The Pulai gold deposit is one of the most promising gold prospects in the Central Belt of Peninsular Malaysia. It is found within the Permian-Triassic Gua Musang sequence of metasediments and metavolcanics and in a structurally controlled NE-SW major fault. Various ore minerals, including pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, pyrrhotite, and galena are typically associated with this deposit. Four types of pyrite (Pyrite 1, Pyrite 2, Pyrite 3, and Pyrite 4) and two types of arsenopyrite (Arsenopyrite 1 and Arsenopyrite 2) were characterised based on their morphological and textural differences. In this region, gold occurs as refractory gold in the nanoparticle form and in the state of Au⁺ within the structure of sulphides of variable concentrations. Through the detailed laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) trace element mapping analysis of pyrite and arsenopyrite, the main Au-bearing sulphides were found within vein-hosted Pyrite 4 and Arsenopyrite 2 during late phase mineralisation, while Pyrite 3 had the lowest Au concentration. Two phases of Au enrichment were recorded in Pyrite 4, mainly in the core (2 to 11.7 ppm; average 1.4 ppm) and margin of the grain (0.3 to 8.8 ppm; average 1.2 ppm), whereas the highest Au content was detected in the core of Arsenopyrite 2 (0.3 to 137.1 ppm; mean 31.9 ppm). The enrichment of Au is associated with As, forming a zoning elemental pattern distribution. Other trace elements, including Co, Ni, Sb, Pb, Bi, Cu, and Zn, show systematic variation in their composition between the various types of pyrite and arsenopyrite. For early-phase sulphides, the Au enrichment localised at the margin of Pyrite 2 and Arsenopyrite 1, together with Co–Ni, Pb–Bi–Sb, and Ag in the same oriented pattern, suggesting the remobilisation and redistribution of Au in sulfides. Meanwhile, the late crystallisation phase of vein-hosted sulphides formed a rich Au–As ore zoning pattern in the core of Arsenopyrite 2 and Pyrite 4. The second phase of Au enrichment continued at the margin of Pyrite 4 through the remobilisation and precipitation of Au together with Ni, Co, Sb, Pb, Bi, Ag, and Cu. Subsequent deformation then reactivated the late fluid system with the enrichment of Sr, Ba, Rb, Ag, and Zn along the fractures and outermost rim of Pyrite 4 and Rb–Sr–Ba–Pb–Bi along the rim of Arsenopyrite 2. The Pulai gold prospect is interpreted as an orogenic-style gold mineralisation where arsenic can be used as an indicator for proximity to ore mineralisation in exploration.

Several orogenic/sediment-hosted gold deposits are widely distributed in the Central Belt of Peninsular Malaysia. This study combines U-Pb dating with the isotope composition of lead as well as gold content in ore and magmatic rock-hosted pyrite. It aims to investigate the age of gold mineralization and possibly establish a link between gold mineralization and magmatic intrusion in the district. The results show that the S-type magmatic rocks yield crystallisation ages ranging from 204.1 ± 4.7 Ma to 223 ± 3.2 Ma with low magnetic susceptibility measurements below 3 × 10⁻³ SI unit. These ages fit within the 200–250 Ma Pb-Pb model age of the Pb isotopic composition of K-feldspars. Pyrite trace element mapping has shown that gold and lead show zoning patterns occurring at the same time in pyrite. The Pb isotope composition of the cores of pyrite grains indicate that the approximate model age of gold mineralization is 200 Ma. This age is close to 197–199 Ma (Early Jurassic), previously determined by K-Ar dating of sericite which was interpreted to be the age of gold mineralization. In this study, gold content varies up to 793 ppb in the analysed magmatic rock-hosted pyrites, indicative of a likely magmatic contribution to gold mineralization.

The Central gold belt of peninsular Malaysia comprises a number of gold deposits located in the east of the N-S striking Bentong-Raub Suture Zone. The Tersang gold deposit is a mesothermal, orogenic gold deposit, which is hosted in sandstone, shale, rhyolite and breccia. The deposit has an inferred and indicated resource of 120,000 ounces of gold in the JORC category. Detrital zircon grains from the host sandstones returned a maximum depositional age ranging from Early Carboniferous to Early Permian (333.5 ± 2.5 Ma-261.5 ± 4.9 Ma) and those of the rhyolite indicated a crystallization age of 218.8 ± 1.7 Ma. Pyrite trace element mapping has revealed four pyrite phases. Laser Ablation ICPMS analyses on pyrite has shown that pyrite phase 1 has the lowest Au concentration (mean 0.4 ppm) and is interpreted to have preceded the main Au mineralisation stage. Pyrite phases 2 and 3 are the main Au mineralisation stage with Au mean range from 1.5 to 4.5 ppm and contributed most of the invisible gold to the ore-forming system. Pyrite phase 4 has low gold concentrations (mean 0.5 ppm) and post-dated the main Au mineralisation stage recorded in pyrite phases 2 and 3. The trace element chemistry of pyrite indicates that Au mineralisation recorded in pyrite is likely a product of four stages ore forming system centred on the rhyolite corridor. In terms of gold exploration, gold has a positive correlation with As, Ag, Cu, Se, Sb, Pb and Tl in pyrite. These metals can be used as pathfinders to detect proximity to ore for orogenic gold deposit type in the central gold belt of Peninsular Malaysia.

Ore-forming fluids in the auriferous district of the Central gold belt in Peninsular Malaysia were studied for their temperature, salinity, and relationship to the surrounding geology. Microthermometric analysis carried out showed homogenisation temperatures range from 210 to 348 °C (Tersang), between 194 and 348 °C (Selinsing), and from 221 to 346 °C (Penjom). Salinities range from 2.41 to 8.95 wt % NaCl equiv (Tersang), between 1.23 and 9.98 wt % NaCl equiv (Selinsing), and from 4.34 to 9.34 wt % NaCl equiv (Penjom). Laser Raman studies indicated that at the Tersang gold deposit, most inclusions are either pure or nearly pure CO₂-rich (87–100 mol %), except for one inclusion, which contains CH₄ gas (13 mol %). In addition, at Selinsing, most inclusions are CO₂-rich (100 mol %). However, an inclusion was found containing CO₂ (90 mol %), with minor N₂ and CH₄. Additionally, at the Penjom gold deposit, most fluid inclusions are CO₂-rich (91–100 mol %), whereas one fluid inclusion is N₂-rich (100 mol %) and another one has minor N₂ and CH₄. At a basin scale, homogenisation temperatures against salinity suggests an isothermal mixing of fluids. Most fluids are CO₂-rich and are interpreted to be of metamorphic origin. The evidence further indicates involvement of magmatic fluids that is supported by the association of sandstone and carbonaceous black shales with magmatic rocks, such as rhyolite, rhyolite-dacite, and trachyte-andesite at the Tersang and Penjom orogenic gold deposits.

The pre- to post-Late Neoproterozoic geological histories in the south to southwestern part of Mamfe Basin (SW Cameroon) were reported following analysis of the zircon crystals from their host rocks. A genetic model was developed for the zircon host rocks’ formation conditions, and the registered post-emplacement events were presented. The obtained ages were correlated with the data available for rocks in the Cameroon Mobile Belt, SE Nigeria, and the Borborema Province of NE Brazil. Separated zircons from Araru black to whitish gneiss, Araru whitish-grey gneiss, and Mboifong migmatite were analyzed for their morphology and texture U-Th-Pb composition, and U-Pb ages. Published U-Pb zircon ages for Otu granitic pegmatite, Babi mica schist, and Nkogho I-type anatectic granite were updated. Zircon ages in Araru black to whitish gneiss; Araru whitish-grey, Mboifong migmatite, Babi mica schist, Nkogho I-type anatectic granite, and Otu granitic pegmatite date the Eburnean tectono-magmatic/metamorphic event in Cameroon and SE Nigeria. The Late Paleoproterozoic to Early Mesoproterozoic ages record extensional (continental rift) settings and anorogenic magmatism in the Borborema Province in the NE of Brazil. These ages date collisional phases between the São Francisco–Congo and West African cratons and the Saharan metacraton with metamorphism and magmatism in Cameroon. They also date the Kibarian tectono-magmatic/metamorphism and PanAfrican tectono-magmatic/metamorphism in SE Nigeria. The Late Paleoproterozoic to Early Mesoproterozoic ages date the Cariris Velhos orogeny in the Borborema Province in NE Brazil, with Early Tonian crustal rifting, magmatism, and metamorphism and the collisional phase of the Brasiliano orogeny with syn-collisional plutons and extensive shear zoning and post-collisional granite intrusions.