Geochronology, Tectonic Evolution and Mineralization of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Deposits".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (22 October 2021)

Special Issue Editors

V.S. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy of the Siberian Branch of the RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
Interests: tectonics; geodynamics; geochronology; magmatism; geology correlation; mineralization
Department of Earth Science and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: metallogeny; geochemistry; geochronology; LA-ICP-MS; mineralization; ore deposits

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) is characterized by a protracted accretionary history and complicated intracontinental processes, which makes it a natural laboratory to study tectonics, mineralization and ore preservation. The CAOB was formed during the Late Precambrian–Paleozoic era as a result of the growth of the Asian continent by accretionary and continental types of margins, with repeated manifestations of large-amplitude strike-slip tectonics and superposition of the magmatic effect of the Siberian and Tarim plumes. Although significant progress has been made on surface geology and distributions of mineral deposits in the past few decades of scientific research, there are serious unknown relationships between crustal evolution and mineral deposit, leading to the accumulation of some unanswered scientific questions, which, to a great extent, compels the exploration of large–superlarge mineral deposits and the search for new mineral prospect zones. The main purpose of this issue is to determine the relationships and patterns of the formation of mineralization and ore deposits with the tectonics and geodynamics of the CAOB.

Prof. Dr. M.M. Buslov
Prof. Dr. Keda Cai
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • mineralization
  • ore deposits
  • geochemistry
  • geochronology
  • thermochronology
  • tectonics
  • magmatism
  • geodynamics
  • geology correlation

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 10745 KiB  
Article
Geological History of the Great Altai: Implications for Mineral Exploration
by Boris A. D’yachkov, Marina A. Mizernaya, Sergey V. Khromykh, Ainel Y. Bissatova, Tatiana A. Oitseva, Anastassiya P. Miroshnikova, Olga V. Frolova, Oxana N. Kuzmina, Natalya A. Zimanovskaya, Anna P. Pyatkova, Karina Zikirova, Olga V. Ageyeva and Yertay T. Yeskaliyev
Minerals 2022, 12(6), 744; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/min12060744 - 10 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2712
Abstract
The Great Altai region, located at the boundary of Russia, Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan, belongs to the system of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. It has undergone a long complex geological and metallogenic history. Extremely rich resources of base, precious, and rare metals [...] Read more.
The Great Altai region, located at the boundary of Russia, Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan, belongs to the system of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. It has undergone a long complex geological and metallogenic history. Extremely rich resources of base, precious, and rare metals (Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Au, Li, Cs, Ta, Nb, REE, etc.) maintain developed mining and metallurgical industry, especially in East Kazakhstan, which is the key metallogenic province. The East Kazakhstan province comprises the Rudny Altai, Kalba-Narym, West-Kalba, and Zharma-Saur metallogenic belts, each having its typical mineralization profiles and deposits. The reconstructed geodynamic and metallogenic history of the Great Altai province, along with the revealed relationships between tectonic settings and mineralization patterns, allowed us to formulate a number of geodynamic, structural, lithostratigraphic, magmatic, mineralogical, and geochemical criteria for exploration and appraisal of mineral potential in Eastern Kazakhstan. Geodynamic criteria are based on the origin of different mineralization types in certain geodynamic settings during the Late Paleozoic–Early Mesozoic orogenic cycle. Structural criteria mean that the location of base-metal deposits in Rudny Altai, gold deposits in the West Kalba belt, rare and base metals in the Kalba-Narym and Zharma-Saur zones is controlled by faults of different sizes. Lithostratigraphic criteria consist of the relation of orebodies with certain types of sedimentary or volcanic-sedimentary rocks. Magmatic criteria are due to the relation between mineralization types and igneous lithologies. Mineralogical and geochemical criteria include typical minerals and elements that can serve as tracers of mineralization. The joint use of all these criteria will open new avenues in prospecting and exploration at a more advanced level. Full article
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19 pages, 6546 KiB  
Article
Peculiarities of Dynamics of Hypergenic Mineral Transformation of Nickel Weathering Crusts of Ultramafic Rocks of the Kempirsay Group of Deposits in Western Kazakhstan
by Valeriy Korobkin, Iskander Samatov, Akhan Chaklikov and Zhamal Tulemissova
Minerals 2022, 12(5), 650; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/min12050650 - 20 May 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1766
Abstract
Nickel weathering ores are used to produce metallic nickel, stainless steels, and nickel sulfate, the main component of batteries. The global production of nickel from weathering ores is increasing and has surpassed production from sulfide magmatic deposits. The efficiency of the mining and [...] Read more.
Nickel weathering ores are used to produce metallic nickel, stainless steels, and nickel sulfate, the main component of batteries. The global production of nickel from weathering ores is increasing and has surpassed production from sulfide magmatic deposits. The efficiency of the mining and processing of nickel ores from weathering rocks is determined by their mineralogical composition. The weathering crust profile of the Kempirsay ultramafite massif is divided into three zones—leached (kerolitized) serpentinites, nontronites, and final hydrolysis minerals (later referred to as “ochers”). The kerolitized zone consists of a mixture of Ni-bearing talc and saponites (later referred to as “kerolite”). During the geological mapping of the Donskoye, Buranovskoye, and Shelektinskoye deposits, the products of ultramafite hypergenic transformation into disintegrated and leached serpentinites, kerolites, nontronites, and ochers were selected and studied. For this purpose, 44 rock samples were studied via X-ray diffractometric and thermal analyses, supplemented with data from chemical, microscopic, and granulometric determinations. Based on the obtained numerical parameters of the crystalline structure of the weathering products, the thermochemical values were obtained. The hypergenic transformation of the initial minerals and their subsequent transformation were traced. The trace element distribution along the profile of the serpentinite weathering ores is related to the initial material composition of the ultramafites. The accumulation of nickel in industrial concentrations is associated with the nontronite–kerolite zone. X-ray diffractometric analysis can be used as a fast and reliable method for controlling the nickel content of ores and monitoring their mineralogical composition. Full article
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19 pages, 8199 KiB  
Article
Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Geochronology of the Yehe-Shigna Ophiolitic Massif, Tuva-Mongolian Microcontinent, Southern Siberia: Evidence for a Back-Arc Origin and Geodynamic Implications
by Sergey Mikhailovich Zhmodik, Mikhail Mikhailovich Buslov, Bulat Batuevich Damdinov, Anatoli Georgievich Mironov, Valentin Borisovich Khubanov, Molon Gimitovich Buyantuyev, Ludmila Borisovna Damdinova, Evgeniya Vladimirovna Airiyants, Olga Nikolaevna Kiseleva and Dmitriy Konstantinovich Belyanin
Minerals 2022, 12(4), 390; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/min12040390 - 23 Mar 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1848
Abstract
The new results have been represented of mineralogical–geochemical and geochronological studies of rocks of the Yehe-Shigna ophiolite massif located in the Tuva-Mongolian microcontinent in the northern part of the Central Asian orogenic belt (Eastern Sayan, Southern Siberia). The Yehe-Shigna ophiolite massif is part [...] Read more.
The new results have been represented of mineralogical–geochemical and geochronological studies of rocks of the Yehe-Shigna ophiolite massif located in the Tuva-Mongolian microcontinent in the northern part of the Central Asian orogenic belt (Eastern Sayan, Southern Siberia). The Yehe-Shigna ophiolite massif is part of the Belsk-Dugda ophiolite belt. The structural position, age, and geochemical characteristics of the belt indicate its formation in the setting of the back-arc basin of the Shishkhid intraoceanic island arc, developing in the period of 810–750 million years. It is assumed that together with the same-age formations of the Oka accretion wedge and the Sarkhoi active margin, it formed on the convergent margin of the Gondwana supercontinent. Its basement is represented by the Archean-Early Precambrian crystalline rocks and carbonate cover (“Gargan Glyba”). The gold-bearing Neoproterozoic deposits with dominant gold-telluride assemblages are localization in large ophiolites thrust zones along with the frame of the “Gargan Glyba”. They are allochthonous with respect to the Late Neoproterozoic-Cambrian Tuva-Mongolian island arc of the Siberian continent. A similar type of gold deposit is probably worth looking for ophiolites thrust zones in other Precambrian Gondwana-derived microcontinents. Full article
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16 pages, 9681 KiB  
Article
Early Devonian Arc-Related Volcanic Rocks in the Haerdaban, North Margin of the Yili Block: Constraint on the Southward Subduction of the Junggar Ocean
by Youxin Chen, Shengqiang Zhu, Xianzhi Pei, Lei He, Jun Zhao, Bate Bulong, Meng Wang, Shaowei Zhao and Hai Zhou
Minerals 2021, 11(11), 1248; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/min11111248 - 10 Nov 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1479
Abstract
The origin and tectonic implication of Early–Middle Devonian magmatism in the northern margin of YB (Yili Block) remain enigmatic and are important for understanding Late Paleozoic evolution of the Junggar Ocean and southern Kazakhstan Orocline. Here, we present the systematic study of whole-rock [...] Read more.
The origin and tectonic implication of Early–Middle Devonian magmatism in the northern margin of YB (Yili Block) remain enigmatic and are important for understanding Late Paleozoic evolution of the Junggar Ocean and southern Kazakhstan Orocline. Here, we present the systematic study of whole-rock geochemical and Sr–Nd isotope features as well as U–Pb–Hf isotope characteristics of zircon crystals for newly identified Early Devonian volcanic rocks from the northern margin of YB. The volcanic rocks are composed of rhyolite, rhyolite porphyry, and rhyolitic tuff. Zircon U-Pb age dating indicates they were formed at ca. 407~418 Ma. They have high SiO2 (70.16–77.52 wt.%) and alkali (5.10–9.56 wt.%) contents, and high Zr + Nb + Ce + Y content (~456 ppm), indicative of A-type magma. Their relative depletion of Nb, Ta, and Ti, and enrichment of LILEs show arc affinity. Their low initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.699708–0.709822) and negative εNd(t) values (−1.8 to −4.0) indicate a mainly continental magma source and their positive εHf(t)values (+6.13 to +14.81) are possibly due to the garnet effect. All these above reveal that volcanic rocks were generated by re-melting of lower crust under a high temperature condition, which was induced by long-lived heat accumulation with no or minimal basalt flux. Combined with active continental margin inference evidenced by contemporaneous sedimentary rocks, we attribute the generation of the volcanic rocks to a continental arc setting related to the southward subduction of Junggar oceanic crust. Thus, we infer the Early–Middle Devonian arc-related magmatic rocks in the northern margin of YB are eastward counterparts of the southern limb of the Devonian Volcanic Belt, which resulted from a relatively steady-state southward subduction. Full article
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