Received: 18 May 2016 Revised: 14 February 2017 Accepted: 8 March 2017

DOI 10.1002/gj.2930

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Geology, geochemistry, and genesis of the Dashui Carlin‐type

gold deposit in the West Qinling orogenic belt, Gansu Province,
China
Xiuhong Peng1 | Hai Yang2 | Jiangsu Zhang1,3

1
College of Earth Sciences, Chengdu
University of Technology, Chengdu, China
2
China Aero Geophysical Survey and Remote
Sensing Center for Land and Resources,
Beijing, China
3
Third Team of Geology and Mineral
Resources Exploration of Gansu Province,
Lanzhou, China
Correspondence
H. Yang, China Aero Geophysical Survey and
Remote Sensing Center for Land and
Resources, No. 31, Xueyuan Road, Haidian
District, 100083 Beijing, China.
Email: agrs_yh@163.com
J. ‐S. Zhang, Third Team of Geology and
Mineral Resources Exploration of Gansu
Province, 730050 Lanzhou, China.
Email: zhangjs_cdut@126.com
Funding Information
National Natural Science Foundation of China,
Grant/Award Number: 41103025
Handling Editor: P. Horváth
The Dashui gold deposit occurs in the south of West Qinling orogenic belt where is belonged to a
famous gold triangle area named “Shan‐Gan‐Chuan” in Northwest China. The presence of native
Au associated with hematite alteration is unique in China. The ore bodies at Dashui mainly occur
in the limestone and dolomitic limestone units within the Lower Triassic Maresongduo Formation.
The granodioritic dykes that intrude the Triassic sedimentary rocks are locally mineralized
because of later carbonate alteration. The ore bodies are vein, lenticular, cystic, and dendritic in
shape and are controlled by NW‐, NNE‐ (near N‐S‐), and E‐W‐trending faults. Gold mineralization
occurs commonly at fault intersections and contact zones between the carbonate and magmatic
rocks. The NNE‐ (near N‐S‐) trending faults and associated pinnate fractures are most favorable
loci for gold deposition. The metallic minerals include native Au, pyrite, cinnabar, and marcasite,
which are mostly overprinted by an oxidized mineral assemblage of hematite and limonite. Gold
mineralization is closely associated with decalcification, silicification, and carbonate alterations.
Gold content in altered samples correlates with Si enrichment and Ca and Mg depletions. Rare
earth elements (REE) increase with Al2O3 and Fe2O3 in altered carbonate rocks, indicating that
an enrichment of REE may be closely related to argillic alteration and supergene weathering.
The REE patterns of altered carbonate rocks are more likely consistent with granodiorite instead
of the ones of fresh carbonate rocks. Moreover, δ34S values of Dashui deposit ranging from
−1.8‰ to 4.1‰ indicate that the deep‐sourced magmatic hydrothermal fluids may have worked
during the early stage mineralization. Altered carbonate rocks show higher δ13C and lower δ18O
values than those of the original host rock. Therefore, the REE, S, C, and O data suggest that the
ore‐forming fluids may be magmatic derived and later interact and exchange with host rock and
meteoric water. The Dashui gold deposit is characterized by structural and stratigraphic controls;
Au–As–Sb–Hg geochemical association; alteration of decalcification, silicification, and
argillization; low base‐metals; high Au/Ag ratio; and low δ18O values. These features are consis-
tent with Carlin‐type Au deposits in Western USA, suggesting that the Dashui deposit is a Carlin‐
type deposit that formed in the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (170 to 135 Ma).

KEY W ORDS

carbonate hosted, Carlin‐type gold deposit, Dashui gold deposit, hematite alteration, supergene,
West Qinling orogen

1 | I N T RO D U CT I O N
The Dashui Au deposit, located in Maqu County, Gansu Province
(Figure 1) was discovered in 1990 during a follow‐up survey of an allu-
vial sediment Au–As–Sb–Hg anomaly delineated in a regional geo-
chemical reconnaissance survey. It has a reserve of more than 100 t
Au with an average grade more than 5 g/t, and the mineralization style
is unique to other gold deposits in China (Chen, 2010; Dai, Chen, & Ma,
2009; Li, Chen, & Zhang, 2010; Li, Zhao, Zhang, Ge, & Li, 2010; Li et al.,
2007; Li, Zhao, & Zhao, 2006; Li & Wang, 2006; Liu, Zhang, Zhao, &
Ren, 2006; Liu, 1994; Mao, 2001; Yang, Wang, Di, Ou, & Yu, 2010;
Yin & Zhao, 2006; Zhao, Ye, Li, & Chen, 2003). The deposit lies in

Geological Journal. 2017;1–22. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/gj Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 1
2 PENG ET AL.

FIGURE 1 Regional geological map of West Qinling. The index map (inset lower left) shows the location of the Qinling orogenic belt and the
tectonic map (inset upper right) shows the West Qinling area relative to the larger‐scale tectonic setting (Cao et al., 2011; Liu et al., 2006;
Zhang et al., 2007; Zhu et al., 2011). NCC = North China Craton, SCB = South China Block, SGT = Songpan‐Ganzi terrane, Q = Qilianshan orogenic
belt, K = Kunlun orogenic belt, T = Tianshan orogenic belt and QOB = Qinling orogenic belt [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

the southern subzone of the West Qinling orogenic belt (QOB), which
is a well‐known metallogenic province containing various metals such
as Pb, Zn, Mo, Sb, Cu, and Fe (Chen, 2010; Chen, Wang, Qin, Zhao,
& Mao, 1994; Feng et al., 2003; Goldfarb, Taylor, Collins, Goryachev,
& Orlandini, 2014; Lu, Li, Wang, Yu, & Shi, 2008; Shang, Chen, & Zhao,
2009; Wang, Wang, et al., 2009; Yuan et al., 2013; Zhu et al., 2009;
Zhu, Zhang, Li, & Guo, 2008).
The Dashui Au deposit is hosted in Triassic strata that have been
intruded by Late Triassic granodiorite bodies over an exposed area of
approximately 1.76 km2 (Yan, 1998). An NW‐trending high‐angle
reverse fault and other related structures controlled the emplacement
of the granitoids and the ore bodies. Gold mineralization occurs com-
monly at the contact between the granitic dykes and carbonate rocks
or at the intersection of faults. The high‐grade ores are mostly associ-
ated with carbonate breccias and hematitized jasperoids. Surface
weathering and oxidization extends more than 400 m beneath the
earth's surface, which increases the difficulty of finding primary sulfides.
There are also a number of satellite exploration projects surrounding
the Dashui Au deposit, such as the Gongbei, Geertuo, Zhongqu, Xinqu,
and Qiaruo prospects. Together, they constitute a significant Au field in
the West Qinling metallogenic belt (Figure 2; Li & Wang, 2006).
Geophysical and geological studies have been conducted on the
Dashui deposit since its discovery (Dai et al., 2009; Han, Yuan, Yu, Tang,
& Bao, 2004; Li et al., 2007; Li, Zhao, et al., 2010; Luo, 2009; Yan, 1998;
Yan, Wang, Gao, Zhao, & Chen, 2000; Yan, Wang, Gao, Zhao, Hu, et al.,
2000; Zhao et al., 2003). It has been identified as a Carlin‐type deposit
due to its carbonate host rocks, structural control, and hydrothermal
mineral assemblages (Chen, Zhang, Zhang, Franco, & Li, 2004; Garwin,
Tu, & Zhou, 1995; Li & Wang, 2006; Mao et al., 2005; Zeng et al.,
2013). However, the presence of native Au, abundant calcite‐cemented
breccia, and high content of hematite in the ore differ from typical Car-
lin‐type deposits (Dai et al., 2009; Yan, 1998; Zeng et al., 2013). Thus,
there are still some ambiguities as to the ore genesis and genetic type.
In this contribution, we report the result of a comprehensive study of
geology and geochemistry of the Dashui deposit and their comparison
with the Carlin‐type Au deposits in Western USA. The purpose of this
research was to (a) provide detail geological features of a unique gold
deposit in Western Qinling; (b) analyse the origin of hydrothermal fluids
and establish a schematic model for Dashui; and (c) define its genetic
type by comparison with typical Carlin type in Western USA.
2 | G E O L O G I C A L S ET T I N G
The QOB comprises three tectonic terranes, from north to south: the
North Qinling belt, the South Qinling belt, and the northern South
China Block (Meng & Zhang, 2000a, 2000b) which is separated by
the Shangdan and Mianlue Suture. The QOB experiences a prolonged
continental divergence and a convergence between the above three
blocks. The Shangdan Suture is the result of collision between the
North Qinling and South Qinling belts during the period from the Late
Neoproterozoic to Early Palaeozoic. The Mianlue Suture is interpreted
to preserve the Triassic collision belt between the South Qinling belt
and northern South China Block (Meng & Zhang, 2000a, 2000b).
PENG ET AL.
FIGURE 2 Geological maps of the Dashui gold deposit in Gansu Province (Yan, 1998). Abbreviations: ZQ = Zhongqu magmatic rocks and
GEKH = Ge'erkuohe magmatic rocks [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
The QOB is divided into the East Qinling and the West Qinling
(Zhang et al., 2007). The West QOB is known as the “golden triangle”
region (Sichuan‐Shanxi‐Gansu), which is the world's second largest Car-
lin and Carlin‐like gold deposit province (Figure 1; Chen, 2010; Chen
et al., 2008; Hu, Liu, Liu, & Xu, 2008; Liu, Liu, & Liu, 2009; Xiao et al.,
2008; Yu & Yu, 2010). This region is adjacent to the Qilian orogenic belt
to the north, Bayankela–Songpan fold belt to the south and the Bikou
terrane to the southeast. The Linxia–Wushan–Tianshui Fault forms
the northern margin of the West QOB and is bounded by the Mianlue
Suture to the south. The Phanerozoic lithostratigraphic sequence in
the area is a continuum from Cambrian toTriassic but with mostly devel-
oped Devonian–Cretaceous sedimentary rocks (Cao et al., 2011; Zhu
et al., 2011). Triassic strata host 80% of the Au deposits in this region,
such as the Baxi, Manaoke, and Dongbeizhai deposits (Du, 1997). Gran-
itoids are mainly distributed between the Shangdan and Mianlue
Suture, which mostly formed in the Triassic, with individual outcrop
areas varying from 1 to 500 km2 (Cao et al., 2011; Chen, 2010; Chen
et al., 2008; Hu et al., 2008; Li, Chen, Santosh, & Pirajno, 2014; Li,
Yan, & Lu, 1993; Liu et al., 2009; Lu, 1998; Xiao et al., 2008; Yu & Yu,
2010; Zhang, Dong, & Yao, 2002; Zhang, Chen, Shu, Zhang, & Li,
2002; Zhang et al., 2007; Zhu et al., 2011). The Dashui Au deposit is
located in the southern subzone of West QOB.
3
3 | D E P O S I T GE O L O G Y
3.1 | Stratigraphic units
Gold deposits on the Dashui trend are hosted in Paleozoic–Mesozoic
sedimentary rocks that are subdivided into three major packages
(Table 1). (a) Permian marine carbonate sequence; (b) Triassic
marine–terrestrial carbonate and clastic sequence; and (c) Early
Jurassic clastic sequence. The Dashui deposit is mainly hosted in
limestone and dolomitic limestone of Lower Triassic Maresongduo
Formation (Figure 2).
3.2 | Magmatic rocks
During the Late Triassic orogenesis, the Ge'erkuohe (GEKH) and
Zhongqu (ZQ) plutons intruded the sedimentary package along a NW‐
trending thrust fault (Figure 2). The Ge'erkuohe pluton lies to the north
of the deposit and consists of granodiorite porphyry, diorite porphyry,
diorite, and monzonite porphyry. Associated with the Ge'erkuohe intru-
sive event is a belt of Triassic–Jurassic dyke swarms of intermediate to
felsic component, present throughout the Dashui. These dykes were
later altered and locally mineralized, and as such, provide a maximum
4 PENG ET AL.

TABLE 1 Stratigraphic column of study area

Period Label Unit Rock types Au deposit

Cretaceous K1 Tianjiaba Formation Gray‐purple sandy conglomerate, embedded sandslate

Jurassic J1 Longjiagou Formation Purplish red conglomerate, calcarenite, sandslate, siliceous rock Gongbei, Geertuo
Triassic T2 Guanggaishan Formation Grey meta‐quartz‐feldspar sandstone, embedded limestone Dashui, Gongbei, Zhongqu,
Guojiashan Formation Grey‐white oolitic limestone Geertuo, Qiaruo
Maresongduo Formation Grey‐white, fine‐grained limestone
T1 Zhalishan Formation Grey oolitic limestone, mottled argillaceous limestone
Permian P2 Dieshan Formation Gray micrite, bioclastic limestone, calcareous sandstone
P1 Daguanshan Formation Dark‐gray bioclastic limestone, calcareous sandstone Xinqu
Carboniferous C1 Yiwagou Formation Dark‐gray bioclastic limestone, arenaceous limestone,
siltstone and chert granule limestone

age to mineralization. The zircon SHRIMP U–Pb age of the igneous
dykes suggests that they are synchronous with the Ge'erkuohe pluton
at 215 ± 5.1 Ma (Han, Yao, & Chen, 2011; Han, Yao, & Chen, 2014;
Han, Wang, et al., 2011). As a common observation, dyke swarms
intruded along the structural zone of weakness that later served as
channel ways for gold‐bearing fluids. Thus, on a regional scale, the
west–northwest alignment of ore bodies exhibits a strong spatial rela-
tionship to the general west–northwest trend of dyke swarms.
3.3 | Structure
Structure controls the formation and distribution of the ore bodies at
Dashui. During the multistage tectonic activity, the faults underwent
brittle deformation that increased the permeability of the host rock
and provided space for precipitation of ore‐forming fluids. The struc-
tural elements can be subdivided into three groups: NW‐trending,
NNE‐trending (N‐S‐), and E‐W‐trending faults (Figure 2). The Maqin–
Lueyang Fault (F1) is arc‐shaped, strikes NW on its western end, and
changes to a NE‐strike on its eastern end. It is a long‐lived basement
fault along which Au and other metals may have been transported by
hydrothermal fluids into the Triassic sediments (Dai et al., 2009; Li,
Chen, et al., 2010; Li, Zhao, et al., 2010; Yan, Wang, Gao, Zhao, Hu,
et al., 2000). The NW‐trending faults (F2–F5) to the north of Maqin–
Lueyang Fault served as conduits for deep‐sourced Au‐rich fluids
(Figure 2). On a regional scale, the Dashui, Gongbei, Geertuo, Zhongqu,
Xinqu, and Qiaruo deposits are distributed along the NW‐trending
structures (Figure 2). The ore bodies of the Dashui Au deposit are dis-
tributed as boudinaged and en‐echelon and controlled by the NW‐
trending Dashui Fault (F4; Figure 2). NNE‐ and N‐S‐trending faults
(F18–F23) cut the NW‐ and E‐W‐trending faults formed many spaces
with low pressure and beaded distribution. Moreover, there are a great
number of pinnate fractures developed on the both sides of NNE‐ and
N‐S‐trending faults with the strike of NW‐ and E‐W‐trending. These
spaces are the most favorable loci for Au mineralization.
3.4 | Ore bodies
There are 132 Au ore bodies that have been delineated at Dashui with
an average grade of 6.06 g/t in an area of approximately 2 km × 600 m.
The strikes of ore bodies are NW‐, E‐W‐, and N‐S‐trending with high
dip angles of 45°–80°. The ore bodies tend to cluster between the
No. 67 and No. 110 exploration lines (geophysical and geochemical
survey lines, a series of drill holes; Figure 3). They could be divided into
two groups according to their shapes and orientations: (a) veined,

FIGURE 3 The distribution of calcite veins, granodiorite dykes and ore bodies within the Dashui Au deposit. Most of the ore bodies of Dashui are
projected onto the surface. The exploration lines are geophysical and geochemical survey lines with a series of drill holes [Colour figure can be
viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
PENG ET AL. 5

stratiform, or lenticular ore bodies with the long‐axis striking to NW
between the No. 67 and No. 96 exploration lines and (b) veined, cystic,
and dendritic ore bodies between the No. 98 and No. 110 exploration
lines with strikes of E‐W‐, N‐S‐, and NW‐trending. Some ore bodies
have several strikes because they were deformed during the multi-
stage tectonic activities. For example, the strikes of No. 86 ore body
change from the N‐S‐ to E‐W‐trending, and the strikes of Nos. 32 to
33 change from NW‐ to N‐S‐trending (Figure 3).
3.5 | Ore types
After long‐term supergenesis, the ores suffered strong oxidation and
secondary enrichment. As a general observation, hematite is widely dis-
tributed from 0 to 400 m underground. Considering the difference of
host rock, three common ore types are documented at the Dashui
deposit, including hematite‐silica‐altered carbonate ores (Figure 4a–c),
hematite‐silica‐altered granodiorite ores (Figure 4d), and breccia ores
(Figure 4e–f).
3.5.1 | Hematite‐silica‐altered carbonate ores
The carbonate‐hosted ores are characterized by red or dark‐red color
because of hematite and silica alteration. With the deepening of silica
alteration, the SiO2 contents increases from 10.31 to 84.23 wt.%. The
Au grade is highly influenced by the presence of native gold and
strongly related to the silicification and hematitization with
concentration range from 1.52 to 275 ppm Au (Figure 4a,b). The highly
altered ores with the SiO2 content greater than 70 wt% is referred to
as jasperoid, which are typically dense and hard with major compo-
nents of microcrystalline and fine‐grain quartz. Relict textures of the
host rock are usually destroyed in jasperoid ores. The Au concentra-
tions of altered carbonate ores are varied in a wide range (0.07–
275 ppm Au), but it is uniformly high in jasperoid ores (5.46–
275 ppm Au). This type is the most important and widely distributed
ore at Dashui (Figure 4c).
The carbonate‐hosted ores have the following textures:
cryptocrystalline granular, micro‐fine heterogranular, fine‐coarse
heterogranular clastic, and medium‐coarse heterogranular mosaic.
The major components of the ores are siliceous clasts and carbonate.
Siliceous clasts mainly consist of microcrystalline quartz and show
equant mosaic texture with hematite and limonite disseminated within
it. Sometimes fine‐medium granular carbonate minerals are observed
in the siliceous clasts (Figure 5a,b). However, in most cases, siliceous
clasts are packaged by macrocrystalline carbonate minerals along
fractures and voids (Figure 5a–f).
3.5.2 | Hematite‐silica‐altered granodiorite ores
The ores occur within the endocontact of the intermediate‐felsic dykes
and is associated with strong carbonate and argillic alteration
(Figure 5g,h). The rocks are diorite, dioritic porphyrite, and

FIGURE 4 Ore types of the Dashui Au

deposit. (a) Weakly altered carbonate rock.
The hematite‐calcite vein is cut by a later
calcite vein. The boundary of calcite veins
generally presents a deposition of ferruginous
minerals (hematite and limonite). (b) Strongly
altered carbonate rock. The calcite vein
intruded the hematite‐silica carbonate rock
along the fracture. (c) Massive jasperoid. (d)
Hematite‐silica granodiorite. (e) Hydrothermal
breccia that formed by the filling and
precipitation of hydrothermal fluid in varied
spaces (void, fracture zone, and paleokarst).
The clasts mainly contain ferruginous siliceous
rock and carbonate rock (limestone and
dolostone), the matrix largely comprises
siliceous, and carbonate materials. (f) Banded
hematite‐silica‐calcite altered rock
[Colour figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]
6 PENG ET
granodiorite. The ore structures are mostly massive, veins, or
stockworks. The granodiorite host is usually porphyritic with large feld-
spar, biotite, and quartz phenocrysts. The feldspar is completely
replaced by kaolinite. The ores usually suffered strong carbonate and
hematite alteration with many carbonate and hematite veins intruded
in the host rocks. The hematite sometimes disseminated in the frac-
tures of host rocks and sometimes associated with carbonate veins.
According to the field observation and chemical analysis, the altered
granodiorites are not all high Au concentration with one sample having
high Au concentration of 58 ppm.
3.5.3 | Breccia ores
The Dashui breccia is widely distributed and is one of the most
important ores. Some experts suggest that they are formed by
cryptoexplosive mechanism (Li, Wei, & Shi, 2005). They could be
subdivided into two types by the difference of cements. One is crypto‐
AL.
FIGURE 5 Ore textures of the Dashui Au
deposit. (a) Fine‐gravel clastic texture of
breccia. The detritus are inequigranular calcite
and carbonate (color, twin‐crystal developed)
and siliceous (lower right corner, black, and
contains carbonate). (b) Brecciated clastic
structure of hematite‐silica carbonate rock.
Fine carbonate and siliceous clasts are
cemented by calcareous materials. Three
generations of quartz have been recognized at
the Dashui deposit according to their
occurrences and granularity (marked by G1,
G2, and G3). (c) Medium‐ to coarse‐grained
mosaic texture of jasperoid. The calcite veins
and the hematite veins share the same
fracture. (d) Medium‐coarse inequigranular
mosaic texture of the hematite‐silica
carbonate rock. Calcite vein (color) intruded
into the hematite‐silica carbonate rock and cut
the siliceous (ash black) and ferruginous vein
(black). (e) Fine‐ to coarse‐grained clastic
carbonate rock with hematite‐silica alteration
under plane‐polarized light and (f) cross‐
polarized light. The hematite‐silica altered rock
is cemented by the calcite vein. (g) Feldspar
and biotite‐phyric granodiorite under plane‐
polarized light and (h) cross‐polarized light
[Colour figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]
and micro‐crystalline siliceous materials cemented siliceous and car-
bonate clasts. Another is carbonate minerals (mostly calcite) cemented
siliceous and carbonates clasts. The latter is more common in Dashui
deposit. The clasts are siliceous, dolomite, and limestone, which are
characterized by irregular, bad psephicity, different size, and some of
them easily to be piecing back together (Figure 6f). These features indi-
cate the clasts are mainly in situ and without a migration of long dis-
tance. The cement is mainly calcite and sometimes mixed with some
medium‐coarse or crypto‐crystalline siliceous matrix. Hematites or
limonites are usually disseminated or vein‐distributed in cements. This
process is consistent with the formation of hydrothermal breccia.
Pirajno (2009) summarized the hot geothermal fluid cools and
depressurises as it rises towards the surface, until at a given tempera-
ture and pressure, it boils. This process causes the precipitation of
quartz, calcite, and other phases (e.g., adularia), results in decreasing
permeability in the upper sectors of the system. When localised sealing
occurs, exsolved gases accumulate below the seal until the total
PENG ET AL.
FIGURE 6 Occurrence of calcite at the
Dashui deposit. (a) Large calcite veins are
ubiquitous at the top and bottom of the ore
bodies. (b) Calcite vein with a hematite‐rich
core. (c) Calcite domains are common within
and near the ore bodies. (d) Calcite‐cemented
breccia. (e) Calcite veins with angular clasts
supported in matrix. (f) Calcite‐cemented
breccia cut by later hematite‐rich calcite veins
[Colour figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]
pressure exceeds the lithostatic pressure plus tensile strength of the
rocks inducing hydraulic fracturing. This can rapidly expand and prop-
agate upward, eventually triggering an eruption. These formed spaces
become a locus for the deposition of precious metals and spatially and
temporally associated with hydrothermal breccias. Therefore, the
mineralized breccia in Dashui may have originated from later calcite‐
bearing fluid that filled the fractures or spaces formed by an eruption
of volatiles.
3.6 | Alteration and mineralization
Silicification is widespread and spatially associated with gold mineraliza-
tion. Three generations of quartz have been recognized by their mode of
occurrence and granularity. The first generation (G1) is cryptocrystalline
quartz (black) with a grain sizes ranging from 0.01 to 0.05 mm. Micro-
crystalline carbonates and hematite or limonite are locally disseminated
within it (Figure 5b,d). The second generation (G2) is grey fine‐grained
quartz that has a grain size ranging from 0.05 to 0.1 mm (Figure 5b–d).
The third generation (G3) is generally distributed along the boundary
of the previous two generations or at edge of the calcite vein with a
comb structure. The size is usually greater than 0.1 mm and shows an
open‐space filling texture (Figure 5b–d).
Carbonate removal, in the form of decalcification and
decarbonatization, is the most pervasive style of alteration observed
within the Carlin trend deposits. Carbonate rocks were dissolved in
nearly most ore zones and locally replaced with quartz to form siliceous
7
rocks and jasperoid. Zones of complete carbonate dissolution near fluid
conduits commonly are zoned outward, first to dolomite‐ and then to cal-
cite‐stable zones, and farther out to zones with abundant calcite veins
(Cline, Hofstra, Munteau, Tosdal, & Hickey, 2005). This zonation could
be more or less observed at the Dashui deposit. First, a lot of dolomite
clasts occurred in Dashui breccias. Then, vein or stockwork calcite are
widely distributed accompany gold mineralization. The outer zone is
where the large‐scale calcite veins distributed along Dashui Fault (F4)
to the south of mining district. Acidic hydrothermal fluids intruded along
structural zones and carbonate stratigraphic horizons that resulted in
preore stage decalcification, loss in density, and an increase in porosity
and permeability of the host rock. Meanwhile, more calcareous were dis-
solved and migrated to hydrothermal fluid from the host rock.
Calcite alteration is common at the Dashui deposit. Zeng et al.
(2013) and Dai, Chen, Ma, and Shi (2013) gave their own classification
of calcite, but there is no consensus on the formation timing of the dif-
ferent generations (Dai et al., 2013; Zeng et al., 2013). The calcite veins
occurred in many forms in Dashui: (a) large calcite veins are always pres-
ent at the top and base of the ore bodies (Figure 6a); (b) calcite veins that
contain a central hematite‐rich zone (Figure 6b); (c) calcite clusters that
appear in or near the ore bodies (Figure 6c); (d) contaminated calcite
veins present along the fractures (Figure 6d–e); (e) late hematite‐rich
calcite veins that cross‐cut the breccias (Figure 6f); and (f) regional
large‐scale calcite veins distributed along the Dashui Fault (F4). The later
vein style is of particular importance for exploration because the major-
ity of the ore bodies are restricted to the north of it (Figure 3).
8 PENG ET
Hematitization is a distinct sign of supergene oxidation at postore
stage. Obviously, hematite alteration extended from 0 to 400 m
beneath the earth's surface in Dashui deposit. Hematite has been
divided into two groups depending on its host rock composition. The
first type is pseudomorph of pyrite that disseminated in cryptocrystal-
line quartz or calcite (Figure 7a–c). The second hematite type is distrib-
uted in veins or in fractures, voids, and other spaces. This type of
hematite has also been subdivided into two subtypes: one type forms
pseudomorphs of pyrite (Figure 7d), whereas the other is irregular, and
the primary minerals are difficult to determine (Figure 7e,f).
More than 40 minerals have been documented from previous
studies (Li & Wang, 2006). The ore minerals are pyrite, cinnabar, real-
gar, orpiment, galena, arsenopyrite, stibnite, and native Au. The
gangue minerals are calcite, quartz, and feldspar along with smaller
amounts of dolomite, sericite, chlorite, kaolinite, biotite, and horn-
blende (Li & Wang, 2006; Yan, 1998). This study shows that the ore
minerals are dominated by oxide minerals such as hematite, limonite,
and magnetite with minor amounts of gold, pyrite, cinnabar, and mar-
casite. However, samples from this study are highly oxidized and may
not be representative of the primary mineralogy. Li et al. (2007)
observed that a lot of pyrite is disseminated along the fractures of
granodiorite dyke.
Gold in the Dashui deposit is found predominantly as native Au
that occurs as irregular granules (Figure 8). The average size of the
Au granule is 0.02 mm (up to 1.3 mm). The amount of fine‐grained
Au accounts for approximately 72% of the total Au particles, and
AL.
medium‐ to coarse‐grained Au accounts for 28%. According to elec-
tron microprobe analyses (EPMA), the Au content is 0.01–0.10 wt%
in pyrite and 0.01–0.07 wt% in chalcopyrite, which suggests that both
pyrite and chalcopyrite are primary Au‐bearing minerals (Li et al.,
2007). Statistical analysis of the Au grains in polished sections shows
that native Au usually occurs with quartz, limonite, hematite, and cal-
cite. Quartz contains intergranular Au, fissure Au, and inclusion Au
for 549 grains, which accounts for 55% of the Au‐carrying minerals.
Limonite and hematite have 307 granules and accounts for 32% of
the Au‐carrying minerals, and calcite has 122 granules and accounts
for 12% of the Au‐carrying minerals. The Au exhibits high fineness
(average 999.4‰), which might have been caused by the local intense
oxidation (Dai et al., 2009; Yan, 1998; Yang et al., 2010).
A four‐stage genesis of the deposit is proposed: (a) early sulfide
stage characterized by the panidiomorphic or hypidiomorphic pyrite
disseminated in quartz or calcite (Figure 7a); (b) late sulfide stage,
which is the primary stage of mineralization, in which pyrite usually
occurs in association with comb‐textured quartz veins (Figures 5b
and 7d,e); and (c) carbonate stage in which the carbonate or calcite
veins cut the siliceous and calcareous host rocks and the ferruginous
minerals are locally distributed along the edge of the calcite vein
(Figure 5d). Then this mineral assemblage suffered a long‐term
supergenesis, the pyrites are oxidized to hematites and limonites.
The gold separated out from host mineral and started secondary
enrichment. The paragenesis of the Dashui Au deposit is presented in
Figure 9.
FIGURE 7 Two types of hematite in the
Dashui deposit. (a) Hematite is disseminated in
the host rock and retained the octahedron
shape of pyrite. Relicts of pyrite have been
discovered at the center. (b) Pyrite oxidized to
magnetite and then replaced by hematite
along the edge. (c) Round marcasite replaced
by hematite. (d) Hematite vein composed of a
large number of hematite grains
pseudomorphed after pyrite. Hematite was
locally eroded and formed numerous voids
during the supergene process. (e) Irregular
hematite present as a cluster. A grain of Au
grain at the boundary of hematite and calcite.
(f) Hematite distributed along a fracture or as a
vein [Colour figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]
PENG ET AL.
FIGURE 8 Distribution and morphology of
native Au at the Dashui deposit. (a) Gold
hosted in calcite. (b) Gold grain boundary of
the hematite and calcite. (c) Large irregular Au
grains. (d) Gold grain occurring in calcite near
the boundary of the calcite and the quartz
[Colour figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]
FIGURE 9 Mineral paragenesis of the Dashui Au deposit
4 | SAM P LI NG AN D A N A L Y TIC A L M E T HO D S
In this study, 27 samples were collected from outcrops. To constrain
the difference between the altered and unaltered rocks, the samples
were purposely collected in two groups: (a) 12 altered limestone sam-
ples from in or near the ore body and five fresh ones far from the ore
body and (b) six altered granodiorite samples from in or near the ore
body and four unaltered ones from GEKH pluton. Twenty‐one
polished thin sections were prepared to determine the extent of the
alteration and to investigate the mineral assemblages and ore textures
under a petrographic microscope at Chengdu University of Technol-
ogy. Gold‐bearing polished sections were then selected for Au grain
inspection (Au content, location, and distribution) by a scanning elec-
tron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy‐dispersive X‐ray
spectrometer (SEM–EDX) at the Chengdu Institute of Geology and
Mineral Resources. Three calcite samples were collected near the ore
bodies for C and O isotope analysis.
9
The major, trace, and rare earth element (REE) geochemistry of the
deposit were analyzed for all of the samples at the Central Laboratory
of Gansu Province. The major elements (MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, K2O,
CaO, TiO2, MnO, and Fe2O3) and Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, and Sc were analyzed
by using a ZSX Primas II wavelength dispersive X‐ray fluorescence
spectrometer. The samples were crushed to 200 meshes by agate mor-
tar and pestle. The samples were dried for 2 hr at 105 °C, and 4 g of
sample was weighed and placed in a round mold with polyethylene
powder. For 15 s, 40 KPa pressure was applied to produce a disk sam-
ple with a diameter of 32 mm, which was retained for investigation.
The detection limit for the major oxides (MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5,
K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO, and Fe2O3) is 0.085, 0.092, 0.083, 0.0011,
0.015, 0.86, 0.0061, 0.0025, and 0.017 wt%, respectively, whereas
Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, and Sc have detection limits of 1.7, 1.9, 2.6, 10.3, and
1.2 (in ppm), respectively (Liu, Dang, & He, 2010). The FeO contents
were measured by the volumetric method. Loss on ignition (LOI) values
were calculated by the weight difference after heating the samples for
10
6 hr at 1,000 °C. As, Sb, Bi, and Hg were analyzed by the HITACHI Z‐
2700 graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer with
detection limits of 0.13 ppm, 0.04 ppm, 0.004 ppm, and 2.3 ppb,
respectively. Other trace elements (Au, Sn, Ag, Y, Mo, W, U, Nb, and
Cs) and REEs were determined using PE Optima 4300DV inductively
coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The detection limits for analyses
were 0.3 ppb for Au, 0.03–1.40 ppm for Sn, Ag, Y, Mo, W, U, Nb,
and Cs, and 0.01–0.40 ppm for La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy,
Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu.
The C and O isotope analysis of three calcite samples were con-
ducted at the China National Nuclear Corporation, Beijing Research
Institute of Uranium Geology. Sample chips were first washed using
distilled water and then ethanol, dried at room temperature and then
crushed to less than 200 meshes in an agate mortar and pestle. Approx-
imately 80 mg of sample powder was then treated with pure phospho-
ric acid to generate CO2 for mass spectrometer analysis following the
procedures of McCrea (1950). The isotopic ratios were then measured
using a MAT‐253 mass spectrometer. The V‐PDB and V‐SMOW stan-
dards were used, and an overall analytical precision of ±0.2‰ was
achieved for both δ13C and δ18O was obtained in the course of this
study (Han, Yao, et al., 2011; Han, Wang, et al., 2011; Yang, Sun, Zhang,
& Zheng, 2009). The analytical method in this study is consistent with
measurement of 26 collected data (Han et al., 2004; Li et al., 2007).
5 | RESULTS
The calcareous sedimentary and granodiorite host rocks have been
studied in detail to identify their geochemical characteristics and the
change in chemical composition during the ore‐forming process. The
results of the major, trace, and REE analyses are provided in Tables 2
and 3.
5.1 | Calcareous sedimentary units
5.1.1 | Major elements
The sedimentary units that host the mineralization are predominantly
limestone and dolomitic limestone. Results of the major element
(MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO, Fe2O3, FeO, and
LOI) are presented in Figure 10 and Table 2. Fresh carbonate rocks
are lower in Al2O3 = 0.01 to 0.30 wt%, SiO2 = 0.58 to 1.72 wt%, and
Fe2O3 = 0.02 to 0.17 wt% and enriched in MgO = 0.34 to 10.32 wt
%, CaO = 42.55 to 54.76 wt%, and LOI = 43.03 to 44.33 wt%. The car-
bonate rocks suffered silica and hematite alteration, which yield
Al2O3 = 1.81 to 15.40 wt%, SiO2 = 10.31 to 84.23 wt%, Fe2O3 = 0.39
to 11.67 wt%, MgO = 0.09 to 1.32 wt%, CaO = 0.04 to 44.83 wt%, and
LOI = 4.77 to 36.38 wt%. Obviously, chemical components of two
types of rocks show opposite correlation. As shown in Figure 11, silica
is extremely negative related to CaO and LOI (r = −0.983 and −0.996,
respectively), whereas have positive correlation with Al2O3 and FeO
(r = 0.463 and 0.612, respectively).
High Au content samples exhibit strong enrichment in SiO2 and
depletions in MgO, CaO, and LOI. Gold‐bearing carbonate rocks
(Au > 1 ppm) are all high SiO2 content of 55.46 to 84.23 wt%. Mean-
while, these samples also have higher content of Fe2O3 (0.39 to
PENG ET AL.
11.67 wt%) and Al2O3 (1.83 to 15.40 wt%) than fresh carbonate rocks.
However, they do not show any liner relationship between Au and
Fe2O3 and Al2O3, because some samples also have high Fe2O3 and
Al2O3 content caused by hydrothermal alteration or weathering with-
out Au mineralization. The correlation coefficients for different
datasets are given in Table 4, and the scatter diagrams are shown in
Figure 11. For all of the carbonate rock samples, Au is well correlated
with FeO (r = 0.76), whereas weakly correlated with SiO2 and K2O and
(r = 0.38 and 0.33) and shows negative correlations with MgO, CaO,
and LOI (r = −0.13, −0.15 and −0.37, respectively). For the <1 ppm Au
subset, Au has a positive correlation with MnO, FeO, and Fe2O3
(r = 0.70, 0.36, and 0.54, respectively) and a weakly positive correlation
with SiO2 (r = 0.19). For the >1 ppm Au subset, Au is positively corre-
lated with SiO2, K2O, and FeO (r = 0.35, 0.53, and 0.77, respectively).
5.1.2 | Trace elements
The trace elements (Ag, W, As, Sb, Bi, and Hg) are strongly enriched in
the altered carbonate rocks (Figures 10 and 11 and Table 4). For the
<1 ppm Au subset, the correlation between Au and Ag is weak
(r = 0.33); however, Au has a moderate positive correlation with Mo,
Sc, U, As, Sb, Bi, and Hg (r > 0.50). The Au/Ag ratio ranges from 0.71
to 2.94 with an average 1.92. For the >1 ppm Au subset, Au shows a
strong correlation with Ag and has a moderate correlation with W,
Cs, Sb, and Hg (r > 0.50). The Au/Ag ratio ranges from 0.54 to 73.33
and averages 10.83.
The C1 chondrite‐normalized REE pattern of the carbonate rock is
LREE‐enriched (Figure 12). The fresh carbonate rocks have lower total
REEs (10.82 to 29.89 ppm), a weak differentiation pattern between
LREE and HREE (LREE/HREE = 1.57 to 2.95, (La/Yb)n = 3.26 to
10.16, (La/Sm)n = 2.15 to 5.16, and (Gd/Yb)n = 1.24 to 2.00), and no
significant negative Eu anomaly (δEu = 0.51 to 1.06). The altered car-
bonate rock has a high total REE (75.12 to 316.97 ppm), a relatively
strong differentiation pattern between LREE and HREE (LREE/
HREE = 2.38 to 12.83, (La/Yb)n = 9.10 to 81.98, (La/Sm)n = 2.66 to
11.48), and a significant negative Eu anomaly (δEu = 0.50 to 0.87).
The results of the REE analyses indicate that the altered carbonate
rocks have higher total REEs and a more obviously negative Eu anom-
aly than the fresh carbonate rocks. The total REEs show strong positive
correlation with Al2O3 (Figure 11). For the Au < 1 ppm dataset, AC‐1,
AC‐2, AC‐3, and AC‐5 have relatively high total REE than fresh carbon-
ate rocks. These samples show identical characteristic that is enriched
in SiO2, Al2O3, and Fe2O3. However, the silica content is significantly
lower than the auriferous carbonate rocks.
5.2 | Granodiorite
5.2.1 | Major elements
As presented in Table 3, the contents of major elements in the altered
granodiorite are varied in a wide range (MgO = 0.07 to 2.05%,
SiO2 = 53.19 to 82.20%, K2O = 0.03 to 4.50%, CaO = 0.15 to
11.14%, and LOI = 3.27 to 14.27%). Au grades are also uneven in the
host rocks (0.10 to 58.80 ppm). The auriferous granodiorite
(Au = 58.80 ppm) has a high SiO2 content (75.87 wt%) and low MgO
(0.07 wt%) and CaO (2.24 wt%) contents. Gold is moderate to weak
positive correlated with SiO2 (r = 0.39) and shows a negative correlation
TABLE 2 Major elements, trace elements, and REE concentrations of the carbonate rocks from the Dashui Au deposit
PENG

Fresh carbonate rock Altered carbonate rock

ET AL.

Element FC‐1 FC‐2 FC‐3 FC‐4 FC‐5 AC‐1 AC‐2 AC‐3 AC‐4 AC‐5 AC‐6 AC‐7 AC‐8 AC‐9 AC‐10 AC‐11 AC‐12

MgO (wt%) 0.53 0.41 10.32 0.34 0.42 0.40 0.34 0.21 0.88 1.32 3.63 0.08 0.09 0.07 0.16 0.09 0.09
Al2O3 (wt%) 0.18 0.14 0.30 0.04 0.01 1.93 4.52 2.62 3.69 4.07 1.81 2.75 15.40 3.16 1.83 3.32 2.28
SiO2 (wt%) 0.70 1.72 1.50 0.86 0.58 13.62 23.26 10.31 80.49 78.74 13.12 84.23 66.09 83.17 55.46 73.18 82.11
P2O5 (wt%) 0.01 0.01 0.05 0.07 0.01 0.07 0.13 0.07 0.07 0.11 0.03 0.03 0.20 0.04 0.08 0.08 0.05
K2O (wt%) 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.02 0.02 0.19 0.11 0.06 0.10 0.05 0.06 0.10 0.04 0.13 0.07 0.04 0.13
CaO (wt%) 54.17 53.62 42.55 54.46 54.76 44.83 35.20 43.05 5.84 5.94 41.54 6.12 5.40 5.07 16.42 11.39 7.91
TiO2 (wt%) 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.08 0.25 0.05 0.11 0.16 0.06 0.02 0.45 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.04
MnO (wt%) 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.03 0.06 0.01 0.01 0.10 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.07 0.03
FeO (wt%) 0.03 0.10 0.11 0.04 0.07 0.03 0.10 0.09 0.15 0.19 0.09 0.21 0.03 0.33 0.05 0.08 0.16
Fe2O3 (wt%) 0.17 0.05 0.16 0.06 0.02 1.81 5.80 6.98 1.61 1.53 1.53 0.39 2.34 2.51 11.67 0.84 1.14
LOI (wt%) 43.53 43.03 44.33 43.49 43.44 36.38 30.55 36.11 6.45 7.45 37.35 5.44 10.29 4.77 13.57 10.12 6.62
Fe2O3/FeO 5.7 0.5 1.5 1.7 0.3 60.3 58 77.6 10.7 8.1 17 1.9 78 7.6 233.4 11.2 7.1
Ni (ppm) 4.10 6.00 4.50 6.30 7.10 12.30 19.00 16.70 4.80 3.90 7.50 5.40 8.20 10.80 9.50 4.90 6.10
Pb (ppm) 4.30 4.90 3.50 6.00 6.70 11.10 16.10 16.50 15.60 13.70 6.80 12.50 22.10 10.70 2.30 14.90 24.20
Sr (ppm) 142.00 172.00 91.70 144.00 121.00 137.00 139.00 199.00 53.70 54.90 82.00 84.10 99.40 60.30 110.00 63.10 78.00
Ti (ppm) 46.00 59.60 174.00 45.80 44.00 469.00 1472.00 821.00 1056.00 1343.00 453.00 387.00 3039.00 453.00 289.00 617.00 465.00
Y (ppm) 8.60 8.90 9.80 8.60 0.80 9.70 10.30 12.60 9.70 10.10 9.40 8.70 11.20 7.90 8.50 10.10 8.50
Sn (ppm) 2.10 2.50 1.80 1.90 2.00 1.80 2.00 1.70 1.80 2.10 1.70 2.00 4.00 2.90 3.30 2.60 1.90
Ag (ppm) 0.07 0.06 0.10 0.06 0.05 0.13 0.11 0.09 0.88 3.55 0.29 2.26 1.05 24.90 0.15 0.21 6.93
Mo (ppm) 0.36 0.65 0.47 0.38 0.46 0.87 1.30 1.60 0.97 1.20 0.70 0.66 1.70 2.40 13.00 11.00 4.40
W (ppm) 1.10 1.20 1.50 0.74 1.20 7.10 19.00 19.00 104.00 107.00 6.80 131.00 85.00 176.00 21.00 39.00 143.00
Sc (ppm) 2.40 3.60 2.00 1.90 2.40 2.50 5.30 11.60 1.70 1.90 4.20 1.30 3.00 1.30 2.10 2.20 1.90
U (ppm) 0.10 0.80 0.40 0.20 2.80 0.60 4.80 20.80 1.70 1.80 1.30 1.10 3.20 1.50 1.00 7.70 1.70
Nb (ppm) 0.30 0.20 0.60 0.10 0.30 1.40 3.00 2.20 2.50 3.20 1.40 0.70 7.90 0.70 0.50 0.80 1.50
Cs (ppm) 0.10 0.30 0.30 0.10 0.20 2.20 1.50 1.30 2.30 1.70 0.70 3.20 0.80 3.90 1.30 0.80 2.70
Au (ppm) 0.09 0.16 0.07 0.13 0.15 0.07 0.12 0.32 5.46 6.48 0.25 22.30 1.52 275.00 2.77 15.40 10.80
As (ppm) 5.25 11.30 19.70 4.08 5.66 146.00 283.00 364.00 157.00 214.00 120.00 82.80 433.00 355.00 1518.00 112.00 118.00
Sb (ppm) 2.28 1.74 4.42 2.44 1.87 63.50 67.40 66.90 64.10 57.50 96.40 65.40 69.90 273.00 340.00 139.00 49.10
Bi (ppm) 0.010 0.004 0.012 0.004 0.004 0.086 0.770 0.900 0.170 0.140 0.050 0.058 0.240 0.036 0.100 0.540 0.140
Hg (ppb) 42.60 890.00 55.10 273.00 279.00 61.80 269.00 757.00 2959.00 2674.00 4313.00 40275.00 592.00 30998.00 4344.00 2914.00 728.00
Au/Ag 1.36 2.54 0.71 2.03 2.94 0.54 1.09 3.68 6.20 1.83 0.86 9.87 1.45 11.04 18.47 73.33 1.56
La (ppm) 0.80 1.00 1.70 0.50 0.70 3.90 18.80 17.20 10.50 14.30 4.70 16.00 21.90 7.80 3.30 10.50 8.40
Ce (ppm) 1.30 1.90 3.00 0.80 1.00 10.80 30.40 27.20 19.40 26.60 8.50 23.50 40.20 11.00 6.20 15.80 12.70
Pr (ppm) 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.10 0.10 0.90 3.20 3.30 2.30 3.10 1.00 2.60 4.70 1.20 0.90 2.10 1.50

(Continues)
11
 12 PENG ET AL.

with the other major elements (MgO = −0.34, Al2O3 = −0.42,

AC‐12

5.40
0.80
0.21
0.81
0.10
0.48
0.09
0.27
0.04
0.24
0.03

6.78
0.79
25.11
P2O5 = −0.07, K2O = −0.38, CaO = −0.22, TiO2 = −0.43, MnO = −0.44,
Fe2O3 = −0.14, and FeO = −0.36).

7.90
1.30
0.28
1.19
0.16
0.80
0.16
0.43
0.06
0.38
0.06

5.21
0.68
19.82
AC‐11

5.2.2 | Trace elements

The altered granodiorite is strongly enriched in As (1.17–365.00 ppm),
Sb (0.27–40.00 ppm), and Hg (31–3812 ppb), slightly enriched in Ni
3.80
0.80
0.23
0.95
0.15
0.76
0.14
0.36
0.05
0.26
0.04
9.10
2.66
0.81
AC‐10

(3.0–22.4 ppm), Ag (0.096–0.710 ppm), Mo (0.64–1.90 ppm), and Bi

(0.02–0.25 ppm), and depleted in Sr (39–391 ppm; Table 3 and
Figure 10). The Au/Ag ratio ranges from 0.23 to 392.00 for the altered
4.00
0.60
0.15
0.53
0.06
0.26
0.05
0.13
0.02
0.13
0.02

8.39
0.80
43.04
AC‐9

granodiorite samples, whereas the Au/Ag ratio is 0.87 to 2.50 in fresh

ones. The correlation coefficients for Au with all the other elements in
granodiorite are listed in Table 4. Gold has a moderate‐to‐strong posi-
3.00
0.53
2.49
0.28
1.27
0.22
0.62
0.09
0.58
0.08

4.71
0.58
17.90

27.08
tive correlation with As and Sb (r = 0.57 and 0.75, respectively) and
AC‐8

shows a slightly positive correlation with W and Sn (r = 0.327 and 0.395).

As shown in Figure 13, the C1 chondrite‐normalized REE pattern
Altered carbonate rock

of unaltered granodiorite is LREE‐enriched and has a negative Eu

8.00
0.90
0.20
0.93
0.08
0.30
0.06
0.19
0.02
0.14
0.02

0.66
81.98
11.48
AC‐7

anomaly (δEu = 0.58 to 0.85). The total REE content of the altered
granodiorite is variable (∑REE = 396.78 to 677.84 ppm), whereas the
unaltered granodiorite is less variable (∑REE = 465.11 to
3.60
0.70
0.14
0.63
0.09
0.48
0.10
0.28
0.04
0.26
0.04

4.33
0.63
12.97
AC‐6

541.75 ppm). The granodiorite shows a strong differentiation between

LREE and HREE (LREE/HREE = 4.50–6.21, (La/Yb)n = 15.84–29.68,
(La/Sm)n = 3.75–4.85).
1.90
0.30
1.68
0.21
0.98
0.17
0.51
0.07
0.44
0.06

4.86
0.50
11.70

23.31
AC‐5

5.3 | Stable isotopes

5.3.1 | Sulfur isotopes
8.40
1.40
0.25
1.25
0.15
0.73
0.13
0.40
0.06
0.35
0.06

4.84
0.57
21.52
AC‐4

As reduced S was likely the principal ligand responsible for Au trans-

port in Carlin‐type systems, gold must have come from somewhere
13.10
2.50
0.73
2.57
0.40
2.25
0.44
1.32
0.19
1.26
0.20
9.79
4.44
0.87

between the sites of H2S generation and the sites of mineral precipita-
AC‐3

tion (Cline et al., 2005; Hu, Su, Bi, Tu, & Hofstra, 2002). However, the
literature seldom refers to S isotopes at Dashui. Until now, only one
2.00
0.44
1.96
0.26
1.34
0.25
0.75
0.10
0.65
0.10

6.07
0.67
11.90

20.75
AC‐2

published research collected 13 pyrite samples from a mineralized dio-

rite dyke at the Dashui Au deposit. These samples are xenomorphic
granular, cubic, and less pyritohedron; most of them suffered strong
3.60
0.70
0.18
0.71
0.09
0.52
0.10
0.30
0.04
0.26
0.04

3.60
0.77
10.76
AC‐1

oxidation and replaced by hematite or limonite (Li et al., 2007). Analy-

ses of δ34S ranged from −1.8‰ to +4.1‰ (+2.4‰ on average; Table 5;
Li et al., 2007). These values are consistent with δ34S values of ultraba-
0.60
0.10
0.03
0.13
0.02
0.13
0.03
0.09
0.02
0.09
0.01
5.58
4.52
0.80
FC‐5

sic rock (δ34S = −1.3‰ to +5.5‰) and shows a towerlike distribution

(Duan et al., 2010; Wei & Wang, 1988; Zhao et al., 2010). However,
evaluation of the data is complicated, because result may be valid
0.60
0.10
0.03
0.13
0.02
0.13
0.03
0.08
0.01
0.07
0.01
5.12
3.23
0.80
FC‐4

where the large majority of pyrite is strong oxidation. Moreover, the

Fresh carbonate rock

study hardly defined the pyrites are ore‐stage and earlier or later
because the fine Au‐bearing pyrite is seldom the only generation in
1.50
0.30
0.05
0.29
0.04
0.26
0.05
0.15
0.02
0.12
0.02

3.66
0.51
10.16
FC‐3

mineralized rock.
1.20
0.30
0.11
0.33
0.06
0.36
0.07
0.21
0.03
0.22
0.03
3.26
2.15
1.06

5.3.2 | C and O isotope patterns

FC‐2

Oxygen and carbon isotopic compositions in carbonates of Dashui

gold deposit are shown in Figure 14 and Table 6. Twenty‐six data
0.70
0.10
0.03
0.13
0.02
0.14
0.03
0.09
0.01
0.07
0.01
8.20
5.16
0.80
FC‐1
(Continued)

are collected from the published literature, whereas three are mea-
sured in this study. These samples are subdivided into two groups:
early‐stage calcite (n = 5) versus late‐stage calcite (n = 8) and lime-
Tm (ppm)
Sm (ppm)

Ho (ppm)
Nd (ppm)

Gd (ppm)

Dy (ppm)

Yb (ppm)
Tb (ppm)

(La/Sm)n
Eu (ppm)

Lu (ppm)

stone (n = 10) versus ore‐bearing limestone (n = 6). The subdivision

(La/Yb)n
Er (ppm)
Element
TABLE 2

of calcite followed the previous studies that suggest early stage

δEu

fine‐grained calcite and late‐stage macrocrystalline or megacryst

PENG ET AL. 13

TABLE 3 Major elements, trace elements, and REE concentrations of granodiorite from the Dashui Au deposit
Altered granodiorite Fresh granodiorite
Element AG‐1 AG‐2 AG‐3 AG‐4 AG‐5 AG‐6 FG‐001 FG‐002 FG‐003 FG‐006

MgO (wt%) 0.08 2.05 2.05 1.21 0.47 0.07 3.32 3.21 3.16 2.38
Al2O3 (wt%) 17.89 13.81 14.25 15.23 14.87 12.79 15.78 15.83 15.54 15.70
SiO2 (wt%) 71.77 53.19 46.40 59.74 63.92 75.87 61.96 62.77 62.96 63.57
P2O5 (wt%) 0.31 0.35 0.43 0.18 0.19 0.21 0.21 0.20 0.18 0.18
K2O (wt%) 0.04 4.50 3.88 3.56 0.34 0.03 4.24 4.18 4.35 4.12
CaO (wt%) 0.54 9.11 11.14 6.87 5.08 2.24 4.62 3.86 3.36 3.86
TiO2 (wt%) 0.62 0.66 0.74 0.48 0.47 0.38 0.52 0.50 0.44 0.50
MnO (wt%) 0.07 0.09 0.04 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.05 0.06 0.06 0.05
FeO (wt%) 0.03 1.53 0.60 1.37 0.41 0.04 1.71 1.73 2.84 1.48
Fe2O3 (wt%) 1.79 1.99 4.61 0.63 4.12 1.38 2.55 2.36 0.70 2.06
LOI (wt%) 7.42 11.20 14.27 9.68 9.75 6.51 1.64 1.48 3.27 2.39
Ni (ppm) 7.30 14.60 22.40 5.80 3.00 8.80 6.00 5.90 4.70 5.00
Pb (ppm) 31.60 31.50 35.20 43.80 62.80 40.30 43.70 43.60 48.60 46.30
Sr (ppm) 39.00 339.00 386.00 141.00 52.20 391.00 606.00 720.00 976.00 599.00
Ti (ppm) 4,241.00 3,870.00 4,640.00 3,082.00 3,264.00 2,860.00 3,312.00 3,022.00 2,968.00 3,254.00
Y (ppm) 16.60 22.90 20.70 20.90 13.10 11.40 18.80 17.70 15.80 16.70
Sn (ppm) 3.40 4.10 2.90 3.00 4.40 4.50 3.80 4.30 4.00 4.20
Ag (ppm) 0.71 0.16 0.10 0.10 0.14 0.15 0.12 0.12 0.15 0.12
Mo (ppm) 1.30 1.90 0.81 0.64 1.00 0.86 1.00 0.66 0.57 0.56
W (ppm) 79.00 11.00 15.00 20.00 37.00 52.00 28.00 18.00 40.00 28.00
Sc (ppm) 6.10 13.90 16.70 8.40 7.10 4.20 11.10 10.50 8.50 8.20
U (ppm) 3.70 3.90 1.70 3.90 3.50 3.20 3.00 2.20 3.80 3.10
Nb (ppm) 14.70 11.60 11.20 9.10 8.70 8.00 9.20 9.80 10.20 9.90
Cs (ppm) 1.30 9.70 20.60 21.90 7.60 0.60 12.50 12.70 9.90 13.30
Au (ppm) 0.16 0.50 0.13 0.10 0.31 58.80 0.30 0.23 0.13 0.26
As (ppm) 365.00 3.21 159.00 1.17 61.00 302.00 2.70 1.45 1.58 0.83
Sb(ppm) 30.10 0.31 12.10 0.27 9.58 40.00 0.72 0.54 0.33 0.24
Bi (ppm) 0.25 0.07 0.11 0.06 0.25 0.02 0.07 0.06 0.07 0.05
Hg (ppb) 196.00 31.30 141.00 78.50 3,812.00 1,683.00 80.00 54.80 17.80 13.10
Au/Ag 0.23 3.13 1.35 1.01 2.21 392.00 2.50 1.92 0.87 2.17
La (ppm) 45.10 41.60 45.00 30.60 24.40 28.00 32.10 29.60 30.60 29.50
Ce (ppm) 85.70 80.90 87.40 57.10 49.60 51.20 61.80 55.80 58.20 57.00
Pr (ppm) 9.70 9.70 10.20 6.90 6.00 6.20 7.80 6.90 7.00 6.90
Nd (ppm) 35.70 37.60 39.30 26.40 22.90 24.60 30.40 27.10 26.40 26.10
Sm (ppm) 6.00 6.70 6.90 4.70 4.00 4.80 5.40 5.10 4.70 4.70
Eu (ppm) 1.10 1.52 1.61 1.19 0.89 1.09 1.41 1.34 1.19 1.14
Gd (ppm) 5.37 5.87 5.99 4.06 3.37 4.10 4.81 4.35 4.02 3.96
Tb (ppm) 0.64 0.78 0.75 0.50 0.41 0.52 0.63 0.58 0.54 0.47
Dy (ppm) 2.93 3.77 3.47 2.31 1.85 2.35 3.26 2.93 2.59 2.12
Ho (ppm) 0.50 0.66 0.60 0.41 0.31 0.40 0.57 0.52 0.47 0.36
Er (ppm) 1.38 1.91 1.70 1.12 0.85 1.08 1.60 1.51 1.33 1.02
Tm (ppm) 0.17 0.25 0.22 0.15 0.12 0.14 0.22 0.20 0.19 0.14
Yb (ppm) 1.09 1.70 1.48 0.98 0.75 0.94 1.43 1.34 1.22 0.90
Lu (ppm) 0.16 0.26 0.21 0.15 0.12 0.15 0.22 0.20 0.20 0.13
(La/Yb)n 29.68 17.55 21.81 22.40 23.34 21.37 16.10 15.84 17.99 23.51
(La/Sm)n 4.85 4.01 4.21 4.20 3.94 3.77 3.84 3.75 4.20 4.05
δEu 0.58 0.72 0.75 0.81 0.72 0.73 0.83 0.85 0.82 0.79

calcite (Han et al., 2004; Li et al., 2007). Oxygen and carbon isotopic with isotopic composition of magmatic derived hydrothermal fluids.
composition of the early‐stage calcite veins range from 6.63‰ to By contrast, the δ18O value of the late‐stage calcite is distinctly
10.1‰ and from −2.7‰ to +4.3‰, respectively. This is consistent higher than the early‐stage calcite and varies from 16.43‰ to
14
19.42‰, whereas δ13C value in late‐stage calcite vein decrease
slightly (δ C = −0.8 to +2.4‰). Therefore, late‐stage calcite samples
13
are plotted near the area of marine carbonate and have close relation
with carbonate dissolution. The δ13C value of mineralized limestone
samples (δ C = −1.2‰ to +3.4‰) are slightly higher than those in
13
fresh limestone samples (δ13C = −1‰ to +1.6‰). However, they
show huge difference of δ18O values, the mineralized limestone sam-
ples range from 8.6 to 13.44‰ whereas the limestone samples range
from 16.02‰ to 23.95‰. Generally, there is a broad decrease in
δ18O and slightly increase in δ13C in host rock with increasing hydro-
thermal alteration.
6 | DISCUSSION
6.1 | Timing of mineralization
The geotectonic evolution of the Qinling orogen is still widely
debated. However, several important findings have been made in
recent years. Li et al. (2014) have studied the Triassic granitoids in
the Qinling orogen and concluded that the termination of the north-
ernmost Paleo‐Tethys Ocean and the onset of the continental colli-
sion between the Yangtze‐ and North China Craton are considered
to have occurred at approximately 200 Ma (Chen, 2010; Li et al.,
2014). This finding suggests that the Dashui region was still under
compression from the Late Triassic to Jurassic when the Ge'erkuohe
pluton was emplaced (zircon U–Pb age = ca. 215 ± 5.1 Ma). The
PENG ET AL.
FIGURE 10 (a) Major element content of the
altered or unaltered carbonate rocks. Altered
carbonate rocks are enriched in SiO2 and
depleted in CaO and MgO. (b) Trace element
content of the altered or unaltered carbonate
rocks. Altered carbonate rocks are enriched by
all of the elements except Sr. (c) The trace
element contents of the altered and unaltered
granodiorite. The altered granodiorite is
strongly enriched in Se, As, Sb, and Hg, slightly
enriched with Ni, Ag, Mo, and Bi, and Sr
depleted [Colour figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]
region underwent a tectonic inversion from compression to exten-
sion during the Jurassic to Early Cretaceous and formed many
tensional structures that increased the permeability of the host
lithologies and were subsequently exploited by the ore‐forming fluids
(Chen, Zhai, & Jiang, 2009; Zeng et al., 2013; Zhang, 1993). In the
Early Cretaceous, the West Qinling area was under an imbalance of
uplift and N‐S compression (Du, 1997; Du & Wu, 1998). We propose
that the Dashui Fault (F4) was active during this period. The hanging
wall was uplifted and eroded away. The volcanic rocks collected
from the hanging wall and footwall of the Dashui Fault have been
dated using (U‐Th)/He apatite geochronology to be 134.5 ± 5.1
and 211.4 ± 6.3 Ma, respectively (Zeng et al., 2013). Therefore, all
of the ore bodies were discovered in the footwall of the
Dashui Fault.
The Late Triassic timing of the Dashui Fault and Au mineralization
of the Dashui deposit (Zeng et al., 2013) is significantly older than the
Early Jurassic Au mineralization of the Gongbei deposits, which are
approximately 2 km to the west of Dashui but have similar
metallogenic characteristics. Lead isotopes suggest that the Au miner-
alization of these two deposits may have originated from the same
hydrothermal system (Deng, 2011). The Dashui Fault provides a mini-
mum age for the Au mineralization because it offsets the mineralized
zone. Therefore, an origin in the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous
(170 to 135 Ma) is recommended for the Dashui deposit. This is con-
sistent with the regional metallogenic model that the Middle Jurassic
(170 Ma) was the peak of Au mineralization episode for the Western
QOB (Chen et al., 2009).
PENG ET AL. 15

FIGURE 11 Major oxides (wt%) versus Au (ppm), Cao versus SiO2, trace elements (ppm) versus au, ΣREE (ppm) versus Al2O3 diagram for the
carbonate host rocks in Dashui deposit [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

6.2 | Origin of hydrothermal fluids
The Au concentration of the carbonate rocks and granodiorite has a
positive correlation with SiO2 content. The strongly silicified carbonate
rocks (SiO2 > 50 wt%) all have high Au concentrations (Au > 1 ppm),
which can be interpreted as Si‐rich fluid playing an important role in
Au mineralization. However, the hematite‐rich rocks are not always
Au bearing. The reason is that hematite is mobile and secondary
enrichment or depletion of hematite can occur during supergene pro-
cesses. The REE concentrations of the altered carbonate rocks are
higher than those of the fresh carbonate rocks. Additionally, the high
REE concentrations also correspond to high Al2O3 and Fe2O3 content
in altered carbonate rocks. Goldschmidt (1954) summarized that
almost all the REEs are completely reconcentrated in hydrolytic min-
erals (such as clay and shale components, bauxite, and iron and manga-
nese oxides). Therefore, these indicate that the host rocks might be
suffered intensive argillic alteration and supergene weathering
process. As shown in Figures 12 and 13, Total REE values of altered
carbonate rocks are commonly higher than those of fresh carbonate
rocks, but lower than the values of granodiorite. The C1 chondrite‐
normalized REE patterns of altered carbonate rocks are similar with
the patterns of granodiorite, but show significant difference with the
patterns of fresh carbonate rocks. Meanwhile, altered and fresh grano-
diorite samples show same C1 chondrite‐normalized REE patterns.
These suggest that the ore‐forming hydrothermal fluids may derive
from the same source with magmatic rocks.
The S isotope compositions of the Dashui deposit are close to that
of ultrabasic rock and show a towerlike distribution, indicating that the
ore‐forming fluid might be magmatic derived (Han et al., 2004). How-
ever, this results may be meaningless, because the study hardly
defined the pyrites are ore‐stage and earlier or later. Sulfur isotope
values reported from SHDG deposits in the United States span a wide
16 PENG ET AL.

TABLE 4 Correlation coefficients between Au and other elements

Carbonate rock
Granodiorite
n=9 n=8
Element n = 17 (Au < 1 ppm) (Au > 1 ppm) n = 10

MgO −0.132 −0.231 −0.255 −0.342

Al2O3 0.032 0.274 −0.160 −0.420
SiO2 0.381 0.190 0.352 0.394
P2O5 −0.142 0.026 −0.364 −0.070
K2O 0.332 −0.195 0.527 −0.381
CaO −0.354 −0.174 −0.308 −0.215
TiO2 −0.134 −0.039 −0.272 −0.427
MnO −0.111 0.699 −0.013 −0.438
FeO 0.756 0.357 0.768 −0.358
Fe2O3 0.002 0.542 −0.065 −0.137
LOI −0.374 −0.290 −0.483 −0.026
FIGURE 13 The C1 chondrite‐normalized REE pattern of granodiorite.
Ni 0.126 0.347 0.635 0.027
The REE data of C1 chondrite are from Sun and McDonough (1989)
Pb 0.013 0.426 −0.224 −0.093
[Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
Sr −0.129 0.030 −0.305 −0.040
Ti −0.072 0.252 −0.260 −0.348 TABLE 5 Sulfur isotope composition of the Dashui Au deposit
Y −0.115 0.243 −0.545 −0.598 Sample number δ34SV‐CDT
Sn 0.267 −0.281 0.129 0.395 YD49 2.2
Ag 0.965 0.334 0.964 −0.070 YD19 −1.8
Mo 0.025 0.567 −0.174 −0.055 HDPY‐99 4.1
W 0.596 0.495 0.605 0.327 HDPY‐6 1.8
Se 0.665 0.587 0.651 −0.083 HDPY‐7 2.1
Sc −0.213 0.816 −0.502 −0.497 HDPY‐17 3.1
U −0.081 0.760 −0.160 0.001 HDPY‐8 2.8
Nb −0.131 0.343 −0.287 −0.413 HDPY‐13 3.2
Cs 0.613 0.066 0.674 −0.526 HDPY‐2 1.6
Au 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 HD167 3.4
As 0.081 0.557 −0.055 0.536 HD180 2.1
Sb 0.541 0.502 0.486 0.747 HD171 3.8
Bi −0.143 0.513 −0.351 −0.342 YD49 2.8
Hg 0.627 0.584 0.571 0.306
Note. Data from Han et al. (2004).

FIGURE 12 The C1 chondrite‐normalized REE pattern of the carbonate rocks. Altered carbonate rock has a higher total REE and more obvious
negative Eu anomaly than fresh carbonate rock. For the <1 ppm Au subset, several samples have also high total REE content because these
samples are slightly altered (SiO2 = 10% to 23%). The REE data of C1 chondrite are from Sun and McDonough (1989) [Colour figure can be viewed
at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
PENG ET AL. 17

FIGURE 14 δ13CPDB versus δ18OSMOW for

the samples from the Dashui Au deposit
[Colour figure can be viewed at
wileyonlinelibrary.com]

TABLE 6 Carbon and oxygen isotopes composition of the Dashui Au deposit

Number Sample number Name δ13CPDB δ18OPDB δ18OSMOW

1 HD11 Early‐stage calcite −2.7 −22.3 7.87

2 HD112 Early‐stage calcite 4.3 −22.4 7.77
3 HD133 Early‐stage calcite 2.6 −23.5 6.63
4 GB3602–7 Early‐stage calcite 3.1 −21.7 8.6
5 ZQ1–504 Early‐stage calcite 3.2 −20.2 10.1
6 K782–032 Late‐stage calcite 0.15 −12.1 18.5
7 HD9–1 Late‐stage calcite 1 −11.1 19.42
8 HD9–2 Late‐stage calcite −0.5 −11.3 19.21
9 HD10–1 Late‐stage calcite −0.8 −11.9 18.59
10 HD10–2 Late‐stage calcite −0.2 −11.6 18.9
11 HD12 Late‐stage calcite 2.4 −11.2 19.31
12 HD13 Late‐stage calcite −0.3 −12.1 18.39
13 HD107 Late‐stage calcite 2.1 −14 16.43
14 HD68 Limestone 0.5 −14.4 16.02
15 HD73 Limestone 0.7 −9.6 20.96
16 HD74 Limestone −0.1 −7.1 23.54
17 HD75 Limestone 0.6 −10.3 20.24
18 HD80 Limestone 1.6 −6.7 23.95
19 YD31–3 Limestone 1 −11.2 19.31
20 YD32–3 Limestone −1 −9.8 20.76
21 YD39 Limestone −0.4 −12.8 17.66
22 1022–53 Limestone 0.1 −5.4 25.3
23 D1 Limestone 1.3 −11.2 19.3
24 HD69 Ore‐bearing limestone 1 −18.8 11.48
25 HD71 Ore‐bearing limestone 1.1 −19.6 10.66
26 HD122 Ore‐bearing limestone 3.4 −17 13.34
27 HD124 Ore‐bearing limestone 2.2 −20.3 9.93
28 HD126 Ore‐bearing limestone 2.5 −16.9 13.44
29 L‐D Ore‐bearing limestone −1.2 −21.6 8.6

Note. Numbers 1–3 and 7–13 are from Li et al. (2007), Numbers 14–29 are from Han et al. (2004), and Numbers 4–6 are from this study.

range, from −30‰ to +20‰ in sulfides and 0‰ to >45‰ in sulfates. Postore arsenian pyrite and marcasite (non‐gold‐bearing) has δ34S
Calculated and measured δ34S values of gold‐bearing pyrite are near values between −12‰ and −30‰ (Arehart, 1996). In contrast to the
+20‰; preore pyrite has δ34S values ranging from −5‰ to +10‰ typical Carlin‐type deposits in the United States, Chinese ones show
(−5 to +7‰ in sedimentary rock, +6‰ to +10‰ in igneous rock). similar δ34S values mostly ranging from −29.2‰ to 17.1‰. Sulfur is
18
usually originated from a sedimentary, organic or magmatic source, most
deposits from a mix of them (Jia & Hu, 2001; Yu & Guo, 2010; Zhang,
Hou, Zhang, Li, & Yang 2007). The sulfur isotope compositions of Dashui
pyrites are consistent with the δ34S values (−4.2‰ to 3‰) of early and
major ore‐forming stage pyrite in Yangshan gold deposit (Li et al., 2012).
Both deposits occurred in West Qinling metallogenic belt and constrained
by Mianlue Suture. Therefore, these pyrites collected from mineralized
granodiorite maybe are early or major ore‐forming stage pyrite in Dashui
deposit. Consequently, the δ34S values of Dashui deposit ranging from
−1.8% to 4.1‰ indicate that the deep‐sourced magmatic hydrothermal
fluids may have worked during the early‐stage mineralization.
Carbon and oxygen isotope data in the early‐stage calcite is
slightly depleted in δ13C and dramatically enriched in δ18O by contrast
with late‐stage calcite. The δ13C and δ18O values in early stage calcite
range from −2.7‰ to 4.3‰ and from 6.63‰ to 10.1‰ which indicate
that hydrothermal fluids may derive from magmatic source (Figure 14).
Late‐stage calcite is closely related to carbonate dissolution with δ C
13
and δ18O values ranging from −0.8‰ to 2.4‰ and from 16.43‰ to
19.42‰. The isotope data of the mineralized limestone show higher
δ13C and lower δ18O than those in fresh limestone. The δ13C and
δ O values in mineralized limestone range from −1.2‰ to +3.4‰
18
and from 8.6‰ to 13.44‰, which are consistent with early‐stage cal-
cite. Fresh limestone samples are plotted in the field of marine sedi-
mentary carbonate with δ13C and δ18O values range from −1‰ to
+1.6‰ and from 16.02‰ to 23.95‰, respectively. The isotopic com-
positions of fresh limestone are similar with the data of late‐stage cal-
cite. In summary, hydrothermal alteration in carbonate rocks produces
higher δ C and lower δ O values than those of the original host rock.
13 18
This enrichment in 13C and depletion in 18O occurs when hydrothermal
fluids with high δ13C and low δ18O values interact and exchange with
host rocks with low δ13C and high δ18O values, causing progressive
18 13
enrichment of O and depletion of C in the hydrothermal fluid
13 18
and associated C enrichment and O depletion in the country rock.
6.3 | Schematic model for Dashui
Although the current level of geochemical and geological control is
inadequate to resolve genesis of the Dashui deposit, a schematic
model is proposed for guiding further exploration. In the Late Triassic,
the Ge'erkuohe pluton and granodiorite dyke intruded sedimentary
packages along the NW‐ to E‐W‐trending deep‐seated faults when
the Songpan Sea was being subducted beneath the North China
Craton. Premineralization tectonic activity and the intrusion of magma
formed a succession of fractures in the limestone and the contact
zone. These fractures provided permeability for hydrothermal fluids
and favorable deposition sites for Au. The ore bodies are also predom-
inantly distributed along the faults and areas of limestone contact with
the granodiorite dykes. During the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous,
the magmatic‐derived fluids exploited the same structure and entered
into the Triassic sedimentary rocks forming the early sulfides stage.
The host rocks were strongly silicified and a small quantity of pyrite
was precipitated. Next, large amounts of pyrite were precipitated in
veins at the late sulfide stage. These veins are characterized by the
synchronous quartz veins with comb structure (Figure 5b–d). With
the deposition of SiO2, the fluids became enriched with Ca and may
PENG ET AL.
have mixed with meteoric water near the earth's surface. These
Ca‐enriched fluids precipitated calcite veins along the fractures of
early silica‐ and hematite‐altered host rocks, causing the calcite veins
commonly contain red hematite (Figure 6). because remobilized hema-
tite or oxidized pyrite deposited within the calcite veins. In the Early
Cretaceous (ca. 135 Ma), the Dashui Fault was formed or was
reactivated under the N‐S compression, and the hanging wall was
uplifted and eroded. Thus, all of the ore bodies discovered to date
are in the footwall of the Dashui Fault. This deposit then underwent
a long‐term supergene process that led to a high degree of hematite
alteration and production of native gold.
In summary, the genesis of the Dashui deposit is complex because
multistage hydrothermal fluids may have exploited the same structural
architecture and the long‐term supergene process may have
overprinted on the deposit. Therefore, a reasonable genesis model
for the Dashui deposit is far from being well established. However,
the future of Au prospecting is promising in this area because of a large
orogenic Au province may exist under the West QOB (Chen et al.,
2009). Several unique characteristics can be used as indicators of this
type of deposit. First, the Au mineralization is hosted in the Triassic
and Jurassic sedimentary rocks. Second, E‐W to NW trending faults
and intrusive rocks controlled the deposition of the Au‐bearing fluids.
Third, silicification, hematitization, and calcite veining are well devel-
oped and are closely association with mineralization.
6.4 | Comparison of Dashui with Carlin‐type
The extensive hematite alteration and scarce sulfides of the Dashui
deposit have made the genetic classification difficult. These features
also exist in the Ondol'toi deposit in East Sayan, which is formed by
low‐sulfide carbonate breccias and hematitized jasperoids (Airiyants,
Zhmodik, Mironov, & Borovikov, 2007). However, this deposit is
assigned to the Carlin type after detail comparison with typomorphic
features of Carlin‐type gold ores. Several researchers have suggested
that the Dashui deposit belongs to a typical Carlin‐type mineralization
either because it is characterized by carbonate host rocks, its mineral-
ization structurally controlled and the hypogene mineral assemblages
overprinted by intensive supergene oxidation (Chen et al., 2004;
Garwin et al., 1995; Li & Wang, 2006; Mao et al., 2005; Zeng et al.,
2013). Mao et al. (2002) have suggested that a significant difference
exists between the Au deposits of the Western Qinling belt and those
of the Western USA. The Western Qinling deposits exhibit a strong
structural control with narrow and steeply dipping, while the ones in
the United States are characterized by a range of structural and strat-
igraphic controls. To constrain the difference between Dashui and typ-
ical Carlin‐type deposits in the Western USA, detailed comparisons are
shown in Table 7. The Dashui and surrounding prospects, such as
Zhongqu (Wang, Luo, Gao, Liang, & Yu, 2009), Geertuo (Jia & Zhang,
2010), Qiaruo and Xinqu (Feng & Liu, 2001), are all hosted in Triassic
carbonate rocks, only one deposit partially produces in Jurassic con-
glomerate. The association of the Au mineralization with Triassic car-
bonate formations is consistent with Carlin‐type deposits in the
United States (Arehart, 1996; Bowell et al., 1999; Chen, Mao, Frank,
Tony, & Phillip, 2011; Crafford & Grauch, 2002; Gua, Liu, Schulz,
Vavtar, & Zheng, 2002; Kovalev, Kalinin, Naumov, Pirajno, &
PENG ET AL. 19

TABLE 7 Comparison of typical Carlin Au mineralization (Nevada, USA) and the Dashui Au deposit
Carlin gold ore in the United States Dashui gold deposit

Tectonic background North American cordillera orogenic belt continental West Qinling orogenic belt,
basin and range tectonic belt, intracontinental rift basin
Age of host stratum Silurian–Devonian Triassic (most), Jurassic (Gongbei)
Rock assemblage of host strata Impure carbonate rock, microclastic rock, silicalite, Carbonate rocks, silicalite, granitoids dykes, breccia
tuff, intrusive rocks
Alteration Silicification (jasperoid formation), decalcification, Silicification (jasperoid formation), hematization,
argillic alteration, sulfidation decalcification, argillic alteration,
Ore‐control factor Structural (faults) and stratigraphic Structural (primary) and stratigraphic controls
(composition/permeability) controls
Metallogenic age Tertiary Yanshanian (ca. 170 Ma)
Deposit scale SL, L, M‐S SL
Ore mineral assemblage Native gold, As‐bearing pyrite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, Native gold, pyrite (most oxides assemblage:
marcasite, arsenopyrite, stibnite, cinnabar, hematite, limonite), tennantite, stibnite,
realgar, orpiment, arsenic, lorandite, chalcopyrite, galena, cinnabar, marcasite
Vein mineral assemblage Quartz, ankerite, calcite, barite, fluorite, gypsum, dickite Quartz, calcite, dolomite, feldspar, chalcedony,
sericite, kaolinite
Gold occurrence (primary ore) Gold occurring in As‐bearing minerals, carbonaceous and Gold occurring in As‐bearing minerals as
clay minerals as submicroscopic gold. Microscopic gold submicroscopic gold; microscopic and visible
occurs as inclusion gold, fracture gold, intergranular gold gold occurring as inclusion gold, fracture gold,
and intergranular gold
Metallogenic element assemblage Au‐As‐Sb‐Hg‐Tl‐Ba, Au‐As‐Cu‐Co‐Ni‐Ba Au‐Ag‐As‐Sb‐Bi‐Hg
Geochemical index Low base‐metals, high Au/Ag ratio, low δ O values
18
Low base‐metals, high Au/Ag ratio, low δ18O values

Note. L = large; M = medium; S = small; SL = superlarge. Modified after Zhang and Zhang (2003) and Arehart (1996)

Borisenko, 2009; Ozcan & Albert, 2003; Peters, 2004; Su, Hu, Xia, Xia,
& Liu, 2009; Su, Xia, Zhang, Zhang, & Hu, 2008; Talusani, 2001). There
are some other similarities: compression to extension tectonism; struc-
tural (primary) and stratigraphic controls; Au‐As‐Sb‐Hg geochemical
association; alteration of decalcification, silicification and argillization;
low base‐metals; high Au/Ag ratio; low δ O values. Therefore, the
18
Dashui deposit is hosted by a Triassic carbonate sequence and appears
similar to most of the typical Carlin‐type deposits.
Ministry of Land and Resources (2016YFL05). Xi Tao Deng from the
Third Institute of Geological and Mineral Exploration of the Gansu Pro-
vincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources in Lanzhou, China, is
gratefully acknowledged for fieldwork assistance. Special thanks are
extended to Professor Jay Barton at the University of Fort Hare, South
Africa for the constructive discussions and improvements to the man-
uscript. We would also like to thank anonymous reviewers for their
helpful comments.

7 | C O N CL U S I O N S
The Dashui deposit is one of the largest Au deposit in the West
QOB. It is characterized by red, hematite‐rich ore that is high‐grade
and with simple mineralogy. Three groups of faults (NW‐trending,
NNE‐trending and E‐W‐trending) control the distribution of ore bod-
ies. The ores include altered granodiorite, carbonate, and breccia
types. Gold mineralization is closely related to decalcification, silicifi-
cation, hematitization and carbonatization. The pervasive hematite‐silica
alteration and late calcite veins, which are associated with Au
mineralization, represent regional and deposit‐scale prospecting
indicator. We propose that the Dashui deposit is a Carlin‐type Au
deposit that formed during the transition from a compression to an
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How to cite this article: Peng X, Yang H, Zhang J. Geology,
geochemistry, and genesis of the Dashui Carlin‐type gold deposit
in the West Qinling orogenic belt, Gansu Province, China.
Geological Journal. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1002/gj.2930