The progress in the study of Cu-Au (Mo) deposits related to alkaline rocks

Cu-Au (Mo) deposits related to alkaline rocks have attracted more and more attention throughout the world, because more than 20% of the world-class Au-Cu (Mo) deposits are associated with shoshonitic and alkaline rocks. Although they include most of the usual types of Au-Cu (Mo) deposits such as porphyry type and gold-rich epithermal deposits, they share the same characteristics of mineralization and alteration on the whole. As a group, these deposits are characterized by Te-rich mineralization, abundant K metasomatism and minerals such as fluorite and roscoelite. Most of these unique mineralization characteristics may be attributed to the evolution of composition of orerelated alkaline magmas, and the fluids were under the condition of CO₂-richness, relative oxidation and low sulfidation. Most Cu-Au (Mo) deposits developed in alkaline provinces in a stretching environment also constitute exploration targets in and around alkaline igneous centers. The perspectives of Cu-Au (Mo) deposits related to alkaline rocks in China are tremendous. To better find new deposits of this type, researchers should pay more attention to petrogenesis and their relation to Cu-Au mineralization.