Formation of gold deposits: Review and evaluation of the continuum model

Abstract

The continuum model has been one of the more widely advocated genetic models for 'gold-only' deposits such as those found in Archaean greenstone belts. It postulates that hydrothermal gold deposits were formed throughout a 20-25 km vertical crustal profile, from temperatures above 700 °C to below 180 °C, and that the deposition occurred synchronous with the peak of metamorphism. The continuum model is reviewed at this stage because we believe that it does not successfully account for many aspects of gold deposit formation. The most obvious shortcoming is in considering ore deposits found in rocks of uppermost amphibolite and granulite facies domains where temperatures were appropriate for pa..