The geochemistry of host arc volcanic rocks to the Co-O epithermal gold deposit, Eastern Mindanao, Philippines

► New high-precision elemental analysis of the Oligocene magma series, hosting the Co-O epithermal Au deposit. ► Typical island arc signatures, no notice of sediment or crustal fragments, thin arc crust related to intraoceanic setting. ► Depleted subarc mantle wedge, Nb/Ta and Zr/Sm indicative of deep melts of subducted rutile-eclogite slab. ► Melting both below and above the garnet stability field at ~ 90 km, steep to intermediate dipping subduction zone. ► More data needed to define geodynamic setting potentially ideal setting for significant metal deposits.