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Chronology of the Kašperské Hory orogenic gold deposit, Bohemian Massif, Czech Republic

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Abstract

The Kašperské Hory deposit represents one of the economically most important hydrothermal gold deposits in the Bohemian Massif (Czech Republic). We present new Re–Os age determinations for sulfides complemented by Ar–Ar determinations on silicate minerals in order to provide temporal constraints on the deposit formation. Arsenopyrite and molybdenite formed during gold-bearing stages I–III yielded similar Re–Os ages between ~ 341 and 333 Ma, overlapping with the Ar–Ar cooling age of the metamorphic host rocks below ~ 500 °C. Continuous cooling of the ore system below 270 °C during stage III is reflected by Ar–Ar muscovite ages spanning from ~ 332 to 325 Ma representing the long interval of formation of gold-productive stage III. Thus, the Kašperské Hory gold deposit is younger than the gold deposits spatially associated with the Central Bohemian Plutonic Complex (~ 349–339 Ma) belonging to the Central Bohemian Metallogenetic Zone (e.g., Mokrsko-West, Jílové, Petráčkova Hora). This may indicate a rather close relationship to the nearby Moldanubian Batholith while still suggesting an intimate link between mineralization and Variscan orogenesis and associated magmatism.

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Acknowledgements

This study is a contribution to the GAČR project 13-15390S to LA and JP and to the Scientific Program RVO67985831 of the Institute of Geology of the CAS and the Strategic Research Plan of the Czech Geological Survey (2016-2020). We are indebted to Lawrence W. Snee (USGS Denver) for the 40Ar/39Ar data, which have been obtained within the US–Czechoslovak Science and Technology Program (project no. 94017; 1994-1998, collaboration of Czech Geological Survey and US Geological Survey), Jana Ďurišová for the help with the molybdenite trace element analyses, and Jana Rajlichová for the technical assistance with figures (both Institute of Geology of the CAS). The reviews of Holy Stein and anonymous reviewer and careful editorial handling by Hartwig Frimmel are highly appreciated.

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Ackerman, L., Žák, K., Haluzová, E. et al. Chronology of the Kašperské Hory orogenic gold deposit, Bohemian Massif, Czech Republic. Miner Deposita 54, 473–484 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00126-018-0822-4

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