Epithermal gold deposits (Mineral Resources Dept.

GSJ)

Epithermal gold deposits, geothermalsystems and volcanoes

Efficient Gold Exploration Through Applied Research

Epithermal gold deposits form in hydrothermal systems related to volcanic activity. These
systems, while active, discharge to the surface as hot springs or fumaroles. Thus, the study of
active hydrothermal systems by the Mineral Resources Department provides information on
hydrothermal processes that are related to metal transport and deposition. In turn, this
information can be used to predict how gold deposits form, and where to find them.

Epithermal gold deposits occur largely in volcano-plutonic arcs (island arcs as well as continental arcs)
associated with subduction zones, with ages similar to those of volcanism. The deposits form at shallow
depth, <1 km, and are hosted mainly by volcanic rocks.

There are two end-member styles of epithermal gold deposits, high sulfidation (HS)
and low sulfidation (LS)(Table 1). The two deposit styles form from fluids of
distinctly different chemical composition in contrasting volcanic environment (Fig.
1). The ore of HS deposits is hosted by leached silicic rock associated with acidic
fluids generated in the volcanic-hydrothermal environment (Fig. 1). In contrast, the fluid responsible for
formation of LS ore veins (Fig. 2) is similar to waters tapped by drilling beneath hot springs (Figs. 3 and
4) into geothermal systems, waters that are reduced and neutral-pH.

Many hydrothermal minerals are stable over limited

temperature and/or pH ranges. Thus, mapping the
distribution of alteration minerals in areas of epithermal
prospects allows the thermal and geochemical zonation to
be reconstructed, leading to a model of the hydrology of the
extinct hydrothermal system. Alteration minerals are also
crucial to distinguish the style of deposit, LS or HS (Fig. 5).

Boiling of liquid in the LS

geothermal environment leads to precipitation of gold in veins (Fig. 4),
accompanied by a variety of features such as adularia and bladed calcite (Table
1) cementing colloform and brecciated quartz; silica sinters may be the surface

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 Epithermal gold deposits (Mineral Resources Dept. GSJ)

expression of such veins (Figs. 3 and 4), and may be accompanied by nearby zones of surficial steam-
heated acid alteration (Fig. 5).

Exploration for epithermal systems must be based on basic geologic characteristics

(Table 1), especially those that can be recognized easily in the field, as these
characteristics reflect ore-forming processes. Our understanding of ore-forming
processes will continue to be improved through the study of active hydrothermal
systems. Interpretations of such processes can then be used to guide efficiently mineral exploration.

Table 1 General characteristics of epithermal gold deposits associated with subaerial volcanic rocks

Low sulfidation (LS) High sulfidation (HS)

.
(Adularia-sericite) (Acid-sulfate)
Disseminated ore dominant, replacement
Open-space veins dominant, stockwork ore
ore common
Deposit form common
Stockwork ore minor, veins commonly
Disseminated and replacement ore minor
subordinate
Veins, cavity filling (bands, colloforms,
Textures Wallrock replacement, breccias, veins
druses), breccias
Pyrite, electrum, gold, sphalerite, galena Pyrite, enargite, chalcopyrite, tennantite,
Ore minerals
(arsenopyrite) covellite, gold, tellurides
Quartz, chalcedony, calcite, adularia, illite, Quartz, alunite, barite, kaolinite,
Gangue
carbonates pyrophyllite
Cu, Au, Ag, As (Pb, Hg, Sb, Te, Sn, Mo,
Metals Au, Ag, Zn, Pb (Cu, Sb, As, Hg, Se)
Bi)

For more information contact:

Masahiro AOKI
e-mail: aoki@gsj.go.jp

To Mineral Resources Department

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