Pyrites from VHMS deposits tend to have higher Sn, Se, Cu, Pb, Bi and lower Ni relative to Orogenic Au deposits.

Orogenic Au deposits could be subdivided based on association of Au with As or Te. Pyrites from Au-As ores generally have Pb/Bi > 5, Se/Te > 5, Pb/Sb < 5 and Tl/Te > 100 and the majority of Au is refractory (in pyrite structure).

Au-Te association pyrites are characterised by lower values of Pb/Bi, Se/Te and Tl/Te, higher values of Ag/Au, Pb/Sb and Au generally resides in inclusions of different compositions.

Our data can be used at the exploration stage to distinguish between VHMS vs Orogenic Au signatures.

For all studied deposits inclusion populations are summarised with implications for Au and Ag deportment.

Orogenic Au deposits from the Yilgarn mostly have multistage formation histories reflected in the presence of multiple generations of pyrites.