scholarly journals New Insight into the Genetic Mechanism of Shear Zone Type Gold Deposits from Muping-Rushan Metallogenic Belt (Jiaodong Peninsula of Eastern China)

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 775
Author(s):  
Nannan Cheng ◽  
Quanlin Hou ◽  
Mengyan Shi ◽  
Miao He ◽  
Qing Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zone ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Electron Backscatter Diffraction ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Genetic Mechanism ◽  
Forming Process ◽  
Middle Crust

Most gold deposits are genetically controlled by shear zones, which are called shear zone type gold deposits (SZTGD). A better understanding of kinematics of shear zones and its constraint on the ore-forming process is critical to reveal the genetic mechanism of the SZTGD and favorable to mineral exploration. By conducting detailed structural analysis including field and microscopic observations and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and fractal dimension analysis in the Muping-Rushan shear zone (MR) as well as several gold deposits, the kinematic characteristics of the MR are well recognized and the metallogenic process of the SZTGD are discussed. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) petrology, geometry, kinematics, macro- and micro-structures imply that the MR has experienced a progressive shearing history exhumed via middle crust to subsurface level under the NW-SE extensional regime from late Jurassic to early Cretaceous; (2) in the MR, gold may precipitate both in the brittle fractures at middle crust level and brittle deformation part at shallow crust level during the stress-chemical process and (3) comparison of gold deposits between the MR and other areas show that the SZTGD has a uniform metallogenic mechanism, which is from (multi-stage) pluton emplacement, hydrothermal fluid action, shearing action, brittle fracturing, sudden reduction of fluid pressure, flash vaporization to (gold) mineralization.

Gold Deposits of the ~15-Moz Ahafo South Camp, Sefwi Granite-Greenstone Belt, Ghana: Insights into the Anatomy of an Orogenic Gold Plumbing System

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quentin Masurel ◽  
Paul Morley ◽  
Nicolas Thébaud ◽  
Helen McFarlane
Keyword(s):  
Rock Mass ◽  
Shear Zone ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Hanging Wall ◽  
Spatial Association ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Orogenic Gold ◽  
Plutonic Rocks

Abstract The ~15-Moz Ahafo South gold camp is located in southwest Ghana, the world’s premier Paleoproterozoic gold subprovince. Major orogenic gold deposits in the camp include Subika, Apensu, Awonsu, and Amoma. These deposits occur along an ~15-km strike length of the Kenyase-Yamfo shear zone, a major tectonostratigraphic boundary juxtaposing metamorphosed volcano-plutonic rocks of the Sefwi belt against metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary rocks of the Sunyani-Comoé basin. In this study, we document the geologic setting, structural geometry, and rheological architecture of the Ahafo South gold deposits based on the integration of field mapping, diamond drill core logging, 3-D geologic modeling, and the geologic interpretation of aeromagnetic data. At the camp scale, the Awonsu, Apensu, and Amoma deposits lie along strike from one another and share similar hanging-wall plutonic rocks and footwall volcano-sedimentary rocks. In contrast, the Subika gold deposit is hosted entirely in hanging-wall plutonic rocks. Steeper-dipping segments (e.g., Apensu, Awonsu, Subika) and right-hand flexures (e.g., Amoma, Apensu) in the Kenyase-Yamfo shear zone and subsidiary structures appear to have represented sites of enhanced damage and fluid flux (i.e., restraining bends). All gold deposits occur within structural domains bounded by discontinuous, low-displacement, sinistral N-striking tear faults oblique to the orogen-parallel Kenyase-Yamfo shear zone. At the deposit scale, ore-related hydrothermal alteration is zoned, with distal chlorite-sericite grading into proximal silica-albite-Fe-carbonate mineral assemblages. Alteration halos are restricted to narrow selvages around quartz-carbonate vein arrays in multiple stacked ore shoots at Subika, whereas these halos extend 30 to 100 m away from the ore zones at Apensu and Awonsu. There is a clear spatial association between shallow-dipping mafic dikes, mafic chonoliths, shear zones, and economic gold mineralization. The abundance of mafic dikes and chonoliths within intermediate to felsic hanging-wall plutonic host rocks provided rheological heterogeneity that favored the formation of enhanced fracture permeability, promoting the tapping of ore fluid(s). Our interpretation is that these stacked shallow-dipping mafic dike arrays also acted as aquitards, impeding upward fluid flow within the wider intrusive rock mass until a failure threshold was episodically reached due to fluid overpressure, resulting in transient fracture-controlled upward propagation of the ore-fluid(s). Our results indicate that high-grade ore shoots at Ahafo South form part of vertically extensive fluid conduit systems that are primarily controlled by the rheological architecture of the rock mass.

Chapter 7: Paleoproterozoic Gold Deposits of the Loulo District, Western Mali

2020 ◽  
pp. 141-162
Author(s):  
Andrew Allibone ◽  
David Lawrence ◽  
John Scott ◽  
Mark Fanning ◽  
James Lambert-Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Shear Zone ◽  
Thermal Gradient ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Hydrothermal Fluids ◽  
Western Margin ◽  
Form Part

Abstract Paleoproterozoic (Rhyacian) gold deposits of the Loulo district in western Mali contain >17 million ounces (Moz) Au and form part of the second most highly endowed region within West Africa. The deposits are located within siliciclastic, marble, and evaporitic rocks of the ca. 2110 Ma greenschist facies Kofi series, which were folded and inverted between ca. 2100 and 2070 Ma, prior to gold mineralization. Deposits at Yalea and Gounkoto are located along discontinuous, low-displacement, albite- and carbonate-altered shear zones, whereas Gara is confined to a tourmaline-altered quartz sandstone unit. Lodes typically plunge gently to moderately, reflecting the attitude of folds in the adjacent rocks and bends in the host shear zones, both of which influenced their location. Gold mineralization in the Loulo district was broadly synchronous with emplacement of the Falémé batholith and associated Fe skarn mineralization, which intrude and overprint the western margin of the Kofi series, respectively. However, hydrothermal fluids generated during metamorphic devolatilization of the Kofi series rocks appear responsible for gold mineralization, albeit within a district-wide thermal gradient associated with emplacement of the Falémé batholith. The regional-scale Senegal-Mali shear zone, commonly cited as an important control on the location of gold deposits in western Mali, is absent in the Loulo district.

scholarly journals A NEW GOLD ORE REGION IN TANZANIA

2018 ◽  
pp. 55-59
Author(s):  
V. Mykhailov ◽  
А. Tots
Keyword(s):  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Shear Zone ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Lake Victoria ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Mobile Belt ◽  
Gold Content ◽  
Gold Ore ◽  
Metallogenic Zone ◽  
The Republic

Tanzania is one of the leading gold mining countries in the world and the discovery of new gold resources on its territory is an actual task. Known gold deposits are concentrated mainly in the northwest of the country, in the metallogenic zone of Lake Victoria, where they are associated with the Archean greenstone belts, and to a lesser extent – in the southwest, in the ore regions of Lupa and Mpanda, confined to the Ubendian Paleoproterozoic mobile belt. With regard to the eastern regions of Tanzania, where the Proterozoic structures of the Uzagaran mobile belt are developed, until recently in this region any significant manifestations of gold mineralization were not known. As a result of our research in the northern part of the Morogoro province of the Republic of Tanzania, a new previously unknown gold deposit Mananila was discovered. It is represented by a large volume, up to 400–450 m long, up to 60–80 m thick, mineralized shear zone over intensely leached and schistosed migmatites, gneisses, amphibolites, penetrated by echelon systems of quartz veins and veinlet, steeply dipping bodies of quartz breccia up to 1.0–1.5 m thick. Gold contents range from 0.61 to 8.11 g/t, the average zone content is 2.5–3.0 g/t. Parallel to the main zone, similar structures are developed on the site, although they are of lower thickness. The forecast resources of the deposit are estimated at 20 tons of gold. 2.8 km to the east from the Mananila field, the recently discovered Mazizi gold deposit is located, and a number of small occurrences of gold are also known in the region. All these objects are located within a large shear zone of the northeastern strike, up to 4–5 km width, over 20 km in length. This serves as the basis for the identification of a new gold ore region in the northern part of the Morogoro province of the United Republic of Tanzania, within the Proterozoic mobile belt of Usagaran, the possible gold content of which has never been previously discussed in geological literature.

Gold-bismuth-telluride-sulphide assemblages at the Viceroy Mine, Harare-Bindura-Shamva greenstone belt, Zimbabwe

2008 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 953-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Oberthür ◽  
T. W. Weiser
Keyword(s):  
Native Gold ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Orogenic Gold ◽  
Main Stage ◽  
Melting Temperatures ◽  
Native Bismuth ◽  
Gold Bearing

AbstractGold mineralization at the Viceroy Mine is hosted in extensional veins in steep shear zones that transect metabasalts of the Archaean Arcturus Formation. The gold mineralization is generally made up of banded or massive quartz carrying abundant coarse arsenopyrite. However, most striking is a distinct suite of Au-Bi-Te-S minerals, namely joseite-A (Bi4TeS2), joseite-B (Bi4Te2S), hedleyite (Bi7Te3), ikunolite (Bi4S3), ‘protojoseite’ (Bi3TeS), an unnamed mineral (Bi6Te2S), bismuthinite (Bi2S3), native Bi, native gold, maldonite (Au2Bi), and jonassonite (AuBi5S4). The majority of the Bi-Te-S phases is characterized by Bi/(Se+Te) ratios of >1. Accordingly, this assemblage formed at reduced conditions at relatively low fS2 and fTe2. Fluid-inclusion thermometry indicates depositional temperatures of the main stage of mineralization of up to 342°C, in the normal range of mesothermal, orogenic gold deposits worldwide. However, melting temperatures of Au-Bi-Te phases down to at least 235°C (assemblage (Au2Bi + Bi + Bi7Te3)) imply that the Au-Bi-Te phases have been present as liquids or melt droplets. Furthermore, the close association of native gold, native bismuth and other Bi-Te-S phases suggests that gold was scavenged from the hydrothermal fluids by Bi-Te-S liquids or melts. It is concluded that a liquid/melt-collecting mechanism was probably active at Viceroy Mine, where the distinct Au-Bi-Te-S assemblage either formed late as part of the main, arsenopyrite-dominated mineralization, or it represents a different mineralization event, related to rejuvenation of the shear system. In either case, some of the gold may have been extracted from pre-existing, gold-bearing arsenopyrite by Bi-Te-S melts, thus leading to an upgrade of the gold ores at Viceroy. The Au-Bi-Te-S assemblage represents an epithermal-style mineralization overprinted on an otherwise mesothermal (orogenic) gold mineralization.

Gold distribution in the Val-d'Or Formation and a model for the formation of the Lamaque–Sigma mines, Val-d'Or, Quebec

1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 706-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet F. Taner ◽  
Pierre Trudel
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Regional Metamorphism ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Mining District ◽  
Volcanic Complex ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Gold Mines ◽  
Geothermal Activity

Recent lithogeochemical studies by accurate analytical techniques (e.g., instrumental and radiochemical neutron-activation analyses) have been used to explore the possibility of using gold distribution in the research for new gold deposits; these show that anomalous gold distribution occurs in some parts of the Val-d'Or Formation in the Val-d'Or mining district of Quebec. Gold lithogeochemistry in the Val-d'Or Formation has shown that it is possible to distinguish: (i) background values (1.4–3.5 ppb Au); (ii) zones of primarily anomalous gold values around the Lamaque–Sigma mines (median: 15 ppb Au); (iii) enrichment halos around gold orebodies (median: 70 ppb Au); and (iv) secondary gold enrichment in shear zones. We conclude that the Val-d'Or Formation is auriferous, i.e., anomalously rich in gold at least in some of its parts and contains the Lamaque – Sigma gold mines, representing 68% of the total gold production in the district. The Val-d'Or Formation is part of a central volcanic complex within an island-arc system. The centre of this complex is located in the main Lamaque plug, and this environment may be compared to high-temperature active geothermal systems that are commonly responsible for the formation of epithermal gold deposits. Gold mineralization at Sigma and Lamaque is considered to be related to a late hydrothermal phase or a retrograde phase of regional metamorphism. For the formation of the gold deposits, two distinct and successive events are postulated: (i) a gold-rich synvolcanic geothermal activity and (ii) a late remobilisation from the host rocks followed by deposition of gold ore within favourable structures.

scholarly journals Switching deformation mode and mechanisms during subduction of continental crust: a case study from Alpine Corsica

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giancarlo Molli ◽  
Luca Menegon ◽  
Alessandro Malasoma
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zone ◽  
Continental Crust ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Deformation Mode ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Plastic Shear ◽  
Stick Slip ◽  
Brittle Ductile Transition

Abstract. The switching in deformation mode (from distributed to localized) and mechanisms (viscous versus frictional) represent a relevant issue in the frame of crustal deformation, being also connected with the concept of the brittle-ductile transition and seismogenesis. In subduction environment, switching in deformation mode and mechanisms may be inferred along the subduction interface, in a transition zone between the highly coupled (seismogenic zone) and decoupled deeper aseismic domain (stable slip). On the other hand, the role of brittle precursors in nucleating crystal-plastic shear zones has received more and more consideration being now recognized as fundamental in the localization of deformation and shear zone development, thus representing a case in which switching deformation mode and mechanisms interact and relate to each other. This contribution analyzes an example of a crystal plastic shear zone localized by brittle precursor formed within a host granitic-protomylonite during deformation in subduction-related environment. The studied structures, possibly formed by transient instability associated with fluctuations of pore fluid pressure and episodic strain rate variations may be considered as a small scale example of fault behaviour associated with a cycle of interseismic creep and coseismic rupture or a new analogue for episodic tremors and slow slip structures. Our case-study represents, therefore, a fossil example of association of fault structures related with stick-slip strain accomodation during subduction of continental crust.

Geology of the shear-hosted Brookbank gold prospect in the Beardmore–Geraldton belt, Wabigoon subprovince, Ontario

2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 925-946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerry C DeWolfe ◽  
Bruno Lafrance ◽  
Greg M Stott
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zone ◽  
Hanging Wall ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Alteration Zone ◽  
Gold Deposition ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Metasedimentary Rocks ◽  
Polymictic Conglomerate

The Beardmore–Geraldton belt consists of steeply dipping, intercalated panels of metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks along the southern margin of the granite–greenstone Wabigoon subprovince in the Archean Superior Province, Ontario. It is an important past-producing gold belt that includes classic epigenetic iron-formation-hosted deposits near Geraldton and turbidite-hosted deposits, north of Beardmore. The Brookbank gold prospect belongs to a third group of related gold deposits that formed along dextral shear zones localized at contacts between panels of metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks. The Brookbank prospect occurs along a steeply dipping shear zone at the contact between footwall polymictic conglomerate and hanging-wall calc-alkaline arc basalt. Early during shearing the basalt acted as a structural and chemical trap that localized brittle deformation, veining, and gold deposition, ankerite–sericite–chlorite–epidote–pyrite alteration, and the replacement of metamorphic magnetite and ilmenite by gold-bearing pyrite. This produced a low grade (≤5 g/t Au) ankerite-rich alteration zone that extends up to 20 m into the hanging-wall basalt. Later during shearing, gold was deposited within higher grade (≤20 g/t Au) quartz–orthoclase–pyrite alteration zones superimposed on the wider ankerite-rich alteration zone. Auriferous quartz–carbonate veins oriented clockwise and counter-clockwise to the shear zone walls are folded and boudinaged, respectively, consistent with dextral slip along the shear zone. A key finding of the study is that different groups of gold deposits in the belt, including epigenetic iron formation gold deposits near Geraldton, formed during post-2690 Ma regional dextral transpression across the belt.

Crustal melt granites and migmatites along the Himalaya: melt source, segregation, transport and granite emplacement mechanisms

2009 ◽  
Vol 100 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 219-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Searle ◽  
J. M. Cottle ◽  
M. J. Streule ◽  
D. J. Waters
Keyword(s):  
Partial Melting ◽  
Shear Zone ◽  
Internal Heat ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Crustal Thickening ◽  
Main Central Thrust ◽  
Crustal Layer ◽  
Middle Crust ◽  
The Himalaya

ABSTRACTIndia–Asia collision resulted in crustal thickening and shortening, metamorphism and partial melting along the 2200 km-long Himalayan range. In the core of the Greater Himalaya, widespread in situ partial melting in sillimanite+K-feldspar gneisses resulted in formation of migmatites and Ms+Bt+Grt+Tur±Crd±Sil leucogranites, mainly by muscovite dehydration melting. Melting occurred at shallow depths (4–6 kbar; 15–20 km depth) in the middle crust, but not in the lower crust. 87Sr/86Sr ratios of leucogranites are very high (0·74–0·79) and heterogeneous, indicating a 100 crustal protolith. Melts were sourced from fertile muscovite-bearing pelites and quartzo-feldspathic gneisses of the Neo-Proterozoic Haimanta–Cheka Formations. Melting was induced through a combination of thermal relaxation due to crustal thickening and from high internal heat production rates within the Proterozoic source rocks in the middle crust. Himalayan granites have highly radiogenic Pb isotopes and extremely high uranium concentrations. Little or no heat was derived either from the mantle or from shear heating along thrust faults. Mid-crustal melting triggered southward ductile extrusion (channel flow) of a mid-crustal layer bounded by a crustal-scale thrust fault and shear zone (Main Central Thrust; MCT) along the base, and a low-angle ductile shear zone and normal fault (South Tibetan Detachment; STD) along the top. Multi-system thermochronology (U–Pb, Sm–Nd, 40Ar–39Ar and fission track dating) show that partial melting spanned ̃24–15 Ma and triggered mid-crustal flow between the simultaneously active shear zones of the MCT and STD. Granite melting was restricted in both time (Early Miocene) and space (middle crust) along the entire length of the Himalaya. Melts were channelled up via hydraulic fracturing into sheeted sill complexes from the underthrust Indian plate source beneath southern Tibet, and intruded for up to 100 km parallel to the foliation in the host sillimanite gneisses. Crystallisation of the leucogranites was immediately followed by rapid exhumation, cooling and enhanced erosion during the Early–Middle Miocene.

scholarly journals Aeromagnetic and digital elevation model constraints on the structural framework of southern margin of the Middle Niger Basin, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naheem Banji Salawu
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zone ◽  
Digital Elevation Model ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Structural Data ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Significant Implication ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Elevation Model

AbstractHigh resolution aeromagnetic anomaly and topographic data using enhancement filtering techniques have resulted in better understanding of the nature of structures at the margins of the Middle Niger Basin. Due to the lack of structural data, the gold deposits within the margins of the Middle Niger Basin were variably excavated, leading to land degradation. The newly-produced structural map highly constrained the mineralization, which makes the study area and its periphery safe for gold exploration. Structural map has been produced from the integration of derivative maps to assess the pattern of surface and subsurface structural features within the studied area. The structural map unravels structural features with major and minor structural trends, in addition to a prominent crustal partitioning, characterized by the Ifewara shear zone. These structural features correlate very well with known gold mineralized locations and also predict new zones for structurally controlled gold and associated mineralization. The structural patterns are directly related with tectonic episodes in the basement. In fact, the Ifewara shear zone appears more pronounced on the total gradient and 3-D Euler deconvolution maps, which reveal various lineaments within the shear zone. The topographic maps (digital elevation model) clearly shows the surface morphology of the region under study while the resulting shaded-relief map reveal the continuity of the deduced magnetic lineaments that coincide with the valleys of River Niger which exploits zones of weakness from the lineaments. The results suggest high sensitivity of fluvial network to deduced lineaments with possible significant implication for alluvial gold mineralization.

scholarly journals Tectonic pressure gradients during viscous creep drive fluid flow and brittle failure at the base of the seismogenic zone

Geology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Menegon ◽  
Åke Fagereng
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zone ◽  
Brittle Failure ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Elevated Pressure ◽  
Hydraulic Gradient ◽  
Seismogenic Zone ◽  
Viscous Shear ◽  
Host Rocks

Fluid-pressure cycles are commonly invoked to explain alternating frictional and viscous deformation at the base of the seismogenic crust. However, the stress conditions and geological environment of fluid-pressure cycling are unclear. We address this problem by detailed structural investigation of a vein-bearing shear zone at Sagelvvatn, northern Norwegian Caledonides. In this dominantly viscous shear zone, synkinematic quartz veins locally crosscut mylonitic fabric at a high angle and are rotated and folded with the same sense of shear as the mylonite. Chlorite thermometry indicates that both veining and mylonitization occurred at ~315–400 °C. The vein-filled fractures are interpreted as episodically triggered by viscous creep in the mylonite, where quartz piezometry and brittle failure modes are consistent with low (18–44 MPa) differential stress. The Sagelvvatn shear zone is a stretching shear zone, where elevated pressure drives a hydraulic gradient that expels fluids from the shear zone to the host rocks. In low-permeability shear zones, this hydraulic gradient facilitates buildup of pore-fluid pressure until the hydrofracture criterion is reached and tensile fractures open. We propose that hydraulic gradients established by local and cyclic pressure variations during viscous creep can drive episodic fluid escape and result in brittle-viscous fault slip at the base of the seismogenic crust.

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