Lyell Collection
Geological Society, London, Special Publications
Lyell Centre  |   Lyell Collection  |   Subscriptions   |   Geological Society  |   Email alerts  |   Online bookshop  |   Help

Keywords:
Author:
Advanced search>>
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Leahy, K.
Right arrow Articles by Napier, R. W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
GeoRef
Right arrow GeoRef Citation
Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 2005; v. 248; p. 119-132;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.2005.248.01.06
© 2005 Geological Society of London

Geodynamic processes that control the global distribution of giant gold deposits

K. Leahy1, A. C. Barnicoat2,*, R. P. Foster3, S. R. Lawrence3 & R. W. Napier4

1 Environmental Resources Management Ltd, Eaton House, Wallbrook Close, North Hinksey Lane, Oxford, Oxon OX2 0QS, UK kevin.leahy{at}erm.com
2 RDR, School of Earth Sciences, University of Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
* CRC, Geoscience Australia, PO Box 378, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
3 Exploration Consultants Ltd, Highlands Farm, Greys Road, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 4PR, UK
4 GFMS Mining & Exploration Consulting, Hedges House, 153–155 Regent Street, London W1B 4JE, UK

This paper address the question of why giant gold deposits are so unevenly spread over the continents, what processes control their distribution, and how more might be found? Using the source-migration-trap paradigm, it is proposed that the regional distribution of gold deposits is controlled by fluid access to gold sources on a regional scale, and by large-scale migration mechanisms. Local distribution is controlled by migration and trap processes, not discussed in this paper. Our current levels of understanding of gold suggest a strong geodynamic control in the generation of enriched source rocks and the fluids that may carry gold, particularly the influence of subduction and accretion during orogeny. A new six-fold geodynamic classification system that emphasizes subduction and accretion processes has been used here qualitatively to assess the potential for gold-bearing source areas. The resulting classification is compared to the distribution of 181 known giant gold deposits (those with more than 100 t contained gold). The results confirm the proposition that the distribution of giant gold deposits is ultimately a function of the amount of oceanic crust consumed during the orogenic episode that built that part of the crust. Of the six geodynamic classes described, large ocean closure orogens were found to contain the most gold, with nearly half of the world’s gold held in known giant deposits. Implications for understanding ore genesis, exploration for other giant deposits, and for other empirical explanations of the distribution of gold are discussed further.