Iron oxide-copper-gold deposits:Characteristics,present research situation and ore prospecting

The iron oxide copper-gold deposits (IOCG deposits) are being extensively and intensively studied abroad, but in China the study of such deposits is still in its beginning stage. In this paper, the authors present a review of the present research situation of the IOCG deposits, which includes definition of the iron oxide copper-gold deposits, temporal and spatial distribution, ore-forming environments, magmatic rocks associated with the deposits, shapes of the ore bodies and alteration of the country rocks, ore-forming processes and criteria for ore prospecting and evaluation. From the point of view of the iron oxide copper-gold deposits, the authors have pondered some IOCG deposits in China. The porphyrite iron deposits in the Ningwu and Luzong basins of the Lower Yangtze Valley probably belong to IOCG deposits, and the Daye iron deposit in Hubei Province and the Hanxing iron deposit in Hebei Province also have some IOCG features.