The distribution of major gold deposits in the Earth’s history is discussed. The primary heterogeneity of the Archean crust in terms of gold mineralization is demonstrated. Characteristics of the main auriferous metallogenic epochs are given. The predominant associations of the orogenic gold deposits with volcanogenic massive sulfide and copper–nickel deposits during the early periods of the Earth (Archean–Proterozoic) and those with tungsten, molybdenum, copper, antimony, mercury, and tin during the Phanerozoic are demonstrated. The analysis of the distribution of the mineralogical and geochemical types of gold mineralization proper also demonstrates their substantial diversity in the Phanerozoic compared to the Precambrian. These data reflect the mantle–crustal origin of gold mineralization in general and attest to an increase in the contribution of the crustal material into gold mineralization with the age of the Earth. The known gap in lode gold formation (1.7–0.8 Ga), which was caused by the stable cratonic regime of the long-lived Columbia (Nuna)–Rodinia supercontinent is discussed.

The first results of the study of the Re–Os isotope system of native gold from the orogenic Malo-Tarynskoe, Khangalas, and Bazovskoe deposits located in the central part of the Yana–Kolyma metallogenic belt are reported. The concentration of Re in the studied gold samples varies from 0.168 to 6.997 ppb, while the concentration of Os ranges from 0.068 to 1.443 ppb. The obtained data allowed us to calculate the isochrone age, which is consistent with the ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar and K–Ar ages of sericite from these deposits within the error. The results indicate that the studied gold deposits were formed in the range of 147.8–137.1 Ma, synchronously with the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous orogenic processes in the Yana–Kolyma metallogenic belt and on the eastern margin of the Siberian Continent. The initial Os isotope ratios in the studied samples and fractions of gold from the Malo-Tarynskoe, Khangalas, and Bazovskoe deposits, (¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os)_i = 0.1844–0.2475, suggest a significant role of a nonradiogenic component normally associated with mantle sources.

This paper reviews and summarizes the available information on the composition of palladian gold with various contents and sets of isomorphic impurities (Ag, Cu, Hg) at 50 deposits and ore occurrences with Au-Pd mineralization. It is revealed that Palladian gold is represented by the systems Au–Pd, Au–Pd–Hg, Au–Pd–Cu, and Au–Pd–Ag–Hg, but more frequently corresponds to Au–Pd–Ag, Au–Pd–Ag–Cu, and Au–Pd–Ag–Cu–Hg. Objects with palladian gold belong to different types of gold deposits and to the deposits at which the main components of ores are PGE, Cr, Cu, Ni, V, and Ti. We propose a classification of the types of deposits with palladian gold: (1) PGE ore deposits related to mafic–ultramafic magmatic complexes (two subtypes—(a) low-sulfide-grade (less than 2%–5% sulfides) Alaskan, and (b) high-sulfide-grade (more than 5% sulfides) Norilsk); (2) orogenic gold deposits (OG); (3) epithermal (porphyry) gold–copper deposits (EPGC); (4) iron oxide copper gold deposits (IOCG); (5) ferruginous quartzite deposits; (6) volcanic exhalation; and (7) gold-PGE placers of five subtypes corresponding to the types of 1–5 primary sources. Physicochemical conditions of the formation of palladian gold at some deposits of type 1 cover two areas—magmatic high-temperature and hydrothermal low-temperature. At the majority of deposits of types 2–4, its formation proceeds with the participation of hydrothermal fluids (300–60 °C) of various salinities (0.2–30 wt.% NaCl eq.). Palladian gold is mainly high-fineness (910‰–990‰), is less frequently medium-fineness, and contains Ag and Cu, but does not contain Hg at the deposits of types 1, 3, and 4. The only exception is the Au-Pd-Hg Itchayvayam ore occurrence (Kamchatka, Russia), for which two varieties of Pd,Hg-bearing native gold (fineness 816‰–960‰ and 580‰–660‰) are determined. Low-fineness palladian gold with the major content of Ag is typical of OGD deposits. Medium-fineness palladian gold occurs at ferruginous quartzite deposits and in volcanic exhalations. Hg, Ag, Cu-bearing high-fineness palladian gold is present mainly in placer deposits (type 7). The most common minerals in association with palladian gold are arsenides, stibioarsenides, sulfides, stannides, bismuthides, tellurides, and selenides of Pd and Pt. These are typical of deposit types 1 and 7. The minerals of Au, Ag, and Cu (tetra-auricupride, aurostibite, chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite, eucairite, etc.) are in association with palladian gold at OG, EPGC, and IOCG deposits. Hg minerals (cinnabar, tiemannite, coloradoite, potarite) are at some deposits (types 1, 2, 7-1, 7-4). Cu, Fe, and Pd oxides (tenorite, hematite, magnetite, PdO, (Pd,Cu)O) and Fe and Pd hydroxides (goethite, (Fe,Pd)OOH) occur at the deposits of the 3, 4, and 7 groups and indicate the highly oxidizing conditions of ore formation. The most common minerals among host minerals are quartz and muscovite, including fuchsite (Cr-Ms), chlorite, albite, K-feldspar, hornblende, and carbonates (calcite, siderite, etc.). The fineness, content, and set of impurities in palladian gold and minerals in association with it reflect the mineralogy of Au-Pd ores and allow them to be used as indicators for the deposit types.