Porphyry Cu–Au–Mo–epithermal Ag–Pb–Zn–distal hydrothermal Au deposits in the Dexing area, Jiangxi province, East China—A linked ore system

Based on previous studies and detailed field investigations of the Dexing porphyry copper deposit, the Yinshan Ag-Pb-Zn deposit and the Jinshan shear zone – hosted gold deposit in the Dele Jurassic volcanic basin, in the northeastern Jiangxi province, East China, we propose that the three deposits share spatial, temporal and genetic relationships and belong to the same metallogenic system. Dexing is a typical porphyry Cu–Au–Mo deposit in which both ore-forming fluid and metals are derived from the granite porphyry. The Yinshan deposit consists of a porphyry copper ore located in the cupola of a quartz porphyry stock, in the lower part, and Ag–Pb–Zn ore veins in the upper part. The hydrothermal fluids were mainly derived from the magma in the early stages of the mineralizing event and became mixed with meteoric waters in the late stages. Its ore metals are magma-derived. Both the Jinshan base metal veins and the Hamashi, Dongjie and Naikeng quartz vein-type gold deposit are hosted by brittle–ductile structures, which are distal in relation to the porphyry intrusions and were formed by mixed magmatic fluids and meteoric water, whereas the gold was mainly leached from the country rocks (Mesoproterozoic Shuangqiaoshan Group phyllite and schist). The deposits show a distinct spatial arrangement from porphyry Cu, to epithermal Ag–Pb–Zn and distal Au. We suggest a porphyry–epithermal–distal vein ore system model for this group of genetically related mineral deposits. They were formed in a back-arc setting in a Middle Jurassic active continental margin, with magmas derived from the subducted slab.