Ore Mineralogy and Typomorphism of Native Gold of the Spokoininsky Cluster of the Aldan–Stanovoy Gold Province

Abstract

The ore mineralogy of a new promising target of the Aldan–Stanovoy gold province—the Spokoininsky cluster—is considered. Gold mineralization is represented by a volumetric, nonlinear type, unconventional for the region; it is related to elements of fold structures and reverse fault in the enclosing metamorphic basement rocks. Vein-disseminated sulfide–(pyrite)–quartz ores build up deposit-like bodies in beresites from gneisses and granite gneisses and are associated with Mesozoic igneous rocks of subalkaline formations. Mineralization is characterized by polysulfide (Fe-Cu-Pb); gold–bismuth (Au-Bi) and gold–silver–telluride (Au-Ag-Te) mineral types. Different mineral types have their own typomorphic minerals and typochemistry (fineness and impurities) of native gold. The widespread distribution of telluride mineralization and its great importance in the formation of gold mineralization on the Aldan shield is confirmed. The distribution area of bismuth (including tellurium–bismuth) mineralization in the southern part of the Aldan shield, in the zone of influence of the Stanovoy deep fault, has been identified.

Editorial for the Special Issue “Native Gold as a Specific Indicator Mineral for Gold Deposits”

“…Kondratieva and coauthors [8] studied the typomorphism of native gold in the Aldan-Stanovoya gold-bearing province, Aldan Shield, Russia. Denudation processes and gold placer formations affected the morphological and geochemical properties of primary ores' native gold and eluvial deposits' supergene gold in this area.…”