Characteristics of Fluid Inclusions and Metallogenesis of Annage Gold Deposit in Qinghai Province, China

The Annage gold deposit is located at the east part of the eastern Kunlun orogenic belt. The characteristics of ore-forming fluids and metallogenesis were discussed by using fluid petrography, micro-thermometry and hydrogen-oxygen isotope analysis. Three stages, namely quartz-pyrite stage (A), quartz-polymetallic-sulfide stage (B) and quartz-ankerite stage (C) were included in the hydrothermal process as indicated by the results of this study. Inclusions developed in ore-bearing quartz veins from stages A and B are of three types: aqueous inclusions (type I), CO2-bearing inclusions (type II) and pure CO2 inclusions (type III). All three types of inclusions, mainly type I, are presented in stage A, having homogenization temperatures at 180°C - 360°C, and salinities ranging from 0.53% to 21.44%. In addition to development of type I inclusions, type II and III inclusions increase significantly in stage B, with homogenization temperatures ranging from 160°C to 330°C, and salinities are from 1.32% to 22.01%. Based on micro-thermometry, fluids in Annage deposit are of H2O-NaCl-CO2 type with medium-high temperature (140°C - 395°C) and medium-low salinity (0.53% - 22.01%). Results of hydrogen-oxygen isotope analysis show that ore-forming fluid is mainly CO2-rich magmatic fluid, mixed with shallow groundwater or metamorphic hydrothermal in the late mineralization stages. Calculated metallogenic pressures are in the range of 79 - 130MPa corresponding to a maximum depth of 4.8 km. The Annage deposit is a mesothermal quartz vein type gold deposit.