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Quantification constraints on time gap for comagmatic gold deposits: Evidence from chronological statistics

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Abstract

The time gap between diagenesis and mineralization (TGDM) for comagmatic gold deposits (CGD) plays an important role in confirming the genetic relationship between gold deposits and their related intrusions. With the help of preciously published isotopic ages of some typical gold deposits and their related rocks in China, the authors have discussed and quantified the distribution characteristics and scope of the TGDM. Statistical analyses and Kolmogorov tests showed that mineralizing events are either contemporaneous with or slightly postdate their cognate magma. The TGDM conforms with normal distributions at a 0.05 confidence level and clusters between 0 and 16.0 Ma with a mean of 7.0 Ma. Thus, if the TGDM of CGD is less than 16.0 Ma, it is reasonable to consider, with the aid of other evidence, the possibility of its comagmatic genetic affiliation. The authors also emphasized that to get a precise time gap it is necessary to strengthen the diagenesis-mineralization geological background of the deposits studied, and to pay attention to the study of time gap in combination with trace elements and isotope tracing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Jun Tan, Junhao Wei, Shuiru Li, Yanjun Li, Lingli Guo & Yunfei Yan

  2. Guangxi Geological Survey Institute, Nanning, 530023, China

    Shuiru Li

  3. China Communications Second Highway Survey, Design and Research Institute, Wuhan, 430056, China

    Chunhua Zhang

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  1. Jun Tan
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  2. Junhao Wei
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Correspondence to Jun Tan.

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Tan, J., Wei, J., Li, S. et al. Quantification constraints on time gap for comagmatic gold deposits: Evidence from chronological statistics. Chin. J. Geochem. 27, 325–334 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-008-0325-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-008-0325-6

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