Pathfinder elements for gold exploration in the Hongqigou tectonic zone of the Wulonggou goldfield (Qinghai Province, Western China)
Gold is strongly enriched (up to 12 ppb) in the Hongqigou tectonic zone, which represents a potential metal source for the Wulonggou goldfield. In this study, a suite of 20 elements (Au, Ag, As, B, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Ti, V, W, and Zn) were analyzed on 30 altered rock sam...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.952031/full |
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| author | Shikun Zhen Meiqing Sun Chulin Xia Chulin Xia Wenzhao Zhang Chang’en Quan Zhihong Han Yu Du |
| author_facet | Shikun Zhen Meiqing Sun Chulin Xia Chulin Xia Wenzhao Zhang Chang’en Quan Zhihong Han Yu Du |
| author_sort | Shikun Zhen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Gold is strongly enriched (up to 12 ppb) in the Hongqigou tectonic zone, which represents a potential metal source for the Wulonggou goldfield. In this study, a suite of 20 elements (Au, Ag, As, B, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Ti, V, W, and Zn) were analyzed on 30 altered rock samples from the tectonic zone. Compared with the average abundance of the earth's crust, these samples are generally enriched in Hg, have comparable Au, Ba, and As, and depleted in Ba, Co, and W. We suggested that Au, As, Hg, and Ba are the major ore-forming elements. The coupling relationship in multielement variation patterns between the altered rocks (in the tectonic zone) and wall rocks indicates wallrock involvement during the alteration process. Correlation statistical analysis (with SPSS software) on the 20 elements suggests that the elements of Ag, Cu, Pb, Hg, and Cd are closely related, and useful pathfinder elements include As, Sb, Hg, W, Sn, Cu, Ni, Mn, and Zn. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:00:19Z |
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| id | doaj.art-568f56e0c1bb4dcab8f0c10ad3c57ebd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:00:19Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-568f56e0c1bb4dcab8f0c10ad3c57ebd2022-12-22T04:00:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632022-08-011010.3389/feart.2022.952031952031Pathfinder elements for gold exploration in the Hongqigou tectonic zone of the Wulonggou goldfield (Qinghai Province, Western China)Shikun Zhen0Meiqing Sun1Chulin Xia2Chulin Xia3Wenzhao Zhang4Chang’en Quan5Zhihong Han6Yu Du7Department of Geological Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, ChinaDepartment of Geological Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, ChinaKey Laboratory of Cenozoic Resources and Environment in the Northern Margin of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Xining, ChinaDepartment of Geological Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, ChinaDepartment of Geological Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, ChinaDepartment of Geological Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, ChinaDepartment of Geological Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, ChinaGold is strongly enriched (up to 12 ppb) in the Hongqigou tectonic zone, which represents a potential metal source for the Wulonggou goldfield. In this study, a suite of 20 elements (Au, Ag, As, B, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Ti, V, W, and Zn) were analyzed on 30 altered rock samples from the tectonic zone. Compared with the average abundance of the earth's crust, these samples are generally enriched in Hg, have comparable Au, Ba, and As, and depleted in Ba, Co, and W. We suggested that Au, As, Hg, and Ba are the major ore-forming elements. The coupling relationship in multielement variation patterns between the altered rocks (in the tectonic zone) and wall rocks indicates wallrock involvement during the alteration process. Correlation statistical analysis (with SPSS software) on the 20 elements suggests that the elements of Ag, Cu, Pb, Hg, and Cd are closely related, and useful pathfinder elements include As, Sb, Hg, W, Sn, Cu, Ni, Mn, and Zn.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.952031/fullWulonggou goldfieldHongqigou alteration zonegold ore-forming elementscorrelationpath-finding elements |
| spellingShingle | Shikun Zhen Meiqing Sun Chulin Xia Chulin Xia Wenzhao Zhang Chang’en Quan Zhihong Han Yu Du Pathfinder elements for gold exploration in the Hongqigou tectonic zone of the Wulonggou goldfield (Qinghai Province, Western China) Frontiers in Earth Science Wulonggou goldfield Hongqigou alteration zone gold ore-forming elements correlation path-finding elements |
| title | Pathfinder elements for gold exploration in the Hongqigou tectonic zone of the Wulonggou goldfield (Qinghai Province, Western China) |
| title_full | Pathfinder elements for gold exploration in the Hongqigou tectonic zone of the Wulonggou goldfield (Qinghai Province, Western China) |
| title_fullStr | Pathfinder elements for gold exploration in the Hongqigou tectonic zone of the Wulonggou goldfield (Qinghai Province, Western China) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pathfinder elements for gold exploration in the Hongqigou tectonic zone of the Wulonggou goldfield (Qinghai Province, Western China) |
| title_short | Pathfinder elements for gold exploration in the Hongqigou tectonic zone of the Wulonggou goldfield (Qinghai Province, Western China) |
| title_sort | pathfinder elements for gold exploration in the hongqigou tectonic zone of the wulonggou goldfield qinghai province western china |
| topic | Wulonggou goldfield Hongqigou alteration zone gold ore-forming elements correlation path-finding elements |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.952031/full |
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