Neoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the western part of the Kyrgyz Ridge (Northern Tian Shan) caledonides

The conducted comprehensive study of the western part of Kyrgyz Ridge provided new data on the structure, composition and age of Precambrian and Early Paleozoic stratified and igneous complexes. The main achievements of these studies are: (1) the establishment of a wide age spectrum, embracing the interval from the Neoproterozoic to the end of the Early Ordovician, for the clastic-carbonate units composing the cover of the Northern Tian Shan sialic massif; (2) the reconstruction and dating of Early and Late Cambrian ophiolite complexes formed in suprasubduction settings;(3) the discovery and dating of the Early-Middle Ordovician volcano-sedimentary complex of island-arc affinity; and (4) proof of the wide occurrence of Late Ordovician granitoids, some of which bear Cu-Au-Mo ores. The intricate thrust-and-fold structure of the western part of the Kyrgyz Ridge, formed in several stages from the Middle Cambrian (?) until the end of the Middle Ordovician, was scrutinized; the importance of the Early Ordovician stage was demonstrated. The intrusion of large batholiths in the early Late Ordovician accomplished the caledonide structural evolution. Formation of Neoproterozoic and Early Paleozoic caledonide complexes, which were possibly related to the protracted and entangled evolution of the active continental margin, ceased by the Late Ordovician.