PETROLOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY OF THE MINERALIZED CLASTIC SEQUENCE AT THE AMANTAYTAU GOLD DEPOSIT

Amantaytau is one of the deposits of the rich gold province of eastern Uzbekistan, and formed at a lower temperature than the great Muruntau deposits. Comparison of major and minor element contents in regionally metamorphosed and mineralized rock (metasandstones, meta-siltstones, and metashales) shows that gold mineralization was associated with potassium metasomatism. Silver mineralization (less important at Amantaytau than at some nearby deposits) was a later lower-temperature process. The trace element assemblages may be used as ore guides.