Base and precious metal mineralization in Middle Jurassic rocks of the Lesser Caucasus: A review of geology and metallogeny and new data from the Kapan,Alaverdi and Mehmana districts

The polymetallic Cu–Au–Ag–Zn ± Pb, Cu–Au and Cu deposits in the Kapan, Alaverdi and Mehmana mining districts of Armenia and the Nagorno–Karabakh region form part of the Tethyan belt. They are hosted by Middle Jurassic rocks of the Lesser Caucasus paleo-island arc, which can be divided into the Kapan Zone and the Somkheto–Karabakh Island Arc. Mineralization in Middle Jurassic rocks of this paleo-island arc domain formed during the first of three recognized Mesozoic to Cenozoic metallogenic epochs. The Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous metallogenic epoch comprises porphyry Cu, skarn and epithermal deposits related to Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous intrusions. The second and third metallogenic epochs of the Lesser Caucasus are represented by Late Cretaceous volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits with transitional features towards epithermal mineralization and by Eocene to Miocene world-class porphyry Mo–Cu and epithermal precious metal deposits, respectively.The ore deposits in the Kapan, Alaverdi and Mehmana mining districts are poorly understood and previous researchers named them as copper–pyrite, Cu–Au or polymetallic deposits. Different genetic origins were proposed for their formation, including VMS and porphyry-related scenarios. The ore deposits in the Kapan, Alaverdi and Mehmana mining districts are characterized by diverse mineralization styles, which include polymetallic veins, massive stratiform replacement ore bodies at lithological contacts, and stockwork style mineralization. Sericitic, argillic and advanced argillic alteration assemblages are widespread in the deposits which have intermediate to high-sulfidation state mineral parageneses that consist of tennantite–tetrahedrite plus chalcopyrite and enargite–luzonite–colusite, respectively. The ore deposits are spatially associated with differentiated calc-alkaline intrusions and pebble dykes are widespread. Published δ³⁴S values for sulfides and sulfates are in agreement with a magmatic source for the bulk sulfur whereas published δ³⁴S values of sulfate minerals partly overlap with the isotopic composition of contemporaneous seawater. Published mineralization ages demonstrate discrete ore forming pulses from Middle Jurassic to the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous boundary, indicating time gaps of 5 to 20 m.y. in between the partly subaqueous deposition of the host rocks and the epigenetic mineralization.Most of the described characteristics indicate an intrusion-related origin for the ore deposits in Middle Jurassic rocks of the Lesser Caucasus, whereas a hybrid VMS–epithermal–porphyry scenario might apply for deposits with both VMS- and intrusion-related features.The volcanic Middle Jurassic host rocks for mineralization and Middle to Late Jurassic intrusive rocks from the Somkheto–Karabakh Island Arc and the Kapan Zone show typical subduction-related calc-alkaline signature. They are enriched in LILE such as K, Rb and Ba and show negative anomalies in HFSE such as Nb and Ta. The ubiquitous presence of amphibole in Middle Jurassic volcanic rocks reflects magmas with high water contents. Flat REE patterns ([La/Yb]_N = 0.89–1.23) indicate a depleted mantle source, and concave-upward (listric-shaped) MREE–HREE patterns ([Dy/Yb]_N = 0.75–1.21) suggest melting from a shallow mantle reservoir. Similar trace element patterns of Middle Jurassic rocks from the Somkheto–Karabakh Island Arc and the Kapan Zone indicate that these two tectonic units form part of one discontinuous segmented arc. Similar petrogenetic and ore-forming processes operated along its axis and Middle Jurassic volcanic and volcanosedimentary rocks constitute the preferential host for polymetallic Cu–Au–Ag–Zn ± Pb, Cu–Au and Cu mineralization, both in the Somkheto–Karabakh Island Arc and the Kapan Zone.     

Late Permian–Triassic metallogeny in the Chinese Altay Orogen: Constraints from mica 40Ar/39Ar dating on ore deposits

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) constitutes the largest Phanerozoic accretionary orogen on Earth. It extends over 5000 km and hosting numerous metal deposits. The Chinese Altay Orogen, an important element of the CAOB, hosts abundant Devonian (ca. 410–370 Ma) deposits. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of seven mica separates from the representative samples syngenetic with orogenic-type mineralization is summarized to record a poorly studied Permian to Triassic metallogenic episode in the Chinese Altay Orogen. The Kelan and Maizi basins in the Chinese Altay Orogen, which likely represent an arc accretionary complex, contain a series of polymetallic lode deposits hosted in low-grade metamorphic volcano–sedimentary rocks. Two muscovite and five biotite separates were obtained from the ore-forming veins paragenetically associated with Au-bearing polymetallic sulfides in the Keketale Pb–Zn, Wulasigou Cu, Tiemurt Pb–Zn, Dadonggou Pb–Zn and Sarekuobu Au deposits. These separates yielded ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages ranging from 260 Ma to 205 Ma. Integration of these results with other published geological and geochronological data indicates that the Au–Cu–Pb–Zn mineralization post-dated the final CAOB assembly, with fluid movement and mineralization possibly driven by regional metamorphism and deformation. It is herein proposed for a metallogenic model that the metamorphic fluid migration following final assembly of the CAOB results into the formation of the deposits.     

Geochemical and geochronological constraints on the formation of shear-zone hosted Cu–Au–Bi–Te mineralization in the Stanos area,Chalkidiki, northern Greece

Copper–gold–bismuth–tellurium mineralization in the Stanos area, Chalkidiki Peninsula, Greece, occurs in the Proterozoic- to Silurian-aged Serbomacedonian Massif, which tectonically borders the Mesozoic Circum-Rhodope metamorphic belt to the west and crystalline rocks of the Rhodope Massif to the east. This area contains the Paliomylos, Chalkoma, and Karambogia prospects, which are spatially related to regional NW–SE trending shear zones and hosted by marble, amphibolite gneiss, metagabbro, and various muscovite–biotite–chlorite–actinolite–feldspar–quartz schists of the Silurian Vertiskos Unit. Metallic minerals occur as disseminated to massive aggregates along foliation planes and in boudinaged quartz veins. Iron-bearing sulfides (pyrite, arsenopyrite, and pyrrhotite) formed prior to a copper-bearing stage that contains chalcopyrite along with galena, sphalerite, molybdenite, and various minerals in the system Bi–Cu–Pb–Au–Ag–Te. Fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures of primary aqueous liquid–vapor inclusions in stage I quartz veins range from 170.1 °C to 349.6 °C (peak at ~ 230 °C), with salinities of 4.5 to 13.1 wt.% NaCl equiv. Calculated isochores intersect P–T conditions associated with the upper greenschist facies caused by local overpressures during late-stage tectonic movement along the shear zone in the Eocene, which produced stretching and unroofing of rocks in the region. Values of δ³⁴S for sulfides in the Stanos shear zone range from 2.42 to 10.19‰ and suggest a magmatic sulfur source with a partially reduced seawater contribution. For fluids in equilibrium with quartz, δ¹⁸O at 480 °C varies from 5.76 to 9.21‰ but does not allow for a distinction between a metamorphic and a magmatic fluid.A ¹⁸⁷Re–¹⁸⁷Os isochron of 19.2 ± 2.1 Ma for pyrite in the Paliomylos prospect overlaps ages obtained previously from intrusive rocks spatially-related to the Skouries porphyry Cu–Au, the Asimotrypes Au, and the intrusion-related Palea Kavala Bi–Te–Pb–Sb ± Au deposits in northern Greece, as well as alteration minerals in the carbonate-replacement Madem Lakkos Pb–Zn deposit. Ore-forming components of deposits in the Stanos area were likely derived from magmatic rocks at shallow depth that intruded an extensional shear environment at ~ 19 Ma.     

Epithermal deposits in South China: Geology,geochemistry, geochronology and tectonic setting

South China Block (SCB) is the broad area including the Yangtze Craton in the northwest and Huanan Orogen in the southeast. It is an important epithermal metallogenic province in China, containing at least 1 high-sulfidation (HS) and 42 low-sulfidation (LS) Au-Ag ± Cu ± Pb-Zn ± Sb epithermal deposits. Porphyry-type mineralization was recognized in four of the LS deposits, and thus they were regarded as LS–P type. These 43 deposits are mainly located in: (1) the Lower Yangtze River Belt and (2) the Northeastern Jiangnan Orogenic Belt in the Yangtze Craton, (3) the Wuyi-Yunkai Orogenic Belt and (4) the Southeast Coastal Volcanic Belt in the Huanan Orogen. They are mostly located in Mesozoic volcanic basins, especially where the regional faults and their subsidiaries occurred. The host rocks include Jurassic–Cretaceous volcanic-sedimentary rocks, coeval or slightly older subvolcanic, granitoids and breccias, and metamorphic basement rocks. The alteration of the HS epithermal deposit (Zijinshan Cu-Au) zoned from silicic (vuggy quartz), through alunite, to dickite and phyllic alteration zones, from the ore veins outwards. The alteration of the LS deposits is zoned from adularia-chalcedony-bladed calcite (or quartz pseudomorphs after bladed calcite) in ore veins to distal illite-sericite-chlorite-kaolinite assemblages. For those LS–P systems, besides the dominated LS alteration assemblages, phyllic and potassium silicate alteration related to porphyry mineralization were identified. Acid leaching textures and vein, stockwork and breccia structures are common in HS deposit, while the LS epithermal deposits are characterized by open-space filling, crustifications, colloform banding and comb structures. The ore-forming fluids are low-temperature, low-salinity meteoric water-dominated in most epithermal deposits in SCB, with variable input of magmatic water. The ore components were derived from both the deep magma and host rocks, and transported upwards or laterally and precipitated in the fracture systems by fluid boiling, mixing and cooling. Most of the epithermal deposits are formed at depth of < 1.5 km and < 300 °C, with few exceptions containing porphyry-type mineralization, such as the Zhilingtou, Yinshan and Longtoushan deposits. Deep drilling is suggested in these deposits as more epithermal and/or porphyry mineralization could be expected. The mineral systems were formed in Early Yanshanian (180–130 Ma) and Late Yanshanian (120–90 Ma) periods. The Early Yanshanian epithermal ore systems are mainly located in a series of E–W-trending metallogenic belts to the west of the Lishui–Haifeng Fault, which were formed in a syn- or post-collision tectonic setting by the collision between the SCB and its surrounding plates. The Late Yanshanian epithermal deposits are mainly located in Southeast Coastal Volcanic Belt, genetically related to the westward subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate.     

Paleogene magmatism and gold metallogeny of the Jinping terrane in the Ailaoshan ore belt,Sanjiang Tethyan Orogen (SW China): Geology,deposit type and tectonic setting

The Jinping terrane is situated in the southern segment of the Ailaoshan ore belt, Sanjiang Tethyan Orogen (SW China). The Paleogene intrusions in Jinping consist of syenite porphyry, fine-grained syenite and biotite granite stocks/dikes, and contain relatively low TiO₂ (0.21–0.38 wt%), P₂O₅ (0.01–0.35 wt%), and high Na₂O (2.00–4.62 wt%) and K₂O (4.48–7.06 wt%), belonging to high-K alkaline series. Paleogene gold mineralization in Jinping comprises four genetic types, i.e., orogenic, alkali-rich intrusion-related, porphyry and supergene laterite. The NW–NNW-trending faults and their subsidiaries are the major ore-controlling structures. The orogenic Au mineralization, dominated by polymetallic sulfide-quartz veins, occurs in the diorite and minor in Silurian-Devonian sedimentary rocks. It contains a CO₂-rich mesothermal fluid system generated from the mixing of mantle-derived fluids with crustal-derived metamorphic fluids, and the ore-forming materials were upper crustal- or orogenic-derived. The alkali-rich intrusion-related Au mineralization is hosted in the Ordovician-Silurian sedimentary rocks and minor in the Paleogene alkaline intrusions, and the Au orebodies occur predominantly in the alteration halos. It contains a CO₂-bearing, largely metamorphic-sourced mesothermal fluid system, and the ore-forming materials were derived from the ore-hosting rocks and minor from the alkali-rich intrusions. The porphyry Cu-Mo-Au mineralization occurs in the granite/syenite porphyries and/or along their contact skarn, with the mineralizing fluids being magmatic-hydrothermal in origin. The former two hypogene Au mineralization types in Jinping were mainly formed in the late Eocene (ca. 34–33 Ma) and slightly after the porphyry Cu-Mo-Au mineralization (ca. 35–34 Ma), which is coeval with the regional Himalayan orogenic event. Subsequent weathering produced the laterite Au mineralization above or near the hypogene Au orebodies.     

Young porphyries,old zircons: new constraints on the timing of deformation and gold mineralisation in the Eastern Goldfields from SHRIMP U–Pb zircon dating at the Kanowna Belle Gold Mine,Western Australia

The Kanowna Belle Gold Mine is a Late Archaean orogenic lode-gold deposit hosted by felsic volcaniclastic and intrusive rocks (porphyries) of the Kalgoorlie Terrane, Western Australia. Rare gold occurs in fragments of veins and alteration that form clasts within the Black Flag Group volcaniclastic rocks at the Kanowna Belle mine, indicating that epithermal gold mineralisation accompanied Black Flag Group volcanism. The SHRIMP U–Pb zircon age of the volcaniclastic unit is 2668±9 Ma, and xenocrystic zircons with ∼2.68, 2.70 and 2.71 Ga age groupings are common. The Black Flag Group rocks are faulted by a D1 thrust, and ∼2670 Ma is thus an older limit for regional D1 deformation. Although SHRIMP U–Pb zircon ages of felsic porphyries commonly give the best constraints on the timing of deformation and structurally controlled gold mineralisation, the data are complex and dates from single samples can be ambiguous. Four Porphyry samples from the Kanowna Belle Gold Mine were analysed. Backscattered electron and cathodoluminescence imaging show that most magmatic zircon in the porphyries is either high-U and metamict, or restricted to rims on older xenocrysts that are too narrow to be dated by SHRIMP. Some porphyries appear to have been saturated with zircon at source and contain only xenocrystic zircons. Zircons that are interpreted to be magmatic in a sample of the mineralised Kanowna Belle Porphyry gives a mean age of 2655±6 Ma. The Kanowna Belle Porphyry is cross cut by regional D2 fabrics and ∼2655 Ma is thus the maximum age for regional D2 deformation. This is a maximum age for epigenetic lode-gold mineralisation. The age of resetting of high-U zircon grains (2.63 Ga) and the age of ore-related Pb–Pb galenas (2.63 Ga) serves as an approximate date for lode-gold mineralisation. If the complex zircon history of the felsic porphyries at Kanowna Belle is typical of this suite throughout the Eastern Goldfields Province, it is clear that existing single zircon dates from this Province require reevaluation, backed up by careful backscattered and cathodoluminescence imaging and textural studies.     

Genesis of Luobuzhen Pb–Zn veins: Implications for porphyry Cu systems and exploration targeting at Luobuzhen-Dongshibu in western Gangdese belt,southern Tibet

Porphyry systems are known to form in magmatic arc environment and commonly include porphyry Cu, epithermal Pb–Zn–Au–Ag, skarn polymetallic mineralization, etc. The systems are rarely reported in collisional zones, such as the Gangdese belt in southern Tibet where many postcollisional porphyry copper deposits occurred. In addition, other types of mineral systems are rarely present except porphyry copper mineralization in the Gangdese belt. In this study, we present Pb–Zn-bearing quartz veins at Luobuzhen in the western Gangdese belt. The Luobuzhen Pb–Zn veins cross-cut dacite of the Linzizong Group with zircon U–Pb age of 50.1 ± 0.2 Ma and monzogranite with zircon U–Pb age of 17.1 ± 0.1 Ma. Ore minerals include sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, and pyrite; gangue minerals are quartz with minor chlorite and sericite. Primary fluid inclusions of quartz are liquid-rich, aqueous, and two-phase inclusions. The homogenization temperatures of these primary inclusions are moderate to high (267–400 °C), and salinities range from 8.9 to 18.4 wt.% NaCl equiv. Quartz has δ¹⁸O_SMOW values of 6.2–9.3‰, while sulfides have δ³⁴S_V-CDT values of −5.1‰ to 0.1‰, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb of 18.722–18.849, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb of 15.640–15.785, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb of 39.068–39.560. These data suggest that magmatic fluids with contribution from meteoric water, magmatic sulfur, and lead derived from upper crust and metasomatized mantle by Indian continental materials would be critical for the Luobuzhen base metal mineralization.The Dongshibu area, located at ∼2 km east of the Luobuzhen, is characterized by high concentrations of Cu (up to 1450 ppm) and Mo (up to 130 ppm) of stream sediments, which is quite different from high concentrations in Pb, Zn, Ag, and Au shown in the Luobuzhen area. In addition, porphyry copper mineralization-related alteration and veins/veinlets occur in the Miocene monzogranite at Dongshibu. The monzogranite is characterized by high Sr/Y ratios, which are also shown on ore-forming intrusions in the Gangdese postcollisional porphyry copper deposits, and shows similar zircon Hf isotopes to the ore-related high Sr/Y intrusions from the Zhunuo porphyry copper deposit which is located ∼20 km northeast of the Luobuzhen-Dongshibu. A comprehensive analysis allows us to infer that the base metal veins at Luobuzhen are components of a porphyry Cu system with porphyry Cu mineralization likely present at Dongshibu and epithermal Au–Ag veins possibly occurring at Luobuzhen, which are indicative of the existence of porphyry copper systems in collisional zones. The potential porphyry Cu mineralization and epithermal Au–Ag veins should be targeted in future exploration at Luobuzhen-Dongshibu.     

Structural evolution of the Mokrsko-West,Mokrsko-East and Čelina gold deposits,Bohemian Massif,Czech Republic: Role of fluid overpressure

The studied Mokrsko-West (90–100 t Au), Mokrsko-East (30 t Au) and Čelina (11 t Au) deposits represent three spatially and genetically interrelated deposits of supposed affiliation to the intrusion-related gold deposit type. The deposits differ in their dominant host rocks, which are represented by ca 354 Ma old biotite tonalite (Mokrsko-West) and Neoproterozoic volcanic and volcanosedimentary rocks (Mokrsko-East, Čelina). Another difference lies in the style of veining — densely spaced networks of 0.1–5 mm thin veins (Q₂) within the tonalite, compared to thick (usually 5–20 cm; Q_1–2) and widely spaced veins within the Neoproterozoic rocks.Five generations of quartz veins, referred to as Q₀ through Q₄ were distinguished: Q₀ veins are the oldest and ore-barren, Q₁ veins mark the onset of the Au-ore formation, Q₂ veins its culmination and Q₃ veins its fading. Late quartz gangue (Q₄) is associated with uneconomic Ag–Pb–Zn vein-type ores hosted by calcite–barite–(quartz) veins.Quartz vein thickness (~ 0.3 to ~ 300 mm), spacing (~ 3 mm to ~ 500 mm), distribution, and related extensional strain (ca. 3–25%) evolve systematically across the studied ore district, reflecting both the major host rock and other tectonic factors. Detailed study of vein dimension parameters (thickness, length, width, aspect ratios) allowed estimation of the probable depth of the fluid source reservoir (~ 2 km or ~ 4 km) below the present surface. The depth to the fluid source seems to increase through time, being the shallowest for the Q₀ veins and the deepest for the Q₂ veins. Two independent methods of estimating fluid overpressure are discussed in the paper. Fluid overpressure during vein formation decreases from the Q₀ through the Q₂ veins, from 10 to 4 MPa or from 26 to 10 MPa, depending on the assumed tensile strength of the tonalite (5.5 and 15 MPa, respectively).The origin of joints and veins is discussed in terms of the stress orientation and crack-seal and crack-jump mechanisms. Field relationships unambiguously indicate that the veins hosted by Neoproterozoic rocks originated by reopening of the pre-existing extension joints (J₁) due to fluid overpressure. The origin of the densely-spaced thin veins (Q₂) hosted by the tonalite at the Mokrsko-West deposit is, however, less certain. It is probable that the tonalite was already affected by microfracturing analogous to the J₁ joints prior to the formation of quartz veins.The formation of the Q_1–2 veins at the Mokrsko-East deposit was constrained by the Re–Os dating of molybdenite to 342.9 ± 1.4 Ma. The ore-bearing hydrothermal system is thus ca 12 Ma younger than the tonalite that hosts the Mokrsko-West deposit. A similar ca 15–2 Ma difference between the age of the host-intrusion and the age of the hydrothermal event was encountered in several other gold deposits in the vicinity of the Central Bohemian Plutonic Complex. Two hypotheses to explain this are discussed in the paper.     

The Niassa Gold Belt,northern Mozambique – A segment of a continental-scale Pan-African gold-bearing structure?

The Niassa Gold Belt, in northernmost Mozambique, is hosted in the Txitonga Group, a Neoproterozoic rift sequence overlying Paleoproterozoic crust of the Congo–Tanzania Craton and deformed during the Pan-African Orogeny. The Txitonga Group is made up of greenschist-facies greywacke and schist and is characterized by bimodal, mainly mafic, magmatism. A zircon U–Pb age for a felsic volcanite dates deposition of the sequence at 714 ± 17 Ma. Gold is mined artisanally from alluvial deposits and primary chalcopyrite-pyrite-bearing quartz veins containing up to 19 ppm Au have been analyzed. In the Cagurué and M’Papa gold fields, dominantly N–S trending quartz veins, hosted in metagabbro and schist, are regarded as tension gashes related to regional strike-slip NE–SW-trending Pan-African shear zones. These gold deposits have been classified as mesozonal and metamorphic in origin. Re–Os isotopic data on sulfides suggest two periods of gold deposition for the Cagurué Gold Field. A coarse-crystalline pyrite–chalcopyrite assemblage yields an imprecise Pan-African age of 483 ± 72 Ma, dating deposition of the quartz veins. Remobilization of early-formed sulfides, particularly chalcopyrite, took place at 112 ± 14 Ma, during Lower Cretaceous Gondwana dispersal. The ～483 Ma assemblage yields a chondritic initial ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os ratio of 0.123 ± 0.058. This implies a juvenile source for the ore fluids, possibly involving the hosting Neoproterozoic metagabbro. The Niassa Gold Belt is situated at the eastern end of a SW–NE trending continental-scale lineament defined by the Mwembeshi Shear Zone and the southern end of a NW–SE trending lineament defined by the Rukwa Shear Zone. We offer a review of gold deposits in Zambia and Tanzania associated with these polyphase lineaments and speculate on their interrelation.     

The Mokrsko-West gold deposit,Bohemian Massif,Czech Republic: Mineralogy,deposit setting and classification

The Mokrsko-West deposit is unique among European Variscan gold deposits from the points of view of both the structure (an approx. 200 m thick complex of sheeted, several mm-thick, densely spaced quartz veins) and the economic viability (gold reserves of about 100 t). The deposit is hosted mainly by tonalite of the calc-alkaline Sázava tonalite suite (ca. 354 Ma) of the Central Bohemian Plutonic Complex. Mineralization is characterized by quartz-dominated gangue, no visible hydrothermal alteration, low sulfide content, high fineness native gold accompanied by maldonite, aurostibite, native bismuth and numerous Bi–Te–(S) phases. Five mineralogical stages are described in great detail. Arsenopyrite and chlorite thermometers, mineral phase stabilities and published isotope and fluid inclusion data are used to reconstruct the temperature and compositional evolution of the system. The role of liquid bismuth in the sequestration of gold is also discussed.The deposit shares the features of both orogenic gold (ORG) and intrusion-related gold (IRG) deposits. The IRG model is advocated by close spatial association between the ore zone and the tonalite host-intrusion, by the absence/scarcity of hydrothermal alteration, by the Au–Bi–Te–As elemental association and by marked thermal gradients from the early to late mineralization stages. The ORG model is advocated by an approx. 15–10 Ma gap between the intrusion of the tonalite-host and the ore formation, by isotope and geochemical evidence for a key role of metamorphic fluids in the mobilization and transfer of many elements/species (inclusive S and Au). The apparently ambiguous classification of the deposit can most probably be attributed to deposit formation at a depth of ≥ 9 km and to setting of the deposit at/inside a large-scale plutonic complex with multiple and prolonged tectonic and intrusive activity.     

Phanerozoic continental growth and gold metallogeny of Asia

The Asian continent formed during the past 800 m.y. during late Neoproterozoic through Jurassic closure of the Tethyan ocean basins, followed by late Mesozoic circum-Pacific and Cenozoic Himalayan orogenies. The oldest gold deposits in Asia reflect accretionary events along the margins of the Siberia, Kazakhstan, North China, Tarim–Karakum, South China, and Indochina Precambrian blocks while they were isolated within the Paleotethys and surrounding Panthalassa Oceans. Orogenic gold deposits are associated with large-scale, terrane-bounding fault systems and broad areas of deformation that existed along many of the active margins of the Precambrian blocks. Deposits typically formed during regional transpressional to transtensional events immediately after to as much as 100 m.y. subsequent to the onset of accretion or collision. Major orogenic gold provinces associated with this growth of the Asian continental mass include: (1) the ca. 750 Ma Yenisei Ridge, ca. 500 Ma East Sayan, and ca. 450–350 Ma Patom provinces along the southern margins of the Siberia craton; (2) the 450 Ma Charsk belt of north-central Kazakhstan; (3) the 310–280 Ma Kalba belt of NE Kazakhstan, extending into adjacent NW Xinjiang, along the Siberia–Kazakhstan suture; (4) the ca. 300–280 Ma deposits within the Central Asian southern and middle Tien Shan (e.g., Kumtor, Zarmitan, Muruntau), marking the closure of the Turkestan Ocean between Kazakhstan and the Tarim–Karakum block; (5) the ca. 190–125 Ma Transbaikal deposits along the site of Permian to Late Jurassic diachronous closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean between Siberia and Mongolia/North China; (6) the probable Late Silurian–Early Devonian Jiagnan belt formed along the margin of Gondwana at the site of collision between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks; (7) Triassic deposits of the Paleozoic Qilian Shan and West Qinling orogens along the SW margin of the North China block developed during collision of South China; and (8) Jurassic(?) ores on the margins of the Subumusu block in Myanmar and Malaysia. Circum-Pacific tectonism led to major orogenic gold province formation along the length of the eastern side of Asia between ca. 135 and 120 Ma, although such deposits are slightly older in South Korea and slightly younger in the Amur region of the Russian Southeast. Deformation related to collision of the Kolyma–Omolon microcontinent with the Pacific margin of the Siberia craton led to formation of 136–125 Ma ores of the Yana–Kolyma belt (Natalka, Sarylakh) and 125–119 Ma ores of the South Verkhoyansk synclinorium (Nezhdaninskoe). Giant ca. 125 Ma gold provinces developed in the Late Archean uplifted basement of the decratonized North China block, within its NE edge and into adjacent North Korea, in the Jiaodong Peninsula, and in the Qinling Mountains. The oldest gold-bearing magmatic–hydrothermal deposits of Asia include the ca. 485 Ma Duobaoshan porphyry within a part of the Tuva–Mongol arc, ca. 355 Ma low-sulfidation epithermal deposits (Kubaka) of the Omolon terrane accreted to eastern Russia, and porphyries (Bozshakol, Taldy Bulak) within Ordovican to Early Devonian oceanic arcs formed off the Kazakhstan microcontinent. The Late Devonian to Carboniferous was marked by widespread gold-rich porphyry development along the margins of the closing Ob–Zaisan, Junggar–Balkhash, and Turkestan basins (Amalyk, Oyu Tolgoi); most were formed in continental arcs, although the giant Oyu Tolgoi porphyry was part of a near-shore oceanic arc. Permian subduction-related deformation along the east side of the Indochina block led to ca. 300 Ma gold-bearing skarn and disseminated gold ore formation in the Truong Son fold belt of Laos, and along the west side to ca. 250 Ma gold-bearing skarns and epithermal deposits in the Loei fold belt of Laos and Thailand. In the Mesozoic Transbaikal region, extension along the basin margins subsequent to Mongol–Okhotsk closure was associated with ca. 150–125 Ma formation of important auriferous epithermal (Balei), skarn (Bystray), and porphyry (Kultuminskoe) deposits. In northeastern Russia, Early Cretaceous Pacific margin subduction and Late Cretaceous extension were associated with epithermal gold-deposit formation in the Uda–Murgal (Julietta) and Okhotsk–Chukotka (Dukat, Kupol) volcanic belts, respectively. In southeastern Russia, latest Cretaceous to Oligocene extension correlates with other low-sulfidation epithermal ores that formed in the East Sikhote–Alin volcanic belt. Other extensional events, likely related to changing plate dynamics along the Pacific margin of Asia, relate to epithermal–skarn–porphyry districts that formed at ca. 125–85 Ma in northeastmost China and ca. 105–90 Ma in the Coast Volcanic belt of SE China. The onset of strike slip along a part of the southeastern Pacific margin appears to correlate with the giant 148–135 Ma gold-rich porphyry–skarn province of the lower and middle Yangtze River. It is still controversial as to whether true Carlin-like gold deposits exist in Asia. Those deposits that most closely resemble the Nevada (USA) ores are those in the Permo-Triassic Youjiang basin of SW China and NE Vietnam, and are probably Late Triassic in age, although this is not certain. Other Carlin-like deposits have been suggested to exist in the Sepon basin of Laos and in the Mongol–Okhotsk region (Kuranakh) of Transbaikal.     

Gold mineralization in the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt of South China: Geological,geochemical and geochronological characteristics,ore deposit-type and geodynamic setting

Located in the southeastern margin of the Yangtze Block and generally interpreted as the Neoproterozoic collisional product of the Yangtze with the Cathaysia Blocks of South China, the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt (JOB) contains a number of gold (Au) (-polymetallic) ore deposits and mineral showings, mostly hosted by Neoproterozoic low-grade metamorphic volcaniclastic and sedimentary rocks. The mineralization styles mainly include auriferous quartz veins and disseminated mineralization in altered mylonite and cataclasite that are developed along shear zones, fracture zones and inter- or intra-formational fault zones closely related to regional folding and shearing deformation. Three gold mineralizing epochs are recognized in the JOB. The ca. 423–397 Ma mineralization was associated with the early Paleozoic tectonothermal event(s), which induced widespread emplacement of Silurian S-type granites, low-grade metamorphism and enrichment of gold in the Neoproterozoic rocks (i.e., forming Au source beds). The second Au mineralization epoch, occurring at ca. 176–170 Ma (Jurassic), was related to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate beneath the South China continental margin. The third and most important Au mineralization epoch took place at ca. 144–130 Ma (early Cretaceous), when a Basin-and-Range tectonic pattern was developed, characterized by NE–NNE-trending strike-slip faults, granitic domes and metamorphic core complexes (MCC), and basins filled with red bed lithologies. C, H, O, He-Ar, S and Pb isotopic and fluid-inclusion data suggest that the ore fluids were predominantly metamorphic and/or magmatic, with variable input of mantle-derived fluids and the progressive involvement of meteoric waters in the later stages of mineralization. Ore materials were mostly contributed by the Neoproterozoic source beds, plus a possible contribution from mantle- or magma-derived components. The Au (-polymetallic) deposits in the JOB, particularly those formed in the early Cretaceous, share many geological and geochemical features with the orogenic-type and Carlin-type deposits. In the context of tectonic evolution of South China, the gold mineralization in the JOB may be considered an “intracontinental reactivation type”, characterized by synchronous development of Au–polymetallic mineralization, reactivation of stuctures developed in Neoproterozoic metamorphic rocks, and widespread granite emplacement in the late Mesozoic.     

Zircon U–Pb,molybdenite Re–Os and muscovite Ar–Ar isotopic dating of the Xitian W–Sn polymetallic deposit,eastern Hunan Province,South China and its geological significance

The Xitian tungsten–tin (W–Sn) polymetallic deposit, located in eastern Hunan Province, South China, is a recently explored region containing one of the largest W–Sn deposits in the Nanling W–Sn metallogenic province. The mineral zones in this deposit comprise skarn, greisen, structurally altered rock and quartz-vein types. The deposit is mainly hosted by Devonian dolomitic limestone at the contact with the Xitian granite complex. The Xitian granite complex consists of Indosinian (Late Triassic, 230–215 Ma) and Yanshanian (Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous, 165–141 Ma) granites. Zircons from two samples of the Xitian granite dated using laser ablation-inductively coupled mass spectrometer (LA-ICPMS) U–Pb analysis yielded two ages of 225.6 ± 1.3 Ma and 151.8 ± 1.4 Ma, representing the emplacement ages of two episodic intrusions of the Xitian granite complex. Molybdenites separated from ore-bearing quartz-veins yielded a Re–Os isochron age of 149.7 ± 0.9 Ma, in excellent agreement with a weighted mean age of 150.3 ± 0.5 Ma. Two samples of muscovites from ore-bearing greisens yielded ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of 149.5 ± 1.5 Ma and 149.4 ± 1.5 Ma, respectively. These isotopic ages obtained from hydrothermal minerals are slightly younger than the zircon U–Pb age of 151.8 ± 1.4 Ma of the Yanshanian granite in the Xitian area, indicating that the W–Sn mineralization is genetically related to the Late Jurassic magmatism. The Xitian deposit is a good example of the Early Yanshanian regional W–Sn ore-forming event (160–150 Ma) in the Nanling region. The relatively high Re contents (8.7 to 44.0 ppm, average of 30.5 ppm) in molybdenites suggest a mixture of mantle and crustal sources in the genesis of the ore-forming fluids and melts. Based upon previous geochemical studies of Early Yanshanian granite and regional geology, we argue that the Xitian W–Sn polymetallic deposit can be attributed to back-arc lithosphere extension in the region, which was probably triggered by the break-off of the flat-slab of the Palae-Pacific plate beneath the lithosphere.     

The Guelb Moghrein Cu–Au deposit: Neoarchaean hydrothermal sulfide mineralization in carbonate-facies iron formation

The Guelb Moghrein copper–gold deposit in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania reopened in 2006 and has produced copper concentrate and gold since then. The deposit is hosted in Neoarchaean–Palaeoproterozoic Fe–Mg carbonate-dominated metamorphic rocks interpreted as carbonate-facies iron formation. It forms tabular orebodies controlled by shear zones in the hanging wall and footwall of this meta-iron formation. Copper and gold are hosted in a complex sulfide ore in tectonic breccia replacing Fe–Mg carbonate and magnetite. Hydrothermal monazite dates the mineralization at 2492 ± 9 Ma. Two types of aqueous fluid inclusions suggest fluid mixing at 0.75–1.80 kbar and ~ 410 °C as the mineralization and precipitation mechanism, which is temporally coincident with regional retrograde metamorphism at 410 ± 30 °C (garnet-biotite). Distal alteration zones are enriched in K, Rb and Cu, whereas orebodies are depleted in K, Rb, Sr and Ba. The copper–gold mineralization at Guelb Moghrein formed during retrograde shearing in metamorphic rocks and contemporaneous hydrothermal alteration. The stable isotope signature of alteration and ore minerals suggest an external crustal fluid source. Fluids were focused in the reactive and competent meta-iron formation. Potassium alteration, magnetite and copper–gold mineralization suggest an IOCG mineral system akin similar deposits in Australia and Brazil.     

The Nadun Cu–Au mineralization,central Tibet: Root of a high sulfidation epithermal deposit

A new high sulfidation epithermal Cu–Au occurrence (Nadun) has been discovered adjacent to the Cretaceous Duolong porphyry Cu–Au deposit within the Bangong–Nujiang metallogenic belt, central Tibet. The Nadun Cu–Au mineralization is hosted in a tectonic–hydrothermal breccia with advanced argillic alteration, which occurs above sandstone, associated with quartz–pyrite veins. The granodiorite porphyry with strong argillic alteration yields a zircon U–Pb age of 119.1 ± 1.3 Ma, whereas the weakly argillic granodiorite porphyry intruded into the breccia has a younger age of 116.1 ± 1.3 Ma. This indicates that Cu–Au epithermal mineralization likely occurred between ~ 116 Ma and ~ 119 Ma, consistent with the duration of magmatic–hydrothermal activity at Duolong (~ 115–118 Ma), and providing evidence that Nadun and Duolong were formed during the same event. Moreover, the Nadun and Duolong porphyries have similar Hf isotopic compositions (εHf(t) values ranging from − 8.8 to 8.1; mean = 5.0 ± 1.1, n = 32), likely indicating that the deposits are comagmatic. In addition, boiling assemblages in vapor-rich inclusions coexisting with brines occur in early stage quartz–pyrite veins, and likely record phase separation at a temperature of > 550–300 °C and pressure of 700–110 bars. Most liquid-rich fluid inclusions formed at the breccia stage show similar salinity (1.7–19.3 wt.% NaCl equiv) to vapor-rich inclusions from the underlying quartz–pyrite veins, likely indicating vapor contraction during cooling at elevated presssure. This suggests that quartz–pyrite veins may act as conduits for ore-forming fluid traveling from the porphyry to the epithermal hydrothermal system. O and H isotopic compositions (δ¹⁸O_fluid = 0.42–9.71‰ and δD = − 102 to − 66‰) suggest that ore-forming fluids are dominantly from a magmatic source with a minor addition of meteoric water at a later stage. The S and Fe isotope compositions of sulfides (δ³⁴S = − 5.9 to 0.5‰ and δ⁵⁷Fe = − 2.15 to 0.17‰) decrease from the quartz–pyrite vein to breccia ore, indicating that ore-forming fluids gradually become SO₄²-enriched and relatively oxidized. This body of evidence suggests that the Nadun Cu–Au mineralization may represent the root of a high sulfidation epithermal deposit.     

Anatomy of a world-class epizonal orogenic-gold system: A holistic thermochronological analysis of the Xincheng gold deposit,Jiaodong Peninsula,eastern China

Xincheng is a world-class orogenic-gold deposit hosted by the Early Cretaceous Guojialing granitoid in the Jiaodong Peninsula, eastern China. A zircon U–Pb age of 126 ± 1.4 Ma, together with previous data, constrain the emplacement of the Guojialing intrusion to 132–123 Ma. The granitoid underwent subsolidus ductile deformation at >500 °C following its intrusion. The small difference in age between the youngest zircon U–Pb age of unaltered granitoid (~123 Ma) and the ca. 120 Ma ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of sericite, associated with breccias and gold mineralization within it indicate initial rapid cooling from magmatic temperatures to those prevalent during brittle deformation and associated gold mineralization at ~220–300 °C. Evidence of a direct association between granitic magmatism and gold mineralization, such as at least localized near-magmatic depositional temperatures and metal zoning evident in undoubted intrusion-related gold deposits, is absent. The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of ~120 Ma coincides with the mineralization age of many other orogenic-gold deposits along the Jiaojia Fault. Sixteen zircon fission-track (ZFT) ages across the ore and alteration zones range from 112.9 ± 3.4 to 99.1 ± 2.7 Ma. The long period of cooling to the ~100 Ma ZFT closure temperatures recorded here suggests that ambient temperatures for hydrothermal alteration systems lasted to ~100 Ma, possibly because of their focus at Xincheng within the young Guojialing granitoid as it cooled more slowly below approximately 300 °C to 220 °C. However, the restricted number of auriferous ore stages, combined with the presence of cross-cutting gold-free quartz-carbonate veins, indicate that gold itself was only deposited over a restricted time interval at ~120 Ma, consistent with studies of orogenic gold deposits elsewhere. This highlights the complex interplay between magmatism, deformation and the longevity of hydrothermal systems that cause genetic controversies. Based on apatite fission-track (AFT) ages, the Xincheng gold deposit was then uplifted and exhumed to near the surface of the crust at 15 Ma, probably due to movement on the crustal-scale Tan-Lu Fault. Recognition of such exhumation histories along gold belts has conceptual exploration significance in terms of the probability of discovery of additional exposed or sub-surface gold ore bodies as discovery is as much a function of preservation as formation of the deposits.     

Episodic gold mineralisation correlated with discrete structural events at Ballarat East,southeast Australia

New ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronological data suggest orogenic gold mineralisation at the Ballarat East deposit, southeast Australia, occurred in three main episodes at ca. 445–435 Ma, ca. 420–415 Ma and ca. 380–370 Ma. The gold mineralisation is localised in muscovite-bearing quartz and quartz-carbonate veins hosted in the steep faults (70–90°), on limbs of tight and isoclinal folds in an Ordovician turbidite sequence, and within west-dipping (≤45°) faults, historically known as leather jacket lodes. Initiation of the ≤45° faults that are confined to fold culminations, begins at ca. 445 Ma, with peak metamorphic conditions at 440 Ma. The earliest vein sets (V₁), were emplaced on limb thrusts at ca. 445–435 Ma and are characterised by arsenopyrite-dominated quartz veins. These V₁ veins parallel arsenopyrite-rich shale units, historically referred to as ‘indicator beds’. Both the steep and ≤45° faults were reactivated during fold amplification with deposition of the V₂ auriferous veins at ca. 420–415 Ma. A later set of auriferous veins (V₃–V₄) with ages of 380–370 Ma, dominated by pyrite-sphalerite-galena-white-mica quartz-(V₃) or carbonate-rich (V₄) veins are predominantly associated with reactivation of the ≤45° west-dipping faults. This new geochronological data constrains the local kinematic history of the Ballarat East deposit and has regional implications. The V₁–V₂ vein development appears to be synchronous across the entire western section of the Lachlan Orogen, where previous studies have suggested that initial gold mineralisation was linked to orogenesis at ∼440 Ma, as a result of metamorphic devolatilisation reactions in the lower crust. In contrast, a close spatial and temporal relationship exists between the felsic dykes and the mineralisation recognised in the V₃–V₄ veins. The deformation that accompanies V₃–V₄ vein development is attributed to small, localised events during east-west shortening, utilising pre-existing fold and fault structures. The origin of the fluids producing the V₃–V₄ veins may be metamorphic devolatilisation associated with widespread felsic magmatism that occurred at this time across central Victoria.     

Recognition of Yanshanian magmatic-hydrothermal gold and polymetallic gold mineralization in the Laowan gold metallogenic belt,Tongbai Mountains: New evidence from structural controls,geochronology and geochemistry

The Laowan metallogenic belt in China is an important metallogenic belt within the Tongbai orogenic belt, and contains the medium-sized Laowan and Shangshanghe gold deposits, the small Huangzhuyuan lead–zinc–silver–gold deposit and some gold and Cu–Pb occurrences. These deposits are hosted in Mesoproterozoic plagioclase amphibolite (or schist) and mica-quartz schist. The gold ores are mainly quartz veins and veinlets and disseminated altered ores. Subordinate ore types include massive sulfides and breccias. The Laowan gold deposit is characterized by three right-stepping en-echelon fracture-controlled alteration zones that dip gently to the south and includes disseminated, sheeted and stockwork ores. These lodes were formed by the interaction of ore-forming fluid with foliated-to laminated cataclasite within the transpressional faults. The Shangshanghe gold deposit is characterized by parallel ore lodes that dip steeply to the north, and includes quartz veins and breccias in addition to ores in altered wallrocks. These lodes were formed by focusing of fluids into transtensional faults. These ore controlling faults displaced early barren quartz veins 10 m horizontally with a dextral sense of motion. The ore-hosting structures at the Laowan and Shangshanghe deposits correspond to the P and R-type shears of a brittle dextral strike-slip fault system, respectively, which make angles of about 15° and − 15° to the Laowan and Songpa boundary faults. The ore-controlling fault system post-dated formation of a ductile shear zone, and peak regional metamorphism. This precludes a genetic relationship between hydrothermal mineralization and regional metamorphism and ductile shear deformation. These gold deposits are not typical orogenic gold deposits. The metallogenic belt displays district-scale-zoning of Mo → Cu–Pb–Zn–Ag → Au relative to Songpa granite porphyry dike zone, suggesting the mineralization may be closely related to the granite porphyry. Measured δ³⁴S of sulfides and δ¹⁸O and δD of fluid inclusion waters in auriferous quartz also are consistent with a magmatic source for sulfur and ore fluids. The similarity of Pb isotope ratios between the ores and Yanshanian granitoids suggests a similar source. As the age (139 ± 3 Ma) of granite porphyry obtained by zircon U–Pb isotope overlaps the mineralization age (138 ± 1 Ma: Zhang et al., 2008a), the gold and polymetallic metallogenesis of the Laowan gold belt has close spatial, temporal and possibly genetic relationships with Yanshanian high level magmatism.     

The Tasiast deposit,Mauritania

The Tasiast gold deposits are hosted within Mesoarchean rocks of the Aouéouat greenstone belt, Mauritania. The Tasiast Mine consists of two deposits hosted within distinctly different rock types, both situated within the hanging wall of the west-vergent Tasiast thrust. The Piment deposits are hosted within metasedimentary rocks including metaturbidites and banded iron formation where the main mineral association consists of magnetite-quartz-pyrrhotite ± actinolite ± garnet ± biotite. Gold is associated with silica flooding and sulphide replacement of magnetite in the turbidites and in the banded iron formation units. The West Branch deposit is hosted within meta-igneous rocks, mainly diorites and quartz diorites that lie stratigraphically below host rocks of the Piment deposits. Most of the gold mineralisation at West Branch is hosted by quartz–carbonate veins within the sheared and hydrothermally altered meta-diorites that constitute the Greenschist Zone. At Tasiast, gold mineralisation has been defined over a strike length > 10 km and to vertical depths of 740 m. All of the significant mineralised bodies defined to date dip moderately to steeply (45° to 70°) to the east and have a south–southeasterly plunge. Gold deposits on the Tasiast trend are associated with second order shear zones that are splays cutting the hanging wall block of the Tasiast thrust. An age of 2839 ± 36 Ma obtained from the hydrothermal overgrowth on zircons from a quartz vein is interpreted to represent the age of mineralisation.     

Ar-Ar ages of gold deposits in the Song Hien domain (NE Vietnam): Tectonic settings and comparison with Golden Triangle in China in terms of a single metallogenic province

The Song Hien rift basin is an important metallogenic area in NE Vietnam. This domain consists mainly of Triassic sulfide-rich black shale beds, which play a role as a sedimentary host for various mineral systems such as antimony, mercury and gold-sulfide deposits. Most of gold deposits are hosted in carbonaceous sedimentary rocks, however some deposits, which have similar characteristics, are hosted in fine-grained mafic magmatic rocks. An Ar-Ar isotopic dating of hydrothermal sericite from the sedimentary hosted Bo Va and Khung Khoang gold deposits and intrusion hosted orogenic Hat Han gold deposit yields plateau ages of 184.8 ± 2.1 Ma, 211.63 ± 2.3 Ma, and 209.12 ± 2.3 Ma, respectively. The obtained Ar-Ar ages convincingly show that the orogenic gold deposits in the Song Hien domain were formed in Late Triassic to Early Jurassic, while the age of the Bo Va deposit is at least older than 184.8 ± 2.1 Ma. Loss of argon by volume diffusion, supported by previously reported mineralogical and isotopic features of the Bo Va deposit may suggest that the Jurassic-Cretaceous (Yanshanian) tectonothermal events overprinted some deposits in the Song Hien domain. Formation of gold deposits in the Song Hien domain is linked to the same tectonic event as the Carlin-like gold deposits in SW China and is associated with an extensional tectonic regime that followed continental collision between the Indochina and South China Blocks. The similarity in geology setting and mineral composition of gold deposits of the Song Hien domain and the Golden Triangle region, as well as timing and kinematics of deformation, magmatic features, and stratigraphic sequence and bulk architecture, lead to conclusion that NE Vietnam and SW China is a single metallogenic zone. The study of gold deposits in Vietnam will provide a new data on the metallogenic history of this important part of SE Asia.