New data on the correlation of skarn and gold mineralization at the Tardan deposit ( northeastern Tuva)

Abstract

Gold mineralization of the Tardan deposit is of different spatial occurrences and is related to different hydrothermal-metasomatic formations, the main ones being skarn-magnetite bodies, metasomatites of mineralized crush zones, and metasomatites of argillizitic-rock association. The formation of gold mineralization was a multistage process related to the repeated magmatism of the Tannu-Ola complex. It took place in a wide temperature range (400–150 °C), which determined the diversity of produced mineral assemblages. The gold mineralization associated with magnetite bodies shows a spatial correlation with magnesian and calcareous skarns and is localized in plagiogranites and gabbro-diorites of the Tannu-Ola complex intruded in the Late Ordovician. Gold mineralization that occurs in crush zones and along the fault sutures in moderate- and low-temperature hydrothermal-metasomatic rocks (propylites, beresites, serpentinites, and argillizites) formed somewhat later than skarns as a result of the intrusion of granite dike bodies. Comparative analysis of different types of gold mineralization showed both a change of mineral assemblages of the gold mineralization during the ore formation and some geochemical difference between gold and gold-bearing ores. In passing from early to late occurrences of native gold, its fineness decreases, the contents of admixtures correspondingly increase, and the gold composition changes. Gold of high-temperature rocks is rich in Cu (up to 17%), and gold of low-temperatures rocks has higher contents of Ag and Hg.