New orogenic type gold occurrences in the Uyanga ore knot (Central Mongolia)

Abstract

The Khangay-Khentey belt is located in central Mongolia (Central Asian Orogenic Belt). The Uyanga ore knot district of the Khangay metallogenic zone are hosted by the lower-middle Devonian volcanogenic-sedimentary Erdenetsogt formation. The new Burgetei, Ult and Senjit gold occurrences were studied. The rocks of the Erdenetsogt formation have an irregular gold content: 0.96 g/t Au is determined in quartz vein (BG-7/16), Au content is highest up to 3.5 g/t in the quartzite-jasper (Ult-7/16 and Ult-9/16) cut by quartz veins in the Ult occurrence. The Senjit occurrence represents Au-Hg-Sb epizonal level of orogenic gold deposits structure with highest Hgand Sb content up to 8.5 ppm and 39 ppm respectively. The Au content of arsenic pyrite of the Burgetei and Ult is below the detection limit by electron microprobe analysis. The Au content of arsenopyrite of the Ult occurrence is highest (up to 238 ppm). The ore-mineral assemblages in the new gold occurrences reflect the differences between three explored sites, formed in the course of fluid evolution during the water-rock interaction. Variable concentrations of indicative elements (As, Te, Sb, Hg) and their ratios confirm this fact.