Geological, Mineralogical, and Geochemical Features of the Ugakhan Gold Ore Deposit of the Sukhoi Log Type (Baikal–Patom Belt)

Abstract

––The Ugakhan gold ore deposit is located within the Lena gold ore province, the largest one in Russia. It belongs to the group of deposits of the Sukhoi Log genetic type. We present results of petrological, mineralogical, and isotope-geochemical study of gold mineralization at the deposit. A scheme of the sequence of mineral formation at the deposit has been developed, which includes five stages: (1) the early (syndiagenetic) stage, when framboid pyrite I enriched in Au, Ni, Co, and As formed; 2) the stage of catagenesis of ore-bearing sediments, with recrystallization of early pyrite I and crystallization of pyrite II, also with elevated Au, Ni, Co, and As contents; (3) the stage of progressive metamorphism, with the formation of ore pyrrhotite from a water–CO2 fluid with a high content of H2S; (4) the ore formation stage, marked by an assemblage of pyrite III, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and native gold at the deposit, which was synchronous with regressive metamorphism in the region; (5) crystallization of post-ore euhedral coarse-grained pyrite IV. The geochemical and isotope (δ34S and Pb–Pb) data rule out the input of mineral-forming components from an additional (external) source during the hydrothermal-metasomatic transformation of ore-bearing rocks. The δ34S values in the early morphotypes of pyrite in the deposit ores vary from +5.7 to +9.1‰ and are close to the δ34S values of the barren rocks of the Buzhuikhta Formation (+4.2 to +16.4‰). The Pb–Pb isotope characteristics and regularities of variations in Pb isotope composition established for gold mineralization indicate a predominant inflow of lead from Neoproterozoic metasedimentary strata. The mineral and geochemical specifics of the Ugakhan deposit are consistent with the concept of the metamorphic origin of gold deposits of the Sukhoi Log type, which confirms that the rocks of the Buzhuikhta Formation are promising for new gold ore objects.