Analysis of ore-controlling structures and mineralization prediction of the Guocheng gold deposit in the northeastern margin of the Jiaolai Basin

Objective  The Jiaodong Peninsula is the largest gold metallogenic province in China and represents the third-largest gold enrichment region globally. Most gold deposits in this area formed during the Early Cretaceous and are significantly controlled by NNE–NE trending normal faults. Notably, there...

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Main Authors: CAO Peng, YANG Yaqi, ZHENG Chaoyang, WANG Wei, CHEN Yuanlin, LIU Jianzhong, ZHAO Xinghua
Format: Article
Language:zho
Published: Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences 2025-05-01
Series:Dizhi lixue xuebao
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Online Access:https://journal.geomech.ac.cn//article/doi/10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025015
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author CAO Peng
YANG Yaqi
ZHENG Chaoyang
WANG Wei
CHEN Yuanlin
LIU Jianzhong
ZHAO Xinghua
author_facet CAO Peng
YANG Yaqi
ZHENG Chaoyang
WANG Wei
CHEN Yuanlin
LIU Jianzhong
ZHAO Xinghua
author_sort CAO Peng
collection DOAJ
description Objective  The Jiaodong Peninsula is the largest gold metallogenic province in China and represents the third-largest gold enrichment region globally. Most gold deposits in this area formed during the Early Cretaceous and are significantly controlled by NNE–NE trending normal faults. Notably, there are more limited gold reserves from the east of the Jiaodong Peninsula compared with those from the northwestern region. The Guocheng gold deposit with a medium size is located in the northeast of the Jiaolai Basin and develops complex fault structures. These gold ore bodies are mainly hosted within faults but show poor distribution regularity. Thus, it is necessary to determine the ore-controlling structures.   Methods  Through detailed surface and underground geological investigations and structural analysis, this study reveals that ore bodies are primarily controlled by a thrust-faulting system and are mainly hosted within marbles of the Jingshan Group and Muniushan granitic pluton.   Results  Precise structural analysis reveals that the study area had undergone at least three-stage tectonic activities. The first stage (D1) was driven by nearly NW–SE compression and formed NE-trending faults and a series of associated secondary faults. The second stage (D2) involved the NW–SE extension, which developed numerous NE-trending intermediate-basic dike swarms and resulted in the development of the Tudui faults and extensional reactivation of NE-trending faults. During the third stage (D3), the nearly NE-SW compression formed some post-ore-formation structures, including new reverse faults and reactivated pre-existing structures.  Conclusion  This study identifies NE-trending faults as principal ore-controlling structures, and proposes the coupling relationships between ore-bearing faults and the Guocheng and Houkuangdong faults. These main ore-bearing structures belong to the tensional-shear secondary faults in the footwalls of the Guocheng and Houkuangdong faults. The conclusion predicts that there are potential ore bodies in the footwall of the Houkuangdong Fault, which is also further confirmed by the drilling project. [Significance] Although the Guocheng gold deposit was also formed in the Early Cretaceous, the ore-controlling structures in this region are obviously different from the northwestern of the Jiaodong Peninsula, suggesting the heterogeneity of extension deformation in the Jiaodong Peninsula during the mineralization stage. Therefore, the thrust-faulting system may be one of the key ore-controlling structures in the east of the Jiaodong Peninsula.
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spelling doaj-art-132dea6b15ea4e2683a519f31cd16dae2025-08-20T03:14:50ZzhoInstitute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological SciencesDizhi lixue xuebao1006-66162025-05-0131352253810.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025015Analysis of ore-controlling structures and mineralization prediction of the Guocheng gold deposit in the northeastern margin of the Jiaolai BasinCAO PengYANG YaqiZHENG ChaoyangWANG WeiCHEN YuanlinLIU JianzhongZHAO XinghuaObjective  The Jiaodong Peninsula is the largest gold metallogenic province in China and represents the third-largest gold enrichment region globally. Most gold deposits in this area formed during the Early Cretaceous and are significantly controlled by NNE–NE trending normal faults. Notably, there are more limited gold reserves from the east of the Jiaodong Peninsula compared with those from the northwestern region. The Guocheng gold deposit with a medium size is located in the northeast of the Jiaolai Basin and develops complex fault structures. These gold ore bodies are mainly hosted within faults but show poor distribution regularity. Thus, it is necessary to determine the ore-controlling structures.   Methods  Through detailed surface and underground geological investigations and structural analysis, this study reveals that ore bodies are primarily controlled by a thrust-faulting system and are mainly hosted within marbles of the Jingshan Group and Muniushan granitic pluton.   Results  Precise structural analysis reveals that the study area had undergone at least three-stage tectonic activities. The first stage (D1) was driven by nearly NW–SE compression and formed NE-trending faults and a series of associated secondary faults. The second stage (D2) involved the NW–SE extension, which developed numerous NE-trending intermediate-basic dike swarms and resulted in the development of the Tudui faults and extensional reactivation of NE-trending faults. During the third stage (D3), the nearly NE-SW compression formed some post-ore-formation structures, including new reverse faults and reactivated pre-existing structures.  Conclusion  This study identifies NE-trending faults as principal ore-controlling structures, and proposes the coupling relationships between ore-bearing faults and the Guocheng and Houkuangdong faults. These main ore-bearing structures belong to the tensional-shear secondary faults in the footwalls of the Guocheng and Houkuangdong faults. The conclusion predicts that there are potential ore bodies in the footwall of the Houkuangdong Fault, which is also further confirmed by the drilling project. [Significance] Although the Guocheng gold deposit was also formed in the Early Cretaceous, the ore-controlling structures in this region are obviously different from the northwestern of the Jiaodong Peninsula, suggesting the heterogeneity of extension deformation in the Jiaodong Peninsula during the mineralization stage. Therefore, the thrust-faulting system may be one of the key ore-controlling structures in the east of the Jiaodong Peninsula.https://journal.geomech.ac.cn//article/doi/10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025015jiaodong peninsulaguocheng gold depositore-controlling structurethrust-faulting systemmetallogenic prediction
spellingShingle CAO Peng
YANG Yaqi
ZHENG Chaoyang
WANG Wei
CHEN Yuanlin
LIU Jianzhong
ZHAO Xinghua
Analysis of ore-controlling structures and mineralization prediction of the Guocheng gold deposit in the northeastern margin of the Jiaolai Basin
Dizhi lixue xuebao
jiaodong peninsula
guocheng gold deposit
ore-controlling structure
thrust-faulting system
metallogenic prediction
title Analysis of ore-controlling structures and mineralization prediction of the Guocheng gold deposit in the northeastern margin of the Jiaolai Basin
title_full Analysis of ore-controlling structures and mineralization prediction of the Guocheng gold deposit in the northeastern margin of the Jiaolai Basin
title_fullStr Analysis of ore-controlling structures and mineralization prediction of the Guocheng gold deposit in the northeastern margin of the Jiaolai Basin
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of ore-controlling structures and mineralization prediction of the Guocheng gold deposit in the northeastern margin of the Jiaolai Basin
title_short Analysis of ore-controlling structures and mineralization prediction of the Guocheng gold deposit in the northeastern margin of the Jiaolai Basin
title_sort analysis of ore controlling structures and mineralization prediction of the guocheng gold deposit in the northeastern margin of the jiaolai basin
topic jiaodong peninsula
guocheng gold deposit
ore-controlling structure
thrust-faulting system
metallogenic prediction
url https://journal.geomech.ac.cn//article/doi/10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025015
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