Geological and geochemical constraints on the genesis of the Huachanggou gold deposit, western Qinling region, Central China

The Huachanggou gold deposit is located in Lueyang County, Shaanxi Province, central China; it is situated in the Mian–Lue sutural zone in the western Qinling Orogen and controlled by a WNW-striking ductile shear zone. The ore deposit is developed in spilite, limestone and phyllite in the Middle–Lower Devonian Sanhekou Group, and the wall rocks show evidence of deformation. Pyrite is the main gold-bearing mineral, and the native gold is either visible or microscopic.