Trace elements geochemistry of different structural-lithofacies zones of the Chen’er gold deposit in Shaanxi Province and structural ore-control mechanism

Abstract：The content of trace elements, especially the content of Au, becomes higher from the schistosity zone through the cataclastic alteration zone to quartz vein zone, as evidenced by an analysis of features of trace elements in different structure-lithofacies zones of the Chen’er gold deposit. Strain measurement of quartz in different structural-lithofacies zones shows that the strain intensity in the schistosity zone is higher than that in the cataclastic alteration zone, and the strain intensities are concentrated in the schistosity zone. The R Cluster Analysis indicates that Au is closely related to Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn and slightly related to Ni and Co. The authors have found that the cataclastic alteration zone had a lot of structures and made ore fluid concentration easy, and the schistosity zone had weak capability for concentrating the ore fluid. The transition of ductile and brittle deformation not only controlled the space of the ore deposit but also determined the direction of elements transportation.