Timing of formation and geological setting of low-sulphidation epithermal gold deposits in the continental margin of NE China

The margin of NE China, a part of the West Pacific metallogenic belt, contains innumerable low-sulphidation mineral deposits. Gold deposits in this region can be classified into three distinct types based on geology and ore mineral paragenesis: (1) low-sulphidation epithermal silvergold deposits, (2) low-sulphidation telluriumgold deposits, and (3) low-sulphidation epithermal telluriumgold deposits. Ores formed during the late Early Cretaceous and the early Late Cretaceous reflect three distinct metallogenic periods: the Fuxin Stage at 115.98 +/- 0.89Ma, the Quantou Stage at 107.2 +/- 0.6Ma or <103Ma, and the Qingshankou or Yaojiajie Stage at<97Ma and 88.2 +/- 1.4Ma. The Fuxin Stage is dominated by trachyandesitic magmatism, with magmas emplaced at hypabyssal depths. In comparison, the Quantou Stage is characterized by high-K calc-alkaline, calc-alkaline, and sodic andesitic, dacitic, and rhyolitic magmatism of three different suites. The first of these is a high-K calc-alkaline andesitic magmatic suite that was accompanied by the emplacement of a calc-alkaline sodic dacite during the formation of the Ciweigou and Wufeng ore deposits. The second suite is dominated by calc-alkaline sodic rhyolite and high-K calc-alkaline sodic dacite magmatism associated with the formation of the Sipingshan ore deposit. The third suite is typified by high-K calc-alkaline andesitic magmatism associated with the emplacement of calc-alkaline hypabyssal granitoid complexes accompanying the formation of the Dong'an and Tuanjiegou ore deposits. The Qingshankou or Yaojia Stage is characterized by calc-alkaline sodic dacite magmatism associated with the formation of the Wuxing ore deposit. Metallogenesis during the Fuxin Stage characterized by trachytic magmatism is closely related to the formation of a deep-seated fault within a magmatic arc or the back-arc region of an immature continental margin and is associated with the Early Cretaceous subduction of the Pacific plate beneath Eurasia. Ore deposits that formed during the Fuxin Stage were generally related to magmato-hydrothermal fluids associated with mantle-derived magmas. In contrast, metallogenesis during the Quantou and Qingshankou or Yaojiajie stages was closely related to the formation of a mature high-K calc-alkaline magmatic arc within a continental margin setting again associated with the westward subduction of the Pacific plate. This metallogenic event was a product of magmato-hydrothermal systems derived from crustmantle interaction and mixing of magmas derived from partial melting of different sections of the continental crust.