Gold Mineralization in Black-Shale Series of the Northern Margin of the North China Craton

Several large gold deposits have been discovered in the black-shale series in the northern margin of the North China Craton in recent years. These deposits may have experienced a complex evolutionary history. The black-shale series was deposited in the continental margin rifts when the North China Craton underwent a regional extension and break-up event during the Mesoproterozoic. The rock series, composed of clastic rocks, carbonate rocks and minor volcanics, are rich in gold and became the source for gold mineralization. EW oriented structures, results of the evolution of the Palaeo-Mongolia Ocean, provided pathways for Hercynian-Indosinian tectono-magmatism and subsequent hydrothermal events. Evidence shows that gold mineralization is closely related to post-collisional granitoid intrusions both in space and time.