METALLOGENY OF THE CENTRAL-ASIAN OROGENIC BELT

Abstract

The specific features of the Central-Asian orogenic belt (CAOB) and marginal structures of the North-Asian craton are considered on the basis of analysis of lithospheric-plate tectonics and terrain analysis. The general metallogenic development of the CAOB is determined by the long-term formation of its structures, occurence of island arcs and continental margins of different ages, and extensive development of the postaccretional tectonomagmatic processes. As the main geodynamic settings determining the metallogeny of the CAOB, the marginal structures of the craton defining the position of the Riphean pericratonic metallogenic belt and the Early Paleozoic and Middle Paleozoic island-arc systems and active continental margins have been characterized. It is shown that the Late Paleozoic-Mesozoic stage of formation of the intraplate riftogenic - strike-slip structures and active continental margin of the Mongolo-Okhotsk paleooceanic basin played an important role in the metallogenic evolution of the CAOB. Taking into account the geodynamic settings, the authors carried out metallogenic zonation with separation of the main metallogenic belts and zones where the most considerable ore deposits are localized.