Lithospheric multilevel structural controls on the genesis of orogenic gold deposits

Abstract The formation of large and superlarge mineral deposits results from the accumulation of significant quantities of mineralized materials, driven by multistage geological processes. However, the complete migration pathway of orogenic gold systems—ranging from deep magmatic sources to crustal mineralization—remains elusive. Here, we integrate multiscale electrical resistivity models with lamprophyre isotopic analyses to establish a coherent metallogenic framework for the Daping gold deposit in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. High-resolution magnetotelluric data reveal interconnected low-resistivity anomalies, delineating a continuous, translithospheric pathway. These vertically aligned anomalies represent (1) metasomatized mantle domains enriched in volatiles and Au-bearing melts; (2) transcrustal magmatic-hydrothermal channels facilitating melt ascent; and (3) shallow fluid exsolution loci controlling ore precipitation. Geodynamic simulations further suggest that migration efficiency is influenced by the overlying lithospheric structure—specifically, crustal-scale fault networks channel the metal-rich fluids, while rheological contrasts around the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary regulate the migration pathway of melt. This study, by unveiling the multilevel structural framework for mineralizing fluid migration for the first time, establishes a unified model that structurally connects mantle reservoirs with near-surficial gold deposits and systematically integrates isotopic signature, geophysical evidence, and translithospheric fluid pathways. Recognizing such a multilevel lithospheric control system not only bridges the critical observational gap between mantle sources and surface mineralization but also offers a predictive framework for gold exploration.