###### Abstract  
Porphyry and the associated skarn-type deposit is one of the most important types of ore deposits worldwide, which usually exhibit significant zoning of mineralization-alteration, but the research on element migration in these mineralization-alteration zones is relatively weak. The Beiya porphyry-skarn gold-polymetallic deposit is a super-large Cenozoic deposit located in the Sanjiang metallogenic belt, northwestern Yunnan, China. In this paper, through a detailed analysis of mineralization and alteration zoning and its element migration regularity, the findings are as follows: (1) Three types of hydrothermal alteration--porphyry alteration, contact alteration, and wall-rock alteration--are developed, and porphyry alteration includes potassic, phyllic, propylitic, and argillic alteration; (2) five types of mineralization--porphyry-type Cu-Au-(Mo), skarn-type Au-Fe-(Cu), hydrothermal vein-type Au-Fe, distal hydrothermal-type Pb-polymetallic, and oxidizing-leaching enriched-type Au--occur in a diversity of forms, which are dominantly controlled by structures and lithologies; (3) concentric-banded mineralization-alteration zones are exhibited centrally from the alkaline porphyry outward or upward, namely [porphyry alteration] potassic \(\rightarrow\) phyllic \(\rightarrow\) propylitic \(\rightarrow\) argillic \(\rightarrow\) [contact alteration] skarnitization-marbleization \(\rightarrow\) [wall-rock alteration] marbleization-silicification-calcitization; (4) porphyry-type mineralization predominantly forms within potassic and phyllic zones, while skarn-type mineralization occurs in contact alteration zones, and proximal and distal hydrothermal (vein)-type mineralization are commonly distributed in marbleization-silicification-calcitization alteration zones; and (5) element migration analysis demonstrates a significantly lateral and vertical zoning in the metallogenic element association of Cu-Mo \(\rightarrow\) Cu-Au \(\rightarrow\) Au-Fe-Cu \(\rightarrow\) Au-Fe \(\rightarrow\) Pb-Zn-Au-Ag-Fe from alkaline porphyry outward to the wall-rock. The mineralization-alteration zoning model indicates the Beiya deposit has similar mineralization and alteration zone characteristics to the typical porphyry copper system; and element migration within mineralization-alteration zones provides new scientific information for understanding the metallogenic regularity and prospecting at Beiya, as well as the similar types of deposits in the Sanjiang metallogenic belt and elsewhere in the world. element migration; mineralization-alteration zone; porphyry copper system; Beiya porphyry-skarn deposit; Sanjiang metallogenic belt 2024 zoning that commonly comprises sodic-calcic, potassic, phyllic (sericitic), propylitic (chloritic-epidotic-carbonation), and (advanced) argillic, as well as greisen and skarn [2; 6; 7; 8; 9]. Hydrothermal alteration minerals and assemblages are zoned spatially, temporally, and thermally [2; 9]: (1) sodic-calcic alteration usually occurs at the deepest level but is poorly preserved or uncommon [2]; potassic alteration is centrally located and deeper and is overlain by phyllic alteration, while (advanced) argillic alteration forms near the surface and generally overlaps the potassic and phyllic zones; propylitic alteration can develop at deep to shallow parts surrounding the central zones of potassic, phyllic, and argillic alteration--it may also grade downward into deeper zones of sodic-calcic alteration or upward into the argillic zone; skarn is commonly generated in contact with wall-rocks; (2) in general, these alteration types form progressively younger upward or outward [2]; and (3) these alterations are the result of the declining temperature of hydrothermal fluids [2]. These hydrothermal alterations record important information of ore-forming processes and provide the basis for the exploration of porphyry deposits [10; 11; 12].