Abstract
The Liyuan gold deposit, located in the central Taihang Mountains, North China Craton, forms an important part of the Taihang polymetallogenic belt. The origin of ore-forming fluids and the genesis of this deposit remains controversial. In this paper, fluid inclusions (FIs) microthermometry and H-O-S isotopes analysis are conducted to constrain the origin of ore-forming fluids and genesis. The main findings are as follows: (1) Three hydrothermal metallogenic stages are identified: Quartz–pyrite, quartz–polymetallic sulfide, and quartz–carbonate stages; (2) three types of primary FIs are recognized: CO2-aqueous (type I), pure CO2 (type II), and aqueous FIs (type III); (3) ore-forming fluids are characterized by medium–low temperatures, medium–low salinity, and H2O-CO2-NaCl ± CH4 system; (4) H-O isotopes indicate that the ore-forming fluids mainly have a magmatic origin and late-stage ore fluids mixed with meteoric water; (5) S isotopes further confirm that the sulfides most likely have a deep magma source with variation caused by changes in oxygen fugacity; and (6) fluid immiscibility and water–rock interactions are considered to be the two main mechanisms of gold deposition. Due to the lack of large granite bodies exposed in this ore district, we infer that the fluids of gold deposit and quartz porphyry may have both been exsolved from a concealed granite pluton at deeper locations, and we further propose that Liyuan gold deposit is typical magmatic–hydrothermal gold deposits.
Highlights
The North China Craton (NCC) hosts hundreds of lode gold deposits and contributes more than two-thirds of the gold production in China (Figure 1) [1,2,3,4]
The majority of fluid inclusions (FIs) occurred in clusters or as isolated inclusions in crystal cores, suggesting that they were possibly primary in origin
The temperature of solid CO2 (Tm-CO2) values in types of primary FIs are recognized: CO2-aqueous (type I) FIs ranged from −60.1 ◦ C to −57.3 ◦ C (Table 1), which were slightly lower than the triple point of pure CO2 (−56.6 ◦ C), indicating that the carbonic phase was mainly composed of CO2 and minor other gas components
Summary
The North China Craton (NCC) hosts hundreds of lode gold deposits and contributes more than two-thirds of the gold production in China (Figure 1) [1,2,3,4]. The spatial several models have been proposed for the lode gold deposits of the craton, such as orogenic relationship between the gold deposits and the associated magmatic intrusions suggest type, that gold. Previous studies on gold temporal and spatial relationship between the gold deposits and the associated magmatic intrusions deposits in the NCC have mainly focused on its margins, such as the Jiao–Liao gold province It is necessary to conduct studies in the central comprehensively understand the gold metallogeny of the NCC and provide associated implications. TM, which will be helpful to comprehensively understand the gold metallogeny of the NCC and for future mineral exploration in this region.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
