Spatial–temporal distribution and tectonic setting of gold deposits in the Northern margin gold belt of the North China Craton

The North China Craton contains voluminous gold deposits, which occur within the Northern Margin Gold Belt, the Southern Margin Gold Belt, and the Jiaodong Gold Province. However, relatively little is known of the gold deposits in the E–W-trending Northern Margin Gold Belt, which hosts 66 deposits with total reserves of >1000 tonnes. Based on a systematic summary of the geological features and ages of ore formation, three periods of gold...