Geological characteristics, genetic types and metallogenic regularity of typical gold deposits in Qingyuan area of the northern Liaoning Province

The gold resources in Qingyuan area of the northern Liaoning Province are abundant, but the genetic types and metallogenetic law of gold deposits in this area have not been systematically discussed. The spatial distribution, ore-bearing horizon, controlling structural types, mineralization alteration, and the isotope geochemical characteristics of typical gold deposits were collected to summarize the mineralization regularity of gold deposits. The results showed that gold deposits in Qingyuan area of the northern Liaoning Province mainly occurred in Shipengzi Formation and Hongtoushan Formation of Qingyuan Group, while a small amount of gold deposits occurred in Archean and Mesozoic granitic rock. The ore-controlling structures were mainly inverted syncline structure, fault structure and ductile shear zone in Archean granite-greenstone terrane. The isotope geochemical characteristics showed that the ore-forming fluids in Qingyuan area were derived from seawater, metamorphic hydrothermal and magmatic hydrothermal fluids, respectively. The ore-forming materials came from deep source magma or mixture of magma and strata. The genesis types of gold deposits could be divided into volcano-associated massive sulfide (VMS) type, magmatic hydrothermal type, and metamorphic hydrothermal type. Three Ⅳ gold sub-metallogenic belts, six mineralization prospect areas and two mineralization series have been delineated according to the controlling conditions, genesis types, and regional anomaly distribution characteristics. The study achievements could supply scientific and theoretical basis support for the gold exploration in the northern Liaoning Province.