Regional geologic setting and metallogenesis of central Inner Mongolia, China: Guides for exploration of mesothermal gold deposits

Hong Tao Zhang, Chil Sup So, Seong Taek Yun

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    31 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The central Inner Mongolia district forms one of the most important metallogenic provinces in China, because the district has been influenced by repeated distinct tectonomagmatic activity. The genetic relationships and spatial-temporal evolution of ancient tectonism and associated geologic structures and metallogeny are discussed in this paper. An integrated genetic model for gold metallogeny is proposed. During the late Archean to Paleozoic, repeated north-southward accretional tectonics between the Paleo-Mongolia Oceanic Plate and the North China Paleoplate led to the formation of not only the E-W-trending deep crustal faults but also a series of sedimentary, volcanic and metamorphic events. Numerous stratiform, Fe, Cu (Au), Pb-Zn and REE ores formed in association with sedimentation and volcanism within the platform environments at this time. During the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic, the central Inner Mongolia district was largely influenced by northwestward subduction of the Circum-Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasia Plate. A series of NE-SW-trending faults, together with S-type granitoid intrusions, formed as a result of this subduction. Mesothermal-type gold deposits (e.g., the Saiyingwusu, Laoyanghao, Shibaqin, Wulashan and Donghuofang deposits) formed during the Permian to Jurassic (158.5 to 275.4 Ma), preferentially at or near the intersections between NE-SW-trending and E-W-trending fault systems. At these intersections, the areas of not only late Paleozoic to early Mesozic granitoids but also late Archean to early Proterozoic metamorphic rocks (especially the gold-rich, Seertengshan, Wulashan and Bayan Obo group rocks) may be promising exploration targets for mesothermal gold deposits.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)129-146
    Number of pages18
    JournalOre Geology Reviews
    Volume14
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1999 Mar

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    This work was supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) through the Center for Mineral Resources Research (CMR) at Korea University and was undertaken as an international cooperative research project between the CMR of the Republic of Korea and the Institute of Mineral Deposits, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences of the People's Republic of China. We acknowledge Prof. Y.M. Zhao (Director of the Institute of Mineral Deposits, China) for his stimulation and encouragement of the research project. The critical reading and constructive comments by the journal reviewers are greatly acknowledged.

    Keywords

    • Central Inner Mongolia
    • Mesothermal gold
    • Metallogeny
    • Tectonics

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Geology
    • Geochemistry and Petrology
    • Economic Geology

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