Gold Deposits in the Earth’s History

Abstract

The distribution of major gold deposits in the Earth’s history is discussed. The primary heterogeneity of the Archean crust in terms of gold mineralization is demonstrated. Characteristics of the main auriferous metallogenic epochs are given. The predominant associations of the orogenic gold deposits with volcanogenic massive sulfide and copper–nickel deposits during the early periods of the Earth (Archean–Proterozoic) and those with tungsten, molybdenum, copper, antimony, mercury, and tin during the Phanerozoic are demonstrated. The analysis of the distribution of the mineralogical and geochemical types of gold mineralization proper also demonstrates their substantial diversity in the Phanerozoic compared to the Precambrian. These data reflect the mantle–crustal origin of gold mineralization in general and attest to an increase in the contribution of the crustal material into gold mineralization with the age of the Earth. The known gap in lode gold formation (1.7–0.8 Ga), which was caused by the stable cratonic regime of the long-lived Columbia (Nuna)–Rodinia supercontinent is discussed.