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Minerals
Volume 15
Issue 9
10.3390/min15090922
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Soil Geochemical Characteristics and Prospecting Potential in the Nibao Carlin-Type Gold Deposit and Peripheral Areas, Southwestern Guizhou, China

by
Songtao Li
1,2,
Lijin Tan
3,
Zepeng Wang
2,3,
Rong Nie
3,
Minghua Meng
3,
Wenxin Han
3,
Chengfu Yang
2,3,
Junhai Li
2,3,
Bingqiang Zhang
3 and
Jianzhong Liu
2,4,*
1
School of Geography and Resources, Guizhou Education University, Guiyang 550018, China
2
Engineering Technology Innovation Center of Mineral Resources Explorations in Bedrock Zones, Ministry of Natural Resources of China, Guiyang 550081, China
3
105 Geological Team, Guizhou Bureau of Geology and Mineral Exploration and Development, Guiyang 550018, China
4
Guizhou Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Guiyang 550004, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Minerals 2025, 15(9), 922; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15090922
Submission received: 19 July 2025 / Revised: 22 August 2025 / Accepted: 27 August 2025 / Published: 29 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Carlin-type gold deposits in southwestern Guizhou, China require systematic exploration methods to identify deep and peripheral prospecting potential beyond known deposits. We conducted a 1:50,000-scale soil geochemical survey across 928 km2 in the Nibao gold deposit and its surrounding areas, with a total of 8842 samples collected. Fifteen elements were systematically analyzed, with particular focus on pathfinder elements associated with Carlin-type gold mineralization. Building on previous comparative analyses of soil geochemical and tectono-geochemical characteristics, this research systematically examines the enrichment patterns of soil geochemistry and their significance for ore prospecting. The results demonstrate that (1) elements such as Au, As, Sb, Hg, W, and Mo show significant positive correlation and strong enrichment patterns, indicating excellent metallogenic potential; (2) 176 and 12 single- and composite-element anomalies were delineated, respectively, with HS-2, HS-3, and HS-7 anomalies exhibiting high intensity and distinct concentration zonation, similar to those of the high factor score distribution of Au-As-Sb-Hg-W-Mo; (3) three prospecting targets were identified based on anomaly characteristics and geological conditions, including Nibao, Baogudi, and Sandaogou; (4) multiple mineralized bodies were revealed through engineering verification, indicating good prospecting potential in the deep and surrounding areas of the targets. These findings provide a scientific basis for further exploration of Carlin-type gold deposits in the study area and southwestern Guizhou.
Keywords: geochemical prospecting; Carlin-type gold deposits; Nibao gold deposit; southwestern Guizhou geochemical prospecting; Carlin-type gold deposits; Nibao gold deposit; southwestern Guizhou

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Li, S.; Tan, L.; Wang, Z.; Nie, R.; Meng, M.; Han, W.; Yang, C.; Li, J.; Zhang, B.; Liu, J. Soil Geochemical Characteristics and Prospecting Potential in the Nibao Carlin-Type Gold Deposit and Peripheral Areas, Southwestern Guizhou, China. Minerals 2025, 15, 922. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15090922

AMA Style

Li S, Tan L, Wang Z, Nie R, Meng M, Han W, Yang C, Li J, Zhang B, Liu J. Soil Geochemical Characteristics and Prospecting Potential in the Nibao Carlin-Type Gold Deposit and Peripheral Areas, Southwestern Guizhou, China. Minerals. 2025; 15(9):922. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15090922

Chicago/Turabian Style

Li, Songtao, Lijin Tan, Zepeng Wang, Rong Nie, Minghua Meng, Wenxin Han, Chengfu Yang, Junhai Li, Bingqiang Zhang, and Jianzhong Liu. 2025. "Soil Geochemical Characteristics and Prospecting Potential in the Nibao Carlin-Type Gold Deposit and Peripheral Areas, Southwestern Guizhou, China" Minerals 15, no. 9: 922. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15090922

APA Style

Li, S., Tan, L., Wang, Z., Nie, R., Meng, M., Han, W., Yang, C., Li, J., Zhang, B., & Liu, J. (2025). Soil Geochemical Characteristics and Prospecting Potential in the Nibao Carlin-Type Gold Deposit and Peripheral Areas, Southwestern Guizhou, China. Minerals, 15(9), 922. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15090922

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