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Heihaibei Au deposit, Golmud City (Ge'ermu Co.), Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, China i
Regional Level Types
Heihaibei Au deposit Deposit
Golmud City (Ge'ermu Co.) County
Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Prefecture
Qinghai Province
China Country

Regional Level Types
Heihaibei Au deposit	Deposit
Golmud City (Ge'ermu Co.)	County
Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture	Prefecture
Qinghai	Province
China	Country

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):

36° 6' 0'' North , 93° 5' 59'' East

Latitude & Longitude (decimal):

G#: wn6jqec3e

Type:

Köppen climate type:

Mindat Locality ID:

423450

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:2:423450:3

GUID (UUID V4):

Comprised of six distinct ore bodies which have been identified by drilling efforts. The deposits yields a total reserve of 9.5 t Au with an average grade of 6 g/t.

In recent years, the Kunlun River goldfield (KLRA) in the SKL has gradually become an important gold mineralization belt because more than 10 gold deposits or occurrences were discovered throughout this area, among which the Heihaibei gold deposit is the largest.
Weak hydrothermal alterations within monzogranite wall rocks are mostly silicification and sericitization, with minor chloritization and carbonatization. In monzogranites, biotite is basically altered into chlorite, plagioclase is partially altered into muscovite, and hydrothermal quartz and/or calcite fill into fine fractures. More than 20 gold ore bodies (with Au abundances larger than the cut-off grade) and 30 auriferous bodies (with Au abundances below the cut-off grade) were delineated in the faulted monzogranite zone within the fault F53, and they yielded a total reserve of 5.7 t Au, with an average grade of 4.8 g/t, in which the 660 m long and average 5 m wide ore body M3 contributes to ca. 90% of the Au reserves. Most of the gold ore bodies strike EW to ENE (east-northeast) and occur as lenses along the faulted monzogranite zone within Fault F53. Ore bodies consist of predominant smoky grey quartz veins with minor stockwork quartz veinlets or breccias in the altered monzogranite, and smoky grey quartz veins are usually bordered by fault breccia belts in the faulted monzogranite belt.

The hydrothermal activity can be subdivided into three main stages. Stage I mineralization is formed as disseminated pyrite–arsenopyrite association which distributed in mineralized altered monzogranite. Stage II mineralization is characterized by mineralized smoky quartz–sulfide veins in the fractures of altered monzogranite, which are found as disseminated sulfide grains (pyrite and chalcopyrite), pyrite veinlet assemblage, and visible gold minerals. Stage III occurs as quartz and carbonate association which interspersed in the fractures of altered monzogranite, representing the post-ore stage.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.

ⓘ Gold

Mineral List

14 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Arsenopyrite

Formula: FeAsS

References:

Yu, L., Sun, F., Beier, C., Wu, D., Li, L., Wang, L., ... & Xu, C. (2022). Geology, U-Pb geochronology and stable isotope geochemistry of the Heihaibei gold deposit in the southern part of the Eastern Kunlun Orogenic Belt, China: A granitic intrusion-related gold deposit?. Ore Geology Reviews, 144, 104859.

Lu, Hai-Feng, Pan, Tong, Jiao, He, Ding, Qing-Feng, Zhou, Xuan, Wu, Rui-Zhe (2023) Isotope Geochemistry of the Heihaibei Gold Deposit within the Kunlun River Area in the Eastern Kunlun Orogen in Northwest China and Its Metallogenic Implications. Minerals, 13 (2) 274 doi:10.3390/min13020274

Cong, Diange; Yuan, Feng; Pan, Tong; Wang, Bingzhang; Huang, Guobiao; Yu, Fucheng; Yuan, Erjun; Li, Shengwei; Zhang, Tianji; E, Zeyu (2023) Genesis of the Heihaibei gold deposit in the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, China: Evidence from in situ trace elements of gold-bearing sulfides and stable isotopes. Ore Geology Reviews, 157. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2023.105431

ⓘ 'Biotite'

Formula: K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂

References:

ⓘ Calcite

Formula: CaCO₃

References:

ⓘ Chalcopyrite

Formula: CuFeS₂

References:

ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'

References:

ⓘ Covellite

Formula: CuS

References:

ⓘ Epidote

Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)

References:

ⓘ 'Feldspar Group'

References:

ⓘ 'Feldspar Group var. Perthite'

References:

ⓘ Galena

Formula: PbS

References:

ⓘ Goethite

Formula: Fe³⁺O(OH)

References:

ⓘ Gold

Formula: Au

References:

ⓘ Gold var. Electrum

Formula: (Au,Ag)

References:

ⓘ 'K Feldspar'

References:

ⓘ Lepidocrocite

Formula: Fe³⁺O(OH)

References:

ⓘ 'Limonite'

References:

ⓘ Microcline

Formula: K(AlSi₃O₈)

References:

ⓘ Muscovite

Formula: KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite

Formula: KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ 'Plagioclase'

Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈

References:

ⓘ Pyrite

Formula: FeS₂

References:

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

ⓘ Sphalerite

Formula: ZnS

References:

ⓘ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'

Formula: Cu₆(Cu₄C²⁺₂)Sb₄S₁₂S

References:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘ	Gold var. Electrum	1.AA.05	(Au,Ag)
ⓘ		1.AA.05	Au
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Covellite	2.CA.05a	CuS
ⓘ	Sphalerite	2.CB.05a	ZnS
ⓘ	Chalcopyrite	2.CB.10a	CuFeS₂
ⓘ	Galena	2.CD.10	PbS
ⓘ	Pyrite	2.EB.05a	FeS₂
ⓘ	Arsenopyrite	2.EB.20	FeAsS
ⓘ	'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'	2.GB.05	Cu₆(Cu₄C²⁺₂)Sb₄S₁₂S
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Goethite	4.00.	Fe³⁺O(OH)
ⓘ	Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
ⓘ	var. Smoky Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
ⓘ	Lepidocrocite	4.FE.15	Fe³⁺O(OH)
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Calcite	5.AB.05	CaCO₃
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Epidote	9.BG.05a	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
ⓘ	Muscovite	9.EC.15	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
ⓘ	var. Sericite	9.EC.15	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
ⓘ	Microcline	9.FA.30	K(AlSi₃O₈)
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Biotite'	-	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
ⓘ	'Chlorite Group'	-
ⓘ	'Feldspar Group'	-
ⓘ	'Limonite'	-
ⓘ	'Feldspar Group var. Perthite'	-
ⓘ	'Plagioclase'	-	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
ⓘ	'K Feldspar'	-

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
H	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
H	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
H	ⓘ Lepidocrocite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
H	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
O	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
O	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
O	ⓘ Lepidocrocite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
O	ⓘ Microcline	K(AlSi₃O₈)
O	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
F	Fluorine
F	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Al	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Al	ⓘ Microcline	K(AlSi₃O₈)
Al	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Si	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Si	ⓘ Microcline	K(AlSi₃O₈)
Si	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Arsenopyrite	FeAsS
S	ⓘ Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
S	ⓘ Covellite	CuS
S	ⓘ Galena	PbS
S	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
S	ⓘ Sphalerite	ZnS
S	ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup	Cu₆(Cu₄C₂²⁺)Sb₄S₁₂S
K	Potassium
K	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
K	ⓘ Microcline	K(AlSi₃O₈)
K	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
K	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
Ca	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Ca	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Ti	Titanium
Ti	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Arsenopyrite	FeAsS
Fe	ⓘ Biotite	K(Fe²⁺/Mg)₂(Al/Fe³⁺/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]₂Si₂O₁₀)(OH/F)₂
Fe	ⓘ Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
Fe	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Fe	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
Fe	ⓘ Lepidocrocite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
Fe	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
Cu	Copper
Cu	ⓘ Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
Cu	ⓘ Covellite	CuS
Cu	ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup	Cu₆(Cu₄C₂²⁺)Sb₄S₁₂S
Zn	Zinc
Zn	ⓘ Sphalerite	ZnS
As	Arsenic
As	ⓘ Arsenopyrite	FeAsS
Ag	Silver
Ag	ⓘ Gold var. Electrum	(Au,Ag)
Sb	Antimony
Sb	ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup	Cu₆(Cu₄C₂²⁺)Sb₄S₁₂S
Au	Gold
Au	ⓘ Gold var. Electrum	(Au,Ag)
Au	ⓘ Gold	Au
Pb	Lead
Pb	ⓘ Galena	PbS

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AsiaContinent

Hindukush Himalayan RegionGroup of Mountain Ranges

China

East Kunlun Metallogenic BeltMineral Belt
Qilian Metallogenic BeltMineral Belt
Qinghai
- East Kunlun Orogenic BeltMetamorphic belt

Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate

Songpan-Ganzi Hoh-Xil TerraneOrogenic Belt

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

[1]Lu, Hai-Feng, Pan, Tong, Jiao, He, Ding, Qing-Feng, Zhou, Xuan, Wu, Rui-Zhe (2023) Isotope Geochemistry of the Heihaibei Gold Deposit within the Kunlun River Area in the Eastern Kunlun Orogen in Northwest China and Its Metallogenic Implications. Minerals, 13 (2) 274 doi:10.3390/min13020274

[2]Cong, Diange; Yuan, Feng; Pan, Tong; Wang, Bingzhang; Huang, Guobiao; Yu, Fucheng; Yuan, Erjun; Li, Shengwei; Zhang, Tianji; E, Zeyu (2023) Genesis of the Heihaibei gold deposit in the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, China: Evidence from in situ trace elements of gold-bearing sulfides and stable isotopes. Ore Geology Reviews, 157. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2023.105431

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