Abstract: The tectonic location of Kaihuang area in Dulan County，Qinghai Province is located in the southern margin of the Tachai Plate，the middle section of the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt，and within the Xuefeng Mountain-Burhan Buda gold，cobalt，andcopper metallogenic belt.In order to achieve prospecting breakthroughs in Kaihuang area，the 1∶50 000 water system sediment measurement work was carried out in the study area.Based on the data of 527 water system sediment samples，the coefficients of variation， enrichment and concentration ratio of elements were used to to compare 9 elements of Au，Ag， As，Sb，Cu，Pb，Zn，W，Mo were analyzed by mathematical statistics，so as to reveal the spatial enrichment rules of each element and their metallogenic potential，and combined with the metallogenic geological conditions for the study area，metallogenic prediction of the area was done.The study results show that Au element has greater metallogenic potential in the study area，and other elements have smaller metallogenic potential；based on the R-type cluster analysis and factor analysis， the element combinations related to Au mineralization i.e. Au-As-Sb-Pb in the study area was determined；by using contrast anomaly method，two prospecting target areas were delineated in the study area，the anomalous fit of Au， As， Sb，and Pb of KH1 target area and KH2 target area is good,and Baijingou gold orebody is found in KH1 target area.Due to the element nesting and metallogenic geological conditions in KH2 target area and KH1 target area are similar to each other，therefore，it is concluded that the prospecting potential of KH2 target area is also good.The above study results can provide reliable reference for the further prospecting work and metallogenic prediction studies in the study area.

Key words: Gold deposit, Stream sediment survey, Multivariate statistical analysis, Contrast anomaly method, Prospecting potention