The Central Aldan gold-uranium ore magmatogenic system, Aldan-Stanovoy shield, Russia

Abstract

The Central Aldan ore district (CAOD) is considered as an integral ore-forming magmatogenic system (IOMS) consisting of ore-forming systems of different ranks. The epicenter of the IOMS is occupied by the main (head) magma conduit expressed at the present erosion level as the Western El’kon magmatic area. The systematic radial position of the main ore-bearing zones relative to the IOMS’s epicenter is considered as an indication of their relation to the head magma conduit. There are daughter ore forming systems of the first order (the El’kon (EOS), Kuranakh (KOS), and Tommot (TOS)), as well as ore systems of higher orders. Ore zoning distinctly observed in the EOS and KOS and outlined in the TOS consists of the change of the gold or molybdenum (EOS) mineralization for gold-uranium mineralization toward the head of the magma conduit. The ore objects are derivatives of magmatic reservoirs (chambers) located at different levels of the staged magmatogenic system. The gold and uranium mineralization is mainly related to the pervasive potassic metasomatism. The CAOD is considered as a superproductive area promising for revealing new large ore deposits and recommended as a priority object for large scale gold and uranium exploration.