Genesis and organic geochemical characteristics of the carbonaceous rock stratabound gold deposits, South China

The organic matter of three different chronological major carbonaceous rock gold-bearing formations of South China (Middle Proterozoic Shangqiaoshan g roup of northeastern Jiangxi, Lower Cambrian Shuikou group of northern Guan gxi and Devonian Shetianqiao group of eastern Hunan) and related carbonaceo us stratabound gold deposits such as Jinshan, Longshui and Shixia deposits, respectively, has been characterized by organic geochemical techniques. Th ese organic geochemical results show that the average total organic carbon (TOC) content of the three chronological carbonaceous rock gold-bearing for mations of South China ranges from 0.15% to 1.56%. The thermal maturity of the organic matter of host rocks in the three gold-bearing formations is hi gh. The micro-component of the organic matter of the host rocks consists pr imarily of solid bitumen and graphite. The organic carbon and gold of the h ost rocks appear to syndeposit in situ during the formation of the gold-bea ring formations. The organic carbon played a certain role in controlling th e geochemical environment of the gold-bearing formations. The metallogeneti c mechanism of the carbonaceous rock stratabound gold deposits of South Chi na is closely associated in genesis with the sedimentation, diagenesis and thermal evolution history of the organic matter of host rocks in the gold-b earing formations.