Geological characteristics of the Caima iron-polymetallic deposit,Rutog County,western Tibet, China, and its significance for mineral prospecting.

On the basis of the 1∶250000 regional geological survey of the Rutog County Sheet, this paper deals with the geological characteristics of the Caima iron-polymetallic deposit, Rutog County, and preliminarily discusses its genesis and significance for mineral prospecting. According to the results of this survey, combined with a comparative study of the results of mineral prospecting in the Nyixung iron deposit and its neighboring areas, the authors believe that the Cretaceous Period was an important metallogenic epoch for rich iron deposits in Tibet. The Caima iron-polymetallic deposit is a postmagmatic, meso- and epithermal, skarn type metasomatic-cavity filling deposit. It mainly occurs as veins and lenses in marble. The discovery of the ore deposit has opened a window for prospecting for high-grade iron deposits on both sides of the Bangong Co-Nujiang junction zone.