Genesis of Chaxi Gold Deposit in Southwestern Hunan Province, Jiangnan Orogen (South China): Constraints from Fluid Inclusions, H-O-S-Pb Isotopes, and Pyrite Trace Element Concentrations

Abstract

The Chaxi gold deposit is located in the southwestern Hunan Province (South China). Extremely high-grade (up to 3 × 105 g/t, avg. 5.3 g/t) Au mineralization is developed in quartz-sulfide veins controlled by WNW- and NNE-trending faults. The sulfide/sulfosalt assemblage is dominated by pyrite, chalcopyrite, and galena, with minor tetrahedrite and chalcocite. The alteration includes beresitization and carbonation. Based on the vein crosscutting relationship and mineral assemblages, the hydrothermal period comprises three stages: (1) pre-ore quartz-pyrite, (2) syn-ore quartz-ankerite-native gold-sulfide-sulfosalts, and (3) post-ore quartz-calcite-pyrite alteration. The Au occurrence is dominated by native gold, with minor native Au nanoparticles (inside sulfides) as indicated by EPMA. Fluid inclusions (FIs) in the ore-related quartz yielded homogenization temperatures and salinities of 139.6–267.1 °C and 2.7–17.6 wt.% NaClequiv (Stage I), 137.5–387.2 °C and 2.7–19.9 wt.% NaClequiv (Stage II), and 139.7–330.5 °C and 3.1–21.4 wt.% NaClequiv (Stage III). Such varying and high FI salinities can be attributed to fluid boiling. The calculated δ18OH2O values are of 2.40–5.63‰, and the fluid inclusion δD values for quartz are of −71.73 to −49.8‰. The auriferous sulfide δ34S values (6.26–19.33‰) overlap with those of the Chang’an formation (16.31–21.66‰) and Banxi Group metamorphic rocks. The auriferous sulfides have 206Pb/204Pb = 16.7215–17.2281, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.4413–15.6177, and 208Pb/204Pb = 36.9731–38.7232, distinct from those of the wallrocks. The analyzed pyrites yield Co/Ni ratio > 1 (0.539–77.000, avg. 10.559). The isotope (H, O, S, Pb) signatures coupled with EPMA results indicate that the ore-forming fluids were derived from the magmatic fluid and mixed with meteoric water, and the Pb was originated from the mantle. The ore sulfur was likely leached from the Neoproterozoic meta-clastic rocks. The Chaxi gold mineralization shares many geological and geochemical similarities with (albeit also with minor differences) typical orogenic gold deposits, and is best classified as broad sense orogenic deposit, as proposed for many other gold deposits in the Jiangnan Orogen.