Ore-forming fluid characteristics of Jiaodong-type gold deposits in the North China Craton: constraints from the geochemistry of auriferous pyrite

Abstract

The Early Cretaceous gold deposits in the North China Craton are known as Jiaodong-type gold deposits. Here, we summarize a quantity of reported (including this study) pyrite trace element, δ³⁴S, and Pb isotope data from the Jiaodong, Xiaoqinling, and Central Taihangshan gold fields to comprehensively reveal the characteristics of the ore-forming fluids in Jiaodong-type gold deposits. The results show that the Au concentrations in the pyrites from the Jiaodong-type gold deposits are typically less than 8.12 ppm and do not correlate with As but have significant positive correlations with Bi and Te, implying that Bi and Te may govern Au enrichment in pyrite. The overall As concentrations in the pyrites are relatively low, and only the Jiaodong gold field is significantly higher, which may be caused by fluid flowing through As-rich metamorphic sedimentary rocks. In Jiaodong-type gold deposits, Au is dominantly found as visible gold, followed by invisible gold. Invisible gold generally occurs as a solid solution (Au⁺), and only the proportion of nanoparticles (Au⁰) in the Xiaoqinling gold field is slightly higher (20%). Sulfidation and fluid immiscibility or boiling were the key mechanisms leading to visible gold precipitation. The Co/Ni ratio, δ³⁴S, and Pb isotopes indicate that the ore-forming fluids in the Jiaodong-type gold deposits exhibit remarkable magmatic features, and the ore-forming materials are primarily derived from a mixture of lower crust and mantle sections. Among them, the ore-forming materials from the lower crust of the Central Taihangshan gold field are slightly higher.