TYPES, FEATURES AND GEODYNAMIC SETTINGS OF THE GOLD DEPOSITS IN ALTAY MOUNTAIN, NORTHERN XINJIANG

Two types of gold deposits in Altay Mountain, Northern Xinjiang are classified on the basis of metallogenesis, principal ore-controlling factors, mineralogical association, structure and texture of ore and nature of host rock assemblage. The two types involve orogenic belt gold deposit and epithermal gold deposit. The former is controlled by ductile shear zone and subdivided into two subtypes of gold ore (quartz vein type and altered rock type). The latter, controlled by volcanic structure and brittle faults, can be subdivided into high-sulfide and low-sulfide epithermal gold deposits. The high-sulfide epithermal gold deposits were formed in Carboniferous, corresponding to the Hercynian geodynamic setting of collisional orogeny. The orogenic belt type was formed in the Permian post-collisional orogeny stage. The low-sulfide epithermal gold deposits were formed in Mesozoic stable landmass stage.