Age and Origin of the Dongping Au-Te Deposit in the North China Craton Revisited: Evidence from Paragenesis, Geochemistry, and In Situ U-Pb Geochronology of Garnet

Abstract Dongping is the largest Au-Te vein deposit (~120 t Au) in North China craton, but its age, origin, and setting remain unsolved. Here, we integrate paragenesis, geochemistry, situ U-Pb geochronology of garnet to constrain timing possible origin deposit. Gold mineralization at hosted Shuiquangou alkaline complex (ca. 401–390 Ma) dominated by quartz-sulfide veins with minor ores adjacent alteration envelopes. Andradite grossular garnets are recognized pre-, syn-, post-ore quartz as well mineralized envelopes closely associated a variety ore gangue minerals, mainly including K-feldspar, quartz, specularite, magnetite, pyrite, tellurides, epidote, calcite. The paragenetic, textural, fluid inclusion, compositional data suggest that precipitated directly from low-salinity 302° 383°C 90 330 bar. Garnets various have similar U contents ranging 0.80 13.89 mg/kg yield reproducible dates 142 ± 5 139 6 Ma (1?) laser ablation-inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry. dating results gold occurred Early Cretaceous thus preclude genetic link between ore-hosting intrusion commonly suggested. When combined independent geologic, geochemical, geochronological studies, new allow us classify an oxidized intrusion-related deposit, causative magma likely derived melting ancient enriched lithospheric mantle source due destruction subcontinental keel beneath craton—a catastrophic event induced westward subduction Paleo-Pacific plate. This study highlights potential robust geochronometer for deposits elsewhere.