THE EPITHERMAL GOLD-SILVER MINERALIZATION IN VOLCANIC BELTS OF NORTHEAST ASIA

Abstract

Gold–silver mineralization in Northeast Asia is controlled by volcanic belts of different ages that are superimposed on cratonic, passive continental-margin, island-arc, and oceanic terranes. According to the concept of accretion tectonics, the study region represented a dynamically evolving active continental margin in the Mesozoic–Cenozoic. This is reflected in eight NW- to SW-oriented successions of postaccretionary volcanic belts. Among them, the following six volcanic belts were developing parallel to the present-day position of the Kuril–Kamchatka deep-water trench: Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Uda–Murgal (UMVB), Late Cretaceous–Paleogene Okhotsk–Chukot (OCVB), Late Cretaceous–Paleogene East Sikhote-Alin (ESVB), Eocene–Oligocene Koryak–West Kamchatka (KWKVB), Oligocene–Quaternary Central Kamchatka (CKVB), and Pliocene–Quaternary East Kamchatka (EKVB).