Gold abundance in granitoids in southern China

Gold abundance in granitic rocks of different geological periods in southern China has been estimated. A review of the quantitative data available indicates that unaltered granitic rocks have a rather restricted range in gold content, rarely exceeding 4 ppb and generally ranging from 1.4 to 3.3 ppb. The mean gold content tends to decrease from basic to acidic granitoids. This tendency suggests that gold isnot concentrated in the residual silicate meltduring the formation of granitic rocks. It is necessary to establish the background values of gold for various rock types although it seems that gold abundance data for the granitic rocks of southern China can necessarily provide any geochemical clues or guides to areas favorable or unfavorable for gold mineralization.