The characteristics, origins, and geodynamic settings of supergiant gold metallogenic provinces

There are six distinct classes of gold deposits, each represented by metallogenic provinces, having 100’s to > 1 000 tonne gold production. The deposit classes are: (1) erogenic gold; (2) Carlin and Carlin-like gold deposits; (3) epithermal gold-silver deposits; (4) copper-gold porphyry deposits; (5) iron-oxide copper-gold deposits; and (6) gold-rich volcanic hosted massive sul-fide (VMS) to sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) deposits. This classification is based on ore and alteration mineral assemblages; ore and alteration metal budgets; ore fluid pressure(s) and compositions; crustal depth or depth ranges of formation; relationship to structures and/or magmatic intrusions at a variety of scales; and relationship to the P-T-t evolution of the host terrane. These classes reflect distinct geodynamic settings. Orogenic gold deposits are generated at mid-crustal (4-16 km) levels proximal to terrane boundaries, in transpressional subduction-accretion complexes of Cordilleran style erogenic belts; other orogeni