Crustal architecture and metallogenesis in the south-eastern North China Craton

The south-eastern part of the North China Craton (NCC), the major historical source of gold supply to the former Emperors of China, continues to be a potential target for gold exploration. With a view to gain insights on the crustal architecture and gold metallogeny of this region, this contribution combines geological and Nd-Hf-isotopic data from magmatic rocks associated with the ore mineralisation. We integrate Nd-Hf isotopic data from published works as a tool to present isotopic maps. These maps highlight the location of major tectonic structures, and their relationship with the distribution of mineral deposits in the south-eastern NCC. The porphyry and porphyry-skarn Cu(-Au-Mo) deposits in the Luxi area in eastern NCC are associated with magmatic rocks and are located in zones with variable εNd-εHf values and TDMc-TDM2 ages representing dominant Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic and reworked crustal components with minor mantle material. In contrast, the Jiaodong type Au and porphyry-skarn Mo(-W-Cu) deposits are associated with magmatic rocks emplaced in domains with low-εNd-εHf values and older TDMc-TDM2 ages characterised by dominantly Archean-Paleoproterozoic reworked crustal components in the Jiaobei Terrane and the Sulu Orogen. Our study thus demarcates distinct crustal provinces and source components in generating some of the world-class gold deposits.