Littérature scientifique sur le sujet « Southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) »

The Tianshan Orogenic Belt, which is located in the southwestern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), is an important component in the reconstruction of the tectonic evolution of the CAOB. In order to examine the evolution of the Tianshan Orogenic Belt, we performed macroscopic, microscopic structure observations analyses with deformed rocks along orogen-perpendicular transects pass Wuwamen in the South Tianshan orogenic belt of south west China, and we propose that the South Tianshan Orogenic belt enterwent a high temperature deformation in Wuwamen area during the plate interactions in Late Paleozoic.

AbstractThe southeastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) records the assembly process between several micro-continental blocks and the North China Craton (NCC), with the consumption of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO), but whether the S-wards subduction of the PAO beneath the northern NCC was ongoing during Carboniferous–Permian time is still being debated. A key issue to resolve this controversy is whether the Carboniferous magmatism in the northern NCC was continental arc magmatism. The Alxa Block is the western segment of the northern NCC and contiguous to the southeastern CAOB, and their Carboniferous–Permian magmatism could have occurred in similar tectonic settings. In this contribution, new zircon U–Pb ages, elemental geochemistry and Sr–Nd isotopic analyses are presented for three early Carboniferous granitic plutons in the southwestern Alxa Block. Two newly identified aluminous A-type granites, an alkali-feldspar granite (331.6 ± 1.6 Ma) and a monzogranite (331.8 ± 1.7 Ma), exhibit juvenile and radiogenic Sr–Nd isotopic features, respectively. Although a granodiorite (326.2 ± 6.6 Ma) is characterized by high Sr/Y ratios (97.4–139.9), which is generally treated as an adikitic feature, this sample has highly radiogenic Sr–Nd isotopes and displays significantly higher K2O/Na2O ratios than typical adakites. These three granites were probably derived from the partial melting of Precambrian continental crustal sources heated by upwelling asthenosphere in lithospheric extensional setting. Regionally, both the Alxa Block and the southeastern CAOB are characterized by the formation of early Carboniferous extension-related magmatic rocks but lack coeval sedimentary deposits, suggesting a uniform lithospheric extensional setting rather than a simple continental arc.

The Darbut ophiolitic mélange is located in the central West Junggar area, southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), and rodingites are widespread within serpentinized peridotites in the mélange. Here, we conducted field, structural, mineralogical, and geochemical investigations of the Darbut rodingites for the first time to constrain their metasomatic processes. Rodingites usually occur as strongly sheared blocks surrounded by chloritic blackwall, and their preferred axial surface orientations are subparallel to the serpentinite foliations. Based on the petrology and geochemistry of these metasomatic rocks, two stages of metasomatic processes, namely rodingitization and derodingitization, were recognized: (1) rodingitization of gabbroic protolith was characterized by the input of Ca and the release of Si, K, Na, and LILE; this stage was related to the diapiric emplacement of the Darbut ophiolitic mélange in the Late Carboniferous; and (2) derodingitization of rodingites led to the replacement of Ca-rich minerals by chlorite, accompanied by Mg increase, and depletions of Ca and REE; the derodingitization stage occurred under enhanced CO2/H2O ratio conditions and was likely associated with regional postcollision volcanism in the Early Permian. Hence, the rodingite in the Darbut ophiolitic mélange provides important fingerprints recording the tectonic evolution.

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), one of the world’s largest orogens, extending from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Russian and the Chinese Far East, is the result of long-lived multi-stage tectonic evolution, including Proterozoic to Paleozoic accretion and collision, Mesozoic intracontinental modification, and Cenozoic rapid deformation and uplift [...]

The cental Asian orogenic belt (CAOB) which between the North China Craton and the Siberian Craton is one of the tectono-metallogenic belts in the world. The central Inner Mongolia belongs to the eastern part of the CAOB, recently a series of research and exploration work has been done in this region. However, no breakthrough has been made in the exploration of metal ore. In order to research current mineralization issues in the eastern part of the CAOB, a long magnetotelluric (MT) profile was acquired across the central part of Inner Mongolia. The profile starts within the DongUjimqinqi in the northwest, goes southeastward across the Chagan Obo-Arongqi fault, the Erenhot-Hegenshan fault, the Xilinhot fault and the Linxi fault, and ends around the Xar Moron fault in the northern part of Chifeng city; the strike direction of most faults is southeast; the faults have direct control effect to the magmation and mineralization of this region. The model of electrical structure along the profile can be divided into two regions: widely distributed low resistivity is the key feature north of Nianzigou; high resistance is the key feature south of Nianzigou. The Chagan Obo-Arongqi fault, the Erenhot-Hegenshan fault and the Xilinhot fault all present as a southeastward dipping conductor, which reflects their overthrusting process; there are many high conductivity areas along the faults in the region. The electrical structure to the south of Nianzigou is expressed as a mushroom shape, which reflects the tectonic origin of magmatic rock in this region.

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), also known as the Altaid Tectonic Collage, is characterised by a vast distribution of Paleozoic and Mesozoic granitic intrusions. The granitoids have a wide range of compositions and roughly show a temporal evolution from calcalkaline to alkaline to peralkaline series. The emplacement times for most granitic plutons fall between 500 Ma and 100 Ma, but only a small proportion of plutons have been precisely dated. The Nd-Sr isotopic compositions of these granitoids suggest their juvenile characteristics, hence implying a massive addition of new continental crust in the Phanerozoic. In this paper we document the available isotopic data to support this conclusion.Most Phanerozoic granitoids of Central Asia are characterised by low initial Sr isotopic ratios, positive εNd(T) values and young Sm—Nd model ages (TDM) of 300-1200 Ma. This is in strong contrast with the coeval granitoids emplaced in the European Caledonides and Hercynides. The isotope data indicate their ‘juvenile’ character and suggest their derivation from source rocks or magmas separated shortly before from the upper mantle. Granitoids with negative εNd(T) values also exist, but they occur in the environs of Precambrian microcontinental blocks and their isotope compositions may reflect contamination by the older crust in the magma generation processes.The evolution of the CAOB is probably related to accretion of young arc complexes and old terranes (microcontinents). However, the emplacement of large volumes of post-tectonic granites requires another mechanism, probably through a series of processes including underplating of massive basaltic magma, intercalation of basaltic magma with lower crustal granulites, partial melting of the mixed lithologic assemblages leading to generation of granitic liquids, followed by extensive fractional crystallisation. The proportions of the juvenile or mantle component for most granitoids of Central Asia are estimated to vary from 70% to 100%.

The Tuvinian rift trough, located in the northern part of the Central Asian orogenic belt (CAOB), was formed in the Early Devonian on late Proterozoic (?)‒Early Paleozoic terranes as a result of the activity of the Altai-Sayan mantle plume. The sedimentary record from the middle Paleozoic to the middle Mesozoic, preserved in the Tuvinian trough, and the middle Paleozoic igneous complexes confined to the structures of the trough, reflect the stages of evolution of the Earth’s crust in the Tuva segment, that necessary for understanding the history of the geological development of the CAOB as a whole. Dating of accessory and rock-forming minerals from igneous rocks using low-temperature geochronology methods allows us to obtain additional information about post-magmatic processes and thereby update the model of tectonic evolution of the region. In this study, we have reconstructed the stages of tectonic development of the Tuvinian trough in the northern part of the CAOB based on the analysis of geological data and new Ar‒Ar dating data on feldspars from mafic intrusions. As a result of this study, the chronology of the previously known stages of post-magmatic processes manifested in the Tuvinian trough was clarified, and new stages were identified according to the tectonic evolution of the CAOB. Ar‒Ar dating of feldspars carried out on eight samples showed four age groups: (i) Late Devonian, (ii) middle Carboniferous, (iii) early Permian and (iv) Early Jurassic. Late Devonian (~377 and 375 Ma) ages record an impulse of mafic magmatism, widely manifested in the northern segments of the CAOB (~380‒365 Ma). Middle Carboniferous (~320 and 319 Ma) dates may be associated with the closure of the Ob-Zaisan branch of the Paleo-Asian ocean as a result of the Kazakhstan-Siberian collision. Early Permian (~290–279 Ma) ages are consistent with the formation of late Carboniferous–Early Permian (~305–275 Ma) large igneous provinces in connection with rifting processes in the northern segments of the CAOB. Finally, a single Early Jurassic (~188 Ma) age marks tectonic reorganization of the CAOB in Late Triassic‒Early Jurassic in response to (i) closure of the Paleotethys ocean with subsequent collision of the Cimmerian blocks and the southern margin of the Eurasian continent and/or (ii) activity of the Mongolian mantle plume.

The paper presents a review of processes of subduction or tectonic erosion at the Pacific-type convergent margins (PTCM) including definition of “tectonic erosion”, its triggers, driving forces and consequences. We review examples of tectonic erosion at the Circum-Pacific PTCMs and at the fossil PTCMs of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO) currently hosted by the Central-Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Recent geological and stratigraphic studies have shown two types of PTCMs: accreting and eroding. Accreting PTCMs consist of older deposits of accretionary and frontal prisms and grow oceanward, i.e. the trench retreats. Eroding PTCMs are characterized by the destruction of the prism, approaching arc and trench and typically form during shallow-angle and fast subduction of an oceanic slab with oceanic floor topographic highs. The mechanism of tectonic erosion includes destruction of oceanic slab, island arcs, accretionary prism, fore-arc and related prism. Tectonic erosion is a common phenomenon at many Circum-Pacific PTCMs, e.g., in South America, Tonga and Nankai troughs, Alaska. Accretion and subduction of oceanic rises contributes greatly to the processes of formation, transformation and destruction of continental crust at PTCM. The episodes of tectonic erosion can be also reconstructed for an ancient ocean, for example, for the PAO, which evolution and suturing formed the CAOB. Many CAOB foldbelts (Altai, Tienshan, eastern Kazakhstan, Transbaikalia, Mongolia) carry signs of disap-pearance of big volumes of continental crust (arcs). Studying processes responsible not only for the formation of continental crust, but also for the disappearance of big volumes of crustal mate-rial is important for correct evaluation of the nature of intra-continental orogenic belts, e.g., CAOB, and development of reliable tectonic models.

Les orogènes d'accrétion formées le long de marges convergentes se caractérisent par une longue évolution et sont les principaux sites de croissance continentale sur la Terre. Les phénomènes de convergence dans les orogènes d'accrétion impliquent des processus tectoniques complexes, tels que la subduction et le retrait de slabs, l'accrétion arc-arc/continent, et l'extension post-collisionnelle. Cependant, les processus orogéniques des anciennes orogènes sont plus compliqués en raison de l'importante érosion, nécessitant de connaissances approfondies sur la déformation, le métamorphisme et le magmatisme.La Ceinture Orogénique d'Asie Centrale (COAC) est un vaste système orogénique d'accrétion en Eurasie, formé par la subduction de l'Océan Paléo-asiatique et la convergence des cratons de Sibérie, Tarim-Chine du Nord, et Baltique pendant les Néoprotérozoïque et Paléozoïque supérieur, constituant une croûte juvénile, et offre un laboratoire naturel pour examiner la croissance continentale et les processus d'orogénèse. Le Tianshan oriental, situé au Sud-Ouest de la COAC, préserve des enregistrements de la subduction de la plaque océanique, de l'accrétion arc-arc/continent et de l'évolution post-collisionnelle. Des débats entravent notre compréhension de son évolution tectonique, y compris des questions liées aux socles crustaux, aux processus tectoniques, à la chronologie de l'amalgamation finale, et à l'évolution magmatique.Cette thèse présente une étude multi-échelle et multidisciplinaire de l'évolution tectono-métamorphique-magmatique du Tianshan oriental du Paléozoïque supérieur au Mésozoïque inférieur. En premier, l'histoire tectono-métamorphique du complexe métamorphique de Xiaopu dans Le Tianshan nord-est a été examinée avec des analyses structurales, métamorphiques et géochronologiques; Ensuite, des contraintes sur l'évolution tectono-magmatique du Tianshan nord-est et de l'Est du Junggar au Paléozoïque supérieur ont été établies basée sur les données géochronologiques, géochimiques et isotopiques; Enfin, l'évolution magmatique du Trias a été établie avec des investigations pétrographiques, géochronologiques, géochimiques et isotopiques de granitoïdes dans la région de Bogda et le Tianshan oriental. Les principaux résultats sont les suivants :1. Le socle du Tianshan nord-est et de l'Est de Junggar se compose principalement de croûte juvénile du Néoprotérozoïque au Phanérozoïque, probablement avec la présence d'un socle continental d'âge Méso-protérozoïque.2. L'accrétion arc-arc entre le Tianshan nord-est et l'Est de Junggar autour de 340-330 Ma a entraîné un raccourcissement et un épaississement crustal. Le retrait de la plaque océanique de Kangguer entre 330 et 310 Ma a provoqué une extension rétro-arc et un amincissement crustal dans la région de Bogda-Harlik, ainsi qu'un magmatisme lié à l'extension et un métamorphisme à haute température et basse pression.3. L'amalgamation finale du Tianshan oriental a eu lieu vers 300 Ma, entraînant un épaississement crustal dans le Tianshan nord-est et une accalmie magmatique dans les régions de l'Est de Junggar et de Kangguer-Yamansu, ainsi qu'une forte réduction de roches magmatiques intermédiaires dans la région de Bogda-Harlik-Dananhu.4. Après l'amalgamation, le Tianshan nord-est et l'Est de Junggar ont évolué vers un environnement post-orogénique pendant le Permien. L'extension et l'exhumation localisées, ainsi que la formation de roches magmatiques bimodales et de granitoïdes de type A généralisés, se sont produites en association avec la tectonique transcurrente régionale.5. Pendant le Trias, le magmatisme diversifié dans le Tianshan oriental résulte du remaniement de croûtes anciennes et juvéniles à des profondeurs et des températures variées, avec un apport du manteau dans un contexte intraplaque
Accretionary orogens forming along convergent margins are characterized by long-lived evolution and are the primary sites of continental growth on Earth. A typical convergence pattern of accretionary orogens involves complex tectonic processes, such as tectonic switching between advancing and retreating subduction, arc-arc/continent accretion, and post-collisional extension. However, elucidating the orogenic processes of ancient orogenic belts is more challenging due to extensive denudation, necessitating comprehensive knowledge on deformation, metamorphism, and magmatism.The Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) is a vast accretionary orogenic system within Eurasia, formed by the subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO) and the convergence of the Siberian, Tarim-North China, and Baltica (East European) cratons during the Neoproterozoic to late Paleozoic. It is considered as the largest Phanerozoic accretionary orogen containing significant juvenile crust, and offers a natural laboratory to examine continental growth and orogenic processes. The eastern Tianshan in the southwestern CAOB preserves crucial records of subduction, arc-arc/continent accretion and post-collisional evolution, providing unique insights into orogenic tectonics. Nonetheless, several debates still hinder our understanding of its tectonic evolution, including issues related to the crustal basements, detailed tectonic processes, timing of the final amalgamation, and magmatic evolution.This thesis presents a multi-scale and multi-disciplinary study of the tectonic-metamorphic-magmatic evolution of the eastern Tianshan during the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic. Firstly, the tectono-metamorphic history of the Xiaopu Metamorphic Complex (XPC) in the eastern North Tianshan has been investigated through detailed structural, metamorphic, and geochronogical analyses. Secondly, spatial and temporal constraints on the late Paleozoic tectono-magmatic evolution of the eastern North Tianshan and East Junggar have been established based on geochronological, geochemical, and isotopic data sets from both new and previous studies. Thirdly, the Triassic magmatic evolution has been built up through detailed petrographic, geochronologic, geochemical, and isotopic investigations of newly identified Triassic granitoids from the Bogda region, alongside published data from the eastern Tianshan. The main results lead to the following conclusions: 1.The basement of the eastern North Tianshan and East Junggar regions primarily comprises Neoproterozoic to Phanerozoic juvenile crust, likely with a presence of a Mesoproterozoic continental basement similar to that of the Central Tianshan Block in the Kangguer-Yamansu area. 2.Arc-arc accretion between the eastern North Tianshan and East Junggar around 340-330 Ma resulted in crustal shortening and thickening. The roll-back of the Kangguer oceanic slab between 330 and 310 Ma caused back-arc extension and crustal thinning in the Bogda-Harlik region, along with extension-related magmatism and high temperature and low pressure (HT-LP) metamorphism.3.The final amalgamation of the eastern Tianshan occurred around 300 Ma, leading to crustal thickening in the eastern North Tianshan and a magmatic lull in the East Junggar and Kangguer-Yamansu regions, as well as a sharp reduction in intermediate magmatic rocks in the Bogda-Harlik-Dananhu region.4.Following the amalgamation, the eastern North Tianshan and East Junggar evolved into a post-orogenic setting during the Permian. Localized crustal extension and exhumation, along with the formation of bimodal magmatic rocks and widespread A-type granitoids, likely occurred in association with regional transcurrent tectonics.5.During the Triassic, the magmatism diversity in the eastern Tianshan resulted from the reworking of both ancient and juvenile crust at varying depths and temperatures, with some mantle input in an intraplate setting

The amalgamation of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt in the southwestern Tian Shan in Tajikistan is represented by tectono-magmatic-metamorphic processes that accompanied late Paleozoic ocean closure and collision between the Karakum-Tarim and Kazakh-Kyrgyz terranes. Integrated U-Pb geochronology, thermobarometry, pseudosection modeling, and Hf geochemistry constrain the timing and petro-tectonic nature of these processes. The Gissar batholith and the Garm massif represent an eastward, along-strike increase in paleodepth from upper-batholith (similar to 21-7km) to arc-root (similar to 36-19km) levels of the Andean-syn-collisional Gissar arc, which developed from similar to 323-288Ma in two stages: (i) Andean, I-type granitoid magmatism from similar to 323-306Ma due to northward subduction of the Gissar back-arc ocean basin under the Gissar microcontinent, which was immediately followed by (ii) syn-collisional, I-S-type granitoid magmatism in the Gissar batholith and the Garm massif from similar to 304-288Ma due to northward subduction/underthrusting of Karakum marginal-continental crust under the Gissar microcontinent. A rapid isotopic pull-up from similar to 288-286Ma signals the onset of juvenile, alkaline-syenitic, post-collisional magmatism by similar to 280Ma, which was driven by delamination of the Gissar arclogite root and consequent convective asthenospheric upwelling. Whereas M-HT/LP prograde metamorphism in the Garm massif (650-750 degrees C/6-7kbar) from similar to 310-288Ma was associated with subduction-magma inundation and crustal thickening, HT/LP heating and decompression to peak-metamorphic temperatures (similar to 800-820 degrees C/6-4kbar) at similar to 2886Ma was driven by the transmission of a post-collisional, mantle-derived heat wave through the Garm-massif crust.

Le Centre-Est de la Mongolie intérieure, faisant la partie sud-est de la Ceinture Orogénique de l'Asie Centrale (CAOB), est une zone de clé pour étudier l'histoire de l’accrétion-collision entre la Chine du Nord (NCC) et les blocs continentaux du Nord. Les contraintes du cadre tectonique et de la connaissance de l’évolution tectonique sont importantes pour comprendre l’accrétion de la CAOB car il n’y a pas de consensus sur le mode et la période de l'accrétion entre NCC et les blocs du Nord. Par conséquent, des études pluridisciplinaires ont été effectuées sur les roches sédimentaires et magmatiques du Paléozoïque supérieur dans le centre-oriental de la Mongolie Intérieure. Sur la base de nos études sédimentologiques, géochronologiques, géochimiques et paléomagnétiques, et compte tenu des résultats précédents en pétrographie, géochimie et paléontologie, l'évolution sédimentaire et tectonique du Paléozoïque supérieur du Centre-Oriental de la Mongolie Intérieure a été bien établie. Les études détaillées en sédimentologie et géochimie montrent une transition entre les dépôts molassiques du Dévonien à la dénudation du Carbonifère inférieur et les sédiments marins du Carbonifère supérieure vers les dépôts de bassin d'extension au Permien. D’après nos analyses détaillées des faciès sédimentaires, des caractéristiques géochimiques des roches magmatiques et nos données paléomagnétiques, nous proposons un modèle géodynamique de subduction-collision-extension post-orogénique pour le Paléozoïque au Centre-Oriental de la Mongolie Intérieure
Central-eastern Inner Mongolia, located in the southeastern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), is a key area to study the collisional-accretionary history between the North China Craton (NCC) and the northern continental blocks. The establishment of precise constraints of this tectonic framework and evolutional history are important to understand the accretion of CAOB. However, no any consensus has been achieved about the way and the timing of the accretion between NCC and the northern blocks. Therefore, multidisciplinary studies have been carried out on the Late Paleozoic strata and magmatic rocks in central-eastern Inner Mongolia. Based on our sedimentological analyses, detrital zircon geochronological constraints, geochemical studies and paleomagnetic investigations, integrating the previous results in petrology, geochemistry and paleontology, the Late Paleozoic sedimentary-tectonic evolution of the central-eastern Inner Mongolia has been established. Detailed sedimentological and geochemical studies show a transition from the Devonian molassic deposits to the Early Carboniferous denudation and from the Late Carboniferous inland-sea sediments to the Permian extensional basin deposits. According to the comprehensive analyses on sedimentary facies, geochemical characteristics and paleomagnetic data, we propose a Paleozoic subduction-collision- post-orogenic extension tectonic model for central-eastern Inner Mongolia

Abstract China produces about 450 t Au per year and has government stated in-ground reserves of approximately 12,000 t Au. Orogenic gold, or gold deposits in metamorphic rocks, and associated placer deposits compose about 65 to 75% of this endowment, with lodes existing as structurally hosted vein and/or disseminated orebodies. The abundance of orogenic gold deposits reflects Paleozoic to Triassic closure of Paleo-Tethyan ocean basins between Precambrian blocks derived from Rodinia and Gondwana as well as late Mesozoic-Cenozoic circum-Pacific events and Cenozoic Himalayan orogeny. The deposits range in age from middle Paleozoic to Pleistocene. The Jiaodong Peninsula contains about one-third of China’s overall endowment, and large resources also characterize East Qinling, West Qinling, and the Youjiang basin. Although gold ores in Jiaodong postdate formation and metamorphism of Precambrian host rocks by billions of years, they are nevertheless classified here as orogenic gold ores rather than as a unique Jiaodong-type or decratonic-type of gold deposit. Similarly, although many workers classify the gold lodes in the Youjiang basin and much of West Qinling as Carlin-type gold, they show significant differences from gold ores in Nevada, United States, and are better defined as epizonal orogenic gold deposits. Although there are widespread exposures of Precambrian rocks in China, there are no significant Precambrian gold deposits. If large ancient orogenic gold deposits formed in Archean and Paleoproterozoic rocks, then they have been eroded, because these deep crustal rocks that are now exposed in China’s cratonic blocks have been uplifted from levels too deep for orogenic gold formation. The oldest large gold deposits in China are perhaps those of the Qilian Shan that were formed in association with Silurian tectonism along the present-day southwestern margin of the North China block. Closure of ocean basins in the outer parts of the Central Asian orogenic belt led to late Carboniferous to Middle Triassic orogenic gold formation in the Tian Shan, Altay Shan, Beishan, and northwestern North China block. Deformation associated with amalgamation of the North China block, northern Tibet terranes, South China block, and Indochina, as well as initial Paleo-Pacific subduction, can be related to Late Triassic orogenic gold formation in West Qinling, East Kunlun, Youjiang basin, West Jiangnan (Xuefengshan belt), Hainan Island, and Yunkaidashan gold provinces. In the middle Mesozoic, continued subduction along the Paleo-Pacific margin was associated with gold ores forming in East and Central Jiangnan, whereas early to middle Mesozoic deformation along the northern North China block formed important orogenic lodes in Precambrian basement (e.g., Jiapigou, Zhangjiakou, and Yanshan districts). Continued Yanshanian orogeny in the eastern half of the North China block led to extensive orogenic gold formation during the main period of decratonization and regional extension at ca. 135 to 120 Ma (e.g., Jiaodong, Liaodong, Chifeng-Chaoyang, Zhangbaling, Taihangshan, and East Qinling). At the same time, strike-slip events in central Transbaikal were associated with orogenic gold formation in both Russia and adjacent northeastern China and likely are the source for China’s most productive gold placers in the upper Heilongjiang basin. China’s youngest orogenic gold deposits formed in the Ailaoshan, Lanping basin, Ganzi-Litang belt, Daduhe district, and areas south of the Lhasa terrane in Tibet during the middle Cenozoic, as well as in the northern half of the Central Range of Taiwan during the Pliocene-Pleistocene.

Abstract The temporal-spatial distribution of metallic ore deposits in China, including magmatic Ni-Cu ± platinum group elements (PGE), porphyry, skarn, volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS), epithermal, sedimentary rock-hosted Pb-Zn, Carlin-like Au, and orogenic Au deposits, reflects a diversity of tectonic settings. The ore deposits belong to 14 metallogenic provinces, contained within six age groups, which are classified based on geodynamic setting. Three of the provinces developed in the Precambrian (group I), nine developed in the Paleozoic and Mesozoic (groups II, III, IV, and V), and two developed in the Cenozoic (group VI). Except for the group I provinces, each of the other provinces is characterized by a major metallogenic age peak corresponding to a series of interrelated tectonic events or mantle plume activity. The Precambrian group can be subdivided into a Neoarchean metallogenic province in the North China craton that hosts several VMS deposits; a Proterozoic metallogenic province in the North China craton that hosts the 1505 Ma Bayan Obo carbonatite-related rare earth element (REE)-Nb-Fe deposit and the 832 Ma Jinchuan magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposit, and a Proterozoic metallogenic province in the South China block that hosts several iron oxide copper-gold deposits. Many of the deposits in these metallogenic provinces are related to continental rifting. The second group of metallogenic provinces occurs in the Chinese part of the Central Asian orogenic belt. It includes a Cambrian-Ordovician metallogenic province that developed during subduction of the Paleo-Asian oceanic plate, a Carboniferous-Triassic metallogenic province (Tianshan-Altay) that developed during final closure of the ocean, and a Permian-Triassic metallogenic province (NE China) that developed after arc-continent collision. Important ore deposits in these metallogenic provinces are, respectively, the 485 Ma Duobaoshan porphyry Cu-Mo deposit the 445 Ma Bainaimiao porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposit; the 363 Ma Axi epithermal Au deposit, the 322 Ma Tuwu-Yangdong porphyry Cu deposit, the 284 Ma Huangshanxi magmatic Ni-Cu deposit; the 245 Ma Chehugou porphyry Mo-Cu deposit, the 223 Ma Jinchangyu orogenic Au deposit, and 220 Ma Hongqiling magmatic Ni-Cu deposit. The third group of metallogenic provinces occurs in the Tethyan metallogenic domain and can be further divided into a Cambrian-Ordovician Qilian-Kunlun-Sanjiang province that developed during subduction and closure of the Proto-Tethyan Ocean; a Carboniferous-Triassic province that developed during birth, subduction, and consumption of the Paleo-Tethyan Ocean; and a Jurassic-Cretaceous Tethys province that developed during subduction of the Meso-Tethys oceanic plate. Important ore deposits in these provinces include the 411 Ma Baiganhu W-Sn skarn deposit and the 412 Ma Xiarihamu magmatic Ni-Cu deposit that formed in a continental-arc setting; the Laochang Pb-Zn VMS deposit associated with ocean island basalt-like volcanism, the 220 Ma Pulang porphyry Cu deposit that formed in a continental-arc setting, and the 230 to 210 Ma Carlin-like Au deposits formed in a postcollisional environment in the western Qinling and the Youjiang basin; and the 119 Ma Tieyaoshan Sn skarn-greisen deposit, the 88 Ma Tongchanggou porphyry Mo deposit, and the 83 Ma Gejiu Sn skarn deposits. The fourth group of metallogenic provinces developed during subduction of the Pacific oceanic plate beneath southeastern China and comprises a Jurassic and a Cretaceous province. The former is represented by a cluster of ~160 Ma W-Sn skarn deposits in the Nanling region; the latter is known for many ~135 Ma skarn and porphyry Cu-Au deposits in the Tongling region and numerous ~125 Ma unusual orogenic Au deposits in the Jiaodong and Xiaoqinling regions. The fifth group is the Emeishan metallogenic province that is related to Permian mantle plume activity in southwestern China. Several world-class magmatic Fe-Ti-V oxide deposits, a few small magmatic Ni-Cu deposits, and a couple of small magmatic Pt-Pd deposits associated with mafic-ultramafic intrusions are present in this province. The sixth group of metallogenic provinces developed in the Cenozoic during continental collision in the Tibet and Sanjiang region. This group can be further divided into the Sanjiang province that is related to oblique collision, and the Tibet province that is related to orthogonal collision. Important ore deposits in these provinces are the ~41 Ma Yulong porphyry Cu-(Mo) deposit, the 37 Ma Beiya Au-Cu skarn deposit, the ~26 Ma Jinding sedimentary rock-hosted Zn-Pb deposit, the ~30 Ma Zhenyuan orogenic Au deposit, and the ~15 Ma Qulong and Jiama porphyry Cu deposits. The youngest metallogenic province in China occurs on the Taiwan Island. This province developed during the subduction of the Philippine Sea oceanic plate beneath the island in the Pliocene and the accretion of the Luzon volcanic arc to the island in the Pleistocene. This province contains numerous Pliocene orogenic gold deposits as well as the Pleistocene Chinkuashih epithermal gold deposit in northern Taiwan.