐salinity and three‐phase high‐salinity fluid inclusions. The broad range of salinity values and the different types of fluid inclusions co‐existing in the same crystals suggest that at least two fluids with different salinities contributed to the formation of the Cu–Au mineralization. Geothermometry, based on EPMA data of arsenopyrite co‐existing with pyrite and pyrrhotite, suggests a temperature range of 240–360°C for the formation of the arsenopyrite, which overlaps well with the data for the formation temperature obtained through fluid inclusion microthermometry. The sulfur isotope data on arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrite and marcasite from the different sulfide assemblages (ranging from 0.4‰ to +3.9‰ δ³⁴S_CDT with average of 2.29 δ³⁴S_CDT and standard deviation of 1.34 δ³⁴S_CDT) indicates a magmatic source of sulfur for all of the investigated phases. The narrow range of the data points to a common source for all of the investigated sulfides, regardless of the host rock and the paragenesis. The sulfur isotope data shows good overlap with that from nearby base‐metal deposits; therefore the Cu–Au mineralization and the emblematic base‐metal sulfide mineralization from this metallogenic belt likely share same fluid source.     

Petrology,Geochemistry, and Fluid Inclusion Microthermometry of Sphalerite from the Laloki and Federal Flag Strata‐Bound Massive Sulfide Deposits,Papua New Guinea: Implications for Gold Mineralization

The Laloki and Federal Flag deposits are two of the many (over 45) polymetallic massive sulfide deposits that occur in the Astrolabe Mineral Field, Papua New Guinea. New data of the mineralogical compositions, mineral textures, and fluid inclusion studies on sphalerite from Laloki and Federal Flag deposits were investigated to clarify physiochemical conditions of the mineralization at both deposits. The two deposits are located about 2 km apart and they are stratigraphically hosted by siliceous to carbonaceous claystone and rare gray chert of Paleocene–Eocene age. Massive sulfide ore and host rock samples were collected from each deposit for mineralogical, geochemical, and fluid inclusion studies. Mineralization at the Laloki deposit consists of early‐stage massive sulfide mineralization (sphalerite‐barite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite–marcasite) and late‐stage brecciation and remobilization of early‐stage massive sulfides that was accompanied by late‐stage sphalerite mineralization. Occurrence of native gold blebs in early‐stage massive pyrite–marcasite‐chalcopyrite ore with the association of pyrrhotite‐hematite and abundant planktonic foraminifera remnants was due to reduction of hydrothermal fluids by the reaction with organic‐rich sediments and seawater mixing. Precipitation of fine‐grained gold blebs in late‐stage Fe‐rich sphalerite resulted from low temperature and higher salinity ore fluids in sulfur reducing conditions. In contrast, the massive sulfide ores from the Federal Flag deposit contain Fe‐rich sphalerite and subordinate sulfarsenides. Native gold blebs occur as inclusions in Fe‐rich sphalerite, along sphalerite grain boundaries, and in the siliceous‐hematitic matrix. Such occurrences of native gold suggest that gold was initially precipitated from high‐temperature, moderate to highly reduced, low‐sulfur ore fluids. Concentrations of Au and Ag from both Laloki and Federal Flag deposits were within the range (<10 ppm Au and <100 ppm Ag) of massive sulfides at a mid‐ocean ridge setting rather than typical arc‐type massive sulfides. The complex relationship between FeS contents in sphalerite and gold grades of both deposits is probably due to the initial deposition of gold on the seafloor that may have been controlled by factors such as Au complexes, pH, and fO₂ in combination with temperature and sulfur fugacity.     

Geology,Mineralogy, Geochronology,and Sulfur Isotope Constraints on the Genesis of the Luanling Gold Telluride Deposit,Western Henan Province,Central China

The Luanling gold telluride deposit in the Xiong'ershan region is located in the southern margin of the North China Craton. The deposit formed in four stages, that is, an early pyrite‐quartz stage (I), a pyrite‐molybdenite stage (II), a sulfide‐telluride‐gold stage (III), and a late carbonate stage (IV). Six species of telluride in stage (III) are recognized, including hessite, altaite, petzite, unidentified Au‐Ag‐Te mineral, empressite, and unidentified Ag‐Te‐S mineral. Gold occurs mostly as native gold and electrum along the microfractures of sulfides or the contact between sulfide and telluride. The mineralization temperature of stage I and stage III ranges from 296 to 377°C and 241 to 324°C, respectively. Tellurides in stage III precipitate at the log?_S2 from ?14.3 to ?7.3 and log?_Te2 from ?17.4 to ?9.4. The ores were formed in an oxidizing environment. The Re‐Os model ages of molybdenite are 162–164 Ma, which indicate that the main ore formation stage was in the Late Jurassic. The Re contents of five molybdenite samples from the Luanling deposit have a range of 36.32–81.95 ppm, except for one large value of 220 ppm, which indicates that the ore‐forming materials are mainly derived from a crustal‐dominated source. The δ³⁴S values of sulfides range from ?17.6 to ?6.2‰, whereas those of sulfates are from 6.8 to 11.5‰. The δ³⁴S_∑S value of the ore‐forming system is 0.0–3.7‰, indicating that the sulfur of the Luanling deposit derived from a deep igneous source. Mineral association and isotope data of the Luanling deposit, together with its geodynamic setting, imply that this deposit belongs to a part of the metallogenic system of the Nannihu‐Sandaozhuang, Shangfangou porphyry molybdenum deposits, and the Late Jurassic granitic intrusions.     

Porphyry-Style Petropavlovskoe Gold Deposit,the Polar Urals: Geological Position,Mineralogy, and Formation Conditions

Geological and structural conditions of localization, hydrothermal metasomatic alteration, and mineralization of the Petropavlovskoe gold deposit (Novogodnenskoe ore field) situated in the northern part of the Lesser Ural volcanic–plutonic belt, which is a constituent of the Middle Paleozoic island-arc system of the Polar Urals, are discussed. The porphyritic diorite bodies pertaining to the late phase of the intrusive Sob Complex play an ore-controlling role. The large-volume orebodies are related to the upper parts of these intrusions. Two types of stringer–disseminated ores have been revealed: (1) predominant gold-sulfide and (2) superimposed low-sulfide–gold–quartz ore markedly enriched in Au. Taken together, they make up complicated flattened isometric orebodies transitory to linear stockworks. The gold potential of the deposit is controlled by pyrite–(chlorite)–albite metasomatic rock of the main productive stage, which mainly develops in a volcanic–sedimentary sequence especially close to the contacts with porphyritic diorite. The relationships between intrusive and subvolcanic bodies and dating of individual zircon crystals corroborate a multistage evolution of the ore field, which predetermines its complex hydrothermal history. Magmatic activity of mature island-arc plagiogranite of the Sob Complex and monzonite of the Kongor Complex initiated development of skarn and beresite alterations accompanied by crystallization of hydrothermal sulfides. In the Early Devonian, due to emplacement of the Sob Complex at a depth of approximately 2 km, skarn magnetite ore with subordinate sulfides was formed. At the onset of the Middle Devonian, the large-volume gold porphyry Au–Ag–Te–W ± Mo,Cu stockworks related to quartz diorite porphyry—the final phase of the Sob Complex— were formed. In the Late Devonian, a part of sulfide mineralization was redistributed with the formation of linear low-sulfide quartz vein zones. Isotopic geochemical study has shown that the ore is deposited from reduced, substantially magmatic fluid, which is characterized by close to mantle values δ³⁴S = 0 ± 1‰, δ¹³C =–6 to–7‰, and δ¹⁸O = +5‰ as the temperature decreases from 420–300°C (gold–sulfide ore) to 250–130°C (gold–(sulfide)–quartz ore) and pressure decreases from 0.8 to 0.3 kbar. According to the data of microanalysis (EPMA and LA-ICP-MS), the main trace elements in pyrite of gold orebodies are represented by Co (up to 2.52 wt %), As (up to 0.70 wt %), and Ni (up to 0.38 wt %); Te, Se, Ag, Au, Bi, Sb, and Sn also occur. Pyrite of the early assemblages is characterized by high Co, Te, Au, and Bi contents, whereas the late pyrite is distinguished by elevated concentrations of As (up to 0.7 wt %), Ni (up to 0.38 wt %), Se (223 ppm), Ag (up to 111 ppm), and Sn (4.4 ppm). The minimal Au content in pyrite of the late quartz–carbonate assemblage is up to 1.7 ppm and geometric average is 0.3 ppm. The significant correlation between Au and As (furthermore, negative–0.6) in pyrite from ore of the Petropavlovskoe deposit is recorded only for the gold–sulfide assemblage, whereas it is not established for other assemblages. Pyrite with higher As concentration (up to 0.7 wt %) is distinguished only for the Au–Te mineral assemblage. Taking into account structural–morphological and mineralogical–geochemical features, the ore–magmatic system of the Petropavlovskoe deposit is referred to as gold porphyry style. Among the main criteria of such typification are the spatial association of orebodies with bodies of subvolcanic porphyry-like intrusive phases at the roof of large multiphase pluton; the stockwork-like morphology of gold orebodies; 3D character of ore–alteration zoning and distribution of ore components; geochemical association of gold with Ag, W, Mo, Cu, As, Te, and Bi; and predominant finely dispersed submicroscopic gold in ore.     

Genesis of the Bianjiadayuan Pb-Zn polymetallic deposit,Inner Mongolia,China:Constraints from in-situ sulfur isotope and trace element geochemistry of pyrite

The Southern Great Xing'an Range(S(GXR)which forms part of the eastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB)is known as one of the most important Cu-Mo-Pb-Zn-Ag-Au metallogenic belts in China,hosting a number of porphyry Mo(Cu),skarn Fe(Sn),epithermal Au-Ag,and hydrothermal veintype Ag-Pb-Zn ore deposits.Here we investigate the Bianjiadayuan hydrothermal vein-type Ag-Pb-Zn ore deposit in the southern part of the SGXR.Porphyry Sn± Cu± Mo mineralization is also developed to the west of the Ag-Pb-Zn veins in the ore field.We identify a five-stage mineralization process based on field and petrologic studies including(i)the early porphyry mineralization stage,(ii)main porphyry mineralization stage,(iii)transition mineralization stage,(iv)vein-type mineralization stage and(v)late mineralization stage.Pyrite is the predominant sulfide mineral in all stages except in the late mineralization stage,and we identify corresponding four types of pyrites:Pyl is medium-grained subhedral to euhedral occurring in the early barren quartz vein;Py2 is medium-to fine-grained euhedral pyrite mainly coexisting with molybdenite,chalcopyrite,minor sphalerite and galena;Py3 is fine-grained,subhedral to irregular pyrite and displays cataclastic textures with micro-fractures;Py4 occurs as euhedral microcrystals and forms irregularly shaped aggregate with sphalerite and galena.LA-ICP-MS trace element analyses of pyrite show that Cu,Pb,Zn,Ag,Sn,Cd and Sb are partitioned into pyrite as structurally bound metals or mineral micro/nano-inclusions,whereas Co,Ni,As and Se enter the lattice via isomorphism in all types of pyrite.The Cu,Zn,Ag,Cd concentrations gradually increase from Pyl to Py4,which we correlate with cooling and mixing of ore-forming fluid with meteoric water.Py2 contains the highest contents of Co,Ni,Se,Te and Bi,suggesting high temperature conditions for the porphyry mineralization stage.Ratios of Co/Ni(0.03-10.79,average 2.13)and sulphur isotope composition of sulfide indicate typical hydrothermal origin for pyrites.The δ~(34)S_(cDT) values of Pyl(0.42‰-1.61‰,average1.16‰),Py2(-1.23‰to 0.82‰,average 0.35‰),Py3(—0.36‰to 2.47‰average 0.97‰).Py4(2.51‰--3.72‰,average 3.06‰),and other sulfides are consistent with those of typical porphyry deposit(-5‰to 5‰),indicating that the Pb-Zn polymetallic mineralization in the Bianjiadayuan deposit is genetically linked to the Yanshanian(Jurassic-Cretaceous)magmatic-hydrothermal events.Variations of δ~(34) S values are ascribed to the changes in physical and chemical conditions during the evolution and migration of the ore-forming fluid.We propose that the high Sn content of pyrite in the Bianjiadayuan hydrothermal vein-type Pb-Zn polymetallic deposit can be used as a possible pathfinder to prospect for Sn mineralization in the surrounding area or deeper level of the ore field in this region.     

Geological and Geochemical Characteristics of Gold Mineralization in the Salu Bulo Prospect,Sulawesi, Indonesia

The Salu Bulo prospect is one of the gold prospects in the Awak Mas project in the central part of the western province, Sulawesi, Indonesia. The gold mineralization is hosted by the meta‐sedimentary rocks intercalated with the meta‐volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks of the Latimojong Metamorphic Complex. The ores are approximately three meters thick, consisting of veins, stockwork, and breccias. The veins can be classified into three stages, namely, early, main, and late stages, and gold mineralization is related to the main stage. The mineral assemblage of the matrix of breccia and the veins are both composed of quartz, carbonate (mainly ankerite), and albite. High‐grade gold ores in the Salu Bulo prospect are accompanied by intense alteration, such as carbonatization, albitization, silicification, and sulfidation along the main stage veins and breccia. Alteration mineral assemblage includes ankerite ± calcite, quartz, albite, and pyrite along with minor sericite. Pyrite is the most abundant sulfide mineral that is spatially related to native gold and electrum (<2–42 μm in size). It is more abundant as dissemination in the altered host rocks than those in veins. This suggests that water–rock interaction played a role to precipitate pyrite and Au in the Salu Bulo prospect. The Au contents of intensely altered host rocks and ores have positive correlations with Ag, Ni, Mo, and Na. Fluid inclusions in the veins of the main stage and the matrix of breccia are mainly two‐phase liquid‐rich inclusions with minor two‐phase, vapor‐rich, and single‐phase liquid or vapor inclusions. CO₂ and N₂ gases are detected in the fluid inclusions by Laser Raman microspectrometry. Fluid boiling probably occurred when the fluid was trapped at approximately 120–190 m below the paleo water table. δ¹⁸O_SMOW values of fluid, +5.8 and +7.6‰, calculated from δ¹⁸O_SMOW of quartz from the main stage vein indicate oxygen isotopic exchange with wall rocks during deep circulation. δ³⁴S_CDT of pyrite narrowly ranges from ?2.0 to +3.4‰, suggesting a single source of sulfur. Gold mineralization in the Salu Bulo prospect occurred in an epithermal condition, after the metamorphism of the host rocks. It formed at a relatively shallow depth from fluids with low to moderate salinity (3.0–8.5 wt% NaCl equiv.). The temperature and pressure of ore formation range from 190 to 210°C and 1.2 to 1.9 MPa, respectively.     

Mineralogy, geochemistry and stratigraphy of the Maslovsky Pt–Cu–Ni sulfide deposit, Noril’sk Region, Russia

We report new data on the stratigraphy, mineralogy and geochemistry of the rocks and ores of the Maslovsky Pt–Cu–Ni sulfide deposit which is thought to be the southwestern extension of the Noril’sk 1 intrusion. Variations in the Ta/Nb ratio of the gabbro-dolerites hosting the sulfide mineralization and the compositions of their pyroxene and olivine indicate that these rocks were produced by two discrete magmatic pulses, which gave rise to the Northern and Southern Maslovsky intrusions that together host the Maslovsky deposit. The Northern intrusion is located inside the Tungusska sandstones and basalt of the Ivakinsky Formation. The Southern intrusion cuts through all of the lower units of the Siberian Trap tuff-lavas, including the Lower Nadezhdinsky Formation; demonstrating that the ore-bearing intrusions of the Noril’sk Complex post-date that unit. Rocks in both intrusions have low TiO₂ and elevated MgO contents (average mean TiO₂ <1 and MgO?=?12?wt.%) that are more primitive than the lavas of the Upper Formations of the Siberian Traps which suggests that the ore-bearing intrusions result from a separate magmatic event. Unusually high concentrations of both HREE (Dy+Yb+Er+Lu) and Y (up to 1.2 and 2.1?ppm, respectively) occur in olivines (Fo_79.5 and 0.25% NiO) from picritic and taxitic gabbro-dolerites with disseminated sulfide mineralization. Thus accumulation of HREE, Y and Ni in the melts is correlated with the mineral potential of the intrusions. The TiO₂ concentration in pyroxene has a strong negative correlation with the Mg# of both host mineral and Mg# of host rock. Sulfides from the Northern Maslovsky intrusion are predominantly chalcopyrite–pyrrhotite–pentlandite with subordinate and minor amounts of cubanite, bornite and millerite and a diverse assemblage of rare precious metal minerals including native metals (Au, Ag and Pd), Sn–Pd–Pt–Bi–Pb compounds and Fe–Pt alloys. Sulfides from the Southern Maslovsky intrusion have δ ³⁴S?=?5–6‰ up to 10.8‰ in two samples whereas the country rock basalt have δ ³⁴S?=?3–4‰, implying there was no in situ assimilation of surrounding rocks by magmas.     

Genesis of the Bangbu Orogenic Gold Deposit,Tibet: Evidence from Fluid Inclusion,Stable Isotopes,and Ar-Ar Geochronology

The Bangbu gold deposit is a large orogenic gold deposit in Tibet formed during the AlpineHimalayan collision. Ore bodies(auriferous quartz veins) are controlled by the E-W-trending Qusong-Cuogu-Zhemulang brittle-ductile shear zone. Quartz veins at the deposit can be divided into three types: pre-metallogenic hook-like quartz veins, metallogenic auriferous quartz veins, and postmetallogenic N-S quartz veins. Four stages of mineralization in the auriferous quartz veins have been identified:(1) Stage S1 quartz+coarse-grained sulfides,(2) Stage S2 gold+fine-grained sulfides,(3) Stage S3 quartz+carbonates, and(4) Stage S4 quartz+ greigite. Fluid inclusions indicate the oreforming fluid was CO_2-N_2-CH_4 rich with homogenization temperatures of 170–261°C, salinities 4.34–7.45 wt% Na Cl equivalent. δ~(18)Ofluid(3.98‰–7.18‰) and low δDV-SMOW(-90‰ to-44‰) for auriferous quartz veins suggest ore-forming fluids were mainly metamorphic in origin, with some addition of organic matter. Quartz vein pyrite has δ~(34)SV-CDT values of 1.2‰–3.6‰(an average of 2.2‰), whereas pyrite from phyllite has δ~(34)SV-CDT 5.7‰–9.9‰(an average of 7.4‰). Quartz vein pyrites yield 206Pb/204 Pb ratios of 18.662–18.764, 207Pb/204 Pb 15.650–15.683, and ~(208)Pb/204 Pb 38.901–39.079. These isotopic data indicate Bangbu ore-forming materials were probably derived from the Langjiexue accretionary wedge. 40Ar/39 Ar ages for sericite from auriferous sulfide-quartz veins yield a plateau age of 49.52 ± 0.52 Ma, an isochron age of 50.3 ± 0.31 Ma, suggesting that auriferous veins were formed during the main collisional period of the Tibet-Himalayan orogen(~65–41 Ma).     

Geological and geochemical characteristics of the Baogudi Carlin-type 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 ± N₂ system, with medium to low temperatures (180–260 °C) and low salinity (0–9.08% NaCl equivalent). The late-ore stage fluids featured H₂O–NaCl ± CO₂ ± CH₄, with low temperature (120–200 °C) and low salinity (0–7.48% NaCl equivalent). The temperature, salinity, and CO₂ and CH₄ concentrations of ore-forming fluids decreased from the main-ore stage to the late-ore stage. The calculated δ¹³C, δD, and δ¹⁸O 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 δ³⁴S 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 Pampe gold deposit (Ghana): Constraints on sulfide evolution during gold mineralization

The Ashanti belt, a world-renowned gold producing region in southwest Ghana, has received renewed attention in recent years. Most studies, however, focused on the major deposits situated along the Ashanti shear zone and in the adjacent Tarkwa Basin to the east, neglecting smaller yet important occurrences, such as the Pampe deposit which occurs few kilometers to the west of this shear zone, on the Akropong Trend. Nevertheless, investigating such simpler smaller-scale mineralizing systems is attractive, in that this can help shedding light on the processes that control gold deposition at the regional scale.At Pampe, gold endowment has been estimated at approximately half a million ounces with an average gold grade of 2.8 g/t. The mineralization is related to two sets of quartz veins; a first set (V₁), which has a NE trend and is sub-parallel to the main foliation (S₁), and a second set (V₂), which crosscuts this foliation. The V₂ veins have a NNW–SSE trend with local conjugate geometries indicating that they formed during NNW–SSE shortening, which, regionally, is linked to major orogenic gold deposition. Gold mineralization is systematically associated with sulfides, which occur disseminated in the vein walls and in the surrounding host rocks. The ore sulfide paragenesis consists of 1) a first generation of pyrite, which is associated with V₁ veins; 2) a second generation of sulfides, consisting of an intergrowth of arsenopyrite and pyrite that crystallized contemporaneously with the formation of the second vein set; 3) a late phase of pyrite growth which occurs as overgrowths on phase-2 sulfides and formed during the waning stages of V₂ emplacement. Invisible (sub-microscopic) gold was detected in all sulfide generations by LA-ICP-MS. The analytical profiles for the Au signal are mimicked by those for Pb, Cu, As, Ag, Te, and Bi. Invisible gold is thus interpreted to have precipitated within sulfides in the form of nanoparticles (colloidal gold alloys). Conversely, visible native gold grains were recognized exclusively in association with arsenopyrite from late V₂ veins, either as inclusions or, more commonly, at the boundary with other sulfides, as well as in micro-fractures that crosscut the sulfides. Gold precipitation was likely induced by sulfidation of the wall rock during fluid–rock interaction. The Pampe deposit exemplifies the mineralization processes that took place at larger scale in neighboring world-class deposits such as Obuasi, Bogoso and Prestea.     

Constraints on the mineralization processes of the Makeng iron deposit,eastern China: Fluid inclusion,H–O isotope and magnetite trace element analysis

The Makeng iron deposit is located in the Yong’an-Meizhou depression belt in Fujian Province, eastern China. Both skarn alteration and iron mineralization are mainly hosted within middle Carboniferous-lower Permian limestone. Five paragenetic stages of skarn formation and ore deposition have been recognized: Stage 1, early skarn (andradite–grossular assemblage); Stage 2, magnetite mineralization (diopside–magnetite assemblage); Stage 3, late skarn (amphibole–chlorite–epidote–johannsenite–hedenbergite–magnetite assemblage); Stage 4, sulfide mineralization (quartz–calcite–fluorite–chlorite–pyrite–galena–sphalerite assemblage); and Stage 5, carbonate (quartz–calcite assemblage). Fluid inclusion studies were carried out on inclusions in diopside from Stage 2 and in quartz, calcite, and fluorite from Stage 4.Halite-bearing (Type 1) and coexisting two-phase vapor-rich aqueous (Type 3) inclusions in the magnetite stage display homogenization temperatures of 448–564 °C and 501–594 °C, respectively. Salinities range from 26.5 to 48.4 and 2.4 to 6.9 wt% NaCl equivalent, respectively. Two-phase liquid-rich aqueous (Type 2b) inclusions in the sulfide stage yield homogenization temperatures and salinities of 182–343 °C and 1.9–20.1 wt% NaCl equivalent. These fluid inclusion data indicate that fluid boiling occurred during the magnetite stage and that fluid mixing took place during the sulfide stage. The former triggered the precipitation of magnetite, and the latter resulted in the deposition of Pb, Zn, and Fe sulfides. The fluids related to magnetite mineralization have δ¹⁸O_fluid-VSMOW of 6.7–9.6‰ and δD of −96 to −128‰, which are interpreted to indicate residual magmatic water from magma degassing. In contrast, the fluids related to the sulfide mineralization show δ¹⁸O_fluid-VSMOW of −0.85 to −1.04‰ and δD of −110 to −124‰, indicating that they were generated by the mixing of magmatic water with meteoric water. Magnetite grains from Stage 2 exhibit oscillatory zoning with compositional variations in major elements (e.g., SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, MgO, and MnO) from core to rim, which is interpreted as a self-organizing process rather than a dissolution-reprecipitation process. Magnetite from Stage 3 replaces or crosscuts early magnetite, suggesting that later hydrothermal fluid overprinted and caused dissolution and reprecipitation of Stage 2 magnetite. Trace element data (e.g., Ti, V, Ca, Al, and Mn) of magnetite from Stages 2 and 3 indicate a typical skarn origin.     

Gold Mineralization in Banded Iron Formation in the Amalia Greenstone Belt,South Africa: A Mineralogical and Sulfur Isotope Study

The Blue Dot gold deposit, located in the Archean Amalia greenstone belt of South Africa, is hosted in an oxide (± carbonate) facies banded iron formation (BIF). It consists of three stratabound orebodies; Goudplaats, Abelskop, and Bothmasrust. The orebodies are flanked by quartz‐chlorite‐ferroan dolomite‐albite schist in the hanging wall and mafic (volcanic) schists in the footwall. Alteration minerals associated with the main hydrothermal stage in the BIF are dominated by quartz, ankerite‐dolomite series, siderite, chlorite, muscovite, sericite, hematite, pyrite, and minor amounts of chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite. This study investigates the characteristics of gold mineralization in the Amalia BIF based on ore textures, mineral‐chemical data and sulfur isotope analysis. Gold mineralization of the Blue Dot deposit is associated with quartz‐carbonate veins that crosscut the BIF layering. In contrast to previous works, petrographic evidence suggests that the gold mineralization is not solely attributed to replacement reactions between ore fluid and the magnetite or hematite in the host BIF because coarse hydrothermal pyrite grains do not show mutual replacement textures of the oxide minerals. Rather, the parallel‐bedded and generally chert‐hosted pyrites are in sharp contact with re‐crystallized euhedral to subhedral magnetite ± hematite grains, and the nature of their coexistence suggests that pyrite (and gold) precipitation was contemporaneous with magnetite–hematite re‐crystallization. The Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratio of the dolomite–ankerite series and chlorite decreased from veins through mineralized BIF and non‐mineralized BIF, in contrast to most Archean BIF‐hosted gold deposits. This is interpreted to be due to the effect of a high sulfur activity and increase in fO₂ in a H₂S‐dominant fluid during progressive fluid‐rock interaction. High sulfur activity of the hydrothermal fluid fixed pyrite in the BIF by consuming Fe²⁺ released into the chert layers and leaving the co‐precipitating carbonates and chlorites with less available ferrous iron content. Alternatively, the occurrence of hematite in the alteration assemblage of the host BIF caused a structural limitation in the assignment of Fe³⁺ in chlorite which favored the incorporation of magnesium (rather than ferric iron) in chlorite under increasing fO₂ conditions, and is consistent with deposits hosted in hematite‐bearing rocks. The combined effects of reduction in sulfur contents due to sulfide precipitation and increasing fO₂ during progressive fluid‐rock interactions are likely to be the principal factors to have caused gold deposition. Arsenopyrite–pyrite geothermometry indicated a temperature range of 300–350°C for the associated gold mineralization. The estimated δ³⁴S_ΣS (= +1.8 to +2.5‰) and low base metal contents of the sulfide ore mineralogy are consistent with sulfides that have been sourced from magma or derived by the dissolution of magmatic sulfides from volcanic rocks during fluid migration.