Division and characteristics of Mesozoic metallogenic belt in China

The division of China metallogenic belt should follow three main principles: ① the principle of unity of metallogenic environment, that is, having a unified geological structure background and the same or similar geological structure evolution history; (2) The principle of mineralization, that is, having the same, similar or related metallogenic characteristics and characterized by the special development of certain types or groups of deposits; ③ The principle of correlation between mineralization and geological processes and geochemical blocks (fields).

According to the principle of metallogenic belt division, combined with Mesozoic metallogenic environment and metallogenic characteristics, China is preliminarily divided into coastal Pacific metallogenic domain, Central Asian metallogenic domain and Tethys metallogenic domain, and further divided into 10 metallogenic provinces and 35 metallogenic belts (Figure 4-9).

(a) Pacific metallogenic domain

Located in the east of China, the Pacific coast metallogenic domain was formed in Mesozoic and Cenozoic, and it is an important part of the global Pacific Rim metallogenic belt. There is no clear boundary in its western border, and the specific spatial distribution scope is still controversial. Generally speaking, its western boundary generally varies from east longitude 102 to 106, that is, the vast area east of Helan Mountain-Longmen Mountain-Ailao Mountain (Cheng et al.,1994; Ren Jishun et al., 1990), which may cover the entire Qinling orogenic belt.

The metallogenic domain along the Pacific coast is the product of the strong interaction between Kula-Pacific plate and Eurasian plate, which has the characteristics of "two-way zoning" In the meridian direction, from east to west and from the ocean to the land, it can be roughly divided into three zones, namely, the southeast coast-Taiwan Province continental margin active zone, the Xing 'anling-Nanling continental tectonic magmatic zone and the Ordos-Sichuan depression basin zone; In latitudinal direction, Mesozoic tectonic magmatic belt, fault (depression) sedimentary basin and its related deposits are superimposed on different pre-Mesozoic tectonic units, forming northeast, north China, Qinling, Yangtze and South China provinces from north to south, and their mineralization has its own characteristics.

Figure 4-9 Schematic diagram of Mesozoic metallogenic belt division in China.

1a-2—Pacific metallogenic domain: ⅰA-2— Northeast metallogenic province: 1a-1—Daxinganling coal-copper polymetallic metallogenic belt, 1a-2—Songliao oil shale bentonite metallogenic belt, 1a-3—Jihei coal-gold polymetallic metallogenic belt; IB- North China Metallogenic Province: I b- 1- Gold-molybdenum-coal metallogenic belt in the northern margin of North China Platform, I b-2- Ordos coal-oil shale metallogenic belt, I b-3- iron ore metallogenic belt in the central part of North China Platform, I b-4- Sulu gold barite metallogenic belt, I b-5- gold-molybdenum metallogenic belt in the southwestern margin of North China Platform; Ⅰ c-Qinling metallogenic province: Ⅰ c-1-Au-Hg-Sb metallogenic belt in western Qinling, Ⅰ c-2-Wudang-Dabie polymetallic fluorite bentonite metallogenic belt; Ⅰ d-Yangtze metallogenic province: Ⅰ d-1-copper salt metallogenic belt in the southwest margin of Yangtze platform, Ⅰ d-2-Sichuan-Chongqing natural gas salt metallogenic belt, Ⅰ d-3-iron-copper metallogenic belt in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River, Ⅰ d-4-mercury-antimony-gold metallogenic belt in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan and Guizhou; Ⅰ E-South China Metallogenic Province: Ⅰ E-1-Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi-Gold-Tin-Manganese Metallogenic Belt, Ⅱ E-2-Gui Xiang-Tungsten-Tin-Antimony Metallogenic Belt, Ⅲ E-3-Zhejiang-Jiangxi-Tungsten-Tin-Fluorite Metallogenic Belt, Ⅲ E-4-Guangdong-Fujian-Tungsten-Tin Polymetallic Metallogenic Belt, Ⅲ E-5-Guangxi-Guangdong-Gold-Silver Metallogenic

IIA- North Xinjiang Metallogenic Province: IIA- 1- Altai Rare Metal Metallogenic Belt, IIA-2- Junggar-Hami Coal-formed Clay Metallogenic Belt, IIA-3- West Tianshan Coal-formed Clay Metallogenic Belt, IIA-4- Beishan Gold Polymetallic Metallogenic Belt; Ⅱ b-Tarim metallogenic province: Ⅱ b-1-North Talimu coal metallogenic belt, Ⅱ b-2-South Tarim coal metallogenic belt, Ⅱ b-3-Alashan gypsum coal metallogenic belt; Ii c-Kunlun-Qilian metallogenic province: ii c-1-Kunlun copper-gold metallogenic belt, ii c-2-Qilian coal-oil shale metallogenic belt.

Iia-2-Tethys metallogenic domain: iiia-Tibet metallogenic province: iiia-1-Qiangtang gypsum oil shale coal metallogenic belt, iiia-2-Gangdise chromite muscovite metallogenic belt and iiia-3-Himalayan chromium metallogenic belt; Ⅱ b-Sichuan-Yunnan metallogenic province: Ⅲ b-1-Songpan-Ganzi gold-silver muscovite metallogenic belt, Ⅲ b-2-Sanjiang gypsum tin-iron ore metallogenic belt.

1. Northeast Metallogenic Province

The northeast metallogenic region is located in the northernmost part of the coastal Pacific metallogenic domain, spanning Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and other provinces (autonomous regions). Tectonically, it includes Ergon fold system, Jihei fold system, Yanbian fold system and other structural units.

Before Mesozoic, the northeastern metallogenic province experienced the development and evolution of Archean-Proterozoic continental basement formation stage and Phanerozoic (Paleozoic) paleo-Asian continental margin proliferation stage, and formed a basic structural framework consisting of Xilinhot micro-landmass, Nensong-Jiamusi micro-landmass and several Paleozoic continental margin proliferation fold belts. At the end of the early Permian, Siberia and the junction of Tarim-North China finally merged to form a unified northern Asian continent, and molasse-like and lacustrine clastic deposits developed in the late Permian-Triassic basin. The Indosinian movement pushed the late Triassic-early Jurassic oceanic crust plate in the neighboring Schott area to Wandashan area, and caused linear central calc-alkaline intermediate-acid volcanic eruption and granite emplacement in Zhangguangcailing, Yichun and Daxing 'anling. Jurassic-Cretaceous Yanshan cycle is the most intense period of tectonic magmatism in this metallogenic area, which leads to the rebirth of a large number of NE and NNE-oriented structures, the inherited revival of pre-Mesozoic structures, the occurrence and development of faulted sedimentary basins, and the large-scale eruption and intrusion of intermediate-basic-intermediate acid magma, accompanied by the formation of important minerals such as copper, lead-zinc, gold, coal, oil, oil shale and bentonite.

Mesozoic mineralization in the northeast metallogenic area is characterized by large-scale mineralization of coal and oil shale, and the coal-dominated ore concentration areas such as Manzhouli, Hegang, Shuangyashan-Qitaihe and Xilinhot and the oil shale-dominated ore concentration areas in Yongji have been formed. The mineralization of copper, gold and polymetallic in the middle-south section of Daxing 'anling and the eastern part of Liaoji is also very important, and Daqing Oilfield is famous at home and abroad.

According to the regional tectonic background and Mesozoic metallogenic characteristics, the northeast metallogenic belt can be further divided into three metallogenic belts, namely Daxinganling coal-copper polymetallic metallogenic belt, Songliao oil shale petroleum bentonite metallogenic belt and Jihei coal-gold polymetallic metallogenic belt.

2. North China Metallogenic Province

The scope of North China's metallogenic province is basically the same as that of North China Platform, but Alashan Tailong on its western edge belongs to Tarim metallogenic province, which spans Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Beijing, Tianjin and other provinces (cities, autonomous regions) in administrative division.

North China platform is the oldest platform in China. The isotopic geological age of chromite quartzite in Cao Zhuang and Huangbaiyu, Qianxi is 3850~3550Ma (Liu Dunyi et al., 1990), which represents the fragments of the original continental core formed in the late Archean and early Archean. After the development and evolution of Archean and Middle Archean, the first cratonization was completed in the middle and late NeoArchean (2600Ma), and the continental core of North China consisting of high-grade metamorphic rocks and granite-greenstone belts was basically formed. In Proterozoic, the North China continental core was further consolidated and rigidized, and the second cratonization was completed at the end of Proterozoic (1800Ma), finally forming the metamorphic basement of the North China platform. Mesoproterozoic-Paleozoic is a relatively stable platform development stage, and two sets of sedimentary caprocks were formed: Mesoproterozoic and Paleozoic. Mesozoic is the stage of continental margin activation, where intense tectonic magmatism and depression (fault) sedimentation occurred, forming important minerals such as iron, gold, copper, molybdenum, coal, oil shale and barite.

Mesozoic mineralization in North China metallogenic province is characterized by large-scale mineralization of coal, gold and iron, forming coal-based ore concentration areas such as Laiyuan-Yuxian, Datong, Lingwu, Dongsheng, Yulin, Pingliang and Tongchuan, gold concentration areas such as western Liaoning, northern Hebei, Xiaoqinling and Jiaodong, and iron concentration areas such as Linfen, Xingtai-Anyang, Luxi and Huaibei. Copper deposits are also very important, forming copper-based ore concentration areas such as Tonghua and Gaixian.

According to the regional tectonic background and Mesozoic metallogenic characteristics, the metallogenic province of North China can be further divided into five metallogenic belts (regions), namely, the gold-molybdenum metallogenic belt in the northern margin of North China Platform, the Ordos coal-oil shale metallogenic belt, the iron ore metallogenic belt in the central part of North China Platform, the Sulu gold-barite metallogenic belt and the gold-molybdenum metallogenic belt in the southwestern margin of North China Platform.

3. Qinling metallogenic province

The scope of Qinling metallogenic province is basically consistent with Qinling fold system, and it spans Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, Henan and other provinces (municipalities) in administrative division.

Qinling fold system belongs to the east of Kunlun-Qilian-Qinling fold orogenic belt in central China, and it is a typical multi-cycle fold system, including Caledonian fold belt in North Qinling, Lixian-Zhashui Hualixi fold belt, Indosinian fold belt in South Qinling, Caledonian fold belt in North Bashan and Wudang-Huaiyang uplift (Huang, Ren Jishun, etc. , 1983). The evolution of regional geological structure has experienced the formation of Archean-Proterozoic crystalline basement, the formation and evolution of Great Wall-Qingbaikou Qin-Kun marine facies, the formation and evolution of Sinian-Silurian Qin-Qiyang marine facies, the formation and evolution of Devonian-Triassic (early-middle Triassic) Paleotethys marine facies, and the formation and evolution of Mesozoic-Cenozoic coastal Pacific Ocean and New. During the Late Triassic-Early Cretaceous, influenced by the northward movement of Kula-Pacific plate and the northward subduction of NeoTethyan oceanic crust, the Indosinian mountain system in the western Qinling Mountains underwent large-scale basement detachment, nappe, overthrust and neosedimentary deformation, and the whole South China continent moved northward and was squeezed by the Qinling-Dabie Mountains. The existing multi-level ductile detachment and overthrust system in the eastern Qinling Mountains and Dabie Mountains continued to develop and continue to build mountains. During the Late Cretaceous-Eocene, with the closure of the NeoTethys Ocean, the Indian continent drifted sharply to Eurasia and collided and squeezed, which led to the eastward expansion of the Qinling paleoblock and the formation of Xinyang, Zhoukou and Nanxiang sedimentary basins. The upper Yangtze block wedged into the Qinling Mountains in the way of translation and rotation to the north, resulting in a strange "bee waist" phenomenon in the Qinling tectonic line. Mesozoic orogeny is characterized by strong nappe, detachment and sinistral strike-slip, and there are nearly east-west tectonic-granite belts along the mountain system.

The Mesozoic mineralization in Qinling metallogenic province is not strong, and the western Qinling area is characterized by a large number of stratabound hydrothermal gold, mercury, antimony, lead and zinc deposits occurring in sedimentary rocks. Gold, molybdenum, copper, fluorite and bentonite deposits related to Yanshanian volcanic-intrusive activities are relatively developed in Wudang-Dabie area in the east. On this basis, the Qinling metallogenic province is divided into two metallogenic belts, namely, the western Qinling gold-mercury-antimony metallogenic belt and the Wudang-Dabie polymetallic fluorite bentonite metallogenic belt.

4. Yangtze metallogenic region

The scope of the Yangtze metallogenic province is basically consistent with the Yangtze platform, spanning Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang and other provinces (municipalities directly under the central government), including almost the whole Yangtze River basin and the South Yellow Sea.

The Yangtze Platform is a relatively stable tectonic unit in the south of China, generally distributed in the northeast. The basement rock series is mainly exposed in the uplift belt at the edge of the platform, and consists of Archean-Proterozoic deep metamorphic rocks and Mesoproterozoic shallow metamorphic rocks. The Sinian-Middle Triassic has the characteristics of "double-layer structure", and the sedimentary cover is mainly composed of shallow-sea carbonate rocks, clastic-argillaceous rocks and coastal-continental coal-bearing formations, and some horizons have moraine, turbidite deposits and basalt overflow. Gypsum-rich carbonate rocks in Middle and Lower Triassic are widely distributed, which not only contain gypsum and halite deposits, but also are important surrounding rocks and important oil and gas reservoirs of skarn iron-copper-tin polymetallic deposits. Since the Late Triassic, the eastern part of the platform has been affected by the movement of the western Pacific plate, showing a strong "activation" feature, forming a multi-cycle fold structure, a multi-stage fault structure and an intermediate-acid and intermediate-basic volcanic-intrusive rock series, and endogenetic metal deposits dominated by iron and copper are very developed; In the west of the platform, influenced by Tethys ocean activity, rifting is intense, forming a red basin in central Sichuan and Yunnan. The continental coal-bearing formations and gypsum-bearing formations, sandstone copper deposits, Qijiang-type sedimentary iron deposits and hydrothermal mercury-antimony-gold deposits in central Yunnan are well developed.

The Mesozoic mineralization in the Yangtze metallogenic province is characterized by large-scale iron and copper mineralization, and formed iron and copper-based ore concentration areas such as Daye-Jiujiang, Jiang Yan, northeastern Jiangxi, central Yunnan and Wanyuan. Mercury, lead and zinc, natural gas, mirabilite, gypsum and other minerals are also very important, forming Emei Mountain mirabilite concentration area, Chongqing natural gas gypsum iron ore concentration area, Hunan-Guizhou-Chongqing mercury concentration area, Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou lead-zinc concentration area and so on.

According to the regional tectonic background and Mesozoic metallogenic characteristics, the Yangtze metallogenic province is further divided into four metallogenic belts (regions), namely, the copper salt metallogenic belt in the southwest margin of the Yangtze platform, the Sichuan-Chongqing natural gas salt metallogenic belt, the iron-copper-sulfur metallogenic belt in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the mercury-antimony-gold metallogenic belt in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan and Guizhou.

5. South China Metallogenic Province

South China Mineralization Area is located in the southeast of China, covering Yunnan, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan Province and other provinces (autonomous regions and special administrative regions). Structurally, it includes South China Fold System, Southeast Coast and Taiwan Fold System, South China Sea Platform and other structural units.

South China continent and Hainan island are generally Caledonian fold belts involved in the Paleoproterozoic continental crust, and the ancient South China continent was collaged with the Yangtze block at the end of Silurian. From the Late Paleozoic to the Middle Triassic, the whole of South China was in a relatively stable development stage, and sedimentary caprocks mainly composed of shallow-sea carbonate rocks, clastic rocks and siliceous rocks were formed on the Yuanguyu-Lower Paleozoic basement, and the Indosinian metamorphism and magmatism along the coast of Fujian and Guangdong were significantly enhanced. From the Late Triassic to the Early Cretaceous, it was located in the active zone of the Pacific continental margin, and the tectonic magmatism was strong, forming a large-scale continental crust-derived granitoids and continental crust-mantle mixed source intermediate-acid volcanic-intrusive rocks and a large number of nonferrous and rare metal deposits. During the Late Cretaceous-Tertiary, with the closure of the NeoTethys Ocean, the Indian plate moved northward and collided with Eurasia, which made the South China continent disperse to the southeast, forming basins in the plate and making sea on the continental margin, providing a place for the formation of gypsum, salt and oil and gas.

Mesozoic mineralization in South China's metallogenic province is characterized by large-scale mineralization of tungsten, tin, gold and silver, and formed tungsten and tin-dominated ore concentration areas such as southern Hunan, Dayu-Shixing, southeastern Jiangxi, Daguishan, southwestern Guangdong, Hailufeng, southeastern Yunnan and Danchi, and gold and silver concentration areas such as Xingyi-Baise, Qiongxi and Lianjiang. Copper, lead zinc, antimony, fluorite, coal and other minerals are also very important, forming a concentration area of copper and tungsten in Daming Mountain, antimony, tungsten and gold in central Hunan, fluorite in Wuyi-Xinchang, lead, zinc and gold in Changning and tungsten, niobium and tantalum in Pingxiang-Gao 'an coal.

According to the regional tectonic background and Mesozoic metallogenic characteristics, the South China metallogenic province can be further divided into seven metallogenic belts (regions), namely, Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi-Gold-Tin-Manganese metallogenic belt, Hunan-Guangxi-Tungsten-Tin-Antimony metallogenic belt, Zhejiang-Jiangxi-Tungsten-Tin fluorite metallogenic belt, Guangdong-Fujian-Tungsten-Tin polymetallic metallogenic belt, Guangxi-Guangdong-Gold-Silver-Tin metallogenic belt, Zhejiang-Fujian-Guangdong-Tin-Lead-Zinc pyrophyllite metallogenic belt

(2) Central Asian metallogenic domain

Central Asian metallogenic domain refers to the northwest of China, including most or part of Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia and other provinces (autonomous regions). The ore-forming domain was an important part of the ancient Asian ore-forming domain in Paleozoic, and was mainly in the inland tectonic environment in Mesozoic, with sedimentary mineralization as the main factor and weak magmatic mineralization. According to the different properties of tectonic units and metallogenic characteristics, it can be divided into three metallogenic areas: northern Xinjiang, Tarim and Kunlun-Qilian.

1. North Xinjiang metallogenic region

The northern Xinjiang metallogenic province is located in the northern part of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, including the northern part of Gansu Province and a part of western Inner Mongolia. Geotectonically, it includes altay fold system, Junggar fold system, Tianshan fold system and other structural units.

The regional tectonic framework of the metallogenic region in northern Xinjiang is composed of Paleozoic continental margin accretionary fold belts such as Altai-Erqis, Northern Junggar and Ili Habega-Jueluotag, and micro-landmasses including Mesoproterozoic metamorphic basement such as Junggar, Ili-Issyk Lake, Middle Tianshan and Beishan rift belts. At the end of Early Permian, the active belt on the southern margin of Siberia plate collided with the active belt on the northern margin of Tarim-North China plate, forming a unified northern Asian continent. During the Late Permian-Cretaceous, under the influence of the Indian plate and Siberian plate from north to south and the Pacific plate subducted from west, mountains and basins appeared alternately, and the fault blocks rose and fell obviously, resulting in a series of huge strike-slip faults and nappe structures, which provided a place for the formation of minerals such as coal, oil and natural gas. There is no strong calc-alkaline and weakly alkaline magmatism in Altai and Beishan.

Mesozoic mineralization in northern Xinjiang metallogenic area is characterized by large-scale mineralization of coal and rare metals, forming coal-based ore concentration areas such as Urumqi and Hami and Altai lithium beryllium tantalum niobium ore concentration area. Coal-bearing formations are composed of continental clastic rocks and argillaceous rocks in the Middle and Lower Jurassic, and rare metal deposits are related to Indosinian-Yanshanian alkaline magmatism.

According to the regional tectonic background and Mesozoic metallogenic characteristics, the metallogenic belt in northern Xinjiang can be further divided into four metallogenic belts, namely, Altai rare metal metallogenic belt, Junggar-Hami coal-derived refractory clay metallogenic belt, western Tianshan coal-derived refractory clay metallogenic belt and Beishan gold polymetallic metallogenic belt.

2. Tarim metallogenic area

The scope of Tarim metallogenic area is basically consistent with Tarim platform, and Alashan Tailong on the western edge of North China platform is also included in this metallogenic area. It spans Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia and other provinces (autonomous regions) in administrative divisions.

Tarim platform is a rhombic block embedded between Tianshan Mountain and Kunlun folded orogenic belt. Its basement consists of Neoarchean-Proterozoic medium-deep metamorphic rocks and Mesoproterozoic shallow metamorphic rocks. There is an unreformed sedimentary cap rock on it, which consists of Sinian continental margin rift flysch formation and Paleozoic marine clastic rock-carbonate rock. Inland basins are mainly composed of clastic rocks and argillaceous rocks of rivers and lakes. Except the metamorphic basement and Paleozoic caprock exposed at the edge of the basin, most of the basin is covered by desert and Gobi.

The geological work in Tarim metallogenic area is low, and there are few known Mesozoic deposits. There are coal-bearing formations composed of middle and lower Jurassic fluvial-limnetic clastic rocks and argillaceous rocks in the northern and southern margins of the sedimentary basin in Tarim Depression, and there are coal and gypsum deposits in Alashan Tailong. Accordingly, the metallogenic province can be further divided into three metallogenic belts, namely, the Beitalimu coal metallogenic belt, the South Tarim coal metallogenic belt and the Alashan gypsum coal metallogenic belt.

3. Kunlun-Qilian Metallogenic Province

Kunlun-Qilian metallogenic province is located in the central and western section of Kunlun-Qilian-Qinling folded orogenic belt, spanning Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia and other provinces (autonomous regions). Tectonically, it includes structural units such as West Kunlun Fold System, East Kunlun Fold System and Qilian Fold System.

The evolution of regional geological structure is similar to that of Qinling fold system, and it has gone through five development stages (Cheng et al., 1994): Archean-Proterozoic crystalline basement formation, Changchengji-Qingbaikou-Qinkun marine formation formation and evolution, Sinian-Silurian Qinqiyang formation formation formation and evolution, Devonian-Triassic (early-middle Triassic) Paleotethys.

Kunlun-Qilian metallogenic province has a large scope, but Mesozoic mineralization is not strong. Middle Jurassic lacustrine-marsh facies coal-bearing clastic deposits occurred in the valley between Muli-Datong and Lanzhou-Jingyuan in the adjacent areas of Qinghai and Gansu, and produced coal seams and oil shale. There are gold mines such as Tanjianshan and Wulonggou and copper mines such as Kizilsayi around the Qaidam Basin. Accordingly, Kunlun-Qilian metallogenic province can be further divided into two metallogenic belts, namely Kunlun copper-gold metallogenic belt and Qilian coal-oil shale metallogenic belt.

(3) Tethys metallogenic domain

Tethys metallogenic domain is located in the Sichuan-Yunnan-Qinghai-Tibet region in the southwest of China, including the main body of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Himalayas and the "Three Rivers" in the southwest. Regional faults and folds are arc-shaped, and the main structural lines in the central and western regions are roughly east-west, and turn sharply southeast to nearly north-south direction. Lancang River, Bangongcuo-Nujiang River and Yarlung Zangbo River are three belts (deep fault zones) containing ophiolite, and four terranes (blocks) between the north-south belt of PaleoTethys and the north-south belt of NeoTethys are alternately arranged, forming a unique banded structural pattern. The metallogenic domain includes two metallogenic areas, namely Tibet metallogenic area and Sichuan-Yunnan metallogenic area.

1. Tibet metallogenic region

The range of metallogenic areas in Tibet is basically the same as that in Xizang Autonomous Region, but parts of eastern and northern Tibet belong to Sichuan-Yunnan metallogenic areas. The regional tectonic evolution has experienced the development stages of pre-Ordovician continental crust basement formation, early Paleozoic orogenic belt, late Paleozoic PaleoTethys, Mesozoic NeoTethys and Cenozoic continental crust reconstruction, plateau uplift and so on. It has formed a basic structural pattern consisting of Himalayan (thrust) plate, Yarlung Zangbo River junction zone, Gangdise continental margin active zone, Bangongcuo-Nujiang junction zone and Qiangtang-Tanggula block.

The natural conditions in Tibet metallogenic areas are harsh, the geological work level is low, and there are few known Mesozoic deposits. The main deposit types are magmatic chrome ore in ultrabasic rocks from Yanshan to early Himalayan, coal mine in Triassic transitional clastic rocks between sea and land, gypsum oil shale deposit in Mesozoic shallow sea and lacustrine carbonate rocks, pegmatite-type muscovite deposit and skarn-type iron ore related to intermediate-acid intrusive rocks from late Yanshan to early Himalayan, etc.

According to the existing geological and mineral data, Tibet metallogenic belt can be further divided into three metallogenic belts, namely Qiangtang gypsum oil shale coal metallogenic belt, Gangdise chromite muscovite metallogenic belt and Himalayan chromium metallogenic belt.

2. Sichuan-Yunnan metallogenic region

Sichuan-Yunnan metallogenic province spans Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet and Qinghai provinces (autonomous regions). Structurally, it belongs to the South China plate and has the nature of the Yangtze paleocontinental margin active zone, including the Qianbei-Changdu-Simao micro-land block, the Jinsha River junction zone, the Songpan-Ganzi active zone and the Honghe-Longmenshan nappe zone.

The Mesozoic mineralization in the Sichuan-Yunnan metallogenic area is strong, and the main minerals are gold, tin, iron, lithium beryllium, gypsum, muscovite and crystal. Gold deposits are mainly distributed in Songpan, Ganzi-Qiuluo, tin ore and iron ore are mainly distributed in western Yunnan, gypsum is mainly distributed in eastern Tibet, and lithium beryllium, muscovite and crystal are mainly distributed in Danba-Dawu area.

According to the regional tectonic background and Mesozoic metallogenic characteristics, Sichuan-Yunnan metallogenic province can be further divided into two metallogenic belts, namely Songpan Ganzi gold-silver muscovite metallogenic belt and Sanjiang gypsum tin-iron ore metallogenic belt.