Characteristics and origin of the Zhulazhaga gold deposit in Inner Mongolia, China

摘要

The Zhulazhaga gold deposit in the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC) is a large tonnage hydrothermal deposit with a reserve of about 50 t at about 4 g/t Au. The deposit is characterized by an epigenetic style of mineralization in metasedimentary rocks dominated by slates, low-grade metamorphic clastic rocks and minor volcanic rocks. Gold mineralization is dominantly controlled by structures, manifested by stratabound orebodies located immediately to the east and west of a major N-S-trending fault and associated extensional fractures and NE-trending fault zones. The mineralization is also preferentially located in the fourth sub-member of first member of the Agulugou Formation. There are many auriferous quartz veins parallel to the bedding of the host rocks which contain the orebodies, and high-grade ore preferentially occurs near to these quartz veins. The structures provided pathways for transportation of gold-bearing fluids within the formation that appears to form a particularly favorable host rock and depositional setting.