Spatial-temporal Frame,Evolution and Mineralization of the Northern Qilian Metallogenic Province

Four metallogenic epochs occurred in different tectonic environments during theevolution of the Northern Qilian metallogenic province through the geological time. The Mid-dle Proterozoic metallogenic epoch witnessed the tectonic environment of crustal breakupcaused by mantle diapirism, in which ultramafic-mafic rocks were intruded along beep faultbelts and the superlarge Jinchuan magmatic Cu-Ni sulphide deposit was formed. In theMiddle-Late Proterozoic metallogenic epoch the crust was further broken to form anintracontinental rift, in which the Chenjiamiao style massive Cu-Fe sulphide deposits hosted bybasic volcanic tuff were formed in the lower volcano-sedimentary sequence, while the largesedex type Jingtieshan style Fe-Cu deposits were formed within the upper abyssal carbon-richargillaceous sedimentary sequence. The Early Palaeozoic saw the aulacogen environment, with-in which the Baiyinchang style superlarge massive base and precious metal sulphide depositshosted by quartz keratophyric tuff were formed in the Middle-Late Cambrian rifted island arcand the massive Cu-Zn sulphide deposits and magmatic chromite deposits associated with theophiolite suite were formed in the Early-Middle Ordovician, and the Honggou style massiveCu-Fe sulphide deposits hosted by spilite were formed in the Late Ordovician back-arc basinenvironment. In the Late Palaeozoic-Meso-Cenozoic, the metallogenic province went into anintracontinental orogenic stage characterized by compressive tectonic environment, in whichthere occurred carbonate-quartz vein type and tectono-alteration gold deposits associated withductile-shear structures.

Spatial-temporal Frame, Evolution and Mineralization of the Northern Qilian Metallogenic Province

Four metallogenic epochs occurred in different tectonic environments during theevolution of the Northern Qilian metallogenic province through the geological time. The Mid-dle Proterozoic metallogenic epoch witnessed the tectonic environment of crustal breakupcaused by mantle diapirism, in which ultramafic-mafic rocks were intruded along beep faultbelts and the superlarge Jinchuan magmatic Cu-Ni sulphide deposit was formed. In theMiddle-Late Proterozoic metallogenic epoch the crust was further broken to form anintracontinental rift, in which the Chenjiamiao style massive Cu-Fe sulphide deposits hosted bybasic volcanic tuff were formed in the lower volcano-sedimentary sequence, while the largesedex type Jingtieshan style Fe-Cu deposits were formed within the upper abyssal carbon-richargillaceous sedimentary sequence. The Early Palaeozoic saw the aulacogen environment, with-in which the Baiyinchang style superlarge massive base and precious metal sulphide depositshosted by quartz keratophyric tuff were formed in the Middle-Late Cambrian rifted island arcand the massive Cu-Zn sulphide deposits and magmatic chromite deposits associated with theophiolite suite were formed in the Early-Middle Ordovician, and the Honggou style massiveCu-Fe sulphide deposits hosted by spilite were formed in the Late Ordovician back-arc basinenvironment. In the Late Palaeozoic-Meso-Cenozoic, the metallogenic province went into anintracontinental orogenic stage characterized by compressive tectonic environment, in whichthere occurred carbonate-quartz vein type and tectono-alteration gold deposits associated withductile-shear structures.