Recognition of Yanshanian magmatic-hydrothermal gold and polymetallic gold mineralization in the Laowan gold metallogenic belt,Tongbai Mountains: New evidence from structural controls,geochronology and geochemistry

The Laowan metallogenic belt in China is an important metallogenic belt within the Tongbai orogenic belt, and contains the medium-sized Laowan and Shangshanghe gold deposits, the small Huangzhuyuan lead–zinc–silver–gold deposit and some gold and Cu–Pb occurrences. These deposits are hosted in Mesoproterozoic plagioclase amphibolite (or schist) and mica-quartz schist. The gold ores are mainly quartz veins and veinlets and disseminated altered ores. Subordinate ore types include massive sulfides and breccias. The Laowan gold deposit is characterized by three right-stepping en-echelon fracture-controlled alteration zones that dip gently to the south and includes disseminated, sheeted and stockwork ores. These lodes were formed by the interaction of ore-forming fluid with foliated-to laminated cataclasite within the transpressional faults. The Shangshanghe gold deposit is characterized by parallel ore lodes that dip steeply to the north, and includes quartz veins and breccias in addition to ores in altered wallrocks. These lodes were formed by focusing of fluids into transtensional faults. These ore controlling faults displaced early barren quartz veins 10 m horizontally with a dextral sense of motion. The ore-hosting structures at the Laowan and Shangshanghe deposits correspond to the P and R-type shears of a brittle dextral strike-slip fault system, respectively, which make angles of about 15° and − 15° to the Laowan and Songpa boundary faults. The ore-controlling fault system post-dated formation of a ductile shear zone, and peak regional metamorphism. This precludes a genetic relationship between hydrothermal mineralization and regional metamorphism and ductile shear deformation. These gold deposits are not typical orogenic gold deposits. The metallogenic belt displays district-scale-zoning of Mo → Cu–Pb–Zn–Ag → Au relative to Songpa granite porphyry dike zone, suggesting the mineralization may be closely related to the granite porphyry. Measured δ³⁴S of sulfides and δ¹⁸O and δD of fluid inclusion waters in auriferous quartz also are consistent with a magmatic source for sulfur and ore fluids. The similarity of Pb isotope ratios between the ores and Yanshanian granitoids suggests a similar source. As the age (139 ± 3 Ma) of granite porphyry obtained by zircon U–Pb isotope overlaps the mineralization age (138 ± 1 Ma: Zhang et al., 2008a), the gold and polymetallic metallogenesis of the Laowan gold belt has close spatial, temporal and possibly genetic relationships with Yanshanian high level magmatism.     

A comparison of Jiaojia- and Linglong-type gold deposit ore-forming fluids: Do they differ?

The Jiaodong peninsula contains the most important concentration of gold deposits in China, which can be divided into Jiaojia-type and Linglong-type deposits based on mineralization style. The former is characterized by disseminated- and stockwork-style mineralization hosted in first-order regional faults, with relatively larger tonnages and lower gold grades. The latter is characterized by massive auriferous quartz veins commonly hosted in subsidiary second- or third-order faults, with smaller tonnage but higher grade orebodies. Despite these differences, both groups of deposits have the same alteration assemblages, mineral paragenesis, element concentrations, and ore-forming ages.The mainly Jiaojia-type Luoshan gold deposit and the mainly Linglong-type Fushan gold deposit are characterized by H-O-S-Pb isotope data that indicate the ore-forming fluids have a dominantly metamorphic source. The fluids were derived during the Yanshanian orogenic event, and were most likely associated with dehydration and decarbonization processes near the top of the subducting paleo-Pacific plate. The Linglong-type ores have relatively lighter calculated δ¹⁸O compositions (−3.9 to −2.3‰) than the Jiaojia-type ores (0.3–8.0‰), possibly because of a greater degree of mixing with meteoric water. Petrographic, cathodoluminescence, microthermometric, and laser Raman spectroscopic analyses of fluid-inclusion assemblages in quartz from the two types of ores indicate fluids were similar, in both cases characterized by medium–high homogenization temperatures (211–393 °C), significant CO₂ (∼15% mol), minor CH₄ (⩽18% in the carbonic phase), and low salinity (⩽11.2 wt% NaCl eq.). The Linglong-type ores, however, have a wider range of CO₂ and CH₄ concentration and salinity than the Jiaojia-type ores. Fluid immiscibility, occurred in main ore stage of both ore types, with the trapping conditions of 77–185 MPa and 284–328 °C, although the unmixing is more intense and widespread in the Linglong-type ores. Both fluid-wallrock interaction and fluid immiscibility are important gold-deposition processes in the two types, but immiscibility is more important in the Linglong-type ores and that has led to the typical higher gold grade.In general, there is little geochemical differences between the ore-forming fluids for Jiaojia- and Linglong-type gold deposits. Both Jiaojia- and Linglong-type ores can exist in a single deposit and form in the same metallogenic event. The Linglong-type ores developed as more massive veins, because of their location in zones of more extensive extension and they lack significant post-ore cataclastic deformation.     

Source of metals in the Guocheng gold deposit,Jiaodong Peninsula,North China Craton: Link to early Cretaceous mafic magmatism originating from Paleoproterozoic metasomatized lithospheric mantle

Widespread Mesozoic Au and other hydrothermal polymetal (Zn–Pb–Cu–Mo–Ag–W–Fe–REE) deposits or smaller prospects occur in association with ancient mobile belts surrounding and cutting through the North China Carton (NCC). Among these, the gold ores of the Jiaodong Peninsula, Shandong Province, eastern NCC, represent the largest gold district in China. However, the genesis of these important gold mineralizations has remained controversial, notably their relationships to widespread mafic magmatism of alkaline affinity.The ore bodies of the Guocheng gold deposit on the Jiaodong Peninsula are fracture-controlled, sulfide-rich veins and disseminations, formed contemporaneously with abundant dolerite, lamprophyre and monzonite dikes at ca. 120 Ma. Dolerite dikes possess mantle-like major element compositions and alkaline affinity, associated with prominent subduction-type trace element enrichments. The dikes show petrographic and chemical evidence of magma mixing that triggered exsolution of magmatic sulfide and anhydrite crystallization, preserved as primary inclusions in phenocrysts. LA-ICP-MS analysis of magmatic sulfide inclusions demonstrates that metal abundance ratios (Ag, As, Au, Bi, Co, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Zn) largely correspond to those of both unaltered bulk rock and bulk ore. Together with identical Pb isotope ratios of dolerite and bulk ore, this demonstrates that gold mineralization and dolerite dikes share a common source.Lead isotope signatures of the ore sulfides are much less radiogenic (17.08 < ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb < 17.25, 15.41 <²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb < 15.45, 37.55 < ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb < 37.93) relative to the Pb signature of Phanerozoic convecting mantle and plot to the left of the Geochron and above the MORB-source mantle Pb evolution line. Forward Monte Carlo simulations indicate three events for the U–Th–Pb isotope evolution: (1) late Archean formation of juvenile crust is followed by (2) subduction of this aged crust at ca. 1.85 Ga along with the assembly of Jiao–Liao–Ji mobile belt (suture within Columbia supercontinent). This late-Archean subducted crust released fluids with drastically reduced U/Pb that metasomatized the overlying depleted mantle, which formed cratonic lithospheric mantle. This metasomatized lithospheric mantle was (3) tapped in response to early Cretaceous extensional tectonics affecting notably the eastern margin of the NCC to generate mafic magmas and associated gold mineralization at Guocheng. Similarly non-radiogenic uranogenic Pb isotope data characterize the contemporaneous mafic dikes and gold deposits in the entire Jiaodong Peninsula, suggesting that our genetic model applies to the entire Jiaodong gold district.We propose that early Cretaceous melting of subcontinental lithospheric mantle metasomatized by subduction fluids during Paleoproterozoic amalgamation of terranes to the eastern NCC along with Columbia supercontinent assembly generated mafic magmatism and associated gold deposits. Given the conspicuous association of Phanerozoic hydrothermal ore deposits associated with reactivated Paleoproterozoic mobile belts, we envisage that our genetic model, which largely corresponds to that which is proposed for the Bingham porphyry-Cu–Au–Mo deposit, USA, may explain much of the magmatic-hydrothermal activity and associated ore formation all around the NCC.     

The origin of the world class tin-polymetallic deposits in the Gejiu district,SW China: Constraints from metal zoning characteristics and 40Ar–39Ar geochronology

The Gejiu tin-polymetallic deposits in the Western Cathaysia Block of South China comprise the world's largest primary tin district, with a total resource of approximately 300 million metric ton ores, at an average grade of 1 wt percent Sn. Tin polymetallic mineralization occurs in five deposits and has four ore types, i.e., greisen, skarn, stratabound cassiterite-sulfide (mostly oxidized) and vein type ore. In each deposit the orebodies typically occur in an extensive hydrothermal system centered on a shallow Late Cretaceous granitoid cupola. Metal zoning is well developed both vertically and horizontally over the entire district, from W + Be + Bi ± Mo ± Sn ores inside granite intrusions, to Sn + Cu-dominated ores at intrusion margins and farther out to Pb + Zn deposits in the surrounding host carbonate. This zoning pattern is similar to that of other hydrothermal deposits in other parts of the world, indicating a close genetic relationship between magmatism and mineralization. In this paper, we dated thirteen mica samples from all types of mineralization and from the five deposits in the Gejiu district. The ages range from 77.4 ± 0.6 Ma to 95.3 ± 0.7 Ma and are similar to the existing zircon U–Pb age of the granitic intrusions (77.4 ± 2.5–85.8 ± 0.6), indicating a genetic relationship between the mineralization and the intrusions. Geological characteristics, metal zoning patterns and new geochronological data all indicate that the tin-polymetallic ores in the Gejiu district are hydrothermal in origin and are genetically related to the nearby granitic intrusions. It is unlikely that the deposits are syngenetic, as has been proposed in recent years.     

Anatomy of a world-class epizonal orogenic-gold system: A holistic thermochronological analysis of the Xincheng gold deposit,Jiaodong Peninsula,eastern China

Xincheng is a world-class orogenic-gold deposit hosted by the Early Cretaceous Guojialing granitoid in the Jiaodong Peninsula, eastern China. A zircon U–Pb age of 126 ± 1.4 Ma, together with previous data, constrain the emplacement of the Guojialing intrusion to 132–123 Ma. The granitoid underwent subsolidus ductile deformation at >500 °C following its intrusion. The small difference in age between the youngest zircon U–Pb age of unaltered granitoid (~123 Ma) and the ca. 120 Ma ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of sericite, associated with breccias and gold mineralization within it indicate initial rapid cooling from magmatic temperatures to those prevalent during brittle deformation and associated gold mineralization at ~220–300 °C. Evidence of a direct association between granitic magmatism and gold mineralization, such as at least localized near-magmatic depositional temperatures and metal zoning evident in undoubted intrusion-related gold deposits, is absent. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of ~120 Ma coincides with the mineralization age of many other orogenic-gold deposits along the Jiaojia Fault. Sixteen zircon fission-track (ZFT) ages across the ore and alteration zones range from 112.9 ± 3.4 to 99.1 ± 2.7 Ma. The long period of cooling to the ~100 Ma ZFT closure temperatures recorded here suggests that ambient temperatures for hydrothermal alteration systems lasted to ~100 Ma, possibly because of their focus at Xincheng within the young Guojialing granitoid as it cooled more slowly below approximately 300 °C to 220 °C. However, the restricted number of auriferous ore stages, combined with the presence of cross-cutting gold-free quartz-carbonate veins, indicate that gold itself was only deposited over a restricted time interval at ~120 Ma, consistent with studies of orogenic gold deposits elsewhere. This highlights the complex interplay between magmatism, deformation and the longevity of hydrothermal systems that cause genetic controversies. Based on apatite fission-track (AFT) ages, the Xincheng gold deposit was then uplifted and exhumed to near the surface of the crust at 15 Ma, probably due to movement on the crustal-scale Tan-Lu Fault. Recognition of such exhumation histories along gold belts has conceptual exploration significance in terms of the probability of discovery of additional exposed or sub-surface gold ore bodies as discovery is as much a function of preservation as formation of the deposits.     

The Guelb Moghrein Cu–Au deposit: Neoarchaean hydrothermal sulfide mineralization in carbonate-facies iron formation

The Guelb Moghrein copper–gold deposit in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania reopened in 2006 and has produced copper concentrate and gold since then. The deposit is hosted in Neoarchaean–Palaeoproterozoic Fe–Mg carbonate-dominated metamorphic rocks interpreted as carbonate-facies iron formation. It forms tabular orebodies controlled by shear zones in the hanging wall and footwall of this meta-iron formation. Copper and gold are hosted in a complex sulfide ore in tectonic breccia replacing Fe–Mg carbonate and magnetite. Hydrothermal monazite dates the mineralization at 2492 ± 9 Ma. Two types of aqueous fluid inclusions suggest fluid mixing at 0.75–1.80 kbar and ~ 410 °C as the mineralization and precipitation mechanism, which is temporally coincident with regional retrograde metamorphism at 410 ± 30 °C (garnet-biotite). Distal alteration zones are enriched in K, Rb and Cu, whereas orebodies are depleted in K, Rb, Sr and Ba. The copper–gold mineralization at Guelb Moghrein formed during retrograde shearing in metamorphic rocks and contemporaneous hydrothermal alteration. The stable isotope signature of alteration and ore minerals suggest an external crustal fluid source. Fluids were focused in the reactive and competent meta-iron formation. Potassium alteration, magnetite and copper–gold mineralization suggest an IOCG mineral system akin similar deposits in Australia and Brazil.     

Magmatic-vapor expansion and the formation of high-sulfidation gold deposits: Chemical controls on alteration and mineralization

Large bulk-tonnage high-sulfidation gold deposits, such as Yanacocha, Peru, are the surface expression of structurally-controlled lode gold deposits, such as El Indio, Chile. Both formed in active andesite–dacite volcanic terranes. Fluid inclusion, stable isotope and geologic data show that lode deposits formed within 1500 m of the paleo-surface as a consequence of the expansion of low-salinity, low-density magmatic vapor with very limited, if any, groundwater mixing. They are characterized by an initial ‘Sulfate’ Stage of advanced argillic wallrock alteration ± alunite commonly with intense silicification followed by a ‘Sulfide’ Stage — a succession of discrete sulfide–sulfosalt veins that may be ore grade in gold and silver. Fluid inclusions in quartz formed during wallrock alteration have homogenization temperatures between 100 and over 500 °C and preserve a record of a vapor-rich environment.Recent data for El Indio and similar deposits show that at the commencement of the Sulfide Stage, ‘condensation’ of Cu–As–S sulfosalt melts with trace concentrations of Sb, Te, Bi, Ag and Au occurred at > 600 °C following pyrite deposition. Euhedral quartz crystals were simultaneously deposited from the vapor phase during crystallization of the vapor-saturated melt occurs to Fe-tennantite with progressive non-equilibrium fractionation of heavy metals between melt-vapor and solid. Vugs containing a range of sulfides, sulfosalts and gold record the changing composition of the vapor.Published fluid inclusion and mineralogical data are reviewed in the context of geological relationships to establish boundary conditions through which to trace the expansion of magmatic vapor from source to surface and consequent alteration and mineralization. Initially heat loss from the vapor is high resulting in the formation of acid condensate permeating through the wallrock. This Sulfate Stage alteration effectively isolates the expansion of magmatic vapor in subsurface fracture arrays from any external contemporary hydrothermal activity. Subsequent fracturing is localized by the embrittled wallrock to provide high-permeability fracture arrays that constrain vapor expansion with minimization of heat loss. The Sulfide Stage vein sequence is then a consequence of destabilization of metal-vapor species in response to depressurization and decrease in vapor density.The geology, mineralogy, fluid inclusion and stable isotope data and geothermometry for high-sulfidation, bulk-tonnage and lode deposits are quite different from those for epithermal gold–silver deposits such as McLaughlin, California that formed near-surface in groundwater-dominated hydrothermal systems where magmatic fluid has been diluted to less than about 30%. High sulfidation gold deposits are better termed ‘Solfataric Gold Deposits’ to emphasize this distinction. The magmatic-vapor expansion hypothesis also applies to the phenomenology of acidic geothermal systems in active volcanic systems and equivalent magmatic-vapor discharges on the flanks of submarine volcanoes.     

Geochronological and mineralogical constraints on mineralization of the Hetai goldfield in Guangdong Province,South China

The Hetai goldfield, located in the southern segment of the Qinzhou Bay-Hangzhou Bay Juncture Orogenic Belt (QHJB), is the largest concentration of gold deposits in Guangdong Province, South China. The gold mineralization is hosted within the late Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic Yunkai Group and strictly confined to mylonite (ductile shear) zones. The nature of the structural control of mineralization, in particular the role of ductile versus brittle deformation and their ages, which remain unclear despite numerous previous studies, are examined in this paper through an integrated study of geochronology and mineralogy.Lamellar and filament structures shown by pyrite and pyrrhotite in the ores suggest that sulfidation took place during ductile deformation and syntectonic metamorphism, but the majority of the ores are associated with brittle deformation features. In combination with macroscopic and microscopy observations on shear fabrics, LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating on zircons of hydrothermal origin from mylonites suggests that the Hetai goldfield was subjected to two shearing events: an early sinistral ductile shearing at ca. 240 Ma, and a late dextral ductile-brittle shearing at ca. 204 Ma (Indosinian). These ages are ca. 90–30 Ma older than the previously published gold mineralizing ages of ca. 175–152 Ma (Yanshanian), suggesting that the main gold mineralization and related brittle deformation significantly postdate the ductile deformation. This inference is supported by the mineralization temperatures estimated from geothermometers of arsenopyrite (ca. 350–290 °C), chlorite (ca. 260–230 °C), and sphalerite (ca. 230–170 °C) intergrown with native gold, which are considerably lower than that for the ductile deformation (500–300 °C or higher). Based on these data, we propose that the gold mineralization in the Hetai goldfield predominantly occurred during the Yanshanian event, and only minor gold mineralization and associated sulfidation took place during the earlier Indosinian ductile deformation.     

Geology,geochronology, geochemistry and ore genesis of the Wangu gold deposit in northeastern Hunan Province,Jiangnan Orogen,South China

The Wangu gold deposit in northeastern Hunan, South China, is one of many structurally controlled gold deposits in the Jiangnan Orogen. The host rocks (slates of the Lengjiaxi Group) are of Neoproterozoic age, but the area is characterized by a number of Late Jurassic–Cretaceous granites and NE-trending faults. The timing of mineralization, tectonic setting and ore genesis of this deposit and many similar deposits in the Jiangnan Orogen are not well understood. The orebodies in the Wangu deposit include quartz veins and altered slates and breccias, and are controlled by WNW-trending faults. The principal ore minerals are arsenopyrite and pyrite, and the major gangue minerals are quartz and calcite. Alteration is developed around the auriferous veins, including silicification, pyritic, arsenopyritic and carbonate alterations. Field work and thin section observations indicate that the hydrothermal processes related to the Wangu gold mineralization can be divided into five stages: 1) quartz, 2) scheelite–quartz, 3) arsenopyrite–pyrite–quartz, 4) poly-sulfides–quartz, and, 5) quartz–calcite. The Lianyunshan S-type granite, which is in an emplacement contact with the NE-trending Changsha-Pingjiang fracture zone, has a zircon LA-ICPMS U–Pb age of 142 ± 2 Ma. The Dayan gold occurrence in the Changsha-Pingjiang fracture zone, which shares similar mineral assemblages with the Wangu deposit, is crosscut by a silicified rock that contains muscovite with a ca. 130 Ma ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar age. The gold mineralization age of the Wangu deposit is thus confined between 142 Ma and 130 Ma. This age of mineralization suggests that the deposit was formed simultaneously with or subsequently to the development of NE-trending extensional faults, the emplacement of Late Jurassic–Cretaceous granites and the formation of Cretaceous basins filled with red-bed clastic rocks in northeastern Hunan, which forms part of the Basin and Range-like province in South China. EMPA analysis shows that the average As content in arsenopyrite is 28.7 atom %, and the mineralization temperature of the arsenopyrite–pyrite–quartz stage is estimated to be 245 ± 20 °C from arsenopyrite thermometry. The high but variable Au/As molar ratios (>0.02) of pyrite suggest that there are nanoparticles of native Au in the sulfides. An integration of S–Pb–H–O–He–Ar isotope systematics suggests that the ore fluids are mainly metamorphic fluids originated from host rocks, possibly driven by hydraulic potential gradient created by reactivation of the WNW-trending faults initially formed in Paleozoic, with possible involvement of magmatic and mantle components channeled through regional fault networks. The Wangu gold deposit shares many geological and geochemical similarities as well as differences with typical orogenic, epithermal and Carlin-type gold deposits, and may be better classified as an “intracontinental reactivation” type as proposed for many other gold deposits in the Jiangnan Orogen.     

Timing and mechanism of gold mineralization at the Wang'ershan gold deposit,Jiaodong Peninsula,eastern China

The Wang'ershan gold deposit, located in the southern Jiaojia goldfield, is currently the largest gold deposit hosted within the subsidiary faults in Jiaodong Peninsula, with a gold reserve of > 60 t gold at a grade of 4.07 g/t Au. It is hosted in the Late Jurassic Linglong biotite granites and controlled by the second-order, N- to NNE-trending Wang'ershan Fault (and its subsidiary faults) which is broadly parallel to the first-order Jiaojia Fault in the goldfield. Gold mineralization occurs as both disseminated- and stockwork-style and quartz–sulfide vein-style ores, mainly within altered cataclasites and breccias, and sericite–quartz and potassic alteration zones, respectively. Mineralization stages can be divided into (1) the pyrite–quartz–sericite stage, (2) the quartz–pyrite stage, (3) the quartz–sulfide stage, and (4) the quartz–carbonate stage.Two sericite samples associated with the main ore-stage pyrites from pyritic phyllic ores of the deposit with weighted mean plateau ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 120.7 ± 0.6 Ma and 119.2 ± 0.5 Ma, respectively, were selected for ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology. On the basis of petrography and microthermometry, three types of primary fluid inclusions related to the ore forming event were identified: type 1 H₂O–CO₂–NaCl, type 2 aqueous, and type 3 CO₂ fluid inclusions (in decreasing abundance). Stage 1 quartz contains all three primary fluid inclusions, while stages 2 and 3 quartz contain both type 1 and 2 inclusions, and stage 4 quartz contains only type 2 inclusions. The contemporaneous trapping, similar salinities and total homogenization temperature ranges, and different homogenization phases of type 1 and type 2 inclusions indicate that fluid immiscibility did take place in stages 1, 2 and 3 ores, with P–T conditions of 190 to 85 MPa and 334 to 300 °C for stage 1 and 200 to 40 MPa and 288 to 230 °C for stages 2 and 3. Combined with the H–O–C–S–Pb isotopic compositions, ore-forming fluids may have a metamorphic-dominant mixed source, which could be associated with the dehydration and decarbonisation of a subducting paleo-Pacific plate and characterized by medium–high temperature (285–350 °C), CO₂-bearing (~ 8 mol%) with minor CH₄ (1–4% in carbonic phase), and low salinity (3.38–8.45 eq. wt.% NaCl). During mineralization, the fluid finally evolved into a medium–low temperature NaCl–H₂O system. Au(HS)₂⁻ was the most probable gold-transporting complex at Wang'ershan, due to the low temperature (157–350 °C) and near-neutral to weakly acidic ore fluids. The reaction between gold-bearing fluids and iron-bearing wall-rocks, and fluid-immiscibility processes caused via fluid–pressure cycling during seismic movement along fault zones that host lode-gold orebodies, which led to breakdown of Au(HS)₂⁻, are interpreted as the two main precipitation mechanisms of gold deposition.In general, the Wang'ershan deposit and other deposits in the Jiaojia camp have concordant structural system and wall-rock alteration assemblages, nature of orebodies and gold occurrence conditions, as well as the similar geochronology, ore-forming fluids system and stable isotope compositions. Thus gold mineralization in the Jiaojia goldfield was a large-scale unified event, with consistent timing, origin, process and mechanism.     

The trinity pattern of Au deposits with porphyry,quartz–sulfide vein and structurally-controlled alteration rocks in Ciemas,West Java,Indonesia

The Ciemas gold mining area is located in the Sunda arc volcanic rock belt, West Java, Indonesia. Ore bodies are associated with Miocene andesite, dacite and quartz diorite porphyrite. To constrain ore genesis and mineralization significance, a detailed study was recently conducted examining these deposits, which included detailed field observation, petrographic study, petrochemistry, sulfur isotope analyses, zircon U–Pb dating, and fluid inclusion analysis. The results include the following findings. 1) Ore types have been identified as porphyry, a quartz–sulfide vein, and structure-controlled alteration rocks. 2) In host rocks, zircon LA–ICP-MS U–Pb dating of quartz diorite porphyrite, amphibole tuff breccia and andesite yield ages of 17.1 ± 0.4 Ma, 17.1 ± 0.4 Ma and 17.5 ± 0.3 Ma, respectively. 3) Fluid inclusions in the quartz from ore are given priority to liquid and gas–liquid phases, and their components are of the NaCl–H₂O system with homogenization temperatures of 240–320 °C, salinities of 14–17%, densities of 0.85–0.95 g/cm³, and fluid pressure values between 4.1 and 46.8 MPa, corresponding to metallogenic depths from 150 to 1730 m. Fluid characteristics are identified as similar to those of high sulfur epithermal deposits. 4) The sulfur isotopic compositions are notably uniform, the δ³⁴S values of wall rocks range from 3.71 to 3.85‰, and the δ³⁴S values of ores vary from 4.90‰ to 6.55‰. The sulfur isotopic composition of ores is similar to that of the wall rocks, indicating a mixed origin of mantle with a sedimentary basement. 5) The trace element patterns of different ore types are similar, which indicates that they originate from the same source. Au deposits primarily occurred during the late magmatic activity. Finally, we have set up the regional metallogenic model, confirming that this gold deposit in the Sunda arc volcanic rock belt belongs to a metallogenic system from porphyry to epithermal type.     

Bonanza-grade accumulations of gold tellurides in the Early Cretaceous Sandaowanzi deposit,northeast China

The Sandaowanzi epithermal gold deposit (0.5 Moz or ca. 14 tons), located at the northern edge of the Great Xing'an range, NE China, is unique in that nearly all the gold (> 95%) is contained in gold tellurides mostly in bonanza grade ore shoots (the highest grade being up to 20,000 g/t). The bonanza ores are hosted in the central parts of large-scale (> 3 m wide, 200 m long) quartz veins which crosscut Early Cretaceous andesitic trachyte and trachytic andesite, and are, in turn, crosscut by diabase dykes of similar age. There are two ore types: low-grade disseminated ores and high-grade vein ores. In the former, very fine grains of Ag-rich tellurides (mainly hessite and petzite) coexist with sulfides (pyrite, sphalerite, galena and chalcopyrite), occurring as disseminated grains or sometimes as grain aggregates. In the high-grade vein ores, coarse-grained Au–(Ag)–tellurides (calaverite, sylvanite, krennerite, and petzite) form a major part of quartz–telluride veins. Chalcopyrite forms separate monomineralic veins emplaced within the quartz–telluride veins. Spectacular textures among coarse-grained (up to 3 cm in diameter) tellurides, and micron-scale bamboo shoot-like grains are observed. Two- and three-phase telluride symplectites are common in the vein ores.Fluid inclusion studies suggest that the mineralizing fluids are a mixture of magmatic and meteoric fluids, that homogenized in the temperature range of 260–280 °C. Sulfur isotope compositions of pyrite and chalcopyrite (δ³⁴S − 1.64 to 1.91‰) support the origin of fluids from a deep source. It is suggested that faulting, temperature changes and variation in fS₂ and fTe₂ were major factors contributing to the two main types of mineralization and the differences between them. Early rapid cooling and subsequent slow cooling of the later fluids along fault and fracture zones were instrumental in formation of the two superposed ore types. Open-space filling and crack-sealing along fractures predominates over replacement during telluride mineralization. The Sandaowanzi deposit is a unique bonanza-grade accumulation of gold tellurides genetically related to subalkaline magmatism, which was genetically associated with Early Cretaceous regional extension.     

Boron,sulphur and copper isotope systematics in the orogenic gold deposits of the Archaean Hattu schist belt,eastern Finland

The Hattu schist belt is located in the western part of the Archaean Karelian domain of the Fennoscandian Shield. The orogenic gold deposits with Au–Bi–Te geochemical signatures are hosted by NE–SW, N–S and NW–SE oriented shear zones that deform 2.76–2.73 Ga volcanic and sedimentary sequences, as well as 2.75–2.72 Ga tonalite–granodiorite intrusions and diverse felsic porphyry dykes. Mo–W mineralization is also present in some tonalite intrusions, both separate from, and associated with Au mineralization. Somewhat younger, unmineralized leucogranite intrusions (2.70 Ga) also intrude the belt. Lower amphibolite facies peak metamorphism at 3–5 kbar pressures and at 500–600 °C temperatures affected the belt at around 2.70 Ga and post-date hydrothermal alteration and ore formation. In this study, we investigated the potential influence of magmatic-hydrothermal processes on the formation of orogenic gold deposits on the basis of multiple stable isotope (B, S, Cu) studies of tourmaline and sulphide minerals by application of in situ SIMS and LA ICP MS analytical techniques.Crystal chemistry of tourmaline from a Mo–W mineralization hosted by a tonalite intrusion in the Hattu schist belt is characterized by Fe^3 +–Al^3 +-substitution indicating relatively oxidizing conditions of hydrothermal processes. The range of δ¹¹B data for this kind of tourmaline is from − 17.2‰ to − 12.2‰. The hydrothermal tourmaline from felsic porphyry dyke swith gold mineralization has similar crystal chemistry (e.g. dravite–povondraite compositional trend with Fe^3 +–Al^3 + substitution) and δ¹¹B values between − 19.0‰ and − 9.6‰. The uvite–foitite compositional trend and δ¹¹B ‰ values between − 24.1% and − 13.6% characterize metasomatic–hydrothermal tourmaline from the metasediment-hosted gold deposits. Composition of hydrothermal vein-filling and disseminated tourmaline from the gold-bearing shear zones in metavolcanic rocks is transitional between the felsic intrusion and metasedimentary rock hosted hydrothermal tourmaline but the range of average boron isotope data is essentially identical with that of the metasediment-hosted tourmaline. Rock-forming (magmatic) tourmaline from leucogranite has δ¹¹B values between − 14.5‰ and − 10.8‰ and the major element composition is similar to that of the metasediment-hosted tourmaline.The range of δ³⁴S_VCDT values measured in pyrite, chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite is from − 9.1 to + 8.5‰, which falls within the typical range of sulphur isotope data for Archaean orogenic gold deposits. In the Hattu schist belt, positive δ³⁴S_VCDT values characterize metasediment-hosted gold ores with sulphide parageneses dominated by pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite. The δ³⁴S_VCDT values are both positive and negative in ore mineral parageneses within felsic intrusive rocks in which variable amounts of pyrrhotite are associated with pyrite. Purely negative values were only recorded from the pyrite-dominated gold mineralization within metavolcanic units. Therefore the shift of δ³⁴S_VCDT values to the negative values reflects precipitation of sulphide minerals from relatively oxidizing fluids. The range of measured δ⁶⁵Cu_NBS978 values from chalcopyrite is from − 1.11 to 1.19‰. Positive values are common for mineralization in felsic intrusive rocks and negative values are more typical for deposits confined to metasedimentary rocks. Positive and negative δ⁶⁵Cu_NBS978 values occur in the ores hosted by metavolcanic rocks. There is no correlation between sulphur and copper isotope data obtained in the same chalcopyrite grains.Evaluation of sulphur and boron isotope data together and comparisons with other Archaean orogenic gold provinces supports the hypothesis that the metasedimentary rocks were the major sources of sulphur and boron in the orogenic gold deposits in the Hattu schist belt. Variations in major element and boron isotope compositions in tourmaline, as well as in the δ³⁴S_VCDT values in sulphide minerals are attributed to localized involvement of magmatic fluids in the hydrothermal processes. The results of copper isotope studies indicate that local sources of copper in orogenic gold deposits may potentially be recognized if the original, distinct signatures of the sources have not been homogenized by widespread interaction of fluids with a large variety of rocks and provided that local chemical variations have been too small to trigger changes in the oxidation state of copper during hydrothermal processes.     

Ar-Ar ages of gold deposits in the Song Hien domain (NE Vietnam): Tectonic settings and comparison with Golden Triangle in China in terms of a single metallogenic province

The Song Hien rift basin is an important metallogenic area in NE Vietnam. This domain consists mainly of Triassic sulfide-rich black shale beds, which play a role as a sedimentary host for various mineral systems such as antimony, mercury and gold-sulfide deposits. Most of gold deposits are hosted in carbonaceous sedimentary rocks, however some deposits, which have similar characteristics, are hosted in fine-grained mafic magmatic rocks. An Ar-Ar isotopic dating of hydrothermal sericite from the sedimentary hosted Bo Va and Khung Khoang gold deposits and intrusion hosted orogenic Hat Han gold deposit yields plateau ages of 184.8 ± 2.1 Ma, 211.63 ± 2.3 Ma, and 209.12 ± 2.3 Ma, respectively. The obtained Ar-Ar ages convincingly show that the orogenic gold deposits in the Song Hien domain were formed in Late Triassic to Early Jurassic, while the age of the Bo Va deposit is at least older than 184.8 ± 2.1 Ma. Loss of argon by volume diffusion, supported by previously reported mineralogical and isotopic features of the Bo Va deposit may suggest that the Jurassic-Cretaceous (Yanshanian) tectonothermal events overprinted some deposits in the Song Hien domain. Formation of gold deposits in the Song Hien domain is linked to the same tectonic event as the Carlin-like gold deposits in SW China and is associated with an extensional tectonic regime that followed continental collision between the Indochina and South China Blocks. The similarity in geology setting and mineral composition of gold deposits of the Song Hien domain and the Golden Triangle region, as well as timing and kinematics of deformation, magmatic features, and stratigraphic sequence and bulk architecture, lead to conclusion that NE Vietnam and SW China is a single metallogenic zone. The study of gold deposits in Vietnam will provide a new data on the metallogenic history of this important part of SE Asia.     

In-situ LA-ICP-MS trace elemental analyses of magnetite: The Bayan Obo Fe-REE-Nb deposit,North China

The Bayan Obo Fe-REE-Nb deposit in northern China is the world's largest light REE deposit, and also contains considerable amounts of iron and niobium metals. Although there are numerous studies on the REE mineralization, the origin of the Fe mineralization is not well known. Laser ablation (LA) ICP-MS is used to obtain trace elements of Fe oxides in order to better understand the process involved in the formation of magnetite and hematite associated with the formation of the giant REE deposit. There are banded, disseminated and massive Fe ores with variable amounts of magnetite and hematite at Bayan Obo. Magnetite and hematite from the same ores show similar REE patterns and have similar Mg, Ti, V, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn, Ga, Sn, and Ba contents, indicating a similar origin. Magnetite grains from the banded ores have Al + Mn and Ti + V contents similar to those of banded iron formations (BIF), whereas those from the disseminated and massive ores have Al + Mn and Ti + V contents similar to those of skarn deposits and other types of magmatic-hydrothermal deposits. Magnetite grains from the banded ores with a major gangue mineral of barite have the highest REE contents and show slight moderate REE enrichment, whereas those from other types of ores show light REE enrichment, indicating two stages of REE mineralization associated with Fe mineralization. The Bayan Obo deposit had multiple sources for Fe and REEs. It is likely that sedimentary carbonates provided original REEs and were metasomatized by REE-rich hydrothermal fluids to form the giant REE deposit.     

The Hakkari nonsulfide Zn–Pb deposit in the context of other nonsulfide Zn–Pb deposits in the Tethyan Metallogenic Belt of Turkey

The Hakkari nonsulfide zinc deposit is situated close to the southeastern border of Turkey. Here both sulfide and nonsulfide Zn ≫ Pb ores are hosted in carbonate rocks of the Jurassic Cudi Group with features typical of carbonate-hosted supergene nonsulfide zinc mineralization. The regional strike extent of the mineralized district is at least 60 km. The age of the supergene deposit has not been determined, but it is probable that the main weathering happened during Upper Tertiary, possibly between Upper Miocene and Lower Pliocene. The Hakkari mineralization can be compared to other carbonate-hosted Zn–Pb deposits in Turkey, and an interpretation made of its geological setting. The zinc mineral association at Hakkari typically comprises smithsonite and hemimorphite, which apparently replace both sulfide minerals and carbonate host rock. Two generations of smithsonite are present: the first is relatively massive, the second occurs as concretions in cavities as a final filling of remnant porosity. Some zinc is also hosted within Fe–Mn-(hydr)oxides. Lead is present in cerussite, but also as partially oxidized galena. Lead can also occur in Mn-(hydr)oxides (max 30% PbO). The features of the supergene mineralization suggest that the Hakkari deposit belongs both to the “direct replacement” and the “wall-rock replacement” types of nonsulfide ores. Mineralization varies in style from tabular bodies of variable thickness (< 0.5 to 13 m) to cross-cutting breccia zones and disseminated ore minerals in pore spaces and fracture planes. At Hakkari a As–Sb–Tl(≫ Hg) geochemical association has been detected, which may point to primary sulfide mineralization, quite different from typical MVT.     

Geology and genesis of Kafang Cu–Sn deposit,Gejiu district,SW China

Kafang is one of the main ore deposits in the world-class Gejiu polymetallic tin district, SW China. There are three main mineralization types in the Kafang deposit, i.e., skarn Cu–Sn ores, stratiform Cu ores hosted by basalt and stratiform Cu–Sn ores hosted by carbonate. The skarn mainly consists of garnet and pyroxene, and retrograde altered rocks. These retrograde altered rocks are superimposed on the skarn and are composed of actinolite, chlorite, epidote and phlogopite. Major ore minerals are chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, cassiterite, pyrite and scheelite. Sulfur and Pb isotopic components hint that the sources of different types of mineralization are distinctive, and indicate that the skarn ore mainly originated from granitic magma, whereas the basalt-hosted Cu ores mainly derived from basalt. Microthermometry results of fluid inclusions display a gradual change during the ore-forming process. The homogenization temperature of different types of inclusions continuously decreases from early to late mineralization stages. The salinities and freezing temperatures exhibit similar evolutionary tendencies with the T _{homogenization}, while the densities of the different types keep constant, the majority being less than 1. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopic values (δ¹⁸O and δD) of the hydrothermal fluids fall within ranges of 3.1 to 7.7‰ with an average of 6.15‰, calculated at the corresponding homogenization temperature, and − 73 and − 98‰ with an average of − 86.5‰, respectively. Microthermometry data and H–O isotopes indicate that the ore-forming fluid of the Kafang deposit is mainly derived from magma in the early stage and a mixture of meteoric and magmatic water in late stage. Molybdenite Re–Os age of the skarn type mineralization is 83.4 ± 2.1 Ma, and the stratiform ores hosted by basalt is 84.2 ± 7.3 Ma, which are consistent with the LA-ICP-MS zircon age of the Xinshan granite intrusion (83.1 ± 0.4 Ma). The evidence listed above reflects the fact that different ore styles in the Kafang deposit belong to the same mineralization system.     

Genesis of the Zhengguang gold deposit in the Duobaoshan ore field,Heilongjiang Province,NE China: Constraints from geology,geochronology and S-Pb isotopic compositions

The Zhengguang gold deposit in the Duobaoshan ore field, hosted in volcanic rocks of the Middle Ordovician Duobaoshan Formation, is one of the largest gold deposits in the Northeastern Great Xing’an Range of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The deposit comprises the No. I, II and III ore zones with a total resource exceeding 35 tonnes of Au, 100,000 tonnes of Zn and 100 tonnes of Ag. A genetic relationship between gold mineralization and concealed tonalite porphyry is inferred based on the characteristics of cryptoexplosive breccia and hydrothermal alteration indicative of porphyry-type and epithermal mineralization. Zircon LA-ICPMS U-Pb dating reveals that the tonalite porphyry was emplaced at 462.1 ± 1.8 Ma (Middle Ordovician). The δ³⁴S_V-CDT values of sulfide minerals range from −3.0‰ to −1.7‰ with an average of −2.33‰, indicating that sulfur was mainly derived from a magmatic source. The Pb isotopic compositions (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ranging from 17.572 to 17.629, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb from 15.424 to 15.486, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb from 37.206 to 37.418) suggest a major mantle component for Pb and, by inference, for other ore metals. Therefore, we suggest that the ore-forming elements in the Zhengguang gold deposit may be related to the mantle-sourced tonalite porphyry. On the basis of the geological characteristics and geochemical signatures documented in this study, we conclude that the Zhengguang gold deposit was formed in a porphyry to epithermal transitional environment associated with the concealed tonalite porphyry, as part of the Duobaoshan porphyry-epithermal ore system that is related to the subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean during the Ordovician.     

Late Cretaceous metallogeny in the Zhongdian area: Constraints from Re–Os dating of molybdenite and pyrrhotite from the Hongshan Cu deposit,Yunnan, China

The Zhongdian area in Yunnan, southwestern China, located at the southern end of the Yidun volcano-magmatic arc that was formed during the Triassic westward subduction of the Gaze-Litang Ocean, hosts numerous Triassic large porphyry and skarn deposits. The arc suffered Jurassic to Cretaceous arc-continental orogenic collision and Cenozoic intracontinental strike-slip shearing. The Hongshan Cu (–Mo–Pb–Zn) deposit is potentially a large deposit and contains two ore types: 1) predominant layered skarn Cu–(Pb–Zn) ores along marble-hornfels contacts; and 2) minor crosscutting vein-type Cu–Mo mineralization. Previous research forwards a two-stage genetic model without sufficient dating evidence, supposing the skarn mineralization is related to the Triassic calc-alkalic intrusions and the vein-type mineralization related to Cretaceous quartz monzonite porphyries. Re–Os dating of molybdenite from vein-type ores and quartz monzonite porphyries and that of pyrrhotite from skarn ores are presented here to constrain the mineralization age and rebuild the genetic model. Analyses of eight molybdenite samples yield an isochron age of 79.7 ± 3.1 Ma (MSWD = 9.2) for the vein-type mineralization and a model age of 81.9 ± 1.1 Ma for the quartz monzonite porphyries. Isotope data on seven pyrrhotite samples from the skarn ores yield an isochron age of 79 ± 16 Ma z(MSWD = 8.4). The Re–Os ages for the two ore types are concordant within analytical errors, indicating that the Hongshan deposit was formed in the Late Cretaceous. Elevated Re contents in molybdenite (13.65 to 63.91 μg/g) and extremely radiogenic initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratios in pyrrhotite (0.7673 to 0.8184; weighted average 0.796 ± 0.038), together with elevated γ_Os values in pyrrhotite (507 to 547; average 528) imply a significant crustal component in the ore-forming materials that was likely derived from a lower crustal reservoir. Combined with the tectonic evolution of the Zhongdian area and geochemical characteristics of corresponding intrusions, the ages of mineralization obtained in this study indicate that the Hongshan deposit was formed in a post-collision setting with a genetic relationship to the emplacement of the quartz monzonite porphyry. These results provide significant new information for the study and exploration of the Late Cretaceous metallogeny in the Zhongdian area.     

Quantifying the potential for recoverable resources of gallium,germanium and antimony as companion metals in Australia

Although critical to newly evolving and increasingly essential technologies, antimony (Sb), gallium (Ga), and germanium (Ge) are generally recovered as byproducts or ‘companion metals’ of other metal ores. The stage at which companion metals are extracted depends on metallurgical processes by which the host ore mineral is extracted and processed; many companion metals are recovered late during this processing. Therefore, the current and future supply of companion metals relies not only on production of major commodities, but also on the efficient recovery of these metals during processing that recovers the primary commodity.National geological surveys, particularly the USGS, publish annual estimates of global reserves for a variety of primary metals, but generally not for companion metals. This study provides estimates for the geogenic stocks (in waste rock piles, tailings, smelting, and refining) of Ga, Ge, and Sb as companion metals. These elements are mined in Australia but may be recovered outside of Australia, but their life cycles have not yet been well understood.Based on the methodology adapted, this paper estimates a minimum of 970–1230 kt of Ga, 30–10,000 kt of Ge and 70–1000 kt of Sb in current Australian lead-zinc-silver, gold, copper, iron ore, coal, bauxite, and bauxite residue (red mud) resources. The large range of estimated stocks stems from the variable range of ore grades reported by companies and the considerable uncertainty that exists among the grade estimates presented. However, these estimates are reflective of best practice in mineral resource estimation of Ga, Ge, and Sb, and provide a basis for determining similar recoverable resource estimates of other companion metals, such as indium, rhenium, and selenium, all of which are of increasing importance in modern-day life.