Skip to main content
Log in

Study on shaxi porphyry copper-gold deposit in anhui: gold mineralization and occurrence determination by PIXE

  • Published:
Journal of Central South University of Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Shaxi porphyry Cu-Au deposit was one of the important discoveries of the exploration in the middle-lower reaches of Yangtze River in China in 1970’s. Gold occurrence in the Shaxi porphyry copper-gold deposit (central Anhui province, eastern China) was investigated by means of microscope analyses, EPMA and PIXE. Combined with geological and mineralogical methods, the characteristies of occurrence of gold in the large scale sulfide mineralization in this region were fully investigated. The results show that gold distributes in both chalcopyrite and pyrite as submicroscopic inclusions (less than 1 µm). Au is positively correlated with As, Fe, S, Cu, Zn and Ti. The condition of gold transformation in thermal fluid system controlling deposition of Au in the region is probably the oxidation potential of the red sedimentary rocks of shale and fine grain sandstone which may be crucial as a geochemical barrier to the reducing fluid. This study lays foundation for the further research and exploration of the porphyry copper-gold deposit both theoretically and practically in the lower reaches of Yangtze region.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Fraser D G. Application of the high-resolution scanning proton microprobe in the earth sciences: an overview [J]. Chem Geol, 1990, 83(1):11–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Sie S H. The proton microprobe: a revolution in mineral analysis[J]. Nucl Instr Meth, 1991,B54 (2): 284–291.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ryan C G, Griffin W L. The nuclear microprobe as a tool in geology and mineral exploration[J]. Nucl Instr Meth,1993, B77(3):381–398.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ryan C G. The nuclear microprobe as a probe of earth structure and geological processes[J]. Nucl Instr Meth, 1995, B104:377–394.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Heinrich C A, Ryan C G, Mernaugh T P, et al. Segregation of ore metals between magmatic brine and vapor: a fluid inclusion study using PIXE microanalysis[J]. Econ Geol, 1993, 87:1566–1583.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ryan C G. Advances in fluid inclusion analysis using the nuclear microprobe[J]. Nucl Instr Math, 1999, B158(4): 523–532.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. YANG X Y. The Cu-Au Metallogenic Prospecting Areas from Middle-lower Reaches of Changjiang River: a Study on Metallogenic Geochemistry of Some Typical Copper and Gold Ore Deposits[M]. Hefei: Department of Earth and Space Science, University of Science and Technology of China, 1996. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  8. CHANG Y F, LIU X P, WU Y C. The Copper-Iron Belt of the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Changjiang River[M]. Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1991. (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  9. ZHAI Y, XIONG Y, YAO S, et al. Metallogeny of copper and iron deposits in the eastern Yangtze craton, east-central China[J]. Ore Geol Rev, 1996, 11(2):229–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Vadium S Z, Igor F M, Mikhail M G. Porphyry copper deposits of the CIS and the models of their formation[J]. Ore Geol Rev, 1993, 8(4): 511–549.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Lowell J D, Guilbert J M. Lateral and vertical alteration-mineralization zoning in porphyry copper deposit[J]. Econ Geol, 1970, 65:373–405.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Yund R, Kullerud G. Thermal stability of assemblages in the Cu-Fe-S system[J]. J Petrol, 1966, 7: 454–488.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Krauskopf K B. Geochemistry of Hydrothermal Ore Deposits[M]. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Noble J A. Metal provinces of the western United States[J]. Geol Soc Am Bull, 1970, 81:1607–1624.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Silliton R H. Relation of metal provinces in western America to subduction of oceanic lithosphere[J]. Geol Soc Am Bull, 1972, 83: 813–818.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Zartman R E. Lead isotopic provinces in the cordillera of the western United States and their geologic significance[J]. Econ Geol, 1974, 69: 792–805.

    Google Scholar 

  17. FU B. Metalogenic Study on Shaxi Porphyry Copper Deposit[D]. Nanjing: Department of Earth Science, Nanjing University, 1994. 1–120. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  18. YANG Xiao-yong, WANG Kui-ren, SUN Li-guang, et al. A prospecting porphyry Cu-Au deposit in Changpushan area by geochemical and geophysical exploration, central Anhui, east China[J]. Chemie der Erder-Geochemistry, 2001, 61(4):340–360.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Weissberg T M. Solubility of gold in hydrothermal alkaline sulfide solution [J]. Econ Geol, 1976, 65:551–556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Seward T M. The complex of gold and transport of gold in hydrothermal ore solution[J]. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1973, 37: 379–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Shenberger D M, Barnes H L. Solubility of gold in aqueous sulfide solutions from 150–350 °C[J]. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1989,53:269–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Renders J, Seward T M. The solubility of hydrosulphido- and sulphido-complexes of Au(I) and Ag(I) at 25 °C[J]. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1989, 53(2): 245–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Hayashi K I, Ohomoto H. Solubility of gold in NaCl and H2S bearing aqueous solutions at 250–300 °C[J]. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1991, 55: 2111–2116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. YANG S X, Blum N. Arsenic as an indicator element for gold exploration in the region of the Xiangxi Au-Sb-W deposit, NW Hunan, S China[J]. J Geochem Explor, 2000, 66:441–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. LIU D. The carlin-type gold deposits in China[J]. J Sichuan Geol Bull, 1992, 12(1):10–12(in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yang Xiao-yong PhD.

Additional information

Foundation item: Project (G1999043204) supported by the National Key Fundamental Research and Development Program of China and project supported by Max-Planck-Institute der Wissenschaften and CAS

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yang, Xy., Li, Xg., Huang, Dz. et al. Study on shaxi porphyry copper-gold deposit in anhui: gold mineralization and occurrence determination by PIXE. J Cent. South Univ. Technol. 10, 352–358 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-003-0038-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-003-0038-2

Key words

CLC number

Navigation