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 T_DM ^c–T_DM ² 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 T_DM ^c–T_DM ² 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.