Superlarge gold deposit, hosted in Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian low-grade metamorphic carbonaceous turbidites. The orebodies are controlled by a series of NE-NNE-trending, brittle – ductile shear zones. Twenty-four mineralized zones have been recognized; gold reserves have been identified at approximately 37 tonnes. Five stages of vein emplacement and hydrothermal mineralization can be distinguished: (1) early quartz stage, characterized by the occurrence of quartz veins; (2) arsenopyrite-pyrite–quartz stage, characterized by the formation of auriferous quartz veinlets and stockworks; (3) polymetallic sulfide quartz stage, characterized by the presence of auriferous polymetallic sulfide quartz veinlets and stockworks; (4) antimony–quartz stage, characterized by the formation of stibnite–jamesonite quartz veins; and (5) quartz – carbonate vein stage. Stages 2 and 3 represent the main gold mineralization, while stage 4 represents a major antimony mineralization episode in the Sawayaerdun deposit. Hydrothermal alteration is characterized by silicification, pyritization, arsenopyritization, sericitization, carbonatization and chloritization.
References
- Fuquan Yang, Yitian Wang, Mengwen Li, Huijuan Deng, and Liben Wang (2005): Geological characteristics of black shale-hosted ore deposits and their prospecting in the Tianshan mountains, Xinjiang. Geological Bulletin of China 24(5), 462-469.
- Fuquan Yang, Jingwen Mao, Yitian Wang, Bierlein, F.P., Huishou Ye, Mengwen Li, Caisheng Zhao, and Jinhua Ye (2007): Geology and Metallogenesis of the Sawayaerdun Gold Deposit in the Southwestern Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China. Resource Geology 57(1), 57-75.
- Jiajun Liu, Minghua Zheng, Cook, N.J., Xunrong Long, Jun Deng, and Yusheng Zhai (2007): Geological and geochemical characteristics of the Sawaya'erdun gold deposit, southwestern Chinese Tianshan. Ore Geology Reviews 32, 125-156.
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