Types, Characteristics, and Geodynamic Settings of Mesozoic Epithermal Gold Deposits in Eastern China

Abstract

AbstractMesozoic epithermal gold deposits in eastern China are divided into calc‐alkaline and alkaline magma‐related gold deposits, and are also grouped as low‐sulfidation, intermediate‐sulfidation and high‐sulfidation types, of which the first two predominate. These gold deposits are distributed in the Tianshan–Yinshan–Great Xing’anling Variscan fold belt of North China craton, Qinling‐Dabie Indo‐Sinian fold belt of Yangtze craton, and South China fold belt or Cathaysian block, from north to south along the eastern China continent. Most of the epithermal gold orebodies are hosted either in volcanic rocks or their related granitoids, and volcanic breccia pipes. These orebodies are mainly associated with adularia–chalcedony–sericite, and alunite–kaolinite–quartz alteration. These orebodies formed in four mineralization pulses at 175, 145–135, 127–115, and 110–94 Ma. The first three pulses correspond to the post‐collision period between the North China and Yangtze cratons, an extension period during late‐stage rotation of the principal compressional stress from N‐S to E‐W, and a dramatic thinning period of the lithosphere, respectively. The last mineralizing pulse was the result of another extension in South China. Although the mineralizing pulses occurred at different times, they all occurred in extensional settings and were accompanied by crust and the mantle interaction.