Regional Structural Similarities of Carlin-Type Gold Mineralization in Nevada, Siberia and South China: a Comparison

ABSTRACT
Three provinces with Carlin-type gold mineralization are compared
within the Pacific rim: (1) the Western USA, (2) southeast
Siberia, and (3) South China. Well-recognized characteristic features
of the deposits in all three provinces typically include mostly localscale
factors. These are: (1) strong structural control by faults and
folds, (2) dolomite-limestone lithology of host rocks in combination
with overlying impermeable packages, (3) clay-silica alteration with
jasperoids, (4) very fine (<0.2 micron) gold associated with pyrite, arsenical pyrite and silica, and spatial-genetic association with Sb and Hg mineralization, (5) spatial (genetic?) association with intrusives of various compositions. Review of regional-scale characteristic features for the three provinces reveals a similar tectonic setting. The gold mineralization occurs on the margins and within the oroclinal bends near cratons bounded by strike-slip faults. These strikeslip faults and related structures seem to be a principal controlling factor of the distribution of gold mineralization within each province. All provinces reveal traces of hotspot magmatism.