Rotund versus skinny orogens: Well-nourished or malnourished gold?

Research Article| June 01, 2001 Rotund versus skinny orogens: Well-nourished or malnourished gold? R.J. Goldfarb; R.J. Goldfarb 1U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D.I. Groves; D.I. Groves 2Centre for Global Metallogeny, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S. Gardoll S. Gardoll 2Centre for Global Metallogeny, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information R.J. Goldfarb 1U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225, USA D.I. Groves 2Centre for Global Metallogeny, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia S. Gardoll 2Centre for Global Metallogeny, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 10 Oct 2000 Revision Received: 22 Feb 2001 Accepted: 06 Mar 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2001) 29 (6): 539–542. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0539:RVSOWN>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 10 Oct 2000 Revision Received: 22 Feb 2001 Accepted: 06 Mar 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation R.J. Goldfarb, D.I. Groves, S. Gardoll; Rotund versus skinny orogens: Well-nourished or malnourished gold?. Geology 2001;; 29 (6): 539–542. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0539:RVSOWN>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Orogenic gold vein deposits require a particular conjunction of processes to form and be preserved, and their global distribution can be related to broad-scale, evolving tectonic processes throughout Earth history. A heterogeneous distribution of formation ages for these mineral deposits is marked by two major Precambrian peaks (2800–2555 Ma and 2100–1800 Ma), a singular lack of deposits for 1200 m.y. (1800–600 Ma), and relatively continuous formation since then (after 600 Ma). The older parts of the distribution relate to major episodes of continental growth, perhaps controlled by plume-influenced mantle overturn events, in the hotter early Earth (ca. 1800 Ma or earlier). This worldwide process allowed preservation of gold deposits in cratons, roughly equidimensional, large masses of buoyant continental crust. Evolution to a less episodic, more continuous, modern-style plate tectonic regime led to the accretion of volcano-sedimentary complexes as progressively younger linear orogenic belts surrounding the margins of the more buoyant cratons. The susceptibility of these linear belts to uplift and erosion can explain the overall lack of orogenic gold deposits at 1800–600 Ma, their exposure in 600–50 Ma orogens, the increasing importance of placer deposits back through the Phanerozoic since ca. 100 Ma, and the absence of gold deposits in orogenic belts younger than ca. 50 Ma. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.