Episodic Au-Mo mineralization events in the Xiaoqinling district, southern margin of the North China Craton

•Our study supports a model with two discrete Mo and Au mineralizing events, marked by the differences in mineral assemblage, mineralization age, fluid sources and tectonic setting.•The evolution of Xiaoqinling metamorphic core complex plays a decisive role in the occurrence of Mo and Au orebodies.•The episodic hydrothermal mineralization constituted a protracted and complicated lode system in Xiaoqinling.