Recognizing the evolution of the stratabound polymetallic massive sulfide deposits in Tongling mineralization cluster, east China through colloform pyrite

•Detrital and authigenic quartz, which are found in colloform pyrite ores, underwent various diagenetic processes.•The micro-organisms are most likely used terrestrial plants as electron donors during the formation of colloform pyrite.•Colloform pyrite played a key role in precipitating Cu and Au from Yanshanian magma-derived hydrothermal fluids and constrained the formation of stratabound sulfide orebodies.