Intrusion–Related Vein Gold Deposits: Types, Tectono-Magmatic Settings and Difficulties of Distinction from Orogenic Gold Deposits

Abstract: A spectrum of intrusion-related vein gold deposits is recognized. Representative examples are described of the following geochemical associations: Au-Fe oxide–Cu, Au–Cu–Mo–Zn, Au–As–Pb–Zn–Cu, Au–Te–Pb–Zn–Cu and Au–As–Bi–Sb. The associated intrusions range from small outcropping stocks to complex batholiths. The different vein associations are believed to reflect the compositions of related intrusions, which themselves characterize distinct tectonic settings. The Au-Fe oxide–Cu and Au–Cu–Mo–Zn associations belong to two broad groups of deposits, Fe oxide–Cu–Au and porphyry Cu–Au, both of which are related to highly oxidized calc-alkaline intrusions emplaced in sub–duction–related arcs. The Au–As–Pb–Zn–Cu association seems to be linked to somewhat less oxidized intrusions emplaced in a similar setting. The Au–Te–Pb–Zn–Cu association, which possesses well-known epithermal counterparts, is also found with highly oxidized intrusions, but of alkaline composition and back-arc location. In contrast, the Au–As–Bi–Sb association, part of a newly recognized class of intrusion-hosted Au–Bi–W–As deposits, is related to relatively reduced intrusions, spanning the boundary between the magnetite– and ilmenite–series. Such intrusions, which may host major bulk-mineable gold deposits, were emplaced along the landward sides of arcs, possibly during lulls in subduction, as well as in continental collision settings. Therefore, a variety of geological environments is prospective for vein and, by extrapolation, other styles of gold mineralization, not all of them fully appreciated in the past. Several features of vein gold deposits, including imprecise relationships to individual intrusive phases, poorly developed mineral and metal zoning, apparent time gaps between intrusion and mineralization and presence of low–salinity, CO₂–rich fluid inclusions, are commonly taken to indicate a non-igneous origin and to be more typical of orogenic (mesothermal) gold deposits generated during accretionary tectonic events. However, several or all of these features apply equally to some intrusion– related vein gold deposits and, therefore, do not constitute distinguishing criteria. The currently popular assignment of most gold-rich veins to the orogenic category requires caution, because of the geological convergence that they show with some intrusion-related deposits. A proper distinction between intrusion-related and orogenic gold deposits is crucial for exploration planning.     

大别山北部中酸性片麻岩的岩石地球化学特征及其古大地构造意义

大别山北部变质镁铁－ 超镁铁质岩带中的中酸性片麻岩主要可分为三类：①英云闪长质片麻岩、②花岗闪长质片麻岩和③二长花岗质片麻岩,其原岩属于一套钙碱性的中酸性花岗岩系列。岩石地球化学特征表明,它们分别形成于板块碰撞前消减地区（ 消减的活动板块边缘） 、板块碰撞后隆起花岗石区和同碰撞花岗岩区。其中,形成于８００ ～１０００ Ｍａ 左右的英云闪长质片麻岩经受过麻粒岩相变质作用并与该带中属于蛇绿岩成员的变基性熔岩有亲缘关系, 可能属于蛇绿岩中的浅色组分。     

青藏高原的隆起与海洋锶同位素组成的演化

近年来,随着构造隆升驱动气候变化假说的提出,青藏高原的隆起受到越来越多的关注,并将之与大陆化学风化速率及海洋锶同位素的演化紧密联系。围绕青藏高原的隆升及其环境与气候效应,对海洋锶同位素组成的演化特征及其影响因素的较为全面而详细的论述表明:将青藏高原的隆升与全球气候变化、大陆化学风化速率及海洋锶同位素组成的演化相联系,也许是解决目前关于海洋锶同位素组成的演化及其物源问题的重要手段,根据海洋锶同位素的演化历史来研究全球气候变化规律及青藏高原的构造演化历史将是本研究领域的重点。     

热穹隆构造及其对金矿的控矿作用

热穹隆构造是在一个构造活动（逆冲）带中,由沿走向发生的地壳差异性升降运动（走向波浪机制）产生的构造穹隆中的热（液）活动事件,或是在这些部位由于中浅成岩浆岩的底辟式侵入而产生的热力性穹隆构造,它对金矿成矿的控制机理主要体现在适宜的浅层构造空间,贯深性构造通道及深源（下地壳）的岩浆源和矿质热液源的有机统一,主要的容矿空间为穹隆构造所产生的放射状（或束状）及环状构造裂隙系统。     

The high‐K calc‐alkaline Alagoinhas pluton: anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility,geochemistry, emplacement setting,and implications for the evolution of Borborema Province,NE Brazil

The Alagoinhas pluton is a member of the widespread high‐K calc‐alkaline association of northeastern Brazil. Some authors suggest that this region represents an amalgamation of distinct tectonic terranes assembled during the Brasiliano (Pan‐African) orogeny. Our work compares geochemical data (major, trace and REE) of the Alagoinhas with other plutons of same petrotectonic association (Caruaru‐Arcoverde batholith). These plutons apparently intrude several distinct tectonic terranes, separated by a major E‐W dextral transcurrent system, the East Pernambuco shear zone (EPSZ). Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and structural data for the Alagoinhas pluton are used to compare tectonic regimes across the EPSZ. The results indicate that the Caruaru‐Arcoverde batholith and the Alagoinhas pluton evolved from similar sources and were subjected to the same tectonic regime during emplacement, placing severe restrictions on use of the EPSZ as a suture zone between distinct tectonic terranes.     

Thermotectonic evolution of Precambrian basement rocks of the Kuruktag uplift,NE Tarim craton,China: evidence from apatite fission-track data

The Kuruktag uplift is located directly northeast of the Tarim craton in northwestern China. Neoarchaean-to-Neoproterozoic metamorphic rocks and intrusive rocks crop out widely in the uplift; thus, it is especially suited for a more complete understanding of the thermal evolution of the Tarim craton. Apatite fission-track (AFT) methods were used to study the exhumation history and cooling of these Precambrian crystalline rocks. Nine apatite-bearing samples were collected from both sides of the Xingdi fault transecting the Kuruktag uplift. Pooled ages range from 146.0 ± 13.4 to 67.6 ± 6.7 Ma, with mean track lengths between 11.79 ± 0.14 and 12.48 ± 0.10 μm. These samples can be divided into three groups based on age and structural position. Group A consists of five samples with AFT apparent ages of about 100–110 Ma and is generally associated with undeformed areas. Group B comprises three specimens with AFT apparent ages lower than 80 Ma and is mostly associated with hanging wall environments close to faults. Group C is a single apatite sample with the oldest relative apparent age, 146.0 ± 13.4 Ma. The modelled thermal history indicates four periods of exhumation in the Kuruktag uplift: late-Early Jurassic (180 Ma); Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous (144–118 Ma); early-Late Cretaceous (94–82 Ma); and late Cenozoic (about 10 Ma). These cooling events, identified by AFT data, are assumed to reflect far-field effects from multi-stage collisions and accretions of terranes along the south Asian continental margin.     

Zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotopic compositions of two types of supracrustal rocks in the Northeastern Sulu UHP terrane: constraints on the surface boundary between South China and North China

ABSTRACT

There are voluminous ultrahigh pressure-related orthogneisses and minor metamorphic supracrustal rocks in the northeastern Sulu UHP terrane (NSL), East China. The tectonic affinities of the supracrustal rocks are crucial for unravelling the deep continental subduction processes and locating the tectonic suture between the South China (SCB) and North China (NCB) blocks. In this contribution, we report new zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope data for the supracrustal rocks and metagabbros in the Zeku region of the NSL. In the Zeku region, the supracrustal rocks are spatially associated with granitic gneisses, metagabbros, and eclogites. Detrital zircon U–Pb analyses yield ages between 3.39 and 0.65 Ga that cluster as three major age populations including (1) 2.15–1.68 Ga with two subpeaks at ~1.83 Ga and~1.97 Ga, (2) 2.45–2.15 Ga with a peak at ~2.37 Ga, and (3) 0.79–0.65 Ga. In addition, there is a small age population between 3.39 and 2.61 Ga. The youngest age population of 0.79–0.65 Ga indicates that the Zeku supracrustal rocks must have been deposited after 650 Ma rather than during the Palaeoproterozoic as previously thought. The 210–190 Ma metamorphic ages suggest that the Zeku rocks were affected by Triassic collision–subduction and exhumation. Most of the Archaean-Palaeoproterozoic zircons have negative ε_Hf(t) values and two-stage Hf model ages concentrating at 2.4–3.4 Ga (peak at ~2.9 Ga), indicating that source rocks of these zircons were mainly derived from recycling of ancient crustal material. These ages, together with the Hf isotopic compositions and rock assemblages, indicate that the Zeku supracrustal rocks were mainly derived from the Precambrian basement rocks of the northern Yangzte Block and have a tectonic affinity to the SCB, rather than the NCB. Our results, together with previously published data, suggest that there are two types of supracrustal rocks with different zircon U–Pb ages and tectonic affinities in the NSL. On the basis of new data, we suggest that the surface boundary between the SCB and NCB in the Jiaodong Peninsula is a complicated tectonic mélange zone rather than a single fault.     

Huanggang Intrusive Complex in Northern Tongbai Area: Island-Arc Tectonic Environment and Its Geological Significance

ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮＲｅｃｅｎｔｇｅｏｌｏｇｉｃａｌｓｔｕｄｉｅｓｓｈｏｗｔｈａｔｔｈｅＥｒｌａｎｇｐｉｎｇｏｐｈｉ－ｏｌｉｔｅｆｒａｇｍｅｎｔｗａｓｆｏｒｍｅｄｉｎｂａｃｋ－ａｒｃｂａｓｉｎ（Ｓｕｎｅｔａｌ．,１９９６;Ｗａｎｇｅｔａｌ．,１９...     

广东从化石岭碱性杂岩的岩石学特征及其地质意义

对广东从化石岭碱性杂岩体进行了１：１万地质调查和填图,并进行了详细的岩石力学研究。其结果表明：杂岩体由霞石角闪石正长岩、角闪石正长岩、墨云母正长岩等岩性组成,为Ａ－型花岗岩的分异结晶作用所形成,产于板内引张构造环境,与深大断裂有关。岩体本身已构成霞石正长岩矿床,具有较高的工业利用和经济价值。     

On Palaeozoic Tectonics in the Alxa Region, Inner Mongolia, China

Two ophiolitic melange belts in the Late Carboniferous formations have been discovered recently in the Alxa region. One is in the Engger Us fault and possesses properties of oceanic crust. The other is in the Badain Jaran fault and shows properties of a back-arc basin. These two faults, together with the Yagan fault, constitute the important boundaries of tectonic units in the Alax region. The four tectonic units delimited by these faults are different in rock assemblages, metamorphism and geochemistry. They reflect the nature of tectonic environments in which they are found. The tectonic units may be traced and correlated to the eastern and western neighbouring areas. The formation and evolution process of the units and their interaction in the Alxa region may be described in terms of the evolution of the Palaeo-Mongolian Ocean and its continental margins.