Geology, geochemistry, and geochronology of the Laozuoshan gold deposit, Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China: implications for multiple gold mineralization events and geodynamic setting

Abstract

The Laozuoshan gold deposit, located in the central part of the Jiamusi Massif, is hosted by the contact zone between granitic complex and Proterzoic strata. In this study, we present the results of geochronology and geochemistry of ore-related granodiorite and diorite porphyry, and hydrothermal sericite 40Ar/39Ar dating. The granodiorite and diorite porphyry in the Laozuoshan gold deposit are calc-alkaline and high-K (calc-alkaline) series, which are enriched in LREE and LILE and depleted in HFSE, with no depletion of Eu. The geochronology data show that zircon U–Pb ages of the granodiorite and diorite porphyry are ∼262 Ma and ∼105 Ma, respectively. The sericite 40Ar/39Ar ages are ∼194 Ma and ∼108 Ma. On the basis of previous researches, ore geology and geochronology studies show that the Laozuoshan gold deposit underwent at least two gold mineralization events. We suggest that the first one, which was related to skarnization, resulted from the collision between the Jiamusi and Songnen Massifs in Late Permian. The subsequent gold mineralization resulted from the subduction of the paleo-Pacific Plate in Early Cretaceous.