Gold Migration and Precipitation as Collaurum in Orogenic Gold Deposits: Constrains from Microscopic Gold Particles Observed in the Alteration Zone in Shanggong Gold Ore, Henan, China
Aqueous complexation has long been considered the only viable means of transporting gold to depositional sites in hydrothermal ore-forming systems. Here, we present direct evidence supporting an alternative hypothesis, namely, the transport of gold as colloidal particles. We observed nano-scale gold...
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/14/3/327 |
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| author | Yu Qiao Zhixuan Han Bimin Zhang Xiaocheng Wei Chunfang Dong Hanliang Liu |
| author_facet | Yu Qiao Zhixuan Han Bimin Zhang Xiaocheng Wei Chunfang Dong Hanliang Liu |
| author_sort | Yu Qiao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aqueous complexation has long been considered the only viable means of transporting gold to depositional sites in hydrothermal ore-forming systems. Here, we present direct evidence supporting an alternative hypothesis, namely, the transport of gold as colloidal particles. We observed nano-scale gold particles adsorbed on halloysite and micro-scale gold particles in altered rocks by TEM and SEM in the Shanggong orogenic gold deposit. Based on this evidence, we propose a feasible model for the origin of microscopic gold particles in alteration zones. In the early stage of ore-forming fluid, gold may migrate in the form of collaurum, which is maintained by supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> and colloidal silica. Low salinity and high pressure are conducive to the stable migration of colloidal gold. When the physicochemical conditions change, some collaurum is precipitated and adsorbed by the clay minerals produced by hydrothermal alteration, and some collaurum undergoes growth and evolves into micro-submicrometer-sized gold particles. This study highlighted the significance of collaurum in the formation of orogenic gold deposits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:59:49Z |
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| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:59:49Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-d1c3014d2c304b4892772698dbd1b2b02024-03-27T13:56:25ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2024-03-0114332710.3390/min14030327Gold Migration and Precipitation as Collaurum in Orogenic Gold Deposits: Constrains from Microscopic Gold Particles Observed in the Alteration Zone in Shanggong Gold Ore, Henan, ChinaYu Qiao0Zhixuan Han1Bimin Zhang2Xiaocheng Wei3Chunfang Dong4Hanliang Liu5Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaInstitute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, ChinaInstitute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Exploration of Nonferrous Metal Deposits and Efficient Utilization of Resources by the Province and Ministry, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Exploration of Nonferrous Metal Deposits and Efficient Utilization of Resources by the Province and Ministry, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, ChinaInstitute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang 065000, ChinaAqueous complexation has long been considered the only viable means of transporting gold to depositional sites in hydrothermal ore-forming systems. Here, we present direct evidence supporting an alternative hypothesis, namely, the transport of gold as colloidal particles. We observed nano-scale gold particles adsorbed on halloysite and micro-scale gold particles in altered rocks by TEM and SEM in the Shanggong orogenic gold deposit. Based on this evidence, we propose a feasible model for the origin of microscopic gold particles in alteration zones. In the early stage of ore-forming fluid, gold may migrate in the form of collaurum, which is maintained by supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> and colloidal silica. Low salinity and high pressure are conducive to the stable migration of colloidal gold. When the physicochemical conditions change, some collaurum is precipitated and adsorbed by the clay minerals produced by hydrothermal alteration, and some collaurum undergoes growth and evolves into micro-submicrometer-sized gold particles. This study highlighted the significance of collaurum in the formation of orogenic gold deposits.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/14/3/327colloidal goldnanoparticlesclay mineralscarbon dioxideShanggong gold deposit |
| spellingShingle | Yu Qiao Zhixuan Han Bimin Zhang Xiaocheng Wei Chunfang Dong Hanliang Liu Gold Migration and Precipitation as Collaurum in Orogenic Gold Deposits: Constrains from Microscopic Gold Particles Observed in the Alteration Zone in Shanggong Gold Ore, Henan, China Minerals colloidal gold nanoparticles clay minerals carbon dioxide Shanggong gold deposit |
| title | Gold Migration and Precipitation as Collaurum in Orogenic Gold Deposits: Constrains from Microscopic Gold Particles Observed in the Alteration Zone in Shanggong Gold Ore, Henan, China |
| title_full | Gold Migration and Precipitation as Collaurum in Orogenic Gold Deposits: Constrains from Microscopic Gold Particles Observed in the Alteration Zone in Shanggong Gold Ore, Henan, China |
| title_fullStr | Gold Migration and Precipitation as Collaurum in Orogenic Gold Deposits: Constrains from Microscopic Gold Particles Observed in the Alteration Zone in Shanggong Gold Ore, Henan, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gold Migration and Precipitation as Collaurum in Orogenic Gold Deposits: Constrains from Microscopic Gold Particles Observed in the Alteration Zone in Shanggong Gold Ore, Henan, China |
| title_short | Gold Migration and Precipitation as Collaurum in Orogenic Gold Deposits: Constrains from Microscopic Gold Particles Observed in the Alteration Zone in Shanggong Gold Ore, Henan, China |
| title_sort | gold migration and precipitation as collaurum in orogenic gold deposits constrains from microscopic gold particles observed in the alteration zone in shanggong gold ore henan china |
| topic | colloidal gold nanoparticles clay minerals carbon dioxide Shanggong gold deposit |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/14/3/327 |
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