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Contenido archivado el 2022-12-23

GOLD DEPOSIT PROSPECTION AND EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGY

Objetivo


A metallogenic model of gold deposits in northeast China has been developed from field work information. Guidelines for gold prospecting and exploration are as follows:

Favourable structures:
Gold deposits are associated with a high density of secondary fractures related to major fault zones, especially near the intersection of 2 such zones with different trends. Most mineralisation is found in faults formed in the later stages of the Yanshan orogeny.

Granite association:
The most prospective areas for gold deposits are near the margins of Mesozoic granitic plutons intruded into mafic metamorphic country rocks. In most cases the country rocks are the best sites for ore deposits but the granites may also be mineralised along the same structures as the country rocks. There is no specific granite type which is more likely to cause mineralisation than others and all plutons should be considered of potential importance.

Pathfinder elements:
The ore paragenesis in all gold deposits studied is simple and constant; this allows a confident prediction of pathfinder elements useful in geochemical exploration. Gold is associated with the base metal sulphides and therefore correlates positively with copper, lead, zinc and sulphur anomalies. Minor elements which are associated with gold include bismuth, tellurium, silver and antimony. There seems to be no association of gold with arsenic.

Favourable host rocks:
Based on the number of known gold deposits, the Archean high grade mafic series can be considered the most favourable host rocks. However these rocks have normal background gold concentrations. The search for lithologies rich in primary gold (source beds) as an exploration tool is not recommended. Iron rich wallrock compositions should be considered prospective for ore since sulphidation of iron oxides or silicates to pyrite can lead to gold precipitation. The magnetite rich amphibolites and quartzites, whose distribution can easily be mapped by magnetic surveys, should be particularly considered in exploration.

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Régimen de financiación

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinador

TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH
Aportación de la UE
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Dirección
21,Alte Akademie 16
85350 FREISING
Alemania

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