The Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ) on the North Island of New Zealand is located above the subducting Pacific slab and hosts hydrothermal systems related to subduction, arc magmatism and crustal extension. In these systems, gold is transported primarily as sulphide complexes, with gold being deposited in response to boiling and mixing of the deep geothermal fluids. Conglomerate cobbles and hydrothermal fumaroles from the upper Retaruke River in the western TVZ are mineralised deposits that have been eroded from the nearby Miocene alluvial sedimentary plateau. Abundant gold-bearing pyrite was precipitated in the conglomerates and fumaroles by late hydrothermal process, primarily occurring as veinlets, disseminations and fine-grained aggregates which consists discrete euhedral microcrystals. Scanning electron microscopy combined with X-ray energy disperses spectroscopy shows that pyrites are commendably affected by late hydrothermal fluids, possibly by the carbonate fluid. Electron probe microanalysis revealed that the pyrite contains 20–120 ppm Au (averaging 60 ppm). Wavelength dispersive spectral elemental mapping suggests that gold is distributed uniformly in pyrite, indicating structurally bound gold (solid solution) in pyrite. Gold mineralisation recognised in the conglomerates and fumaroles demonstrates that the upper Retaruke River is a promising target for future gold exploration.

中文翻译：

---

新西兰陶波火山带西部热液黄铁矿中金的存在

新西兰北岛的陶波火山带 (TVZ) 位于俯冲太平洋板块上方，拥有与俯冲、弧岩浆作用和地壳伸展相关的热液系统。在这些系统中，金主要以硫化物复合物的形式运输，金随着深层地热流体的沸腾和混合而沉积。来自 TVZ 西部 Retaruke 河上游的砾岩鹅卵石和热液喷气孔是被附近中新世冲积沉积高原侵蚀的矿化沉积物。大量的含金黄铁矿通过晚期热液过程在砾岩和喷气孔中沉淀，主要以细脉、散布和细粒聚集体形式出现，由离散的自形微晶组成。扫描电子显微镜结合 X 射线能量色散谱表明黄铁矿受到晚期热液流体的影响，可能是碳酸盐流体。电子探针微量分析显示黄铁矿含有 20-120 ppm Au（平均 60 ppm）。波长色散光谱元素映射表明金均匀分布在黄铁矿中，表明结构结合的金（固溶体）在黄铁矿中。在砾岩和喷气孔中确认的金矿化表明 Retaruke 河上游是未来黄金勘探的一个有希望的目标。波长色散光谱元素映射表明金均匀分布在黄铁矿中，表明结构结合的金（固溶体）在黄铁矿中。在砾岩和喷气孔中确认的金矿化表明 Retaruke 河上游是未来黄金勘探的一个有希望的目标。波长色散光谱元素映射表明金均匀分布在黄铁矿中，表明结构结合的金（固溶体）在黄铁矿中。在砾岩和喷气孔中确认的金矿化表明 Retaruke 河上游是未来黄金勘探的一个有希望的目标。