New data for geology and geochemistry of the Rodion gold–quartz deposit, northeastern Russia

Abstract

This paper is focused on the new data for geology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of stockworks consisting of steep and gentle quartz veins and veinlets forming a complex multilevel structure at the Rodion deposit. These stockworks range from 25 to 150 m in thickness. Average gold grade is 1.8 g/t. Ore minerals pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, and native gold are predominantly concentrated on the vein and veinlet walls. Thermal metamorphism caused by the intrusion of the Ulakhan granodiorite pluton is the important singularity of the deposit. The deposit ore is enriched in chalcophile microelements Au, Ag, As, Sb, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Bi as compared to the average composition of the upper crust and hosting Permian sequences. The enrichment factors range from a few to hundreds of times. Bi, W, Pb, Ag, and Na₂O are positively correlated between each other and with Au. The highest correlation coefficient 0.59 is between Au and Bi. Au is negatively correlated with Ba, Li, Co, Ni, Mn, Ti, and Be. The stockwork ores were formed involving homogeneous low-saline (9.4–4.3 wt % NaCl equiv) substantially aqueous bicarbonate-chloride fluid at 275–330°C and 300–1840 bar fluid pressure. Fluid has a high concentration of CO₂ (up to 349 g/kg of water) and is reductive (СО₂/СН₄ = 17–37.3). Na and Ca are the major cations in the fluid, whereas K and Mg are minor. In addition, many microelements were detected in the fluid: As, Li, Rb, Cs, Mo, Ag, Sb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, U, Ga, Ge, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, V, Cr, Y, Zr, Sn, Ba, W, Au, Hg, and REE. The results obtained are consistent with the metamorphic–magmatic formation model of orogenic gold–quartz deposits within the Yana–Kolyma belt.