Texture and Trace Element Composition of Rutile in Orogenic Gold Deposits

Abstract Rutile from a wide range of orogenic gold deposits and districts, including representative world-class deposits, was investigated for its texture trace element composition using scanning electron microscopy, probe microanalysis, laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Deposits are hosted in various country rocks felsic to ultramafic igneous sedimentary rocks, which were metamorphosed lower greenschist middle amphibolite facies with ages mineralization that Archean Phanerozoic. presents size, texture, chemical zoning. is the dominant TiO2 polymorph mineralization. Elemental plots partial least square-discriminant analysis suggest exerts strong control on concentrations V, Nb, Ta, Cr rutile, whereas metamorphic controls Zr, Sc, U, rare earth elements, Y, Ca, Th, Ba rutile. The rutile can be distinguished other deposit types geologic settings. ratios Nb/V, Nb/Sb, Sn/V differentiate compared those settings environments. A binary plot Nb/V vs. W enables distinction metamorphic-hydrothermal hydrothermal magmatic-hydrothermal magmatic Nb/Sb distinguishes Results used establish geochemical criteria constrain source indicator mineral surveys potentially guide exploration.