Gold mineralizing efficiency during hydrothermal alteration of the Mesozoic granitoids in the northwest Jiaodong Peninsula: Contrasting conditions between the Guojialing and Linglong plutons

Mesozoic granitoids were extensively altered by hydrothermal fluids in the northwest Jiaodong Peninsula, and gold precipitated from the fluids developing prevalent mineralization in this district. The 160–158 Ma Linglong granite and 130–120 Ma Guojialing granodiorite are the major Mesozoic granitoids in this district, both of which are hydrothermally altered and intimately associated with gold mineralization. Although numerous studies were carried out by previous researchers, mainly focusing on tectonics, lithology, mineralogy, geochronology, and fluid geochemistry, knowledge about hydrothermal alteration processes of these granitoids and their gold mineralization efficiency (i.e. which one is more effective to precipitate the gold from its parent solution) is far beyond clear illumination. Geochemical simulation software GEM-Selektor (based on the Gibbs energy minimization algorithm) was applied in this study, which aims to test the gold mineralization efficiency of these two granitoids during the hydrothermal alteration processes. Simulation results indicate that solutions in equilibrium with the Linglong granite are capable of hosting more sulfur than that with the Guojialing granodiorite, since the latter contains more Fe. However, the solutions with these two granitoids display similar gold solubility. “Bulk cooling” simulation results show that the gold mineralization pattern is similar between the Linglong and Guojialing case; “Rock titration” simulation results reveal that the Guojialing granodiorite is prone to precipitate gold more strongly than the Linglong granite, as gold-bearing solutions (or ore-forming fluids) flowing-through at high temperature, equivalent to a deeper level, implying that if the gold mineralization is developed at depth, the Guojialing rock will precipitate more gold. If the gold-bearing solution flow-through the wall rocks relatively fast, and gold mineralization fails to take place, then the Guojialing granodiorite is probably unfavorable for subsequent gold enrichment of the ore-forming fluid. The Linglong granite will precipitate the gold more efficiently from its parent solution at low temperature or at a shallower level, and this is consistent with previous mining prospecting results. Therefore, we suggest that the Guojialing granodiorite should be treated as the main target during future deep prospecting project.