scholarly journals Gold composition and conditions of Southern Ak-Dag gold-sulfide-quartz ore occurrence formation (Western Tuva)

LITOSFERA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 706-716
Author(s):  
N. N. Ankusheva ◽  
R. V. Kuzhuget
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Inclusion ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Ore Deposits ◽  
High Rate ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Mineral Formation ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Ore Mineralization ◽  
Host Rocks ◽  
Gold Sulfide

Research subject. The paper presents data on the mineralogical, geochemical and fluid inclusion features of the Southern Ak-Dag gold-sulphide-quartz ore occurrence in Western Tuva.Methods. Mineral formation temperatures, salt composition and fluid salinity were examined using a Linkam TMS-600 cryostage and an Olympus BX 51 microscope. The chemical composition of samples was identified using a MIRA 3 LMU (Tescan Orsay Holding) scanning electron microscope equipped with INCA Energy 450+XMax 80 and INCA Wave 500 microanalysis systems; BSE photos were taken by Tescan Vega 3 and Hitachi ТМ-1000 SEM instruments.Results. The ores under study were found to contain both high-grade and medium-grade gold with an Ag content of up to 17.05 wt %. The average gold fineness comprised 904 ‰, ranging from 830 to 928 ‰. According to fluid inclusion data, gold-sulphide-quartz veins were formed at temperatures of 280–240 °C and pressures of 0.8–1.2 kbar from aqueous fluids having a salinity of 8.6–6.4 wt % NaCl eq. The narrow range of fluid salinity at decreasing temperatures and the prevalence of high-grade gold in sulphide-quartz veins indicate a relatively high rate of mineral formation in a narrow permeable zone without any significant interaction with host rocks or mixing with meteoric waters.Conclusions. Gold mineralization in the Southern Ak-Dag ore occurrence, which was formed within one ore substage, corresponds to the type of gold-galena-chalcopyrite with barite. The established similarity of native gold in the Southern Ak-Dag occurrence and other deposits in the Aldan-Maadyr ore cluster in terms of P-T parameters of ore formation and mineralogical and geochemical features, as well as association of the ore mineralization with beresites, indicate the possibility of discovering industrial ore deposits in the region and confirm its paragenetic relation with Devonian magmatic activity.

scholarly journals Stratigraphic-lithological factors of the location of gold mineralization in the central part of the Bukantau Mountains in Uzbekistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 937 (4) ◽  
pp. 042084
Author(s):  
A Tangirov ◽  
T Ishboboev ◽  
B Urunov
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Gold Ore ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Carbonate Formation ◽  
Gold Silver ◽  
Sandy Shale ◽  
Middle Carboniferous ◽  
Host Rocks ◽  
Gold Sulfide

Abstract The leading role in the placement of gold mineralization in the Bukantau mountains belongs to structural and lithological factors. For gold-ore and gold-silver occurrences, sandy-shale strata of the flyschoid and olistostrome formations are favorable, then, rocks of the volcanogenic-dolomite-siliceous formation and then the carbonate formation (Okzhetpes type). The leading types of near-ore hydrothermal alteration of the host rocks in the studied deposits are silicification and, to a lesser extent, carbonatization and sericitization. They are accompanied by chloritization, biotitization, argillization, etc. Gold ore deposits and ore occurrences of sulfide-disseminated ores are confined mainly to the deposits of the Karashakh suite of the Middle Carboniferous (C2b + m1 kr). Moreover, gold-sulfide mineralization in the rocks of the Karashakh Formation is unevenly distributed.

Granitoid-hosted gold mineralization in Ikibzyaksky ore field: a new milestone in Baikal-Patom metallogenic province gold potential study

2021 ◽  
pp. 4-18
Author(s):  
ANATOLY IVANOV ◽  
YURI AGEEV ◽  
ALEXANDER MEZENTSEV ◽  
BASIL MOLOCHNY ◽  
VICTOR KONKIN
Keyword(s):  
Fault Zone ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Metallogenic Province ◽  
Deep Fault ◽  
Potential Study ◽  
Plutonic Belt ◽  
Gold Sulfide ◽  
First Time ◽  
Deep Fault Zone

New data is provided on gold mineralization in the southern Baikal-Patom metallogenic province, Ikibzyakskoye ore field, located in Pravo-Mamakansky deep fault zone separating Patom fold area from Baikal-Vitim volcanic-plutonic belt. For the first time, the metallogenic province was found to comprise granitoid-hosted ore vein-stringer zones with high-grade economic gold sulfide-quartz mineralization. This mineralization is localized within fault shistosity zones manifesting intense beresitization and listvenitization (in metabasite xenoliths).

scholarly journals Amethyst Occurrences in Tertiary Volcanic Rocks of Greece: Mineralogical, Fluid Inclusion and Oxygen Isotope Constraints on Their Genesis

Minerals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Voudouris ◽  
Vasilios Melfos ◽  
Constantinos Mavrogonatos ◽  
Alexandre Tarantola ◽  
Jens Gӧtze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Inclusion ◽  
Open System ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Hydrothermal Fluids ◽  
Northern Greece ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Low Salinity ◽  
Moderate Salinity ◽  
Host Rocks ◽  
Of Greece

Epithermally altered volcanic rocks in Greece host amethyst-bearing veins in association with various silicates, carbonates, oxides and sulfides. Host rocks are Oligocene to Pleistocene calc-alkaline to shoshonitic lavas and pyroclastics of intermediate to acidic composition. The veins are integral parts of high to intermediate sulfidation epithermal mineralized centers in northern Greece (e.g., Kassiteres–Sapes, Kirki, Kornofolia/Soufli, Lesvos Island) and on Milos Island. Colloform–crustiform banding with alternations of amethyst, chalcedony and/or carbonates is a common characteristic of the studied amethyst-bearing veins. Hydrothermal alteration around the quartz veins includes sericitic, K-feldspar (adularia), propylitic and zeolitic types. Precipitation of amethyst took place from near-neutral to alkaline fluids, as indicated by the presence of various amounts of gangue adularia, calcite, zeolites, chlorite and smectite. Fluid inclusion data suggest that the studied amethyst was formed by hydrothermal fluids with relatively low temperatures (~200–250 °C) and low to moderate salinity (1–8 wt % NaCl equiv). A fluid cooling gradually from the external to the inner parts of the veins, possibly with subsequent boiling in an open system, is considered for the amethysts of Silver Hill in Sapes and Kassiteres. Amethysts from Kornofolia, Megala Therma, Kalogries and Chondro Vouno were formed by mixing of moderately saline hydrothermal fluids with low-salinity fluids at relatively lower temperatures indicating the presence of dilution processes and probably boiling in an open system. Stable isotope data point to mixing between magmatic and marine (and/or meteoric) waters and are consistent with the oxidizing conditions required for amethyst formation.

Hydrothermal zircon and baddeleyite in Val-d'Or Archean mesothermal gold deposits: characteristics, compositions, and fluid-inclusion properties, with implications fortiming of primary gold mineralization

1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 2334-2351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Kerrich ◽  
Robert King
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Inclusion ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Wall Rock ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Southern Volcanic Zone ◽  
Primary Fluid ◽  
Inheritance Model ◽  
Homogenization Temperatures ◽  
Host Rocks

Zircon and baddeleyite occur within quartz–tourmaline veins at four gold deposits in the Val-d'Or district of the Archean Abitibi Southern Volcanic Zone. Host rocks have experienced intense metasomatic enrichment of Zr, Hf, Y, and rare earth elements. The zircons contain primary inclusions of quartz, tourmaline, pyrite, albite, K-mica, scheelite, and gold, and gold occurs in primary fluid inclusions in zircons. Magmatic zircons in host rocks do not have this suite of inclusions; consequently a wall-rock inheritance model for the vein zircons is implausible. Compositionally, the zircons feature pronounced interzone and intergrain variations of Hf, Y, Yb, Th, and U, and sporadic anomalous Ce contents of ~ 1100 ppm, distinct from magmatic counterparts. Two principal types of primary fluid inclusion occur in the vein zircons. Type 1 H2O–CO2 inclusions have low salinities, variable quantities of CO2 and homogenization temperatures of 260–380 °C, and type 2 CO2 rich inclusions contain minor H2O and CH4. The vein zircons coprecipitated at 260–380 °C and ~ 2 kbar (1 kbar = 100 MPa) with coexisting minerals of undisputed hydrothermal origin, such as vein quartz and gold. In the Superior Province, mesothermal gold deposits are related in space and time to translithospheric structures that mark the diachronous accretion of allochthonous subprovinces from north to south between ~ 2710 and 2680 Ma. Consequently, vein zircon ages of ~ 2680 Ma record the primary mineralizing event, whereas aberrantly young ages for rutile, titanite, scheelite, and micas in the same vein systems, that scatter over 2630–2579 Ma, reveal the age of secondary remobilization events.

scholarly journals Occurrences and Characteristics of Gold Mineralization in Rampi Block Prospect, North Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arifudin Idrus ◽  
Suaib Mansur ◽  
Ahmad Ahmad ◽  
Rahmayuddin Rahmayuddin ◽  
Abdul Abdul
Keyword(s):  
Research Method ◽  
Genetic Model ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
South Sulawesi ◽  
Supergene Enrichment ◽  
Systematic Exploration ◽  
Ore Mineralization ◽  
Gold Grade

This study is aimed to identify the occurences, characterisatics and genetic type of gold mineralization, and to elucidate the preliminary gold potential in the study area. Research method includes field observation of prospect geology, hydrothermal alteration and ore mineralization. Laboratory analysis consists of petrography, ore microscopy and ore chemistry. Geologically, quartz ± gold veins were found in Rampi block prospect, which are mainly hosted by metamorphic and metasediment rocks. The quartz veins has structurally segmented with massive, brecciated and laminated textures. Orientation and distribution of veins is controlled by NW–SE and NE–SW trending structures. Sulfides are present with minor abundance (<1 %). Pyrite is obviously observed and partially oxidized. Arsenopyrite and stibnite are minor, while basemetal (Pb, Zn) sulfides are very rare. Gold mineralization occurred in quartz veins and closely related to silica-clay and silicic alteration. Gold grade varies from 0.1 to 11 ppm Au (29 samples). Quartz veins contained high gold grade (>9 ppm) commonly show laminated and brecciated texture and has been undergone a supergene enrichment. According to several characteristics above, gold deposit in Rampi block prospect tends to meet the criteria of orogenic/mesothermal gold type (cf. Groves et al., 2003). The deposit shares similarities with Awak Mas prospect, which is already confirmed to be a mesothermal type in Luwu district (cf. Querubin and Walters, 2011). Therefore, discoveries of economic mesothermal gold deposits are still open in the metamorphic terrains, and thus, it requires a systematic exploration based on the genetic model of the deposit.

scholarly journals Metamorphic rock-hosted orogenic gold deposit style at Bombana (Southeast Sulawesi) and Buru Island (Maluku): Their key features and significances for gold exploration in Eastern Indonesia

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arifudin Idrus ◽  
Sukamandaru Prihatmoko ◽  
Ernowo Harjanto ◽  
Franz Michael Meyer ◽  
Irzal Nur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Inclusions ◽  
Metamorphic Rock ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Gold Exploration ◽  
Eastern Indonesia ◽  
Key Features ◽  
Gold Bearing

In Indonesia, gold is commonly mined from epithermal-, porphyry-, and skarn-type deposits that are commonly found in volcanic belts along island arcs or active continental margin settings. Numerous gold prospects, however, were recently discovered in association with metamorphic rocks. This paper focuses on metamorphic rock-hosted gold mineralization in Eastern Indonesia, in particular the Bombana (SE Sulawesi) and Buru Island (Maluku) prospects. At Bombana, gold-bearing quartz-veins are hosted by the Pompangeo metamorphic complex. Sheared, segmented veins vary in thickness from 2 cm to 2 m. Gold is mainly present in the form of ‘free gold’ among silicate minerals and closely related to cinnabar, stibnite, tripuhyite, and in places, minor arsenopyrite. The gold distribution is erratic, however, ranging from below detection limit up to 134 g/t. At least three generations of veins are identified. The first is parallel to the foliation, the second crosscuts the first generation of veins as well as the foliation, and the late-stage laminated deformed quartz-calcite vein represents the third mineralization stage. The early veins are mostly massive to crystalline, occasionally brecciated, and sigmoidal, whereas the second-stage veins are narrower than the first ones and less subjected to brecciation. Gold grades in the second- and third-stage veins are on average higher than that in the earlier veins. Microthermometric and Raman spectrometric studies of fluid inclusions indicate abundant H2O-NaCl and minor H2O-NaCl-CO2 fluids. Homogenization temperatures and salinities vary from 114 to 283 ºC and 0.35 to 9.08 wt.% NaCl eq., respectively. Crush-leach analysis of fluid inclusions suggests that the halogen fluid chemistry is not identical to sea water, magmatic or epithermal related fluids, but tends to be similar to fluids in mesothermal-type gold deposits. In Buru Island (Gunung Botak and Gogorea prospects), two distinct generations of quartz veins are identified. Early quartz veins are segmented, sigmoidal discontinuous and parallel to the foliation of the host rock. This generation of quartz veins is characterized by crystalline relatively clear quartz, and weakly mineralized with low sulfide and gold contents. The second type of quartz veins occurs within the ‘mineralized zone’ of about 100 m in width and ~1,000 m in length. Gold mineralization is intensely overprinted by argillic alteration. The mineralization-alteration zone is probably parallel to the mica schist foliation and strongly controlled by N-S or NE-SW-trending structures. Gold-bearing quartz veins are characterized by banded texture particularly following host rock foliation and sulphide banding, brecciated and rare bladed-like texture. Alteration types consist of propylitic (chlorite, calcite, sericite), argillic and carbonation represented by graphite banding and carbon flakes. Ore mineral comprises pyrite, native gold, pyrrhotite, and arsenopyrite. Cinnabar and stibnite are present in association with gold. Ore chemistry indicates that 11 out of 15 samples yielded more than 1 g/t Au, in which 6 of them graded in excess of 3 g/t Au. All high-grade samples are composed of limonite or partly contain limonitic material. This suggests the process of supergene enrichment. Interestingly, most of the high-grade samples contain also high concentrations of As (up to 991ppm), Sb (up to 885ppm), and Hg (up to 75ppm). Fluid inclusions in both quartz vein types consist of 4 phases including L-rich, V-rich, L-V-rich and L1-L2-V (CO2)-rich phases. The mineralizing hydrothermal fluid typically is CO2-rich, of moderate temperature (300-400 ºC), and low salinity (0.36 to 0.54 wt.% NaCl eq). Based on those key features, gold mineralization in Bombana and Buru Island tends to meet the characteristics of orogenic, mesothermal types of gold deposit. Metamorphic rock-hosted gold deposits could represent the new targets for gold exploration particularly in Eastern Indonesia.

scholarly journals LITHOSTRATIGRAPHIC CONTROL OF THE CANGAS-POCONÉ LINEAMENT AURIFEROUS DEPOSITS (PARAGUAY BELT): IMPLICATIONS FOR REGIONAL EXPLORATION

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 501-517
Author(s):  
Raíza De Sousa Batalha ◽  
Elzio Da Silva Barboza ◽  
Carlos Humberto ◽  
Cláudia Do Couto Tokashiki ◽  
Francisco Egídio Cavalcante Pinho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Low Permeability ◽  
Fluid Migration ◽  
Gold Concentration ◽  
High Angle ◽  
Migration Path ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Gold Exploration ◽  
Preferential Location ◽  
Host Rocks

rocks of the Cuiaba Group, into the inner portion of the Paraguay Belt (Brazil). They occur in a belt (~1200 m) where the host rocks are graphitic phyllites, metadiamictites, metasiltites and sandstones metamorphosed in greenschist facies. In these deposits gold occurs free or included in pyrite related to three types of quartz veins, parallel to Sn (V1), parallel to Sn+1 (V2) and orthogonal (V3) which are rich in gold. The study of outcrops in regional profiles, open mines for gold exploration and drilling holes in the Cangas-Poconé alignment indicate that the preferential location of gold mineralization at (Cangas Facies) is related to the existence of strong lithological control of the mineralizations.The Cangas facies present low permeability of rhythmite, structural arrangement of permeability barriers S0 and S1 at high angle with respect to the fluid migration path and mainly the presence of ferruginous levels acting as geochemical barriers for precipitation of metals in solution in the fluid. The knowledge that gold concentration is related to sedimentary control is important for regional exploration and is a guide for local miners. CONTROLE LITOSTRATIGRÁFICO DOS DEPÓSITOS AURÍFEROS DO LINEAMENTO CANGAS-POCONÉ (CINTURÃO PARAGUAI): IMPLICAÇÕES PARA A EXPLORAÇÃO REGIONAL ResumoOs depósitos de Cangas-Poconé estão hospedados em rochas metassedimentares do Grupo Cuiabá, na porção interna do Cinturão do Paraguai (Brasil). Eles ocorrem em um cinturão (~ 1200 m), onde as rochas hospedeiras são filitos, metadiamictitos, metasiltitos e arenitos grafitados, metamorfoseados em fácies de xisto verde. Nesses depósitos, o ouro ocorre livre ou incluído em pirita relacionada a três tipos de veios de quartzo. O estudo de afloramentos em perfis regionais, minas abertas para exploração de ouro e perfurações no alinhamento Cangas-Poconé indica que a localização preferencial da mineralização de ouro em (Cangas Facies) está relacionada à existência de forte controle litológico.O conhecimento de que a mineralização de ouro está relacionada ao controle sedimentar é importante para a exploração regional e é um guia para os mineradores locais. Palavras-chave: Ouro. Controle Sedimentar. Grupo Cuiabá. Cinturão do Paraguai.

scholarly journals Ore mineralization in the Miedzianka area (Karkonosze-Izera Massif, the Sudetes, Poland): new information

Mineralogia ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 155-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ksenia Mochnacka ◽  
Teresa Oberc-Dziedzic ◽  
Wojciech Mayer ◽  
Adam Pieczka
Keyword(s):  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Mining District ◽  
New Information ◽  
Ore Mineralization ◽  
A Site ◽  
Host Rocks ◽  
Polymetallic Ore ◽  
First Time ◽  
Chlorite Schist

AbstractThe Miedzianka mining district has been known for ages as a site of polymetallic ore deposits with copper and, later, uranium as the main commodities. Although recently uneconomic and hardly accessible, the Miedzianka ores attract Earth scientists due to the interesting and still controversial details of their ore structure, mineralogy and origin. Our examination of the ore mineralization from the Miedzianka district was based exclusively on samples collected from old mining dumps located in the vicinity of Miedzianka and Ciechanowice, and on samples from the only available outcrop in Przybkowice. In samples from the Miedzianka field, chalcopyrite, pyrite, galena, bornite, chalcocite, digenite, arsenopyrite, magnetite, sphalerite, tetrahedrite-tennantite, bornite, hematite, martite, pyrrhotite, ilmenite, cassiterite and covellite are hosted in quartz-mica schists and in coarse-grained quartz with chlorite. In the Ciechanowice field, the ore mineralization occurs mainly in strongly chloritized amphibolites occasionally intergrown with quartz and, rarely, with carbonates. Other host-rocks are quartz-chlorite schist and quartzites. Microscopic examination revealed the presence of chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite, galena, tetrahedrite-tennantite, bismuthinite, native Bi, arsenopyrite, löllingite, cassiterite, cobaltite, gersdorffite, chalcocite, cassiterite, bornite, covellite, marcasite and pyrrhotite. Moreover, mawsonite and wittichenite were identified for the first time in the district. In barite veins cross-cutting the greenstones and greenschists in Przybkowice, we found previously-known chalcopyrite, chalcocite and galena. The composition of the hydrothermal fluids is suggested to evolved through a series of consecutive systems characterized, in turn, by Ti-Fe-Sn, Fe- As-S, Fe-Co-As-S, Cu-Zn-S and, finally, Cu-Pb-Sb-As-Bi compositions.

Ore Mineralization in Adular-Fluorite Metasomatites: Evidence of the Podgolechnoe Alkalic-Type Epithermal Gold Deposit (Central Aldan Ore District, Russia)

2017 ◽  
Vol 743 ◽  
pp. 417-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasilii Ivanovich Leontev ◽  
Yackov Yur’evich Bushuev
Keyword(s):  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Epithermal Gold ◽  
Gold Ore ◽  
Ore Bodies ◽  
Epithermal Gold Deposit ◽  
Ore Minerals ◽  
Ore Mineralization ◽  
Gold Ore Deposit ◽  
Host Rocks ◽  
Ore District

The Podgolechnoe deposit, which belongs to the alkalic-type (A-type) epithermal gold-ore deposits, lies in the Central Aldan ore district (Russia). Gold-ore mineralization is associated with a volcano-plutonic complex made of rocks of the monzonite-syenite formation (J3–K1). The ore bodies are localized in the crushing zones developed after crystalline schists, gneisses, and granites of the crystalline basement complexes (Ar–Pr). Metasomatic alterations in host rocks have potassic specialization. Vein ore minerals are adular, fluorite, roscoelite, sericite, and carbonate. Ore minerals are pyrite, galena, sphalerite, cinnabar, brannerite, monazite, bismuth telluride, stutzite, hessite, petzite, montbraite, and native gold. The deposit has been explored as a gold-ore deposit, however, due to complex composition of ores there is a need to reveal the possibilities of the integrated development of this deposit. This could provide for a reserve increment and an increase in the gross recoverable value of ores due to the extraction of associated components.

scholarly journals The Perron Gold Deposit, Archean Abitibi Belt, Canada: Exceptionally High-Grade Mineralization Related to Higher Gold-Carrying Capacity of Hydrocarbon-Rich Fluids

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1066
Author(s):  
Damien Gaboury ◽  
Dominique Genna ◽  
Jacques Trottier ◽  
Maxime Bouchard ◽  
Jérôme Augustin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Trace Element ◽  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Orogenic Gold ◽  
Magmatic Fluid ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Host Rocks ◽  
Mineralizing Fluids

The Perron deposit, an Archean orogenic gold deposit located in the Abitibi belt, hosts a quartz vein-type gold-bearing zone, known as the high-grade zone (HGZ). The HGZ is vertically continuous along >1.2 km, and is exceptionally rich in visible gold throughout its vertical extent, with grades ranging from 30 to 500 ppm. Various hypotheses were tested to account for that, such as: (1) efficient precipitating mechanisms; (2) gold remobilization; (3) particular fluids; (4) specific gold sources for saturating the fluids; and (5) a different mineralizing temperature. Host rocks recorded peak metamorphism at ~600 °C based on an amphibole geothermometer. Visible gold is associated with sphalerite (<5%) which precipitated at 370 °C, based on the sphalerite GGIMFis geothermometer, during late exhumation of verticalized host rocks. Pyrite chemistry analyzed by LA-ICP-MS (Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) is comparable to classical orogenic gold deposits of the Abitibi belt, without indication of a possible magmatic fluid and gold contribution. Comparison of pyrite trace element signatures for identifying a potential gold source was inconclusive to demonstrate that primary base-metal rich volcanogenic gold mineralization, dispersed in the host rhyolitic dome, could be the source for the later formation of the HGZ. Rather, nodular pyrites in graphitic shales, sharing similar trace element signatures with pyrite of the HGZ, are considered a potential source. The most striking outcome is the lack of water in the mineralizing fluids, implying that gold was not transported under aqueous complexes, even if fugacity of sulfur (−6) and oxygen (−28), and pH (~7) are providing the best conditions at a temperature of 350 °C for solubilizing gold in water. Fluid inclusions, analyzed by solid-probe mass spectrometry, are rather comparable to fossil gas composed mostly of hydrocarbons (methane and ethane and possibly butane and propane and other unidentified organic compounds), rich in CO2, with N2 and trace of Ar, H2S, and He. It is interpreted that gold and zinc were transported as hydrocarbon-metal complexes or as colloidal gold nanoparticles. The exceptional high content of gold and zinc in the HGZ is thus explained by the higher transporting capacity of these unique mineralizing fluids.

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