A Preliminary Review of Metallogenic Regularity of Gold Deposits in China

Abstract Gold is one of the most important mineral resources in China with its rich mineral resources. In recent years, significant progress has been made on the process of gold resource exploration. Some large and giant gold deposits were newly found and some important expansions in the main mining regions were also been completed. Studies on metallogenic regularity of gold deposits in China also have made achievements with a long‐term work. This review aims to conclude the achievements of research on gold metallogenic regularity in China. Based on the data of about 2000 gold deposits and other ore (mineralized) occurrences, gold deposits in China were classified into five prediction types: gold deposits genetically related to granite–greenstone formation, gold deposits related to sedimentary formation (including the Carlin type and the metamorphosed clastic rock related vein gold deposit), gold deposits genetically related to volcanic rocks (including the continental and marine types), gold deposits genetically related to intrusions (including the porphyry type and the inner intrusion and contact zone related gold deposit), gold deposits of supergenesis (including fracture zone–altered rock gold deposit, placer gold deposit, gossan type gold deposit and soil type gold deposit). Statistics on precise chronology data of gold deposits indicate that there occurred 5 main periods of gold–mineralization in geological history of China. They were Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic, Meso–Neoproterozoic, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic. Gold deposits in China mainly formed in the Mesozoic and the Cenozoic. On the studies of the spatial‐temporal distribution characteristics of gold deposits, 53 gold‐forming belts were delineated in China. The metallogenic regularity of gold deposits was preliminarily summarized and 71 gold metallogenic series were proposed in China. This suggests that it is necceary to deepen the study on metallogenic regularity of gold deposits and to provide the theory guide for the ore–prospecting for gold resources in China.