Orogenic gold deposits form when hydrothermal fluids migrate through faults, shear zones, fractures, and related structures during regional deformation and metamorphism. Gold commonly occurs as native gold within quartz-carbonate vein systems or disseminated through altered host rocks and associated sulfides. Structural geology, alteration, mineralogy, and gold deportment are central to exploration and metallurgical evaluation.
The following Elements and Minerals may be found in this Deposit Type.
Mineral: Native Gold - Au - Native gold is a principal visible gold phase in orogenic gold deposits, although gold can also occur in tellurides or invisibly within sulfides.