Editorial for Special Issue “Genesis and Metallogeny of Non-Ferrous and Precious Metal Deposits”
1
College of Earth Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China
2
School of Earth Science, Institute of Disaster Prevention, Beijing 101601, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Minerals 2025, 15(8), 810; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15080810
Submission received: 25 June 2025
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Revised: 25 July 2025
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Accepted: 29 July 2025
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Published: 31 July 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genesis and Metallogeny of Non-ferrous and Precious Metal Deposits)
1. Introduction
In recent decades, an increasing number of non-ferrous and precious metal deposits have been discovered all over the world. Concurrently, new and advanced analytical techniques in deposit research have been developed, such as isotope dating of ore minerals by U-Pb, Ar-Ar, and Re-Os methods.
This focus of this Special Issue includes ore properties and genesis, ore-controlling tectonic–magmatic events, geochronology, tectonic setting, and metallogenic models.
2. Highlights from the Special Issue
Yu et al. (2023) [1] conducted a comprehensive analysis of fluid inclusions and H–O–S–Pb isotopes of the Songjianghe gold deposit in Jilin Province, and determined that fluid immiscibility triggered by rapid pressure drop is the main mechanism for the precipitation of gold–polymetallic sulfides. The deposit formed during the hiatus of Paleo-Pacific plate subduction, and it is aged between 157 and 156 Ma (Late Jurassic).
Sun et al. (2022) [2] studied the Huoluotai porphyry Cu (Mo) deposit in the northern Greater Khingan Range, showing that sulfur is derived from magma, while lead has a crust–mantle mixed source. A key finding is that mineralization is dominated by medium–low temperature fluid boiling, which challenges the traditional porphyry metallogenic model. This mineralization system formed at approximately 149 Ma, correlating with the closure event of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean in the Late Mesozoic.
Chen et al. (2022) [3] defined the Dongbuzi deposit in the Liaodong Peninsula as a fault-controlled, low-sulfidation epithermal gold deposit hosted in Cretaceous trachyte porphyry. Fluid cooling and dilution drove gold precipitation. Regarding isotope analysis, H–O isotopes indicate meteoric water while C–O isotopes point to a mantle/magmatic source of carbon. Moreover, S–Pb isotopes indicates a mixed source from trachyteporphyry and from host volcanic rocks. The deposit formed during the Early Cretaceous lithospheric extension in the eastern North China Craton.
Wang et al. (2022) [4] traced the magmatic–hydrothermal origin of magnetite and pyrite in the Dongping deposit on the northern margin of the North China Craton through in situ electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and laser ablation inductively coupled-plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Magnetite formed in a low-temperature hydrothermal environment. Gold enrichment is related to fluid cooling and boiling, supporting a deep-source magmatic–hydrothermal model associated with Mesozoic tectono-magmatic events.
Zhao et al. (2022) [5] first reported the occurrence of Paleoproterozoic (approximately 1851 Ma) gold mineralization in the Lijiabaozi deposit of the Liaodong Peninsula. S–Pb isotopes indicate that ore-forming materials are mainly derived from Paleoproterozoic sedimentary strata. Mineralization is formed by regional metamorphic fluids through water–rock reactions, and its precipitation is triggered by changes in temperature/pressure.
Zhang et al. (2022) [6] combined monazite U-Pb dating, in situ trace elements of sulfides, and sulfur isotope analysis to confirm that there are two stages of orogenic gold mineralization events (Early Paleozoic and Mesozoic) in the Wulonggou gold ore field of the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, verifying that the deposit is a composite mineralization system related to multi-stage tectono-magmatic activities.
Li et al. (2022) [7] classified the Toudaochuan gold deposit in Jilin Province as a mesothermal magmatic–hydrothermal deposit controlled by NE-trending faults, with three stages of mineralization. Studies on fluid inclusions and C–H–O–S–Pb isotopes show that fluid immiscibility caused by CO2 escape and pH increase leads to gold precipitation. S–Pb isotopes indicate a crust–mantle mixed source, and the ore bodies are closely related to granitic porphyry dykes.
3. Conclusions
Based on studies of gold deposits in Northeast China and adjacent regions [1,2,3,4,5,6,7] in this Special Issue, we propose focusing future research on hydrodynamic mechanisms controlling gold precipitation (particularly immiscibility/boiling), spatiotemporal coupling of multi-epoch hydrothermal events, deep magma–hydrothermal system connections, regional mineralization models, and integrated 3D “tectonics–magma–fluids” dynamic systems.
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, Q.Y., Y.R. and X.P.; methodology, H.L.; software, C.L.; validation, S.C., C.L. and H.L.; formal analysis, S.C.; investigation, S.C.; resources, X.P.; data curation, Q.Y.; writing—original draft preparation, S.C.; writing—review and editing, S.C.; visualization, C.L.; supervision, Y.R.; project administration, Q.Y.; funding acquisition, Q.Y. and X.P. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
This work was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province (20230101097JC), Jilin Provincial Department of Education Science Foundation (JJKH20241294KJ), National Natural Science Foundation of China (42202070), and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2022M721305).
Acknowledgments
The Guest Editors of this Special Issue would like to express their gratitude to all authors for their high-quality contributions and profound insights into the research of non-ferrous and precious metal deposits. We also extend our thanks to this journal for its constructive comments, which have significantly enhanced the clarity and rigor of the papers. Additionally, we are sincerely grateful to the editorial team for their support throughout the publication process. Finally, we acknowledge the broader scientific community, whose ongoing research continues to provide new understandings of the complex genesis of various types of non-ferrous and precious metal deposits.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
References
- Yu, Q.; Wang, K.; Zhang, X.; Sun, Q.; Bai, W.; Ma, C.; Xiao, Y. Fluid Evolution and Ore Genesis of the Songjianghe Au Deposit in Eastern Jilin Province, NE China: Constraints from Fluid Inclusions and H-O-S-Pb Isotope Systematics. Minerals 2023, 13, 652. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
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- Zhang, Z.; Zeng, Q.; Pan, T.; Xie, H.; Wei, Z.; Fan, H.; Wu, J.; Yang, K.; Li, X.; Liang, G. Two Epochs of Mineralization of Orogenic Gold Deposit in the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt: Constraints from Monazite U–Pb Age, In Situ Sulfide Trace Elements and Sulfur Isotopes in Wulonggou Gold Field. Minerals 2022, 12, 968. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Li, J.; Ren, Y.; Yang, Q.; Sun, X. Ore Genesis of the Toudaochuan Gold Deposit in Central Jilin Province, NE China: Constraints from Fluid Inclusions and C–H–O–S–Pb Isotopes. Minerals 2022, 12, 964. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
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MDPI and ACS Style
Chen, S.; Yang, Q.; Ren, Y.; Li, C.; Li, H.; Peng, X. Editorial for Special Issue “Genesis and Metallogeny of Non-Ferrous and Precious Metal Deposits”. Minerals 2025, 15, 810. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15080810
AMA Style
Chen S, Yang Q, Ren Y, Li C, Li H, Peng X. Editorial for Special Issue “Genesis and Metallogeny of Non-Ferrous and Precious Metal Deposits”. Minerals. 2025; 15(8):810. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15080810
Chicago/Turabian StyleChen, Sitong, Qun Yang, Yunsheng Ren, Chan Li, Haozhe Li, and Xiaolei Peng. 2025. "Editorial for Special Issue “Genesis and Metallogeny of Non-Ferrous and Precious Metal Deposits”" Minerals 15, no. 8: 810. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15080810
APA StyleChen, S., Yang, Q., Ren, Y., Li, C., Li, H., & Peng, X. (2025). Editorial for Special Issue “Genesis and Metallogeny of Non-Ferrous and Precious Metal Deposits”. Minerals, 15(8), 810. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15080810
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