Abstract
At the orogenic gold deposits of the Yana–Kolyma metallogenic belt (northeast Russia) both Au–quartz-sulfide mineralization with native gold and disseminated sulfide mineralization with invisible Au developed. The textural and mineralogical-geochemical features, isotope-geochemical characteristics of gold-bearing sulfides from proximal metasomatites, and possible forms of Au occurrence in pyrite and arsenopyrite have been studied using electron microprobe, atomic absorption, LA-ICP-MS trace element, isotope analysis, and computed microtomography. Four generations of pyrite (Py1, diagenetic; Py2, metamorphic; Py3, metasomatic; Py4, veined) and two generations of arsenopyrite (Apy1, metasomatic; Apy2, veined) have been identified at the Khangalas deposit. In the proximal metasomatites, the most common are Py3 and Apy1. Studying their chemical composition makes it possible to identify the features of the distribution patterns of typochemical trace elements in pyrite and arsenopyrite, and to establish the nature of the relationship between Au and these elements. In Py3 and Apy1, structurally bound (solid solution) Au+ prevails, isomorphically entering the crystal lattice or its defects. Isotope characteristics of hydrothermal sulfides (δ34S = −2.0 to −0.6‰) indicate that mantle/magmatic sulfur was involved in the formation of the deposit, though the participation of sulfur from the host rocks of the Verkhoyansk clastic complex cannot be ruled out. The Khangalas deposit has much in common with other gold deposits of the Yana–Kolyma metallogenic belt, and from this point of view, the results obtained will help to better reveal their gold potential and understand their origin.
Highlights
The Late Jurassic–early Early Cretaceous Yana–Kolyma metallogenic belt (YKMB) is located in the central part of the Verkhoyansk–Kolyma folded region, in the boundary zone between the northeastern margin of the Siberian craton and the Kolyma–Omolon superterrane
Framboids are represented by spherical aggregates ranging rangingin insize sizefrom from10
For diagenetic Py1 and metamorphic Py2, the total content of trace elements varies from 0.04 to 0.8 wt.%, and the share of As is from 30% to 70%
Summary
The Late Jurassic–early Early Cretaceous Yana–Kolyma metallogenic belt (YKMB) is located in the central part of the Verkhoyansk–Kolyma folded region, in the boundary zone between the northeastern margin of the Siberian craton and the Kolyma–Omolon superterrane. Russia, including the large Natalka (1500 t Au) and Degdekan (400 t Au) deposits. Production of gold from the Yana–Kolyma belt since the 1930s was ~3200 t, with current estimated resources of about 5000 t Au [1,2]. This is comparable with the output of major Paleozoic–Mesozoic gold provinces of the world (Jiaodong, China; Juneau gold belt, AK, USA; Lachlan fold belt, Australia; Baikal fold belt, Russia; and Southern Tien Shan, Uzbekistan) [3]. The areas with the most economic value within the YKMB are orogenic gold deposits with Au-quartz vein and/or
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