The Nassara gold prospect,Gaoua District,southwestern Burkina Faso

The Nassara-Au prospect is located in the Birimian Boromo Greenstone Belt in southwestern Burkina Faso. It is part of a larger mineralized field that includes the Cu–Au porphyry system of Gaoua, to the north. At Nassara, mineralization occurs within the West Batié Shear Zone that follows the contact between volcanic rocks (basalt and andesite) and volcano-sediments (pyroclastics and black shales) at the southern termination of the Boromo Belt. Gold is associated with pyrite and other Fe-bearing minerals that occur disseminated within the sheared volcanic and volcano-sedimentary rocks. In particular, highest grades are distinguished in alteration halos of small quartz–albite–ankerite veins that form networks along the shear zone. Here, pyrites are marked by As-poor and As-rich growth zones, the latter containing gold inclusions. Gold mineralization formed during D2_NA. Subsequent shear fractures related to D3_NA related are devoid of gold. Nassara is a classical orogenic gold occurrence where gold is associated to disseminated pyrite along quartz veins.     

Mineralogical siting and distribution of gold in quartz veins and sulfide ores of the Ashanti mine and other deposits in the Ashanti belt of Ghana: genetic implications

The Ashanti belt of Ghana constitutes a gold province which has produced a total of about 1500 t of gold historically. Gold mineralization is found in steep, NNE-SSW to NE-SW trending shear zones predominantly transecting metasediments of the Palaeoproterozoic Birimian Supergroup (2.2–2.1 Ga), disseminated in ca. 2.1 Ga granitoids, in paleo-conglomerates of the Tarkwaian Group (< 2135 Ma), and in recent placers. The distribution of gold, its chemistry, paragenesis and mineralogical siting in the mesothermal ores of the major mines in the Ashanti belt, namely Konongo, Ashanti, Bogosu and Prestea mine, are the subject of this study. At the localities studied, gold is present in two main types of ores: 1. Quartz veins with free-milling gold. The gold is relatively silver-rich (true fineness values from 730 to 954) and is accompanied by a distinct suite of Cu, Pb, Sb sulfides. 2. Sulfide ores, consisting of arsenopyrite, pyrite and rarer pyrrhotite and marcasite, with refractory gold. The ores have apparent fineness values larger than 910. Arsenopyrite and locally (at Bogosu) pyrite were identified as the hosts of submicroscopic gold. Mean concentrations of gold in arsenopyrite in various samples from the different mines, obtained by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), range from 67 to 314 ppm Au. Gold concentration mapping in individual arsenopyrite crystals from the different deposits revealed similar patterns of gold distribution: the grains possess a gold-poor core, and elevated gold contents are present along distinct crystal growth zones towards their rims. The outermost crystal layer is usually gold-poor. The well-preserved distribution patterns also indicate that remobilization of gold from the sulfides played an insignificant role in the ores of the Ashanti belt. Multiple quartz veining and growth zoning of the sulfides are interpreted as manifestations of multiple episodes of fluid infiltration, fluid flow and mineral deposition. The bimodal occurrence of gold in spatially closely associated quartz vein and sulfide ores indicates a genetic link between these ore types. A model implying a grossly coeval formation of the ores from mesothermal fluids is proposed. Received: 28 September 1995 / Accepted: 11 June 1996     

Compositional characteristics of fluid inclusions as exploration tool for Au-mineralization at Larafella, Burkina Faso

The Larafella Au-prospect (Burkina Faso) lies within dacitic rocks of the Palaeoproterozoic Birimian greenstone belts. Gold mineralization is intimately associated with zones of cataclastic deformation. Whilst the lode-vein mineralization is closely associated with CO₂-rich fluid inclusions, the barren quartz veins are characterized by H₂O ± salt-bearing inclusions. Geochemical studies on the immediate wall-rock of the quartz veins have shown an increase of As in zones of gold enrichment, while alteration overprints such as carbonatization and chloritization cannot be correlated unequivocally with Au-mineralization. Consequently, fluid inclusion studies of quartz veins and As-anomalies constitute important exploration tools for mesothermal gold mineralization, since Au-rich zones can be distinguished from Au-depleted zones.     

糜棱岩型金矿床地质特征

当糜棱岩中金元素的含量足以满足工业利用,即在糜棱岩中可圈出独立的金矿体时,这种金矿床便可称为糜棱岩型金矿床.糜棱岩型金矿床是"中国金矿床工业类型"中的重要类型之一.此类金矿床多分布在古老地块周边长期活动的构造带之中.介绍了糜棱岩型金矿床的赋矿岩系、控矿构造、矿床、矿体、矿石以及含金矿物等地质特征.同时,对金成矿地质环境及矿床成因等作了探讨     

Multi-stage pyrite and hydrothermal mineral assemblage of the Hatu gold district (west Junggar,Xinjiang, NW China): Implications for metallogenic evolution

The Hatu, Qi-III, and Qi-V gold deposits in the Hatu–Baobei volcanic–sedimentary basin (west Junggar, Xinjiang) represent the proximal, middle, and distal parts of the Hatu gold district, respectively. Orebodies of these deposits mainly consist of Au-bearing quartz veins and altered host rocks with disseminated sulfide minerals. Six types of pyrite in these mines are studied here to illustrate ore-formation processes. Sedimentary pyrite, including framboidal and fine-grained pyrite, occurs in mudstone-bearing sedimentary rocks or altered volcanic–sedimentary rocks. Framboidal pyrite formed during redox changes in sedimentary layers. Hydrothermal pyrite contains five subgroups, from Py1 to Py5. Porous Py1 formed prior to gold mineralization, and is overgrown by Py2 that contains inclusions of sulfide minerals and native gold. Coarser Py3 coexists with arsenopyrite and native gold, and contains the greatest As concentrations. Gold and antimony are also preferentially concentrated in arsenian Py2 and Py3. The Au–As-deficient Py4 and Py5 formed during the post-ore process. There is a negative correlation between the As and S contents in Py1, Py2, and Py3, implying the substitution of sulfur by arsenic. Gold precipitated under relatively reducing condition in framboid- and graphite-bearing tuffaceous rocks. Cesium, Rb, Sr, La, Ce, Au, As, Sb, Cu, and Pb are concentrated in altered host rocks. The Au-bearing quartz veins and disseminated sulfide mineral orebodies were formed via a co-genetic hydrothermal fluid and formed during different stages. The variation of fO₂ during fluid/rock interactions, and crystallization of arsenian pyrite were major factors that controlled gold precipitation.     

Early Tertiary epithermal gold mineralization, Bahcecik prospect, northeastern Turkey

The Bahcecik prospect is located in the eastern Pontide tectonic province of the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. It is one of the first low sulfidation epithermal systems to be described from this area of Turkey. Gold mineralization occurred within Late Cretaceous to early Tertiary volcanic rocks and is localized along east-trending normal faults and lithologic contacts. An early quartz–sericite alteration event was focused along the major fault in the area and resulted in precipitation of arsenian (?) pyrite with anomalous gold. A later, more spatially extensive, advanced argillic alteration event overprinted the quartz–sericite event. Native gold was precipitated during this event as disseminations and fracture fillings in quartz. Gold mineralization is restricted to the high-temperature portion of the alteration zone characterized by quartz veins with diaspore–pyrophyllite selvages. The prospect area was subjected to Tertiary to Holocene supergene alteration.     

马来西亚吉兰丹SOKOR金矿地质特征及成因浅析

马来半岛金矿主要分布在半岛中央金矿带北部,该成矿带地处特提斯成矿带与环太平洋成矿带交汇处,成矿条件优越。含矿岩石主要是千枚岩及石英斑岩,矿物以黄铁矿为主,矿体产状与接触带产状基本一致,金矿化类型主要有含金块状硫化物型、含金石英脉型及褐铁矿型3种,品位变化较大。矿床地质特征、矿体产状及矿化蚀变信息表明成矿与热液活动紧密相关,应属于浅成低温热液型金矿。     

Gold-Related Sulfide Mineralization and Ore Genesis of the Penjom Gold Deposit, Pahang, Malaysia

The Penjom gold deposit lies on the eastern side of the Raub‐Bentong Suture line within the Central Belt of Permo‐Triassic rocks, near Kuala Lipis, Pahang, Malaysia. The geology of the deposit is dominated by a sequence of fine‐ to coarse‐grained rhyolitic to rhyodacitic tuff, tuff‐breccia and a minor rhyolitic–rhyodacitic volcanic series, associated with argillaceous marine sedimentary rocks consisting of shale with subordinate shalely limestone of Padang Tungku Formation and Pahang Volcanic Series. Fine‐ to coarse‐grained tonalite and quartz porphyry intruded this unit. The main structural features of the area are north–south‐trending left‐lateral strike‐slip faults and their subsidiaries, which generally strike north–south and dip moderately to the east (350°–360°/40°–60°). Mineralization at the Penjom gold deposit is structurally controlled and also erratic laterally and vertically. The gold mineralization can be categorized as (i) gold associated with carbonate‐rich zones hosted within dilated quartz veins carrying significant amount of sulfides; (ii) gold disseminated within stockwork of quartz–carbonate veins affiliated with tonalite; and (iii) gold often associated with arsenopyrite and pyrite in quartz–carbonate veins and stringers hosted within shear zones of brittle–ductile nature in all rock types and in brittle fractured rhyodacitic volcanic rocks. Sphalerite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite and pyrrhotite are the minerals accompanying the early stage of gold mineralization. These minerals also suffered from local brittle deformation. However, most of the gold mineralization took place after the deposition of these sulfides. Galena appears somewhat towards the end of gold mineralization, whereas tellurium and bismuth accompanied gold contemporaneously. The gold mineralization occurred most probably due to the metamorphogenic deformational origin concentrated mostly in the shear zone. The mineralization is strongly controlled by the wall rock (e.g. graphitic shale), the sulfide minerals and fluid–rock interaction.     

The La Unión Au ± Cu prospect,Camagüey District,Cuba: fluid inclusion and stable isotope evidence for ore-forming processes

The Camagüey district, Cuba, is known for its epithermal precious metal deposits in a Cretaceous volcanic arc setting. Recently, the La Unión prospect was discovered in the southern part of the district, containing gold and minor copper mineralization interpreted as porphyry type. Mineralization is hosted in a 73.0 ± 1.5 Ma calc–alkaline I-type oxidized porphyry quartz diorite intrusive within volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks of the early Cretaceous Guáimaro Formation. The porphyry is affected by propylitic alteration and crosscut by a network of quartz and carbonate veinlets and veins. Chlorite, epidote, sericite, quartz, and pyrite are the main minerals in the early veins which are cut by late carbonate and zeolite veins. Late barite pseudomorphously replaces pyrite. Gold is associated with pyrite as disseminations in the altered quartz diorite and in the veins, occurring as inclusions or filling fractures in pyrite with 4 g/t Au in bulk samples, and up to 900 ppm Au in in pyrite. Fluid inclusion and oxygen isotope data are consistent with a H₂O–NaCl–(KCl) mineralizing fluid, derived from the quartz diorite magma, and trapped at least at 425°C and 1.2 kbar. This primary fluid unmixed into two fluid phases, a hypersaline aqueous fluid and a low-salinity vapor-rich fluid. Boiling during cooling may have played an important role in metal precipitation. Pyrite δ³⁴S values for the La Unión prospect range between 0.71‰ and 1.31‰, consistent with a homogeneous magmatic sulfur source. The fluids in equilibrium with the mineralized rocks have estimated δ¹⁸O values from 8‰ to 11.8‰, calculated for a temperature range of 480–505°C. The tectonic environment of the La Unión prospect, its high gold and low copper contents, the physical–chemical characteristics of the mineralizing fluids and the isotopic signature of the alteration minerals and fluids indicate that the La Unión gold mineralization is similar to the porphyry gold type, even though the ore-related epidote–chlorite alteration can be classified as propylitic and not the classic potassic and/or phyllic alteration. The low copper contents in the prospect could be due to a mineralizing fluid previously saturated in copper, which is indicated by trapped chalcopyrite crystals in high-temperature fluid inclusions. The low-temperature paragenesis, represented by carbonate, zeolite and barite, indicates epithermal overprint. The study shows the potential for other gold porphyry-type deposits in the Cretaceous volcanoplutonic arc of Cuba.     

北山地区金矿床金的赋存状态和金矿物特征

甘肃北山地区金矿床主要有岩浆热液型金矿床和与韧性剪切带有关的金矿床,矿化类型为石英脉型和蚀变岩型。金多呈独立金矿物形式出现,少放许呈分散状;金矿物以银金矿为主,次为自然金,平均成色７７２;金矿物以粒间金、裂隙金、连生金、连生金和包体金等形成嵌布于石英、黄铁矿、方铅矿及闪锌矿等主要载物较为发育。金矿物特征反映出本区金矿床的成矿物质主要来源于变质岩,华力西－印支期中酸性岩浆活动是主要的动力源。     

New Promising Gold-Ore Objects in the Strelna Greenstone Belt,Kola Peninsula

Data on gold ore objects in the Strelna Greenstone Belt in the southeastern Kola Peninsula are presented in the paper. The studied Vorgovy and Sergozero ore occurrences are localized in the zone of tectonic contact of the Neoarchean complexes making up the greenstone belt and the volcanic–sedimentary sequences of the Paleoproterozoic Imandra–Varzuga Zone. The Vorgovy gold occurrence is related to stockwork of carbonate–quartz veins and veinlets hosted in a biotite gneiss transformed into chlorite–sericite–quartz metasomatic rock with pyrrhotite–arsenopyrite dissemination. The Sergozero occurrence is localized in amphibolites corresponding to komatiitic and tholeiitic basalts hosted in biotite gneiss (metapelite). Mineralization is confined to the zone of tectonized contact between komatiitic and tholeiitic basalts, where it is controlled by a strip of metasomatic biotite–calcite rock with gersdorffite–arsenopyrite dissemination. The native gold grains medium to high in fineness are up to 0.1 mm in size and mainly localized at the contact of arsenopyrite and gersdorffite with gangue minerals. Gold mineralization is of superimposed character, and, as indicated by isotopic geochronology, was formed at the retrograde stage of the Svecofennian regional metamorphism. Comparison of ore occurrences localized in the Strelna Greenstone Belt with gold deposits in greenstone belts of the western Fennoscandian Shield and the Superior Province in Canada allows us to suggest a high perspective of the entire Strelna Belt for gold.     

Infrared spectral reflectance characterization of the hydrothermal alteration at the Tuwu Cu–Au deposit, Xinjiang, China

Short-wave infrared (SWIR) reflectance spectroscopy was used to characterize hydrothermal minerals and map alteration zones in the Tuwu Cu–Au deposit, Xinjiang, China. The Palaeozoic hydrothermal system at Tuwu is structurally controlled, developed in andesitic volcanic rocks and minor porphyries. Hydrothermal alteration is characterized by horizontally zoned development of quartz, sericite, chlorite, epidote, montmorillonite and kaolin about individual porphyry dykes and breccia zones, as is shown by changes outward from a core of quartz veining and silicification, through an inner zone of sericite + chlorite to a marginal zone of chlorite + epidote. The alteration system comprises several such zoning patterns. Silicification and sericitization are spatially associated with Cu–Au mineralization. Zoning is also shown by compositional variations such that Fe-rich chlorite and Al-rich sericite occur preferentially toward the core and the most intensely altered parts, whereas Mg-rich chlorite and relatively Al-poor sericite are present on the margin and the relatively weakly altered parts of the hydrothermal alteration system. The compositions of chlorite and sericite, therefore, can be potentially used as vectors to Cu–Au mineralization. Montmorillonite and kaolinite, of probable weathering origin, are located near the surface, forming an argillic blanket overlying Cu–Au mineralization. Sporadic montmorillonite is also present at depth in the hydrothermal alteration system, formed by descending groundwater. Presence of a well-developed kaolinite-bearing zone on the surface is an indication of possible underlying Cu–Au mineralization in this region. Epidote occurs widely in regional volcanic rocks, as well as in variably altered rocks on the margin of the hydrothermal mineralization system at Tuwu. The widespread occurrence of epidote in volcanic country rocks probably reflects a regional hydrothermal alteration event prior to the localized, porphyry intrusion-related hydrothermal process that led to the Cu–Au mineralization at Tuwu.     

河北青龙河地区下元古界浊积岩金矿床

笔者应用岩石学、构造学、矿床学、地球化学等手段和方法研究了该区金矿床的特点和形成条件,结果表明青龙河金矿的容矿岩石是一套成分以火山(碎屑)岩岩屑为主的浊积岩,其含金量高达2.87g/t,且金主要与硫化物共生,浊积岩是金的矿源层。矿区内有细脉浸染型和含金石英脉型矿床。金矿的形成受浊流作用、火山作用和后生热液作用的控制。     

Gold and copper mineralization at the El Indio deposit, Chile

A Middle Tertiary volcanic belt in the High Andes of north-central Chile hosts numerous precious- and base-metal epithermal deposits over its 150 km north-south trend. The El Indio district, believed to be associated with a hydrothermal system in the late stages of development of a volcanic caldera, consists of a series of separate vein systems located in an area of 30 km² which has undergone intense argillic-sericitic-solfataric alteration. The majority of the known gold-copper-silver mineralization occurs within a structural block only 150 by 500 m in surface area, with a recognized vertical extent exceeding 300 m. This block is bounded by two high-angle northeast-trending faults oriented subparallel to the mineralized veins.Hypogene mineralization at El Indio is grouped into two main ore-forming stages: Copper and Gold. The Copper stage is composed chiefly of enargite and pyrite forming massive veins up to 20 m wide, and is accompanied by alteration of the wall rocks to alunite, kaolinite, sericite, pyrite and quartz. The Gold stage consists of vein-filling quartz, pyrite, native gold, tennantite and subordinate amounts of a wide variety of telluride minerals. Associated with this stage is pervasive alteration of the wall rocks to sericite, kaolinite, quartz and minor pyrophyllite. The transition from copper to gold mineralization is marked by the alteration of enargite to tennantite and by minor deposition of sphalerite, galena, huebnerite, chalcopyrite and gold. Mineral stability relations indicate that there was a general decrease in the activity of S₂ accompanied by variations in the activity of Te₂ during the Gold stage.Fluid-inclusion data show homogenization temperatures ranging from about 220 to 280°C, with salinities on the order of 3–4 eq. wt. % NaCl for the Copper stage. The Gold-stage inclusions indicate a similar range in homogenization temperatures, but significantly lower salinities (0.1–1.4 eq. wt. % NaCl). Fluid inclusions of transition minerals show a weak inverse relationship between homogenization temperatures (190–250°C) and salinities (3.4–1.4 eq. wt. % NaCl), which may represent mixing of hotter Gold-stage fluids with cooler late-Copper-stage fluids. No evidence of boiling was found in fluid inclusions, but CO₂ vapor-rich inclusions were identified in wall-rock quartz phenocrysts which pre-date copper and gold mineralization.Mineral stability calculations indicate that given a fairly restricted range of solution compositions, the Copper-, Transition- and Gold-stage minerals at El Indio could have been deposited from a single solution, with constant total dissolved sulfur which underwent reduction through time. Limited sulfur-isotope data indicates that pyrite from the Copper stage was not in isotopic equilibrium with Copper-stage alunite or Transition-stage sphalerite. The sulfur-isotope and fluid-inclusion data indicate that two fluids with comparable temperatures but different compositions flowed through the El Indio system. The earlier fluid deposited copper attended by sericite-alunite-kaolinite alteration, and later epithermal fluids deposited gold with quartz-sericite-kaolinite-pyrite alteration.     

Ore Mineralogy and Mineral Chemistry of the Ashanti Gold Deposit at Obuasi, Ghana

Abstract: The gold deposit at Ashanti occurs in the Proterozoic Birimian formation of Ghana. Two main ore types mined from the deposit are gold-bearing quartz veins, and gold-sulfide disseminations in metasediments and metavolcanics. The main sulfide minerals in the gold-sulfide disseminated ores are arsenopyrite, pyrite and pyrrhotite, and to a very minor extent, sphalerite and tetrahedrite. Carbonate alteration and sericitization are prominent in the metavolcanics and the metasediments, respectively. In the quartz veins, pyrite and arsenopyrite commonly occur in small amounts, but gold mostly occurs in contact with tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, galena, aurostibite, and sphalerite. Pyrrhotite is absent in the quartz veins.
Microprobe studies indicate that As content of homogeneous arsenopyrite grains ranges from 27. 0 to 31. 7 atm%, and gives mineralization temperatures from 170 to 430°C, although mostly from 300 to 400°C. Chlorite geothermometry using temperature dependence of substitution of Al for Si in the tetrahedral site gives formation temeratures of 330 to 400°C, comparable to the arsenopyrite temperatures. Applying sphalerite–pyrite–pyrrhotite geobarometry to sphalerite with FeS contents from 13. 6 to 12. 5 mol%, the pressure was estimated to be in a range from 5. 9 to 7. 0 kb at the stage of elevated temperatures.
Mineralogical observations, especially absence of pyrrhotite in the quartz veins, together with microprobe data for gold and associated minerals suggest that the fluids having ascended through fissures in the Ashanti deposit were reduced by the reaction with carbonaceous materials in the metasediments during the declining stage of the regional metamorphism.     

福建尤溪肖板金矿床金的赋存状态及金矿物特征

肖板金矿床属受构造控制的中低温岩浆热液矿床,矿化类型为构造蚀变岩型。金多呈独立金矿物形式出现,少许呈分散状;金矿物以自然金为主,平均成色９３０,有少量银金矿和碲金矿。金矿物以包体金、裂隙金、连生金和粒间金等形式嵌布于黄铁矿、黄铜矿、石英、方铅矿及方解石等主要载金矿物中,且石英、方解石中较金属硫化物中占优势。金矿物形态各异,粒度以中细粒为主。     

Orogenic Gold Mineralization in the Qolqoleh Deposit, Northwestern Iran

The Qolqoleh gold deposit is located in the northwestern part of the Sanandai‐Sirjan Zone, northwest of Iran. Gold mineralization in the Qolqoleh deposit is almost entirely confined to a series of steeply dipping ductile–brittle shear zones generated during Late Cretaceous–Tertiary continental collision between the Afro‐Arabian and the Iranian microcontinent. The host rocks are Mesozoic volcano‐sedimentary sequences consisting of felsic to mafic metavolcanics, which are metamorphosed to greenschist facies, sericite and chlorite schists. The gold orebodies were found within strong ductile deformation to late brittle deformation. Ore‐controlling structure is NE–SW‐trending oblique thrust with vergence toward south ductile–brittle shear zone. The highly strained host rocks show a combination of mylonitic and cataclastic microstructures, including crystal–plastic deformation and grain size reduction by recrystalization of quartz and mica. The gold orebodies are composed of Au‐bearing highly deformed and altered mylonitic host rocks and cross‐cutting Au‐ and sulfide‐bearing quartz veins. Approximately half of the mineralization is in the form of dissemination in the mylonite and the remainder was clearly emplaced as a result of brittle deformation in quartz–sulfide microfractures, microveins and veins. Only low volumes of gold concentration was introduced during ductile deformation, whereas, during the evident brittle deformation phase, competence contrasts allowed fracturing to focus on the quartz–sericite domain boundaries of the mylonitic foliation, thus permitting the introduction of auriferous fluid to create disseminated and cross‐cutting Au‐quartz veins. According to mineral assemblages and alteration intensity, hydrothermal alteration could be divided into three zones: silicification and sulfidation zone (major ore body); sericite and carbonate alteration zone; and sericite–chlorite alteration zone that may be taken to imply wall‐rock interaction with near neutral fluids (pH 5–6). Silicified and sulfide alteration zone is observed in the inner parts of alteration zones. High gold grades belong to silicified highly deformed mylonitic and ultramylonitic domains and silicified sulfide‐bearing microveins. Based on paragenetic relationships, three main stages of mineralization are recognized in the Qolqoleh gold deposit. Stage I encompasses deposition of large volumes of milky quartz and pyrite. Stage II includes gray and buck quartz, pyrite and minor calcite, sphalerite, subordinate chalcopyrite and gold ores. Stage III consists of comb quartz and calcite, magnetite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite and gold ores. Studies on regional geology, ore geology and ore‐forming stages have proved that the Qolqoleh deposit was formed in the compression–extension stage during the Late Cretaceous–Tertiary continental collision in a ductile–brittle shear zone, and is characterized by orogenic gold deposits.     

The Crater Mountain Deposit,Papua New Guinea: Porphyry‐related Au–Te System

Ore mineralization and wall rock alteration of Crater Mountain gold deposit, Papua New Guinea, were investigated using ore and host rock samples from drill holes for ore and alteration mineralogical study. The host rocks of the deposit are quartz‐feldspar porphyry, feldspar‐hornblende porphyry, andesitic volcanics and pyroclastics, and basaltic‐andesitic tuff. The main ore minerals are pyrite, sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite and moderate amounts of tetrahedrite, tennantite, pyrrhotite, bornite and enargite. Small amounts of enargite, tetradymite, altaite, heyrovskyite, bismuthinite, bornite, idaite, cubanite, native gold, CuPbS₂, an unidentified Bi‐Te‐S mineral and argentopyrite occur as inclusions mainly in pyrite veins and grains. Native gold occurs significantly in the As‐rich pyrite veins in volcanic units, and coexists with Bi‐Te‐S mineral species and rarely with chalcopyrite and cubanite relics. Four mineralization stages were recognized based on the observations of ore textures. Stage I is characterized by quartz‐sericite‐calcite alteration with trace pyrite and chalcopyrite in the monomict diatreme breccias; Stage II is defined by the crystallization of pyrite and by weak quartz‐chlorite‐sericite‐calcite alteration; Stage III is a major ore formation episode where sulfides deposited as disseminated grains and veins that host native gold, and is divided into three sub‐stages; Stage IV is characterized by predominant carbonitization. Gold mineralization occurred in the sub‐stages 2 and 3 in Stage III. The fS₂ is considered to have decreased from ～10^?2 to 10^?14 atm with decreasing temperature of fluid.     

Characteristics of Gold Mineralization at the Ciurug Vein, Pongkor Gold-Silver Deposit, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract. The Pongkor Gold‐Silver Mine, Bogor district, West Java, is approximately 80 km southwest of Jakarta. The gold and silver mineralization in the area is present in a deposit consisting of an epithermal vein‐system named individually as the Pasir Jawa, Gudang Handak, Ciguha, Pamoyanan, Kubang Cicau, and Ciurug veins. In the area studied, rocks of basaltic‐andesitic composition are dominated by volcanic breccia and lapilli tuff, with andesite lava and siltstone present locally. The hydrothermal alteration minerals in the Ciurug area are typical of those formed from acid to near‐neutral pH thermal waters, where the acid alteration is distributed from the surface to shallow depth, while the near‐neutral pH alteration becomes dominant at depths. The Ciurug vein shows four main mineralization stages where each discrete stage is characterized by a specific facies; these are, from early to late: carbonate‐quartz, manganese carbonate‐quartz, banded‐massive quartz and gray sulfide‐quartz facies. The major metallic minerals are pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena; they occur in almost each mineralization stage. Bornite was observed only in the southern part of the Ciurug vein at a depth of 515 m, and the occurrence of this mineral is reported here for the first time. Electrum and silver sulfides (mostly acanthite) are minor, whereas silver sulfosalts, stromeyerite and mckinstryite, and covellite are in trace amounts. The silver sulfosalts have compositional ranges of pearceite, antimon‐pearceite and polybasite. Most of the electrum occurs coexisting with other sulfide minerals, as inclusions in pyrite grains, with very little as inclusions in chalcopyrite or sphalerite. Gold grades within the Ciurug vein vary from 1.2 to hundreds of ppm, where the highest gold grade occurs in the latest mineralization stage in a thin sulfide band in vein quartz. Fluid inclusion microthermometry of calcite and quartz indicates deposition throughout the mineralized veins in the range from 170 to 230d?C and from low salinity fluids (predominantly lower than 0.2 wt% NaCl equiv.). Fluid inclusions occur with features of boiling.     

First evidence of epithermal gold occurrences in the SE Afar Rift,Republic of Djibouti

The geology of the Republic of Djibouti, in the SE Afar Triangle, is characterized by intense tectonic and bimodal volcanic activity that began as early as 25–30 Ma. Each magmatic event was accompanied by hydrothermal activity. Mineralization generally occurs as gold–silver bearing chalcedony veins and is associated with felsic volcanism. Eighty samples from mineralized hydrothermal chalcedony, quartz ± carbonate veins and breccias were studied from ten sites representing four major volcanic events that range in age from early Miocene to the present. The most recent veins are controlled by fractures at the edges of grabens established during the last 4 Myr. Gold in excess of 200 ppb is present in 30% of the samples, with values up to 16 ppm. Mineralogical compositions allowed us to identify different types of mineralization corresponding to different depths in the hydrothermal system: (1) surface and subsurface mineralization characterized by carbonate chimneys, gypsum, silica cap and quartz ± carbonate veins that are depleted in metals and Au; (2) shallow banded chalcedony ± adularia veins related to boiling that contain up to 16 ppm Au, occurring as native gold and electrum with pyrite, and tetradymite; (3) quartz veins with sulfides, and (4) epidote alteration in the deepest hydrothermal zones. Samples in which pyrite is enriched in As tend to have a high Au content. The association with bimodal volcanism, the occurrence of adularia and the native Au and electrum in banded chalcedony veins are typical of epithermal systems and confirm that this type of mineralization can occur in a young intracontinental rift system.