The Age of the Natalka Orogenic Gold Deposit (U–Pb, 40Ar/39Ar, Re–Os constrain).

Geological observations and U–Pb dating of zircons from intrusions of the Yana–Kolyma gold province constrain the age of orogenic gold deposits to the time interval between 150 ± 3Ma and 108 ± 1 Ma. The Natalka deposit is the largest key deposit in the gold province. We determined the age of mineralization as the Valanzhinian (136 ± 1 to 132 ± 2 Ma) by 40Ar/39Ar dating of muscovite and by Re–Os dating of arsenopyrite and native gold. There are no known manifestations of magmatism of this age in the province, therefore, we conclude that the formation of gold–quartz mineralization is very likely related to metamorphism and metasomatism triggered by regional-scale shear deformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]