矿床地球化学国家重点实验室知识库

Epithermal gold deposits have been found mainly in eastern China and recently in the northern Xinjiang Region.They are grouped into four belts based on their tectonic settings and belong to three mineralization episodes.They include:(1)the Cenozoic eastern Taiwan island arc belt;(2)the Late Paleozoic North Xinjiang island arc belt;(3)the Mesozoic continental margin belt along the northern border of the Sino-Korean Craton;and(4)the Mesozoic continental margin belt of SE China coastal area.Most of the reviewed deposits are of low sulfidation type,three are of high sulfidation type,and one is of Au-Te type related to alkaline rock series.Except the Chinkuashih deposit,the largest gold deposit in China,the epithermal gold deposits in general are of less economic importance at present in the mainland of China.The total reserve of epithermal gold deposits discovered in eastern China is not compared with the huge volume of widespread subaerial volcanic rocks of Mesozoic age.Relatively old mineralization age,Mesozoic in eastern China and Late Paleozoic in North Xinjiang,is an apparent feature of epithermal gold deposits in the mainland of China.Based on the analyses of metallogenic condition and preservation in China,and the comparison with western USA and eastern Russia,a preliminary assessment on the potential of epithermal gold deposits of China has been presented.Northern Xinjiang may be potentially significant for finding epithermal gold deposits.