Types, Characteristics and Metallogenic Geodynamic Evolution of the Paleozoic Polymetallic Copper-Gold Deposits in the Western Tianshan Mountains

Based on ore-bearing host rocks and mineralization patterns of copper-gold deposits in the western Tianshan Mountains, copper deposits can be classified into three types, i.e. porphyry copper deposits, skarn copper deposits and volcanogene hydrothermal copper deposits; gold deposits can be grouped into two types, i.e. epithermal gold deposits and porphyry gold deposits. There exist three E-W-trending mineralization zones in the western Tianshan Mountains: ① the Alataw-Kokirqin copper polymetallic mineralization zone, which comprises porphyry-skarn copper deposits related to the Mesoproterozoic limestone and Mid-Hercynian hypabyssal medium-acidic intrusive rocks, porphyry copper deposits connected with Mid-Hercynian hypabyssal acidic intrusive rocks;② Boluokeluo gold polymetallic mineralization zone, which consists of epithermal gold deposits related to Lower Carboniferous medium-acidic pyroclastic rock and medium-basic lava, porphyry gold deposits connected with Mid-Hercynian hypabyssal medium-acidic intrusive rocks; ③Awulale copper-silver polymetallic mineralization zone, which is composed of volcanogene hydrothermal copper deposits related to Permian continental medium-basic volcanic rocks, porphyry copper deposits connected with Late-Hercynian hypabyssal medium-acidic intrusive rocks. Based on discussion on the Paleozoic geodynamic evolution in the western Tianshan Mountains, three mimeralization zones mentioned above are correspondent with the Alataw-Kokirqin Late Paleozoic island arc zone, the Boluokeluo Late Paleozoic back-arc basin and the Awulale Permian rift zone respectively.