Mineralogical characteristics and their implications for deep prospecting of the Woxi gold deposit in western Hunan, China

Abstract：Using electronic microprobe, the mineralogical study of samples from level 29 of V3 vein of the Woxi deposit in western Hunan province shows that the ore minerals include major native gold, stibnite, sphalerite and Sb-Pb mineral phase. The mineralogical assemblage of the deep ore is more complicated than those of the shallow levels. The native gold from level 29 contains 0.52% Ag, 1.42% Sb, 4.48% Pb and 5.65% Bi in average, respectively, much higher than those from shallow places (above 24 flat). The gold fineness is <995 at deep, but >999 at shallow. All the facts above show that the position beneath the present mining levels is potential for Au-Pb-Zn- Bi±Cu poly-metalic orebodies; and that future deep prospecting should pay attention to poly-metallic mineralization.