Student: Qingtao Zeng

Thesis: Geology, Geochronology and Genesis of Gold deposits in the West Qinling Orogenic Belt, central China

Summary

My research will commence from the systematic and comprehensive study on the Liba gold, especially emphasising on the geochronological study by the constraints on the age of the Zhongchuan granitic pluton, the peak metamorphism age of the host rocks and the precise mineralizing age. The geochronological data will construct a temporal framework and clarify the contributions of different geological processes in ore generation. Furthermore, expend the scale to the main so-called orogenic gold deposits between the Shangdan Suture and the Lixian-shanyang thrust fault, conclude the general model and fluid characteristics, thirdly, compare the so-called orogenic gold and Carlin (Carlin-like) gold in West Qinling to generate metallogenic model to frame both the two and figure out and how they fit into the geodynamic model constructed on the precise geochronological and geochemical data from the related intrusions and the metamorphism in the West Qinling orogenic belt.

Why this research is important

Located between the Precambrian North China and Yangtze cratons, and east of the Songpan-Ganzi basin, the West Qinling orogenic belt is an abundant producer of gold ores and has attracted significant exploration attention in past decades, but the nature and timing of gold deposit formation remains controversial, particularly with respect to their tectonic settings at the time of formation and the equivocal classification about the gold deposits along the West Qinling orogenic belt.

This project will constrain the timing of the mineralization within the evolution of the host terrane by obtaining geochronological data using multi-isotopic methods on well-documented samples.

This research will ultimately lead to an understanding of the mineralisation process within the context of the overall terrane evolution, including potential triggers for the mineralisation event and insights on the classification of the deposit.

Supervisors

Prof. Campbell McCuaig, Dr Craig Hart, Professor Peter Cawood, Prof. Robert Kerrich and Prof. Yanjing Chen

Funding

China Scholarship Council, the Centre of Exploration Targeting, Peking University, Society of Economic Geologists

Contact: Zengq01@student.uwa.edu.au

Phone: 61-8- 6488 2675