A study of issues related to the geology and geochemistry of unusual gold mineralization

Geochemistry is the science that uses the tools and principles of chemistry to explain the mechanisms behind major geological systems such as the Earth's crust and its oceans. The realm of geochemistry extends beyond the Earth, encompassing the entire Solar System and has made important contributions to the understanding of a number of processes including mantle convection, the formation of planets and the origins of granite and basalt. It is an integrated field of chemistry and geology. Gold mineralization mainly occurred at paleodepths of about ۸.۴–۱۲.۱ km. Precipitation of gold is possibly a con- sequence of phase separation or boiling of the H۲O–CO۲–NaCl fluids in response to pressure and temperature. fluctuations in the open space of the secondary faults. An orogenic gold deposit is a type of hydrothermal mineral deposit. More than ۷۵% of the gold recovered by humans through history belongs to the class of orogenic gold deposits. Rock structure is the primary control of orogenic gold mineralization at all scales, as it controls both the transport and deposition processes of the mineralized fluids, creating structural pathways of high permeability and focusing deposition to structurally controlled locations. Mineral assemblages formed during hydrothermal alteration reflect the geochemical composition of ore-forming fluids. Gold is mainly transported in solution as Au–Cl and Au–S complexes. The change of physicochemical conditions such as temperature, pressure, oxygen fugacity, and sulfur fugacity are effective mechanisms for gold precipitation. Gold tends to be concentrated in the vapor phase of fluids at high temperatures and pressures. Au–As and Au–Sb associations are common in gold deposit. Native antimony and/or arsenic – native gold assemblages may precipitate from hydrothermal fluids with low sulfur fugacity. Hydrothermal fluids forming epithermal gold deposits are Au-saturated in most cases, whereas fluids of Carlin-type are Au-undersaturated. Quasi-steady As-bearing pyrite extracts solid solution Au from hydrothermal fluids through absorption. The capability of As-bearing pyrite to absorb Au from under-saturated fluid is the key to the formation of large-scale Carlin-type deposits.

Keywords:

Geochemistry , Hydrothermal fluid , Alteration , Gold deposits.