Gold Mineralization of the Gatsuurt Deposit in the North Khentei Gold Belt,Central Northern Mongolia

Mineral assemblages, chemical compositions of ore minerals, wall rock alteration and fluid inclusions of the Gatsuurt gold deposit in the North Khentei gold belt of Mongolia were investigated to characterize the gold mineralization, and to clarify the genetic processes of the ore minerals. The gold mineralization of the deposit occurs in separate Central and Main zones, and is characterized by three ore types: (i) low‐grade disseminated and stockwork ores; (ii) moderate‐grade quartz vein ores; and (iii) high‐grade silicified ores, with average Au contents of approximately 1, 3 and 5 g t^?1 Au, respectively. The Au‐rich quartz vein and silicified ore mineralization is surrounded by, or is included within, the disseminated and stockwork Au‐mineralization region. The main ore minerals are pyrite (pyrite‐I and pyrite‐II) and arsenopyrite (arsenopyrite‐I and arsenopyrite‐II). Moderate amounts of galena, tetrahedrite‐tennantite, sphalerite and chalcopyrite, and minor jamesonite, bournonite, boulangerite, geocronite, scheelite, geerite, native gold and zircon are associated. Abundances and grain sizes of the ore minerals are variable in ores with different host rocks. Small grains of native gold occur as fillings or at grain boundaries of pyrite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, galena and tetrahedrite in the disseminated and stockwork ores and silicified ores, whereas visible native gold of variable size occurs in the quartz vein ores. The ore mineralization is associated with sericitic and siliceous alteration. The disseminated and stockwork mineralization is composed of four distinct stages characterized by crystallization of (i) pyrite‐I + arsenopyrite‐I, (ii) pyrite‐II + arsenopyrite‐II, (iii) galena + tetrahedrite + sphalerite + chalcopyrite + jamesonite + bournonite + scheelite, and iv) boulangerite + native gold, respectively. In the quartz vein ores, four crystallization stages are also recognized: (i) pyrite‐I, (ii) pyrite‐II + arsenopyrite + galena + Ag‐rich tetrahedrite‐tennantite + sphalerite + chalcopyrite + bournonite, (iii) geocronite + geerite + native gold, and (iv) native gold. Two mineralization stages in the silicified ores are characterized by (i) pyrite + arsenopyrite + tetrahedrite + chalcopyrite, and (ii) galena + sphalerite + native gold. Quartz in the disseminated and stockwork ores of the Main zone contains CO₂‐rich, halite‐bearing aqueous fluid inclusions with homogenization temperatures ranging from 194 to 327°C, whereas quartz in the disseminated and stockwork ores of the Central zone contains CO₂‐rich and aqueous fluid inclusions with homogenization temperatures ranging from 254 to 355°C. The textures of the ores, the mineral assemblages present, the mineralization sequences and the fluid inclusion data are consistent with orogenic classification for the Gatsuurt deposit.     

Mineralogy of the Boroo Gold Deposit in the North Khentei Gold Belt,Central Northern Mongolia

Mineral assemblages and chemical compositions of ore minerals from the Boroo gold deposit in the North Khentei gold belt of Mongolia were studied to characterize the gold mineralization, and to clarify crystallization processes of the ore minerals. The gold deposit consists of low‐grade disseminated and stockwork ores in granite, metasedimentary rocks and diorite dikes. Moderate to high‐grade auriferous quartz vein ores are present in the above lithological units. The ore grades of the former range from about 1 to 3 g/t, and those of the latter from 5 to 10 g/t, or more than 10 g/t Au. The main sulfide minerals in the ores are pyrite and arsenopyrite, both of which are divisible into two different stages (pyrite‐I and pyrite‐II; arsenopyrite‐I and arsenopyrite‐II). Sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, and tetrahedrite are minor associated minerals, with trace amounts of bournonite, boulangerite, geerite, alloclasite, native gold, and electrum. The ore minerals in the both types of ores are variable in distribution, abundance and grain size. Four modes of gold occurrence are recognized: (i) “invisible” gold in pyrite and arsenopyrite in the disseminated and stockwork ores, and in auriferous quartz vein ores; (ii) microscopic native gold, 3 to 100 µm in diameter, that occurs as fine grains or as an interstitial phase in sulfides in the disseminated and stockwork ores, and in auriferous quartz vein ores; (iii) visible native gold, up to 1 cm in diameter, in the auriferous quartz vein ores; and (iv) electrum in the auriferous quartz vein ores. The gold mineralization of the disseminated and stockwork ores consists of four stages characterized by the mineral assemblages of: (i) pyrite‐I + arsenopyrite‐I; (ii) pyrite‐II + arsenopyrite‐II; (iii) sphalerite + galena + chalcopyrite + tetrahedrite + bournonite + boulangerite + alloclasite + native gold; and (iv) native gold. In the auriferous quartz vein ores, five mineralization stages are defined by the following mineral assemblages: (i) pyrite‐I; (ii) pyrite‐II + arsenopyrite; (iii) sphalerite + galena + chalcopyrite; (iv) Ag‐rich tetrahedrite‐tennantite + bournonite + geerite + native gold; and (v) electrum. The As–Au relations in pyrite‐II and arsenopyrite suggest that gold detected as invisible gold is mostly attributed to Au⁺¹ in those minerals. By applying the arsenopyrite geothermometer to arsenopyrite‐II in the disseminated and stockwork ores, crystallization temperature and logfs₂ are estimated to be 365 to 300 °C and –7.5 to –10.1, respectively.     

Precious metal and telluride mineralogy of large volcanic-hosted massive sulfide deposits in the Urals

Summary The study focuses on the mode of occurrence of Au, Ag and Te in ores of the Gaisk, Safyanovsk, Uzelginsk and other volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposits in the Russian Urals. Minerals containing these elements routinely form fine inclusions within common sulfides (pyrite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite). Gold is mostly concentrated as ‘invisible’ gold within pyrite and chalcopyrite at concentrations of 1–20 ppm. Silver mainly occurs substituted in tennantite (0.1–6 wt.% Ag). In the early stages of mineralization, gold is concentrated into solid solution within the sulfides and does not form discrete minerals. Mineral parageneses identified in the VHMS deposits that contain discrete gold- and gold-bearing minerals, including native gold, other native elements, various tellurides and tennantite, were formed only in the latest stages of mineralization. Secondary hydrothermal stages and local metamorphism of sulfide ores resulted in redistribution of base and precious metals, refining of the common sulfides, the appearance of submicroscopic and microscopic inclusions of Au–Ag alloys (fineness 0.440–0.975) and segregation of trace elements into new, discrete minerals. The latter include Au and Ag compounds combined with Te, Se, Bi and S. Numerous tellurides (altaite, hessite, stützite, petzite, krennerite etc.) are found in the massive sulfide ores of the Urals and appear to be major carriers of gold and PGE in VHMS ores.     

安徽朝山金矿床矿石含金性和硫同位素研究

朝山金矿床位于铜陵市东郊狮子山矿田内。除了自然金之外,矿床中金主要以晶格金方式赋存于磁黄铁矿、黄铁矿和毒砂等矿石矿物之中;各种类型矿石成矿元素研究表明,含金磁黄铁矿石中金含量最高,其他依次为含金磁黄铁矿—黄铁矿矿石、含金黄铁矿化大理岩、含金矽卡岩、含金黄铁矿矿石等;硫同位素分析显示矿石硫主要来自深源或幔源硫,但在上升过程中遭受到地壳物质混染。在上述研究基础上,综合前人研究成果及朝山金矿地质特征,表明朝山金矿床属于热液交代型金矿床,形成时代为燕山中晚期。     

甘肃寨上金矿床矿物组成特征与矿质沉淀机理

位于西秦岭礼(县)—岷(县)成矿带西段的寨上金矿床,是近年发现的一个大型微细浸染型金矿。笔者通过显微镜观察、电子探针和扫描分析等综合分析技术,确认金矿床中矿物组成相当丰富,既有大量硫化物、硫盐、氧化物、硫酸盐、碳酸盐、钨酸盐,又有碲化物、自然金属及多金属互化物。除常见矿物为自然金、黄铁矿、黄铜矿、黝铜矿、方铅矿、闪锌矿、辉锑矿、石英、白钨矿、方解石、菱铁矿、铁白云石和重晶石外,笔者还鉴定出在卡林型金矿床较少见的一些矿物,如硫铜锑矿、车轮矿、辉锑铅矿、辉钼矿、碲汞矿、碲镍矿、Cu-Zn-Ni-Sn-Fe的金属互化物和白钨矿等。矿石中矿物种类较多,组成较复杂以及存在显微自然金,构成寨上金矿床的一大特色。赋矿围岩中含Fe碳酸盐矿物溶解释放Fe以及溶解Fe的大量硫化物化,是寨上金矿床中存在显微可见自然金的最重要因素和金沉淀富集的有利条件。     

河南吉家洼金矿床矿石特征及金的赋存状态

通过对吉家洼金矿床矿石特征及金的赋存状态的研究,讨论了该矿床的矿石类型、结构构造、物质组成、矿物成分、金的赋存状态等.研究表明,该矿床矿石类型以氧化矿石为主,深部原生矿石逐渐增多.矿石中矿物种类多样,主要金属矿物为黄铁矿,脉石矿物以石英、斜长石、绢云母为主.金矿物主要为自然金,在矿石中分布极不均匀,以粒间金和裂隙金为主要赋存形式,粒度介于0.005~0.1 mm之间,金矿物的成色变化具有阶段性和分带性特征,受成矿温度控制明显.     

Ore and Skarn Mineralogy of the Yamato Mine,Yamaguchi Prefecture,Japan, with Emphasis on Silver‐, Bismuth‐, Cobalt‐, and Tin‐bearing Sulfides

Assemblages and chemical compositions of ore minerals from the Yamato mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, were investigated in detail to clarify its characteristics as a skarn deposit. Special attention was paid to silver‐, bismuth‐, cobalt‐, and tin‐bearing sulfide minerals and native gold at the mine, which are described here for the first time. Samples of arsenopyrite‐dominant massive ore, and garnet‐rich, clinopyroxene‐garnet‐rich, and wollastonite‐bearing skarn ores were collected from the mine dump. Arsenopyrite is the most abundant ore mineral (>80 vol.%) in the massive ore, in association with both As‐poor/free and As‐bearing pyrite. The major ore minerals in the skarn specimens are pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, and sphalerite, along with minor argentite, Ag‐Pb‐Bi sulfate, matildite, bismuthinite, native bismuth, molybdenite, scheelite, stannite, stannoidite, cassiterite, cobaltite, gersdorffite, and Co‐rich violarite. In addition, native gold is observed in the interstices of gangue minerals. Based on the mineral assemblages and textures of the specimens examined, the major ore minerals formed in the early stage of mineralization, and the Bi‐, Ag‐, Co‐, Ni‐, As‐ and Sn‐mineralization occurred in the middle stage. Native gold was deposited in the late stage. The estimated formation temperature of the middle mineralization stage was 312±5 °C, according to iron and zinc partitioning between stannite and coexisting sphalerite. The mineralogical properties and mineralization process of the Yamato mine are consistent with those of common skarn‐ and vein‐type ore deposits associated with ilmenite‐series granitoids in the San‐yo and San‐in districts.     

金厂沟梁金矿金的赋存状态

金厂沟梁金矿床中载金矿物有石英、黄铁矿、闪锌矿、黝铜矿和方铅矿.金的赋存状态有包裹金、裂隙金和粒间金.为选冶工艺流程、提高选矿回收率提供可靠资料.     

额济纳旗老硐沟氧化-淋滤型金矿床成矿特征

内蒙古额济纳旗老硐沟金矿原生矿化与闪长玢岩脉和似斑状花岗闪长岩株有关.金-多金属矿脉产于蓟县系平头山群白云石大理岩中,主要受近E-W向和NWW向断裂控制.氧化-淋滤型金矿床的形成,乃是原生低品位金矿化和次生淋滤富集两个过程的结果.在目前采深50m的淋滤带中,金多富集在距地表10~30m范围内.氧化矿石的矿物组合为臭葱石+砷菱铅矾+褐铁矿+针铁矿+砷钙锌石+羟砷锌石+自然金+自然银+石英+蛋白石.     

Mineral and geochemical compositions,regularities of distribution,and specific formation of ore mineralization of the Rogovik gold-silver deposit (northeastern Russia)

New data on the mineral composition and the first data on the geochemical composition of ores of the Rogovik gold-silver deposit (Omsukchan ore district, northeastern Russia) have been obtained. Study of the regularities of the spatial distribution of ore mineralization shows that the deposit ores formed in two stages. Epithermal Au-Ag ores of typical poor mineral and elemental compositions were generated at the early volcanic stage. The major minerals are low-fineness native gold, electrum, acanthite, silver sulfosalts, kustelite, and pyrite. The typomorphic elemental composition of ores is as follows: Au, Ag, Sb, As, Se, and Hg. The content of S is low, mostly < 1%. Silver ores of more complex mineral and elemental compositions were produced under the impact of granitoid intrusion at the late volcanoplutonic stage. The major minerals are high-Hg kustelite and native silver, silver sulfosalts and selenides, fahlore, pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, and sphalerite. The typomorphic elemental composition of ores is as follows: Ag, As, Sb, Se, Hg, Pb, Zn, Cu, and B. The content of S is much higher than 1%. The ores also have elevated contents of Mo, Ge, F, and LREE (La, Ce, and Nd). At the volcanoplutonic stage, polychronous Au-Ag ores formed at the sites of the coexistence of silver and epithermal gold-silver mineralization. Their specific feature is a multicomponent composition and a strong variability in chemical composition (both qualitative and quantitative). Along with the above minerals, the ores contain high-Hg gold, hessite, argyrodite, canfieldite, orthite, fluorapatite, and arsenopyrite. At the sites with strongly rejuvenated rocks, the ores are strongly enriched in Au, Ag, Hg, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ge, Se, La, Ce, Nd, S, and F and also contain Te and Bi. The hypothesis is put forward that the late silver ores belong to the Ag-complex-metal association widespread in the Omsukchan ore district. A close relationship between the ores of different types and their zonal spatial distribution have been established. In the central part of the Rogovik deposit, epithermal Au-Ag ores are widespread in the upper horizons, Ag ores are localized in the middle horizons, and rejuvenated polyassociation Au-Ag ores occur at the sites (mostly deep-seated) with ore-bearing structures of different ages.     

Silver-Bearing and Associated Minerals in El Zancudo Deposit, Antioquia, Colombia

The occurrence and the chemical compositions of ore minerals (especially the silver‐bearing minerals) and fluid inclusions of the El Zancudo mine in Colombia were investigated in order to analyze the genetic processes of the ore minerals and to examine the genesis of the deposit. The El Zancudo mine is a silver–gold deposit located in the western flank of the Central Cordillera in Antioquia Department. It consists mainly of banded ore veins hosted in greenschist and lesser disseminated ore in porphyritic rocks. The ore deposit is associated with extensive hydrothermally altered zones. The ores from the banded veins contain sphalerite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, galena, Ag‐bearing sulfosalts, Pb‐Sb sulfosalts, and minor chalcopyrite, electrum, and native silver. Electrum is included within sphalerite, pyrite, and arsenopyrite, and is also partially surrounded by pyrite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, and tetrahedrite. Native silver is present in minor amounts as small grains in contact with Ag‐rich sulfosalts. Silver‐bearing sulfosalts are argentian tetrahedrite–freibergite solid solution, andorite, miargyrite, diaphorite, and owyheeite. Pb‐Sb sulfosalts are bournonite, jamesonite, and boulangerite. Two main crystallization stages are recognized, based on textural relations and mineral assemblages. The first‐stage assemblage includes sphalerite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, galena and electrum. The second stage is divided into two sub‐stages. The first sub‐stage commenced with the deposition and growth of sphalerite, pyrite, and arsenopyrite. These minerals are characterized by compositional growth banding, and seem to have crystallized continuously until the end of the second sub‐stage. Tetrahedrite, Pb‐Cu sulfosalts, Ag‐Sb sulfosalt, and Pb‐Ag‐Sb sulfosalts crystallized from the final part of the first sub‐stage and during the whole second sub‐stage. However, one Pb‐Ag‐Sb sulfosalt, diaphorite, was formed by a retrograde reaction between galena and miargyrite. The minimum and maximum genetic temperatures estimated from the FeS content of sphalerite coexisting with pyrite and the silver content of electrum are 300°C and 420°C, respectively. These estimated genetic temperatures are similar to, but slightly higher than the homogenization temperatures (235–350°C) of primary fluid inclusions in quartz. The presence of muscovite in the altered host rocks and gangue suggest that the pH of the hydrothermal solutions was close to neutral. Most of the sulfosalts in this deposit have previously been attributed as the products of epithermal mineralization. However, El Zancudo can be classified as a xenothermal deposit, in view of the low pressure and high temperature genetic conditions identified in the present study, based on the mineralogy of sulfosalts and the homogenization temperatures of the fluid inclusions.     

黔东南坑头金矿床热液蚀变特征及成矿过程研究

黔东南金成矿区位于江南造山带金成矿省的西南端,成矿条件优越。坑头金矿床是黔东南金成矿区的一个中型矿床,在其深部找矿中,发现除石英脉型矿体外,还存在蚀变岩型矿体。然而,这种蚀变岩型矿体的构造形态、蚀变类型、与石英脉型矿体之间关系和金的赋存状态尚不清楚。本研究与当前的勘查工作紧密结合,围绕石英脉型矿体和新发现的蚀变岩型矿体为研究切入点,借助微区分析技术(扫描电镜和电子探针)进行系统的“流体-蚀变-成矿”研究。蚀变矿物金红石矿物化学显示为热液成因,具有典型造山型金矿床的金红石标型特征。围岩的沉积-成岩过程(包括低级变质作用过程),主要形成了草莓状黄铁矿和含铁碳酸盐岩,为后期含金硫化物(黄铁矿和毒砂)的形成提供物质基础(如Fe)。金的成矿富集过程主要经历了绢云母+毒砂+黄铁矿+石英(Ser+Apy+Py+Qtz)阶段、黄铁矿+毒砂+石英(Py+Apy+Qtz)阶段和自然金+石英(Au⁰+Qtz)阶段。在Ser+Apy+Py+Qtz阶段,主要表现为含矿流体与围岩的初级交代,形成大量浸染状黄铁矿+毒砂的硫化带;Py+Apy+Qtz阶段主要为流体沿着剪切带再交代,形成蚀变岩型矿...     

Rb-Sr direct dating of pyrite from the Pipela VMS Zn-Cu prospect,Rajasthan, NW India

In unaltered volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) ore deposits, variable Rb/Sr ratios in the ore mineral permits application of the Rb-Sr isotopic method to directly date the time of ore formation. In contrast, post-crystallization deformation and metamorphism would open the system to metamorphic fluids that would alter elemental ratios. To test whether the Rb-Sr isotopic systematics in the ore minerals had preserved the formation time in the ∼800 Ma metamorphosed VMS ores within the ∼1 Ga Ambaji-Sendra arc terrain, Rajasthan, NW India, common sulfides, pyrite and sphalerite from the Pipela Cu-Zn prospect, were analyzed for their geochemistry and Rb-Sr isotopic systematics. Trace and rare earth elements in these minerals are resident probably at crystal defects, whereas all inclusions (including those from metamorphic fluids) were removed by a simple crush leach method. Results of direct dating by the Rb-Sr method to the hydrothermal pyrite yielded an isochron age of 1025±76 Ma with an initial Sr ratio of 0.7051±0.0006, similar to previously determined zircon U-Pb age of 987 Ma from associated rhyolites. This suggests the applicability of the crush leach method to date formation time of metamorphosed pyrite ores.     

Mineralogical characteristics and recovery process optimization analysis of a refractory gold ore with gold particles mainly encapsulated in pyrite and Arsenopyrite

To interpret the leaching rules, select suitable treatment methods, or optimize the treatment process of refractory gold ores, an in-depth analysis of ore characteristics using ore mineralogy is required. In this study, the mineralogical characteristics of a low-grade refractory gold ore were analyzed by a variety of analytical techniques and methods. The ore composition was obtained by chemical analysis, and the main minerals include gold, pyrite, arsenopyrite, feldspar, mica, and quartz. Gold exists in the form of sub-microscopic gold with a particle size of fewer than 1.7 μm, of which 56.90 % is encapsulated gold, 16.97 % is semi-coated gold, and 26.13 % is fractured gold. The content, classification, shape, grain distribution, and occurrence state of the main minerals in the gold ore were obtained by microscopic observation and statistical analysis. Based on the results, the leaching rules of the gold ore were predicted, and suggestions for optimizing the pretreatment process were put forward. These results can accurately guide the pretreatment and leaching process of the gold ore and lay a foundation for the effective utilization of comparable gold ores.     

Petrography, mineralogy and geochemistry of the Zarshuran Carlin-like gold deposit, northwest Iran

Gold mineralisation at Zarshuran, northwestern Iran, is hosted by Precambrian carbonate and black shale formations which have been intruded by a weakly mineralised granitoid. Granitoid intrusion fractured the sedimentary rocks, thereby improving conditions for hydrothermal alteration and mineralisation. Silicification is the principal hydrothermal alteration along with decalcification and argillisation. Three hydrothermal sulphide mineral assemblages have been identified: an early assemblage of pyrrhotite, pyrite and chalcopyrite; then widespread base metal sulphides, lead-sulphosalts and zoned euhedral arsenical pyrite; and finally late network arsenical pyrite, massive and colloform arsenical pyrite, colloform sphalerite, coloradoite, and arsenic–antimony–mercury–thallium-bearing sulphides including orpiment, realgar, stibnite, getchellite, cinnabar, lorandite and a Tl-mineral, probably christite. Most of the gold at Zarshuran is detectable only by quantitative electron microprobe and bulk chemical analyses. Gold occurs mainly in arsenical pyrite and colloform sphalerite as solid solution or as nanometre-sized native gold. Metallic gold is found rarely in hydrothermal quartz and orpiment. Pure microcrystalline orpiment, carbon-rich shale, silicified shale with visible pyrite grains and arsenic minerals contain the highest concentrations of gold. In many ways Zarshuran appears to be similar to the classic Carlin-type sediment-hosted disseminated gold deposits. However, relatively high concentrations of tellurium at Zarshuran, evidenced by the occurrence of coloradoite (HgTe), imply a greater magmatic contribution in the mineralising hydrothermal solutions than is typical of Carlin-type gold deposits. Received: 13 May 1999 / Accepted: 2 February 2000     

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.     

河南水洞岭铜锌矿床特征、成因及找矿潜力分析

水洞岭铜锌矿床矿体赋存在石英角斑凝灰岩中,呈似层状、透镜状产出,与地层产状一致,矿石具块状、浸染和条带状构造,中细粒结构,主要矿石矿物为黄铁矿、黄铜矿、闪锌矿和方铅矿等。地质和地球化学证据表明,水洞岭铜锌矿床为海相火山沉积块状硫化物矿床。通过找矿潜力分析在矿区及外围困出了四个找矿靶区：黄土岭、老胡家、张圪塔和砂固堆。     

Mineralogy of gold in the Elshitsa massive sulphide deposit, Sredna Gora zone, Bulgaria

The Elshitsa volcanic hosted massive sulphide deposit occurs in the central part of the Srena Gora metallogenic zone in Bulgaria. The gold-bearing massive sulphide mineralization is considered to be the product of an island arc volcano-plutonic process and hydrothermal activity that took place during the Late Cretaceous. In addition to the major gold-hosted opaque minerals such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena there are minor phases of tennantite, goldfieldite, Se-bearing aikinite, native silver and bornite in the massive sulphide lenses and stringer zones. Most of the sulphide minerals are Se-bearing. All of the six mineral assemblages that were deposited during the pyrite and copper-pyrite stages of mineralization are gold-bearing. The gold tenor as a rule is less than 1 g/t. Native gold and electrum occur as blebs or intergranular particles in the sulphide minerals. Gold in the early massive pyrite is of submicroscopic type (< 0,1 μm) and of colloidal ori-gin. Pyrite deformation and recrystallization in the temperature range 250°–160 °C has led to Au and Ag migration to cracks and grain boundaries of the sulphide minerals. As a result of these process the native gold and electrum grain size increases from submicroscopic (< 0,1 μm) in the early colloform pyrite to microscopic (0,1–100 μm) and macroscopic (> 100 μm) in the late gold-sulphide assemblages. The electrum fineness in 41 individually studied grains varies between 780 and 992‰ with a mean of 895‰. Native silver was found in association with bornite. Cu, Te, Sb and Bi are the most common trace-elements in gold and electrum. The Cu-Zn-Pb association is most important as a Au-Ag-carrier. A model for gold behaviour during sulphide deformation is proposed involving coarsening of gold grain size from the earlier to the later sulphide mineral assemblages. Received: 4 December 1995 / Accepted: 23 September 1996     

Mineral Paragenesis of the Lepanto Copper and Gold and the Victoria Gold Deposits, Mankayan Mineral District, Philippines

Abstract: Mineral paragenesis of the alteration, ore and gangue minerals of the Lepanto epithermal copper‐gold deposit and the Victoria gold deposit, Mankayan Mineral District, Northern Luzon, Philippines, is discussed. The principal ore minerals of the Lepanto copper‐gold deposit are enargite and luzonite, with significant presence of tennantite‐tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, native gold/electrum and gold‐silver tellurides. Pervasive alteration zonations are commonly observed from silicification outward to advanced argillic then to propylitic zone. The ore mineralogy of the Lepanto copper‐gold deposit suggests high f_S2 in the early stages of mineralization corresponding to the deposition of the enargite‐luzonite‐pyrite assemblage. Subsequent decrease in the f_S2 formed the chalcopyrite‐tennantite‐pyrite assemblage. An increase in the f_S2 of the fluids with the formation of the covellite‐digenite‐telluride assemblage caused the deposition of native gold/electrum and gold‐silver tellurides. The principal ore minerals of the Victoria gold deposit are sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite and native gold/electrum. The alteration halos are relatively narrow and in an outward sequence from the ore, silica alteration grades to illitic‐argillic alteration, which in turn grades to propylitic alteration. The Victoria gold mineralization has undergone early stages of silica supersaturation leading to quartz deposition. Vigorous boiling increased the pH of the fluids that led to the deposition of sulfides and carbonates. The consequent decrease in H₂S precipitated the gold. Gypsum and anhydrite mainly occur as overprints that cut the carbonate‐silica stages. The crosscutting and overprinting relationships of the Victoria quartz‐gold‐base metal veins on the Lepanto copper‐gold veins manifest the late introduction of near neutral pH hydrothermal fluids.     

Au–Ag–Te Mineralization of the Low‐Sulfidation Epithermal Aginskoe Deposit,Central Kamchatka,Russia

Mineralogic studies of major ore minerals and fluid inclusion analysis in gangue quartz were carried out for the for the two largest veins, the Aginskoe and Surprise, in the Late Miocene Aginskoe Au–Ag–Te deposit in central Kamchatka, Russia. The veins consist of quartz–adularia–calcite gangue, which are hosted by Late Miocene andesitic and basaltic rocks of the Alnei Formation. The major ore minerals in these veins are native gold, altaite, petzite, hessite, calaverite, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite. Minor and trace minerals are pyrite, galena, and acanthine. Primary gold occurs as free grains, inclusions in sulfides, and constituent in tellurides. Secondary gold is present in form of native mustard gold that usually occur in Fe‐hydroxides and accumulates on the decomposed primary Au‐bearing tellurides such as calaverite, krennerite, and sylvanite. K–Ar dating on vein adularia yielded age of mineralization 7.1–6.9 Ma. Mineralization of the deposit is divided into barren massive quartz (stage I), Au–Ag–Te mineralization occurring in quartz‐adularia‐clays banded ore (Stage II), intensive brecciation (Stage III), post‐ore coarse amethyst (Stage IV), carbonate (Stage V), and supergene stages (Stage VI). In the supergene stage various secondary minerals, including rare bilibinskite, bogdanovite, bessmertnovite metallic alloys, secondary gold, and various oxides, formed under intensely oxidized conditions. Despite heavy oxidation of the ores in the deposit, Te and S fugacities are estimated as Stage II tellurides precipitated at the log f Te₂ values ?9 and at log fS₂ ?13 based on the chemical compositions of hypogene tellurides and sphalerite. Homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions in quartz broadly ranges from 200 to 300°C. Ore texture, fluid inclusions, gangue, and vein mineral assemblages indicate that the Aginskoe deposit is a low‐sulfidation (quartz–adularia–sericite) vein system.