Discrete Paleoproterozoic and Cretaceous mineralization events at the Liyuan gold deposit, central North China Craton

IF 3.2 2区地球科学 Q2 GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Precambrian Research Pub Date : 2025-05-19 DOI:10.1016/j.precamres.2025.107812

Ying Ma, Shao-Yong Jiang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Accurate dating of Precambrian gold deposits is challenging due to the lack of suitable mineral chronometers. The North China Craton (NCC) is recognized as one of the world’s largest gold-producing regions; however, Precambrian-aged gold deposits within the NCC are relatively rare. This study aims to determine the formation age and evolutionary history of the Liyuan gold deposit (5 t Au), which is situated within high-grade metamorphic rocks of the Trans-North China Orogen. We employed U-Pb dating of hydrothermal apatite and rutile, as well as trace element analysis of texturally distinct pyrite. Two distinct stages of gold mineralization were identified. Stage I is characterized by the presence of disseminated pyrite that predominantly associated with lattice-bound gold. In contrast, stage II is marked by quartz-sulfide vein-style mineralization with visible gold and gold microinclusions within pyrite. Pyrite from Stage I (Py1) exhibits elevated As concentrations, whereas pyrite from stage II (Py2 and Py3) is distinguished by high levels of Te and Pb. Hydrothermal apatite intergrown with auriferous Py1 yielded U-Pb ages of 1895 ± 19 Ma and 1836 ± 28 Ma, which correspond to the deformation and metamorphism of the Trans-North China Orogen. The presence of positive Eu anomalies in the hydrothermal apatite suggests that it crystallized from a relatively oxidized fluid. The mechanism for the formation of hydrothermal rutile associated with the vein mineralization of stage II, is attributed to the alteration of biotite. Hydrothermal rutile was dated to 128.0 ± 6.4 Ma, which aligns with the Early Cretaceous granitic magmatism in the region. The Liyuan gold deposit was formed as a result of two distinct hydrothermal events occurring during the Paleoproterozoic and Early Cretaceous periods, respectively. This conclusion is supported by comprehensive field, textural, mineralogical, and geochronological analyses. The recently identified Paleoproterozoic orogenic gold mineralization event, which coincided with orogenic deformation and regional metamorphism during the collision between the Western and Eastern Blocks, presents new prospects for gold exploration in the well-endowed NCC. Furthermore, our study highlights the potential of apatite U-Pb dating as a reliable geochronological tool for investigating Precambrian gold deposits in other regions.

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华北克拉通中部荔园金矿床古元古代和白垩纪离散成矿事件

由于缺乏合适的矿物计时器，前寒武纪金矿床的准确测年具有挑战性。华北克拉通（NCC）被认为是世界上最大的黄金产区之一；然而，前寒武纪时期的金矿床在北大陆架内相对稀少。本文旨在确定位于跨华北造山带高品位变质岩内的梨园金矿床（5 t Au）的形成年龄和演化历史。我们对热液磷灰石和金红石进行了U-Pb定年，并对结构不同的黄铁矿进行了微量元素分析。确定了两个不同的金矿化阶段。阶段I的特征是浸染黄铁矿的存在，主要与晶格结合金有关。第二阶段以石英-硫化物脉状矿化为标志，黄铁矿内可见金及金微包裹体。阶段I （Py1）的黄铁矿表现出较高的As浓度，而阶段II （Py2和Py3）的黄铁矿则表现出高水平的Te和Pb。与含金Py1共生的热液磷灰石的U-Pb年龄分别为1895±19 Ma和1836±28 Ma，与跨华北造山带的变形变质作用相对应。热液磷灰石中正Eu异常的存在表明它是由相对氧化的流体结晶而成。与第二阶段脉状矿化有关的热液金红石的形成机制与黑云母的蚀变有关。热液金红石年龄为128.0±6.4 Ma，与该地区早白垩世花岗质岩浆活动一致。李源金矿床是分别发生在古元古代和早白垩世的两次不同的热液事件的结果。这一结论得到了综合野外、构造、矿物学和地质年代学分析的支持。新近发现的古元古代造山带金矿成矿事件与东、西地块碰撞时的造山带变形和区域变质作用相吻合，为成矿条件良好的北陆构造带金矿找矿提供了新的前景。此外，我们的研究强调了磷灰石U-Pb定年作为研究其他地区前寒武纪金矿床的可靠地质年代学工具的潜力。

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来源期刊

Precambrian Research 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

7.20

自引率

28.90%

发文量

325

审稿时长

12 months

期刊介绍： Precambrian Research publishes studies on all aspects of the early stages of the composition, structure and evolution of the Earth and its planetary neighbours. With a focus on process-oriented and comparative studies, it covers, but is not restricted to, subjects such as: (1) Chemical, biological, biochemical and cosmochemical evolution; the origin of life; the evolution of the oceans and atmosphere; the early fossil record; palaeobiology; (2) Geochronology and isotope and elemental geochemistry; (3) Precambrian mineral deposits; (4) Geophysical aspects of the early Earth and Precambrian terrains; (5) Nature, formation and evolution of the Precambrian lithosphere and mantle including magmatic, depositional, metamorphic and tectonic processes. In addition, the editors particularly welcome integrated process-oriented studies that involve a combination of the above fields and comparative studies that demonstrate the effect of Precambrian evolution on Phanerozoic earth system processes. Regional and localised studies of Precambrian phenomena are considered appropriate only when the detail and quality allow illustration of a wider process, or when significant gaps in basic knowledge of a particular area can be filled.