Characteristics of Triassic epithermal Au mineralization at the Q prospect, Chatree mining area, Central Thailand

Abstract

The Chatree deposit is located in the Loei-Phetchabun-Nakhon Nayok volcanic belt that extends from Laos in the north through central and eastern Thailand into Cambodia. Gold-bearing quartz veins at the Q prospect of the Chatree deposit are hosted within polymictic andesitic breccia and volcanic sedimentary breccia. The orebodies of the Chatree deposit consist of veins, veinlets and stockwork. Gold-bearing quartz veins are composed mainly of quartz, calcite and illite with small amounts of adularia, chlorite and sulfide minerals. The gold-bearing quartz veins were divided into five stages based on the cross-cutting relationship and mineral assemblage. Intense gold mineralization occurred in Stages I and IV. The mineral assemblage of Stages I and IV is characterized by quartz-calcite-illite-laumontite-adularia-chlorite-sulfide minerals and electrum.

Geochemical characteristics of gold mineralization of the Huai Kham On deposit, Sukhothai Fold Belt, Northern Thailand

“…The oxygen isotopic ratios of the hydrothermal solution were calculated at 280°C. data for igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks, sedimentary rocks, limestone, meteoric water, seawater, magmatic water, metamorphic water, and gold‐bearing quartz veins from the Hishikari, Chatree, SW Scottish Highland and Na Son deposits are also plotted for comparison (Wenner and Taylor, 1973; Taylor, 1974; White and Hedenquist, 1990; Grunow et al ., 1996; Sakai and Matsuhisa, 1996; Hayashi et al ., 2000; Anderson et al ., 2004; Tangwattananukul et al ., 2014; Pham‐Ngoc et al ., 2016)…”

“…Numerous studies on epithermal gold deposits have been carried out worldwide (e.g., Cooke and Bloom, 1990; Izawa et al ., 1990; White and Hedenquist, 1990; Hedenquist et al ., 1996; Sillitoe et al ., 1996; Tangwattananukul et al ., 2014). Based on the results of those studies, a genetic link between magmas and epithermal gold deposits has been proposed (e.g., Hedenquist et al ., 1994; Matsuhisa and Aoki, 1994; Simmons, 1995; Hedenquist et al ., 1998).…”

“…Many mineral deposits are distributed in Thailand along the Loei‐Phetchabun and Sukhothai Fold Belt including the Puthep copper‐gold skarn deposit, Phu Thap Fah gold skarn deposit, Chatree epithermal gold deposit, Khao Pranom Pha gold skarn deposit, Ban Bothong gold skarn deposit, Huai Kham On gold deposit, and Huai Yuak gold deposit (Shawee, 1984; Sitthithaworn et al ., 1993; Zaw et al ., 2007; Khositanont et al ., 2007a; Kamvong and Zaw, 2009; Kamvong et al ., 2014; Tangwattananukul et al ., 2014; Zaw et al ., 2014; Tangwattananukul, 2015; Tangwattananukul and Ishiyama, 2018) (Figure 1a). Previous studies suggested that the gold deposits in the Loei‐Phetchabun Fold Belt are spatially and temporally associated with subvolcanic intrusions (Sillitoe and Bonham Jr., 1984; Salam et al ., 2008; Tangwattananukul et al ., 2014; Tangwattananukul and Ishiyama, 2018).…”

Characteristics of Cu–Mo Mineralization in the Chatree Mining Area, Central Thailand

“…On the other hand, the age of adularia of the main Au mineralization is estimated to be 250 AE 0.8 Ma (Late Permian) for Au in the central to northern parts of the Chatree deposit (Salam et al, 2013). The Au-bearing quartz veins were formed at the temperature of 200 C and pressure of 20 bars (Tangwattananukul et al, 2014). Origin of fluid responsible for Au-bearing quartz vein was estimated as seawater being mixed with a subordinate quantity of magmatic water (Tangwattananukul et al, 2014).…”

“…The Au-bearing quartz veins were formed at the temperature of 200 C and pressure of 20 bars (Tangwattananukul et al, 2014). Origin of fluid responsible for Au-bearing quartz vein was estimated as seawater being mixed with a subordinate quantity of magmatic water (Tangwattananukul et al, 2014). The characteristics between Cu-Mo mineralization and epithermal Au mineralization at the Chatree mining area regarding geology, age of mineralization, mineral assemblage and origin of fluid suggest that these two mineralizations are different in origin.…”