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The Boring Billion: A key to resolving controversy on ore-fluid source models for orogenic gold deposits?

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Abstract

Orogenic gold systems are arguably the most variable mineral system globally in terms of an extreme range of depositional depths, corresponding P–T conditions and wallrock alteration assemblages, structural controls and styles, and element associations. This diversity has ignited controversy on genetic models for the two decades since orogenic gold became a widely accepted term. From the diverse genetic models proposed, the two groups of fluid-source models that meet most genetic constraints are the following: (1) deposition from crustal fluids via metamorphic devolatilization at the amphibolite-greenschist transition, or potentially even deeper under specific tectonic conditions, and (2) deposition from sub-crustal fluids either by direct devolatilization of subducted oceanic crust and overlying sediment wedge or of previously metasomatized and fertilized mantle lithosphere. Both models normally postulate gold deposition within a geodynamic system that evolves from extension through compression into syn-gold transpression. Crustal metamorphic models normally invoke subduction-driven geodynamic systems that involve advection of crustal metamorphic fluids up crustal-scale faults. In contrast, sub-crustal devolatilization models involve subduction-related processes as both geodynamic drivers and gold sources with fault-controlled fluid conduits extending to below the Moho. The overall lack of orogenic gold and other subduction-related mineral systems during the unique Boring Billion (1.8–0.8 Ga) period provides an important constraint on this genetic debate. Boring Billion orogens had varying geodynamic drivers, asthenosphere upwelling, and low-P metamorphic terranes with crustal-scale faults, all parameters consistent with formation of orogenic gold systems, during subduction-independent accordion-type tectonics. The absence of orogenic gold during the Boring Billion provides critical evidence against the crustal metamorphic model and furthers the sub-crustal model which requires subduction as both the geodynamic driver and auriferous fluid source.

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Fig. 1

Modified from Goldfarb et al. (2001), the key reference that shows multiple tectonic scenarios, with mantle plume impingement on subduction zone removed. E Now accepted as representing a subcrustal fluid model (Goldfarb and Santosh 2014)

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Acknowledgements

David Groves acknowledges Rich Goldfarb for a 25-year association in attempting to unravel orogenic gold genesis and Jun Deng for integrating him into the CUGB research group. We are grateful for comments from two anonymous reviewers and the Editor Bernd Lehmann for his incisive editorial and geological assistance.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (grants 42125203, 42130801) and 111 Project (BP0719021) of China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    David I. Groves, Qingfei Wang & Liang Zhang

  2. School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    M. Santosh

  3. Department of Earth Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia

    M. Santosh

  4. Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China

    Hesen Zhao

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  1. David I. Groves
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Correspondence to David I. Groves.

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Groves, D.I., Santosh, M., Wang, Q. et al. The Boring Billion: A key to resolving controversy on ore-fluid source models for orogenic gold deposits?. Miner Deposita 59, 435–444 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-023-01244-1

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