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The Age of the Kubaka Epithermal Gold-Silver Deposit (Omolon Massif, Northeast Russia): Geological and Isotopic-Geochronological Constrains (U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar Methods)

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Abstract

New data are obtained on the age of the epithermal gold-silver mineralization of the Kubaka deposit (Omolon Massif, Northeast Russia). Our geological observations in the open-pit mine of the Zokol zone of the deposit allow us to conclude that the mineralization formed between the eruptions of Upper Devonian ore-hosting volcanites of the Kedon series (zircon U-Pb age ~ 370 ± 2.5 Ma, SHRIMP) and Lower-to-Middle Jurassic trachybasalts and picrobasalts of the Omolon Complex (40Ar/39Ar plateau age of 179 ± 8 Ma) without the vein penetrating into the Carboniferous Corba Formation. The 40Ar/39Ar plateau age for a white adularia from the productive quartz vein yielded 299 ± 3.5 Ma (MSWD = 0.91, p = 0.43, 66% of 39Ar released in four steps). Our results contradict a commonly accepted concept of “polychronous” ore formation (during the Carboniferous and Cretaceous) or long-term mineralization at the Kubaka deposit, and likely indicate a high probability of at least an Upper Carboniferous upper age limit of epithermal gold mineralization.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank A.A. Sorokin and A.V. Prokopiev for positive reviews and useful comments.

Funding

The studies were supported by the Program “Far East”, grant 18-2-015, and were performed within the State Assignment for NEISRI FEB RAS using NIR no. AAAA-A17-117022850033-6 theme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. North East Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Institute, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Portovaya 35, 685000, Magadan, Russia

    V. V. Akinin, A. N. Glukhov, G. O. Polzunenkov & A. V. Alshevsky

  2. Karpinsky Russian Geological Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Sredniy pr. 74, 199106, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

    D. I. Alexeev

Authors
  1. V. V. Akinin
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  2. A. N. Glukhov
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  3. G. O. Polzunenkov
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  4. A. V. Alshevsky
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  5. D. I. Alexeev
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Correspondence to V. V. Akinin.

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Recommended for publishing by A.A. Sorokin

Translated by N. Kovriga

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Akinin, V.V., Glukhov, A.N., Polzunenkov, G.O. et al. The Age of the Kubaka Epithermal Gold-Silver Deposit (Omolon Massif, Northeast Russia): Geological and Isotopic-Geochronological Constrains (U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar Methods). Russ. J. of Pac. Geol. 14, 32–42 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1819714020010029

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