Vein type gold deposit at the Tsagaan Tsahir Uul in the Bayankhongor belt, Mongolia: Features of mineralization and oxygen isotope

Abstract

The Bayankhongor metallogenic belt, ∼700 km southwest of the capital city, Ulaanbaatar, is the second productive gold-field in Mongolia. Production of this gold-field is not well known, but is estimated at about 50 kg/yr. Most gold is recovered from alluvial deposits, however primary sources of alluvial gold in the district are not well understood. The Tsagaan Tsahir Uul (TTU) gold deposit is located at the southeastern part of the Bayankhongor metallogenic belt, and is possible source of alluvial gold. Based on the tectonic setting of the deposit, the TTU deposit possibly belongs to orogenic type gold deposit (Groves. 1998). The geological, mineralogical and geochemical features of TTU deposit are similar to those of worldwide orogenic gold deposits.