Primary superimposed halo features and deep ore-prospecting in the Donggualin gold deposit, Yunnan Province

The Donggualin gold deposit is located in the Zhenyuan gold orefield of the Ailaoshan gold ore belt. Based on field investigation, the authors figured out the prospecting criteria of trace elements by multivariate statistical methods and, in combination with geochemical parameters information, counted out the axial zonation of the ore deposit, built the ideal zoning model of the primary superimposed halos, constructed criteria for evaluating the ore potential in depth and clearly indicated the orientation in search for deep orebodies. Some conclusions have been reached:(1)The ore-forming element Au is close to elements Ni, Co, Cu, Mn, Sb, Sn, and the axial zonation of the ore deposit from top to bottom is As-Bi-Mn-Pb-Sb-B-Sn-Cu-Co-Hg-Ni-Zn-Au-Ag-Mo. (2) The front halo elements and the rear halo elements are existent together, suggesting that the orebodies extend in the deeper place; furthermore, deep ore prospecting should be carried out in the NE direction of the ore bodies. (3) Indexes such as(B×As×Hg×Sb)_D/(Mn×Ni×Co×Sn)_D can be used to predict the ore potentials in the deep portions of the orebodies.