This paper is the result of mineral exploration engineering.

Objective Gold deposit is one of the dominant minerals in North China, which is rich in resources and diverse in types. It is of great significance to carry out the research on the characteristics of gold resources and metallogenic regularity for further deployment of gold exploration in North China.

Methods Based on the systematic collection of the previous gold research results in this area, the resource endowment, types of deposits, characteristics of spatiotemporal distribution and ore controlling, metallogenic evolution and potentiality have been summarized comprehensively.

Results Firstly, according to the genetic type of the deposit, six types of deposits can be divided in North China, including the types of granite greenstone, volcanic, magmatic hydrothermal, metaclastic hydrothermal, placer and weathering crust. Secondly, it can be divided into 44 types of mineral prediction, among which the types of magmatic rocks, volcanic rocks and greenstones are the most important.Besides, statistics precise chronology data of gold deposits indicate that there are 5 periods of gold mineralization in the geological history in North China. These periods are Wutai-Lüliang, Variscan, Indosinian, Yanshanian and Himalayan. The Au mineralization during Yanshanian period is the strongest one.The gold deposits are mainly occurred in the margin of North China Craton, rift zones and orogenic belts, which formed in continental rift, island arc (volcanic arc) and active continental margin environments.

Conclusions The comprehensive analysis shows that 47 important gold prospecting prospects can be divided in North China, and deep exploration and peripheral investigation in important prospective areas and ore concentration areas should be strengthened to achieve a breakthrough in gold prospecting.