Mesozoic Orogenic Gold Mineralization in the Jiaodong Peninsula, China: A Focused Event at 120 ± 2 Ma During Cooling of Pregold Granite Intrusions

2020 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 415-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Zhang ◽  
Roberto F. Weinberg ◽  
Li-Qiang Yang ◽  
David I. Groves ◽  
Sheng-Xun Sai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Orogenic Gold ◽  
Timing Constraints ◽  
Gold Ores ◽  
Granite Magmatism ◽  
Intrusive Activity ◽  
Age Constraints

Abstract Jiaodong gold deposits are mainly sited along faulted contacts between Upper Jurassic Linglong granite and Precambrian basement metamorphic rocks or Lower Cretaceous Guojialing granite. Long-standing controversies relate to timing of gold mineralization and granite-gold relationships. In this study, gold-related muscovite consistently provides concordant 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages of 120 ± 2 Ma (2σ) for the Jiaojia, Sizhuang, and Luoshan deposits. Analogous 40Ar/39Ar timing constraints from gold-related muscovite are provided by total gas and high-temperature ages from Fushan, concordant high-temperature ages from Rushan, and fusion-step ages from Xiadian deposits. These new 40Ar/39Ar ages, when combined with previous reliable 40Ar/39Ar and U-Pb age constraints for mineralization, including ages of pre- and postgold dikes, define a widespread gold mineralization event at 120 ± 2 Ma (2σ). Published zircon U-Pb ages for Guojialing and Aishan granite magmatism suggest an ~8-m.y. lag between peak intrusive activity and gold mineralization. This, together with lack of both high-temperature alteration assemblages and alteration and/or metal zonation, indicates that the structurally controlled Jiaodong deposits are orogenic rather than intrusion-related deposits. Despite this, granite intrusions are considered to have provided suitable fluid trap sites. New 40Ar/39Ar analyses of biotite from the Linglong and Guojialing granites show they had cooled to about ~300° ± 50°C by ca. 123 to 124 Ma, providing pressure-temperature conditions similar to those under which most orogenic gold deposits formed close to the ductile-brittle transition. This enabled the effective ingress of fluids at supralithostatic pressures at 120 ± 2 Ma, leading to intensive brecciation, alteration, and deposition of both vein-type and disseminated gold ores. New zircon (U-Th)/He dates together with apatite fission-track data indicate that preservation of the gold province is due to slow postmineralization uplift and exhumation.

A Tentative Study of Relationship between Mantle Plumes, Supercontinents and Orogenic Gold Deposits

2013 ◽  
Vol 734-737 ◽  
pp. 265-268
Author(s):  
Jun Hao Cui ◽  
Tao Ren
Keyword(s):  
Mantle Plume ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Orogenic Gold ◽  
Upper Crust ◽  
Orogenic Gold Deposits ◽  
Orogenic Gold Deposit ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Tectonic Environment ◽  
The Relationship

On the basis of predecessors study, this paper found that outbreak frequency of mantle plume is increase, while scale is reduce. The mantle plume provides ore-forming minerals to orogenic gold deposits, as well as affords force to supercontinent formation and decomposition, for the more controls the global tectonic. Supercontinent is the movement of upper crust that could be cause by combine factors of cold and heat mantle plume. Supercontinent supply suitable tectonic environment for orogenic gold deposits. Further, we discuss the relationship between mantle plume, supercontinent and orogenic gold deposit on space and time. With the evolution of the earth, especially the energy loss, the frequency of orogenic gold mineralization is increasing, while the scale is reducing.

Gold-bismuth-telluride-sulphide assemblages at the Viceroy Mine, Harare-Bindura-Shamva greenstone belt, Zimbabwe

2008 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 953-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Oberthür ◽  
T. W. Weiser
Keyword(s):  
Native Gold ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Orogenic Gold ◽  
Main Stage ◽  
Melting Temperatures ◽  
Native Bismuth ◽  
Gold Bearing

AbstractGold mineralization at the Viceroy Mine is hosted in extensional veins in steep shear zones that transect metabasalts of the Archaean Arcturus Formation. The gold mineralization is generally made up of banded or massive quartz carrying abundant coarse arsenopyrite. However, most striking is a distinct suite of Au-Bi-Te-S minerals, namely joseite-A (Bi4TeS2), joseite-B (Bi4Te2S), hedleyite (Bi7Te3), ikunolite (Bi4S3), ‘protojoseite’ (Bi3TeS), an unnamed mineral (Bi6Te2S), bismuthinite (Bi2S3), native Bi, native gold, maldonite (Au2Bi), and jonassonite (AuBi5S4). The majority of the Bi-Te-S phases is characterized by Bi/(Se+Te) ratios of >1. Accordingly, this assemblage formed at reduced conditions at relatively low fS2 and fTe2. Fluid-inclusion thermometry indicates depositional temperatures of the main stage of mineralization of up to 342°C, in the normal range of mesothermal, orogenic gold deposits worldwide. However, melting temperatures of Au-Bi-Te phases down to at least 235°C (assemblage (Au2Bi + Bi + Bi7Te3)) imply that the Au-Bi-Te phases have been present as liquids or melt droplets. Furthermore, the close association of native gold, native bismuth and other Bi-Te-S phases suggests that gold was scavenged from the hydrothermal fluids by Bi-Te-S liquids or melts. It is concluded that a liquid/melt-collecting mechanism was probably active at Viceroy Mine, where the distinct Au-Bi-Te-S assemblage either formed late as part of the main, arsenopyrite-dominated mineralization, or it represents a different mineralization event, related to rejuvenation of the shear system. In either case, some of the gold may have been extracted from pre-existing, gold-bearing arsenopyrite by Bi-Te-S melts, thus leading to an upgrade of the gold ores at Viceroy. The Au-Bi-Te-S assemblage represents an epithermal-style mineralization overprinted on an otherwise mesothermal (orogenic) gold mineralization.

scholarly journals Genesis of the Koka Gold Deposit in Northwest Eritrea, NE Africa: Constraints from Fluid Inclusions and C-H-O-S Isotopes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Zhao ◽  
Huazhou Yao ◽  
Jianxiong Wang ◽  
Ghebsha Fitwi Ghebretnsae ◽  
Wenshuai Xiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Meteoric Water ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Orogenic Gold ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Three Phase ◽  
Igneous Origin ◽  
Ne Africa

The Koka gold deposit is located in the Elababu shear zone between the Nakfa terrane and the Adobha Abiy terrane, NW Eritrea. Based on the paragenetic study two main stages of gold mineralization were identified in the Koka gold deposit: 1) an early stage of pyrite-chalcopyrite-sphalerite-galena-gold-quartz vein; and 2) a second stage of pyrite-quartz veins. NaCl-aqueous inclusions, CO2-rich inclusions, and three-phase CO2-H2O inclusions occur in the quartz veins at Koka. The ore-bearing quartz veins formed at 268℃, from NaCl-CO2-H2O(-CH4) fluids averaging 5 wt% NaCl eq. The ore-forming mechanisms include fluid immiscibility during stage I, and mixing with meteoric water during stage II. Oxygen, hydrogen and carbon isotopes suggest that the ore-forming fluids originated as mixtures of metamorphic water, meteoric water and magmatic water, whereas sulfur isotope suggest an igneous origin. Features of geology and ore-forming fluid at Koka deposit are similar to those of orogenic gold deposits, suggesting the Koka deposit might be an orogenic gold deposit related to granite.

Gold Deposits of the ~15-Moz Ahafo South Camp, Sefwi Granite-Greenstone Belt, Ghana: Insights into the Anatomy of an Orogenic Gold Plumbing System

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quentin Masurel ◽  
Paul Morley ◽  
Nicolas Thébaud ◽  
Helen McFarlane
Keyword(s):  
Rock Mass ◽  
Shear Zone ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Hanging Wall ◽  
Spatial Association ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Orogenic Gold ◽  
Plutonic Rocks

Abstract The ~15-Moz Ahafo South gold camp is located in southwest Ghana, the world’s premier Paleoproterozoic gold subprovince. Major orogenic gold deposits in the camp include Subika, Apensu, Awonsu, and Amoma. These deposits occur along an ~15-km strike length of the Kenyase-Yamfo shear zone, a major tectonostratigraphic boundary juxtaposing metamorphosed volcano-plutonic rocks of the Sefwi belt against metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary rocks of the Sunyani-Comoé basin. In this study, we document the geologic setting, structural geometry, and rheological architecture of the Ahafo South gold deposits based on the integration of field mapping, diamond drill core logging, 3-D geologic modeling, and the geologic interpretation of aeromagnetic data. At the camp scale, the Awonsu, Apensu, and Amoma deposits lie along strike from one another and share similar hanging-wall plutonic rocks and footwall volcano-sedimentary rocks. In contrast, the Subika gold deposit is hosted entirely in hanging-wall plutonic rocks. Steeper-dipping segments (e.g., Apensu, Awonsu, Subika) and right-hand flexures (e.g., Amoma, Apensu) in the Kenyase-Yamfo shear zone and subsidiary structures appear to have represented sites of enhanced damage and fluid flux (i.e., restraining bends). All gold deposits occur within structural domains bounded by discontinuous, low-displacement, sinistral N-striking tear faults oblique to the orogen-parallel Kenyase-Yamfo shear zone. At the deposit scale, ore-related hydrothermal alteration is zoned, with distal chlorite-sericite grading into proximal silica-albite-Fe-carbonate mineral assemblages. Alteration halos are restricted to narrow selvages around quartz-carbonate vein arrays in multiple stacked ore shoots at Subika, whereas these halos extend 30 to 100 m away from the ore zones at Apensu and Awonsu. There is a clear spatial association between shallow-dipping mafic dikes, mafic chonoliths, shear zones, and economic gold mineralization. The abundance of mafic dikes and chonoliths within intermediate to felsic hanging-wall plutonic host rocks provided rheological heterogeneity that favored the formation of enhanced fracture permeability, promoting the tapping of ore fluid(s). Our interpretation is that these stacked shallow-dipping mafic dike arrays also acted as aquitards, impeding upward fluid flow within the wider intrusive rock mass until a failure threshold was episodically reached due to fluid overpressure, resulting in transient fracture-controlled upward propagation of the ore-fluid(s). Our results indicate that high-grade ore shoots at Ahafo South form part of vertically extensive fluid conduit systems that are primarily controlled by the rheological architecture of the rock mass.

scholarly journals Karakteristik Fluida Hidrotermal Endapan Emas Orogenik di Pegunungan Rumbia, Kabupaten Bombana, Provinsi Sulawesi Tenggara

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Hasria Hasria ◽  
Arifudin Idrus ◽  
I Wayan Warmada
Keyword(s):  
First Generation ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Orogenic Gold ◽  
Salinity Range ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
The Third ◽  
Orogenic Gold Deposits ◽  
Gold Exploration ◽  
Calcite Veins

Recently, gold exploration activities  are not only focused along volcanic-magmatic belt but also starting to shift along metamorphicand sedimentary terrains. The purpose of this study is to analyses the characteristics hydrothermal fluids gold deposits t in the Rumbia Mountains, Bombana Regency, Southeast Sulawesi. There are three generations of veins identified including the first is parallel to the foliations, the second crosscuts the first generation of veins/foliations, and the third is of laminated deformed quartz+calcite veins at the late stage. Temperature of homogenization (Th) and salinity at Rumbia Mountain of the first vein vary from 220 to 355.30oC and 6.74 to 10.11 wt. % NaCl eq., respectively. The second generation vein was originated at Th of 157 to 255.50oC and salinity of 3.39 to 6.88 wt.%NaCl eq., whereas the third generation vein formed at lowest Th varying from 104.40 to 265.90oC and less saline fluid at salinity range between 0.18 and 6.30 wt.% NaCl eq. The result of temperature formation value correlation to the depth of the formation of orogenic gold deposits in Rumbia Mountain is indicated to form on sub-greenschist to greenschist facies at depth of about 4-8 kilometers and formation temperature between 104.40 - 355.30oC at zone epizonal and mesozonal. Based on characteristics fluids inclusion discussed above, the primary metamorphic-hosted gold mineralization type at Rumbia Mountain tends to meet the criteria of orogenic gold type.  Keyword : fluid iclusion, quartz veins, Rumbia mountain, orogenic gold deposits.

scholarly journals Genesis of the Koka Gold Deposit in Northwest Eritrea, NE Africa: Constraints from Fluid Inclusions and C–H–O–S Isotopes

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Zhao ◽  
Huazhou Yao ◽  
Jianxiong Wang ◽  
Ghebsha Fitwi Ghebretnsae ◽  
Wenshuai Xiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Orogenic Gold ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
Three Phase ◽  
Igneous Origin ◽  
Ne Africa

: The Koka gold deposit is located in the Elababu shear zone between the Nakfa terrane and the Adobha Abiy terrane, NW Eritrea. Based on a paragenetic study, two main stages of gold mineralization were identified in the Koka gold deposit: (1) an early stage of pyrite–chalcopyrite–sphalerite–galena–gold–quartz vein; and (2) a second stage of pyrite–quartz veins. NaCl-aqueous inclusions, CO2-rich inclusions, and three-phase CO2–H2O inclusions occur in the quartz veins at Koka. The ore-bearing quartz veins formed at 268 °C from NaCl–CO2–H2O(–CH4) fluids averaging 5 wt% NaCl eq. The ore-forming mechanisms include fluid immiscibility during stage I, and mixing with meteoric water during stage II. Oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon isotopes suggest that the ore-forming fluids originated as mixtures of metamorphic water and magmatic water, whereas the sulfur isotope suggests an igneous origin. The features of geology and ore-forming fluid at the Koka deposit are similar to those of orogenic gold deposits, suggesting that the Koka deposit might be an orogenic gold deposit related to granite.

40Ar/39Ar age constraints on the thermal history of the Archean Abitibi greenstone belt and the Pontiac Subprovince: implications for terrane collision, differential uplift, and overprinting of gold deposits

1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1389-1411 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Feng ◽  
R. Kerrich ◽  
S. McBride ◽  
E. Farrar
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Metamorphic Rocks ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Thermal Activity ◽  
Thermal Event ◽  
Southern Volcanic Zone ◽  
Differential Uplift

40Ar/39Ar mineral age spectra of granitic and metamorphic rocks, in conjunction with existing conventional zircon geochronology, indicate that at least two major late Archean thermal events affected tectonic blocks of the Abitibi Southern Volcanic Zone (SVZ) and the juxtaposed Pontiac Subprovince. The earlier thermal activity (2690–2670 Ma) was accompanied by the intrusion of voluminous syntectonic plutons and caused low-pressure, greenschist-facies metamorphism in the SVZ and intermediate-pressure metamorphism in the Pontiac Subprovince. The second thermal event (2660–2630 Ma) was coeval with the emplacement of syncollisional, S-type garnet–muscovite granites in the Pontiac Subprovince and the higher grade Lacorne block of the Abitibi SVZ, and reset the K–Ar systems in preexisting rocks.Magmatic amphibole from the syntectonic Round Lake batholith (~2695 Ma U–Pb zircon age) of the Abitibi SVZ has a slightly disturbed Ar release spectrum with an upper plateau age of 2669 ± 6 Ma, signifying that the low-grade Round Lake block cooled through 500 °C at a slow rate. Amphiboles in syntectonic batholiths from the higher grade Lacorne block and the Pontiac Subprovince have substantially disturbed Ar release spectra, with high-temperature steps giving apparent ages of 2681 ± 4 to 2679 ± 4 Ma; these overlap zircon ages of 2690–2670 Ma, indicating relatively rapid cooling through the amphibole blocking temperature.Metamorphic rocks (amphibolites) from the Lacorne block and the Pontiac Subprovince contain amphiboles with substantially disturbed 40Ar/39Ar release spectra and higher temperature step ages of 2677 ± 6 to 2670 ± 5 Ma, representing the minimum formation age. Fine-grained muscovite and biotite (180–250 μm) from mica schists also have disturbed Ar release patterns, but much younger apparent ages at high-temperature release steps (2581–2523 Ma for muscovite, 2562–2455 Ma for biotite) than the amphiboles.Coarse-grained muscovites from pegmatites associated with syncollision, S-type garnet–muscovite granites (2644 ± 13 Ma) in the Lacorne block and Pontiac Subprpvince show undisturbed or slightly disturbed Ar release spectra and magmatic δ18Oquartz–muscovite = 1.8–3.5‰, with total integrated ages of 2615 ± 10 to 2594 ± 7 Ma (Lacorne) and 2572 ± 6 Ma (Pontiac), respectively, indicating different uplift rates for the two terranes. Amphiboles (~2680 Ma) from metamorphic rocks in the Lacorne block and Pontiac Subprovince and from the Round Lake batholith are disturbed, whereas coarse-grained muscovites from the pegmatites (2644 ± 13 Ma) are relatively undisturbed. This indicates that the disturbance of the amphiboles may have been caused by a thermal event that preceded or was coeval with the emplacement of the garnet–muscovite granite suite, rather than being a grain-size effect.These results are consistent with a model whereby early subduction of oceanic lithosphere beneath the Abitibi SVZ (2740–2680 Ma), and separately under the Pontiac Subprovince, was responsible for syntectonic batholiths and the first thermal event. Collision with the Abitibi SVZ and local underthrusting of the Pontiac Subprovince at about 2670–2630 Ma caused the second major thermal event and partial melting of the underthrust Pontiac-type metasediments to form the garnet–muscovite granites. Later differential uplift exposed the entire Pontiac Subprovince and the Lacorne block as a tectonic window of underthrust Pontiac in the Abitibi SVZ. Resetting of several isotopic systems, including apparent younger ages of gold mineralization, is probably related to this late collisional, tectonothermal overprinting event. Fluid and (or) thermal events at ≥275 °C influenced the Kirkland Lake – Cadillac fault down to 2513 ± 10 Ma, as indicated by a plateau age of postkinematic biotite in the fault. The fault was intermittently reactivated over a period of 440 Ma, from ~2690 Ma to ≤2250 Ma.

Structural controls on hypozonal orogenic gold mineralization in the La Ronge Domain, Trans-Hudson Orogen, Saskatchewan

2004 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 1453-1471
Author(s):  
Bruno Lafrance ◽  
Larry M Heaman
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Oceanic Lithosphere ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Orogenic Gold ◽  
Lake Area ◽  
Structural Controls ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Metavolcanic Rocks ◽  
Orogenic Gold Mineralization

The La Ronge Domain is a granite–greenstone belt in the Saskatchewan segment of the ca. 1.9–1.8 Ga Trans-Hudson Orogen. The La Ronge volcanic arc was accreted to the Archean Hearne craton from ca. 1.87 to 1.86 Ga. Subduction of oceanic lithosphere beneath the accreted La Ronge – Hearne margin produced a voluminous suite of continental-arc intrusions. In the Waddy Lake area, the 1852.6 ± 1.5 Ma Corner Lake stock and 1859 ± 4 Ma and 1861 ± 2 Ma feldspar porphyry dykes crystallized from magmas generated from melting of the subducted oceanic slab. During the ca. 1.83–1.80 Trans-Hudson collision of the Hearne craton with the Archean Sask and Superior cratons, a penetrative regional foliation and a steeply plunging lineation formed within the La Ronge Domain. During further contraction across the domain, the deformation became localized in dextral and oblique-slip shear zones that generally follow contacts between more competent and less competent rock units. Orogenic gold mineralization is associated with quartz veins that are surrounded by hypozonal potassic and sulfidic alteration zones. The Komis gold deposit, the only past-producing gold mine in the Waddy Lake area, formed in the strain shadow of the Round Lake stock during the development of the regional foliation and lineation. Mineralization is associated with quartz veins that cut through tonalite dykes that behaved more brittlely than the surrounding metavolcanic rocks. The Golden Heart and Corner Lake gold deposits are hosted by south-side-up oblique-slip shear zones, which belong to a regional system of structures that extend from Saskatchewan to Manitoba.

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